I wasn't too excited to watch another musical after the multiple musicals we've had to watch over various TNT's (the ironic thing in all this is that several of my favorite movies are musicals LOL) but Robert Preston made it worth my while. I'm not a huge fan of Shirley Jones, but I liked her in this role. She played uptight to a t and was a great counterpart for Preston. I enjoyed the songs; they were a bit too long and a little cheesy for my taste but I still enjoyed them. The townspeople were hilarious to me; some of the lines in the movie were priceless and I really wish I could remember some of them so I could use them. Undeniably, Preston was the star of this movie and it showed. The plot was rather interesting as well; of most cons to play on people, it takes guts to take an entire town's money for uniforms and equipment then bail out. Despite that though, I couldn't help but feel for Preston towards the end. One of my favorite lines came at the end of the movie, after the town figured out he was lying and was looking for him. A young boy that had taken to Preston's character throughout the film found him before the rest of the town caught up with him and asked him, "Do you have a band?" to which Preston's character says after a minute, "No." The boy then says, "Are you a big fat liar?" and immediately Preston's character was like, "Yes." I was watching this movie with two of my brothers and my sister and we repeated that bit of dialogue all night. LOL I loved the writing for this movie; there were so many funny quips and smart aleck remarks throughout. After the movie was over, it was noted that Cary Grant was offered the main role, but declined it, saying "There's no man better to play this part than Bob Preston," and he was exactly right. I'm a Grant fangirl all day everyday, but Robert Preston was a perfect fit for this role and I don't think it would have had the same level of spunk and charisma, as much as I love Cary Grant. Everyone shined in their designated role and I'm really glad that this was the movie we got to watch for the holiday. It wasn't the most patriotic movie in the world, but somehow it fit and I enjoyed it.
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Jason and the Argonauts:
I get a Ten Commandments feel from this, could be the dress and style of film, perhaps? Interesting, I think this guy knows Jason or the Man with One Sandal is meant to kill him. These special effects are something else. I guess since I'm from the CGI generation that I don't have quite the same appreciation. Very masculine way to select an army; I can respect that. Survival of the fittest kind of thing. I'm still not very interested, but I'm not wholly bored yet. So this is an older Hercules, I presume? Little guy is bold, but he threw that disc. Jason said something a few minutes ago that echoes a lot of nonbelievers today and it stuck out to me. When speaking to the man who turned out to be a god and the god asked Jason why he had not yet gone to the gods for help, Jason's answer was along the lines of, "The gods do not answer those who believe in them. Why would they answer someone who does not?" Oh hell naw, did that statue just get off of his stand? LOL I guess Talos didn't like Hercules and dude (never could catch his name) being inside that tomb. And he went looking for them, he is not playing!! They got on that boat to leave quick fast and in a hurry too. He just dumped the boat over and left. LOL What is the statue full of that just came gushing out of his foot? And he's actually holding his throat as though he's really choking. Now he's cracking apart? Wth was in that foot? Ah man Talos crushed Hylas to death when he fell. Well at least Hercules is trying to do right by dude and find him. And so ends his and Hera's journeys with the Argonauts. I wish God would talk to me like Hera spoke to the Argonauts, lol. It would certainly clear up confusion. there go the special effects again. I would hate to be a blind man and (presumably) alone with Harpies bullying for no reason. How rude! They picked at Phineas, stole at his food, took his cane and unraveled one of his outer layers of clothing. Poor guy, his prayer echoed even more thing that believers say, myself included. He said, "I was a sinner. I've never tried to deny it. But I didn't sin everyday. Why then do you punish me everyday?" It broke my heart a little. Ohh, so this life is punishment for Phineas for abusing his gift. One hell of a punishment. I know it's supposed to be because he misused his power, but I still feel bad for him. These Harpies are like a mix between bats and crows with the way they look and pick at things. Smart strategy to catch them, but their screaming is awful. I wonder how long he'd been fighting for his food alone like that. Well now I understand why Phineas said the Clashing Rocks spoke for themselves. Water bubbling and what not, completely capsized that ship and its entire crew. You can clearly tell the boat isn't moving, but we're still to believe that the ship is making its way through. I guess Jason still does not fully believe. Who was that was in that pendant, King Triton? lol I was kidding