About a week ago, I had a lot of fun playing around with a question posed on AskReddit: What's one of your favorite movie plots that sound awesome backward?
I immediately started reversing movie plots in my head, and these were the results. Can you identify all of them? And leave your own suggestions below!
After a man tries to kill his next door neighbor, the neighbor begins spying on him, becoming more and more convinced that he's a pretty good guy after all.
A magical nanny arrives to take care of two children whose doting father loves them and plays with them. She spends time with the children until their father becomes cold and distant, then she leaves.
12 jurors convince each other that a boy on trial for murder is guilty before the trial even happens.
An ogre and a princess fall in love, so he imprisons her in a tower and goes to live in a swamp, where he invites fairy tale creatures to live with him.
A father fish encourages his son to go be free but immediately panics about him being gone. He starts looking for him, and when he finds him, he refuses to let him go anywhere again.
A mentally unstable ballerina comes back to life just in time to do a spectacular performance of Swan Lake and ultimately regains her health and her sanity as she becomes less obsessed with her work.
A man is freed from prison and tries to manipulate his wife into thinking that she's not crazy.
Several young adults escape from the Blair Witch and bond as they happily find their way out of the forest.
A woman forces an alien to get into her spaceship then chases it around until it revives everyone on the ship.
A computer is challenged to playing tic-tac-toe, which convinces it to start a global thermonuclear war. A teenager accidentally hacks into the computer and stops the impending doom.
A group of men feel confident when they put on a strip show for their whole town, but as soon as it's over they feel ashamed, everyone makes fun of them, and they completely lose their senses of self-worth.
A man feels very fortunate with his life, but then an angel shows him vignettes from an alternate version of his life that make him more and more depressed. His uncle finds some money, and this returns him to his regular cheerful self.
A group of dinosaur children leave their parents and grandparents to venture out into the wilderness and live where there is no food.
Two Broadway producers are let out of jail. They panic, fire everyone working on their new successful play, and return to unfulfilling jobs.
Two dogs and a cat leave their owners and trek for miles across the country to get away from them, but eventually the owners find them and take them back.
A boy leaves his village home to live with the animals in the jungle until he is abandoned by wolves.
A man's wife and child come to meet him at his hotel workplace. He yells at them for awhile and they are alarmed but everyone calms down eventually. The weather gets nicer and eventually they leave.
A choir of nuns get worse and worse under their director's supervision, until she stops being a nun and decides to be a night club singer instead.
A writer locks himself up in a fan's house with a broken leg. Once it heals, she kicks him out.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
A Day in the Life of Flickchart: Part 3
Looks like it's time to rank some movies on my Flickchart account and talk about them here! If you missed how this works, you can check out my previous posts in the series here and here.
Let's jump right in.
1. Billy Elliot (2000) vs. Legally Blonde (2001)
This is kind of an interesting one, because both these movies were later made into musicals. If we're comparing the musicals, I would choose Legally Blonde because Laurence O'Keefe's music trumps Elton John's any day. But when it comes to the original core movies, Billy Elliot is far more compelling and beautifully done. Billy Elliot wins.
2. Les Miserables in Concert (1995) vs. Footloose (2001)
There are two other possible versions of both of these movies -- the Les Miserables concert cast from 2010 and the original 1984 Footloose. The earlier versions of both movies are better. I was unimpressed with the 2011 Footloose remake, and it definitely didn't help that the fun 1980s soundtrack was replaced by country music. Les Mis wins.
3. Holiday Inn (1942) vs. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
I am not sold on Holiday Inn as a great movie, although it does have some fun sequences. But it certainly beats the mess that was Cheaper by the Dozen. I had a large family. I knew large families. And that movie was written by someone who had no idea what they were talking about. Holiday Inn wins.
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) vs. The Matador (2005)
I remember enjoying The Matador when I watched it as part of my movie challenge last year, so it's a little puzzling that I can recall almost nothing of what actually happened in it. I had to remind myself that I actually had watched it at all. But I do remember liking it, so it beats Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy which I remember not liking. The Matador wins.
5. Fatal Attraction (1987) vs. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
At first I thought, "Ooh, this is a tough choice," but then I realized it really wasn't. I just wanted it to be a tough choice because I wanted to like Rosemary's Baby more than I did. It just never gripped me, and its final scene struck me as silly rather than scary. Fatal Attraction isn't a spectacular movie, but it's a thriller that thrills, and that was more than I got from its opponent here. Fatal Attraction wins.
6. The Karate Kid (1984) vs. Lyle, the Kindly Viking (2001)
Lyle, the Kindly Viking is a VeggieTales movie, and it's a pretty decent one. It's a parody of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, which is, unsurprisingly, a gimmick that works for me. That being said, though, it's not my favorite VeggieTales movie, and while the music is great, the story is kind of blah. The Karate Kid is a better story as a whole. The Karate Kid wins.
