GREASE 2 is a great movie, I prefer GREASE 2 to GREASE and I’ll stand by that statement all my live long days!

What is it about GREASE 2 that I love? Well everything of course, as soon as it starts it just keeps on rolling. We’re going BACK TO SCHOOL at Rydell High! There’s familiar faces of the principal Miss McGee (Eve Arden) and her assistant Blanche (Dody Goodman) ready for a brand new year in the 60’s. Then our T-Birds come in on Motorcycles! What a gang of boys, lead by Nogerelli (Adrian Zmed) and then there’s Goose (Christopher McDonald), DiMucci (Peter Frechette) and Davey (Leif Green). Frenchy (Didi Conn) shows up and she welcomes the hunky new kinda square kid on the block (who happens to be Sandy’s cousin!) Michael Carrington (Maxuell Caulfield). Next up we get the PINK LADIES in their sporty pink jackets! We see the girls, Sharon (Maureen Teefy), Paulette (Lorna Luft) and Rhonda (Alison Price) who are all waiting on their leader Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) oh and I can’t forget Pink Lady in waiting Dolores (Pamela Adlon). With everyone on the scene we just dive into school life, clique life that is Rydell High.

They’re Ready To Go PROWLIN’

The big story in GREASE 2 is Stephanie who’s a Pink Lady is no longer interested in Nogerelli having outgrown him over the summer. Nogerelli doesn’t want to let go, he’s got a rep to protect and a code to uphold. (Pink Ladies are T-Bird girls, at least until grad!) As Stephanie has come into her own dreaming of a C-O-O-L R-I-D-E-R, Michael hopes he can fit the bill and win Stephanie’s heart. The songs and dances fit into all of that perfectly. (I have them all in my head playing on repeat as I ramble on here.)

Who’s That Guy?!? How Can I Get One?

GREASE 2 came out in 1982! I never got to see it in theaters back then but we (my family and I) saw it on video and cable! Any time we found it playing you can bet we would watch it again and again. We had the soundtrack on cassette and listened to it almost every time we drove some where far. I vividly remember singing along to every song with my sister. I took that cassette tape with me to college and listened to it as I would drive back and forth from L.A. to Nor Cal. The tape started to loose some juice, but it still delivered the musical goods.

GREASE 2 gets a lot of flack, but never from me! It hit a nerve in me as I know it has with others. When you find a kindred spirit that loves GREASE 2 as well, you know that’s a good friendship! It is a musical that keeps the tunes coming and every song and dance scene makes me happy. Yup, even “that” song.

I am happy that in recent years GREASE 2 has had some well deserved recognition not just as a cult classic but as a feminist movie. Yup, for reals!

Look at it, GREASE 2 empowers the women! It’s frank in it’s talk about sex! GREASE 2 was directed by a woman, Patricia Birch, and she did the choreography as well.

The first time I got to see GREASE 2 on a big screen was back in 2003! (I found my ticket stub to be sure!) 15 FREAKIN’ YEARS AGO! It was a midnight screening in June at The NUART theater in West L.A. with a shadow cast! Christopher McDonald was there, and I think Alison Price may have been there too, but Christopher for sure! My sister and my dad were with me at that screening. It was one of the best nights EVER! The shadow cast did an amazing job recreating the costumes and their C-O-O-L R-I-D-E-R came down on a tricycle! My sister and I never thought that experience could be topped! But hey 15 years later, here I am gushing over GREASE 2 because a 35th ANNIVERSARY screening put on my fans just happened in Los Angeles!

Monday March 12th at the Ahrya Fine Arts Theater (by Laemmle) in Beverly Hills hosted a free fan screening with a big cast/crew Q&A for GREASE 2! (As soon as I heard about it I got tickets and made sure my sister could go with me.) We got there early and were second and third in line (almost first like Riff Randall) and totally a buzz with GREASE 2 geekiness. Talk about happy feelings just gushing over something you love with strangers because you’re all there for the same reason, GREASE 2! Even the few drops of rain while waiting outside didn’t dampen the mood.

The line grew, CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD showed up and greeted the line. The main guy behind organizing the event also came out to thank everyone and that was Brian Herzlinger (My Date With Drew, where he and Drew gushed over GREASE 2, Yup!).

 

GREASE 2 HERE WE COME!

 

Once inside the theater the soundtrack was blaring and people started singing along. My sister and I got seats in the second row, right in the middle!  As the theater filled and the place buzzed with good vibes more of the cast was around and hanging in front of the theater. My sister who had gone off for a moment came back with a picture of herself and Maxwell Caulfield and so it was my turn to take a try. Yup! I found Maxwell in the lobby and asked for a photo, he commented on my pink jacket and asked if I had seen the movie on a big screen. I told him about the shadow cast show and then he gave me a grab hug as I snapped our picture! AHHHHH!! C-O-O-L R-I-D-E-R himself! Yeah, I’m giddy!

 

Maxwell Caulfield is COOL! C-O-O-L COOL!

Brian came on down to kick off the screening, he thanked everyone for coming and promised a fun Q&A after the show!

GREASE 2, in 35mm, hit the screen. My sister and I squealed and giggled and sang along. Everyone in the theater clapped, sang, said the lines. A few guys next to us were a glow every time Michael/Maxwell was on screen just as my sister and I were. 😉 Screening like this are what makes a movie go-er like me so happy. It’s sharing the happiness, the geekiness and thinking hey people can just get along when you find great things to share. (But I digress…)

PRESENTING GREASE 2!

The print was beautiful! Slouched in my seat and looking up at the screen from the second row the movie was as great as ever. On a big screen you can see more of the background, notice something new and just feel like you’re there in the halls of Rydell High.