but I think it is! LOL And they've made it through. And naturally, a woman was aboard the ship that was capsized. Well hell, Acastus doesn't like the concept of a peaceful agreement after sailing so long, but to duel Jason over it? So Jason bitchslaps him after getting his sword knocked away. I love it. Knowing he's been bested, Acastus jumps overboard to get away and apparently kills the guy who jumped in after him. I was actually kind of hoping that there wouldn't be a woman in the film; an adventure that doesn't involve romance. I guess I've been done to death on it. Omg I saw black folk! I haven't seen a Black person in one of these films even once! lol Oh damn, so Medea was the one in gold dancing, that was who Jason brought back?! Jason's not alone; I'm rather confused too. I don't know why I didn't remember Acastus as the King's son! Medea has betrayed her country and her goddess because of her love for a man she just met the day prior. Thank God I do not fall in love so quickly or I'd be screwed. LOL Acastus was after the Fleece himself, the sneaky little goat. And so marks the return of the trusty special effects with the Hydra. This mess with throwing the Hydra teeth sounds like witchcraft and spellcasting. Skeleton warriors popping out of the ground where Aeetes threw the teeth, that's witchcraft, I don't care what anyone says. Watching them fall when they get hit is hilarious. I giggle at the special effects but these must have been amazing for the time period they were created in. It must have been a real sight for everyone, not being regularly exposed to effects like that at the time. Hera seems a little jealous that Jason has found love with Medea, I wonder why. I'm not quite sure what to say about this movie. While it wasn't up my alley and I probably will not watch it again, I can see why it was such an interesting flick for its time. Greek mythology has always been a subject of high interest and I enjoyed the interactions between Hera and Zeus and how these interactions played a part in the direction of Jason's life.
ATV Rating:
The Palm Beach Story:
This poor guy, trying to explain a simple sentence repeatedly to this old couple. This crotchety old man really said, "What'd he say? I don't like him to talk to me," with the guy standing right there. LOL He's a negative one, he is. And quite nosy too. Please don't tell me this is the 'eccentric millionaire.' How do you just lick someone's open tube of toothpaste like that? SMH. Gerry finally has enough of his snooping and reveals herself from her hiding place, and dude's like, "I don't suppose you go with the flat, nah that's too much to hope for." I had to rewind for that line. lol I love that this guy is hard of hearing. This husband of hers is so hopelessly jealous, it's hilarious. He's a cranky dude. I fully understand the hatred of being broke with no prospects. It's a pretty bad predicament, so I can't say I don't understand where she's coming from with making things better for her husband. I, however, know how to cook and sew and she does not. LOL He must be quite the kisser to make her feet, not her toes, curl. Where can I find one like that? And where the hell is the logic in sticking a pin in a note you're leaving to your husband, but pinning the note to the blanket he's wrapped in? How do you NOT expect said pin to stab him?? It's crazy that you'd have to go to Palm Beach or Reno just to get a divorce back then. What an inconvenience, I couldn't do it. Here's our old guy again, giving the husband a what-for, he told him, "A pretty girl like that can get anybody. Why hang around with a man who can't pay the rent?" and the husband calls him a rattlebrain. Called the security guard an old cluck before that. I love the dialogue in this movie, I wish I could write it all down. Poor Gerry, she got stuck on the train with a bunch of rowdy older men who insisted on waking her up to sing 'Sweet Adeline' in the middle of the night. lol These fools really fired their guns through a window on a moving train all in the same of a bet. Poor bartender. And instead of these idiots stopping them from firing their guns, they grab theirs as well instead. I knew she was going to break the other pair of glasses, I saw it coming. LOL Now these fools are on the move with their dogs AND guns?? This won't end well. The man has yet another pair of glasses....and I guarantee they'll be broken because the dogs miraculously found his bunk. I wonder if these idiots are drunk or not. LOLOL they disconnected the car and left em!! What a riot! The thing here is that I'm not even interested in the plot, I'm interested in the dialogue because this script is hilarious. He's going all out for this lady and doesn't even know her, that's generosity for ya. I wish I could get my glasses to balance on my nose like that. lmao His sister is a hoot. She talks at 90mph. Captain McGlue. LOL This was getting more and more painful to watch; I'm glad they finally confessed. I still think the husband's an ass though. Everyone except the original bride and groom look happy here. Irony. Cute movie, but I probably wouldn't watch it again. The writing was a real hoot, though.