7. Freaky Friday (1976) vs. The Others (2001)
I'm oddly fascinated by body-swap stories, so I should like Freaky Friday, but Jodie Foster's acting as a child rubs me the wrong way. The Others is a really beautifully-filmed story that easily takes the match here. The Others wins.
8. John Q. (2002) vs. The Women (1939)
The Women is another movie that I watched last year that has mostly slipped my mind. Maybe that's the peril of watching five movies a week. But it is undoubtedly better than John Q., which had a potentially interesting concept and a poorly executed script. The Women wins.
9. Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks With a Circus (1960) vs. P.S. I Love You (2007)
...Well, this is a gross matchup because I hate both of these movies. Toby Tyler is about a very annoying young boy who runs away to join the circus. We had it on VHS when I was growing up. P.S. I Love You was a movie I watched with some of my dormmates in an attempt to bond with them but, wow, did I hate that movie. I'm really not sure what to vote for here. I checked their current stats and it looks like Toby Tyler is eight spots ahead of P.S. I Love You, so it's not surprising that I'm having trouble choosing between them. I'm going to vote for Toby Tyler for now because that way at least nobody's gaining any spots on my chart. Neither one of them deserves to climb up.
10. Ali (2001) vs. Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
I'm a big fan of Mighty Aphrodite. It's one of my favorite Woody Allen comedies. I find it funny and delightful. Ali, on the other hand, is not funny and delightful (which it did not try to be) nor interesting and inspirational (which it did try to be). Mighty Aphrodite wins.
No shake-ups this time around. After 145,000 rankings, my chart's in pretty good order. Maybe I should start an entirely new Flickchart account from scratch for this blog series, to show how the charts take shape before you've ranked most of your movies into place. What do you guys think? And did I get any of these decisions wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Let's jump right in.
1. Billy Elliot (2000) vs. Legally Blonde (2001)
This is kind of an interesting one, because both these movies were later made into musicals. If we're comparing the musicals, I would choose Legally Blonde because Laurence O'Keefe's music trumps Elton John's any day. But when it comes to the original core movies, Billy Elliot is far more compelling and beautifully done. Billy Elliot wins.
2. Les Miserables in Concert (1995) vs. Footloose (2001)
There are two other possible versions of both of these movies -- the Les Miserables concert cast from 2010 and the original 1984 Footloose. The earlier versions of both movies are better. I was unimpressed with the 2011 Footloose remake, and it definitely didn't help that the fun 1980s soundtrack was replaced by country music. Les Mis wins.
3. Holiday Inn (1942) vs. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
I am not sold on Holiday Inn as a great movie, although it does have some fun sequences. But it certainly beats the mess that was Cheaper by the Dozen. I had a large family. I knew large families. And that movie was written by someone who had no idea what they were talking about. Holiday Inn wins.
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) vs. The Matador (2005)
I remember enjoying The Matador when I watched it as part of my movie challenge last year, so it's a little puzzling that I can recall almost nothing of what actually happened in it. I had to remind myself that I actually had watched it at all. But I do remember liking it, so it beats Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy which I remember not liking. The Matador wins.
5. Fatal Attraction (1987) vs. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
At first I thought, "Ooh, this is a tough choice," but then I realized it really wasn't. I just wanted it to be a tough choice because I wanted to like Rosemary's Baby more than I did. It just never gripped me, and its final scene struck me as silly rather than scary. Fatal Attraction isn't a spectacular movie, but it's a thriller that thrills, and that was more than I got from its opponent here. Fatal Attraction wins.
6. The Karate Kid (1984) vs. Lyle, the Kindly Viking (2001)
Lyle, the Kindly Viking is a VeggieTales movie, and it's a pretty decent one. It's a parody of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, which is, unsurprisingly, a gimmick that works for me. That being said, though, it's not my favorite VeggieTales movie, and while the music is great, the story is kind of blah. The Karate Kid is a better story as a whole. The Karate Kid wins.
7. Freaky Friday (1976) vs. The Others (2001)
I'm oddly fascinated by body-swap stories, so I should like Freaky Friday, but Jodie Foster's acting as a child rubs me the wrong way. The Others is a really beautifully-filmed story that easily takes the match here. The Others wins.
8. John Q. (2002) vs. The Women (1939)
The Women is another movie that I watched last year that has mostly slipped my mind. Maybe that's the peril of watching five movies a week. But it is undoubtedly better than John Q., which had a potentially interesting concept and a poorly executed script. The Women wins.
9. Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks With a Circus (1960) vs. P.S. I Love You (2007)
...Well, this is a gross matchup because I hate both of these movies. Toby Tyler is about a very annoying young boy who runs away to join the circus. We had it on VHS when I was growing up. P.S. I Love You was a movie I watched with some of my dormmates in an attempt to bond with them but, wow, did I hate that movie. I'm really not sure what to vote for here. I checked their current stats and it looks like Toby Tyler is eight spots ahead of P.S. I Love You, so it's not surprising that I'm having trouble choosing between them. I'm going to vote for Toby Tyler for now because that way at least nobody's gaining any spots on my chart. Neither one of them deserves to climb up.