When the movie was over Brian came back down to introduce the cast, Christopher McDonald was the first one down followed by Alison Price (Rhonda), then Maureen Teefy (Sharon) and Leif Green (Davey), Adrian Zmed (Nogerelli), the cheerleader twins Jean Sagal and Liz Sagal, Maxwell (Michael) and the director Patricia Birch. The stage was full!

GOOSE!

 

Reunited! GREASE 2

Brian was ready to ask some questions and first shared some facts; GREASE 2 came out in 1982 and there were only 3 movies directed by women that year, it was GREASE 2 (Patricia Birch) obviously, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (Amy Heckerling) and SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (Amy Holden Jones). Brian then gave a shout out to Lorna Luft who is currently dealing with medical issues. (Later during the talk Adrian said he had talked to Lorna’s husband and she could use all our good vibes and thoughts.)

35 Years Later!

As the Q&A went on Brian asked Patricia about directing and she shared her method, she was good at what she did and she came right out to tell her crew what she knew and what she didn’t so she could get the help she needed. The opening scene is one of her favorites, she loved her cast and let them improv. She is still amazed at how she pulled off the Luau scene with so many motorcycles going around and she loved the bowling alley song. Patricia shared that she had watched the movie 2 month ago to check out the sound and was energized by the warmth and emotional appeal of high school anxiety presented on film.

There was talk about how YES the film does embody female empowerment.

Chris McDonald says he forces his kids to watch the movie every Sunday (haha!) and how when he auditioned he was trying for the part of Nogerelli.

I learned that Alison Price is actually Patricia Birch’s daughter (learned something new!) and she shared that her mom gave her a cabbage with candles for her birthday on set instead of a cake!

Brian said he did get an email from Tab Hunter who is the awesome teacher Mr. Stuart in the film and Tab sent his well wishes and thanks to all who would attend the show that night.

Maureen was asked about the song DO IT FOR OUR COUNTRY and she said how she didn’t exactly think about what she was singing about back then. That Monday night it was the first time she ever saw GREASE 2 on a big screen as she was on a honeymoon when it first came out.

Remembering DO IT FOR OUR COUNTRY!

The twins Jean and Liz shared that they had been cast in the film separately but it was Patricia who decided to play up their twin angle.

Adrian really did put a real cigarette in his mouth, he said he practiced a lot up until the day it was filmed, but he didn’t actually swallow it. Adrian commented on how there’s just an innocence to the film of trying to be cool when you feel like you’re not cool.

Everyone would gush that it was one of the best times of their lives and they all thanked Patricia for the opportunity.

Maxwell said how he just fell in love with Michelle again seeing her on the big screen. He talked about his stuntman who was the lucky one riding through Griffith Park with Michelle and that he beat out a lot of other teen idols for the roll.

Leif shared a fun story about the idea of saying his character Davey could have been related to Rizzo and that’s how he was in the T-BIRDS and one day on set he got the cast to join in watching the dailies by dressing up as Rizzo.

Brian’s last question before going to the audience was asking Maxwell about what he whispers to Dolores at the end of the movie. Maxwell shared! It was a naughty little nursery rhyme! Then Leif chimed in saying how Pamela (Dolores) was the youngest on set and she cussed like a sailor!

Adrian said a lot of injuries, ankle twists and things happened on the bowling alley scene, Michelle had gotten a black eye and that’s why she wore sunglasses a lot through the film.

Patricia really loved her biker heaven, told Maxwell how he was gorgeous in that scene and that they filmed it in 3 days.

The PROWLIN’ song was filmed in 24 hours, they scrambled to get it shot when they decided they wanted the full song to be featured in the film and Patricia came up with the stage idea since they didn’t have enough time to recreate an old supermarket.

My little sister, Sara, took a moment in the Q&A to gush about her love of GREASE 2 and thanked all on stage.  As my sister said our lives are all better with GREASE 2 being a part of it.

GREASE 2 will finally be out on a Blu-Ray later in April as part of GREASE, GREASE 2 combo celebrating GREASE’s 40th anniversary.

All the cast agreed how the movie exudes a sense of warmth and Patricia said it was all thanks to the cast and they were the ones to bring out the humor in it all. As it all came to an end Brian thanked all for being there to celebrate the legacy of GREASE 2.

My sister and I hung around and managed to get some pictures with more of the cast, I talked to Christopher about the Nuart screening and he too said how much fun that had been. Having the chance to tell the cast what the movie meant and give a little thanks was so much fun, as cool as BIKER HEAVEN.

We Love You Alison!

 

We’ll never forget the NUART!

 

Thanks for the stories Leif!

 

Feeling as High as that high note!

 

Double Trouble Twins!

On a side note actor Keith Coogan was hanging around the theater and my sister and I got to chat with him some and so that was a nice and fun extra cherry on top! (Woot!!)

Keith and Sara! Yeah!  Surprise!

So yes I still love GREASE 2, if not more than ever! Thankfully no flying cars ended the night and my GREASE 2 high is still keeping me going and going! Yup!

Watching movies here and there! Renting movies too and rounding up them up! I’m actually writing up Round 2 of my most recent rentals, and you’ll get a sneak peek of what’s to come with this tally list! It’s been a nice month of movie watching with a few re-sees.

My highlight was discovering one called ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO (1964) and then watching it twice, the second time with my mom.

I’m also excited to put together a new round of Movie Drinks for my Movie-holic series. There’s some fun and silly beverages and movies to share! So please stay tuned!

Now my movie tally list of new movies and re-sees, a total of 32 movies so far in 2017. Slow and steady people! Watching movies and having fun between the insanity! yup yup yup! (OH and movies in BOLD are movies I loved most of all on the Horlick 1-5 Scale!)

