Practical Magic (1998)

If any young girl saw Practical Magic when it first came out, they fell in love with the idea of being a witch. I know I did. These witches weren't the green, wart on the nose, ugly, flying on a broomstick, with an evil cackle type. Those ugly witches we saw in the film The Witches in 1990.

Practical Magic is the story of two sisters who after their parents' death, move in with their Aunt's. While living there the Aunt's teach the girls magic. After they have grown up, the girls begin their lives away from home. Gillian Owens, played by Nicole Kidman, is full of life and a free spirit. She chooses the fun life and leaves home. Sally Owens, played by Sandra Bullock, wants to find happiness and chooses to stay home where it is comfortable. The Aunt's push a spell in Sally's direction which found her a good man to love, get married to, and have two daughters of her own. The witches in the Owens' family are affected by a terrible curse. If they hear the sound of the cricket, their husbands were doomed for an untimely death. Unfortunate for Sally, this curse is very real, that she witnesses. Sally and her two daughters move back in with the Aunt's. Sally is adamant that her girls never learn magic. 

Meanwhile, Gillian finds herself infatuated with a bad boy named Jimmy Angelov. However, the fun ends when he becomes abusive towards her. Sally goes to rescue her sister from the abuser, but Jimmy finds them and keeps the sisters hostage. The girls end up giving him too much of a sleeping drug and he is assumed dead. They race home, worried about the consequences, get the book of spells and find one to bring this man back to life. The spell seems to have worked, except that he is still dangerous and looking partially dead. They knock him out, and dispose of the evidence. It doesn't take long before a police officer meets the sisters and becomes suspicious of them. Now the girls have to find a way to "clean up their own mess." 

The performances in this film, I believe, are slightly exaggerated. Every actor in this film is meant for a little bit better. It's a cute film about mystery, love, enchantment, and magic. All great ingredients for the imagination. Nicole Kidman is excellent as free spirited Gillian, victimized by the handsome Goran Visnjic who played Jimmy Angelov. He is the bad boy young girls are curious about, and he plays that well! Sandra Bullock is always the girl next door, sweet, kindhearted, and always willing to do the right thing. Sally is the same way. At the end of the film, their bond as best friends, close sisters, prevails over evil. Who could hate a story that ends that way? 

The best part of the film for me is two parts. The first is when the Aunt's are watching the clock for their spell to take effect. Suddenly Sally, working in the garden at the Aunt's house, stops what she is doing, turns to town, and takes off running towards a man at the dock. He too stops what he is doing and starts walking down the street towards Sally, who is now right in front of him. Then she jumps into his arms and kisses him, Faith Hill's song "This Kiss" playing in the background. That is a magical moment. 

The second part I really love is when the Aunt's come home to find the mess is still not cleaned up, they ask Sally to round up as many women as possible to create a strong coven to force the spirit of Jimmy to leave. The family was always considered outcast because of their history in witchcraft. This was a chance for Sally to admit the truth about being witches to every woman in town to get them to come save her sister and bring a broom! Everyone came, enthusiastic that they were going to be a part of the magic. 

Overall this is a fun film, heart-warming, with something in it for the whole family. 

Be sure to catch a young Evan Rachel Wood as Sally's daughter Kylie. And the performances delivered by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the Aunt's, is very fun and magical. It almost makes you want family like them. Brownie's for breakfast, midnight margarita's, singing, dancing under the mood, wearing large hats, neutral colors, with long, luxurious, flowing hair which each girl has. Recommended for girls ages 8+.

The Long Way

On the nights I can't sleep, I want to watch a movie or program that takes me to a different place. My Mom introduced me to a reality program actor Ewan McGregor starred in called Long Way Round. Ewan and his friend, and fellow actor, Charley Boorman take two BMW GS Adventure motorcycles around the world. They begin their journey in London, England, and end in New York City, America. The trip lasts them almost four months, travelling through 13 countries.

