movie: Urban Cowboy
starring:John Travolta, Scott Glenn
genre: Drama
year:1980
format: TV Edit
plot: When a young cowboy is injured during a construction job, he is left watching his marry fall apart.
It seems this is based on a news article.
A few things went through my mind while watching this. One, was the oddly repressive relationship between the main characters, their fight for domestic dominance. Each having their own ideas of what the relationship should be. Which, given the era the film was made, was a big theme in culture. Women finally getting a chance to prove themselves. And the other thing, was the beard. The first few minutes of the movie has Travolta wearing this thick beard that I'm guessing is suppose to represent him as a rebel. Which, seems to loose it's power once its shaved off, having his character become the one trying to conform everyone else.
It seemed to get a bit pointless after the first fifteen minutes, focusing on a bull riding event. I don't really know if that was the point of the movie itself, or just the way the tv edit angled it? But, that part of the movie sort of lost me. I wasn't too sure why the wife had the affair to begin with, or why she'd let herself go from the oppression of her marriage to the outright abusive relationship she ended up in?
what did I learn? I wish I had something deep and meaningful for this today, but I couldn't get past the beard.
Showing posts with label 1980. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1980. Show all posts
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
year 5 day 168 (Food n Flix July)
This month's Food n Flix selection is Popeye, and is being hosted by the Lawyer's Cookbook
The One Movie A Day Challenge part:
movie: Popeye
starring:Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall
genre:Comedy,
year:1980
format: online
plot: Popeye comes to a small port town looking for his long lost father. Along the way, he ends up adopting a baby and falling for the landlord's daughter. Soon, they find themselves battling Olive's ex boyfriend's rage, as he taxes her family into the ground.
Okay, I'm not going to lie, I had a difficult time sitting though this one. I've seen it once 36 years ago, when it first came out at the cinema, I was six. And didn't remember anything from it other then I hated it then. I honestly don't understand what it was that seemed to keep Shelley Duvall in movies back in the day? She's unfunny, untalented and like a walking skeleton. The only reason she got this film was because she looked like the cartoon character to begin with.
I heard a rumor that not only is this up for a remake, John Cena is up for the lead role of Popeye. (please let it be just a rumor) I think this movie should be buried under some dinosaur bones in a tar pit and forgotten it ever existed. But, if a remake happens, John Cena would make sense as the new Popeye. At lest he wouldn't have to pad his arms or anything. And how fitting, given I think a potted plant has more talent.
What do I think I learned? I will never like musicals ever.
The Food n' Flix part:
The Food: hamburgers, carrots, canned broccoli, salt, canned spinach, garlic, "olive oil and sweet peas", ketchup, milk, fish, potatoes, shrimp, chicken, meatballs, beer, bread, eggs, turkey leg, whiskey, mustard, rose punch, toothpick-sandwiches, tea, peanuts, popcorn, "castor oil", pea soup, octopus.
Okay, so my recipe got derailed four different times. The heat here has been unbearable, but I finally decided to give something a try, anything! Specially since I missed out last month. So I went pretty damn simple with a Garlic Mashed Potato Cake. Basically, it is a veggie version of a fish cake. Nothing special. But I did manage to use 4 of the items seen in the film.
I sliced up a couple large baking potatoes, and boiled them in salt water till soft, then drained them.
Added butter, minced garlic, and milk (I used almond milk)
and added a bit of chopped up onion and ground black pepper.
Shaped them, and fried in a bit of olive oil. They were quick, simple and so tasty.
And this is the part where I get to tell you, next month's selection is Hotel Transylvania 2...take a wild guess who's getting to host that one...right, right.
The One Movie A Day Challenge part:
movie: Popeye
starring:Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall
genre:Comedy,
year:1980
format: online
Okay, I'm not going to lie, I had a difficult time sitting though this one. I've seen it once 36 years ago, when it first came out at the cinema, I was six. And didn't remember anything from it other then I hated it then. I honestly don't understand what it was that seemed to keep Shelley Duvall in movies back in the day? She's unfunny, untalented and like a walking skeleton. The only reason she got this film was because she looked like the cartoon character to begin with.
