Lessons from Doctor Who

If you didn't know already, I am a huge fan of Doctor Who. It's a freaking brilliant television show. The other day, I was chatting with my dear friend Joe (who is the guy who first introduced me to Doctor Who) and we were discussing tattoos and how I really want a Doctor Who quote tattooed on me somewhere. The only trouble is there are so many great quotes from Doctor Who that I'm not sure I could pick just one.

The thing is Doctor Who provides a lot of really great lessons/ideas/whatever you want to call them and I'm convinced if people watched Doctor Who and took those lessons/ideas/whatever to heart, I think (cliche aside) the world would be better. So here are some quotes from Doctor Who that have inspired me the most (and some I just like for the hell of it).


Can it be that I have the world entirely wrong?

Not wrong. There's just more to learn.

–Charles Dickens & The Doctor, "The Unquiet Dead"

1941. Right now, not very far from here, the German war machine is rolling up the map of Europe. Country after country, falling like dominoes. Nothing can stop it, nothing. Until one tiny, damp little island says "No. No, not here." A mouse in front of a lion. You're amazing, the lot of you. I don't know what you did to Hitler, but you frighten the hell out of me.

–The Doctor, "The Empty Child"

Then prove yourself, Doctor! What are you? Coward, or killer?
Coward. Any day.

–Dalek Emperor & The Doctor, "The Parting of Ways" 

The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world or a relationship, everything has its time. And everything ends.

–Sarah Jane, "School Reunion"

Some things are worth getting your heart broken for.

–Sarah Jane, "School Reunion"

Don't worry Reinette, it's just a nightmare. Everyone has nightmares; even big scary monsters from under the bed have nightmares, don't you, monster?
What do monsters have nightmares about?
Me! Ha!

–The Doctor & Reinette, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

What's a horse doing on a spaceship?
Mickey, what's pre-revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective!

–Mickey & The Doctor, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel.

–Reinette, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

They're people.
They were. 'Til they had all their humanity taken away. It's a living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body. With a heart of steel. All emotions removed.
Why no emotion?
Because it hurts.

–Rose & The Doctor, "Rise of the Cybermen"

How do we do that?
Oh, I'll think of something.
You're just making this up as you go along.
Yep. But I do it brilliantly.

–Mickey & The Doctor, "The Age of Steel"

But if this is the original, does that make it real? Does that make it the actual Devil?
Well, if that's what you want to believe. Maybe that's what the Devil is in the end: an idea.

–Ida & The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demi-gods and would-be gods. Out of all that, out of that whole pantheon, if I believe in one thing–just one thing–I believe in her.

–The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

I believe I haven't seen everything, I don't know. It's funny, isn't it? The things you make up—the rules. If that thing had said it came from beyond the universe I'd believe it, but before the universe... that's impossible. It doesn't fit in my rules. Still, that's why I keep traveling. To be proved wrong.

–The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

So, there you go. Turns out I've had the most terrible things happen. And the most brilliant things. Sometimes, well, I can't tell the difference. They're all the same thing. They're just me.

–Elton, "Love & Monsters"

When you're a kid, they tell you it's all "Grow up. Get a job. Get married. Get a house. Have a kid," and that's it.But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And so much madder...And so much better.

–Elton, "Love & Monsters"

Doctor, they've got guns.
And I haven't. Which makes me the better person, don't you think? They can shoot me dead but the moral high ground is mine.

–Rose & The Doctor, "Army of Ghosts"

You are proof...That emotions destroy.
Yeah, I am. Mind you, I quite like hope. Hope's a good emotion.

-Cyberman & The Doctor, "Doomsday"

You step on a butterfly, you change the human race.
Then don't step on any butterflies. What do you have against butterflies?

–Martha & The Doctor, "The Shakespeare Code"

Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that matters, it's the person.

–The Doctor, "The Lazarus Experiment" 

There's no such thing as an ordinary human.
–The Doctor, "The Lazarus Experiment"

People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey... stuff.

–The Doctor, "Blink"

Mankind doesn't need warfare and bloodshed to prove itself. Everyday life can provide honour and valour. Let's hope that from now on this country can find its heroes in smaller places. In the most ordinary of deeds.

–John Smith (The Doctor), "Human Nature"

Name?
General Staal of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet. "Staal The Undefeated!"
Oh that's no good. What if you get defeated? "Staal The Not-Quite-So-Undefeated-Any-More-But-Never-Mind?"

–The Doctor & General Stall, "The Sontaran Stratagem" 

We always have a choice.

–The Doctor, "The Doctor's Daughter"

You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!

–The Doctor, "Silence in the Library"

I never land on Sundays. Sundays are boring.

–The Doctor, "Silence in the Library"

I'm not scared.

'Course you're not! You're not afraid of anything. Box falls out of the sky, man falls out of the box, man eats fish custard. And look at you, just sitting there. So you know what I think.
What?
Must be a hell of a scary crack in your wall.

–Amelia & The Doctor, "The Eleventh Hour"

One little girl crying. So?
Crying silently. i mean children cry because they want attention. 'Cause they're hurt or afraid. When they cry silently it's 'cause they just can't stop.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Beast Below"

What are you going to do?
What I always do. Stay out of trouble. Badly.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Beast Below"

Now then. Rory. We need to talk about your fiancée. She tried to kiss me. Tell you what though, you're a lucky man. She's a great kisser...Funny how you can say something in your head and it sounds fine.

