Flick Chicks: 1994

Showing posts with label 1994. Show all posts

Friday, 20 March 2015

Blind Spot: Pulp Fiction (1994)

This month marks the first time Jenna and I have been able to watch our Blind Spot film together, huzzah! Chinese food ordered, cups of tea made, fire on, the perfect Flick Chicks film night. Pulp Fiction was one of Jenna’s choices, one that I’d completely forgotten about because I had actually seen parts of it before, but couldn’t remember anything other than that couple robbing the diner!

Pulp Fiction is the telling of four connected violent, hilarious, and downright crazy stories following the lives of two mobsters, a boxer, a gangster’s wife and a thieving couple. It boasts one of the most amazing casts I’ve seen, John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth and Uma Thurman just to name a few.

Bear with me here, but man did this film drag! We paused at one point for a drink break thinking that we were near the end, but we were just about an hour in. Not quite even half way at that point. Thing is, all the scenes we had heard about had already happened, so we couldn’t work out what was even going to happen next. Kettle boiled, we were introduced to the Gimp. Oh! Traumatised is not a strong enough word!!

In fact, when the film actually finished, I was feeling pretty ‘meh’ about the whole thing. Sure, I laughed my socks off at many points, and couldn’t fault anything other than how darn confusing the whole thing was, but I couldn’t work out if I enjoyed it or not. It made Fargo seem simple! Now although I found it really complicated I actually really enjoyed it - I am still running through the scenes now trying to put them into chronological order, i don't think i'll ever manage it.

On the drive home though, and indeed while I was trying to get to sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about the film, and the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated it for what it was, and then I felt guilty! Did anyone else find this?

I can't really place much commentary on the storyline because i'm still trying to work out what happened, what I do know is that I really enjoyed it and I won't forget it in a hurry. Samuel L Jackson was amazing, I think he has taken a little part of this character and injected it into every character he has played since. It's typical Quentin Tarantino, bloody confusing but so entertaining that you get over it.

There are so many jokes and memes that make sense to me now. Every time someone mentions the game, Guess Who I put on my best Samuel L Jackson impression to ask ‘Does he look like a b*tch?’ without even realising it’s a reference to Pulp Fiction. There was an episode of Community all about that suitcase that I need to re-watch now, and I’ll never let anyone order an expensive milkshake quietly. Don't forget the Direct Line advert (for our UK readers) and The Wolf - who knew!!

Don't really know why BUT I loved it...I think I may need to watch it again though to get my head around the storyline!

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

'My First Movie' Blogathon - Flick Chicks Contribution

How could me and Allie do a blogathon and not contribute ourselves?!

My first movie memory would have to be seeing the Little Mermaid, for what I thought was my Birthday but after checking the release date in the UK, it couldn't have been. Must have been one of my cousins birthday parties. Anyway, it was my first ever trip to the cinema and I remember staring in awe at the giant screen in front of me. Then it actually came on, it was so loud and all consuming I loved every minute of it. I think I was the only kid in there to sit in silence through the whole movie (unlike Allie you will soon find out!!). I actually remember be so engrossed in the movie and all the bright colours on the screen, I only snapped out of it when I realised my Mom was actually laughing at me (I think there was a good chance I had my mouth draped open and I may have been drooling - I was only 5 in my defence though!!).

The story is really grown up to be fair for a 5 year old and I think there was a lot that I didn't understand but all the pretty colours and the talking fish made it entertaining enough for me. As a kid I remember being terrified of Ursula, but watching it as an adult she is by far the best character written. She is one of the first of the Disney characters to make comments that are 'made-for-adults' something you see a lot more now in animation but back then it didn't happen nearly as much.

The Little Mermaid has long since been one of my favourite movies, and I think this cemented both my love of cinemas and my love of Disney. That first experience of hearing the speakers blast on the Dolby Digital advert and the screen light up can never be replicated so I am so glad I can remember it.

