Mulan (1998)

This is my favourite Disney movie, hands down.  Now granted I have a personal attachment to this movie because that is all I watched (other than The Princess Bride) and my family and I still say some of the dialoge to each other.  (“Fa Mulan?! Present!”)  The songs will get stuck in your head, but in the best way possible.  Now that this is on Netflix Instant, go and relive some childhood moments with this hilarious tale about how a women saves her family by taking her father’s place in the Chinese Army.

4 out of 5 stars

The Bling Ring (2013)

I have waited to see this movie ever since I heard about the plot line of how five California teenagers rob celebrities’ homes.  Since the movie is based on true events, I was really interested and excited to go out and see this movie.  I have seen some of Sofia Coppola‘s other movies so I anticipated the slower moving plot line.  However, out of all her movies, Bling Ring would be one of my favourites.  It was interesting to see Emma Watson in it especially with her American accent.  I was also very impressed with the overall casting.  Just a fair warning, it is a slow movie.

3 out of 5 stars

Rushmore (1998)

This was such a typical Wes Anderson film because of the Indie style filming and script structure, and I loved it for that.  Rushmore is a movie about how teenager Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is put on academic probation at his prep school.  The film was shot in Houston, and being a from the city I absolutely loved seeing the local sites.  It was also at a great length for the plot line, and was wonderfully witty.  It is not my favourite Wes Anderson film (The Royal Tenenbaums being my favourite of his), but it was enjoyable overall.  If you liked movies such as Royal Tenenbaums and Submarine, you would love Rushmore.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Newsies (1992)

I seem to forget that this is a Disney movie.  This movie, starring a young Christian Bale, is about how a bunch of children help start a strike during the early 1900s in New York.  The singing and dancing is alright, but the story line moved rather quickly.  The casting was also good, but overall it was an alright movie.  I am more interested to see the Broadway production.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Monsters University (2013)

This movie was definitely was made to please the 17-25 year old age gap, and it did.  It was very clever in humor and the animation was brilliant as expected from Pixar.  As a college student I also appreciated the humor that was geared toward my age group (specifically the “finals week” scene).  It was a great length (thanks to its G rating), and I highly suggest you see a 9 p.m. or later showing to bypass all of the crying toddlers that are somehow still not in bed.  I was happily surprised that the movie kept up to its expectations and would highly recommend it to people of all ages.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Jerry Maguire (1996)

This classic is about how an well-known sports agent is reduced to having one client, an unpopular running back (Cuba Gooding Jr.).  If there is any reason to watch this movie it’s for the little kid, Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki).  There is also some funny, pop-culture moments like the “show me the money” scene.  Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. were very good as their respected characters, but other than that it was an alright movie.  I think it is worth watching, but not a must need to see movie.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Princess Bride (1987)

So this is an oldie but a personal favourite of mine.  I have watched this hilarious love story no joke about fifty times.  My family hates to watch this with me because I can quote the whole thing from beginning to end.  With that being said, I do realize that I am a little bias about this movie but none the less I think this is a movie that everyone should see before they die purely because of the “marriage. marriage is what brings us together…today” scene.  This movie is a classic that all ages can watch and laugh together, and it’s perfect for a lazy Sunday movie day.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

I now completely understand the Oscar hype for this movie.  It was a story (based on true events) about how Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) was trained to be a world class fighter by her trainer/manager Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood).  I can completely see why it won four Oscars at the 2005 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Actress.  My only quarrel was that the plot line was a little slow in the beginning however the gritty cinematography and the acting made up for it.  Snaps to you Clint Eastwood for directing and producing a brilliant film.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie List for 2013

This is my current running list of all the new movies that I have seen in 2013.

