Day Seven:

Day 7: 5 Favorite Movies

1. Amelie

Released: November 2, 2001(USA)

Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

French film about a woman named Amelie. Her character is innocent and playful, with an interesting, if not somewhat sad, childhood upbringing. She lives a humble life in Paris, always wanting to do good in the world and make things right. She goes out on a mission to help others and along the way falls in love with a soul mate. This movie always makes me feel good and hopeful. 

2. Pan's Labyrinth

Released: December 29, 2006

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Spanish film in the style of a dark fantasy. Deals with era of WWII fascist Spain and a pregnant mother and her young daughter who come to live with a ruthless captain for the Spanish army. The historical narrative is coupled with the young girl's imaginative obsession with fairy tales and how she uses that world to escape the brutalities and horrors of her real life. The cinematography and special effects in this movie are amazing. 

3. Kill Bill, Volume 1 & 2

Released: 2003-2004

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Epic two-part film action/thriller film, in the style of Tarantino, (aka over-the-top blood and guts, stylistic homages to past cinematic styles like Italian spaghetti westerns, old Kung-Fu films and 1970s cheesy action flicks). It's the saga of one Bad Ass Motha and her revenge on those who tried to kill her. In particularly, a fellow by the name of "Bill". I love a good revenge story, especially one with a bad ass heroine. 

4. Braveheart

Released: May 19, 1995

Directed by Mel Gibson

Speaking of epic revenge stories, how could I have a top 5 movie list without this one? Seriously. I know it's on everyone's top movie list and seems pretty banal to include this, but I gots to. Because I can watch this over and over and still tear up. The love story, the family, the loyalty, the betrayal, the injustices and the battles to fight good vs pure evil, and the history! Oh and, yeah, it won a ton of Oscars that year and for good reason. Oh god, just talking about it gets me all fired up. 

5. Boogie Nights

 Released: October 10, 1997

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

"Everyone has one special thing". This film is about the rise and fall of a 1970's porn star, dubbed "Dirk Diggler" (based loosely on the life of real-life porn prodigy John Holmes). It's like this movie was made for Mark Wahlberg. The soundtrack is awesome too. I love how it shows the drastic change of boom times to bust and how it affects everyone's life along the way. 

Day Six:

I've returned to keep plugging along at this effort to complete a list which will, supposedly, inspire me to write more on my blog which was the whole point of starting a blog...to write more. I used to write a lot - in fact, I was an "early blogger" keeping a very up to date and detailed blog on my Myspace account (I know... that totally dates me). I think that was circa 2004-2006. It was a good one. Anyway, I gradually lost interest in it because of my loss of interest in Myspace all together and that is one thing I lament about the Facebook format is that it does not offer a blog. Oh well, too many people are friends with me on Facebook now so I wouldn't be able to be as open and honest. Once parents and other relatives join you have to monitor yourself on that site. Mine also happens to have inlaws. Double monitoring.

Here it is Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

 

I'm sure she'd kill me if she knew I posted these pics...but they make me so happy! Not because they are god-awful selfies taken for the sole purpose of seeing how weird and contorted we could make our faces, but also because they remind me of a great time. This was when I and my good friend (who shall remain nameless for fear of defamation suits) decided to live in Italy for a little over a month, just for the hell of it. We had already lived there together once (studying abroad in Perugia in 2002) and I had been back several times for additional studies abroad and travels (I was addicted. I was also broke at the end of this addiction). We were both there in Europe for different reasons and had a little over a month to kill. So we rented a room in an apartment in Rome and made absolutely zero plans. Which turned out to be awesome! My friend was a little concerned about doing this, at first. "I'm worried about getting bored!" She said. But I had a feeling that would not happen and my feeling was correct. We got ourselves into all kinds of trouble (the best kind) and I loved every minute of it. I couldn't have imagined spending that summer with nothing to do, just living La Dolce Vita, with anyone else but this girl. (This picture should prove why). Anyway...looking at this reminds me of a great friendship, a wonderful time in both our lives, and, frankly, if I'm upset it still manages to make me laugh. 

So there...take that Day 6!