Celebrating National Puppy Day

In case you haven't heard, today is National Puppy Day! Those bone-loving, shoe-chewing, best friends of ours give us so many happy moments and it's hard to picture our lives without them. Hopefully you were able to spend time with that fury friend of your's today! Over the years, puppy's have played a major role in the film industry as well-acting as the main character's best friend, saving the day and giving the movie that extra plot twist. Here are some great movies that include man's best friend.

Marley & Me

Marley & Me is a great movie about a newly-wed couple who get a puppy to test their parenting skills. Throughout the movie, the puppy definitely gives them a run for their money. The more years that go by the more they realize how much they truly love their pet. I highly recommend this one! (but make sure you have the tissue box nearby, it's a real tear jerker!) 

Air Bud

Who could forget Air Bud? These movies star a dog that has the ability to shoot baskets, score touchdowns and play just about every other sport. The dog's owner is a young boy that plays along-side of the dog. The boy's love for the dog makes these movies very heartwarming.

The Fox and the Hound

Every movie on this list is recommended for kids to enjoy, but I especially suggest The Fox and the Hound. It's such a cute story about a fox and a "hound" who become best friends. They're challenged by the dogs owner (who's a hunter)- but they find a way to remain friends. 

My Dog Skip

In my mind, My Dog Skip was one of Frankie Muniz's best movies. He may have been young but he did such a great job. He saves the dog from some mean owners and takes care of it as he grows up. Like many other dog movies, this one will turn on your waterworks-so be ready! 

Turner & Hooch

In this movie,Tom Hanks plays the role of a cop who inherit's his best friends dog and uses Hooch (the dog) to solve a murder case. The dog also brings a lot of chaos into his life which gives the movie a humorous vibe.

Emily's 1st Movie

For today's post, I thought I'd give you a little insight into my movie past. The first movie that I ever saw in the theaters was Tarzan, in the summer of 1999. This first theater experience was a great one- Tarzan easily became my favorite movie (it's still on my list), the gorilla became my favorite animal and I dressed up as Jane that year for Halloween. In fact, I liked the movie so much that I begged my parents to name my brother Tarzan three years later. As you probably guessed, we didn't name him this, but for that day before we named him Justin, we called him Tarzan. :) 

I was very lucky to have my first theater experience turn out so great, I probably wouldn't like movies as much as I do if it was a poor one! I have a friend who went to a bad movie when they were little and they hate the thought of going to a movie now! If you've never sat down to watch Tarzan (kid or adult), I highly encourage you to do so-it's a great one for all ages! But don't forget to grab that popcorn! ;) 

Tarzan Trailer

Tell me about your first movie theater experience!

Popcorn Recipes

The past few weeks, I've been posting all of these awesome movies that you should be watching.

You're probably sitting there thinking-how am I gonna find time for that? Well why not make it a party? Show off that new dress of your's, invite that old friend over or make it a family movie night! Here's some awesome popcorn recipes that I found to top the party off!  

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Oreo Popcorn

My favorite one out of the list! If you like Oreo's, you're gonna love this! 

Snickers Popcorn

Chipotle Popcorn

A great switch from the sweeter popcorn recipes above. If you like spicy food-this one is for you! Chipotle can be created in less than ten minutes (if you're in a hurry)!

Chili Cheese Popcorn

If you have the ingredients for the Chipotle Popcorn-they're just about the same. Just in case you were looking to try them both! 

Check out this link for more Movie Party Recipes!

Have any awesome popcorn recipes to share?? Please post them in the comments below! 

Cure to the Winter Blues

This winter has been a crazy one to say the least! Now that nearly all of the United States has experienced snow fall, I thought it was time that we forget about the snow for 2-3 hours and enjoy a movie that will make us feel like we're in that warm season that we all love!

Here's a list of movies that I think will give you a few hours of relief: (try not to get sunburned ;))

Meatballs

This movie starring good ol' Bill Murray, is about a summer camp where one of the campers tries to be a matchmaker to a camp counselor. Meatballs is a comedy, so it should leave you laughing AND feeling warm! 