NEW MOVIES:

  1. RUTHLESS (1948) | 1/3/17 | DVD
  2. WAR REQUIEM (1989) | 15/17 | DVD
  3. COIN HEIST (2017) | 1/6/17 | Netflix
  4. EAT THE RICH (1987) | 1/8/17 | DVD
  5. BLACK EYE (1973/1974) | 1/10/17 | DVD
  6. FORGOTTEN SILVER (1995) | 1/12/17 | DVD
  7. SHE’S BACK ON BROADWAY (1953) | 1/13/17 | DVD 
  8. THE SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961) | 1/15/17 | Svengoolie/MeTV 
  9. TERMINAL ISLAND (1973) | 1/15/17 | TCM Underground/DV-R 
  10. ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO (1964) | 1/18/17 | TCM/DV-R
  11. CRY OF THE CITY (1948) | 1/19/17 | DVD 
  12. THE YAKUZA (1974) | 1/21/17 | New Beverly 
  13. MOONTIDE (1942) | 1/22/17 | DV-R / FXM Retro 
  14. THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966) | 1/22/17 | DVD 
  15. IGUANA (1988) | 1/23/17 | DVD
  16. TERMINAL MAN (1973) | 1/23/17 | DV-R / TCM 
  17. THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN (a.k.a. Snapshot or One Minute More) (1979) | 1/25/17 | DVD
  18. THE PUSHER (1958) | 1/25/17 | DVD 
  19. DAY OF THE ANIMALS (1977) | 1/26/17 | Amazon Instant 
  20. HORNETS’ NEST (1970) | 1/27/17 | DVD 
  21. THE LAST RUN (1971) | 2/1/17 | DVD 
  22. THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) | 2/1/17 | FilmStruck

 

RE-SEE MOVIES:

  1. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) | 1/1/17 | Netflix
  2. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) | 1/1/17 | Netflix
  3. GREASE (1978) | 1/1/17 | Netflix
  4. THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) | 1/1/17 | Netflix
  5. ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (1987) | 1/1/17 | Netflix
  6. THE FOG (1980) | 1/2/16 | DVD
  7. EATING RAOUL (1982) | 1/8/17 | DVD
  8. A BITTERSWEET LIFE (2005) | 1/9/17 | DVD
  9. ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO (1964) | 1/20/17 | TCM/DV-R (watched w/ mom)
  10. THEY LIVE (1988) | 1/20/17 | BluRay

Stay tune fellow movie watcher pals! Gonna go rent more DVDs and find more movies to watch! Catch you on the flip flop! Yup! Yup! Yup!

It was a great day to be in Los Angeles and join the Women’s March happening downtown on Saturday January 21, 2017. I was there with 750,000 women, men, children, families, people! We were all there and it swept me up full of emotion! I was so proud to be there, happy to see so many others, proud to have my voice heard and shared!

It’s a time for happy things as I said before, but it’s happy that we have to fight for and together we can and will! I don’t get into the political things here, but I may in the future, because it is the time for it!

Right now I put my voice out and share what I saw and experienced! I’m here to share my happy feelings of being part of this amazing event!! #WOMENSMARCH indeed! Yup. And I have a few more photos on my tumblr!

 

Seems like these days everyone could use a good stiff drink and a good movie! I am back with another round of fancy drinks and the movies that featured them. The first few are from movies I saw in 2016 and the last one is the first of 2017!  This time out there’s some familiar beverages making the rounds and I have a couple of movies that had a Champagne Cocktail! Now, grab some old fashioned glasses, ice and shakers and let’s get started! Cheers!

leechwomanTHE LEECH WOMAN (1960) –  Whisky & Vodka over ice 
What does Dr. Paul Talbot, an endocrinologist, do when he’s in a bad marriage? Well he takes his aging alcoholic wife with him on a trip to Africa to be his test subject on a possible fountain of youth! When wife, June Talbot, realizes she’s just another experiment she gets mad! The bright side is she gets back her youth and “ditches” her hubby! The dark side is just what it takes to stay young!  She needs the pineal glands of the recently deceased! (Oh that magic Pineal Gland! What wonders you hold!)

Before June finds her youth she was turning to the bottle for her happiness, just some pure straight Whisky! Here’s to you whisky, guardian of all frustrated wives.”

Whisky! Did you say Whisky?

Whisky! Did you say Whisky?

leechdrink1

“Drinking and my feelings for you are both bad for me. I know that.”

"Just one more to numb me."

“Just one more to numb me.”

Whisky – Get yourself a clean glass, pour in an ounce, maybe two of Whisky and then sip or gulp, depending on mood.

Later in her youthful state June finds a young man to drink Vodka over ice, uh oh there’s no ice, with!

Say fella, be my bartender!

Say fella, be my bartender!

I like you and I like vodka!

I like you and I like vodka!

Vodka over ice – Get a glass, a few cubes of ice (optional) and pour in two ounces of Vodka. Cheers you minx!

 

bettewilliamSATAN MET A LADY (1936) – Whisky and Soda Sherry
This movie is the second adaptation of THE MALTESE FALCON, and it stars Bette Davis and Warren William. Warren is detective Ted Shane who has been wrangled into finding an old jeweled horn! This is a fun take on the story before old Bogie took the reigns.

After Shane’s apartment has been turned upside down the man who did it came back for some witty banter and a libation. Shane’s drink of choice is the Whisky and Soda while the gentleman prefers a nice Sherry!

Let's be friends!

Let’s be friends! It’s only business! Come on!

Whisky and Soda – 1 part Scotch and 2 parts soda. Take a chilled glass filled with ice and pour in 1/2 oz of whisky and 1 oz of soda water. (Shane didn’t use ice, his apartment and liquor cabinet was a mess!) 