I heard a rumor that not only is this up for a remake, John Cena is up for the lead role of Popeye. (please let it be just a rumor) I think this movie should be buried under some dinosaur bones in a tar pit and forgotten it ever existed. But, if a remake happens, John Cena would make sense as the new Popeye. At lest he wouldn't have to pad his arms or anything. And how fitting, given I think a potted plant has more talent.
What do I think I learned? I will never like musicals ever.
The Food n' Flix part:
The Food: hamburgers, carrots, canned broccoli, salt, canned spinach, garlic, "olive oil and sweet peas", ketchup, milk, fish, potatoes, shrimp, chicken, meatballs, beer, bread, eggs, turkey leg, whiskey, mustard, rose punch, toothpick-sandwiches, tea, peanuts, popcorn, "castor oil", pea soup, octopus.
Okay, so my recipe got derailed four different times. The heat here has been unbearable, but I finally decided to give something a try, anything! Specially since I missed out last month. So I went pretty damn simple with a Garlic Mashed Potato Cake. Basically, it is a veggie version of a fish cake. Nothing special. But I did manage to use 4 of the items seen in the film.
I sliced up a couple large baking potatoes, and boiled them in salt water till soft, then drained them.
and added a bit of chopped up onion and ground black pepper.
And this is the part where I get to tell you, next month's selection is Hotel Transylvania 2...take a wild guess who's getting to host that one...right, right.
Monday, February 1, 2016
year 5 day 61
movie: Private Benjamin
starring: Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan
genre: Comedy
year: 1980
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After her husband dies on their wedding night, a widow begins to fall apart and finds herself accidentally in the army.
We follow this chick who, at the start of everything has the life of her dreams, and five minutes later, living a nightmare. Cast out of her life because of a moment of stupidity; she's recruited by a snaky guy while still grieving, only to end up deciding to stay in the army because her parents would rather tell people she's in the psych ward. She then meets this guy who offers her the same life she always wanted, only on his terms.
I get that this is suppose to be a story about finding courage in yourself, and your place in the grand scheme of things, but I kept waiting for something to happen. It didn't really get good until she does decide to run off with the guy, which isn't until the last 20 minutes. It's only at that point that the lead character is forced to figure out who she is, and what she's honestly capable of. That's when she takes a real step back and asks herself if the life she's about to get into is her life or the life she's been expected to have?
The movie has a bit of an identity crisis, the first hour trying to be a comedy, and the last 20 minutes trying to be a drama, but never really finding it's balance. It's this big fluffy marshmallow of nothing, then all of a sudden, it decides it needs to tackle some heavy situations like sexual assault; which in turn flips the switch and leads the movie down another path. It's almost like two different movies were sliced together.
I can't say that I hated it, but I can't say that I loved it either. But I don't think I'd sit though it again on purpose.
what did I learn? Movies don't need to have "girl power" songs to prove their point.
starring: Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan
genre: Comedy
year: 1980
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After her husband dies on their wedding night, a widow begins to fall apart and finds herself accidentally in the army.
We follow this chick who, at the start of everything has the life of her dreams, and five minutes later, living a nightmare. Cast out of her life because of a moment of stupidity; she's recruited by a snaky guy while still grieving, only to end up deciding to stay in the army because her parents would rather tell people she's in the psych ward. She then meets this guy who offers her the same life she always wanted, only on his terms.
I get that this is suppose to be a story about finding courage in yourself, and your place in the grand scheme of things, but I kept waiting for something to happen. It didn't really get good until she does decide to run off with the guy, which isn't until the last 20 minutes. It's only at that point that the lead character is forced to figure out who she is, and what she's honestly capable of. That's when she takes a real step back and asks herself if the life she's about to get into is her life or the life she's been expected to have?
