puszysty

You know, I think today is the perfect day to post my giant list of WWII movie reviews, even if I'm not done yet. You'll get the rest as I go along.

I should note that I'm posting this dually on facebook, so you may get some repeats of what I've posted here previously. These are reviews of every WWII movie I ever watched, going back to about my freshman year of high school. I really wasn't into war movies before then, and it's a bit too far back to remember anyway. There are 3 German films on here, the rest are either American or British (I'm watching Life is Beautiful later today, so that will be an Italian one).

First, an intro:
You may have gathered that I am on a quest to watch as many WWII movies as I can handle. It started when I realized that I had seen a lot this spring, and I decided I may as well keep going with it. Yes, I'm a girl who likes war movies. Get over it.

Why WWII, besides the random factor? I've found that for whatever reason, most major WWII movies are of high quality. I think the event is so ingrained in the American conscience, and that our nation still to this day has great respect for the soldiers that fought in it, that most directors really want to do them justice. Also, you can't really get away with bad war movies with your audience. A comedy can be bad and people will still watch it. I don't think the same applies to war movies. Why, I don't know, but I think it'd be an interesting study.

WWII also creates much more of a playground of sorts for filmmakers, because so much was going on. Two fronts, multiple nations, multiple out there personalities, the holocaust, life at home...the story possibilities are endless. Not to mention a lot of these people are still alive and we can get fairly accurate source material. All with the audience for them. The appeal lies in first the fact that we won, and secondly that it doesn't seem too far in the past that it's not relatable. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are more movies about WWII than any other war.

Not to knock other war movies. I liked Apocolypse Now until they met General Kurtz (then I felt it was just too weird), I think All Quiet on the Western Front was a great movie, Gettysburg was good, and I own a copy of The Patriot on dvd (Australians playing American heroes, ftw!). But for now, I'm sticking to WWII alone.

Now, on with the reviews!


The Giant WWII Movie Review!

( Patton )

( The Thin Red Line )

( Bent )

( Flags of Our Fathers )

( Letters from Iwo Jima )

( Der Untergang (Downfall) )

( Das Boot )

( Valkyrie )

( Defiance )

( Windtalkers )

( Saving Private Ryan )

( Swing Kids )

( Pearl Harbor )

( Die Weisse Rose )

( The Pianist )

( Schinder's List )

( The Great Escape )

( Inglorious Basterds )

( Kelly's Heroes )

( Band of Brothers )

I'm attempting to watch this movie. I'm only halfway through but I'm about to quit. This movie features the most incompetent group of soldiers EVER, who spend more time philosophizing in poetic language (yes, because that's realistic of the everyday soldier.) than they do actually fighting.
The first 15-20 minutes of this movie is Jesus Jim Caviezel cavorting with the natives. Then we get Nick Nolte (who I can't stand), a captain who doesn't like obeying orders that might get his men killed even though half of them die in like, the first hour of battle (who all announce "I'm dying" before they do, as well), and a guy who has a serious obsession with his wife.
Not to mention countless POV changes, lots of pretty shots of trees, and casting that doesn't make much sense (John Cusack???). Not even the all-star cast can save this movie.

There is a reason people remember Saving Private Ryan and not this movie (released the same year). SPR is MUCH BETTER.

Renting old movies is really a lot harder than it should be.

It being Memorial Day weekend, I really don't know what to do with myself. I usually avoid going anywhere, because everywhere is packed, which I am indeed doing today. But I usually also watch Law & Order marathons on TNT, and I don't have cable this year. :(

Remix authors have been revealed! Thank you pensnest, for a lovely remix! I had a pretty good idea it was you who'd written it. :)

I can now say that I wrote The First Day of The Rest of His Life (Perfect Distraction mix) for Aeiouna, aka linear_flower.
( writing thoughts )
So, thank you linear_flower, for letting me play in your universe! It was a lot of fun.
Also thank you to msktrnanny for your excellent beta services.

I never ate dinner yesterday. Strange, because usually after 7 hours, my body starts protesting if I haven't eaten. I never even snacked after my 2:30 lunch.

Day 15 - Favorite female character


Abby Sciuto I don't watch NCIS all that often, but I do love Abby. Part goth, part nerd. And she gets really exited about cool forensic evidence. She doesn't have major! issues! like I feel a lot of women do on tv these days. She's just fun.

Just watched the movie Bent. If you enjoy movies that are heavy on imagery, I think you'll like it. I didn't so much. I'm more into character development, and I felt that was missing here, particularly at the beginning of the movie.
I'm told this started as a play, and having watched the movie, I can see it working very well on stage. I think I'd rather enjoy it as a play, actually.

Don't let the NC-17 rating fool you, it really deserves little more than PG-13. A bit of racy dialouge perhaps, but no moreso than a standard porny fic. I was thinking the rating was for Holocaust nastiness, but there's really nothing in that regard.
It's definitely not a Holocaust movie in the same way that Schindler's List and The Pianist are. Nothing really stomach churning. Think of it more as a gay man figuring himself out in the midst of tragedy.

On an aside, Mick Jagger should not look this good in drag:

You're all shocked, I'm sure.

This is an easy one!