The original idea came from Ewan who wanted to travel on motor bikes with his best mate, Charley. After discussing when and where this trip would take place, they decided to travel around the world. Ewan had read a book by Ted Simon called Jupiters Travels, which is a textual documentation of Ted Simons travels riding a motorbike around the world. This really inspired the motorbike enthusiast in Ewan to want to do a similar trip. Knowing how demanding this journey would be, they hired a crew to not only film as they go along, but join them traveling in their own vehicles. Two support vehicles with 2-3 camera men, the two producers of the show Russ Malkin and David Alexanian followed Ewan and Charley the entire way. Claudio Von Planta, a cameraman from Switzerland, was hired to ride a motorcycle  and join Ewan and Charley to film them more closely. The support vehicles allowed the bikes to travel on their own, and choosing to only meet at border crossings or they would travel together when the terrain became unsafe. They also hire what they call "fixers" who seem to be ambassadors. They hire one for each country to help with translation and security.

The footage that was captured is very honest, rough, and very exciting. Viewers would enjoy watching this if they love to travel, document their journey, and learn about the cultures they are traveling through. Long Way is a great example of the difference between a "tourist" and a "traveler." They camp with the locals in the towns they stay in, and even learn some Russian to help communication. I have been traveling since I was six months old, crossing oceans at four years old. Watching this program helps me expand on my future dreams of travel and experiencing cultures. The filming for the program also takes place in 2004, right after Ewan wrapped filming for Star Wars Episode III, so viewers get to endure many of his Obi Wan Kenobi references. 

Long Way Round, seems longer than Long Way Down, which was filmed in 2007. It feels as though it takes longer for progression because they keep getting held up in countries. In Long Way Down, they travel through more countries so it feels like it moves faster. They also frequent UNICEF projects throughout both seasons. In the first season, Ewan and Charley encounter the majority of their problems traveling through Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Road of Bones in far eastern Russia. During the early preparation of the first trip, the guys were testing bikes, deciding which motorcycle company they would go with. Representatives would come to their offices in London to discuss the journey, the terrain, and the possibilities of them not completing their trip due to high water levels in eastern Russia.
They were travelling in the summertime, and the bad winter that just passed has caused the river levels to be too high and a rick to cross. Ewan and Charley never felt that the journey was impossible, until they actually arrived at the Road of Bones. The program really captures just how dangerous it was to cross the rivers and how the crews teamwork helped them to safely overcome the challenge.

Right after Ewan and Charley arrived home from their first trip, Charley was quoted saying he would do the Dakar Rally in Africa if they successfully finished. Race to Dakar is the second installment in the box set of the series. Without Ewan in this part of the series, the humor is substantially lacking. However it is a very informative program. People have died in the past doing this race, and Charley spent a great deal of time getting in shape preparing him for the challenge. He sustained injuries while riding in Africa, but thankfully ended the race alive.

Ewan supported Charley at the finish line of the Dakar Rally. Which brings us to Long Way Down. After Ewan arrived in Africa, he knew he wanted to go back and really experience it. The second season begins filming in 2007 after the genocide began in Darfur. The guys were determined to go to Africa, and capture it's beauty, experience the cultures, and show us that there is nothing to be afraid of. Libya didn't allow the two American crew members to enter the country, so they had to travel separately for a few days meeting in Egypt instead. So perhaps, there is something for Americans to be afraid of?

I appreciate their trip to Africa more, because I personally have always admired Africa for it's beauty and wildlife. There is so much we don't know about Africa. Ewan and Charley visit a genocide museum in Rwanda to touch on this point. The museum is a church where people took refuge until they were burnt alive inside. A young woman who hosts at the museum tells the guys about what happened. They asked their "fixer" named Daddy, why didn't the rest of the world know about this? Why didn't we help? Daddy explained that there was so much going on at that time that Rwanda wasn't recognized. A fantastic highlight at this point in the series, is their meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. He talks about his childhood growing up in a refugee camp, becoming President and putting and end to the genocide.

The journey through Africa begins in John O'Groats, Scotland, a quick pit stop in London to reexamine the vehicles and what they had packed, then through France, Italy, then Africa. Their trip ends at Cape Town. 

If I want to forget my stress, and influence good dreams, I put in a DVD of the series and I can fall asleep in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, or under the citrus sunset in Africa. 