–The Doctor, "Vampires of Venice"

Anywhere you want. Any time you want. One condition: it has to be amazing.

–The Doctor, "Vampires of Venice"

That's the one thing that doesn't make sense. Let's go poke it with a stick.

–The Doctor, "Amy's Choice"

Excuse me, I'm making perfect sense. You're just not keeping up.

–The Doctor, "The Hungry Earth"

Lovely place to grow up 'round here.
I suppose. I want to live in the city one day. As soon as I'm old enough I'll be off.
I was the same way where I grew up.
Did you get away?
Yeah...
Do you ever miss it?
So much.

–The Doctor & Elliot, "The Hungry Earth"

Have you met monsters before?

Yeah.
Are you scared of them?
No. They're scared of me.

Elliot & The Doctor, "The Hungry Earth"

You know, it seems to me there's so much more to the world than the average eye's allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could ever have dreamed of.

–Vincent Van Gogh, "Vincent and the Doctor"

The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa. The bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant. And we definitely added to his pile of good things.

–The Doctor, "Vincent and the Doctor"

Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit weird?

They never really stop.

–Craig & The Doctor, "The Lodger"

Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy. In which case always ignore a coincidence.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

People fall out of the world sometimes but they always leave traces. Little things we can't quite account for. Faces in photographs. Luggage. Half-eaten meals. Rings. Nothing is ever forgotten, not completely. And if something can be remembered it can come back.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

The Universe is big. It's vast and complicated and ridiculous. And sometimes—very rarely—impossible things just happen and we call them miracles.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

Your girlfriend isn't more important than the whole universe.

She is to me!

–The Doctor & Rory, "The Big Bang"

You'll remember me a little. I'll be a story in your head. That's okay. We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh? 'Cause it was, you know. It was the best.

–The Doctor, "The Big Bang"

I hate you.
No you don't.

–River Song & The Doctor, "The Impossible Astronaut"

Yeah, right. Cursed. It's big with humans. It means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation.

–The Doctor, "The Curse of the Black Spot"

Biting's excellent! It's like kissing. Only there's a winner.

–Idris, "The Doctor's Wife"

You want to be forgiven.

Don't we all?

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Then you stole me. And I stole you.
I borrowed you.
Borrowing implies the eventual intention to return the thing that was taken. What makes you think I would ever give you back?

–Idris & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Okay, right. I don't... I really don't know what to do. That's a new feeling.

–The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

You didn't always take me where I wanted to go.
No, but I always took you where you needed to go.

–The Doctor & Idris, "The Doctor's Wife"

Look at you pair. It's always you and her isn't it? Long after the rest of us have gone. A boy and his box off to see the universe.
Well, you say that as if it's a bad thing. But honestly it's the best thing there is.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Yes, it's insane. And it's about to get even more insaner. Is that a word?

–The Doctor, "The Rebel Flesh"

Doctor I am frightened. I'm properly, properly scared.

Don't be. Hold on. We're coming for you, I swear. Whatever happens, however hard, however far, we will find you.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Almost People"

The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules.
Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many.

Madame Kovarium & The Doctor, "A Good Man Goes to War"

My whole brain just went "What the hell."

–The Doctor, "A Christmas Carol"

Oh, you should always waste time when you don't have any. Time is not the boss of you. Rule 408.

–The Doctor, "Let's Kill Hitler"

Don't run. Now I know you're scared. But never run when you're scared. Rule 7. Please.

–The Doctor, "Let's Kill Hitler"

That's what it's called. Pantophobia. Not fear of pants though, if that's what you're thinking. It's the fear of everything. Including pants, I suppose. In that case... Sorry. go on.

–The Doctor, "Night Terrors"

You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful and then you actually talk to them and five minutes later they're as dull as a brick? Then there's other people, when you meet them you think, "Not bad. They're okay." And then you get to know them and... and their face just sort of becomes them. Like their personality's written all over it. And they just turn into something so beautiful.

–Amy, "The Girl Who Waited"

It goes up, tiddly up! It goes down, diddly down. For only £49.99, which I personally think is a bit steep. But then again, it's your parent's cash and they'll only waste it on boring stuff like lamps and vegetables. Yawn!

–The Doctor, "Closing Time"

Doctor, are you going to kiss me?
Yes, Craig. Yes I am. Would you like that? Bit out of practice but I've had some wonderful feedback.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

Yeah, you always win. You always survive.
Those were the days.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You could be anything. You could walk amongst the stars. They don't actually look like that you know. They're a lot more impressive.You know when I was little like you I dreamt of the stars. Yeah. I think it's fair to say, in the language of your age, that I lived my dream. I owned the stage. Gave it a hundred and ten percent. I hope you have as much fun as I did, Alfie.

–The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You went back in time. That means you used up your hours. what about Exidor?
What about you being in trouble with Sophie when she comes back? I couldn't let that happen.
You used up your time for me?
Of course I did. You're me mate.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You mentioned a woman.
Yes. I'm getting to her.
What's she like? Attractive, I assume.
Hell. In high heels.

–Winston Churchill & The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

Why would you do this? Of all the things you've told me, this I find hardest to believe. Why? To invite your friends to see your death?
I had to die. I didn't have to die alone.

