Houdini’s Magic Ticket Blogathon: What Movies Would You Visit?

Over at Top 10 Films, Dan Stephens has turned the idea from 1993’s Last Action Hero and turned it into a fun blogathon for us film fanatics.  In the film, starring Arnold Schwartznegger, a teenage boy uses the power of a magic ticket to transport himself into his favorite movie.  Stephens has posed a variety of fun questions for us film bloggers to ponder and the answers are fun to share.  Feel free to join in on your own blogs and in the comments.

What animated feature would you love to walk around in?

Rip off a bigger piece of Mike Wazowski’s chair and let me wander around the colorful world in Monsters Inc.  There’s plenty to explore through Monstropolis and an endless amount of children’s doors to pop though to scare them, or I could just make them laugh.  Plus, I imagine a fun jazzy beat plays there most of the time.

What character would you most like to be sat next to on a plane?

So it seems I’m on a long flight, window seat right next to Quint from Jaws.  The in-flight movie sucks, so we amuse ourselves by swapping harrowing tales about our scars over some strong drinks.  When we get a little too loud singing Show Me the Way to Go Home, the flight attendant only gets a little angry, just cause we’re so charming.  As she walks away, Quint raises his glass, “Here’s to swimmin’ with bow-legged women.”

What adventure would you most like to go on?

I’d be ready to go on any adventure (except that terrible 4th one about aliens) with Indiana Jones.  Snakes don’t bother me, so I’d be a perfect candidate to help him out down in the Well of Souls.  If he gets stuck in a room where spikes have come out of the ceiling, slowly coming down to impale and crush him, I won’t take my sweet time whining about the bugs.  Plus, I don’t need blocks on my feet to drive any getaway cars.

What movie gadget would you love to try out (or steal)?

Obviously, the neuralizer from Men in Black.  Have I caused a bit of a mess and now people are pissed and asking too many questions?  Just coyly put on some sunglasses and flash!  They have no memory of it, and I get to make up whatever story I want to get away with anything.

What one film would you most want to be transported into, simply to be a part of that world?

The nerd in me would have died and gone to a galaxy far, far away to be transported into the world of Star Wars.  Preferably, I’d end up in the old trilogy, fighting for the rebellion as an X-Wing pilot.  If I end up in the new trilogy, I’d enjoy some Old Republic Jedi training under Yoda and die as Anakin turns to the dark side.  No matter how fate goes, the force is still with me.

Wuthering Heights (Missing) & Nearing the End of the Project

Well darn, so close to the end of the project I hate to tell you that I’ve come across another film out of my grasp, but that’s just how it goes.  After getting roped into the first five minutes available on YouTube, I realized that the rest of the film was no where to be found.  So once again, any helpful hints on where to find Wuthering Heights would be most welcome.

Since I have a lack of film to talk about today, this seems like a good time to inform my loyal readers about real-life stuff and why things have been a little slow around here.  My life outside the blog has been very busy for the past few months, mostly because my husband and  I will be moving in a few weeks.  It’s been a challenge to fly 500 miles, house hunt, show my present house to sell and keep up consistently with the blog.  Many posts lately have been written on the road, but I won’t tell you which ones came from hotel rooms, strange coffee shops and airport terminals.

Even more exciting, if you look at that long list of years to the right, you’ll only find 2 years missing right now.  That means I’m extremely close to the end of this journey.  12 reviews to be exact.  Then I’ll review all the missing films I can, as I find them.  I almost can’t believe this is nearly over, but I’m ready to move on with bigger and better things.  Thanks loyal readers, and to newer readers, check out the ‘about the project’ page if you have any questions.

Good News!

Ah, wonderful to see my written words again, right?  Life is very busy right now, in fact, this post comes from on the road.  Rest assured, I’m working on my reviews for E.T. and Gandhi, so hard to do those films justice while I’m so distracted.  Look for one tomorrow.

Until then, the good news!  The lovely people at Movie Fanfare have reprinted my recent review of The Verdict.  Check it out here:  http://www.moviefanfare.com/fanfare-guests/the-verdict/

Brainiac? You callin’ me a nerd?

Over the weekend, it seems a council of movie bloggers have counted the votes and determined that The Best Picture Project has been nominated for the Large Association of Movie Blogs Brainiac Award, in their annual awards, The Lammys.  Described as the award for “Most intelligent/insightful/academic writer,” all I can say is, “Who, me?”  With my vocabulary that hasn’t really expanded since the 8th grade?  Awesome!

