Miracle

So I have a weird habit where I get really into something and I decide I need to know everything about it. My first obession was The Who, which started my junior year of high school. Then the next summer I went through a phase where I really liked The Monkees and would watch their show while I ate breakfast every morning. I eventually moved on from bands to historical events. Last fall I rewatched the King's Speech. For some reason or another I wanted to know everything about it, so I watched a documentary on it on Netflix (the place where I have watched the most random things) and then some Youtube vidoes and before I knew it I knew more about King George VI then I expected to ever know.

One of my past obessions that I've been thinking a lot about lately is the Miracle On Ice. If you've been watching the Olympics, you might have heard them mention this or you might have seen old video clips of the game. To sum it up, the "miracle" was that in the 1980 Winter Olympics the US hockey team, made up of young college ameauters, defeated the Soviet Union, who were considered the best team in the world and had been playing together for years. They were like a well-oiled machine that expected to win. Earlier in the games, the Soviets had beaten the US 10-3, so it was a miracle to many that the US were even able to come close to winning. But win they did 4-3.

Now I don't even play hockey. I've only been to about 4 games in my life. But after seeing the movie made about this game, "Miracle", I was enchanted by the story. Even though everytime I watch the movie I know the US is going to win, I still get wrapped up in the emotion of the victory. I'm nervous as the Soviets fire shot after shot at the goalie Jim Craig in the 3rd period as time slowly runs out. I get chills everytime I hear the announcer yelling "Do you believe in miracles? YES" in the final five seconds. I can't even comprehend the incredible feeling coach Herb Brooks must have felt when he leaves the stadium for a moment  to take in the fact that he's done it. I wasn't even born then, I don't watch that much hockey, but I am always inspired by this story. The story of kids my age who gave it everything they had and a coach who didn't give up who acheived their dream while at the same time inspiring a nation to chant "USA USA USA" at a time when people needed some national pride.

I know I may sound overly sentimental about a hockey game. I realize that knowing the names of the team members and knowing who scored which goal may not seem necessary or worthwhile. Watching youtube videos and learning all I can about the Miracle on Ice may seem like a waste of time but I can't help but love the story and be inspired by it.

Happy Galentine's Day!

What is Galentine's Day? . Well this video will explain it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzNX3gI38M
My friends and I plan to celebrate this weekend with huge piles of pancakes and waffles. It should be a national holiday.

Parks and Recreation is show that I love so much I had a dream I was on it a few nights ago. I woke up disappointed that I didn't really meet Ron Swanson, but I least dream me did. I apologize if you haven't seen the show and you have no idea what I am talking about. 

Parks and Recreation is a comedy set in Pawnee, Indiana (a fictional Indiana town). Pretty cool that my favorite show is set in the state that I live in. Even cooler is that one of the character's names is Andy Dwyer (spelled differently then my name but good enough). There's Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who works tirelessly to make changes in her community, her best friend Anne (Rashida Jones), husband Ben, friends/co-workers Tom, Andy, Donna, April, and the best t.v. character of all time Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). 
It's a quirky show poking fun at smaller Midwest towns and the people who inhabit them. 

Sorry I meant to post this on actual Galentine's Day! Hope you had a good one!

Sunday Matinee

You already know I hate winter, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that I spend a lot of time trying to forget about it. My go to escape this winter has been the movie theater. I could sit at my house and watch a movie for far less money, but it's just not the same as going to the movie theater. It's not exactly a glamorous outing, especially my Sunday matinees in the cheap seats of the dollar theater right by my house. I like it though, because I forget that I'm wearing the sweatshirt I had on yesterday and that I have no make up on. With my hands in a popcorn bucket and my eyes glued forward, I'm soaked up right into the world on the screen. 

There have been good, bad, weird, and those that left me asking "why do they even let people still make movies?" (lookin at you Devil's Due). So with all this movie theater experience and amidst all the Oscar buzz, I will share my journey through movies this winter.

