Jan 30-Feb 5: Birthday Bash!

Dates: Jan 30-Feb 5, 2011
Theme: Birthday Bash (Watch Their Movies on Their Birthdays)
Films: The French Connection (1971), Empire Records (1995), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Cannonball Run (1981), Willow (1988), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Ong-bak (2003)

Sunday Jan 30, 2011: The French Connection [R] (1971)
Celebrate Gene Hackman's birthday with the film that netted him the Academy Award for Best Actor. If they had an award for Best Car Chase, you can bet this would've won that one too!















Monday Jan 31, 2011: Empire Records [PG-13] (1995)
It's Anthony LaPaglia's birthday! Celebrate by popping this in your DVD player and air-drumming to AC/DC's "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" as hard as you can.















Tuesday Feb 1, 2011: Gone with the Wind [UR] (1939)
Arguably one of the greatest films ever made, and easily one of Clark Gable's best roles ever. What better way to commemorate the birthday of the Hollywood icon?















Wednesday Feb 2, 2011: The Cannonball Run [PG] (1981)
Sure there are better films to watch when celebrating the life of Farrah Fawcett on her birthday. But can you think of a better movie to watch on Humpday?















Thursday Feb 3, 2011: Willow [PG] (1988)
Ring in Warwick Davis' 41st birthday by watching the film that made him a legend. Besides, we could all use a little Madmartigan in our week.















Friday Feb 4, 2011: Night of the Living Dead [UR] (1968)
Celebrate George A. Romero's birthday with the film that started it all. Accept no imitations!
















Saturday Feb 5, 2011: Ong-bak [R] (2003)
For those of us who're martial arts purists, today's movies have only one champion: Tony Jaa! Celebrate "The Thai Bruce Lee" on his birthday with this action classic!

Jan 23-29: Late Night Hosts in Movies

Dates: Jan 23-29, 2011
Theme: Late Night Talk Show Hosts in Movies
Films: The Benchwarmers (2006), Collision Course (1989), Fever Pitch (2005), Cabin Boy (1994), The Faculty (1998), I'll Be There (2003), Coming to America (1988)

Sunday Jan 23, 2011: The Benchwarmers [PG-13] (2006)
Featuring a TON of dorky in-jokes and an appearance from onetime Late Late Show and The Daily Show host Craig Kilborn; this comedy is standard fare for the Happy Madison Crowd. Still, it IS fun to see Jon Lovitz and the rest of these guys just having a blast.













Monday Jan 24, 2011: Collision Course [PG] (1989)
Let's see... There's the fish-out-of-water element, the buddy-cop element, an unorthodox Detroit cop, there's LOTS of racial stereotypes, one-sided shootouts, and a by-the-numbers 80's action movie villain. Beverly Hills Cop! Right? Nope! It's this laughable (and yet still oddly enjoyable) flop featuring The Tonight Show's Jay Leno and Pat "Mr. Miyagi" Morita. If you're a fan of BAMF's (Bad Action Movies are Fun), this is one you should definitely seek out!










Tuesday Jan 25, 2011: Fever Pitch [PG-13] (2005)
This Americanized adaptation of Nick Hornby's semi-autobiographical novel; which was already made into a British film in 1997 starring Ruth Gemmel and Colin Firth, fails to capture the punch of Hornby's writing altogether. The substitution of the Red Sox for the Arsenal football team works to some extent, but it's the casting of Late Night host Fallon that really put the nail in the coffin of this lackluster rom-com. He just wasn't meant to play a romantic lead, and let's face it, Colin Firth's are some pretty big shoes to fill in that department.









Wednesday Jan 26, 2011: Cabin Boy [PG-13] (1994)
It's a parody of such epics as The Iliad or The Odyssey, but with a spoiled prat as the protaganist and a slew of off-color jokes as the conquests on his journey. It's included here for a brief cameo by Late Show host David Letterman (appearing under one of his aliases "Earl Hofert") as a stuffed monkey peddler in a fishing village. It's crass, and obvious, and dumb; but that doesn't mean it isn't still kinda funny. :)











Thursday Jan 27, 2011: The Faculty [R] (1998)
This style-over-substance high school/sci-fi/horror crossbreed comes from one of my favorite directors, Robert Rodriguez. It's on the list for a brief appearance by The Daily Show's Jon Stewart as an evil alien teacher. This movie features a pretty great cast, and at the time it was released was considered something of a cult hit.












Friday Jan 28, 2011: I'll Be There [PG-13] (2003)
Craig Ferguson, current host of The Late Late Show, serves here as writer/director and star. This sugary-sweet comedy isn't exactly treading in new waters, but is still an enjoyable take on a familiar story. Throw in a solid cast and a great soundtrack and you can't help but feel good watching this movie.