The movie has a bit of an identity crisis, the first hour trying to be a comedy, and the last 20 minutes trying to be a drama, but never really finding it's balance. It's this big fluffy marshmallow of nothing, then all of a sudden, it decides it needs to tackle some heavy situations like sexual assault; which in turn flips the switch and leads the movie down another path. It's almost like two different movies were sliced together.
I can't say that I hated it, but I can't say that I loved it either. But I don't think I'd sit though it again on purpose.
what did I learn? Movies don't need to have "girl power" songs to prove their point.
Monday, January 18, 2016
year 5 Day 47
movie: The Blue Lagoon
starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins
genre: Drama
year: 1980
format; Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After being shipwrecked on a island, two teens have to learn to survive.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
Okay, so I have to admit, this is the first time I've actually seen this movie. And I was expecting some big bad with the way it's always been talked about. I was actually disappointed to find there was nothing in this film. It was fairly uneventful. Even the big threat of the island hunters when they give a sacrifice was less then impressive.
You've got a story about two relatives, cousins, who end up abandoned after the one crew member of the shipwreck dies, leaving them to fend for themselves, on a nearly empty island. Completely unaware of everything, they end up still childlike, even as they mature.
So the big taboo in the story is incest, which given the fact they are cousins and it was a common practice until recently for cousins to marry, usually to keep the wealth in the family; and titles; I failed to see the earth shatteringness of it.
what did I learn? Don't always buy into the hype.
starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins
genre: Drama
year: 1980
format; Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After being shipwrecked on a island, two teens have to learn to survive.
This is based on the novel of the same name.
Okay, so I have to admit, this is the first time I've actually seen this movie. And I was expecting some big bad with the way it's always been talked about. I was actually disappointed to find there was nothing in this film. It was fairly uneventful. Even the big threat of the island hunters when they give a sacrifice was less then impressive.
You've got a story about two relatives, cousins, who end up abandoned after the one crew member of the shipwreck dies, leaving them to fend for themselves, on a nearly empty island. Completely unaware of everything, they end up still childlike, even as they mature.
So the big taboo in the story is incest, which given the fact they are cousins and it was a common practice until recently for cousins to marry, usually to keep the wealth in the family; and titles; I failed to see the earth shatteringness of it.
what did I learn? Don't always buy into the hype.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Random movie April 25th 2015
The Shining
plot: A family moves into a hotel for the winter, and slowly start to loose their grip on reality, realizing that the hotel is haunted.
This is the 1980/81 film staring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall based on the novel by Stephen King.
Okay, so after the documentary the other day, I just could not get the idea of this film out of my mind. It's been years since I sat down and watched it all the way through. I actually found the book creepier.
While watching it this time, ironically, I didn't have any of the theories in my mind that played out so well in the documentary. On the contrary, all I could think was how similar some of the scenes were to Nicholson's other two movies Witches of Eastwick and Wolf. There were just too many moments that were mirror images to things he did years later in those films.
Which brings me to mirrors. In one of the first scenes we see him go to the hotel bar. he passes a group of mirrors. The first and second mirrors have his reflection but not the third. And Duvall's character does not seem to have a reflection at all in any of her scenes until the end of the movie. It's almost as if she doesn't have a real self to loose.
Speaking of...bloody hell she's a terrible actor. Those big bug eyes...but she plays the character like she's in a coma. Don't know if that is how her character was meant to be played in this version, or if she's just that bad an actor?
What I saw in this movie, is pretty much what I've always seen in it. Guilt plus isolation plus addiction equals opening themselves up to receiving the ghosts. Becoming portals for their psychic abilities. You have to think, in order for the character of Danny to be that much of a medium, the parents have to have some abilities themselves.
What I see in this movie, is the idea that after Jack finds the scrapbook, he becomes so obsessed with it, that he begins to imagine himself in the lives of the people the scrapbook is about. Which, in this movie you only see one shot of the scrapbook on his desk open. There is also the possibility that he's hidden alcohol or drugs in the hotel and is back to his addictions.