–Winston Churchill & The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

However dark it got, I'd turn around an there they'd be. If it's time to go, remember what you're leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me.

–The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

And you are forgiven. Always and completely forgiven.

–The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

Love you.

Mean it.

The Doctor Is In

Love you.
Mean it.

Summer Movies: Previews & Predictions

It's that glorious time of year for cinephiles. It's the time when we save up our hard earned income, live at the movie theaters and survive off a balanced diet of soda & popcorn. It's almost summer, which means summer movies! 

Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

I have taken the liberty of visiting apple trailers and picked out ones I am going to see, ones I'm going to avoid, and ones I haven't decided yet. If you're wondering why I not post the trailers here, it's not that I don't know how. It's that, when considering how many movies I'm going to go over, it's quite a feat & frankly, I'm lazy. So you can go and open up another tab on your browser and watch the movies yourself. I'm not going to do all the work, damnit. Also, it should be noted that these decisions have been mostly based upon the trailers, with a few also being supplemented by reading articles online or in Entertainment Weekly (which 1. I don't know why we have a subscription to Entertainment Weekly, and 2. Has a deceptive name since it comes out only bi-monthly and not "weekly").

Movies I Am Psyched Out of My Mind About

The High Cost of Living, May 13

First of all, it has Zach Braff playing a serious role as a chain-smoking drug dealer who hits a pregnant woman with his car. But he then tries to take care of her and make his & her life better. I'm trying to think of other movies Zach Braff has played a serious role in (The Last Kiss, Garden State(?) and...). But he looks like he pulls it off nicely. Of course, it may take a few minutes for me not to see him as J.T. from Scrubs but I have high hopes for this film. 

The Help, Aug. 12

Before you ask, no. I have not read the book. But I am going to (promise 3 times) before I see the movie. The trailer looked charming. Emma Stone is my new favorite actress. I love her in nearly everything she's been in and I think she will be awesome in this movie. She plays a reporter (triple awesome points!) who writes about the lives of the African-American servants, cooks, nannies, maids, etc. in Jackson, Mississippi during segregation. It really does look like it would be a great combination of fun and importance, blending its message with an overall entertaining story. I'm excited. 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Aug. 5

While it is true I'll see anything with James Franco, this looks so cool. Now, before you go all ape-shit (pun very much intended) about how the last remake Planet of the Apes (2001) was just awful (and, yes. It was pretty icky as movies go, despite it staring Mark Wahlberg & Tim Roth. You have to remember that it was directed by Tim Burton and while he may have had a few successes (see: Nightmare Before Christmas & Big Fish), it's basically a crap shoot whether he's going to turn out something awesome or an abortion of a movie (see: Sweeney Todd & Corpse Bride)) I promise you, this movie looks legitimately awesome. It's basic story is how we got from the present time to the "future" that Charlton Heston found himself in the original Planet of the Apes (1968) where *Spoiler Alert* Earth had been taken over by apes & monkeys. (The original is well worth your time if you haven't seen it. Just seeing Charlton Heston say, "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!") The CGI apes & monkeys look pretty realistic, which only adds to the unsettling factor of the whole story. 

Cowboys & Aliens, July 29

Two of my favorite genres, believe it or not, are science-fiction & westerns. These two rarely come together with pleasing results (the exception, of course, being the TV show Firefly and the movie based on the TV show Serenity (or was it the other way around? I always forget in these "chicken/egg" situations). However, this movie looks promising. I mean, with a title like Cowboys & Aliens it gets right to the point of the whole movie. Plus, I like Daniel Craig. He's rugged, stoic, and has the most enchanting blue eyes I have ever seen. And with the James Bond movies on hiatus until further notice *wipes away a tear* we need to see Craig in more kick-ass roles. I hope this one will suit him. 

The Perfect Host, July 1

This looks awesome! First, we don't get to see David Hyde Pierce nearly enough. He's brilliant. (I have a theory that a male actor with 3 names is always worth watching. Case in point: Neil Patrick Harris, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, etc.) In this role he plays a man who seems normal enough who is at home preparing for a "dinner party" when a bank robber bursts into his home looking for a place to hide. Pierce seems weak and willing to submit when suddenly things are not what they seem. Turns out all of the "guests" of Pierces's dinner party are figments of his demented imagination. The robber is now at the mercy of this off-balanced psycho, who, in classic David Hyde Pierce, is still a gentleman, which makes it all the more unsettling. Oooo! I'm excited!

Thor, May 6

Green Lantern, June 17

Captain America, July 22

Do I even need to explain to you all why I want to see these movies?  They're going to be awesome! First of all, I don't think I need to mention how much my level of dorkiness rises when talking about comic books (I am currently wearing a Green Lantern shirt. It's okay to feel jealous. I know I'm awesome). Now, add in my dorkiness over movies and I'm too dorky to function. They look really, really promising and I love love love that Ryan Reynolds is playing the Green Lantern. He's one of my favorites. Sigh, summers are awesome when you have 3 comic book movies to look forward to. 

Hesher, May 13

There are no words to describe how much I want to see this movie. Well, okay, I'm going to take a whack at it. This movie is a limited release, meaning it is not coming to Utah. The closest place it's showing is Denver. I am wiling to go to Denver (the current preferred mode of transportation is a train cause, c'mon, who doesn't love trains?) to see this film. It has Joseph Gordon-Leavitt & Natalie Portman (two of my favorite actors/actresses) and looks kick-ass. If you don't watch any other trailer from this list, watch that one. Do it now. I'll wait...You back? Good. Wasn't that awesome & well-worth the trip to Denver???