10. Ali (2001) vs. Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
I'm a big fan of Mighty Aphrodite. It's one of my favorite Woody Allen comedies. I find it funny and delightful. Ali, on the other hand, is not funny and delightful (which it did not try to be) nor interesting and inspirational (which it did try to be). Mighty Aphrodite wins.
No shake-ups this time around. After 145,000 rankings, my chart's in pretty good order. Maybe I should start an entirely new Flickchart account from scratch for this blog series, to show how the charts take shape before you've ranked most of your movies into place. What do you guys think? And did I get any of these decisions wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Friday, September 11, 2015
The Quest for Forgiveness: The Worst Chapter. THE WORST CHAPTER.
Last time... three months ago... Brianna and Ethan found Susan to "confront" her only to find out that she had lost her hair, her teeth, and her mind because she and her kids stopped going to church after Ethan went to jail. That is only a very slightly exaggeration.
Brianna and Ethan start feeling bad for Susan, as they should because OH MY GOSH SHE IS A MESS.
She manages to stay coherent long enough to tell some sort of weird narrative about how she was going to "destroy" Ethan and Brianna by telling the courtroom that Brianna was Ethan's daughter, but that she changed her mind when she saw him:
She then talks for awhile about how great her life was after the trial, how she never had time for her kids, and how she somehow accidentally told Brianna's evil uncles about Brianna being Ethan's daughter.
Then we get this revelation.
OK, so apparently I wrote up to this point on this blog and then just left it and walked away because I could not process that ridiculous twist. It's now approximately three weeks later than it was when I started writing this blog, and when I reread where I'd gotten to on my draft, I still can't process it.
First of all, it's nice that there's only one black truck in the world. Makes it easy to figure out when the people in it are murdering people.
Secondly, apparently Ethan was right to be super worried about Brianna's family, because turns out they were all completely movie-serial-killer-obsessive about hunting her down and killing her, to the point where they just murdered her grandfather out of nowhere...
...but thirdly, that murder really makes zero sense. There was no reason to think that that would lead them any closer to Brianna. Why did that even happen? It's not like they got a hold of either Ethan or Susan and said, "Bring Brianna to us or this will happen again." Why was randomly killing her grandfather without telling anyone about it part of the plan? How was that going to help them? Were they just mad that Brianna had a grandfather?
The conspiracy theory goes deeper:
I think here I have to quote myself talking about The Quest for Skye, because here we're running into one of the same problems that that book had (well, a lot of them, because Rothdiener's just as crappy a writer no matter what the story is):
Brianna reassures Susan that they won't come after them anymore:
Ethan forgives Susan while musing how sad it is that she will remain in her own locked little world forever, because he's apparently decided there is to be no real redemption for Susan and no mental healing whatsoever, so that's pleasant.
OH WHAT AND APPARENTLY HE IS RIGHT because in the next scene Susan kills herself.
Wow.
WOW.
Way to bring closure to what is clearly supposed to be an inspirational story about forgiveness by having them forgive someone who hurt them significantly, only to have that person consumed by guilt and overdose on pills.
And then Rothdiener just casually throws in that Alana (Susan and Ethan's daughter) died of a drug overdose, too, though that one was probably accidental.
We end the chapter with this grave sentence:
This is the worst "uplifting" Christian book ever.
Brianna and Ethan start feeling bad for Susan, as they should because OH MY GOSH SHE IS A MESS.
She manages to stay coherent long enough to tell some sort of weird narrative about how she was going to "destroy" Ethan and Brianna by telling the courtroom that Brianna was Ethan's daughter, but that she changed her mind when she saw him:
“When I saw you in that courtroom, a broken man who had done nothing wrong, I realized that it was I who was wrong. I decided I could not hurt you by telling the truth about Janna and her identity. I realized you were doing what you had to as a father— protecting your child. At that moment, I understood.”Yeah, too bad NONE of that came through in the trial, where she worked as hard as she could to testify that Ethan and Brianna had an inappropriate relationship going on.
She then talks for awhile about how great her life was after the trial, how she never had time for her kids, and how she somehow accidentally told Brianna's evil uncles about Brianna being Ethan's daughter.
Then we get this revelation.
“I never thought they would hurt your dad. Days later, I heard the news of your father being killed while he walked to his car. The report said it was an accident, a hit-and-run driver. The newspaper reported that a black truck with two men hit him and fled the scene. I knew it was the same men because I saw them leave my house in a black truck.”Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.
OK, so apparently I wrote up to this point on this blog and then just left it and walked away because I could not process that ridiculous twist. It's now approximately three weeks later than it was when I started writing this blog, and when I reread where I'd gotten to on my draft, I still can't process it.