This series is great for the modern traveler, especially if you go camping or backpacking. It is a great education, and a generous dose of motivation!

 Russ, Charley, Ewan, and David

 Ewan, Claudio, and Charley

My Mother's Favorite Christmas Film

In recent years my Mother has developed a new tradition. Instead of having Christmas dinner then watching a holiday classic with family, she reaches for the one film that is the opposite of what we would call "heart-warming." This movie seriously makes me cringe. However, I can't deny that this film is also very well made. 

Bad Santa is not a film that puts me into the Christmas spirit. Instead I feel more like a scrooge trying to watch it with my Mom. She loves the dark comedy of this film. 

Bad Santa stars Billy Bob Thornton as Willie, a criminal Santa Claus at a mall planning a heist in the mall before the end of the holiday. He is a crude, bitter alcoholic who dislikes children. Billy plays him beautifully. If he wasn't a candidate for this role, you would have to get someone as equally diverse and dark like Willem Dafoe or Al Pacino. Even Christopher Walken would've contributed to the humor in this film. Billy is perfectly matched due to his rough appearance, and his ability to play male chauvinism well. I know, I hate to say it, but there is some truth to it! He is a rough looking guy we would expect to play a horny Christmas grouch. 

The late John Ritter's performance is the best! This was his last acting role since he passed away after the release of the film in 2003. Ritter plays the security chief at the mall. Ritter becomes suspicious of Willie due to his bad behavior at work, and pursues an investigation. Their relationship encourages a lot of the comedy in the script that follows.

Remember Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls? It was such an innocent television show where Lauren played Lorelai, the young Mom of Rory. In this film she plays the bartender Willie charms into sexual encounters. This doesn't take much because she just so happens to have a fetish for the jolly man in the suit! 

One little boy softens the heart of our Grinch. Thurman, a young, naive boy who is constantly bullied is the character I like, and feel sorry for. Eventually Willie teaches those bullies a lesson, but he is no saint! The rest of the film should be Willie growing his heart three sizes, leading to our happy ending. Maybe it does, at the same speed grass grows.

This film has the best actors to play really fun roles. You know they all had a really great time making the film. This is by no means a family film, this is for mature audiences only! The script is one of the best parts of the film. It has some great moments, very foul language, but very funny. I read somewhere that the Coen brothers were producers for this film. Their movies tend to be brilliant, an acquired taste, and for people like me, they take some getting used to. 

Have no fear, there is a sort of happy ending to this film. If you feel like changing up your Christmas movie playlist, add this one! You'll never see the mall Santa the same way again!

Rise of the Guardians

After my recent move home to Northern California, I began watching a new movie every night. One of them was Rise of the Guardians. I didn't want to watch a Christmas movie, with the holiday approaching, so I found something more tame.

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Just finished watching Rise of the Guardians. I wanted to watch something kind of in the Christmas spirit that would give me a few laughs. This film was perfect. It was so touching it brought me to tears! It is cute and fun, an excuse to embrace the child within and remind us to believe. It's worth watching! I loved it! Hugh Jackman as the Bunny was hilarious! Very well done! Full Australian accent too! Chris Pine made a great Jack Frost, and I love the ethnic Santa. Don't forget to watch the credits!

A film like this can bring the whole family together around the television. There is something in it for everyone of every age. The famous holiday figures were given a human-like quality that makes them practical creatures. Everything we have known our whole lives is given a higher purpose and meaning that makes sense. Why does the tooth fairy keep our teeth? Watch the film! Santa Claus is not only jolly, but also a tough fighter! The Easter Bunny has a strong personality too, he has militant experience! The Sandman is soft spoken. Makes sense if he helps us sleep. 

The premise of the film is the presence of the Boogie Man named Pitch (as in black), played by Jude Law. Don't roll your eyes yet! He threatens to frighten the people on Earth into believing in him and not our beloved seasonal guardians. If the adults and children stop believing in the guardians and believe in The Boogie Man, Pitch gains strength that can overthrow the guardians and they begin to disappear. To save their lives, and the people, the Moon chooses a new guardian to lead. Jack Frost has no idea why he was chosen, but he must learn from the others in order to defeat Pitch.