Saturday Jan 29, 2011: Coming to America [R] (1988)
With more quotable lines and memorable characters than any ONE film should feasibly be allowed, this comedy classic features Arsenio Hall as Eddie Murphy's second banana. The talk show host shows off some real comedy chops and improv skill in this movie. After all, it's no small task to keep up w/ Eddie Murphy!

Jan 16-22: Holy Bat-Movies!

Dates: Jan 16-22, 2011
Theme: Holy Bat-Movies! (7 Essential Batman Films)
Films: Batman: The Movie (1966), Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker (2000)

Sunday Jan 16, 2011: Batman: The Movie [PG] (1966)
Tongue-in-cheek escapist fun that will leave you howling! The score is absolutely brilliant though, and it IS fun to watch this version of such great characters run amok in Technicolor!















Monday Jan 17, 2011: Batman [PG-13] (1989)
Gets about as much wrong as it does right, but still you can't help but cheer for Burton's Batman. Michael Keaton pulls off the Bruce/Batman dual character pretty well actually.















Tuesday Jan 18, 2011: Batman Returns [PG-13] (1992)
Easily my least favorite film on this list, but essential nonetheless. And it's still leagues ahead of Batman Forever or Batman and Robin!!!















Wednesday Jan 19, 2011: Batman: Mask of The Phantasm [PG] (1993)
One of the absolute greatest, most atmospherically appropriate representations of The Dark Knight. A fantastic animated feature.















Thursday Jan 20, 2011: Batman Begins [PG-13] (2005)
An excellent take on the origin of my all-time favorite comic book hero, this film brought Batman into this generation of film with equal parts substance and style. The few extra fanboy moments didn't hurt either!














Friday Jan 21, 2011: The Dark Knight [PG-13] (2008)
Giving easily the best live-action portrayal of classic villain The Joker, Heath Ledger's performance lifts this film from great to epic. It plays out like a classic mob movie, but with a man in a batsuit fighting the good fight and earning cheers from the audience.













Saturday Jan 22, 2011: Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker [UR] (2000)
When you see this, be absolutely sure to see the unrated version! It gives you a few extra seconds here and there to revel in the wonderment that is Mark Hamill's Joker. He's seen here as every bit the sadist and psychopath he is. And I LOVE that about him!

Jan 9-15: Restaurant/Cooking Movies

Dates: Jan 9-15, 2011
Theme: Restaurant/Cooking Movies
Films: Waitress (2007), Waiting (2005), Mystic Pizza (1988), Julie & Julia (2009), Spanglish (2004), The Slammin' Salmon (2009), Simply Irresistible (1999), Chocolat (2000)

Sunday Jan 9, 2011: Waitress [PG-13] (2007)
A charming little indie that, sadly, marked the end for a promising and talented filmmaker. Writer/Director/Co-Star Adrienne Shelly was killed shortly before this film was released, and so this was her swan song. What a sweet song it is too.














Monday Jan 10, 2011: Waiting [R] (2005)
It's brash, it's vulgar, it's juvenile and at times; it's hilarious. The cast alone makes this worth seeing at least once. And it's a good movie for a Monday night at home.















Tuesday Jan 11, 2011: Mystic Pizza [R] (1988)
Last week brought us the first "Tuesday pizza and a movie night". It continues with this film that's less about cooking and restaurants than it is angst and life lessons. BUT! When there's a pie on the screen, it looks absolutely delicious! Trust me!














Wednesday Jan 12, 2011: Julie & Julia [PG-13] (2009)
I'll be watching this for the first time this week, so I don't have any clever little remarks to put here. But I've heard what the film lacks in pacing and depth is more than made up for by Meryl Streep's performance as Julia Child. I'm looking forward to it!














Thursday Jan 13, 2011: Spanglish [PG-13] (2004)
More about a family that happens to have a chef as the patriarch than it is about a restaurant or cooking. However... this film easily has the best, most delicious-looking sandwich ever to grace the silver screen. You'll know it when you see it. :)














Friday Jan 14, 20111: The Slammin' Salmon [R] (2009)
Those who have worked in food service seem to be more "in on the joke" than those who haven't. The latest film from Broken Lizard would have been funny regardless of the supporting cast, but the scene-stealing Michael Clarke Duncan as Cleon "Slammin'" Salmon is pitch-perfect here.