But in all sincerity, I’m humbled and quite honored.  Over 900 other blogs eligible for nomination, I somehow came out in the top seven brains.  My folks will be proud.

Congratulations to all my fellow nominated LAMBs and if you are a member of the LAMB, let me try to persuade your vote in a certain category.  Cast your final votes here:  http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/524932

Lammy Nomination Time

I’m not the kind that takes to self promotion too much, but it has been a long year here at The Best Picture Project.  The Lammys are quickly approaching and I even made a little poster, like visual candy, in hopes of luring fellow LAMB members to vote for me.  If you’ve followed the visual candy trail and clicked that link, welcome!  I think it’s best to explain why I would be worth nominating.  Here’s the categories I would consider this blog applicable for:

Best Blog- Really, this is just wishful thinking, but ah, what a dream.

Brainiac Award - I be a smrt sounding righter, no?  You reeds an’ decide.

Best Classic Film Blog - Constantly honoring nominated classics, some nearly lost and forgotten.

Best New Lamb - The Best Picture Project is officially Lamb #611.  Lucky number, right?

Best Movie Reviewer - All I do is review.  I hope I don’t suck at it.

Most Prolific - This will make post #416.  Just look to the right at all the completed years.  There are 5 reviews per year, 10 from 1934 to 1943 and 2010.

If anyone ever told me I’d ever write this much about one subject, I’d never believe them.  But for the past year, I’ve scheduled my entire life around watching every single Best Picture nominated film in it’s entirety and then writing a concise review for each of them.  When I travel or visit my family, I get up early to have some quiet time to write.  There is no vacation from the next film on my list, it’s always on my mind.  My husband’s Xbox disc drive has broken twice with all my DVD ins and outs.  In fact, I’m posting this during nap-time of my babysitting gig.  But my classic film vocabulary has increased by leaps and bounds and my movie bucket list has dramatically shrunk.

The list of films I have yet to see is growing so thin, I’m honestly starting to get worried about what to do with my life afterward.  A Lammy nomination, just that little banner to stick up in the right there would be an amazing accomplishment.  Then I’d have more fun things to explain to my mom, who lovingly supports my quest, but still has trouble finding my blog.

And my fellow LAMBs (sorry mom, only LAMB members can vote) vote for The Best Picture Project here:  http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/521956

Does This Make My Blog Look Fat?

The other day, I was lingering around the old coffee shop, scoring free snacks like a hobo from people who seem to pity me and my I-write-and-don’t-make-money-off-it status, when I see that my comrade, Marya over at Cinema-Fanatic has honored me with the “Stylish Blogger” award.  Now I feel cool again.  Maya’s amazing blog not only looks great, but is also all about the Oscars.  Seriously, check her work out, she has done some wonderful reviews.  Her Oscar Vault Mondays are some of my favorites.

Anyway, protocol says I’m now supposed to share 7 facts about me and then pass the blogging torch to 7 more Stylish Bloggers:

1.  I studied Graphic Design and Creative Writing in college.  Writing is my passion, which I stealthily worked into my curriculum around the design program and it turned into a second major.  I have the skills, but I consider writing my stronger asset.

2.  My pets include six beautiful fish, all male guppies.  Their names are Herbert, Jonathan, Nero, Donatello, Octavio and Monty.  I talk to them much more than sane people should.

3.  Throughout the course of this blog, the DVD drive on my husband’s X-Box has busted twice.  We finally invested in a real DVD player around August.

4.  My husband and I live in a small suburban neighborhood that was originally built for retired people.  We were not aware of that and stick out like young, unwrinkled thumbs.  The neighbors keep dying or moving to warmer climates before we get to know them.

5.   My first job was at a movie theater.  The midnight showing of Star Wars Episode III was one of the most harrowing experiences there.  That and putting out fires.  Literally.

6.  I stand at 4 feet 9.5 inches.  One day, I’d love to meet Danny DeVito, how tall is he again?

7.  People think I’m joking when I say I love Snakes on a Plane.  It just makes me so happy.

And you lucky stylish beasts of blogging:

1.  Ianthecool’s Movie Reviews

2.  Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear

3.  The Film Conqueror

4.  Fedoras and High Heels

5.  Does Writing Excuse Watching?

6.  Cine-blog

7.  My 2,500 Movies Challenge

More Good News!