First of all, it's nice that there's only one black truck in the world. Makes it easy to figure out when the people in it are murdering people.
Secondly, apparently Ethan was right to be super worried about Brianna's family, because turns out they were all completely movie-serial-killer-obsessive about hunting her down and killing her, to the point where they just murdered her grandfather out of nowhere...
...but thirdly, that murder really makes zero sense. There was no reason to think that that would lead them any closer to Brianna. Why did that even happen? It's not like they got a hold of either Ethan or Susan and said, "Bring Brianna to us or this will happen again." Why was randomly killing her grandfather without telling anyone about it part of the plan? How was that going to help them? Were they just mad that Brianna had a grandfather?
The conspiracy theory goes deeper:
[Ethan] thought about the man of Arab descent who stabbed him in prison. Everything began to make sense. “They came after me too, didn’t they?”Because apparently EVERYBODY FROM THE MIDDLE EAST is involved in a vast conspiracy to kill Brianna's family. And prisoner-on-prisoner violence is, of course, so rare that for a man of Arab descent to stab Ethan, he must be connected to them.
I think here I have to quote myself talking about The Quest for Skye, because here we're running into one of the same problems that that book had (well, a lot of them, because Rothdiener's just as crappy a writer no matter what the story is):
There's a movie I really love (which I'm not revealing the name of because I have to get super spoilery here to make my point). The basic idea is that an extremely paranoid man ends up getting very close to a very lonely woman, and by the end of the movie, the relationship has gotten all psychologically tangled up in the paranoia, which she has kind of latched onto in her mind as a way of relating to him. The final scene is this completely terrifying scene where he helps her create this enormous conspiracy encompassing nearly everything that's ever happened to her, making it fit, making the inexplicable facts of one person's life fit someone else's. It's a horrifying almost-monologue as you watch her just spiral and spiral and spiral into madness.
That is what that paragraph was like.The paranoia and Islamophobia and ridiculous leaps of logic they have to take to make everything fit here ("They drove a black truck!" "An Arabic man once stabbed me in prison!") are just utterly incomprehensible. And I want to give up and consider this blog post done because, whoo, ranting about that was intense, but we only have a couple pages left in this chapter and maybe we'll find out MORE stupid conspiracy theories, so I'm charging on.
Brianna reassures Susan that they won't come after them anymore:
Brianna finally spoke. “A few months ago, I confronted them. Conrad told them in no uncertain terms that if they ever tried to harm me, or anyone I love, they would have to face his wrath, and that of the United States military.”I forgot they'd threatened them with the entire military. During this reiteration, though, I am extremely amused that Conrad felt he had to include himself in there. Like, "The military went after you... and also ME." This theme continues:
Susan asked, “Who is Conrad?”
“He’s my bodyguard . . . ”
“It’s really over?” Relief showed on Susan’s face."Because, of course, if a BODYGUARD threatened them, I'm sure these guys who wandered around America killing people and have been rabidly hunting Brianna for 20 years will back off now. Should've thought to have a bodyguard threaten them earlier!"
Ethan forgives Susan while musing how sad it is that she will remain in her own locked little world forever, because he's apparently decided there is to be no real redemption for Susan and no mental healing whatsoever, so that's pleasant.
OH WHAT AND APPARENTLY HE IS RIGHT because in the next scene Susan kills herself.
Wow.
WOW.
Way to bring closure to what is clearly supposed to be an inspirational story about forgiveness by having them forgive someone who hurt them significantly, only to have that person consumed by guilt and overdose on pills.
And then Rothdiener just casually throws in that Alana (Susan and Ethan's daughter) died of a drug overdose, too, though that one was probably accidental.
We end the chapter with this grave sentence:
Alana was like many of the young people in her generation, she thought she had time... but her time ran out.Neither Susan nor Alana are mentioned again in the last few chapters of the book.
This is the worst "uplifting" Christian book ever.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Top 5, Bottom 5: Coming-of-Age Movies
Let's get back into blogging with a Top 5, Bottom 5 post! Whooooo! I apparently watched my 100th and 101st coming-of-age movies this year (Albatross and Finding Forrester) so this seems like a good time to write about my favorite and least favorite movies in the genre.
Top 5:
1. Charlie Bartlett (2007, #24). It's been a long time since I rewatched it -- though if I ever get back to my Top 100 project, I'll get around to it -- but I still remember how delightful I found Anton Yelchin and how compelling I found Robert Downey, Jr. And there was a period of time where I recommended it to everyone around me.
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986, #31). I've written about this one before in my list of the happiest movies of all time, and I still think it belongs in that list. There's a tremendous sense of the freedom in this movie, and it always makes me feel better watching it.
3. American Beauty (1999, #34). I always forget about the coming-of-age aspect of this movie, since I think of it as revolving so much around Kevin Spacey's midlife crisis. But it is one of my favorite movies.
4. Donnie Darko (2001, #35). This movie is propelled almost entirely by Jake Gyllenhaal's fascinating performance, but it totally works.
