Chatbug Karen

Just wanted to let you know my thoughts after having watched The Help. This movie was terrific.

I had been spared the awful tragedies of racism endured and projected in the sixties. Never having lived in the south, I had no idea these things happened. Of course, it might have been my age. I was probably around the age of 10 when these injustices were happening and I was unaware. I was probably roller skating, playing softball and watching Gidget on television. I know that I rolled my eyes every time my parents changed the channel so that they could watch the news.

That said, this movie is not sad. In fact, it is amazing how the subject was brought to light in such an informative manner yet entertaining in a joyous way. I was cheering on the characters and hoping they would fight for equality. Boy did they ever!

I enjoyed this movie and learned so much from it.

My husband and I are having a date day. We are going to the movies to see The Help. I have read the reviews and I am excited to see this movie. It might rate right up there with Fried Green Tomatoes as one of my favorites.

I look like a dork today. My left foot has been swelling up and throbbing. I don’t know what is causing it but yesterday, I started wearing tennis shoes that have better insoles. My foot felt a ton better last night. I am going to look into enzo angiolini shoes so that I can wear quality shoes and not look so dorky.

I hope everyone who is affected by the hurricane has found shelter and stays safe. I’m praying for you.

Today hopes to be a very productive one. Years ago, I put vinyl floor covering in my cupboards, remember we own a carpet store, and it is time to change it. The edges curl up and it has begun to drive me crazy! I also need to clean a few spots on the carpet. Poor Brody had an incident and I need to work at that spot.

We finally watched the movie, Secretariat. I highly recommend it as one the whole family will enjoy. I have always been a bit afraid of horses. They are so big! But, this movie showed a side of horses much like any other pet. The value of race horses is so high that I am sure equine horse insurance is a must in that industry. My health insurance is expensive, I cannot imagine the cost of horse insurance! Anyway, this movie showed how preserverance pays off. One might call the attitudes portrayed by several of the characters as stubborn. On a side note, I loved seeing the fashions of the 1950′s. Can you imagine wearing heels while cooking?! No cell phones in this movie. LOL

I would rather pay a few dollars to rent a movie, especially one that didn’t get good reviews. It costs around $8 to go to a movie theater in our area. That means $16 if both my husband and I go and more if we buy popcorn and a coke. Once in a while, I enjoy spending the money to go out to a movie. Most generally, we rent DVD’s. I sure am glad we didn’t see The American at the theater. I am also glad I wasn’t watching this dvd with friends or my mother in-law. It was terrible.

George Clooney starred in this movie. I wonder if he is embarrassed by it.

The story could have been good. It begins with Jack, played by Clooney, ending his career as an assassin. He has to have one more assignment to enable him to leave the business. Here is what IMBD said about the story line:

Alone among assassins, Jack is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Pavel that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde, is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto and pursues romance with local woman Clara. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

I may be getting old enough to need acetyl l carnitine
and admit I have trouble hearing what the characters are saying. It seemed that the actors in this movie mumbled. When I finally caught on to the story line, I was exposed to nudity. I didn’t see the point of this. It added nothing to the story. The movie was slow and the ending was dumb. Anyway, in an effort to say something nice, the Italian scenery was beautiful.

Hubby and I were getting frustrated last night as we were unable to find anything worth watching on television. We had seen the Country Music Awards so we didn’t want to watch that again. We had also watched all the cooking shows on the Food Network. We get over 600 channels! There should have been something.

We finally settled on an old Frank Sinatra movie, The Detective. From the website, IMDB; police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a homosexual man. While investigating, he discovers links to official corruption in New York City in this drama that delves into a world of sex and drugs.

This was an X rated movie in its day! If was so interesting to see how the subject matter was treated. Times have changed so much yet, many things have remained the same. Joe Leland’s wife received a self imposed dual diagnosis of being a nymphomaniac and mistreated human being, determined to set the world straight with her political agenda. Corruption in the city and police department was so bad that innocent men were jailed and executed because no one wanted to speak up. Looking from the outside, I wanted each person to do what was right. Knowing how, when pushed to do what is right, one worries about repercussion, I can understand how injustice continues.

This movie had a few twists and turns that have me questioning some things but not enough to make me want to re-watch. I hope there is something good on television tonight.