1. Zero Dark Thirty (2013)- 3.5 stars
2. Pitch Perfect (2012)- 3.5 stars
3. Big Fish (2003)- 4 stars
4. Young Adult (2011)- 2.5 stars
5. The Aviator (2004)- 3 stars
6. The Queen of Versailles (2012)- 3 stars
7. A Few Good Men (1992)- 3.5 stars
8. Hugo (2011)- 4 stars
9. Casablanca (1942)- 4 stars
10. Like Crazy (2011)- 3 stars
11. Django Unchained (2012)- 3.5 stars
12. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)- 3 stars
13. Warrior (2011)- 4.5 stars
14. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)- 3.5 stars
15. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)- 3 stars
16. Magic Mike (2012)- 3 stars
17. Star Wars Episode One: Phantom Menace (1999)- 2 stars
18. Star Wars Episode Two: Attack of the Clones (2001)- 3 stars
19. Star Wars Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith (2005) 3 stars
20. American Beauty (1999)- 4 stars
21. Blue Valentine (2010)- 4 stars
22. Terms of Endearment (1982)- 2.5 stars
23. Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious (2012)- 2 stars
24. Page One (2011)- 3.5 stars
25. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)- 4.5 stars
26. Jackass 3D (2010)- 4 stars
27. Milk (2008)- 4 stars
28. Lincoln (2012)- 4 stars
29. The Breakfast Club (1985)- 4 stars
30. The Great Gatsby (2013)- 3.5 stars
31. The Fifth Element (1997)- 2.5 stars
32. Love Actually (2003)- 4.5 stars
33. Shaun of the Dead (2004)- 3.5 stars
34. Heavyweights (1995)- 3.5 stars
35. My Week With Marilyn (2011)- 3.5 stars
36. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)- 2.5 stars
37. Psycho (1960)- 4 stars
38. Office Space (1999)- 2.5 stars
39. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)-2.5 stars
40. Now You See Me (2013)-3 stars
41. Kinky Boots (2003)- 3.5 stars
42. Ruby Sparks (2012)- 4 stars
43. Million Dollar Baby (2004)- 3.5 stars
44. The Princess Bride (1987)- 4.5 stars
45. Jerry Maguire (1996)- 2.5 stars
46. Monsters University (2013)-3.5 stars
47. Newsies (1992)- 2.5 stars
48. Rushmore (1998)- 3.5 stars
49. Hercules (1997)- 3 stars
50. The Bling Ring (2013)- 3 stars
51. Mulan (1998)- 4 stars
52. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)- 3 stars
53. Sideways (2004)- 3.5 stars
54. Ocean’s Twelve (2004)- 4 stars
55. Love Marilyn (2012)-3 stars
56. Liar Liar (1997)- 4 stars
57. What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting (2012)- 3.5 stars
58. Behind the Candelabra (2013)- 3.5 stars
59. Stand by Me (1987)- 4 stars
60. 50/50 (2011)- 3 stars
61. Speed (1994)- 2.5 stars
62. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)- 3.5 stars
63. Birdcage (1996)- 2.5 stars
64. October Sky (1999)- 4 stars
65. Fruitvale Station (2013)- 4 stars
66. The Way Way Back (2013)- 3.5 stars
67. The Departed (2006)- 4.5 stars
68. The Art of Getting By (2011)- 3 stars
69. The Truman Show (1998)- 4 stars
70. It’s Kinda a Funny Story (2010)- 3 stars
71. Bridget Jone’s Diary (2001)- 3.5 stars
72. The Kings of Summer (2013)- 3 stars
73. Atonement (2007)- 4 stars
74. Pride and Prejudice (2005)- 4 stars
75. Elizabeth (1998)- 2 stars
76. Emperor’s New Groove ()- 4 stars
77. The Spectacular Now (2013)- 3.5 stars
78. Gravity (2013)- 4 stars
79. Ghost (1990)- 4 stars
80. Notting Hill (1999)- 4 stars
81. Enough Said (2013)- 3.5 stars
82. Blackfish (2013)- 4 stars
83. Bridegroom (2013)- 3.5 stars
84. Half the Sky (2012)- 4.5 stars
85. Bully (2011)- 3 stars
86. Salinger (2013)- 3 stars
87. Whore’s Glory (2011)- 2.5 stars
88. Girl Most Likely (2012)- 1 star
89. Godfather (1972)- 4 stars
90. Annie Hall (1977)- 3.5 stars
91. Into the Wild (2007)- 3 stars
92. The Kids are Alright (2010)- 3 stars
93. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)- 4 stars
94. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)- 4 stars
95. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)- 3.5 stars

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

If you are looking for a book that will have your cackling out loud, then behold your new favourite book.  This story about this women’s dysfunctional upbringing is the funniest thing I have ever read.  I was on an airplane while reading this, and the guy sitting next to me asked if it is really that funny, and it really is.  The inappropriate humor is hysterical and perfect for light summer reading.