Sherry – a Spanish wine made of white grapes. It should be served in a Sherry glass, either as an Aperitif or after dinner dessert wine. Shane’s enemy really does enjoy a good Sherry after he messes a place up.

 

falldownallALL FALL DOWN (1962) – Champagne Cocktail
The Willart family is a bit unusual. Clinton Willart (played by Brandon De Wilde, to best known to me as the little kid in Shane!) is the youngest of two boys in the household. He thinks his older brother Berry-Berry (Warren Betty) is the best guy around! Berry-Berry hasn’t been home in a while and Clinton gets him to make a big return to please his quirky parents Annabell and Ralph (Angela Lansbury and Karl Mulden). Annabell loves her eldest and is so devoted to him, which is one reason Berry-Berry ran away. To make the web more tangled Echo (Eva Marie Saint) a family friend come around for a visit!

lured-1LURED (1947) Champagne Cocktail
London is plagued with a serial killer who has been finding his victims through personal columns. Lucille Ball is Sandy Carpenter who’s friend was a recent victim. Sandy is recruited by the police to help them find the killer by replying to different personal ads. Alain Napier is one of the detectives! George Sanders is Robert Fleming the dashing debonaire gentleman and Boris Karloff has a fun cameo!

Can I trust you? Are you a murderous man?

Can I trust you? Are you a murderous man?

Champagne Cocktail – The simplest version of this cocktail includes Champagne, Angostura bitters, a sugar cube, and garnish of an orange or lemon slice in a champagne flute.

Take the sugar cube and add a 2 to 3 dashes of bitters and drop it into the champagne flute. Slowly pour in your champagne of choice and garnish with a citrus slice.

ruthlessmovieRUTHLESS (1948) – Old FashionedMartini
My first film discovery of 2017! RUTHLESS stars Zachary Scott as Horace Woodruff Vendig, who is one of the richest men out there!

Horace throws a big party as a peace offering that includes a major Peace donation to his country (Tax breaks!) and he hopes to make amends with acquaintances from his past. Vic (Louis Hayward) who has known Horace since they were kids is atop the list, but Vic still holds quite a grudge! When Vic shows up with Mallory (Diana Lynn) his gal pal of the last 5 years Horace is struck by the fact that Mallory looks just like Martha; his one true love. This begins the flashbacks to reveal Horace’s true nature of ruthlessness. (Look for a fun cameo from Raymond Burr!)

As Horace’s past pals gather at the party they drink to ease the pain; “You came for a drink and found a memory.”

Thanks to RUTHLESS I get to finally add Old Fashioned to my list!
Old Fashioned  The Old Fashion glass was named after this drink! So grab the glass, a sugar cube or 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, Angostura bitters, club soda (or water), bourbon (or rye) and ice cubes.
Put the sugar in the glass and add 3 dashes of bitters with a splash of club soda. Crush up/dissolve the sugar. Swirl it around to line the glass. Add a big cube of ice and pour in 2 oz of bourbon (or rye).

Martini – It is one part Dry Vermouth and six parts Gin: Pour 1/2 oz of Dry Vermouth and 3 oz of Gin, into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well and then strain it into a chilled martini glass, now you can garnish with an olive or some oil from a lemon peel.

Good Movies! Good Drinks! Cheers! Make a drink, watch a movie or watch a movie with some nice drinks. I’m going to be on the look out for more fancy beverages! I really need a day to make these beverage and get a bit tipsy! Just stay safe no matter what, and DON’T drink and drive!!! EVER!
Just watch movies and be happy! Yup!

Thanks Meghan for this awesome pic!!

Let’s Party Like DARKMAN!!

Movies! Movies! Movies! The year flew by! Crazy things happened! I didn’t get to watch as many movies as I have before. WHATEVER! I watched movies, dang it!!!! I DID!!!! Because; watching movies is a Happy Place

As I always say, a fun part about watching movies is sharing those movies! And so, here I am to share my list of movies that I have seen throughout 2016! OY 2016!!!!!

New Movies and Re-Sees! Yup, I saw some new movie releases but actually more old movies. I just go where my movie whims take me! Yup!

NEW MOVIES: 

    1. HOT PURSUIT (2015) | 01/01/16 | DVD
    2. WE ARE STILL HERE (2015) | 1/2/15 | Blu-Ray 
    3. BENEATH PLANET OF THE APES (1979) | 1/3/16 | HBO GO
    4. ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES (1971) | 1/3/16 | HBO GO 
    5. CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (1972) | 1/3/16 | HBO GO

      The Apes Said NO!!!!!

      The Apes Said NO!!!!!

    6. THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015) | 1/4/16 | New Beverly
    7. BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973) | 1/5/16 | HBO GO
    8. REHEARSAL FOR MURDER (1982) | 1/6/16 | Amazon Instant 
    9. KING CREOLE (1958) | 1/8/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault

      Elvis!! Matthau is scary mean! Carolyn Jones the bad girl beauty!

      Uh oh Elvis! Matthau is mean!

    10. INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957) | 1/8/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault 
    11. SATAN’S SATELLITES (1958) | 1/9/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault (from a 1952 serial)
    12. THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE (1983) | 1/9/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault
    13. HEROES OF THE EAST (1978) | 1/10/16 | Netflix

      Fights, Fights and more Fights!

      Fights, Fights and Fights!