Hubby and I watched a good movie last night, Green Zone. Of course, I was farming on Facebook but I was still able to follow the story. I only asked once what was going on. The movie has me thinking about how wonderful the technology is that our soldiers are able to use today. Of course, the enemy probably has the same technology. The movie reinforced my thinking that we, as citizens, only hear what the media puts out for us to hear. I think media is used by the government to get what they want. They tell us that a battle occurred, our side won and we believe it. It is scary to think how events can be portrayed to us back at home. I was a teenager who was more worried about side effects of methylburn and lightening my hair when the war in Vietnam was taking place. I wonder how much hype my parents took to be true.

Anyway, the movie was good.

I watched a fun movie the other night. When in Rome is a romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. Other parts are played by some of my favorite comedians including Kristen’s in real life boyfriend, Dax Shepard.

Kristen plays Beth, a career girl who has good business sense but doesn’t fare as well in the romance department. While in Rome to attend her sister’s wedding, she has a pity party for herself and while doing so, takes a few coins from a fountain. Not realizing that the coins were thrown into the fountain in order to perpetuate a love spell brings on a mess for herself. Yes, the fountain is the “Fountain of Love”.

Taking the coins results in her being pursued by an unusual band of suitors. Danny Devito, Dax Shepard, Will Arnett and John Heder each have a crazy part in the movie. Danny Devito is a sausage magnate who is mesmerized with Beth. Dax Shepard is obsessed with his body and feels that Beth should feel the same. The scenarios lead to several hilarious moments. Will Arnett portrays an artist who paints rather large and provocative paintings of Beth all around town and then there is John Heder. From making e cigarette s disappear to stealing watches, he is a street magician like no other.

While her suitors make her life crazy, a truer love waits. This is a fun movie.

I was anxious to watch Alice In Wonderland because I enjoy the works of Tim Burton. It seems to me that his mind works differently than most in that he sees things in an animated sort of fashion. I usually work on my laptop while watching a movie or television show but I really didn’t feel like writing a review about rv repair or the latest and greatest travel spot and so I actually “watched” this movie. It helped that my favorite actor, Johnny Depp, was in this movie.

I hate to admit that I have never read the book, Alice In Wonderland and I have never seen the films, past or in recent years. I could not tell you what Alice in Wonderland was about. I now know!

What a wonderful story. 19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.

Adapted from the original book, where Alice dozes in a garden, awakened by a dithering white rabbit in waistcoat with pocket watch. Curious about the rabbit, she follows him and falls down a hole. The story takes one on an adventure where Alice faces peril and fun.

I recommend that you watch this movie not only for the fun story but for the interesting and fun tidbits for which Tim Burton is known.

Hubby and I just watched a great movie. I am always surprised at how quickly movies leave the theaters and are available on DVD.

Extraordinary Measures was a great movie. Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser portray the determined characters, Dr. Robert Stonehill and John Crowley, respectively. They discover that getting a drug produced takes the same manipulation as producing new industrial products. There is always some underhanded dealing as well as personality conflicts when trying to get investors to see things your way. From the back of the DVD folder, Together, this unlikely pair face impossible odds as they battle the entire medical establishment and time itself to find a cure before it is too late.

Tense, humorous, and enlightening. I highly recommend this movie.

I love the Hallmark Movie Channel. I thought I would be getting a few things accomplished already this morning but I turned on the television while washing dishes and now I have to find out the end of this movie. You can click here to learn about reviews of sleeping pills and you can check out IMDB.com to read more about this movie.

“The Incident” stars Walter Matthau, William Schallert and Harry Morgan. This made for tv movie held my interest as a person was accused of murder and the judge was intent on sentencing him to a hanging. I love a movie full of twists and turns.

This review is from Amazon.com:

During WWII German POWs were housed in camps across the USA. “The Incident” is set in a small Colorado town near such a camp, and things seem to be going along well enough until the universally liked small town doctor is murdered one night at the camp.

A suspect is identified, and wheels go in motion that produce high-level suspence and intrigue. Before you know it a Federal Judge (Harry Morgan) is in town, preparing to try the soldier for murder in a civilian court. The catch is this, in order to run a fair trial someone has to defend the soldier.

The judge pressures the local small-town lawyer (Walter Matthau) into defending the soldier. It looks like an open and shut case – there is a murder, a weapon, witnesses, and universal hatred toward the soldier, but is everything as it appears?

Enjoy this engaging movie. It’s definitely my all-time favorite Walter Matthau movie.

The story has interesting twists and turns, and produces strong emotion.

Definitely 5 stars! Great story, acting, and drama!