(Dis)Honorable Mentions 

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2--July 15
I know if I don’t throw this up there, there’s going to be an angry mob outside my house wearing robes (black ones a la Hogwarts, not white ones a la KKK) howling for my blood as they raise their store bought $50 wands in rage. The fact of the matter is I stopped watching the movies after the third one. I’m not a huge fan of when they take books I’ve read & loved and turn them into movies. This is especially true when it’s a series. I invested a lot of time and emotion into reading those books. And I don’t care if you have Martin Scorcesee directing them (hmmm... that would be interesting...). It’s not going to be as good as the books. Period. But if there are people out there who will dress up and wait in line for hours to see the midnight showing, more power to you. Those people did the same for the book releases, which I think is pretty kick-ass & needs to happen more. 

Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides--May 20th
First of all, really? You guys have already sucked this franchise into one really good movie, one rather lame, mediocre movie, and one more decent movie. Now you’re going to keep going? How many more nonsensical hole-filled plot-lines can you guys shell out? Don’t get me wrong. The first Pirates movie was delightful. I like Captain Jack Sparrow as much as the next person. But, as with most trilogies that weren’t originally planned to be trilogies, it was all down hill from there. It’s time to bury the dead horse and stop beating the poor thing, okay?

Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon--July 1
No, Michael Bay. No. Did you see that last abortion you called a Transformer movie? I mean, I know you’re a fan of explosions and so am I. But it was a little much for me (and that’s saying something). And did you really have to hypersexualize Megan Fox that much i.e. doesn’t she know there is no motorcycle repair that requires you to lie out on the seat of the bike in shorts that are better suited for underwear? (Trust me, I know this for a fact). I mean, I know she’s not the best actress in the universe (i.e. she’s just awful) but she is a person, not an object for men to fantasize over later. Not to mention, a Transformer that “needs” to have testicles swinging from its loins is just stupid. You did graduate from fifth grade, didn’t you Mr. Bay? So no, I will not see your third attempt at a Transformer movie. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... 

X-Men: First Class, June 3
I’m sorry, I didn’t see the third X-Men movie or the one that focused on Wolverine. I was bored with the franchise. It wasn’t nearly as cool as I thought it would be. You can chalk that up to high expectations or me being a film snob. Whatever. 

Horrible, Horrible, Dear God, How Were These Allowed To Be Created, Movies to Avoid 

Bridesmaids, May 13
Basically the Hangover but with chicks. Yawn.

Bad Teacher, June 24
It’s about a horrible, horrible teacher (played by Diaz, who is possibly the worst actress ever) who suddenly starts teaching her kids (in horrible, horrible ways) so she can win a bonus for the highest test scores so she can get a boob job to impress a new good teacher (Timberlake). Call up the Academy right now!

Friends with Benefits, July 22
Didn’t they already make this movie? **cough, cough, No Strings Attached, cough, cough**

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, Aug. 14
Really, Robert Rodriguez? Don’t get me wrong, I like your stuff but, really? Anytime you have to attach the number 4 to a title (or 3 or even 2 for that matter), you really need to think it over. Ask yourself “Is this Toy Story?” If the answer is no, step away from the movie.

Meh, I Could Go Either Way (That’s what she said)

The Tree of Life, May 27 

I’ve watched the trailer for this movie several times and ever time I do, I am uncomfortable for some unknown reason. I don’t know if that will be how it feels during the entire course of the movie or just a fluke with the trailer.

Midnight in Paris, May 20
Looks like an interesting enough story. But it’s a drama & it has Luke Wilson so you can understand my initial skepticism.

The Big Bang, May 13
Might be a fun movie to see. There won’t be much of a plot but at least it knows that. It looks good in that post-modern, ironic, wink-wink kind of way, which can be enjoyable.

Everything Must Go, May 13
I love Raymond Carver’s stories (I just finished the collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Great stuff.) but I’m hesitant to go see this. Basically cause Will Ferrell seems to be more “Will Ferrell” than is necessary for this role. I mean, I know he can do drama (see: Stranger Than Fiction) but the reason he was so delightful in that movie was he didn’t seem like he was exhausting himself trying to get us to laugh and in that sense, Everything Must Go feels tired.

Beginners, June 3
I like Ewan McGregor and the plot looks interesting enough. I might give it a shot.

A Better Life, June 24
A remake of The Bicycle Thief, if I’ve ever seen one. 

Mr. Popper’s Penguins, June 17
I loved this book growing up. I’m skeptical but keeping my fingers crossed. Plus it has Angela Lansbury! Who can say no to that???

Another Earth, July 22
Looks interesting enough... But I need more info before dedicating myself.

The Hangover II, May 26

The first one was pretty funny but, again, unless movies were originally meant to have a sequel or be a trilogy, I'm hesitant and skeptical. I don't know. Maybe it'll be good? The trailer looks like a rehashing of all the same jokes delivered in a different context. I'll keep my fingers crossed but I won't be surprised if it sucks. 

Movies That Have Already Come Out But I Haven't Got Around To Seeing Them Yet But I Will. I Promise. Three Times.

