Need a cheap way to entertain your date on Valentine’s Day and don’t know where to turn? Let The FilmGuru help you out.
One of the best ways to spend Valentine’s Day is with a romantic movie night. As with everything in Hollywood, presentation is everything. Let’s start with the props: you need is some popcorn, some chocolates, and a good bottle of white wine. Next, setting: turn down the lights and turn off the cell phones — no distractions. Candles are a nice touch.
With the right movie, you should be cuddled up on the couch together in no time. Here are a few of my favorites, which should appeal to all movie lovers.
A big thanks to Its Me : Khyati for the great movie night coupon.
1. Casablanca (1942)
This classic film is a perfect Valentine’s Day treat. With outstanding performances by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains, it tells the story of an American cafe owner caught up in helping a resistance leader during World War II. The story is filled with romance and intrigue. If you haven’t seen Casablanca, you’re in for a real treat. If you have seen it, you know it’s a heart-breaker.
2. Somewhere in Time (1980)
Love knows no bounds, and not even time can deny it. In this film based on the Richard Matheson novel Bid Time Return, a playwright (Christopher Reeve) becomes obsessed with an old photo of a beautiful young actress (Jane Seymour). Using self-hypnosis, he travels through time to 1912 so he can be with her. But her manager fears the romance will derail her career and resolves to stop them. This beautiful film is backed by powerful performances and a haunting score that makes it a memorable and immortal love story.
3. The Princess Bride (1987)
If your favorite stories begin with “Once upon a time,” you don’t need to look any farther than The Princess Bride to find your perfect Valentine’s Day movie. This story became an instant classic, not just because it is a fairy tale brought to life, but because it does so with humor and love. Starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest The Princess Bride has everything to make you fall in love: pirates, giants, and — of course — a beautiful princess (Robin Wright) who believes in true love.
4. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
If you prefer an animated fairy tale, the good folks at Disney will serve it up right. My choice (and it was a tough decision) is Beauty and the Beast. This classic story, retold as a musical, centers on Belle (voiced by Paige O’Hara) a young, provincial girl who sacrifices herself to save her father from the clutches of a tormented Beast (Robbie Benson). It was the first animated film ever nominated for Best Picture by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Though it didn’t win the Oscar, it won the enduring admiration of millions.
5. An Affair to Remember (1957)
Start with one of Hollywood’s most charming leading men: Cary Grant. Add in the beautiful and talented Deborah Kerr. In this classic story, two strangers meet aboard an ocean voyage. Each is engaged to someone else, but they fall in love anyway. Rather than run off together, they decide to wait six months and see how they feel. So, they vow to meet again at the top of the Empire State Building. Movies don’t get much more romantic than this. Nora Ephron even used the Empire State Building rendezvous in her 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle.
6. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
If you like musicals, you can’t miss with this Gene Kelly classic. Set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of Don Lockwood (Kelly), an actor determined to help the studio make the transition from silent films to “talkies” by reinventing the current film as a musical. There’s only one problem, the leading lady (Jean Hagen) has a horrible voice. Can Don pull off the switch of a lifetime by substituting the voice of a young newcomer (Debbie Reynolds)? And what happens when they fall in love?
7. Serendipity (2001)
Defying fate for love is the theme in this quirky 2001 film. John Cusack plays a young man who misses out on the perfect girl (Kate Beckinsale) who writes her name and number in a book. Now, years later, he is about to be married. But all of his hopes and dreams rise up again when fate drops the book in hands again. Now he and his best man (Jeremy Piven) must race across the city and beyond to find out if love at first sight is real or just a twist of fate.
8. Roxanne (1987)
In this upgraded version of the Cyrano de Bergerac story, Steve Martin plays C.D. a small-town fire chief who falls in love with the fair Roxanne (Daryl Hannah). But C.D. is self-conscious about his large nose, so he can’t tell Roxanne how he feels. When a young firefighter wants help wooing Roxanne, C.D. pours out his heart and uses his words to help the young couple come together. Not only is this a great retelling of a classic love story, but Martin’s off-beat humor makes it a very funny movie, too.
9. A Little Romance (1979)
This film is possibly the least well-known of all the films on this list. The Film Oracle introduced me to it several years ago. It’s been a favorite of hers since she was a kid. It’s the story of an American girl (a young Diane Lane) in France who falls in love with a local boy. When her diplomat father uproots the family, she runs away. With the help of a kindly old man (Laurence Olivier), the kids travel to Vienna so they can kiss under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset while the bells toll.
10. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
A young widow (Gene Tierney) moves to an old, seaside cottage and forms a unique relationship with the ghost of a sea captain (Rex Harrison). When she needs money, he helps her write the story of his life. But eventually she must choose between the friendly companionship of the ghost and the flesh-and-blood man who has come into her life.
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Win a RoboCop Trilogy Collector’s Set on Blu-ray!
In celebration of the recent launch of MGM’s RoboCop App, MGM Studios is giving away 25 copies of the RoboCop® Trilogy Blu-ray Collector’s set, plus two limited edition figurines.
- Grand Prize: Limited Edition Premium Format Figure + RoboCop Trilogy Blu-ray Collector’s set
- 2nd Prize: ED209 15″ Figure + RoboCop Trilogy Blu-ray Collector’s set
- 25 Runners Up: RoboCop Trilogy Blu-ray Collector’s set
To enter, visit the MGM Studios Facebook page, click ‘Like’, and follow the RoboCop App Sweepstakes link located on the page to complete the entry form.
For official rules and eligibility please visit robocop.mgm.com
ENTER NOW: http://www.facebook.com/mgm
]]>After several minutes, it finally hit us. It was Timothy Omundson, who plays the clean-cut, straight-arrow Detective Lassiter on USA’s Psych. Quite a different look for ol’ Lassie.
I finally found a picture to share with you all.
Detective Lassiter wearing a peace symbol?
Thanks to Kimberly’s Timothy Omundson page for the pic!
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Back in 1996, NBC launched a new science fiction television show that set the story of UFOs and alien conspiracy where it began — in the past. Now, after more than a decade, Dark Skies is available on DVD.
In this groundbreaking series, drama dovetailed with historical record in a story that blurred the line between fantasy and reality.
Dark Skies tells the story of John Loengard (Eric Close), a young congressional aide on Capitol Hill during the Kennedy administration. When Loengard begins investigating the Air Force’s Project Blue Book (the official team that investigated UFO sightings for the military), he stumbles across a top-secret organization called Majestic that has been fighting a secret war since the UFO incident at Roswell.
Together with his fiancee Kimberly Sayers (Megan Ward), Loengard goes on the run from Majestic and the alien threat that seeks to undermine humanity.
Dark Skies is top-notch science fiction. It tells a solid story that, aside from having something new to accomplish each week, also has an overarching theme that gets more complex as the series continues.
With its rich 1960s setting and costumes, one might think of Dark Skies as a Mad Men-styled science fiction drama. But Dark Skies has more in common with the film Forrest Gump, which wove a fictional character with historical events. And it’s interesting how easily the UFO mythology is woven into history so seamlessly.
In the first episode, “The Awakening,” Loengard interviews Betty and Barney Hill, a New Hampshire couple whose 1961 encounter with aliens is one of the first abduction stories. In the episode “Moving Targets,” Loengard meets up with former Major Jesse Marcel, one of the most outspoken voices about what really happened at Roswell in 1947.
Now on DVD, Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series is a wonderful return to this exciting and groundbreaking series. The story is still interesting and compelling. Even the special effects are — for the most part — still believable. The only thing disappointing about this set is that it reminds us that even the best storytelling doesn’t always survive the television network axe.
In addition to the complete 20 episode series on five disks, Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series DVD includes a sixth disk with numerous bonus features:
- International pilot
- Cast & creator commentaries
- “Signal To Noise: Uncovering Dark Skies” — A 3-part intimate look back with creators Bryce Zabel & Brent V. Friedman and stars Eric Close & Megan Ward
- Network promos
- The Dark Skies Glossary
- Original sales presentation
- EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
- Never-before-seen Season Two proposal
Jensen Ackles will supply the voice of the Red Hood in Batman: Under the Red Hood. Image courtesy of DC Entertainment.
In a couple of weeks, DC Comics fans will have a chance to take in the latest direct-to-DVD offering, the highly anticipated Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths animated feature. But the buzz today is coming from the next feature in queue for DC Entertainment.
According to The Los Angeles Times, details are emerging about the next animated feature, namely Batman: Under the Red Hood. The original comic book storyline will be adapted by animation legend Bruce Timm (as executive producer) and Brandon Vietti (as director). Vietti co-directed the 2007 animated feature Superman: Doomsday.
The Times is reporting that Bruce Greenwood will star as Batman. The cast will also include Futurama’s John DiMaggio as the Joker, Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood, and Jason Isaacs as Ra’s Al Ghul. In the role of Nightwing will be the legend-”wait for it”-dary Neil Patrick Harris star of CBS’s How I Met Your Mother and the Joss Whedon Web sensation, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
Batman: Under the Red Hood will be adapted by Judd Winick and based on the “Batman: Under the Hood” storyline that Winick wrote in the Batman comic series with artists Doug Mahnke and Paul Lee. The story finds Batman contending with a figure from his past who has donned the identity of the Red Hood — a former alias of the Joker — in order to pursue his revenge against the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime.