Saturday Jan 15, 2011: Simply Irresistible [PG-13] (1999) & Chocolat [PG-13] (2000)
What better way to end a week of food movies than with dessert? This double-feature will definitely satisfy your cinema sweet tooth. First, watch a movie about a magical crab bringing love and good fortune to a talented young chef on her own. That's really what it's about! Then, watch a movie so light-hearted and fun, it'll be a very sweet way to end to your week.

Jan 2-8: 2010 Movies

Dates: Jan 2-8, 2011
Theme: 2010 Movies
Films: The Expendables (2010), Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Kick-Ass (2010), Inception (2010)

While these films don't necessarily represent the "Top 7" of 2010, they are all qualified to set your new year off on the right foot. Each represents a few fun hours of escapism that should be good enough to melt the winter blues (or cure the New Year's Eve hangover). All of them are available on DVD/Blu-Ray as well, so you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own sofa and leopard-print Snuggie®!

Sunday Jan 2, 2011: The Expendables [R] (2010)
There's no better way to cure your NYE hangover than with concussive explosions and memories of movies past! Stallone's ultimate action movie throwback should be just what the doctor ordered to start 2011 off right.














Monday Jan 3, 2011: Hot Tub Time Machine [R] (2010)
It's probably your first full day of work since the holidays. If that's the case, NOTHING will feel better and help you get over cubicle lag better than some laughs. And this movie has those in spades! Easily one of the funniest films that came out last year (or in the last 10), Hot Tub Time Machine will definitely help move your week along speedily.












Tuesday Jan 4, 2011: How to Train Your Dragon [PG] (2010)
This animated film from Dreamworks could easily have phoned it in and gone just for cheap laughs like so many of its predecessors, but it didn't. With enough heart, discovery, action and humor for anyone in the family; this film will make for a perfect "pizza and a movie night". Oooh Tuesday pizza and a movie night! I smell a new tradition!












Wednesday Jan 5, 2011: Exit Through the Gift Shop [R] (2010)
With all the "is it real or not?" hype surrounding this debut film from street artist Banksy, people seem to be missing what's right in front of their eyes. A great film. It plays more like a comedy narrative than a documentary about street artists and their notoriety. A short, perfect little film to help get you through your humpday.












Thursday Jan 6, 2011: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World [PG-13] (2010)
An exhilarating, genre-bending epic of epic epicness. People seem to be afraid to check this movie out. Whether you're suffering from Michael Cera fatigue, or just couldn't make out what was actually happening during the trailer; just trust me and watch this movie. You don't HAVE to get every inside joke for gamers; you don't HAVE to be familiar with the comic series; you don't even HAVE to be Canadian to "get" this movie. So watch it already! And you're welcome.










Friday Jan 7, 2011: Kick-Ass [R] (2010)
Take a comic dying to be treated right and used as half epic-comic-book-movie and half parody-of-epic-comic-book-movies; add a young director who'll do just about anything to get this film made (including some early financing) and a fresh young cast of future superstars; mix well and sprinkle in a dose of Nicolas Cage being AWESOME. That's the recipe for Kick-Ass; a film that not only lives up to its name, but manages to instill a little originality and gravitas to a summer popcorn action flick. A great way to start the first official weekend of 2011.








Saturday Jan 8, 2011: Inception [PG-13] (2010)
Okay, so I know this week's movies have all been a little action-heavy. Well let's compromise by ending on Inception. Another genre-bender that has its own built-in action movie in its third act. Christopher Nolan gives us one of the best film endings in a long time. One that will leave you with a different impression after each viewing, so let's see what we believe with the first viewing of 2011...











________________________

What now?

So here's how the blog will be treated in 2011...

Stupidly, I named it "Robb's Movie a Day". It's even in the URL, so I'm stuck with it. Yes I understand that there's probably a super easy way to change that, but I don't care! Roll with me on this, ok? So how else can I share a "Movie a Day"? Simple. And this time, I can count movies I've already seen! Yay!

Each week will have a theme, and each day within that week will have a movie assigned to it. I will be watching these films on these weeks (as diligently as possible). You can too! Then post your thoughts in replies and voila! Actual discussions about a "Movie a Day"!!!

Crazy, huh? Yeah, I thought so too. But alas, HERE we go!

-Robb-

PS... you don't actually have to interact with this blog in any way, but it seems much more sane if I type this under the pretext that there are actual people reading and reacting to this blog. :)

Thanks!

Just wanted to say thank you to those who actually read this. Sorry it fell apart halfway through, but I did predict that in the very first post! LOL. ;)

Anyway, I still plan on updating this blog. It'll most likely be in a different format, and with different "rules". But still, you should keep checking back. :)

Thanks again!

-Robb-