I missed a month, but I can make up for it with some extra recommendations...
Netflix has recently added two movies I love. Old(er). Complete fluff. Always makes me laugh. These are movies that people who watch old movies casually still may have missed...
Soapdish The cast is magical. Robert Downey, Jr. before people knew much about him. Sally Fields in, perhaps, her most over-the-top, insanely melodramatic role ever (No one does melodrama like Sally Fields!) Kevin Kline whom I have never seen as a big pull to see a movie, but between this and French Kiss, I grew to love him. Teri Hatcher (after MacGyver, before Lois & Clark) Whoopi Goldberg in the first part where I remember her going from tomboy, frumpy Jumpin' Jack Flash comedic actress to "Wow, she's kinda hot!" actress.) Carrie Fisher (still adorable!) And several more big names, many of whom we're big names at the time. Both physical and word play comedy make this irresistible to any mood I'm in for comedy.
Barefoot In The Park I have seen and enjoyed many Robert Redford films, but this one might be my favorite. Jane Fonda doesn't do a lot for me, but she pulls off bored, slightly crazy, free-spirited housewife well. Charles Boyer.. what can I say? He's so adorable and funny in this. He reminds me of the scamp Maurice Chevalier plays in Gigi... There are a lot of funny moments, but my favorite is when they begin to argue and JF calls RR 'very nearly perfect' and he gets offended. It's just adorable and funny all at once. There are a few non-feminist comments in it, I warn you, but just ignore them and don't let it spoil the whole scene because half the time I hear those comments, but the rest of the dialogue is so funny or useful that I have enjoyed it anyway.
I've read three books in the last month, but nothing phenomenal. I think it's time to say if you have never read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it's time to do so, now! It's funny and sometimes profound. When it was originally written - 1979 - (hell, when I read it just over a decade later) the entire guide was pure fantasy. Now we are a step away from it with our smart phones and tablets. Crazy to think! So, hurry and read it now before the interwebs are filled up with the rest of the interesting information about time and space and the entire idea becomes obsolete!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Pineapple Recommends 2
Playing By Heart is a movie with a well known cast. Usually, these all-star, intertwining stories movies fall flat to me. Maybe my hopes are too high. In this case, you get a fun cast who were pretty big names at the time (some still are, some not to much) like Gena Rowlands, Sean Connery, Madeleine Stowe, Gillian Anderson, Angelina Jolie, and Ryan Phillipe. Oh, and let's not forget a truly unforgettable small moment with Alec Mapa. This is how I ALWAYS see Alec Mapa now 'cause this was the first way I saw him.
It's got some pretty good music mixed throughout and the story is cute, but the best thing is the dialogue. These are smart people and you won't hear the humor unless you listen to the dialogue closely. There are some beautiful thoughts mixed in like "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture" and is definitely worth a look. Just remember to pay attention.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a longer book so I might skip next months recommendation as it could count as two. The first book I read by this author was Affinity, recommended by a friend, and I really loved that one, too. I then read this one and tend to recommend it more because it has just a bit more meat on its bones. It will surprise you, I promise, and you will enjoy every moment of the journey. Her writing in these two books and Tipping the Velvet is beautiful, descriptive, and lyrical. Her stories are romantic and entertaining. I don't know what happened, though, because I will not recommend The Night Watch or The Little Stranger. It was a chore to get through NW and I didn't feel like it went anywhere worthwhile. The well-written, interesting tidbits of the past were not enough to save it. I read just less than half of LS and gave up. I learned from those cases that her writing is only beautiful in relation to the stories. Otherwise it seems overly pedantic and occasionally excruciating. That being said, Fingersmith (and Affinity) are worth taking the time to read. Parts of it still stick with me and it's been a few years since I read either.