The Bang Bang Club, April 22

I bet this movie has a limited release but looks well worth the time and effort to see it. It looks gritty, unsettling, moving, poignant, raw, and honest. I will see this movie. 

HANNA, April 8

I've heard excellent things about this movie & seems to be just up my alley: violence, corrupted government, powerful not-hypersexualized leading lady. Good stuff. 

The Music Never Stopped, March 18

After I saw the trailer for the first time, I described it as charming and delightful. As I've mentioned before, I don't know shit about popular music. But this film looks like a great way to learn, while also enjoying a great story. 

Conspicuously Missing Movies 

Anything that’s horror. I don’t do horror unless it’s at home and I have a guy’s arm to bury my face into.

So that's it, dear & faithful readers. I'll be surprised if you were able to get through all of this. I'll be even more surprised if you're not concerned over how intense my love of movies is. But it's okay. I'm just as God (or whoever/whatever) made me. 

Love you. 

Mean it. 

Cinematic Lessons

Being the Cinephile that I am, I spend copious amounts of time watching movies. If I took all the time I've spent watching movies and used it for something more productive, I'm pretty sure I would've cured cancer by now.

However, this is not to say I haven't learned something from all the movies I have seen. Movies have this ability to show us what really matters. Picasso once said, "Art is the lie that makes us realize the truth." Movies, as an art-form, are able to teach us lessons in truth that stick with us. Sometimes these are just one line from the movie. But it does stick with us. So, without further ado, here is a list of lessons movies have taught me. 

1. It's not personal. It's business. -The Godfather
2. Don't ever take sides against the family. -The Godfather
3. It's time to nut up or shut up. -Zombieland
4. Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. -Fight Club
5. There are 24 usable hours in every day, thank you. -Empire Records
6. In this life, there are nothing but possibilities. -Empire Records
7. I do not regret the things I have done but those I did not do. -Empire Records
8. Don't fuck with the people who handle your food. -Waiting
9. Even the Mona Lisa is falling apart. -Fight Club
10. Evey: Who are you? V: What I am is a man in a mask. Evey: Well, I can see that. V: Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. -V for Vendetta
11. Evey: Is everything a joke to you, Gordon? Gordon: Only the things that matter. -V for Vendetta
12. Delia: Is it too late to apologize? V: Never. Delia: I'm so sorry. -V for Vendetta
13. Valerie: It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years I had roses and apologized to no one. -V for Vendetta
14. This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time. -Fight Club
15. On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. -Fight Club
16. The things you own end up owning you. -Fight Club
17. Now, we must all fear evil men. But there's another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. -Boondock Saints
18. You're right, actually. I am pretty, --I am pretty troubled and I'm, I'm pretty confused. But I...and I'm afraid. Really, really afraid. Really afraid. But I...I think you're the fucking antichrist. -Donnie Darko
19. What is learning? It's paying attention. It's opening you up to the big ball of shit we call life. And what's the worst thing that could happen is you get bit in the ass. Well, let me tell you, my ass looks like hamburger meat but I can still sit down. -Accepted
20. We all end up dead. It's just a question of how and why. -Braveheart
21. Mister, you got a lot to learn about people. -Silverado 
22. I've got a touch of hangover, bureaucrat. Don't push me. -McLintock
23. Hans: This time John Wayne does not walk into the sunset with Grace Kelly. John: That was Gary Cooper, asshole. -Die Hard
24. If you get all of us together, we ain't got a gang. We've got an army. -Gangs of New York
25. When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die. -Gangs of New York
26. Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have fucked with? That's me. -Gran Torino
27. Thao: What was it like to kill someone? Walt: You don't want to know. -Gran Torino
28. The thing that haunts a guy is the stuff he wasn't ordered to do. -Gran Torino
29. You know the best part? It isn't knowing that your friends have your back. It's knowing that you have your friends' back. -Greenstreet Hooligans 
30. Good friends are one of life's blessings. Don't give them up without a fight. -Harriet the Spy
31. It's the wood that should fear your hand, not the other way around. No wonder you can't do it, you acquiesce defeat before you even begin. -Kill Bill, Vol. II
32. Plank: Ah! They fucking shot me! Dog: Well, fucking shoot 'em back! -Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
33. You shook Sinatra's hand. You should know better. -Ocean's Thirteen
34. Well, be careful, man. Be careful. Wear shoes in the house. Safety. Safety first, then teamwork. -Pineapple Express
35. Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. -The Princess Bride
36. Half of writing history is hiding the truth. -Serenity
37. I don't care what you believe in, just believe in it. -Serenity
38. You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity. -Snatch
39. Desperation is a stinky cologne. -Super Troopers
40. I'm not too worried about it, really. I wouldn't worry about it. Don't worry about it. I'm not worried at all. 
41. Because it's a book about a man who doesn't know he's about to die. And then he dies. But if a man does know he's about to die and dies anyway, dies,--dies willingly, knowing that he could stop it, then-- I mean, isn't that the type of man who you want to keep alive? -Stranger than Fiction 
42. As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick. -Stranger than Fiction
43. Dr. Hilbert: Hell, Harold. You could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted. Harold: What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes? Dr. Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that the answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led...and, of course, the quality of the pancakes. -Stranger than Fiction. 
44. We're having too good a time today. We ain't thinking about tomorrow. -Public Enemies
45. I know your head aches; I know you're tired; I know your nerves are as raw as meat in a butcher's window. But think what you're trying to accomplish. Think what you're dealing with. The majesty and grandeur of the English language, it's the greatest possession we have. The noblest thoughts that ever flowed through the hearts of men are contained in its extraordinary, imaginative, and musical mixtures of sounds. And that's what you've set yourself out to conquer Eliza. And conquer it you will. -My Fair Lady
46. There's a time when a man needs to fight, and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny is lost...the ship has sailed and only a fool would continue. Truth is...I've always been a fool. -Big Fish
47. See, to him, there's only two women: your mother and everyone else. -Big Fish
48. You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. -The Dark Knight
49. If you're good at something, never do it for free. -The Dark Knight
50. If you can't do something smart, do something right. -Serenity
51. Life is a banquet, and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death. -Mame
52. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. -Ferris Bueller's Day Off
53. Judy: Love means never having to say you're sorry. Howard: That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. -What's Up, Doc?
54. Terry Benedict: The last time we talked, you hung up on me. Rusty Ryan: You used nasty words. -Ocean's Twelve
55. It's amazing how fast the world can go from bad to total shit storm. -Zombieland

