Now I like art films as much as the next gal. “The Bicycle Thief” is perfection, “8 1/2″ is exquisite, “Blue Velvet” should be required viewing for anyone over the age of 18. However, I will say, in this public forum that sometimes, nothing beats a good monkey movie. I was going through my movie library yesterday and I noticed that we have nearly a full shelf full of simian-related films. Naturally, the entire , “Planet of the Apes” oeuvre, with a special nod to “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” with Ricardo Montalbon. Then we move on to the classic “Tarzan” of course, but I also love “Greystoke, Legend of Tarzan” with Christoper Lambert (sigh). “Every Which Way But Loose” is awesome and who doesn’t love Clint with Clyde?! “Project X” with Matthew Broderick (sigh) is a good one too. I have to give a shout out to “Monkey Shines” too, in case you are in the mood for a creepy monkey movie. Animated monkey favorites include “Curious George” with Will Farrel and Drew Barrymore doing voices, and one of my latest favorites, “Space Chimps”. And, best for last, “King Kong”! “T’was Beauty that felled the Beast”. Best last line in a movie too. The remake was odd but watchable, but the original is worth seeing again. So, in case you are looking for titles for your next jungle madness party, think about some of these great monkey movies. And frozen bananas dipped in chocolate would be a perfect treat for your audience! (sigh)
Archive for the ‘Movie thoughts’ Category
In the jungle
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Musicals – You know you love ‘em!
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009I myself am a musical theater queen from way back, so watching the Tony’s on Sunday really put me in a musical mood. Now, I know that some people say they “hate musicals”. My friend Jonny says it bugs him that someone always turns to the audience and sings, “…can’t you see?”. However, I know that deep down there is something about a good musical that appeals to everyone. In the mood for a boy’s night with the fellas? “West Side Story”. Girl’s night with your BFF? “Chicago”. Poker night? “Guys and Dolls”. Garden club fund raiser? “Little Shop of Horrors”! Yes, I could do this for hours. Seriously though, movie musical events are awesome, be sure and hand out copies of the song lyrics so everyone can sing along, throw in some glowsticks and you have yourself a party they’ll be singing about for years! Call us today for more ideas! My Top Six Movie Musicals, besides those listed above; “The Wizard of Oz”, “Moulin Rouge”, “Grease”, “Hair”, “My Fair Lady”, “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Footnote – look for my natterings on animated musicals in an upcoming blog!!
Everything old is new again!
Thursday, June 4th, 2009Choose the correct answer to the following question; You know you’re old when -
a) the classic rock station plays every song from your Prom
b) a magazine features a “retro” spread and the outfit is one you wore in 11th grade
c) you overhear people talking about this great old movie they saw, and it’s “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”
Answer – All of the above!
So fine, I’m a dinosaur and I don’t really care. The cool thing is that the beloved 80′s are back with a vengeance and 80′s movies are very popular. A word of warning about this genre, if you choose a movie from the 80′s that hasn’t been remastered yet, they are a bit dark so if you are showing them outdoors, make sure you are in a super dark venue or upgrade your projector. The 80′s trend has been particularly fun for me because I get to see people enjoying some of my favorite films for the first time, something I love to do. A lot of these movies are now classics in their own right and will pull a big audience just for the title. Add an extra like food or make it a fundraiser for your favorite charity and you have yourself a big fun party! So pick your high school favorite, ask your parents (oy!) or give us a call and we’ll get you a great list of 80′s flicks for your next event. Here are my Top 8 80′s movies, enjoy! “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, “Ghostbusters”, “Top Gun”, “The Princess Bride”, “E.T.”, “The Breakfast Club”, “This is Spinal Tap”, “Tootsie”. Also, please assume that it goes without saying that the “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” movies made in the 80′s not only defined a generation, but are some of the greatest ever made!!
Stay-cation movies
Saturday, May 16th, 2009Things being what they are these days, more and more of us will be staying close to home this summer rather than jetting off to far flung locations. I don’t know about you, but I happen to LOVE far flung locations! So here are a few ideas for some movie nights that will make you feel like you have visited greener pastures, even if only for a few hours. Craving the bustle of the big apple? Hire a vendor to sell hot dogs and peanuts and show “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Or “Ghostbusters”. Or “Tootsie”. In the mood for Gay Paris? A wine and cheese buffet goes perfectly with a screening of “An American in Paris”. Or “French Kiss” (one of my favs!). Or “Ratatouille”! If London is more your cup of tea (sorry, I’ll stop doing that now), I would do a fish and chips picnic and show “Notting Hill”. Or “A Fish Called Wanda”. Or “101 Dalmatians”. We just did a show for a school group who’s class trip to Mexico got canceled. They had a taco bar and horchata fountain and showed “Nacho Libre”. Just pick your dream destination and we’ll find you a movie to match. You’ll have a great time and you won’t have to worry about finding someone to feed your cat while you’re gone! Bon Voyage!
