Happy Birthday Tom Hanks

As you probably have noticed, me and Allie regularly have obsessions with various actors/actresses, the Ryans, Emma Stone, Adam Driver and Taron Egerton to name but a few BUT though all of my short lived obsessions there is one actor that I always come back to as my ultimate favourite.  Any film with the name Tom Hanks on the post will grab my attention, there are films that to me look terribly boring but I have watched them because of Mr Hanks and have not been disappointed (Bridge of Spies).  

To celebrate his 60th birthday, I decided to write up my Top 5 of his films.  This posed a problem, it is impossible to pick 5 films from his vast filmography from his 36 year career, I did however manage to cut it down to 10 but I can't order them, so in no particular order, here are the my Top 0 Tom Hanks films:

Tom Hanks is one of the only actors who can make you cry over a volleyball, his incredible acting skills meant he needed no other actors on screen to hold the audiences attention and have you on the edge of your seat.  The first time I saw the 'Wilsoooooon' scene I cried my eyes out and it stuck with me for a long time afterwards.

If I haven't mentioned it once or a thousand times throughout this blog, I adore Forrest Gump, another film where Hanks shows heartbreak so believably that you cry real tears. Countless quotes from this film will forever be used in everyday conversation and I don't think I know anyone who hasn't seen this.  

I have only watched this film once and I cried and cried and it stuck with me for weeks afterwards, I couldn't forget it.  I remember thinking it was a brilliant film but I haven't had the guts to watch it again yet although I would love to, I just need to be in the right frame of mind.  Having just read a little bit about it, I didn't realise it was based on a Stephen King novel, maybe I should try the book first.

I am a huge Disney fan and I have read books and books on Walt Disney and his businesses. So when  I found out they were releasing a film about Walt Disney and his work on getting Mary Poppins on the big screen and that Disney would be played by Tom Hanks I was so excited.  I wasn't disappointed when the film was released, I loved every second and I was really glad that they posed some of  Walt's more pushy characteristics that are rarely focused on when thinking about the man who created Mickey Mouse.

I remember when I saw the trailer for this and wondered how it could be an entertaining film but it was brilliant.  It's heartwarming and charming as well as being funny and upsetting all at once.  It has a great cast (less Catherine Zeta-Jones), a brilliant script and an amazing story.

Stick Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio on the screen together and you are bound to get a winner and this is just that.  It did feel long but this duo keep the pace up throughout the film and keeps you thoroughly entertained.  

This was an accidental find back in the late 90's, I recorded it on VHS from the TV after reading the synopsis in the TV guide and I watched it over and over again.  I loved the music to the point that I still have them on my iPod to blast in my car.  What I didn't realise was that Tom Hanks wrote, directed and starred in this, now I love it even more!  It's a great feel good movie, you can't help but smile when the boys become a success and sing along to the 60's soundtrack.

"There's no crying in baseball" - I have this quote on my bedroom wall as one of my favourite movie quotes ever.  I have watched this countless times with my Dad over the years and I still get a tear in my eye when Jimmy (Tom Hanks) has to walk down the line of women with the telegram from the war office. 

"Houston, we have a problem" is also on my wall!  I may have a little obsession with Tom Hanks!  Another one that reminds me of family movies nights, it was always difficult to find a film that Mom and Dad liked and was suitable for a 10 year old.  This was before Dad found his love for animated movies and superhero movies which we now share our love for. Apollo 13, the first few times I watched it I don't think I understood a lot of what happened but I have watched it countless times since and still love it.

A grown man that can convincingly play a 13 year old boy and make you believe it can only be Tom Hanks.  Hundreds of times while watching Big I was completely immersed, I believed that he was a 13 year old boy.  The toy store scene is one of my favourites and makes me grin from ear to ear.

Happy Birthday Tom!!

Thursday Movie Picks: Train Movies

It’s Thursday again! Time for another round of Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves. 

This week, it feels like Autumn is well and truly on it’s way, and it won’t be long before the work commuters will be hearing the dreaded ‘...delayed due to leaves on the line’ whilst they wait for their busy train to work. I’ve been there! So, without further ado, here are my train related picks this week.

"Tickets and passes please...tickets and passes..."