    14. BLACK COAL, THIN ICE (2014) | 1/10/16 | Netflix
    15. HONEYMOON (2014) | 1/11/16 | Netflix
    16. WARLOCK 2: ARMAGEDDON (1993) | 1/14/16 | YouTube
    17. THE FIVE VENOMS (1978) | 1/17/16 | Netflix
    18. THE SNOW WHITE MURDER CASE (2015) | 1/17/16 | Reel Grit
    19. TIME TABLE (1956) | 1/23/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault
    20. THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK (1958) | 1/23/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault

      Look Out New York!

      Look Out New York!

    21. DOUBLE EXPOSURE (1944) | 1/23/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault
    22. HIGH NOON PART II: THE RETURN OF WILL KANE (1980) | 1/27/16 | Encore Western/Cable 
    23. THE VAMPIRE’S COFFIN (EL ATADÚD DEL VAMPIRO) (1958) | 1/30/16 | Netflix 
    24. MAN IN THE VAULT (1965) | 1/31/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault 
    25. LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER (1994) | 2/4/16 | NoHo 7 
    26. X THE UNKNOWN (1956) | 2/6/16 | YouTube 
    27. THE SPACE CHILDREN (1958) | YouTube Paramount Vault 
    28. DAYS OF WINE & ROSES (1962) | 2/7/16 | TCM

      They were so happy!

      They were so happy!

    29. THE WITCH (2015) | 2/10/16 | Screening Room Beverly Hills 
    30. NIGHT WORLD (1932) | 2/13/16 | YouTube
    31. DEADPOOL (2016) | 2/14/16 | LA LIVE Regal
    32. ZOOLANDER 2 (2016) | 2/14/16 | CITYWALK AMC
    33. THE VOICES (2014) 2/14/16 | Amazon Instant 
    34. AGAINST A CROOKED SKY (1975) | 2/16/16 | Amazon Instant 
    35. CIRCUS (2000) | 2/18/16 | HBO GO 
    36. 11:14 (2005) | 2/19/16 | HBO GO 
    37. HOT LEAD & COLD FEET (1978) | 2/20/16 | New Beverly
    38. THE BUSY BODY (1967) | 2/25/16 | YouTube Paramount Vault

      William Castle! Mix Up!

      William Castle! Mix Up!

    39. A LIFE AT STAKE (1954) | 2/26/16 | YouTube
    40. ANABELL (2014) | 2/28/16 | HBO GO 
    41. HELLIONS (2015) | 3/1/16 | Netflix 
    42. THE PHANTOM SPEAKS (1945) | 3/6/16
    43. TROUBLE IN THE GLEN (1954) | 3/12/16 | Amazon Instant
    44. PUCKOON (2003) | 3/12/16 | Amazon Instant 
    45. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (2016) | 3/12/16 | Tiki Drive-In 
    46. TRIPLE 9 (2016) | 3/12/16 | Tiki Drive-In 
    47. AVENGING EAGLE (1978) | 3/13/16 | Netflix 
    48. THE INSPECTORS WEARS SKIRTS / TOP SQUAD (1988) | 3/13/16 | YouTube 
    49. PALOOKA (1934) | 3/13/16 | YouTube 
    50. MILLION DOLLAR PURSUIT (1951) | 3/13/16 | YouTube 
    51. ESCAPE BY NIGHT (1937) | 3/16/16 | YouTube 
    52. PEE WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY (2016) | 3/18/16
    53. ME, EARL AND THE DYING GIRL (2015) | 3/24/16 | HBO GO 
    54. THE MERMAID (2016) | 3/29/16 | AMC Monterey Park 
    55. HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS (2016) | 3/29/16 | AMC Burbank 8

      She's SOOOOO Cute!

      She’s SOOOOO Cute!

    56. CREED (2015) | 4/5/16 | On Demand 
    57. BRIDE OF VENGEANCE (1949) | 4/9/16 | YouTube 
    58. HARDCORE HENRY (2016) | 4/14/16 | Vista 
    59. SECRET OF THE INCAS (1954) | 4/23/16 | YouTube

      heston drink

      Heston, you’re a punk!

    60. COMPADRES (2016) | 4/24/16 | Regal Alhambra 
    61. THE NICE GUYS (2016) | 5/8/16 | Reel Grit 
    62. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016) | 5/13/16 | Regal Alhambra 
    63. AVA’S POSSESSION (2015) | 5/17/16 | Netflix 
    64. ZOOMBIES (2016) | 5/17/16 | Netflix 
    65. THAT GAL…WHO WAS IN THAT THING: THAT GUY 2 (2015) | 5/18/16 | Netflix 
    66. THE HALLOW (2015) | 5/18/16 | Netflix 
    67. THREE IN THE ATTIC (1968) | 5/20/16 | TCM
    68. CALL NORTHSIDE 777 (1948) | 5/23/16 | Netflix
    69. HUSH (2016) | 5/2916 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon 
    70. RED SUN (1971) | 5/29/16 | Reel Grit / AFI

      red-sun

      Western Cool!

    71. PAIN & GAIN (2013) | 5/30/16 | DVD
    72. FRANK (2014) | 6/2/16 | Netflix
    73. THE WAILING (2016) | 6/4/16 | AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 
    74. HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946) 6/5/16 | Svengoolie/DVR
    75. BEYOND THE GATES (2015) | 6/6/16 | LA Film Festival/Culver City Arclight

      Bewared the Game!

      Bewared the Game!

    76. NEON DEMON (2016) | 6/12/16 | Los Feliz 3 (Reel Grit)
    77. PILLOW OF DEATH (1945) | 6/13/16 | Svengoolie / Me TV 
    78. THE LEECH WOMAN (1960) 6/18/16 | Svengoolie / Me TV 
    79. THE SNIPER (1952) | 6/19/16 | TCM/DVR 
    80. INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (2016) | 6/23/16 | Edwards Alhambra

      Yes I liked it!