The character of Wendy, never really sat right with me. Not just because the actor is terrible, but because there's just something sinister about her. I know she's portrayed as the victimized wife, but I always got the impression there was something darker about her. Like, she's the abuser. In this version of the story, she is the only one to actually draw first blood. Come to think of it, she draws blood twice before Jack ever does, and when Jack does, it's against another man.
Just once, I'd like to see this movie end with the character of Jack and his son getting away from Wendy, leaving her to the snow storm. How different would the story really be, if the roles were reversed? I could sit here and write hours worth but that's enough for today.
plot: A family moves into a hotel for the winter, and slowly start to loose their grip on reality, realizing that the hotel is haunted.
This is the 1980/81 film staring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall based on the novel by Stephen King.
Okay, so after the documentary the other day, I just could not get the idea of this film out of my mind. It's been years since I sat down and watched it all the way through. I actually found the book creepier.
While watching it this time, ironically, I didn't have any of the theories in my mind that played out so well in the documentary. On the contrary, all I could think was how similar some of the scenes were to Nicholson's other two movies Witches of Eastwick and Wolf. There were just too many moments that were mirror images to things he did years later in those films.
Which brings me to mirrors. In one of the first scenes we see him go to the hotel bar. he passes a group of mirrors. The first and second mirrors have his reflection but not the third. And Duvall's character does not seem to have a reflection at all in any of her scenes until the end of the movie. It's almost as if she doesn't have a real self to loose.
Speaking of...bloody hell she's a terrible actor. Those big bug eyes...but she plays the character like she's in a coma. Don't know if that is how her character was meant to be played in this version, or if she's just that bad an actor?
What I saw in this movie, is pretty much what I've always seen in it. Guilt plus isolation plus addiction equals opening themselves up to receiving the ghosts. Becoming portals for their psychic abilities. You have to think, in order for the character of Danny to be that much of a medium, the parents have to have some abilities themselves.
What I see in this movie, is the idea that after Jack finds the scrapbook, he becomes so obsessed with it, that he begins to imagine himself in the lives of the people the scrapbook is about. Which, in this movie you only see one shot of the scrapbook on his desk open. There is also the possibility that he's hidden alcohol or drugs in the hotel and is back to his addictions.
The character of Wendy, never really sat right with me. Not just because the actor is terrible, but because there's just something sinister about her. I know she's portrayed as the victimized wife, but I always got the impression there was something darker about her. Like, she's the abuser. In this version of the story, she is the only one to actually draw first blood. Come to think of it, she draws blood twice before Jack ever does, and when Jack does, it's against another man.
Just once, I'd like to see this movie end with the character of Jack and his son getting away from Wendy, leaving her to the snow storm. How different would the story really be, if the roles were reversed? I could sit here and write hours worth but that's enough for today.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Year 3 Day 64
movie: 9 to 5
starring: Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda
genre: Comedy
year: 1980
format: DVD
plot: Three overworked office employees get revenge on their lying sexist boss, while improving the working conditions at their office.
Who doesn't dream about getting some sort of revenge on their boss at some point? Almost 25 years after the release of it, and it's still funny, still relevant on a few levels.
I love that the Lily Tomlin character has this duality of being the "real boss" and having this dreaming fairy tale world to her. It shows a nice balance that most females have to manage.
Fonda's ability to do the physical comedy from the elevator gag to the chasing paper from the broken copier, sets the metaphor for how chaotic and fish out of water we all can feel when we find ourselves in a new environment, be it work or relationship.
There are some hints of Abbott and Costello gags in the middle of the movie, when the three leads are stealing a body from the morgue, which is the turning point for the story. Taking you out of the "fantasy" and into the reality of their situation.
What did I learn? You shouldn't bother with those fake sweeteners, they'll kill ya.
starring: Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda
genre: Comedy
year: 1980
format: DVD
plot: Three overworked office employees get revenge on their lying sexist boss, while improving the working conditions at their office.