The Art of Picnicing
Friday, April 17th, 2009Last night I was asked a question I’ve never heard before at an event. A very nice lady was pulling a crumpled bag of fast food burgers from her tote and said, “What’s the perfect food for an evening picnic?” Now, I don’t claim to be a food expert. Wait. I totally claim to be a food expert, but I am NOT a food expert! I have, however, had many meals outside, as I’m sure you can imagine. Here are a few things that I have really enjoyed, and I look forward to hearing your suggestions too please! I have two little boys and a husband who are usually willing to get adventurous when it comes to our picnics, so I tend to try and get creative. We have a family favorite chicken and pasta salad that travels well, so I’ll bring a big tupperware of that and 4 forks, unless we are joining friends and then I’ll also bring bowls and serve it up. “One Pot Wonders” are usually perfect picnic food unless they need to be hot, then you have to bring it in a heat saver bag. I like to make wraps too, and anything will work in them as long as there isn’t a lot of mayo. Also, I would like to make a case for cold meatloaf as one of the ultimate picnic foods. If you are buying food to bring, hit the deli counter for Fried Chicken, salads or try some knishes if you like them! I would stay away from drippy things like soup, chili and stews. For sides, you can’t really go wrong with some cut up raw veggies and chips. A little humus or guacamole and you are good to go. As for drinks, we usually travel with our little re-usable water bottles anyway, but if you are having a grown up evening think about a bottle of wine. Whatever you like, I’m a pinot girl but I’m not judgy. Don’t forget your corkscrew. And you must have something sweet. Since most of our evening picnics are in tandem with a movie event, I like to bring little bags of “movie candy” to eat during the show. Sour Patch Kids, M&M’s, nuts, all good. Nothing melty though. Most of the events we have done lately have had popcorn vendors too. Be sure and bring a bag for your trash. My mommy always uses the empty ziplocs and so do I. And that’s about it. Be creative, bring enough to share, baby wipes are perfect for cleaning off sticky fingers, have fun and get outside! Top Five food movies; “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, “Eat Drink Man Woman”, “Chocolat”, “Fried Green Tomatoes”, “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle”. Enjoy!
Hints for Spring
Friday, April 10th, 2009Sitting last night in one of the loveliest venues I’ve seen, surrounded by hundreds of families with picnics and blankets, I was reminded again of how fantastic Spring movie night can be! Here in sunny Southern California, our outdoor season starts a bit earlier than in the colder parts of the country, but it can still get chilly at night, especially when you are on the grass! I saw lots of mommys and daddys with kids who had climbed inside the parents’ coats to stay warm last night! Very sweet. One of my personal favorite benefits of outdoor movies is the “cuddle factor”! However, here are a couple of tips for keeping comfortable on a crisp evening outdoors. Be sure and layer – not just your clothing but your seating arrangement too. A blanket tossed on the ground is perfect in the Summer, but before the ground thaws out I like to set down a tarp or some other barrier first. My favorite trick is to unroll that yoga mat and put my blanket over that. Great for keeping tushies warm and comfy! Also, keep a stash of warm hats and gloves in with your picnicing stuff. It seems silly at noon when the sun is warm and everyone is running around, but at 9:00 pm or so when the cold starts to creep in, you are the genius with warm ears and fingers! Finally, keep an eye out for those little cushion seats with the backrests. I see them at sporting events, camp sites, Target, etc. Lots of venues ask for no chairs so these beach seats are perfect for outdoor movie viewing. I keep a couple in my car and we use them at soccer games, beach trips and especially at the movie events. Hope that helps keep everyone warm and comfy and excited about your own Spring or Fall movie event. Call us today to book yours!
Let’s not forget the classics…
Friday, April 3rd, 2009“Citizen Kane”, “Casablanca”, “The Godfather”, “Gone with the Wind”, “Lawrence of Arabia”. These are the Top Five of the Top 100 Films from AFI, the American Film Institute. Awesome picks! So granted, it might be harder to arrange an outdoor screening of “Godfather” than “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, but trust me, great classic films are always a great choice. We have done lots of screenings of “Casablanca” to groups of all ages, and did a fantastic “GWTW” night for almost 1000 people. Imagine the epic perfection of the opening of “Lawrence” on a 40′ screen outdoors under the stars. I believe there is a perfect “great film” for any taste. “Wizard of Oz” (#6) is always a hit as is “E.T” (#25). Two of my favorite movies of all times, “Jaws” (#48) and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (#60) are awesome outside. If you are looking to scare a large group of people, try “Silence of the Lambs” (#65), “Vertigo” (#61) or “Psycho” (#18). In short, don’t be shy about looking at some classic films for your event. They are awesome, they are powerful, they deserve to be seen on a huge screen and they can make for a perfect evening under the starts. Thanks AFI, you can check out their list for yourself at http://www.afi.com/docs/tvevents/pdf/movies100.pdf.
4 year old’s Top Six
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009“Monsters vs. Aliens”, “Tale of Desperaux”, “Hotel for Dogs”, “Bolt”, “Space Chimps”, “Cars”, “That other movie with the mouse and the small children. And there are bad guys and a fighting part I can’t tell you about because they do what we don’t do…guns”.
This the response I get when I ask my 4 year old to name his favorite movies. He loves watching movies and has excellent taste! Whenever someone is planning a family movie event and asks me for suggestions, I’ll get his current list. He always picks some great ones! If you are planning an event like this, may I suggest asking the kids in your life for their suggestions? I think you’ll be amazed!
It’s my party…
Sunday, March 29th, 2009Birthday party movie nights are always a blast. We’ve done some great events for people’s birthdays, everything from pony rides and “Little Mermaid” on a screen floating in the pool to guests dragging bean bags to the local park and watching “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”. I myself am turning… a year older… so in honor of the big day, here are my Top Six movies from the year I was born. You do the math! “M*A*S*H”, “Patton”, “Five Easy Pieces”, “Love Story”, “Airport”, “Diary of a Mad Housewife”. Enjoy!
