movie challenge, march 2~6

I feel that I owe my readers an explanation for what was suppose to be a day-by-day challenge. Apparently I underestimated my 'lack of social-life' on a daily basis living in countryside Japan and overestimated my capacity of 'time willing to be spent sitting on a couch' every night (I enjoy reading more these days). I have had my answers ready for the movie challenge but have not had the time to sit down and watch a new movie every night. I hate to go back on what I stated for this challenge but it's been lagging the whole process behind. Instead, I will now try to watch new movies during this time, but it won't be everyday. 

So, now that that little self-imposed stress is gone, let's continue!

The Most Underrated Movie
The most underrated movie is also my favorite movie: What Dreams May Come (1998). Nowadays, I'm sure a popular heart throb would play the leading role of an ultra-romantic hero, but Robin Williams's naturally endearing nature and sincerity make his role completely believable. This isn't a simple love story. This movie makes you think about life and death, the kind of parent you are or want to be, the effort needed to understand those closest to you even after many years, and of course, the lengths you'll go for love. Besides the metaphysical aspects, this movie was visually stunning in a time before anything digital, HD, or 3D. To this day I'm left in awe by some of the scenes throughout the movie. I'm not only talking about the representations of heaven and hell, I'm even talking about the artistry and details in places like their home, the hospital mural, and the mental institution. This movie was ahead of its time and most people I know just write it off, if they've even heard of it at all.
But you should go watch it. Now. I'll wait here and we can discuss it afterwards.


A Movie That Makes You Really Happy
The Wedding Date (2005) is a movie that was chosen by the members of the group outing I was a part of, so I had absolutely no expectations for it. It is a movie that I like to call a 'grade A, B movie.' I never watched 'Will and Grace,' but I can see how Debra Messing's charm is infectious as she bumbled around humorous and embarrassing situations in this movie. The viewer really feels for her character too as the story unravels and each layer reveals new and lower blows stuck to our innocent heroine. Also, I was really engaged (no pun intended) in all of the pre-wedding and wedding events. I found myself planning such fun and sophisticated events for my eventual wedding. I even sighed in typical girl-fashion at the stunning teal bridesmaids dresses at the end of the movie.
Since seeing it at the theaters, I always find myself watching it whenever I catch it on T.V. 



A Movie That Makes You Sad
I had to think about this one for a bit. Not one movie stuck out in my mind as having inflicted a lasting sadness on me nor do I consider sad moments enough to qualify it as sad movie. Finally I thought of The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). I'll warn you that my summary sucks since I mostly remember feeling sad for the characters the whole time. Will Smith is a down and out single father who is on welfare, working dead-end jobs that rely on the kindness of others (which is not in big supply) and battles homelessness. I think there was some kind of redemption at the end and he was going to make it after all, but ugh, it was such a downer for most of the film that it was too late for 'happyness' at the end. Never watching this will be more in line with an actual pursuit of happiness..


Favorite Love Story in a Movie

So many potential answers for this one! Too many! I mean, I LOVE a good love story and actually feel a sense of relief if the lovers live happily ever after. So the first one that came to mind was Water for Elephants (2011). It is not my choice because of Robert Pattinson (he was just the icing on the cake), but because the love story that develops between him and Reese Witherspoon (not to be confused for Reese Without-her-spoon) is sweet but tortured by the character that was played superbly by Christoph Waltz. **Spoiler Alert** What set me bawling at the end of the movie was the home-video style shot footage of their eventual life together in blissful love as Rob's character fulfills every promise he made to her throughout the movie. From the beginning of the movie you know that Reese's character has died before him so it makes this footage all the more touching and tear-inducing. It was really a great story overall with great acting and anyone who didn't go see it just because 'Edward Cullen' is in it, is an idiot and shouldn't talk to me.


Favorite Made for TV Movie
So I didn't grow up watching Disney Channel or Teen Nick original movies (Ya, I don't know what's wrong with me either), instead I was over on Lifetime watching all the stuff that I shouldn't be. One such movie was Human Trafficking (2005). It's not my favorite in the way you might initially think of favorites. All of the other Lifetime Network movies were about love and loss, murders and family drama, but this one left an actual impact on me. I knew next to nothing about this major world problem before I saw this movie and it really brought to light what a scary situation it is. I've only seen the movie once when it aired quite some time ago, (but I could probably find it online these days), so my synopsis is mostly likely leaving out major parts of the plot. The story follows three different girls, a teenager from America, a pre-teen British girl who was on vacation with her parents in Southeast Asia, and a Russian teen. It was an intriguing way to pace the movie as you are given a break from the torture of one girl to check up on another one and at times their stories are even linked (same holding house or detective looking for them, etc). One of the fathers of the girls completely immerses himself in this grotesque culture just to be able to have a better chance at finding his daughter which is heart wrenching for him. Some of girls make it, others don't. It was very graphic which I felt gave a more accurate portrayal of the hell people in this situation go through.
It was a powerful movie and effective in it's message to raise awareness. I recommend it to anyone 17 and older.


Movie Buff: Leap Year (2010)

After a conversation that came about due to it being a leap year, my friend and I watched Leap Year (2010). This is another grade A, B movie that I actually saw a chunk of as an in-flight movie but since I didn't catch the bookends, I filled in the rest of the plot (which wasn't much). Cute overall and I am a fan of Adam Scott from his work on 'Party Down' so I was glad to see him. Amy Adams and Matthew Goode have a smidgen of chemistry but they made it work. I don't think anyone would have actually cared if I had seen this movie or not but it furthered my resolve to go to Ireland one day and made for a great girls' night.