      Yes I liked it!

    81. BLOODY BIRTHDAY (1981) | 6/30/16 | TCM (DVR)
    82. THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (2016) | 7/3/16 | AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 (MP)

      Yup!

      Yup!

    83. STUNTS (1978) | 7/10/16 | TCM (DVR)

      The Hell With Dialogue, Let's Wreck Something!

      The Hell With Dialogue, Let’s Wreck Something!

    84. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (2016) | 7/12/16 | DVD
    85. CULT OF THE COBRA (1955) | 7/16/16 | Svengoolie
    86. CELL (2016) | 7/17/16 | Cable Rental
    87. GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) | 7/19/16 | Edwards Alhambra 
    88. THE KILLING JOKE (2016) | 7/22/16 | Comic-Con Ballroom 20
    89. STAR TREK: BEYOND (2016) | 7/26/16 | NOHO 7 
    90. TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016) | 7/28/16 | CGV 
    91. SATAN MET A LADY (1936) | 8/4/16 | DVD
    92. THE MALTESE FALCON (1931) | 8/4/16 | DVD 
    93. THUNDERBOLT (1929) | 8/4/16 | TCM 
    94. ALL FALL DOWN (1962) | 8/5/16 | TCM
    95. CURUCU, BEAST OF THE AMAZON (1956) | 8/7/16 | Svengoolie
    96. JASON BOURNE (2016) | 8/9/16 | Alhambra Edwards 14
    97. MI-5 (2015) | 8/10/16 | HBO GO 
    98. THUNDER & LIGHTNING (1977) | 8/14/16 | YouTube

      Moonshine, Gator Preachers, Highjinks!

      Gator Preachers!!!!!!!!!!!

    99. EYE OF THE STRANGER (1981) | 8/14/15 | YouTube
    100. ONE BY ONE aka MAJORETTES (1987) | 8/15/16 | YouTube
    101. SUICIDE SQUAD (2016) | 8/23/16 | Alhambra Edwards 14
    102. REALITY (2015) | 8/25/16 | DVD
    103. RANCHO DELUXE (1974) | 8/25/16 | DVD
    104. LURED (1947) | 8/26/16 | TCM DV-R
    105. MIKE YOKOHAMA: THE FOREST WITH NO NAME (2002) | 8/30/16 | DVD
    106. VIRTUAL ASSASSINS aka CYBERJACK (1995) | 9/1/16 | STARZ App
    107. JANE GOT A GUN (2016) | 9/2/16 | Netflix
    108. THE FOREST (2016) | 9/6/16 | HBO Go
    109. MAN FROM RIO (1964) | 9/11/16 | Reel Grit
    110. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016) | 9/22/16 | Edwards Alhambra

      Western Fun!

      Western Fun!

    111. GHOST TEAM (2016) | 9/29/16 | Stream

      Ghost Beware!

      Ghost Beware!

    112. MAN MADE MONSTER (1941) | 10/1/16 | Svengoolie
    113. THE FALLING (2014) | 10/1/16 | Netflix
    114. THE KINDRED (1987) | 10/4/16 | VHS
    115. RETURN OF DRACULA (1958) | 10/5/16 | YouTube
    116. ZOOTOPIA (2016) | 10/6/16 | Netflix
    117. ISLAND OF TERROR (1966) | 10/8/16 | Svengoolie
    118. DEAR HEART (1964) | 10/8/16 | TCM 
    119. THE FROZEN GHOST (1945) | 10/14/16 | Svengoolie
    120. BELOW THE SEA (1933) | 10/14/16 | TCM / DV-R
    121. MASTERMINDS (1949) | 10/15/16 | TCM

      Eat Candy!

      Eat Candy!

    122. HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE (1967) | 10/15/16 | TCM / DV-R
    123. THE BOOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU (1942) | 10/21/15 | YouTube

      Who has a CAT in his coat pocket?

      Who has a CAT in his coat pocket?

    124. RETURN OF THE CREATURE (1955) | 10/23/16 | Svengoolie
    125. JACK REACHER NEVER GO BACK (2016) | 10/25/16 | Alhambra Edwards
    126. MACABRE (1958) | 10/27/16 | TCM / DV-R
    127. LONDON HAS FALLEN (2016) | 11/1/16 | Netflix
    128. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ZOMBIES | 11/2/16 | Starz
    129. TAMPOPO (1985) | 11/4/16 | Pasadena Lammle 
    130. SO DARK THE NIGHT (1946) | 11/6/16 | YouTube
    131. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (2016) | 11/10/16 | DVD
    132. SING STREET (2016) | 11/11/16 | Netflix
    133. ARRIVAL (2016) | 11/13/16 | Edwards Alhambra
    134. TERROR BENEATH THE SEA (1966) | 11/14/16 | YouTube
    135. WONDER WOMEN (1973) | 11/15/16 | New Beverly
    136. WALKING THE EDGE (1983) | 11/15/16 | New Beverly

      REVENGE!

      REVENGE!

    137. FANTASTIC BEAST & WHERE TO FIND THEM (2016) | 11/18/16 | Vista
      (Watching this with my nieces was a blast! Potter fans they are made it a great time!)
    138. HUNTED (1952) | 11/19/16 | YouTube
    139. NICE GIRL? (1941) | 11/26/16 | TCM DV-R
    140. ONCE A THIEF (1965) | 11/28/16 | DVD
    141. BITE THE BULLET (1975) | DVD 
    142. EXILED (2006) | 12/4/16 | DVD
    143. ONE THRILLING NIGHT (1942) | 12/4/16 | Amazon Instant
    144. THERE’S A NOOSE WAITING FOR YOU…TRINITY (1972) | 12/4/16 | Amazon Instant
    145. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (2002) | 12/15/16 | Amazon Instant
    146. BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) | 12/18/16 | Svengoolie
    147. ROGUE ONE (2016) | 12/16/16 | LA LIVE Regal
    148. KEANU (20160 | 12/28/16 | Cable
    149. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) | 12/31/16 | Netflix
      (Yes I just watched LOVE ACTUALLY for the first time, I had only watched it from the middle on on TV and so I now finally watched it from beginning to end to say goodbye to 2016!)

