The thing about the picture that has been used for advertising The Jane Austen Book Club is that Jimmy Smits is not in the club until the very end of the movie. Hugh Dancy is the only man in the book club. He should be on the cover. Ok. Rant over.
So the plot of the movie is that six people, friends and acquaintances, form a book club. They choose to read six of Jane Austen’s novels: Pride and Prejudice. Sense and Sensibility. Mansfield Park. Emma. Persuasion, Northanger Abbey. One person per month hosts and leads the discussion on the book of the month.
It wasn’t my favorite movie but it was alright. The movie was effective in showing Jane Austen, books and book clubs in a positive light.
I think I was distracted by Hugh Dancy. He reminds me of the one that got away. His last name is awfully close to Darcy isn’t it?
There is an Indiegogo campaign for making the “Mission Fat Hearts” animated movie. The movie is based on the children’s book, “The Adventures of Pookie: Mission Fat Hearts,” which was created by Mandy Rohr and written by Rebecca Yee-Peters.
The ladies behind the books believe that the Mission Fat Hearts movie can show kids that kindness can change the world. Even small acts of kindness can have an effect on someone.
My ex-boyfriend Pookie, not the same one in the books, was a believer in random acts of kindness. He was blessed by a random act of kindness. Someone that he wasn’t related to or work for helped him pay for college and didn’t really ask for anything in return. I know for a fact that Pookie has used his college education to help a lot of people.
If you are interested in doing your own act of kindness, you could support the campaign for the Mission Fat Hearts movie.
I love post-apocalyptic movies. Unfortunately, not everyone in my house wants to watch everything related to the apocalypse like I do. I might be watching too many of them lately because that feeling that we’re not prepared for living off the grid is taking up space in my brain. Is it paranoia or just wanting to be ready?
Anyway, I’ve listed a few fairly decent post-apocalyptic movies without zombies that are on Netflix.
Children of Men
In the year 2027, no one is having children. It’s been 18 years since the last child was born. Theo (Clive Owen) is entrusted with escorting a very pregnant Kee ( Claire-Hope Ashitey) to a safe place. But who can they trust? As far as I could tell – only Jasper (Michael Caine) is trustworthy.
Into the Forest
After their father dies, two sisters – Nell and Eva -are alone in their house in the woods. They have to figure out how to survive when the world as they know it is ending. The electricity is out. The food and gas are almost gone. The house is falling apart. This is the movie that inspired me to look up how to live off of the grid. They do alright until a few unexpected things happen.
The Road
I read the book also. When you see it play out in the movie, the story seems so much darker and depressing. It is probably close to what would actually happen in an apocalypse. It is a good book and movie.
The Survivalist
The Survivalist doesn’t say much – not even his own name. He’s living alone in a remote cabin in the woods. Two ladies arrive at his cabin and he is less than welcoming. Can you blame him though? He doesn’t know if they are going to steal his food or kill him. Of course, he’s right not to trust them. They are plotting against him the whole time but nothing goes the way anyone expects.
The Rover
A group of thieves steal Eric’s (Guy Pierce) car. Most people would have given up on getting the car back but not Eric. He goes through hell and kills a lot of people to get this car. You’ll probably wonder why he would do all of this for a piece of crap car. Just watch it. All will be revealed.
This is a list of my favorite Halloween movies. Happy Halloween!
Top ten Halloween movies
1. Hocus Pocus
2. Sleepy Hollow
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. Beetlejuice
5. Practical Magic
6. The Addams Family
7. Carrie
8. Young Frankenstein
9. Haunted Honeymoon
10. Hotel Transylvania
Not really. I haven’t even been to a literal valley. For Pete’s sake, I haven’t even been to Cleveland for several months. I’ve mostly been going to the library and watching movies.
In the last two months, I’ve probably watched at least 50 movies. 50 is the low estimate. There were good movies, bad movies, movies that made me fall asleep – I’m talking to you “Inception.” It would be great to stay awake and watch Tom Hardy but all of those people sleeping makes me sleepy.
However, there have been two movies that I’ve watched this week that have been fairly inspiring.
When I rented “Chasing Mavericks,” I didn’t know that it was based on the true story of Jay Moriarity. I won’t tell you what happens. I will tell you that it makes me want to get off of the couch and go surfing. I’m from Ohio. I’ve never even touched a surfboard. It’s possible that I’ve not even seen a surfboard in person. That’s not the point. The point is that I need to get out there and do stuff again. It’s not that I want to surf the Mavericks but I want to learn the basics. Small waves are better than no waves.
Would I rather waste time being a couch potato or learn to surf and maybe meet some sharks. If I came face to face with a shark, I would at least have a story to tell. Probably. I mean, after I kick the shark in the face. Then it can be storytime.
The second movie was “Julie & Julia.” I totally relate to Julie. She’s in a rut and then she starts to blog. I’m a blogger and currently in a rut. (My grandma blamed being in a rut on drinking too much soda. It turns out that she was right.)
Anyway, as many of you know, I’m a terrible cook. It’s more than just being terrible, I’m afraid of cooking or rather afraid of the rejection and disgust from listening to people complain about my cooking. I’ve gotten back into the kitchen for short periods of time – only out of necessity.
My mom says that I’m an avoider of difficult subjects. When I was a kid, I used to take naps to avoid life. Now, I just outright avoid the kitchen, except for doing dishes and making coffee. Sometimes, I pour cereal for the kids. I have offered to make them food but they almost laugh me out of the room, like “Yeah, no thanks mom. We’d like to live another day.”
I don’t want to be this person that avoids scary things, like cooking and sharks. I want to get out of this rut. Getting back into the kitchen might be part of the ticket. Today, I found a Chinese cookbook in the kitchen. It must be my boyfriend’s – my cookbooks are usually called, “Quick & Easy” and “Oops.” The cookbook is very zen. I need some zen cooking and surfing lessons. It has got to be better than hanging out in the pits of despair.
I have watched a ton of movies. Just this weekend: The Trouble with the Curve. Guardians of the Galaxy. Into the Woods. Warrior. The second season of True Blood.
Plus, I am almost finished reading “Go Set a Watchman.”
#SockSunday
I have done my nails a lot. #Nailjedi
My boyfriend found soy peanut butter. I guess it’s not peanut butter. It’s like soy butter. It tastes better than it sounds.
When you think Darth Vader, you think music, right? Okay, maybe not exactly. You probably think of James Earl Jones and joining the dark side.
Half of the people on the planet have probably done an impression of Darth Vader saying, “Luke, I am your father.” The other half are either in denial or honestly haven’t watched “Star Wars.”
I know . . . who hasn’t seen “Star Wars” ? Great-grandmas and people who don’t enjoy movies or entertainment or fun. My grandma never watched “Star Wars.” However, she did keep those “Star Wars” from McDonald’s at her house for when I visited.
How many characters have their own theme music? I don’t think anyone has a theme song quite as memorable as Darth Vader’s.
I found four music videos that each take a different approach to the “Imperial March.” The Prague Orchestra looks like they are having fun.
Star Wars Dubstep – it is awesome. I just like saying Star Wars Dubstep so that’s my plan for the day – saying Star Wars Dubstep and looking for my microphone.