Wouldn’t ya know? I’m featured again at MovieFanFare.com, this time for my review of Around the World in 80 Days.  Let’s celebrate and start the weekend early somehow!

Oooh, Look Over There!

Hmm, there seems to be a new, mysterious, ultra stealthy link to the right.  Possibly something wonderful at the other end?  Why yes!  Ronald has moved his Billie and Theodore fundraiser to IndieGoGo.  Might I suggest a few clicks so you can watch the trailer, read up about the project and even donate if your pockets are a little heavy?  Or just spread the word, you’ll see there are a lot of ways to do that.

You can consider each visit to that project a personal, virtual high five.    Help spread the word and you get all sorts of high fives too, without the need for any hand sanitizer.

I Sure Could Use a Distraction…

Have I gone AWOL?  Uh, no.  Sorry about the lack of content in the past few days.  Life happens, I’ve got real world things to do and other lame excuses.

In the mean time, that odd-fitting widget to the right has changed pictures hasn’t it?  There’s a brand-spankin’-new trailer up at the Billi and Theodore Kickstarter page, so check that out.  I promise it’s awesome and might tempt you to click some extra dough to help the project out.

Anyways, peace.

Oscar Films for Kids?

Realizing I had accidentally forgotten about the LAMB’s Summer Blog-a-thon event starting today, I searched for a way to celebrate my childhood film experiences while keeping to the theme of my Oscar nominations blog.  Thing is, there aren’t many kid-friendly movies nominated for Best Picture.  Luckily, I found eight films that had affected me as a kid and I would recommend for children:

Beauty and the Beast- I remember seeing it in theaters and being very weirded out at the mention of Gaston’s chesthair in song.  Belle was finally a Disney princess  I couldn’t completely despise; she read books, just like me, and therefore couldn’t be too stupid.  I think I was most thrilled when the Beast gave her the library; I still want a huge library.

Marry Poppins- Who didn’t watch this as a kid?  Half the fun is that first taste trying to say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  It was such a sense of jubilation when you could finally just let it roll off the tongue with ease.  And every time you got to hold the umbrella, you secretly hoped you’d just fly off to London.

Babe- This came out when I was ten and I didn’t I even tried to embrace this wonderfully cute film.  I think I was afraid it was too cute for big bad me.  But I do remember always letting my guard down during the scene where Babe is trying to sneak around the house and ends up covered with paint.  It just draws you in.

Jaws- I think my dad made sure I saw Jaws at an early age.  It instilled a fear of swimming in anything deeper than a blowup pool.  But there was also a respect for the water and a love for fishing that came along too.  Every kid should see Jaws while they’re still easy to scare.  It’s a lifetime experience your children will one day thank you for.

Star Wars- This film affected my family so much that my brother is named Lucas.  You just can’t make that up.  And what kid didn’t have lighsaber fights or jump on each other’s backs claiming to be Yoda?

E.T.- This may be one of the movies I watched the most before the age of ten.  I also remember that flying bike scene being inspiration for learning to ride a bike.  Part of me really thought I could just invite E.T. over so we could fly around in hoodies and turn my toys into some communication contraption.  When we had to first dissect frogs in school, my first thought was “Back to the river! Back to the forest!”  Unfortunately, they were already dead and couldn’t be saved.

The Wizard of Oz- The memory I have the most about The Wizard of Oz is all about my late grandma.  I don’t know how, but so many times when I would be visiting her the Wizard of Oz would come on tv.  She always knew some little fun facts about the movie and when my little sister was scared of the witch (I’d learned from Indiana Jones how to not act scared by then) she comforted her perfectly and always made just a comfy movie night into a special day.  I even remember a later time, while visiting her in the hospital The Wizard of Oz was on again.  Even in a hospital, grandma made it feel special, like home.

Raiders of the Lost Ark- This is to date my all time favorite film.  It sounds crazy, but Indiana Jones shaped my life.  It was the reason I climbed up on the doghouse and tried to snap a jumprope around a tree branch like a bullwhip.  When I was too big to be on the doghouse with dignity, I tried to channel Indiana’s bravery, quick wit and general death defying badassness whenever I could.  I still tip-toe around creaks in the floorboards like they’re booby-traps when I’m trying to be sneaky.  Raiders was the fuel behind most of my childhood misadventures, a few minor injuries and the reason I’m so proud of my tattered old leather jacket.  But unlike Indy, I’ve never been afraid of snakes.