      LIAM!!!!!!!!! Liam Neeson! My hero!

      LIAM!!!!!!!!! Liam Neeson! My hero! Yup!

Random notes (cool quotes) I wrote down from some of the movie I watched:

THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE (1983) – “rooted like a tree.”

THE FIVE VENOMS (1978) – Fighting Styles of the Centipede, Lizard, Snake, Toad and Scorpion

TIME TABLES (1956) – Voice of Fred Flintstone in film! “There is no such thing as a perfect crime, just a lucky one.” “I was willing to give you my whole life, what’s a few hours?” “There’s few secrets in Tijuana.” “Every case is an ulcer.

DOUBLE EXPOSURE (1944) – GLUB, You have to have GLUB. G.L.U.B. = GO GETTER, LUCKY, UP AND AT ‘EM, BUNCO ARTIST AT HEART

Loan me a boy scout and a couple of sticks.” (Says the woman waiting for a smoke from guy not paying attention to her.)

DAYS OF WINE & ROSES (1962) – “Anything worth having is worth suffering for.”

LIFE AT STAKE (1954) – “[Champagne]…is for good things.” They toast “Here’s to fun and love.

PUCKOON (2003) – “I don’t mind dying, I just don’t want to be there at the time.

PALOOKA (1934) – “I was pretty bad dice, I don’t blame you for shaking me.

THREE IN THE ATTIC (1968) – “Balancing three chicks between Bonanza.

CAST A DEADLY SPELL (1991) – “Everything’s cream for me these days.”

LEECH WOMAN (1960) – “Drink whisky, here’s to you whisky, guardian of all frustrated wives.”

THE MALTESE FALCON (1931)  – “What’s on your mind, besides your hat?

HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE (1967) – M.O.T.H.E.R. = MASTER ORGANIZATION TO HALT ENEMY RESISTANCE

ONE THRILLING NIGHT (1942) – “He never lies, he was born on Washington’s Birthday.

MY TOP MOVIES OF 2016: (In no order whatsoever!)
THE MERMAID
HELLO…MY NAME IS DORIS
DEADPOOL
THE WAILING
NEON DEMON
LEGEND OF TARZAN
TRAIN TO BUSAN
MAGNIFICENT SEVENT
THE WITCH
ARRIVAL
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
ROGUE ONE
NICE GUYS
PEE WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY (When you watch a movie with your sister and laugh together! How can it not be a favorite?!)

Go, Pee Wee Go!

Go, Pee Wee Go! Enjoy that Holiday!

My Favorite discoveries of 2016:
HEROES OF THE EAST – Kung Fu and Martial Arts! Who’s style is the best?
THE VAMPIRE’S COFFIN – A Mexican horror movie! Practice your Spanish and follow the vampire who’s stalking the streets for a neck to bite!

El Vampiro!

El Vampiro!

MAN IN THE VAULT – A guy always wants a big score to be somebody…a locksmith is forced to steal some money, but gets a guilty conscience.

vault poster

Will the Locksmith take the fall?

LURED – Lucille Ball is beautiful! She helps police find a serial killer.
MIKE YOKOHAMA: THE FOREST WITH NO NAME – Detectives are cool! Detectives can get most philosophical.
DEAR HEART – Never too late to find the love of your life! Don’t make any assumptions and let your heart go where it takes you!
TIME TABLE – A train heist time perfectly, what could go wrong? Who was it that planned the perfect plan? It’s a noir, you can’t get away with it!
HOT LEAD, COLD FEET – A kiddie western caper! Twins, one good and one bad, a race through the old west, Don Knotts comic relief!
MASTERMINDS – Eating sugar causes toothaches which can give one the power to see the future! Beware, there are evil scientists out there looking for chumps with a brain that can be used in the body of a made “Super-Man” to create an army to take over the world!

 

Finally Saw it! WOOT!!!!! Loved it!!!!!!!
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962)
TAMPOPO (1985)
tampopo-new-poster

Now this is the Re-See Round up! Watching things I’ve already seen and they’re so good I can watch them again and again…or I’m re-watching to make sure they’re still good!! 😉 I re-watched THE PHANTOM twice so that both of my nieces could experience the my favorite purple super hero! Oh, and the second time I watched THE WITCH I liked it even more so that helped get it to my favorites of 2016 list (just a by the way).