My Mom brought me the VHS a few years later and I watched it until the tape literally wore out, it wouldn't play anymore because it had been used so much! Can you believe that I still don't have this movie on DVD?! After writing this, that might have to be my next purchase. And now I know what to get your for Christmas! Just kidding...I got you something even better :D

Over to you Allie.....

I don't actually remember what the very first movie I watched was, but I have a sneaky suspicion that it was Beauty and the Beast. However, I do remember my very first trip to the cinema. It was a very rare occasion that I was taken there, times were hard and as a kid it's very easy to be entertained by one VHS tape being played over and over again.

In 1994, 5 year old me was taken to see The Lion King. It was an exciting and terrifying time for me. I wasn't a huge fan of the dark, and that advert with the white-hot metal rod being thrusted at the screen still ignites fear in me. Does anyone remember what that advert even was?

Anyway, let me cut to the chase. I thoroughly enjoyed my first cinema experience, but I was 'that kid' during The Lion King. Whilst everyone was holding back tears with dignity, I cried out 'Mummy, is he dead?' and emotionally destroyed everyone in the room. I'm sorry, I really am. Someone else's 5 year old got revenge on me during HTTYD2 if that helps.

I still love The Lion King now, and it's a film my kids will be watching (when/if I have any!). The soundtrack is on my iTunes but do you know what? Like Jenna, I don't think I have this on DVD! I do remember having The Lion King 2 on VHS though. That might just be my most-watched movie of all time, I remember watching it every single Saturday morning until I could recite the entire script off the top of my head.

So, that's enough from us, let's here your first movie experiences! You have until 2nd December to get your posts up, and here's the original post if you need a reminder of the rules.

Sunday, 19 October 2014

Review: Forrest Gump (1994)

This is one of my all time favourite films and in the IMDB Top 250 movies that we are determined to watch and review so I thought it was about time that I reviewed it. I've seen it almost as many times as I have seen The Goonies (and that's saying something) and it never gets old. I have also seen a fair few set pieces, locations and props from the films in my various trips to the US.

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is not a smart man but he's happy and plods through life with his main purpose of living happily ever after with the love of his life, Jenny (Robin Wright). While waiting at a bus stop for a bus to take him to see her, he tells various people about the things he has done in his life. It turns out he has been present at numerous historic events and it also pretty famous himself.

This story is so different from anything I had seen or have seen since. Forrest is played incredibly by Tom Hanks (I still think his best role to date) as a simple but lovable mommas boy who only wants his fairytale ending. I have read bits and pieces about the political stance of this film, but I have to think those people are overthinking the whole movie. It's supposed to be easy to watch not broken down at every step to identify political agendas, that would ruin the movie for anyone. Robert Zemeckis does an amazing job putting Forrest 'into' real life American historical events, my favourite being him showing President Nixon his "butt-ocks".

I think Forrest Gump is one of those movies that everyone should see at least once. I first watched it when I was young, and admittedly forgot most of it, but when I hear a friend tell me they've never seen it I've sat them down with me and made them see it, and so I've seen it a fair few times as a result!

Gump sees everything in a positive way and that is reflected in the film, meeting numerous people who he should be awestruck by, he just chats away to them like he met them at a bus stop. He see's people for people not for their status or achievements. This is one of those films that is so hard to put into words, you have to see it for yourself to understand the brilliance and the magic of it.

Quotes in this film are still used in passing conversations with me and my friends (particularly 'Life is like a box of chocolates...' and 'Stupid is as stupid does') and if I see a Bubba Gump Shrimp company when I go to the States its the first place I eat (even though I am allergic to Shrimp haha!).

Every time I watch Forrest Gump I really enjoy it, but then I forget so much of it, and I don't know why! It's almost like my mind does it deliberately so I have to see it again.

If you haven't seen this film- where have you been? living under a rock?! See it NOW!!

P.S...

...If I spot anything that might be Forrest Gump related the camera is out and I'm on it, I hope you don't mind but here are a few tidbits from various FG related places: