365 Day Picture Challenge–Day 71-80

Cannot put this book down!!!

The Big Bang Theory Paleyfest!! BAZINGA!!

Such a cool thing to be a part of!!

Spray lotion may just be the best thing ever invented!!

Irish Chocolate for St. Patty’s Day!!!

Finally got me some lemonade at Lemonade!!

My DVD came a day early!!! FAVORITE MOVIE!!!

How cute are these sports bras?!?

Baking cookies with these adorable hedgehog measuring cups!

My new Apple TV!!!

Day 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and everything here.

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #24

Day 24. Movie With Your Favorite Soundtrack

I’m a person who will like a movie a million times better just by what the soundtrack is like. If there are bad songs that don’t really fit the movie, it takes me out of the story and I just find it distracting. I also just want to point out that I’ve been listening to Skyfall by Adele since it came out. That song alone makes me think that the new Bond film will have an excellent soundtrack.

• Pitch Perfect (2012)–Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school’s all-girl singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition. Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp and Rebel Wilson. The soundtrack is full of popular songs of right now mashed up with other songs…all sung without music. Some of the songs that make an appearance are “Since U Been Gone,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Just a Dream,” “Party in the U.S.A.,” “Magic,” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. The songs are fun and it’s always entertaining to hear songs in new arrangements! It’s the college version of Glee basically.

• What A Girl Wants (2003)–An American teenager learns that her father is a wealthy politician running for office. Although she is eager to find him, she realizes it could cause a scandal and cost him the election. Starring Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth and Kelly Preston. I’m not really sure why I love the music so much but I listen to it all the time. I feel like the songs really worked for the story. Plus Oliver James singing is so adorable!

• Hanna (2011)–A 16-year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana. This soundtrack isn’t really songs, it’s a score by The Chemical Brothers. But it’s still one of the best soundtracks! The combination of action and childlike innocence. It’s eerily beautiful. Plus, “The Devil is in the Beats” is my running song…I like to pretend I’m a teenage assassin.

• 8 Mile (2002)–A young rapper, struggling with every aspect of his life, wants to make the most of what could be his final opportunity but his problems give him doubts. Starring Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger and Mekhi Phifer. I always have been and always will be obsessed with “Lose Yourself”…my brother and I used to walk around the mall rapping this song. I’m a fan of Eminem’s other songs but this is by far his best one!

• The Fighting Temptations (2003)–A New York advertising executive travels to a small Southern town to collect an inheritance but finds he must create a gospel choir and lead it to success before he can collect. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyonce Knowles and Mike Epps. Even though I’m not really religious, I have a huge love for gospel music. It’s fresh and fun and they even rap a little! And come on, who doesn’t want to hear Beyonce sing “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”?

What’s your favorite movie soundtrack??

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #15

Day 15. Favorite Play Adaption Independent Films

I’ve seen and read a lot of plays but not many that have been made into movies…or good movies worth seeing. I don’t feel like doing this one and I felt that there was a major category missing: indie movies. I’m obsessed with independent films but I have a hard time comparing them to bigger films in each category…they deserve their own. Sorry it’s so many, I just couldn’t cut it down so here goes.

• Bottle Shock (2008)–The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as “Judgment of Paris.” Starring Chris Pine, Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman. Wine, Alan Rickman, Chris Pine with long hair…what more could you ask for in a movie?

• HappyThankYouMorePlease (2010)–Captures a generational moment-young people on the cusp of truly growing up, tiring of their reflexive cynicism, each in their own ways struggling to connect and define what it means to love and be loved.  Josh Radnor writes, directs and stars along side of Malin Akerman, Zoe Kazan and Kate Mara. Josh Radnor is just amazing!! I love Ted Mosby!!

• The Amateurs (2005)–Citizens of a small town, under the influence of a man in the midst of a mid-life crisis, come together to make an adult film. Starring Jeff Bridges, Ted Danson, Joe Pantoliano and Lauren Graham. A hilarious film with extremely quirky characters making a porno…just so freaking funny!!

• Trucker (2008)–A trucker, leading a life free of depth and on the way to nowhere, is forced to make a decision about her aggressive loner 11-year-old son whom she openly deserted ten years previously. Starring Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion and Benjamin Bratt. I seriously love Michelle Monaghan in this movie. She plays a good tough woman.

• Wild Target (2010)–A hitman tries to retire but a beautiful thief may change his plans. Starring Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Rupert Grint. A great mixture of comedy and action. Watching the characters figure out what is going on is the highlight of the film.

• Ruby Sparks (2012)–A novelist struggling with writer’s block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence. Zoe Kazan writes and stars along side of Paul Dano, Chris Messina, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas. So freaking adorable!! I love knowing that these two (Zoe and Paul) are dating in real life and Zoe wrote it for them to play these roles. It’s a great look at how people are in love with the idea of someone and not that actual person.

• Sleepwalking (2008)–The drama follows a 12-year-old girl’s struggle to come to terms with her mother’s abandonment. Starring Charlize Theron, Nick Stahl, Dennis Hopper, and AnnaSophia Robb. This movie is a bit haunting as a young girl tries to figure out what to do when her mother leaves. She develops a real child/parent relationship with her uncle who really wants to do good by her.

• Win Win (2011)–A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach’s chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson on the client he’s double-crossed comes into his life. Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy. Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Melanie Lynskey and Alex Shaffer. There is something so real about getting caught up in doing something bad for a selfish reason and learning to be a better person. It’s a remarkable cast!

• Bachelorette (2012)–Three friends are asked to be bridesmaids at a wedding of a woman they used to ridicule back in high school. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, Rebel Wilson, Adam Scott and James Marsden. It’s a great portrayal of realistic girl friendships…girls seem to have this relationship that is competitive yet they are always there for one another. My favorite part of the whole movie though is the relationship between Lizzy Caplan and Adam Scott’s characters…maybe it’s because I loved them in Party Down but yeah. So fucking funny!!

• Dirty Girl (2010)–It’s 1987 and Danielle, the high school ‘dirty girl’, is running away. With her is chubby, gay Clarke, a bag of flour called Joan and a walkman fill of glorious ’80s tunes. Starring Juno Temple, Jeremy Dozier, Milla Jovovich, Mary Steenburgen, William H. Macy and Tim McGraw. I love this movie! I think that Juno Temple is going to be a huge star!!

What are some of your favorite independent movies??