Mighty Morphin Power Rangers! My mom wouldn't let me watch it at first, since she thought it was too violent. She gave in around the time the green ranger was introduced. And then I got hooked. I had the McDonald's toys, some bendy figurines as well, and some other various things. I "met" the Red and Pink ranger when they were in town (just two people in oversized costumes, not the real actors). I had one friend who had all the zords, and he was my favorite friend for a while because we always got to play power rangers at his house (still friends with him, actually). I totally shipped Tommy and Kimberley, but wanted to be like Billy. I still own the movie.

And I'm totally jealous that the first 3 seasons are out on dvd in Germany, but not here!

Too much sugar. One of the attorneys at my office had his retirement party today, and the cake they got was entirely too sweet. I have a sweet tooth, and it was too much for me.

Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Here's the thing: I don't think I've seen any episode 5 times for any show I regularly watch, or have regularly watched for the last 10 years. I'd say 3 max. Then I just don't feel like seeing it anymore.
But
Schoolhouse rock counts as a tv show, right? Because I know I've seen this one way more than 5 times!



I can't recite the preamble without breaking into song because of this.
(Is that little girl trying to vote? Voter fraud!)

Also, answers to the music meme:

1. Call you up in the middle of the night, like a firefly without a light Runaway Train- Soul Asylum
2. There you are, lookin as fine as can be. I can tell you're looking at me Bring It All To Me- Blaque
3. We don't even talk anymore, and we don't even know what we argue about Water Runs Dry- Boyz II Men guessed by joeysdramaqueen
4. We took a walk that night but it wasn't the same Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine- The Killers
5. Hey, don't write yourself off yet The Middle- Jimmy Eat World guessed by joeysdramaqueen, safenthecity
6. [song title] you're the only angel I know Please Don't Go- No Mercy guessed by msktrnanny
7. When you refuse me, you confuse me Not Coming Home- Maroon 5
8. Gave me a call after working all day 100 Ways- JC Chasez
9. You and I must make a pact. We must bring salvation back I'll Be There- Mariah Carey (though Jackson 5 is also an acceptable answer)- guessed by lls_mutant, joeysdramaqueen
10. Tell me how long were we together before we got together Right Here By Your Side- JC Chasez guessed by joeysdramaqueen
11. I was caught in the middle of a railroad track Thunderstruck- AC/DC
12. Lay a whisper on my pillow. Leave the winter on the ground Must Have Been Love- Roxette guessed by lls_mutant, joeysdramaqueen
13. I don't know how, I don't know why, but girl it seems, you've touched my life Falling- *Nsync guessed by joeysdramaqueen, _crumbledstar
14. You know what you want and that makes you just like me FutureSex/LoveSound- Justin Timberlake
15. You're pulling petals off a flower trying to get your way He Loves U Not- Dream guessed by _crumbledstar
16. Girl you're working with some ass yeah, you're bad yeah Back That Ass Up- Juvenille
17. Y'all know me, still same old G Forgot About Dre- Dr. Dre and Eminem
18. Girl you're looking so fine tonight. And every guy has got you in his sight Angel Eyes- Jeff Healey Band guessed by lls_mutant
19. I see (not still. typo) you pulling on up in your car and there's something on your mind Full Service- New Kids On the Block
20. Goddess on the mountain top, burning like a silver flame Venus- Bananarama guessed by joeysdramaqueen, lls_mutant, msktrnanny
21. Broken pieces, break into me Broken Open- Adam Lambert
22. There you stood, that'll teach ya, to look so good and feel so right High On You- Survivor guessed by joeysdramaqueen
23. So I find a reason to stay alive First Day Of My Life- Melanie C
24. Riding in the bus down the boulevard and the place was pretty packed Another One Rides the Bus- Weird Al
25. Invincable is what you think you are The Game Is Over- *Nsync guessed by joeysdramaqueen
26. Am I more than you bargained for yet? I've been dying to tell you anything you want to hear Sugar, We're Goin Down- Fall Out Boy guessed by joeysdramaqueen, safenthecity
27. Cruised into a bar on the shore her picture graced the grime on the door Dude Looks Like a Lady- Aerosmith guessed by _crumbledstar
28. Everybody groove to the music, everybody jam We've Got In Goin On- Backstreet Boys gussed by _crumbledstar
29. One man come in the name of love, one man come and go Pride (In the Name of Love)- U2 guessed by lls_mutant, joeysdramaqueen, msktrnanny, prophetkristy
30. Now everybody, have you heard? If you're in the game, then the stroke's the word The Stroke- Billy Squire guessed by msktrnanny, joeysdramaqueen

Things made of win: the federal government is looking to overturn the ban on gay men giving blood. Yay!

Things made of fail: The University of Texas

Speaking of fails, today on the 30-day tv meme: Day 11 - A show that disappointed you


Despeate Housewives. It started out so good, then just fell flat on its face after season 2. My brother was the one that got me started watching this, actually. And if my brother of all people is telling me to watch a show about middle-aged women, there must be something good about it! It was funny at the start, and the only real scumbug on the street was Paul (who was so deliciously evil that he made it fun. I ♥ Mark Moses.). And that crazy neighbor, I forget what her name was.
Then every other person on the street had murdered someone, and it just got ridiculous. I quit watching after season 3. Which was probably too long.