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The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie:
Brodie's voice has such a high lilt to it in combination with her Scottish accent that I find it a little hard to understand some of what she says. That's interesting--she seems rather shallow for a teacher, unless her statement, "Safety doesn't come first. Goodness, truth and beauty come first." have more depth in it than initially presumed. She has mentioned being in her prime a few times now and the movie's only 10 minutes in. I love how she starts telling a story in a wistful tone, with music in the background, stops--the music stops here as well--to scold a student in a regular tone, then resumes the story in a wistful tone and the music resumes as well. LOL Early act of rebellion from Miss Brodie to pin the artwork over the politician's photo that the headmistress put up in the classroom instead. I have to say, it seems as though Miss Brodie almost looks down on these girls for being girls and chastises one of them, ending it with "You aren't in your prime," as if she was better for being in hers. She obviously has a few favorites, "the Brodie set,"with them outside eating goodies with her and the others eating in the cafeteria. The other members of the faculty don't seem to like her very much either. LOL @ this bit by two of Brodie's girls talking about sex and how it was rude to take their clothes off in front of each other, citing it as a passion killer. Now in some cases, yes it definitely is. The difference in norms between then and now, though, are insane! This artist is a little smitten, ain't he? Watching her through the window, painting her picture...sounds like the makings of an old school stalker to me. These girls are up to absolutely no good snooping, I can smell it. And the convo turns back to sex and them mimicking Brodie during sex. SMH lol This art teacher is such a cretin...then she gets caught kissing said cretin by one of her girls. These little wenches are such bullies, harassing that poor girl just to make her tell what happened. Precocious, obnoxious and nosey. Damned if they're not smart though. And the headmistress is having none of it. Uh oh, I smell trouble. They just unwittingly snitched on their beloved teacher and now the headmistress is more suspicious than she was. Art teacher was right, Brodie's girls are definitely well-trained. Barely veiled contempt between Brodie and the headmistress, hmm? There goes that 'prime' again. Sandy is very observant, but she's a bit of a jerk. Jealousy will do that to you. This art guy is a jerkus supremus! Sandy's right though, everyone Lloyd paints looks like Brodie. She's a catty little minx, that one. Again, jealousy and resentment will do that to you. I sense she's growing tired of having to hear about Jenny's beauty. Oh hell, the headmistress found the letter that Sandy wrote and stuck in that library book. They really laid it out on the line in that letter! LOL! The headmistress is a piece of work, even though she knows the letter is forged and said so, she is still trying to use it as her basis to get Brodie out. Brodie shut her up and quite quickly though, didn't she? I wonder what her obsession with Jenny is about. Well damn Sandy has grown up! Naked, posing for Lloyd, having an affair with him and off of the Brodie train. Wonder why he doesn't want her to see the portrait. Bet it's either another of Brodie and isn't Sandy at all, or he somehow morphed Brodie's face onto Sandy's body. This cad here--he says "You think I chose to love Jean Brodie? If I could choose to love anyone, I'd choose my wife...or you." A victim he is not! I guess Brodie told the truth about what happened to Mary, but she romanticized it. Well looks like Miss Mackay finally got what she wanted and Brodie is forced to leave; her faithful lapdog since becoming engaged to the chemistry teacher. It was Miss Dependable who blew the whistle on her. She really gives it to Brodie in the end. Really intense confrontation. I wonder what became of Brodie following that. Let me revise my Preview statement--this is nothing like The Corn is Green. Maggie Smith was amazing in this film and I enjoyed it. I should probably get Twitter now and stop live blogging my reviews so I can tell you what I think of these movies overall, not while I'm watching them. LOL
ATV Rating:
Mandy's Note: Month in Review
I have to be honest, not every movie on this list was on my "Must See" list. They each had their points of intrigue, but overall I have to say this wasn't my favorite month of movies. If I had to pick a favorite of the four, however, I'd go with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, probably because it interested me the most. It had the deepest plot and developed so many more of the supporting characters than some of the other movies. When a movie is over and I'm still thinking about it but not because I thought it was terrible, then I know I didn't waste my time bothering to watch it. That's how I felt following The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Both Jason and the Argonauts and The Prime were serious flicks, so having The Music Man and The Palm Beach Story thrown in for comedic relief brought some balance to the month. Of these movies, I'd have to say my least favorite was probably The Palm Beach Story. I found the writing funnier than the actual movie, if that makes any sense. I mainly stayed tuned in so I could see what other quips the characters would have for each other, not necessarily because I wanted to see what happened next. It was funny and had its cute moments but that's about it for me. These movies were okay, but I'm ready for August.
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