30 Day TV Challenge: Day #30

Day 30. Saddest character death.

Paul Hennessey from 8 Simple Rules

I can easily say that this is the saddest character death ever because the great John Ritter died. They had to write this into the show and it was heartbreaking to watch the cast deal with the grief. The show did a good job of making you feel like you were watching a real family. They were so relatable. As a character, Paul Hennessey was a normal dad who was just trying to be a good dad and husband. He was uncool at times and had a hard time figuring out how to deal with his teenage daughters but you still knew that he was a great dad. I still cry in the episode where they find his last article.

Rita Bennett from Dexter

Besides the fact that Julie Benz usually plays characters that meet an untimely death, losing Rita was a tough blow. She didn’t even know how dangerous her life was. Married to a serial killer of serial killers. I didn’t see this one coming and I didn’t believe it even after it happened. I figured that she would have been saved come the next season. Boy was I wrong.

Cordelia Chase from Angel

As sad as I was to see Cordelia die, it seemed to put her out of her misery. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then in the beginning of Angel, she was a strong character…a strong woman. But for some reason, she started to turn into some weird thing. For me the icing on the cake was her sleeping with Conor. It was just too freaking weird. I always thought that her and Angel would end up together (even over Angel and Buffy). I was happy with her final episode though. The episode is titled “You’re Welcome” and it restored Cordelia to her former glory. She was the old Cordelia that everyone loved. I like to think that when the final battles were said and done, the powers that be were able to bring her back and she and Angel lived happily ever after. It’s because of Cordelia that I watch Charisma Carpenter in everything else she does.

What do you think is the saddest character death??

30 Day TV Challenge: Day#8

Day 8. A show everyone should watch.

Dexter (2006-)

I seriously can’t get enough of this show and I’m so sad that it’s ending this summer! It is easily one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and I’m actually surprised that most people I know, don’t watch the show. I got into the show right before season four started and I swear it took me less than two weeks to catch up. Once I started watching this show, I was hooked. It was the something different I was looking for. I mean the show is making you root for the serial killer. He has a moral code where he only kills people who kill other people but still! Michael C. Hall is absolutely amazing as Dexter and some of the people that have come on the show have been brilliant. I don’t want to give too much away but John Lithgow’s performance was so good! This past season got a little crazy but now I just can’t wait to see how things end (although this my be one of the hardest shows to say goodbye to).

What’s a show that you think everyone should watch??

 

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #27

Day 27. Movie With Your Favorite Villain

• Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988)–John McClane, officer of the NYPD, tries to save wife Holly Dennaro and several others, taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. Starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia. There is something about Alan Rickman that makes an awesome bad guy. He’s freaky and so badass! LOVE HIM!

• Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians (1996)–A woman kidnaps puppies to kill them for their fur, but various animals then gang up against her and get their revenge in slapstick fashion. Starring Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson. I think that Cruella De Vil is one of the best Disney villains! I was even her for Halloween one year. Glenn Close does a great job bringing this animated character to life that she is forever known in my mind as Cruella.

• Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)–A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. Starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. I think this is self explanatory. I mean he eats people. He’s so good at being so freaking creepy!

• The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)–When Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, the Joker, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. Health brought it all to this character. The creepiest part of this character was all the little ticks and mannerisms.

• Hilly Holbrook in The Help (2011)–An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids’ point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis. Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain. She isn’t as evil as the rest but there is a more real-life evil to her. She totally got what was coming to her!

Who’s your favorite movie villain??

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #10

Day 10. Favorite Foreign Film

Because I went to film school, I have been exposed to a lot of foreign films although I haven’t always liked them. I do find it interesting to get a sense of what other countries do with filmmaking. Even though Hollywood is seen as the frontrunner for making films, many other countries are to thank for where film has been able to go. I spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy and took a film class where we watched exclusively Italian films. I’ve also spent some time at various film festivals where I have been exposed to foreign films from a variety of different countries.

• Cinema Paradiso (1988)–A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village’s theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater’s projectionist. I had to watch this for the first time in high school and I fell in love with it. Then when I traveled to Florence, learned more Italian and watched it again, I fell in love even more. The little kid in the movie is just adorable.

• La Vita e Bella (1997)–A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp. Roberto Benigni writes, directs and stars. This is an amazing movie…first of all it starts off as a love story with an adorkable leading man. Then out of nowhere it turns into a movie where the man and son are taken into a Nazi camp. Somehow the quirky, endearing main character is able to bring comedic relief to such a touchy and horrifying topic. I sobbed so much!

• Yojimbo (1961)–A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town. This was such a fun movie to watch. The main character basically just plays both gangs and somehow its just hilarious. Oh and the entire time I thought all of a sudden that they were going to break out into song and dance.

• 678 (2010)–Unfolds the poignant story of three women and their search for justice from the daily plight of sexual harassment in Egypt. Maybe it’s because I have a very good friend that lives in Egypt, I felt very emotional about this movie. It’s insane to think that there are still countries where assaulting women in anyway is okay. It’s great that someone is finally bringing attention to this issue though.

• M (1931)–When the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt. Fritz Lang writes and directs. This is actually the first serial killer film and had set the way for suspense and thrillers to come.

Do you have a favorite foreign film??