Love you.

Mean it. 

160 Movies I Love, Presented Without Comment or Explanation (in no particular order)

1. Citizen Kane
2. Casablanca
3. Psycho (1960)
4. The Godfather
5. The Godfather Part II
6. On the Waterfront
7. It's a Wonderful Life
8. Sleuth (2007)
9. Some Like it Hot
10. Airplane
11. Babe
12. Annie Hall
13. Big Fish
14. Fargo
15. The Birds
16. Boondock Saints
17. The Bourne Trilogy
18. The Brothers Bloom
19. Crazy Heart
20. The Departed
21. Sunset Boulevard
22. Kick-Ass
23. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
24. Dr. Strangelove
25. Empire Records
26. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
27. Smokin Aces
28. To Kill a Mockingbird
29. Rear Window
30. North by Northwest 
31. True Grit (2010)
32. Black Swan
33. Big Jake
34. Taxi Driver
35. Accepted
36. Live Free or Die Hard
37. Jaws
38. The Great Dictator 
39. Modern Times
40. The Gold Rush
41. Benny & Joon
42. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
43. Fight Club
44. Frost/Nixon
45. Forrest Gump
46. Gangs of New York
47. Garden State
48. Singin' in the Rain
49. Gladiator 
50. No Country for Old Men
51. Raiders of the Lost Ark
52. Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade
53. Dirty Harry
54. I.Q.
55. While You Were Sleeping
56. 10 Things I Hate About You
57. Stagecoach
58. Silence of the Lambs
59. Gran Torino
60. Goodfellas
61. Stranger than Fiction
62. Anchorman
63. Reservoir Dogs
64. Pulp Fiction
65. Kill Bill
66. Kill Bill Part II
67. Inglourious Basterds 
68. Sin City
69. Once Upon a Time in Mexico
70. Star Trek
71. Ben-Hur
72. Unforgiven
73. Zombieland
74. Good Will Hunting
75. Gone Baby Gone
76. Lucky # Slevin
77. Green Street Hooligans
78. Hellboy
79. Hero
80. The Hurt Locker
81. The Shawshank Redemption
82. 12 Angry Men
83. Rudy
84. Braveheart
85. Hotel Rwanda
86. Arsenic and Old Lace
87. Gladiator
88. The Court Jester
89. Chinatown
90. Ferris Bueler's Day Off
91. What's Up, Doc?
92. The Gods Must Be Crazy
93. The Trouble with Harry
94. Wait Until Dark
95. On Golden Pond
96. A Lion in Winter (1968)
97. The Glass Menagerie
98. The Rainmaker (1956)
99. The Invention of Lying
100. Kung Fu Panda
101. Lars and the Real Girl
102. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
103. The Magnificent Seven
104. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
105. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World
106. No Time for Sergeants
107. What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
108. Gattica 
109. Reality Bites
110. Strangers on a Plane
111. Moon
112. Ocean's 11 & 13 (screw 12)
113. Pan's Labyrinth 
114. Pineapple Express
115. The Princess Bride
116. Reign of Fire
117. A Scanner Darkly
118. Serenity
119. Secret Window
120. Shaun of the Dead
121. Snatch
122. Stardust
123. Super Troopers
124. Sunshine Cleaning
125. Taming of the Shrew (1976, Not the Elizabeth Taylor version)
126. Toy Story 1, 2, 3
127. Finding Nemo
128. Underworld 
129. The Untouchables
130. V for Vendetta
131. Romeo + Juliet 
132. A-Team
133. Batman 
134. Batman Returns
135. The Dark Knight
136. Date Night
137. Despicable Me
138. Doubt
139. Easy A
140. Howl
141. How to Train Your Dragon
142. Inception
143. The Machinist
144. Memento
145. Monsters vs. Aliens
146. Newsies
147. The Other Guys
148. Get Smart
149. RED
150. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
151. Tangled
152. The Hunt for Red October
153. Baby Mama
154. Mean Girls
155. The Proposal
156. Invictus
157. Waiting...
158. Alien & Aliens
159. Die Hard
160. Casino Royale

Love you.

Mean it. 

"Fill Your Hands, You Son of a Bitch!"