Movie Trailer: Meatballs

500 Days of Summer

 

I chose this one for the awesome title. 500 days of summer? Sounds pretty good to me! This movie is about a boy who is dumped by a girl named Summer and throughout the movie he reflects on the 500 days that he spent with her. 

Movie Trailer: 500 Days of Summer

The Benchwarmers

Benchwarmers is one of those movies that I've seen over ten times but still find myself laughing at. It's about three ordinary guys who team up to play little league baseball teams so that they can teach them the importance of including "benchwarmers." 

Movie Trailer: The Benchwarmers

National Lampoon's Vacation

Who could forget this movie? Lampoon's Vacation is a hilarious movie about a family who goes on vacation and encounters quite a few situations on the way. Maybe this movie will give you some good ideas for a family vacation this summer!...but don't fall asleep while you're driving to your destination. ;)



Movie Trailer: National Lampoon's Vacation

The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap is one of my favorite movies of all time. In this movie, Lindsay Lohan gets to play the role of twin girls who reunite at a summer camp and make a plan to switch places. The movie has a lot of feel good moments and points where you'll get a drift of that summer air. 

Movie Trailer: The Parent Trap

                                 

                               
                                The Sandlot

All of Major League Baseball's teams have officially entered into spring training-which is a great sign that summer is only a few months away! The Sandlot is a classic baseball movie about a group of kids who play ball throughout the summer. They're challenged when their ball lands in a yard where there's a vicious dog! 

You can watch the entire movie at this link:

The Sandlot

Don't worry... Summer is on it's way!

What are you looking forward to the most this summer? 

The Evolution of Villains

When you hear the word "villain," what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Maybe it's The Joker from Batman or those monsters who always used to challenge The Mystery gang on Scooby-Doo? Whatever the case, there's a reason that the producer put that character as the villain. Producers of movies and television shows use characters that truly enhance a viewers perception and emotional response. If you've ever watched old films, the bad guys in those productions don't look the same as the ones in the films today-that's because the fears of that time are not the same as they are now.

The 1920's & 1930's: 

In movies of the 1920's, the villain was usually in the form of a gangster. When thinking about the crimes being committed during that time, it make complete sense. Take Al Capone for example- a major criminal in Chicago who was known to be a bootlegger, gambler, assassin and involved with prostitution (aka: a gangster). Capone was always dressed nicely, which is how many of the villains in movies were dressed as well. 

The 1960's & 1970's:

       

A lot happened in these three decades. Between war, civil rights, and science, it gave movie producers a lot to work with. The villain in these movies and television shows had many identities, but I found some patterns that are notable. In movies such as Star Wars, there was a character who acted as a ruler of all (Darth Vader)-this type of personality is comparable to rulers like Adolf Hitler (Communist ruler of WWII) and Ho Chi Minh (Communist leader during the Vietnam War)-both of which were relevant to this time period. Another interesting thing I noticed was that the hero was usually depicted as an American, or with American colors--like Superman. The reason behind that is pretty obvious-Americans were the heroes (especially if the show was American made). The last thing from this era that seemed to catch my eye was that women were suddenly allowed to play the role of the bad guy. Take Bonnie and Clyde for example, both the man and woman were criminals. Since more and more women were getting jobs and becoming independent individuals, it gave them a new role in the world. Movie producers caught on and decided that they were powerful enough be the bad guy too. 

The 1990's - Present:

 

The 1990's may have had a little spillover from the previous category, but there was a shift in the villain between the 90's and now. The tragedies of 9/11 and the Iraqi war have initiated this change towards a villain with the qualities of a Muslim. In fact, there is a new show called State of Affairs that actually centers its investigations over people who are dressed in the traditional-Muslim clothing and that are from countries of the Middle East. If you're like me and have watched State of Affairs, it definitely leaves a guy on edge! These last two decades have also introduced the "normal" looking villain. The villain that looks like every other person on the street. With the new advances in technology, people can easily commit crimes online and through their gadgets-giving them the ability to look like any other person walking the street. The movie and television industries have caught on and are now making their villains look "normal."  The movie The Stepfather, ( a movie about a man who fools everybody into believing that he's this wonderful guy and eventually tries murdering his new family) is an example of the "normal" villain. 