Probably one of the most obvious choices, but absolutely one of my favourites, Source Code (2011) is a cracking thriller in which Jake Gyllenhaal discovers he is part of an experimental government program in which he needs to find out who the bomber of a commuter train is. He has only 8 minutes to find his target, or the train will blow up and he’ll have to start all over again. I thought it would be a little stale with the repeated scenes, but it’s actually one of my favourite movies ever.

It’s only September, I know, but we’re talking about trains, and how can I not mention one of my favourite Christmas movies, The Polar Express (2004)? A magical movie in which Tom Hanks plays over 50% of the entire cast, Santa’s elves not included, and I can’t believe that it’s 11 years old now. Since starting to blog I’ve come to realise not many out there like The Polar Express much, but the songs in it give me festive goosebumps!

The only reason I watched Unstoppable (2010) a couple of years ago was for Chris Pine, and I fully expected it to be a bore-fest. How interesting could a movie be about a freight train out of control? Very, it turns out, and I was sat on the edge of my seat for quite some time. It had a great mix of action scenes and drama, and I was really proved wrong.

I want to put out an honourable mention to Snowpiercer which I would have included, but I’ve picked it for a different theme already. 

Mini Reviews: Saving Mr Banks (2013), Cake (2014) & Ex Machina (2015)

I can’t quite believe Saving Mr Banks is 2 years old now, it feels like I’ve been putting off watching it for a couple of months, not years! I remember little of the Mary Poppins story, in fact I can only recall a couple of the songs, and maybe that’s why I put this film off for so long. I’m glad I gave it a shot though, as this was a beautiful story.

Emma Thompson does a fantastic job at portraying this frustrating character who you struggle to warm to at first, but by the credits roll I had tears in my eyes. The whole cast made this a wonderful film to watch, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston and films that tackle depression have always interested me, which I realise sounds quite morbid! Therefore, I thought Cake would be a film I would really enjoy. Cake is a dark story of a woman who becomes obsessed with the suicide of a friend in her support group for chronic pain, who also tries to deals with her own severe issues.

Maybe watching this in chunks throughout my lunch breaks didn’t help, but I found the story so hard to understand, I had to read half on an IMDB synopsis to work out what was going on. Once I worked it out it was more enjoyable, but still fell flat for me.

When the posters and trailers came out for Ex Machina came out, I wasn’t bothered in the slightest. I didn’t even notice it come and go from my local cinema. However, anyone I knew who went to see it or watched the DVD said how brilliant it was, and the got my curiosity. It’s hard to even explain the plot of Ex Machina without ruining the experience, but I would recommend it to anyone.

It starts of as a family friendly, futuristic film and out of nowhere, takes a very dark turn, and rapidly turns into adult-only territory. I haven’t seen anything like it, and although I don’t think a re-watch will give the same impact, it was a brilliant experience first-time.

Review: Toy Story 3 (2010)

When have sequels ever been better than the originals, I've heard rumours about The Godfather Part Two but haven't seen it myself so I can't comment on that.  The answer is rarely, until Toy Story that is.  As much as I enjoyed Toy Story 2 it didn't surpass its predecessor but then there was 3, and everything 2 couldn't do, 3 did, and better!

Toy Story 3 continues to follow Andy's toys but now the game has changed, Andy is going to college and decides to only keep Woody (I'd guess for sentimental value).  The rest of the toys mistakenly get shipped to the local day-care centre instead of heading to the attic, leaving Woody to convince them they are not unwanted and encourage them to find their way home.

As always with Toy Story and Pixar in general, the animation is spot on with an incredible attention to detail in both the main focus of the scene and the background.  Everytime I watch a Disney/Pixar film I spot something new that I didn't see last time (and I'm always looking out for the Pizza Planet truck that is in every Disney/Pixar movie).  This is where Toy Story 3 beat out 2 though, the story, they brought in a whole range of new characters in the residents of the care home but ensure there is still plenty of screen time for the beloved favourites.  They all have to work together if they want to escape the hell hole that is Sunnyside Day Care.

I was apprehensive at first before I watched Toy Story 3. Introducing just a few new characters in Toy Story 2 worked well but I didn't know how to feel about such a wealth of even newer characters. However, Pixar nailed it, and I am a proud owner of a Lotso bear (although he doesn't smell like strawberries any more after 4 years!).

The main story is not only brilliantly written but the side stories also stand out, Barbie and Ken's not so match made in heaven (particularly his wardrobe montage!!) and Buzz Lightyear's reset repair causing him to speak Spanish and Mr Potato Head becoming a Tortilla for the good of the team.  There is no moment in this film when you are not grinning from ear to ear - except maybe the truly terrifying and heartbreaking incinerator scene.