This idea goes back to when we were kids. To believe in something and have faith is ingrained within us. We want purpose, answers, understanding. St. Nicolas is our giver of gifts on Christmas, The Easter Bunny involves young ones in a religious holiday, the Tooth Fairy awards our early maturation by swapping our teeth with money, Sandman helps us sleep so Santa, Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy may perform their good deeds for us. Jack Frost? Even he doesn't know what his purpose is. 

Watch this film. It will touch the child within all of us, and make us believe again. 

Gold of the Seven Saints (1961)

I wrote this post on facebook after watching this film with my Uncle. He is a huge western film fan. Since moving closer to family for the holidays I have been bonding with my Uncle watching Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, and westerns.

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Watching Gold of the Seven Saints (1961) and I have to say, I like young Roger Moore in this! However, his efforts to hide his accent make him sound like a Caribbean pirate! Then again, some cowboys in these films are just wild west pirates. 

Overall the film was a lot of fun to watch. I personally get bored with some westerns, but this one had a lot of personality and humor, mostly provided by Roger Moore. I recommend watching this film, but take your time and have patience, the epic ending is worth the wait!

Saving Mr. Banks

I had originally posted this review on my facebook page for my friends to read. I was very excited to see this film for many reasons. I was working at the Disneyland Resort when John Lee Hancock filmed on location there. Since I was not working that morning, a buddy and I went to snoop around the filming area. We chatted with an extra at the end of the shoot. After leaving my buddy to meet up with someone else, I get a text from her saying I had just missed Tom Hanks. Gutted. If you look closely in the photo, Colin Hanks is there too! But still grateful to be present on that day. I am very passionate about Walt Disney's purpose and legacy. His big dreams have impacted many lives, including my own. This film is a gem!
PHOTO CREDIT TO Carmela Perez.

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Saving Mr. Banks was brilliant! Emma Thompson has really outdone herself! Perfect performance! You hated her and you empathized with her. Tom Hanks delivered well as Walt Disney. Some have said they both have the same twinkle in their eyes. I think it's more. They both have compassion and presence. A near polar opposite of P. L. Travers. In this we learn what made her the woman she is, but also how she grew up. I appreciate that certain elements of P. L. Travers were incorporated into Julie Andrews character Mary Poppins. Saving Mr. Banks adds depth, complexity and relate-ability to Mary Poppins.

Paul Giamatti had a smaller role than expected for his large hollywood name. However he did not disappoint. His role, although small, was very memorable. His character is the first to befriend P.L. Travers.

Colin Farrell too was excellent. I usually don't care for the films he makes. I always hope to see actors do what they are not used to. EX Kindergarten cop. In this Colin was fun, exciting, charming, and relate-able. When we understand Mrs. Travers' relationship with her father, we reflect on our own loved ones. Only then do we feel empathy for Mrs Travers, and forgiveness in ourselves. I love that during the credits they played a recording of the real Mrs. P. L. Travers and creators doing their first script read through. If you appreciate Mary Poppins now, you will more than appreciate her after seeing this film.

Julie Andrews, Walt Disney, and P.L. Travers

Baby Boom (1987)

How is everyone enjoying their day after Christmas? I refuse to leave the house today! I'm curled up in my recliner, wearing my college sweater, hair pulled up, my big blanket over me watching tv and feasting on left overs. Sounds pretty good?

Last night I was consumed by a new tv show I'd never seen before. It's called Homicide Hunter with Lt. Joe Kenda. I really liked Kenda's personality and presence. He has solved more than 400 homicides and mostly works out of Colorado. If you get a chance to catch the show, I know it will captivate you too!

Today I caught the film Baby Boom, from start to finish. I hate channel surfing and catching a good movie from the middle. An audience can develop a stronger appreciation for the film when seen in it's entirety. For me this film holds a lot of 1980s nostalgia. The music, the wardrobe, the perception that women are much too distracted by their personal lives to be a tiger in the fast paced workforce. The score for the film brings back great memories for me. Have you heard the main theme to this film? It's has a similarly strong melody like that of Forrest Gump. All you need is the first few notes of the tune before you recognize it and begin to hum along.

