Pages

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Toy Story 3: Beyond Amazing




I finally got to see Toy Story 3. I went to an IMAX-3D showing. It exceeded my expectations to a point that I can't possibly explain in words. I absolutely loved it! This film is my favorite Disney-Pixar film and, in my opinion, the best Toy Story of them all.




I think this is the best movie that I have seen in a very long time. It deserves to win Best Picture, not just Best Animation. I'm not exaggerating its brilliance. The film has everything: emotion, humor, lovable characters, heart-wrenching scenes, you name it! If you have a chance to go out and see this film, then do it! You're missing out if you don't!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Happy Birthday: Billy Wilder!


Billy Wilder is tied as my most favorite director of all time with Alfred Hitchcock. Today, he would have been ridiculously old, 104!!!

Wilder was a genius. He wrote brilliant screenplays that never lacked quick, witty humor. I enjoy watching his films over and over again because the jokes never get old. 

Billy chatting with Audrey.

The magnificent writing duo: Wilder and Diamond.

Lemmon - Wilder



Billy displaying to Marilyn how to kiss Tony Curtis 
for a scene in Some Like it Hot; this cracks me up.

On the set of The Seven Year Itch.




Billy and Shirley on the set of The Apartment.







Friday, June 18, 2010

Toy Story


Guess what's coming out today?! That's right, Toy Story 3. I remember seeing the first Toy Story when it came out in 1995. I  became an instant fan of Disney-Pixar collaborations. What a great animated film. It's something that both children and adults can enjoy.

Toy Story is about a boy named Andy's favorite toy, a cowboy sheriff with a pull-string named Woody, who's life gets turned around after the arrival of a new fancy spaceman toy named Buzz Lightyear. Buzz believes himself to be an actual space-ranger, not a toy, and ignores Woody's welcoming to the toy family because he is set on completing his mission to return to his home planet. The other toys come to meet Buzz and instantly are impressed by him because of his flashiness. Andy is also impressed by this and he starts to like Buzz more than Woody. Consumed by jealously after witnessing Buzz's extreme popularity with the other toys and Andy, Woody tries to trap Buzz behind a gap in Andy's desk when he hears that Andy is only allowed to take one toy with him to an arcade. Buzz ends up falling out of the window and all of the toys accuse Woody of trying to murder him. Woody is saved by Andy, who ends up taking him when he cannot find Buzz. Buzz ends up hiding in the car and then attacking Woody, which leads to the both of them being lost. The two toys must learn to work through their differences and battle through some obstacles in order to get back home before Andy moves away.

This year, I took a course called Management in the Movies, which is a senior capstone course at my university. We were placed into groups in this class and we had to relate leadership and management skills displayed in a movie that can also be displayed in the workplace. Our Professor allowed us to choose our own movie because we felt that the movie choices we were provided were a bit boring. One of our group members' favorite movie happened to be Toy Story, so that's the one we chose.

It proved to be a fantastic choice. It allowed us to be very creative in our approach and present something that the entire class enjoyed, including the Professor. We decided to compare the leadership roles and skills exhibited by Woody and Buzz.


In Toy Story 2, Woody is stolen by a crazy toy collector to be sold as part of a collector's set that he is part of called Woody's Roundup, an old television show that did not stay on the air for long. Woody's Roundup consists of himself, Jessie the Cowgirl, Bullseye the horse, and Stinky Pete the Prospector. A museum in Tokyo wants to put all of them on display. At home, Woody's friends decide to set out on a rescue mission for him. Woody must decide whether he wants to be saved or sent to the museum to be marveled at forever by toy fans.


Toy Story 2 is enjoyable as well. Although, I prefer Toy Story 1 to it. I hope that Toy Story 3 will be good! It will be different with Andy going off to college and all. I wonder what will happen when he realizes that his toys have been sent to a Daycare? I can't imagine it being terrible because I haven't seen a Disney-Pixar collaboration yet that has lacked emotion, humor, or a meaningful story.











Thursday, June 10, 2010

Happy Birthday: Judy Garland


Judy Garland was born in 1922, her real name was Frances Ethel Gumm. She died June 22, 1969 from an accidental overdose. I haven't seen enough of her movies, but I love The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me in St. Louis. That trolley song from Meet Me in St. Louis will randomly pop into my head. I'm going to watch A Star is Born for the first time right now. Happy Birthday, Judy. How you never won an oscar, I'll never know.




















Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Happy Birthday: Johnny Depp


Today is Johnny Depp's 47th birthday. He is one of my favorite modern actors. He started out in one of my favorite horror films, Nightmare on Elm Street back in 1984. I saw Johnny in person when he was filming Public Enemies. I watched the entire filming of the end scene outside of the Biograph. I also saw him in the car as he was leaving the filming of a different scene. He rolled down the window, stuck his head out and waved to all of us who were standing out there. I almost died from happiness that day. I screamed things that I have no recollection of because I was in shock from seeing him, but I was told that I was screaming compliments. How thoughtful of me!














Thursday, June 3, 2010

Happy Birthday: Tony Curtis!

I've met the man once and I've listened to him speak twice. Some Like it Hot is my favorite Wilder movie and I love watching it and hearing anything about it. Tony is always kind to his fans, from what I have seen. He loves to tell stories! Happy 85th birthday, Tony!







Oh, Daphne! Don't wake Josephine!


Glamourous. 


Tony and Janet Leigh with Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.


Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis in The Defiant Ones (1958), fantastic movie.


Tony today, but usually he's wearing a cowboy hat.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Happy Birthday: Marilyn Monroe



I wish that I could make it to New York City this Friday, June 4. Erno Laszlo is throwing a huge Marilyn Monroe birthday party! She would have been turning 84 this year. I'll watch some of my favorite Marilyn movies today to celebrate, number one being Some Like it Hot. Happy Birthday Norma Jeane!