The Hobbit
First there was The Hobbit. I was excited for this film the moment the prequel ended. It's not just that I love Martin Freeman or a good journey back to Middle Earth, but the fact that my best friends are just as excited as I am to be sitting there watching it. Also my friends always remember to carry huge purses so we can fit a feast load of snacks into them. Surrounded by Pringles, Cheetos, Peanut Butter M&Ms, and Nutter Butters, we sat for three hours and watched dwarves, elves, wizard, and a badass dragon voiced by the always amazing Benedict Cumberbatch. Since it was a midnight showing my eyes did close a few times (a fact that I was reminded of more than a few times), but it's always a worthwhile movie when it's set in Middle Earth .

Devil's Due
I didn't pick this one. I knew what I was getting into. A movie about a woman pregnant with a devil baby. It was hilarious. 

Her
I wanted to see this one as soon as I saw the preview. The song and the warm colors of the preview roped me in. And it's a love story that didn't sound like a usual romance, so I was curious. I took Kelly to this one at 11 p.m. and it was a bit of a struggle to stay awake through a movie that focused more on dialogue and cinematography than action or comedy. It's hard for me to say if I like it or not. I appreciate the different route it takes (a man in the future falls in love with his computer), but I don't feel like I learned anything new about love. I told Kelly right afterwards that I would like to see what it would be like if it was a woman who was the main character rather than a man. Why? I think I want to see a woman be the main character in a movie about love that isn't a romantic comedy. But Her is a beautiful looking film, with warm colors and an inviting looking futuristic LA...and weirdly high waisted pants. And one of the toughest critics I know loved it, so you might enjoy it. I don't think I need to see it again.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I went to this one late on a Monday night, luckily snagging a theater with no one else in it. That's always my favorite scenario. I saw this with my friend Dirty, and as I sat there I thought about how when I see a movie in theaters, the movie is forever tied to that memory. The movie reminds me of who I first saw it with, and I feel like there's a special bond there when you watch a movie with someone. I always remember when my friend Kate and I saw The Perks of Being a Wallflower together, and when my friend Isabelle and I saw Amour together and cried a lot because that is the saddest movie I have ever seen. So Walter Mitty will probably always remind me of Dirty. Great scenery, great music, and a wonderful performance by Kristin Wiig. I know this movie is about Walter Mitty, but what really struck me was the other people that Walter met along his journey. Almost all of them helped him along the way, and to me the film had an overall theme of acknowledging that you are not alone on the planet. For everything you accomplish, there are always people who work behind the scenes and help you get things done. 

Philomena
My favorite trip to the theater is the Sunday matinee at the dollar theater. I get to stay in my leggings and comfy clothes and more often than not get the theater to myself. I love going with my mom because it always means popcorn, Diet Coke, and fun commentary. When my mom and I heard that Philomena was playing there, we jumped at the chance to go. I'd heard about it among the award season buzz and saw the real Philomena come out in stage at the Golden Globe. It stars Dame Judi Dench as a sweet Irish lady who is looking for the son she was forced to give up fifty years ago. I knew I was going to cry. I didn't disappoint myself. The film tells a great story though, made better (and sadder) by the fact that it is a true story about a real woman who you really feel deserved to have her story told through such an excellently made film. 

Last Vegas
This one is the reason I started writing this entry. I saw it yesterday with my mom and dad and we had the theater to ourselves. This movie reminded me how adorable I find old men and how funny I find old man jokes told by adorable old men. It stars Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline, so you know you can trust the acting. They are four best friends reuniting in Las Vegas for a bachelor party weekend.  Morgan Freeman in an veteran's baseball cap and plaid blazer completely melted my heart and I laughed out loud for most of the film. It was a relief to see a comedy with an older cast, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Looks like there's a lot of fun to be had even at the age of 70, which gives me hope that my best friends and I can be like the Golden Girls someday. Even though this film won't be winning an Oscars, it was a perfect way to spend my Sunday, and a good movie to watch with my parents who enjoyed it as well.