5. Napoleon Dynamite (2004, #71). After several coming-of-age movies stuck together in the 30s of my Flickchart, we jump down several slots to find this weird little film that always makes me laugh.
Bottom 5:
5. Hoot (2006, #2329 out of 2374). This movie is terrible. It's unfunny and uninteresting and propaganda trying to masquerade as a story, and I don't have a lot of tolerance for that.
4. Bee Season (2005, #2318). I don't remember much about this one except that I found it extremely disappointing.
3. Anne B. Real (2003, #2276). Well, there could've been a story here, but it got drowned out by ridiculousness.
2. Mean Streets (1973, #2267). This is maybe unfairly ranked so low. I really don't remember it. But I don't think I'll ever care enough to want to watch it again.
1. Tuck Everlasting (2002, #2140). I was a moderate fan of the book but was not so much a fan of this sappy movie.
Top 5 Unseen:
1. City of God (2002, global #201)
2. The Last Picture Show (1971, #223)
3. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984, #227)
4. Come and See (1985, #471)
5. Dazed and Confused (1993, #476)
What are your favorite and least favorite coming-of-age movies? Which of my top unseen ones should I watch first?
Top 5:
1. Charlie Bartlett (2007, #24). It's been a long time since I rewatched it -- though if I ever get back to my Top 100 project, I'll get around to it -- but I still remember how delightful I found Anton Yelchin and how compelling I found Robert Downey, Jr. And there was a period of time where I recommended it to everyone around me.
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986, #31). I've written about this one before in my list of the happiest movies of all time, and I still think it belongs in that list. There's a tremendous sense of the freedom in this movie, and it always makes me feel better watching it.
3. American Beauty (1999, #34). I always forget about the coming-of-age aspect of this movie, since I think of it as revolving so much around Kevin Spacey's midlife crisis. But it is one of my favorite movies.
4. Donnie Darko (2001, #35). This movie is propelled almost entirely by Jake Gyllenhaal's fascinating performance, but it totally works.
5. Napoleon Dynamite (2004, #71). After several coming-of-age movies stuck together in the 30s of my Flickchart, we jump down several slots to find this weird little film that always makes me laugh.
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| © 2006 CGP Grey, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio |
5. Hoot (2006, #2329 out of 2374). This movie is terrible. It's unfunny and uninteresting and propaganda trying to masquerade as a story, and I don't have a lot of tolerance for that.
4. Bee Season (2005, #2318). I don't remember much about this one except that I found it extremely disappointing.
3. Anne B. Real (2003, #2276). Well, there could've been a story here, but it got drowned out by ridiculousness.
2. Mean Streets (1973, #2267). This is maybe unfairly ranked so low. I really don't remember it. But I don't think I'll ever care enough to want to watch it again.
1. Tuck Everlasting (2002, #2140). I was a moderate fan of the book but was not so much a fan of this sappy movie.
Top 5 Unseen:
1. City of God (2002, global #201)
2. The Last Picture Show (1971, #223)
3. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984, #227)
4. Come and See (1985, #471)
5. Dazed and Confused (1993, #476)
What are your favorite and least favorite coming-of-age movies? Which of my top unseen ones should I watch first?
Monday, September 7, 2015
Blogging Again?
Whoo.
It's been awhile.
And I can't guarantee I'll be back as regularly. My new job doesn't necessarily take a lot of time, but as it gets going it's going to take a lot of energy, and of what I have left, I don't know how much will get devoted to blogging. I'm going to try to write up blogs over the weekend so that they're just ready to post throughout the week.
I would definitely like to try and make space for Quest for Forgiveness blogs again, as well as trying to post one other time a week, maybe on Wednesdays. Or maybe I'll try to pull together something that I can post on Mondays that will be entertaining but not take up a ton of time so I can focus on Wednesday and Friday blogs.
Sorry to have left you all hanging for so long. I've missed blogging, and I'm posting this as a hopeful, tentative promise that I'm on my way back.
And there's my Monday blog. TA-DA!
It's been awhile.
And I can't guarantee I'll be back as regularly. My new job doesn't necessarily take a lot of time, but as it gets going it's going to take a lot of energy, and of what I have left, I don't know how much will get devoted to blogging. I'm going to try to write up blogs over the weekend so that they're just ready to post throughout the week.
I would definitely like to try and make space for Quest for Forgiveness blogs again, as well as trying to post one other time a week, maybe on Wednesdays. Or maybe I'll try to pull together something that I can post on Mondays that will be entertaining but not take up a ton of time so I can focus on Wednesday and Friday blogs.
Sorry to have left you all hanging for so long. I've missed blogging, and I'm posting this as a hopeful, tentative promise that I'm on my way back.
And there's my Monday blog. TA-DA!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
A Visit With My Second Family
Visiting with a large group of New Life friends truly is like coming home for me. Nobody but my family makes me feel so loved and safe to be myself. No matter how introverted I may be in general, I still marvel at how the loudness of the group makes me feel enveloped in a warm blanket rather than overwhelmed by noise, and their careful (for me) hugs are comforting instead of pushy.
Right now as I ride home, I have ALL the feelings, but I want to share a few of my favorite memories from the weekend as a whole.
- The joyous enthusiasm with which everyone embraced karaoke. As we all sang along and cheered and clapped and dramatically acted out song lyrics, I knew that this would be the only group where I could possibly feel comfortable enough to karaoke along. I didn't end up singing anything, but as the night went on I remembered more and more who I was with and realized that if I wanted to, I COULD.
- That quiet interval when most of the team was swimming and Jacob and I just hung out in the living room while Zach played his new songs for us, which I loved as always.
- The incredibly welcoming nature of Christian and Ashley especially. Both are always willing to ask questions for those of us who aren't convinced anyone wants to listen, and they're always willing to explain or include you in the inside jokes.
- Tim offering free hugs and getting so happy when I, who am notoriously not touchy, took him up on it. The dude gives good hugs.
- Talking even just a little bit with Jessie, who always makes me feel like she's genuinely happy I'm there. Plus she gives some of the best words of affirmation.
- How Josh always starts off his guitar-playing looking almost nonchalant, as if he's like, "Oh, this old thing? I just picked it up and started strumming," only for him to suddenly have such passion and deep sincerity when he starts to sing.
- Hearing Sarah quietly harmonizing along whenever people play songs she knows on their guitars.
- Plotting with Jacob, Jonathan and Jackie to take down Christian when we played Betrayed at House on the Hill together.
- The hours-long reminiscing session that interrupted that game, which I really didn't even mind because drama company people have the best stories. Everyone jumping in clamoring to tell their favorite music mishap story or their favorite hell tour story or their favorite Steve Pippin story (EVERYONE had one of those!)
- Introducing Jacob to everybody (though he kinda knew a lot of them anyway) and watching them embrace him as one of us.
- Watching the sweet, funny, generous Brittany marry the man she loves. That was for sure a highlight. :-)
- Slipping into drama company lingo without even noticing it.
- Seeing people I hadn't seen since I left the drama company seven years ago and instantly connecting with them even after all those years.
- Sarah's loud, distinctive laugh from the other room whenever someone said something that cracked her up.
- Sharing a vague story about there being only one person who I'm pretty sure actively hates me, and getting a slightly shocked response of, "How does anyone hate Hannah Megill?" from Clay.
- Getting invited to participate in things. It was always clear that people wanted me to hang out and do stuff with them, but there was also zero pressure, and if I said, "Nah, I'm going to stay here for awhile," it would have also been perfectly OK.
Every time I leave a group of New Lifers, I leave feeling better about myself and who I am. It's kind of amazing, the unique and beautiful bond we formed there among such a large group. Being in the presence of so many people who love and care about me and instantly accept me as one of their own... it starts to change the way you see yourself. You start to think of yourself as being someone actually worthy of that love. And when you go back and let yourself experience that again, you realize just how much of yourself had started to reject your own worth again, and you hadn't even noticed it was happening until this roomful of loud, crazy, incredible people helped to bring it back to you.
Right now as I ride home, I have ALL the feelings, but I want to share a few of my favorite memories from the weekend as a whole.
- The joyous enthusiasm with which everyone embraced karaoke. As we all sang along and cheered and clapped and dramatically acted out song lyrics, I knew that this would be the only group where I could possibly feel comfortable enough to karaoke along. I didn't end up singing anything, but as the night went on I remembered more and more who I was with and realized that if I wanted to, I COULD.
- That quiet interval when most of the team was swimming and Jacob and I just hung out in the living room while Zach played his new songs for us, which I loved as always.
- The incredibly welcoming nature of Christian and Ashley especially. Both are always willing to ask questions for those of us who aren't convinced anyone wants to listen, and they're always willing to explain or include you in the inside jokes.
- Tim offering free hugs and getting so happy when I, who am notoriously not touchy, took him up on it. The dude gives good hugs.
- Talking even just a little bit with Jessie, who always makes me feel like she's genuinely happy I'm there. Plus she gives some of the best words of affirmation.
- How Josh always starts off his guitar-playing looking almost nonchalant, as if he's like, "Oh, this old thing? I just picked it up and started strumming," only for him to suddenly have such passion and deep sincerity when he starts to sing.
- Hearing Sarah quietly harmonizing along whenever people play songs she knows on their guitars.
- Plotting with Jacob, Jonathan and Jackie to take down Christian when we played Betrayed at House on the Hill together.
- The hours-long reminiscing session that interrupted that game, which I really didn't even mind because drama company people have the best stories. Everyone jumping in clamoring to tell their favorite music mishap story or their favorite hell tour story or their favorite Steve Pippin story (EVERYONE had one of those!)
