Singin' in the Rain!

My favorite movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz. In 1999 they released it for one night to movie theaters for it's 60th Anniversary. Knowing how much I loved it Stan took our family to go see it. I was overwhelmed by the thrill of seeing it on the big screen and literally wept when Dorothy opened the door to step into Oz.

Stan found out they were doing the same thing with another favorite of mine, Singin' in the Rain which was being shown on the big screen for one night in honor of it's 60th Anniversary. Since Stan and Kevin both had to work, AJ and I went July 12th to see this wonderful musical on the big screen, and oh what a treat!

I'm always singing songs from this film to my family; "Good Mornin'," "All I Do is Dream of You," and of course the title song. To see the singing and the dancing on the big screen was simply breathtaking! The things you miss watching it on a television are countless. Those little details enrich the experience, and it was amazing to watch the precision of the dancing done by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor. They were perfect together!

Before the showing Robert Osbourne from TCM interviewed Debbie Reynolds (who was only 18 when she made this film) and also showed clips of interviews with O'Connor, Cyd Charisse and Kelly's widow. They talked about experiences that happened behind the scenes and how they felt about making the film.a

Interestingly enough, Singin' in the Rain was not a hit when it was released in 1952. Reynolds said it took about five years for it to catch on.

If you've never seen the film, it's a musical about the movie industry. Specifically about that time in the late 1920s when talking pictures were coming into being, and about the making of the first talking film for the fictious studio with it's biggest silent stars played by Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen. The problem is that Hagen's character has a heavy Bronx accent and can neither speak well nor sing. Kelly, with his best friend played by Donald O'Connor, and his love interest, played by Debbie Reynolds, decide to have Reynold dub Hagen's voice.  Well, you can imagine how that goes.

The movie is sweet and fairly simple. The music is happy and fun, the dancing is amazing, having been choreographed by Gene Kelly, and the colors are vibrant and beautiful.

And, as happened when I saw The Wizard of Oz, I found myself weeping at the thrill of seeing this classic film on the big screen at last. I'm hoping they do this with some more of the older films. While it's always terrific to be able to watch them when we want to in our own homes, there's something about seeing these films they way they were meant to be watched: on the big screen in full color with the rich sound surrounding you.

We were lucky enough to watch Singin' in the Rain with a theater full of film lovers who were as happy and excited to be there as we were. There was laughter, some singing along and quoting some of the best lines. And when the film ended, it did so to a rousing round of applause. What a fun experience.

Movie and a Pizza

We went out today and saw the best movie we've seen in a loooong time: How to Train Your Dragon.  The theater was packed, as it was the first showing on opening day.  We opted to see the 3D version and I'm glad we did.  So much fun!

It's the story of a young man named Hiccup (there's a reason, but not what you think) who lives on a small island where, as he tells us, "it snows nine months of the year and hails the other three."  His village of Vikings must constantly deal with dragons who raid and destroy their small village.  Hiccup wants to prove himself and accidentally captures a rare and dangerous dragon.  The two become friends, and he learns that dragons have their own story to tell and everything his people have learned about the creatures is wrong.

It's a good story and the graphics are really wonderful.  The 3D imagery is also good.  I haven't seen Avatar, but one review I read said the effects in this movie rival that one.  All I know is it was really well done and was very enjoyable.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to very small children, although there were many there under four.  I found the little ones and the crying babies very distracting, and I'm not sure they really got much out of being there, but that would be your call if you want to see this film  At any rate, I think both boys and girls would like this movie.  A young girl named Astrid is a tougher fighter than Hiccup and proves she's worth her mettle on the battle field.

After the move we got a pizza to complete the experience.  Today is AJs last day of spring break, while Kevin has one more week to go.  I think we had a lot of fun as we now hunker down and wait for the blizzard to come in this afternoon.  Springtime in the Rockies, don't you know?

Movie Review

The new Disney production of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL is perhaps one of the most perfect versions of the film I have ever seen.  Yes, that's my opinion,and it's for an animated version at that!

I have seen every version of A Christmas Carol out there, even the ones where Scrooge is a woman.  I like the black and white versions from the 1930s and 1940s, the televisions versions starring George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart, the American version starring Henry Winkler, even the cartoon version with Mr. Magoo.  And actually I like them all.

But this film starring Jim Carrey, Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy to you P&P fans), Bob Hoskins, and Robin Wright Penn, is spectacular.  So true to the book that some of the spoken lines are taken directly from the novel's pages, this is most definately NOT a children's movie.  If you have young kids, do not take them to see this.  There are some frightening scenes that are very intense.

Jim Carrey did an amazing job.  His interpretation of Ebenezer Scrooge was spot on.  The rest of the cast supported him in giving the viewer a trip down a wonderful road that will help you get in the holiday spirit.

I admit that I was a bit trepidacious about a Disney version of this story.  Directed by Robert Zemekus and done in the same style as his film "A Polar Express" I think if you are a fan of this story you are in for a treat.  The song as the closing credits roll sung by Andrea Boccelli, "God Bless Us Everyone" is a reason to stay after the ending.  I strongly recommend this film.  Have fun!