Spanish Buzz Lightyear is my absolute favourite part of Toy Story 3 and I was so happy when I saw the new toys in my local toy store. If only I had an excuse to buy one for myself. Note - Lotso doesn't count, he was a gift and a soft toy!

One thing that I noticed moreso in this one to the other Pixar movies was that it appeared to touch on much more adult themes but in a way that children can understand.  Themes of friendship, loss, mortality, change and relationships are all touched upon in enough detail to prove they are not dumbing down films to kids levels, rather they are briefly introducing them to feelings they will inevitably have to deal with in life.  I love that. Yeah, I agree. It was almost like Toy Story 3 was made for the kids who grew up with the original, who are now all adults (sigh).

I cannot find a fault with this film, it's clever, funny, sad and visually stunning.  I will admit I did cry at the end as well!

I really enjoyed Toy Story 3 and loved how it ended, which yes, did make me cry a little, but Toy Story 2 is still my favourite of the series.

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:

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
Universal Citywalk, Orlando Florida

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco

Jenny - Downtown Disney, Orlando, Florida

Santa Monica Pier - This is the pier that Forrest run to the
end of then turns around and runs back! (that's my Dad!)

I was told this was the actual bench from the movie
Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, California



However, I have since been told the original is in
Savannah so who knows!

The cap and trainers used by Tom Hanks
during the running scenes.
Paramount Studios, LA

10 Actors I Would Watch in Almost Anything (Allie)

Forgive me if I get this wrong, but I think this theme started with Abbi at Where the Wild Things Are. I love the idea, list 10 actors that you would watch in almost anything, and then another list of 10 actresses. These are 10 guys who could sell a film to me just by being in it.

Why: When I was younger, every Saturday meant another Jim Carrey film. I was so excited the night before Bruce Almighty came out that I could barely sleep, and my brother and I still quote his character from Liar Liar on a regular basis.

Best Role: Bruce Almighty

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: I Love You Phillip Morris This is a great film, you must see it!

Why: This is probably the most simplest of all the actors in my list. I simply have never seen a bad Tom Hanks movie, and so I'm not sure I could ever refuse to see something that he’s in.

Best Role: Forrest Gump

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Larry Crowne

Why: I’m sorry, I was about to type and then I got lost in those eyes. Can that count as my reason? No? Ok. I just think he’s incredibly charming, and just the right kind of cocky. Oh, and those eyes...

Best Role: Star Trek

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Blind Dating

Why: He’s the most bad-ass guy I know. Not personally of course, but he’s bad-ass nonetheless. I actually really need to see some of his older work to see another side of him, but I would be first in line for Taken 9.

Best Role: Taken

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Battleship

Why: I haven’t seen a comedy of Steve Carell’s that I haven’t found hilarious. I first saw him in The 40 Year Old Virgin and he’s just the master of awkward comedy. That’s not all though because I love his serious roles too.

Best Role: Crazy Stupid Love

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Bewitched

Why: This man is an absolute legend. I love his acting work of course, but I just love how he has so much fun in anything he does. Not that I’ve met him, but he seems so great with his fans and he just oozes charm.

Best Role: The Avengers

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: The Deep Blue Sea

Why: He’s the first actor I ever became fascinated with; I have fond memories of tracking down some VHS tapes on Amazon when I was still in High School. I used to quote Bubble Boy on a regular basis.

Best Role: Donnie Darko

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Rendition

Why: I don’t think I’ve ever loved an actor as much as Ryan Reynolds. His dry, witty humour is my absolute favourite, and I could watch any of his movies time and time again!

Best Role: The Proposal

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: None, I have actually seen everything he’s been in! So far at least.

Why: This guy makes me smile without even doing or saying anything. He’s just an incredibly likeable actor, and he deserved to be in any of my top 10 lists for the three flavours cornetto trilogy alone.

Best Role: Shaun of the Dead

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: A Fantastic Fear of Everything

Why: Benedict is my current obsession, thanks to Sherlock. I had to forcibly made to watch it in the first place, but I fell in love with his acting skills (and then just him!) soon after. He’s just incredible, and perfects whatever role he plays.

Best Role: Star Trek Into Darkness

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (I really did try)