Do you have a favorite villain? Tell me about it! 

 

More than Just a Movie Seat

Think about the last time you went to the movie theater...What movie did you see? What was the snack of choice? Did you go alone or with your best friend? Last question to ask yourself, what seat did you pick to sit in? The answer to that may be able to tell you what type of personality you have!

Front & Center

When I think of the movie-goers that choose the very front row, I immediately imagine that kid in Trigonometry that just had to prove everybody else wrong. These are the over-achievers, the ones that need to be close so that they are getting the information first. In some cases they're the bravest ones in the theater, especially if they choose the front seat for a horror film!


Right-In-the-Middle


This person likes to be in the right place at the right time. Sitting right in the middle allows them to see the entire screen without turning their neck and they have the best sound quality. I compare these people to the families that always go south for the winter or the people who go to Sam's Club when they're handing out free samples.

Aisle Seat

These people like knowing where the exit is. They tend to be introverted, meaning a lot of people in one room is sometimes overwhelming. They solve the issue by being in a position to leave as quickly as possible. If you run into them at a party, they'll be closest to a door or a window. (Although, there may be other reasons for sitting in this spot--kids at home, second trips to the candy counter,etc.)


The-I'll Sit in the Last Row 

These people tend to be the deep thinkers of the theater. They're the ones that want to take every aspect of the movie and dissect it. When these people come across a term or idea they are not familiar with, they'll be the ones to look it up on Google when they get home. If you're friends with one of these people, they don't like to be bothered during the movie-since they're so focused on what's happening. So if you have to keep repeating yourself, don't take it personally.

Random 

These are the movie-goers that chose a different seat every time. They love spontaneity and are known to be very creative. You may notice some patterns with the different movies they go to watch, for example; sitting far away for a scary movie or on the sides during a gory film(in which case it's not so random). When I think of one of these viewers, I think of person who goes up to a fountain pop machine and fills their cup with one of everything.




Do you see yourself in any of these categories? Tell me about it! 

Movies to see on Valentine's Day

If you're sitting at home wondering what to do for Valentine's Day, there's nothing wrong with kicking it old school and taking your significant other to the movies. Here's a list of movies I recommend to see this Valentine's Day:

The Last Five Years

This movie based off of the musical and staring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, is about a successful writer and a struggling actress who sing about their struggling marriage. I recommend this movie to the couples who enjoy musicals and classic romantic movies.
Click here to view the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FKjLJZdycI 

Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey is based off of a book that is known to be a bit raunchy, but it should be a great romantic movie for almost any couple. The only exception is if your date is awkward around sexual scenes, this may be a bit out of their comfort zone. 

Click here to view the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4nJX8snP4s

American Sniper

American Sniper is based off of a true story about a man in the military. It gives a great insight into the Iraqi war and the success of this one man. I will warn you though, it is a REAL tear-jerker! This movie would be great for most couples but it will be a bit more serious and may not give the enlightenment one may be looking for on Valentine's Day. If you haven't seen this movie yet and decide not to go to it on Valentine's Day, PUT IT ON YOUR LIST! 

Click here to view the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=99k3u9ay1gs

The Wedding Ringer

This movie is about a man who is due to get married in two weeks and hires a company to provide him with a best man and groomsmen. Because The Wedding Ringer is one of those romantic comedies that I believe all couples would enjoy, I recommend this one to everyone. 

Click here to view the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3TeI9jPPuA

Paddington

Paddingtion is about a bear that a British family discovers at a train station. Throughout the movie the family tries to decide if they should make him a part of their family or not. I recommend this movie to people who will be celebrating Valentine's Day with kids or their families. It's a true feel-good story line and will leave you chuckling at many points. 

Click here to view the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFuzMlfZGWM

Got any suggestions for other movies to see on Valentine's Day? Please post it in a comment below!