RE-SEE MOVIES:

  1. PLANET OF THE APES (1970) | 1/3/16 | HBO GO
  2. VOLUNTEERS (1985) | 1/5/16 | HBO GO
  3. THE NET (1995) | 2/11/16 | DVD
  4. THE TENACIOUS D: THE PICK OF DESTINY (2006) | 2/19/16 | HBO GO
  5. THE WITCH (2016) | 2/23/16 | SUNDANCE
  6. GALAXY QUEST (1999) | 2/26/16 | Netflix
    galaxy-quest
  7. WHAT WE DO IN SHADOWS (2014) | 2/28/16 | HBO GO
  8. THE LAST DRAGON (1985) | 3/2/16 | DVD
  9. PIRANHA (1978) | 3/10/16 | DVD
  10. CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012) | 3/14/16 | DVD
  11. BLACK ANGEL (1946) | 3/22/16 | YouTube
  12. THE GIFT (2001) | 3/27/16 | FLIX
  13. EXCALIBUR (1981) | 3/29/16 | On Demand
  14. GREASE 2 (1982) | 4/14/16 | Netflix
  15. CLUE (1985) | 5/1/16 | DVD (outside)
  16. ROMANCING THE STONE (1984) | 5/1/16 | DVD (outside)
    romancing_the_stone
  17. LETHAL WEAPON (1987) | 5/8/16 | 35mm Reel Grit
  18. THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991) | 5/8/16 | 35mm Reel Grit
  19. KISS KISS BANG BANG (20050 | 5/8/16 | 35mm Reel Grit
  20. WILD IN THE STREETS (1968) | 5/19/16 | TCM
  21. HUDSON HAWK (1991) | 5/24/16 | STARZ
  22. THE HATEFUL 8 (2016) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  23. SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1941/1942) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  24. BAD NEWS BEARS (1976) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  25. UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (1964) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
    Umbrellas
  26. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  27. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) | 5/2816 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  28. EVIL DEAD 2 (1987) | 5/29/16 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  29. SUPERBAD (2007) | 5/29/16 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  30. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977) | 5/29/16 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  31. THE MATRIX (1999) | 5/29/16 | Rosemead High School 24 Hr. Marathon
  32. CAST A DEADLY SPELL (1991) | 6/3/16 | Amazon Instant
  33. SHE-WOLF OF LONDON (1946) | 6/5/17 | Sevengoolie/DVR
  34. THE PHANTOM (1996) | 6/11/16 | Netflix

    Milk does the PHANTOM good.

    Milk does the PHANTOM good.

  35. DRIVE (2011) | 6/12/16 | Los Feliz 3 (Reel Grit)
  36. ID4 (1996) | 6/16/16 | DVD
  37. DREAMSCAPE (1984) | 6/16/16 | DVR
  38. HUDSON HAWK (1991) | 6/17/16 | DVR
  39. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015) | 07/05/16 | CABLE
  40. WILD BUNCH (1969) | 7/6/16 | TCM
  41. GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, LORD OF THE APES (1984) | 7/9/16 | Google Play
    tarzanlambert
  42. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) | 7/27/16 | Cable Rental
  43. WILLOW (1988) | 7/31/16 | DVD
  44. NIGHT MONSTER (1942) | 8/14/16 | Svengoolie
  45. DELIRIOUS (1991) | 8/14/16 | YouTube
  46. LUCY (2014) | 8/16/16 | Cable
  47. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014) | 8/21/16 | DVR
  48. NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (1986) | 8/22/16 | DVD
  49. HACKERS (1993) | 8/30/16 | Cable
  50. FINAL DESTINATION (2006) | 9/2/16 | Netflix
  51. THE PHANTOM (1996) | 9/4/16 | Netflix
  52. HEAVY METAL (1981) | 10/2/16 | DVD
  53. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960) | 10/14/16 | TCM
  54. MURDER BY CONTRACT (1958) | 10/24/16 | YouTube
  55. THE ‘BURBS (1989) | 10/26/16 | Netflix
  56. THE APPLE (1980) | 11/21/16 | DVD
  57. GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) | 11/26/16 | DVD
  58. TIME BANDITS (1981) | 12/4/16 | FilmStruck
  59. ZERO EFFECT (1998) | 12/20/16 | DVR
  60. JACK FROST (1996) | 12/21/16 | Egyptian (Cinematic Void) 35MM screening
    jack-frost-1
  61. BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1960) | 12/31/16 | Netflix

I have to add that seeing JACK FROST (1996) on a big screen in 35MM was a fantastic finale to movie screenings of the year. (Thanks again Cinematic Void!) I watched JACK FROST a ton during my college days with my college pals. I never thought I’d see that straight to video movie get a theatrical screening and so it goes to show that some dreams do come true! The Q&A was a good time too! JACK FROST, the killer snowman movie, rules!

And that my movie friends is my movie round up for 2016! A fun bunch of movies that I enjoyed watching and watching some again! My happy time highlights of 2016 was watching 149 new movies and 61 re-sees! 210 movies, WOOT! WOOT! Oh and anything that is BOLD in the new movies lists were movies I gave a 5 rating to, meaning my favorite movie on a scale of 1-5!!

Let’s all keep watching movies! Movies that make us Happy! Movies that we want to see! And then share what’s good with other and then keep on watching more and more! Yup! Yup!

You’ll find me watching movies in 2017, yup. Stay Happy movie watchers! That’s my plan! Yup!

cat fangirlI know things aren’t easy out there right now. A lot of people are scared and frustrated and dwelling in the fear and frustration.

It seems like a dark cloud looms, I’m seeing my pessimistic friends be even more so, and a lot of complaining is going around. That doesn’t change things, actions and attitudes change things. We have to speak up, show we’re serious. I don’t want to think that violence will be the next step. I’m not someone who wants violence. I don’t want to see people I love get hurt. I don’t want to see any person get hurt!

I am a generally happy person, I love sharing a smile and seeing others be happy. It feels like it’s going to be harder to smile, to be happy. But that’s why we, I, have to try even harder.

We all should be able to have good and happy lives!

It’s time for Happiness, to do what you love, to share what you love and put out what you want to see. It’s not easy and again just saying and typing this seems naive. But, I’m not going to be silent about what’s going on, and I feel we have to show it with our passions, put our passion into the fight.

Be good to others, help people who are hurt, and remind others we can get through it together, working together, sharing together and standing up together.

No Retreat, No Surrender! Be happy! Be good! Be Excellent! Together we can move forward and not take steps back.