It's got some pretty good music mixed throughout and the story is cute, but the best thing is the dialogue. These are smart people and you won't hear the humor unless you listen to the dialogue closely. There are some beautiful thoughts mixed in like "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture" and is definitely worth a look. Just remember to pay attention.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a longer book so I might skip next months recommendation as it could count as two. The first book I read by this author was Affinity, recommended by a friend, and I really loved that one, too. I then read this one and tend to recommend it more because it has just a bit more meat on its bones. It will surprise you, I promise, and you will enjoy every moment of the journey. Her writing in these two books and Tipping the Velvet is beautiful, descriptive, and lyrical. Her stories are romantic and entertaining. I don't know what happened, though, because I will not recommend The Night Watch or The Little Stranger. It was a chore to get through NW and I didn't feel like it went anywhere worthwhile. The well-written, interesting tidbits of the past were not enough to save it. I read just less than half of LS and gave up. I learned from those cases that her writing is only beautiful in relation to the stories. Otherwise it seems overly pedantic and occasionally excruciating. That being said, Fingersmith (and Affinity) are worth taking the time to read. Parts of it still stick with me and it's been a few years since I read either.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Pineapple Recommends
I saw a commercial for Reelz Recommends and thought 'hey, I can do that'.
We read a lot and watch a lot of movies. The thing is, while he is a little cliche and likes action and comic book movies (I like them, too, just not as much), I don't often go for the romantic comedy chick flicks. What we watch commonly are independent, foreign, and other non-blockbuster hopefuls.
Generally, when talking to a friend, I get to know things they like and then make recommendations based on that. Most of the time I think I do pretty well because they don't often come back and say they hated it. It has happened, but pretty rare.
Not that anyone is even reading this blog, but I am not going to play it safe. I don't know you, your threshhold for sex and violence, or your personal tastes, but for the sake of saying "I think these things are really, really cool!" I'm going to recommend just one book and one movie a month. Once in a while I'll throw in a show that's easily obtained on Netflix, etc. Also note, when I refer to something, it's probably going to be the things I think are awesome, not necessarily the thing others would use as reference. You'll get the hang of it.
Kick off.
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Sometimes people like a link to something familiar, so I will mention he is the author of Fight Club. I've read a few of his books, but this one holds as my favorite; perhaps because I read it first. Seriously, give it a shot if you like a dark, twisted satire.
Velvet Goldmine directed by Todd Haynes. It gets better every time I see it. Christian Bale (after Swing Kids, but before Batman), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors), Ewan McGregor (Life Less Ordinary, Shallow Grave, Trainspotting) Toni Collette (If you haven't seen her yet, you are crazy. She's done a million awesome things. This is after Clockwatchers and Muriel's Wedding, but before Dead Girl and United States of Tara)
We read a lot and watch a lot of movies. The thing is, while he is a little cliche and likes action and comic book movies (I like them, too, just not as much), I don't often go for the romantic comedy chick flicks. What we watch commonly are independent, foreign, and other non-blockbuster hopefuls.
Generally, when talking to a friend, I get to know things they like and then make recommendations based on that. Most of the time I think I do pretty well because they don't often come back and say they hated it. It has happened, but pretty rare.
Not that anyone is even reading this blog, but I am not going to play it safe. I don't know you, your threshhold for sex and violence, or your personal tastes, but for the sake of saying "I think these things are really, really cool!" I'm going to recommend just one book and one movie a month. Once in a while I'll throw in a show that's easily obtained on Netflix, etc. Also note, when I refer to something, it's probably going to be the things I think are awesome, not necessarily the thing others would use as reference. You'll get the hang of it.
Kick off.
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Sometimes people like a link to something familiar, so I will mention he is the author of Fight Club. I've read a few of his books, but this one holds as my favorite; perhaps because I read it first. Seriously, give it a shot if you like a dark, twisted satire.
Velvet Goldmine directed by Todd Haynes. It gets better every time I see it. Christian Bale (after Swing Kids, but before Batman), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors), Ewan McGregor (Life Less Ordinary, Shallow Grave, Trainspotting) Toni Collette (If you haven't seen her yet, you are crazy. She's done a million awesome things. This is after Clockwatchers and Muriel's Wedding, but before Dead Girl and United States of Tara)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
And we're live!
For over a year, I've been putting off a silly little task of building
our personal webpage. It's all just a bit of fun, but we have recipes
and more. I only have a few recipes for now, but will be adding more
and transferring some from the blogs to make them easier to find. http://originalninjapineapple.com/
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