As I promised in my last post, here is the part where I talk about the movie True Grit, which I saw last night. It was pretty much one of the best movies of the year.

I love the Coen brothers and love nearly everything they've ever done (e.g. No Country for Old Men, The Ladykillers, O Brother, Where Art Thou, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Raising Arizona). There style, their stories, their choices are great examples of why I love watching movies. When I first heard that there was going to be a retelling of True Grit, a moment of panic gripped my heart. I was raised on John Wayne and his True Grit (1969) is one of my favorite. I was terrified they were going to ruin the film that finally gave Wayne his only Oscar. (Though there is a belief that Wayne's Oscar for this film was a "sentimental choice, more in recognition of his forty year career." You can read more here.) But when I found out the Coen brothers were writing and directing, I calmed down a little. When I found out that Jeff Bridges was to play Rooster, I was not only completely at ease but also very excited. This movie was going to be awesome!

The Coen brothers masterfully brought in the elements they are known for and that I love so much. One of which was that the characters are so real yet sympathetic. I loved Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) in this movie way more than the Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) from the original. First, she really did look like she was 14, which is closer to the book the movie is based on.  Second, her tenacity was so intense yet she was also so likable. It reminded me of Margie from the movie Fargo, which was also written & directed by the Coen brothers. Both women (though one is a woman and one is just a girl) are strong, assertive, and stubborn but are so likable, kind, and never cross the line of being a complete bitch or a whiny little baby. Steinfeld's Mattie was a brave yet kind character. Even when she was kidnapped by a posse, she keeps her wits about her. She even offers the ringleader of the posse her lawyer should she ever be caught. Darby's Mattie was just being pathetic.

One of the biggest differences between Steinfeld's Mattie and Darby's Mattie was she didn't hide behind her talk of her lawyer. Yes, she did bring him up but she didn't use him as a shield to hide behind. The only time she really used him as a weapon was when she was talking to the business man about the ponies her father had purchased. The 1969 Mattie would often use talk of her lawyer to try and reason (or threaten) the bad guys. It was pathetic and way overdone. They're bad guys. They don't care about lawyers, especially out in the middle of nowhere. It caused me to dislike Darby's Mattie. She was whiny and rather annoying. While watching Steinfeld's performance, I got the feeling that Mattie wanted a man with "grit" because he had to be able to match her own.

Like I mentioned earlier, these characters were so real and genuine. I felt like in the 1969 version, the characters are so over the top, hammy, and rather silly in comparison to this 2010 version. Here we see Bridges's Rooster Cogburn, warts and all, and we still like him because he is genuine. The one thing I'm still debating about is whose performance (Wayne's or Bridges's) I liked better when it came to his tenderness (I wouldn't go as far as to call it "love") towards Mattie. I loved Bridges when he stopped LaBoeuf from spanking Mattie by threatening to shoot him. I can't remember the exact words but he basically tells him if he doesn't stop, "it'll be the biggest mistake you ever made." There was something about the way Bridges's acted before he said that line and even while he said it. There was a realization, an epiphany that this girl had "grit." In the 1969 version, after Rooster and LaBoeuf watch Mattie cross the river,  Rooster (Wayne) says, "By God. She reminds me of me." I believe this is part of the reason Rooster begins to care for Mattie. However, near the climax of the film, when Rooster has to carry Mattie to get help after she is bitten by a rattlesnake and the horse has died from exhaustion, Bridges can't hold a candle to the emotional power Wayne's performance gave. Seeing the Wayne's concern for his "Baby Sister" and the lack of concern for himself is just awe-inspiring, though I will say Bridges's does give a fantastic performance. He makes your heart ache after the horse dies but he keeps going.

However, I will say I am not going to pick sides when it comes to the iconic scene where Rooster takes on Ned Pepper & three other men. Both Bridges's and Wayne's performances were superb. If you don't know the scene, here is the dialogue:

Ned Pepper: What's your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?
Rooster Cogburn: I intend to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged at Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?
Ned Pepper: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.
Rooster Cogburn: Fill your hands, you son of a bitch!

Rooster then puts the reins in his teeth, and rides towards the posse, who also charge towards him. Rooster has a rifle in one hand and a pistol in the other. In Wayne's performance, we see him re-cock the rifle by swinging it all the way around. It's a spectacular scene and one of my all time favorites in film.

Another little detail I loved from this version was the fact you never really see the face of Tom Chaney until Mattie accidentally stumbles upon him by the river. It makes the scene that much more powerful and the man seems so much more sinister. But again, Josh Brolin's portrayal of Tom Chaney never crossed the line into a over-the-top, cliche villain. He was real. There was even a brief moment where I felt sorry for Chaney (it was terribly brief but still there). And like I mentioned earlier, Steinfeld's Mattie holds her ground and is brave when she encounters Tom Chaney. In Darby's performance, she tries to be brave but fails miserably and just comes off as pathetic.

It makes me feel terrible to imply I've "turned my back" on John Wayne. I haven't. The man is still one of my favorite actors and I will revere him till the day I die. But this retelling, from the characters to the story to the little bits of humor, is just an all around better film. I would gladly see it again. Who wants to take me?

Love you.
Mean it.