Who doesn't dream about getting some sort of revenge on their boss at some point? Almost 25 years after the release of it, and it's still funny, still relevant on a few levels.
I love that the Lily Tomlin character has this duality of being the "real boss" and having this dreaming fairy tale world to her. It shows a nice balance that most females have to manage.
Fonda's ability to do the physical comedy from the elevator gag to the chasing paper from the broken copier, sets the metaphor for how chaotic and fish out of water we all can feel when we find ourselves in a new environment, be it work or relationship.
There are some hints of Abbott and Costello gags in the middle of the movie, when the three leads are stealing a body from the morgue, which is the turning point for the story. Taking you out of the "fantasy" and into the reality of their situation.
What did I learn? You shouldn't bother with those fake sweeteners, they'll kill ya.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Day 231
movie: Superman 2
starring: Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp
genre: Sci-fi,
year: 1980
format: Shaw Video On Demand
plot: the three criminals who were contained just before Krypton was destroyed, have been let free. Now, it's up to Superman to stop them from taking over Earth.
I've always favoured this film in the series.
There is something about the idea that a man would give up something for love, and that's what the lead does in this episode. Even though, what he gives up is the one thing that makes him truly who he is and what attracted Lois to him in the first place.
Again I come back to the duality of things in this film. This time, the idea that a normal person could uncover their god-like elements. This time in the use of the criminals having the same powers on Earth as superman.
I thought it played well showing that we're all capable of certain things, even when we're unaware of it.
what do i think i learned from this film?
I don't know if I learned much, but I do have questions after seeing this film. 1) What are we really willing to give up for someone we love? 2) Should we have to give up major parts of ourselves to be in a solid relationship?
starring: Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp
genre: Sci-fi,
year: 1980
format: Shaw Video On Demand
plot: the three criminals who were contained just before Krypton was destroyed, have been let free. Now, it's up to Superman to stop them from taking over Earth.
I've always favoured this film in the series.
There is something about the idea that a man would give up something for love, and that's what the lead does in this episode. Even though, what he gives up is the one thing that makes him truly who he is and what attracted Lois to him in the first place.
Again I come back to the duality of things in this film. This time, the idea that a normal person could uncover their god-like elements. This time in the use of the criminals having the same powers on Earth as superman.
I thought it played well showing that we're all capable of certain things, even when we're unaware of it.
what do i think i learned from this film?
I don't know if I learned much, but I do have questions after seeing this film. 1) What are we really willing to give up for someone we love? 2) Should we have to give up major parts of ourselves to be in a solid relationship?
Monday, May 28, 2012
Day 172
movie: Xanadu
starring: Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly
genre: Musical
year: 1980
format: Cineplex Digital
plot: One of the Greek Muses is given the task of inspiring an artist to open up a disco
Uh-humm... Okay, I'd never seen this film before, and now I'm wishing that I hadn't bothered.
There is little dialog and what there is, doesn't really give you much. This movie feels like it has a split personality, like it can not make up it's mind if it wants to be a 1940's style film or a 1980's rock video.
The whole time I was watching this, I kept thinking that it must have been based on a rock opera- broadway play... turns out there is a broadway play, but it didn't come out until 28 years after this film was made. Maybe the producers of this muck were just a few decades ahead of themselves?
what do i think i learned from this film?
Art is in the eye of the creator.
starring: Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly
genre: Musical
year: 1980
format: Cineplex Digital
Uh-humm... Okay, I'd never seen this film before, and now I'm wishing that I hadn't bothered.
There is little dialog and what there is, doesn't really give you much. This movie feels like it has a split personality, like it can not make up it's mind if it wants to be a 1940's style film or a 1980's rock video.
The whole time I was watching this, I kept thinking that it must have been based on a rock opera- broadway play... turns out there is a broadway play, but it didn't come out until 28 years after this film was made. Maybe the producers of this muck were just a few decades ahead of themselves?
what do i think i learned from this film?
Art is in the eye of the creator.
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