A sneak preview of Batman: Under the Red Hood will appear on the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVD when it is released on February 23.
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Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side coming to DVD and Blu-ray on Dec. 22, 2009.
It’s going to be a great holiday season for fans of Family Guy and Star Wars fans when Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Darkside comes to Blu-ray and DVD on December 22, 2009. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is launching the second DVD premiere feature from the creators of Family Guy after 2005’s enormously popular Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story.
The new feature is a follow-up to the 2008 Star Wars spoof “Blue Harvest.” This time around the Griffin clan packs lightsaber sharp wit as they parody the classic sequel The Empire Strikes Back. Luke (Chris), Leia (Lois), Han Solo (Peter) and Chewbacca (Brian) evade the dreaded Imperial Starfleet led by the cunning, conniving (and curiously short) evil lord Darth Vader (Stewie), setting up a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. With the rebellion in trouble, young Skywalker must take the advice of his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Herbert) and learn the ways of the “farce” under Jedi Master Yoda (Carl) to save the galaxy once and for all.
To promote the upcoming DVD, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has made available the following special trailer:
If you’re interested, here are the specs:
The two-disc Blu-ray with digital copy is presented in full screen 4×3 aspect ratio featuring English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Line 21, English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, English, Spanish, and French stereo and subtitles. Special features include:
- Digital Copy
- Audio Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
- B ehind-The-Scenes Featurette – “The Darkside of Poster Art”
- Animatics
- Pop-Up Video
The DVD is presented in full screen aspect ratio featuring English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Line 21, English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, English, Spanish, French, and Brazilian stereo and subtitles. Special features include all those listed above except Digital Copy.
]]>In the old days, horror movies were not about shocking audiences with disgusting displays of blood and gore. The monsters were the central theme, with characters like Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolf Man, Dracula and the Mummy.
I have always loved these classic monsters, in part because of a rare holiday treasure from my childhood known as Mad Monster Party? (Originally, the film had a question mark is part of the title. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because monsters aren’t supposed to have parties.)
This stop-motion animated film came from Rankin/Bass, the same people who brought us Christmas classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
The story follows meek Felix Flankin (voiced by Allen Swift) who is invited to a party by his uncle, Baron von Frankenstein (voiced by horror veteran Boris Karloff). Dr. Frankenstein intends to reveal his last great invention and name his successor before he retires. All the monsters are invited, and each one assumes that he (or she) will be put in charge. Even the Monster’s Mate (voiced by Phyllis Diller) is vying for the job.
There is singing. There is dancing. It is funny, not scary. It has more in common with those Rankin/Bass Christmas specials than it would with anything by Tim Burton. Mad Monster Party shows Halloween monsters at their most innocent and loveable.
Enjoy this collection of scenes from the film with Ethel Ennis singing the theme song.
If you want to pick up a copy for your collection, Mad Monster Party
Mad Monster Party is also #9 on the FilmGuru.Net Top 10 Halloween Comedies.
]]>The 2009 Redbox “Halloween Thrillers” survey was conducted nationwide and included more than 600 Redbox customers.
According to the poll, 64% of Americans plan to watch a horror movie this Halloween. Watching a scary movie was the number one activity chosen by 23% of those responding, beating out trick-or-treating (17%) and costume parties (17%).
Among the surveys other findings:
- 60% of respondents said they prefer to watch scary movies at home rather than at a theater
- The Exorcist was voted the scariest movie of all time with 19% of the vote.
- Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs was voted most memorable villain overall (21%), but the younger audience (18-34) skewed toward Michael Meyers from Halloween and Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street (tied with 22%)
- Creepiest kid in horror? Damien from The Omen (23%)
- Most memorable scary movie quote? “Here’s Johnny!” from The Shining (33%)
As for me, my wife and I have been trying to catch up on the horror movies that we’ve missed in theaters over the past few years. We’re pretty dedicated, but we miss a few that are either in limited release or just pass us by. This month has been horror month at our house, with the high point being the recently released Trick ‘r Treat
Written and directed by Michael Dougherty, Trick ‘r Treat is an exciting romp through four interconnecting tales of horror on Halloween night. I haven’t been this surprised by a movie in a long time. It was genuinely fun and frightening in a Halloween sort of way. This film will be a perennial favorite for many Halloween nights to come.
]]>This interview covers everything from life on set to what it was like to work with film legend Judy Garland. Find out how the munchkins got cast and what life was like for them after Oz.
Source: Newsweek
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