Movies (and TV Seasons) I Own

1. (500) Days of Summer
2. 10 Things I Hate About You
3. 12 Monkeys
4. 24--Season Four
5. 24--Season Three
6. 300
7. Accepted
8. The African Queen
9. Airplane!
10. Alien
11. Aliens
12. All Dogs Go to Heaven
13. Alpha Dog
14. Amelie
15. American Gangster
16. American Psycho
17. Anne of Green Gables
18. Anne of Anvonlee
19. Annie Hall
20. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
21. Babe
22. Bad Boys
23. Bad Boys II
24. Best in Show
25. Big Fish
26. The Big Lebowski
27. The Big Sleep
28. The Birds
29. Blade
30. Blade II
31. Blade Trinity
32. Blade Runner
33. The Blair Witch Project
34. Boondock Saints
35. The Bourne Identity
36. The Bourne Supremacy
37. The Bourne Ultimatum
38. Braveheart
39. The Brothers Bloom
40. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
41. Casablanca
42. Catch Me If You Can
43. Citizen Kane
44. The Color Purple
45. Constantine
46. Coraline
47. Crazy Heart
48. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
49. The Dark Knight
50. Dead Poets Society
51. The Deer Hunter
52. The Departed
53. The Devil Wears Prada
54. Dial M for Murder
55. Die Hard 
56. Die Hard II
57. Die Hard With a Vengeance
58. Donnie Darko
59. Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
60. Ed Wood
61. Empire Records
62. Family Guy: Blue Harvest
63. Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side
64. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
65. Fiddler on the Roof
66. The Fifth Element
67. Fight Club
68. Forrest Gump
69. Four Brothers
70. Frost/Nixon
71. The Fugitive
72. Gabriel Iglesias: I'm Not Fat, I'm Fluffy
73. Gangs of New York
74. Garden State
75. Gladiator
76. The Godfather
77. The Godfather Part II
78. Gone Baby Gone
79. Gone with the Wind
80. Good Will Hunting
81. Goodfellas
82. The Graduate
83. Gran Torino
84. Green Street Hooligans
85. The Hangover
86. He's Just Not That Into You
87. Hellboy
88. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
89. Hero
90. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
91. The Hurt Locker
92. The Illusionist
93. The Incredible Hulk
94. Inglourious Basterds
95. Interview with the Vampire
96. The Invention of Lying
97. Iron Man
98. Jaws
99. Julie & Julia
100. Juno
101. Jurassic Park
102. Jurassic Park: The Lost World
103. Kill Bill Volume One
104. Kill Bill Volume Two
105. Kung Fu Panda
106. Lars and the Real Girl
107. The Last Kiss
108. Law Abiding Citizen
109. Liar Liar
110. Live Free or Die Hard
111. Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels
112. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
113. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
114. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
115. Lucky Number Slevin
116. The Maltese Falcon
117. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
118. The Matrix
119. Matrix Reloaded
120. The Men Who Stare at Goats
121. A Midsummer Night's Dream
122. A Mighty Wind
123. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
124. Moon
125. Much Ado About Nothing
126. The Mummy
127. The Mummy Returns
128. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
129. Ocean's 11 (the original)
130. Ocean's 11
131. Ocean's 12
132. Ocean's 13
133. Office Space
134. On the Waterfront
135. Once Upon a Time in Mexico
136. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
137. Pan's Labyrinth
138. Perfume--The Story of a Murderer
139. Pineapple Express
140. The Postman Always Rings Twice
141. The Prestige
142. Pride & Glory
143. Pride & Prejudice
144. Pride and Prejudice (7-hour edition)
145. The Princess Bride
146. Project Runway: Season 2
147. Project Runway: Season 3
148. Project Runway: Season 4
149. Project Runway: Season 5
150. The Proposal
151. Psycho
152. Public Enemies
153. Pulp Fiction
154. The Punisher
155. Raging Bull
156. Reality Bites
157. Rear Window
158. Reign of Fire
159. Reservoir Dogs
160. Resident Evil
161. Resident Evil: Apocalypse
162. Resident Evil: Extinction
163. Revolver
164. Riddick Trilogy
165. The Ring
166. Romeo + Juliet
167. The Sandlot
168. A Scanner Darkly
169. Scarface
170. Seabiscuit
171. Secret Window
172. Serentiy
173. Shaun of the Dead
174. The Shawshank Redemption
175. Sherlock Holmes
176. Shooter
177. Signs
178. Sin City
179. The Sixth Sense
180. Sleuth (2008 version)
181. Smokin' Aces
182. Snatch
183. Speed
184. Star Trek
185. Star Trek: First Contact
186. Star Trek: Generations
187. Star Trek: Insurrection
188. Star Trek: Nemesis
189. Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope
190. Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
191. Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
192. Stardust
193. Stranger Than Fiction
194. Sunshine Cleaning
195. Super Troopers 
196. Taken
197. The Taming of the Shrew (Broadway Theater Archives version--Not Elizabeth Taylor version)
198. Taxi Driver
199. The Terminator
200. Thank You for Smoking
201. There Will Be Blood
202. To Kill a Mockingbird
203. Underworld
204. Underworld: Evolution
205. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
206. Unforgiven
207. The Untouchables
208. Up in the Air
209. The Usual Suspects
210. V for Vendetta
211. Vertigo
212. The Village
213. Waiting for Guffman
214. Waking Ned Divine
215. War of the Worlds
216. Watchmen
217. White Christmas
218. The Wicker Man
219. Wonderfalls: Complete Series
220. Zombieland