When I was a small child, I had learned how to use the VCR once I became tall enough to see it. I recognized the tapes we had based on the label. Although I couldn't read yet, I knew if it had 3 titles on it, what movies were on it, and in which order. Or if it had a colorful label on it, I would recognize it that way as well. I would play Baby Boom often. Not as often as Crocodile Dundee though! My Mom could tell you how often I wanted to watch that!

Now that I have seen Baby Boom as an adult, I can tell you it is still a great film. Diane Keaton has always been an exceptional actor, and she is what makes the film. In many ways she represents the working, American woman who strives for great success in a world run by men. The beginning of the film begins with a strong opening stasis. JC Wiatt is working hard to climb up the ladder at work, and almost gets there when she is offered a chance to become partner at the firm she works at. The inciting incident occurs when she has inherited a baby from a distant relative that passed away. Now what? How does the business woman balance both a baby and her fast paced job? She can't. The men at her work think she has become "too soft" and pass her partner position to her pupil. Offended she packs up and leaves, moves to the country with her baby to start anew. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong and she has a breakdown. Only now JC can persevere by starting her own business and creating her own major success. Here, in the country, she meets a man that challenges her emotions. He challenges her because she has never met a man like him, that will compliment her personally and professionally without any corporate competition. They never talk about business. At this point in the film, the strong, fearless woman we all sympathized with begins to go soft. It is almost too whimsical how she exhibits the emotions that of an immature schoolgirl when she encounters this man. And the awkwardness between them is too much for the big screen, but just right for the stage. If the chemistry between them was stronger, we would dismiss the level of awkwardness. There are also a few lines in the film that are just not relevant or demonstrate weakness for our heroine.

By the end of the film the firm competes for JC Wiatt's attention and she has to choose between her life in the country, or to go back to city corporate business. Our heroine is back on top! Finally. And the baby doesn't age over the course of JC's move to the country, building her home business empire, and achieving success.

Overall, this is a feel good, easy going film. It isn't intended to be more.

Christmas

Hello and Merry Christmas!

Welcome to my first blog and first entry. What else would be more fitting on Christmas Day, than to write about Christmas films? I was watching a "then and now" program on tv about the stars of A Christmas Story. They are all stars, because it was an unsuccessful film that became a smash hit once released on television. And why wouldn't it be a success? The family, Ralphie, the classmates and friends are all characters we can relate to. For me, I identify with the brother Randy. The baby, Mom's favorite, etc. Specifically the scene when his mother bundles him up for the snow so much he starts to scream and cry that he can't put his arms down! I was about 10 years old when I first went with my parents to see snow, my mother did the same. My snow pants were so stiff that I couldn't bend my legs to get out of the backseat of the car! I remember once I was in the car and driving I put on a jacket, scarf and gloves to keep me warm, and when we arrived, my mother opening the door for me to get out of the car, and I remember not being able to bend my legs to move. My Mom began laughing, and then she helped me simplify the padding.

Some of my friends on facebook began posting about their favorite Christmas films. They mentioned The Grinch, The Polar Express, or if you have no kids in the house you might be watching Bad Santa like my family. Although Bad Santa is a great film, it doesn't capture the essence of the holiday season for me personally. I enjoy classics like White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and the classically animated features usually on abc family. For me personally, nothing beats some Bing Crosby and a little magic to really make the season come to life. I recently watched Rise of the Guardians for the first time. It isn't a Christmas film, but it has the same emotional foundation as The Polar Express, and Miracle on 34th Street. It's the magic behind the holiday that keeps kids and their families involved. The magic contributes to their imagination. As children get older, the adults have the opportunity to educate them on the spirit of the season and Jesus Christ.

Perhaps these films are intended to remind us that Christmas isn't about novelty, but about family. Every film I have named above, shares the common denominator that no one should be alone or unhappy during the holidays. And it doesn't matter where you're from, the color of your skin, how much money you have, or if your heart happens to be 3 sizes too small, people come together to give, share, and love. It's the one time per year the magic consumes us, makes us feel good, and we have a sense of peace.

If only that magic lasted all year around.