moonstruck

the year: 1987

the genre: comedy

the cast: Cher (Loretta Castorini); Nicolas Cage (Ronny Cammareri); Olympia Dukakis (Rose Castorini); Danny Aiello (Johnny Cammareri)


the plot: Loretta Castorini, a Brooklyn bookkeeper in her late 30s whose husband died several years earlier in a bus accident, decides it's time to get married again. So she accepts the proposal of a nice, middle-aged fellow named Johnny Cammareri. Loretta is convinced her first marriage was cursed because she and her husband had gotten married at City Hall; this time, she's determined to do things right, even as she admits to her mother, Rose, that she's not really in love with Johnny. Loretta is convinced that marrying Johnny is the safe and sure thing to do - until she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, who tends the ovens in a neighborhood bakery...



Disclaimer: I haven't watched this in a while, and even then it was on tv, so there may be some inappropriate parts. But this has one of my favorite wrap-ups/ending scenes. Great characters!

willow

the year: 1988

the genre: fantasy


the cast: Val Kilmer (Madmartigan); Joanne Whalley (Sorsha); Warwick Davis (Willow Ufgood); Jean Marsh (Queen Bavmorda)


the plot: Willow, a small farmer and apprentice magician, meets Madmartigan, a great swordsman, and together they journey through a war-torn land of magic and monsters, to save a baby princess from death at the hands of an evil queen.


don't miss: the Brownies.



listen for: "You are drunk, and when you are drunk you forget that I am in charge!"



did you know: Ron Howard said that the part of the two-headed dragon "Eborsisk" was modeled after Clint Howard, his brother. He said that since Clint has had many cameo appearances in his films, and Ron couldn't find a part for him in this one, he modeled the dragon after him.



extra bonus points: if you know who lost the role of Madmartigan to Val Kilmer. (It's probably a good thing - although a great actor, he's not the first one I think of when picturing someone sword fighting.)


also listen for: ""I dwell in darkness without you" and it *went away*?!"

xanadu

In honor of Laney's birthday...

the year: 1980

the genre: musical


the cast: Gene Kelly (Danny McGuire); Olivia Newton-John (Kira); Michael Beck (Sonny Malone)


the plot: The Greek muses incarnate themselves on Earth to inspire men to achieve. One of them, incarnated as a girl named Kira, encounters an artist named Sonny Malone. With the help of Danny McGuire, a man Kira had inspired forty years earlier, Sonny builds a huge disco roller rink. (And if THAT doesn't intrigue you, I don't know what will.)


don't miss: the dance number between Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John. It was filmed after production for the movie had finished and it became clear the filmmakers had not given their audience the one scene the movie required: Gene and Olivia dancing together. Gene Kelly choreographed the dance number. His conditions for doing it included a closed stage that included only himself, Olivia Newton-John, a cameraman, a choreographer he had befriended, and two others.


watch for: the sun rising in the Pacific - oops!


count: how many Xanadu dancers there were for the Roller Disco scene.


listen for: "I've been known to twinkle a toe or two."


did you know: Danny McGuire was also the name of Gene Kelly's character in Cover Girl.


extra bonus points: if you know the famous one sentence review that this film received.



also listen for: "Kid can you imagine it?" "Imagine what?" "A bandstand. Right over there in that corner. And a big band, like in the 40's." "Nah, nah, nah. Bandstands went out with running boards. Over there. A great rock 'n' roll band. This is the 80's!" "Real smooth dancers... wild trombone... the band decked out in tuxedos." "Six guys wearing electric orange... synthesizer... heavy precussion... electric guitar."

waxing nostalgic: the disney channel

I ran across a video on youtube and knew I had to share. Anyone who hung out at our house during the summer (or had the Disney Channel in it's early days) will probably remember DTV (Disney's answer to MTV), the NEW Mickey Mouse Club, and these:

Not Quite Human:


The Ghosts of Buxley Hall (start watching here):


The Mighty Ducks:


Flight of the Navigator:

(start watching here.)

And this gem - the video I stumbled across:

B.R.A.T. Patrol:


Tin Roof Sundae, Ice Cream Sandwich or Silver Mint Bar anyone?

the great muppet caper

the year: 1981

the genre: comedy


the cast: Kermit the Frog; Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear; Gonzo; Diana Rigg (Lady Holiday); Charles Grodin (Nicky Holiday); John Cleese (Neville); Peter Ustinov (Truck Driver); Peter Falk (Bum in the Park)


the plot: Kermit and Fozzie are newspaper reporters sent to London to interview Lady Holiday, a wealthy fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace is stolen. Kermit meets and falls in love with her secretary, Miss Piggy. The jewel thieves strike again, and this time frame Miss Piggy. It's up to Kermit and Muppets to bring the real culprits to justice.




watch for: how Fozzie takes his champagne.


extra bonus points: if you would consider staying at the Happiness Hotel.




did you know: Gonzo's classification as a "whatever" is officially cemented in this film, as this is the label affixed to his shipping crate en route to Great Britain.



listen for: my favorite line, a la Janice: "Look, Mother. It's my life. OK. So if I want to live on a beach and walk around naked... Oh."



don't miss: John Cleese as Neville.



my favorite scene: (I dare you not to nod your head back and forth while you watch..)

the princess bride

the year: 1987

the genre: fantasy



the cast: Robin Wright (Buttercup); Cary Elwes (Westley); Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya); Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck); Christopher Guest (Count Tyrone Rugen); Andre the Giant (Fezzik); Fred Savage (the grandson); Peter Falk (the grandfather / Narrator); Billy Crystal (Miracle Max)


the plot: Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, battling Rodents of Unusual Size, facing torture in the Pit of Despair - true love has never been a snap.


don't miss: the ROUS pull the headpiece back on and straighten it after Westley punches him in the head.


did you know: Mark Knopfler agreed to write the music for this movie on the condition that Rob Reiner put the hat that he wore in This Is Spinal Tap in the movie. The hat appears in The Grandson's bedroom.


did you also know: director Rob Reiner left the set during Billy Crystal's scenes because he would laugh so hard that he would feel nauseated.


listen for: oh, who am I kidding. You've probably got the whole thing memorized.


extra bonus points: if you know what Florin and Guilder are - besides the two rival kingdoms in the movie.


check out: the changing size of the grandson's PB&J sandwich throughout the film.

And can I just say that I love that this character's name is The Impressive Clergyman?