O-Dark-Thirty

Quarantine Movie Memos The River of No Return (1954) Made in 1954, there's no blue screen in this movie. So all those scenes where the actors are in the water or on the raft must be real. And cold. Set against a gorgeous background, we get to travel along a wild river and brave the rapids on a rickety wooden raft. So did the actors. Marilyn Monroe did a good job, actually singing the songs in the movie. Apparently she didn't really play the guitar, though. The movie was filmed in Jasper and Banff in Canada. We've been there. Not on a river, though.

(I originally posted this in November, 2012 but it's time to post it again.) To the best of my knowledge the concept of Five Love Languages was defined by Dr. Gary Chapman , an "internationally respected marriage and family life expert." I first learned of these love languages over a decade ago, in the middle of a personal crisis. What I learned shocked me; I could love someone with all I had in me and they might not understand. How could this be? We were speaking different love languages. In my case the situation went on so long that love faded into the obscurity of the fog-bound recesses of our minds. Thornton Wilder, in The Ides of March says it splendidly: “You swore you loved me, and laughed and warned me that you would not love me forever. I did not hear you. You were speaking in a language I did not understand. Never, never, I can conceive of a love which is able to foresee its own termination. Love is its own eternity. Love is in every moment of its being:...

Quarantine Movie Memos S.W.A.T. (2003) Before Samuel L. Jackson assembled the Avengers in 2012, he put together an impressive team in S.W.A.T. Jeremy Renner is part of this plot, too. Though not as impressive as when he played Hawkeye, that's the fault of the role, not the actor. It's a high-octane romp through destruction and mayhem. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quarantine Movie Memos Bye Bye Birdie (1995) Sure, Elvis went into the Army, but Hollywood couldn't make a movie about that. They did. Then they did a remake in 1995. 1995 remake Random Thoughts: Reminds us of Grease (from 1978), but that makes sense considering the era. Who knew Jason Alexander could sing and (sort of) dance? I was delighted to see George Wendt in a show (he's Norm in  Cheers .) Darling and I simultaneously looked at each other and exploded in laughter when they broke into song over "Ed Sullivan." Tyne Daly as Albert's mother is amazing. She's the best part of this movie, in my opinion. Sadly, that isn't saying much. "What has she got, besides looks and brains and talent?" That made me laugh.

 Quarantine Movie Memos Guy and Dolls IMDB Poster We never watched this musical before. Hollywood made the movie in 1955 (according to IMBD). Our random comments: Dance moves of the guys are reminiscent of the moves of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Marlon Brando is a handsome, charismatic actor. Darling said so. Even I said so. Jean Simmons reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. Frank Sinatra could have sung more, but I like Frank Sinatra, so I'm biased. Along those lines, who knew Marlon Brando could sing? Good, fun movie.