- Introducing Jacob to everybody (though he kinda knew a lot of them anyway) and watching them embrace him as one of us.
- Watching the sweet, funny, generous Brittany marry the man she loves. That was for sure a highlight. :-)
- Slipping into drama company lingo without even noticing it.
- Seeing people I hadn't seen since I left the drama company seven years ago and instantly connecting with them even after all those years.
- Sarah's loud, distinctive laugh from the other room whenever someone said something that cracked her up.
- Sharing a vague story about there being only one person who I'm pretty sure actively hates me, and getting a slightly shocked response of, "How does anyone hate Hannah Megill?" from Clay.
- Getting invited to participate in things. It was always clear that people wanted me to hang out and do stuff with them, but there was also zero pressure, and if I said, "Nah, I'm going to stay here for awhile," it would have also been perfectly OK.
Every time I leave a group of New Lifers, I leave feeling better about myself and who I am. It's kind of amazing, the unique and beautiful bond we formed there among such a large group. Being in the presence of so many people who love and care about me and instantly accept me as one of their own... it starts to change the way you see yourself. You start to think of yourself as being someone actually worthy of that love. And when you go back and let yourself experience that again, you realize just how much of yourself had started to reject your own worth again, and you hadn't even noticed it was happening until this roomful of loud, crazy, incredible people helped to bring it back to you.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Surprise Blog! And It's a Movie Guessing Game
Last Halloween I had you guys guess mangled horror movie synopses, but the last time I went through my Flickchart 100 at a time and pulled out those movies was over a year ago. And I watched a LOT of movies since then, thanks to the Movie Challenge of Madness, and my chart has shifted all over, so they'll all be different than they were at that point.
I'll be running the plot synopses through Bad Translator and then posting the results here. I will even tell you the general genre or style of the movie to help you out a little. Guess in the comments what you think they are, and... at some point, not sure when due to my wacky schedule, I will come back and update with the answers!
#100. (Musical) It is embarrassing accident of Benjamin Mr. [title of the movie] that led to a hair salon in London was one of the most important crimes of the general assembly of Friends of the man, woman, woman. On the basis of popular music.
#200. (Comedy) Unemployed steel workers built nudity, striptease, remember that this woman is completely nude.
#300 - (Romantic Comedy) Two women in this field, or name to find the location of local points.
#400 - (Animation) When the mass begins in the writing of the attack in the world, the immortal guardians are willing to protect the innocent boys and girls in all parts of the world.
#500. (Comedy/Drama) Shortly after the divorce, well, that you can go to the house in the small town of Ribera fijiswitzerland. ). I would like to revive the romance of an old friend of mine, who is already married and has a child.
(It should be noted that this plot is in no way connected to Fiji or Switzerland and I don't know what happened there.)
#600. (Comedy/Drama) The poor woman's daughter makes the head work, family, back to Mexico, a lot of people in the United States, where it began.
#700. (Sci-Fi) Mental capacity, The user will get 100% with the help of a mysterious drug that can be taken to the author of the financial genius of this new world, where all types of risks.
#800. (Drama) The use of the closed return type, you're my friend, and the changes in your life.
(Yeah, good luck with this one.)
#900. (Fantasy) Eustace from childhood to the age of Villeneuve and the so-called irreversible. Double bed king-x-i lost my son, the prince, the lion, the Lillian said to know each other.
#1000. (Musical) The hotel is only open on holidays, a singer, a dancer, a rival in love, beautiful, passionate, artistic people.
#1100. (Musical) Anthropology Professor and Secretary of the Marion learning with young people's sexual behaviour. Windsurfing to young people, not for sex, but the song of war, the slogan of the rat and mouse, dance, dick Dale and the color.
#1200. (Thriller) The poor Director of the bureau of advertising, an error, a representative of the government, the group of foreign spies, and is against the law for the entire country, and could not find a way to survive.
#1300. (Drama) France, again, I say that they are religious, but the unfortunate Queen [title of the movie]. And the wedding Louis 15-Queen, 19, of power and finally the Queen and ultimately the fall of the Tower of the fortress.
#1400. (Animation) Young, shy groom's vows, in the presence of random program, when a dead woman in her grave, if he wakes up because he is married.
#1500. (Thriller) Cory is a strong woman, ex-con and her lover violet, the development of a plan to steal millions of people saving money, wine, red line, Gaius Caesar.
#1600. (Comedy) The two got a chance to find comfort in alcohol and other drugs. I think the quiet life, go to the northern part of this area, depending on the value, like [part of the movie title]'s uncle in the bathroom.
#1700. (Animation) Young asparagus, Laura carrot start spreading rumors, which spread Bumblyburg like the grass of the risk covering the entire city. Larry, the man said that God wants to tell stories that affect people.
#1800. (Drama) Desmond Doyle lost his wife or his family the day after Christmas, in the Ireland of the court. Children go to church and shelter. [title of the movie] batteries Desmond apply to the Court to take the kids.
#1900. (Thriller) The competition tough women, a young mother began to prepare for the competition.
(There is no competition in this movie.)
#2000. (Drama) After a blurred trauma in the summer, Melinda, the possibility of the school, near the school, arguments with friends and family, conversation, dark history, it is an experience, so she decided to ask me again.
#2100. (Animation) Three young the neighbor's house is really full of life, we know it's a new monster.
#2200. (Romance) Paris before the First world War, the run(Austrian) And [part of the movie title] (France), the two friends falling in love), Catherine, but the love and the marriage, Katherine, [part of the movie title]. Once again, after the war, Germany Catherine love.
#2300. (Musical) The territory of Oklahoma, in the twentieth century, two young peasants and shepherds, cow boys, street vendors, the heart of a woman to fight against the devil.
I'll be running the plot synopses through Bad Translator and then posting the results here. I will even tell you the general genre or style of the movie to help you out a little. Guess in the comments what you think they are, and... at some point, not sure when due to my wacky schedule, I will come back and update with the answers!
#100. (Musical) It is embarrassing accident of Benjamin Mr. [title of the movie] that led to a hair salon in London was one of the most important crimes of the general assembly of Friends of the man, woman, woman. On the basis of popular music.
#200. (Comedy) Unemployed steel workers built nudity, striptease, remember that this woman is completely nude.
#300 - (Romantic Comedy) Two women in this field, or name to find the location of local points.
#400 - (Animation) When the mass begins in the writing of the attack in the world, the immortal guardians are willing to protect the innocent boys and girls in all parts of the world.
#500. (Comedy/Drama) Shortly after the divorce, well, that you can go to the house in the small town of Ribera fijiswitzerland. ). I would like to revive the romance of an old friend of mine, who is already married and has a child.
(It should be noted that this plot is in no way connected to Fiji or Switzerland and I don't know what happened there.)
#600. (Comedy/Drama) The poor woman's daughter makes the head work, family, back to Mexico, a lot of people in the United States, where it began.
#700. (Sci-Fi) Mental capacity, The user will get 100% with the help of a mysterious drug that can be taken to the author of the financial genius of this new world, where all types of risks.
#800. (Drama) The use of the closed return type, you're my friend, and the changes in your life.
(Yeah, good luck with this one.)
#900. (Fantasy) Eustace from childhood to the age of Villeneuve and the so-called irreversible. Double bed king-x-i lost my son, the prince, the lion, the Lillian said to know each other.
#1000. (Musical) The hotel is only open on holidays, a singer, a dancer, a rival in love, beautiful, passionate, artistic people.
#1100. (Musical) Anthropology Professor and Secretary of the Marion learning with young people's sexual behaviour. Windsurfing to young people, not for sex, but the song of war, the slogan of the rat and mouse, dance, dick Dale and the color.
#1200. (Thriller) The poor Director of the bureau of advertising, an error, a representative of the government, the group of foreign spies, and is against the law for the entire country, and could not find a way to survive.
#1300. (Drama) France, again, I say that they are religious, but the unfortunate Queen [title of the movie]. And the wedding Louis 15-Queen, 19, of power and finally the Queen and ultimately the fall of the Tower of the fortress.
#1400. (Animation) Young, shy groom's vows, in the presence of random program, when a dead woman in her grave, if he wakes up because he is married.
#1500. (Thriller) Cory is a strong woman, ex-con and her lover violet, the development of a plan to steal millions of people saving money, wine, red line, Gaius Caesar.
#1600. (Comedy) The two got a chance to find comfort in alcohol and other drugs. I think the quiet life, go to the northern part of this area, depending on the value, like [part of the movie title]'s uncle in the bathroom.
#1700. (Animation) Young asparagus, Laura carrot start spreading rumors, which spread Bumblyburg like the grass of the risk covering the entire city. Larry, the man said that God wants to tell stories that affect people.
#1800. (Drama) Desmond Doyle lost his wife or his family the day after Christmas, in the Ireland of the court. Children go to church and shelter. [title of the movie] batteries Desmond apply to the Court to take the kids.
#1900. (Thriller) The competition tough women, a young mother began to prepare for the competition.
(There is no competition in this movie.)
#2000. (Drama) After a blurred trauma in the summer, Melinda, the possibility of the school, near the school, arguments with friends and family, conversation, dark history, it is an experience, so she decided to ask me again.
#2100. (Animation) Three young the neighbor's house is really full of life, we know it's a new monster.
#2200. (Romance) Paris before the First world War, the run(Austrian) And [part of the movie title] (France), the two friends falling in love), Catherine, but the love and the marriage, Katherine, [part of the movie title]. Once again, after the war, Germany Catherine love.
#2300. (Musical) The territory of Oklahoma, in the twentieth century, two young peasants and shepherds, cow boys, street vendors, the heart of a woman to fight against the devil.
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