It feels like spring and the academic year is coming to a close. What better reason for a little fun this week? The following are three picks that I always enjoy coming back to. They are things I can either watch or read over and over and over again.
Film: The Fifth Element
Silly? Yep. Fun? Yep. Did I mention silly? I love this Bruce Willis flick. Around the time it came out (1997) I remember reading an interview with Willis. He was joking that he was changing his phone number to 1-800-SAVETHEPLANET. I think this film reflects that mood. Clearly the film is supposed to be a spoof of sci-fi and save-the-world films. There are moments so over the top that it makes me smile just thinking about it. (I mean really, stones in a diva's stomach???) Plus, there are lovely nods to cult favorites like Blade Runner. I'm not sure how seriously Milla Jovovich took her role, but you can tell Ian Holm, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker are having a great time. Plus, the music is pretty cool, as are the visuals.
Television: House Hunters
I would like to thank HGTV for helping to create a society of voyeurs. How can you not love this show? A house buyer, or buyers, go to three houses. S/he chooses one. The show fast-forwards several months to see what said buyer has done. It's the same format every time so why is it addictive? Because I want to see people's houses. I want to see what $150,000 will buy you in Dallas or $600,000 will buy you in NYC. I want to see the awful decorating sense these people have. Am I nosey? Yep. Do I care? Nope. Now there is even a House Hunters International. Ever wonder how much condos are in Prague? Now you can find out!
Books: The Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins and I have had a love affair since my friends Breanne and Molly introduced us over twenty-five years ago. He still takes my breath away. The beauty and brillaince of Tolkien's novel makes me pick up this book every couple of years for a little light reading. I still get anxious when Bilbo is captured by the trolls. I worry that he won't be able to out-riddle Gollum. And I hope he won't be seen by Smog. The goodness of this one lonely Hobbit reminds me that in a perfect world, one person could make a difference. In mind, Bilbo Baggins certainly has.
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The visuals of the Fifth Element are indeed amazing. I have seen that film through the magic of cable TV more times than I care to count, but honestly, I don't remember the plot.
Fifth Element = guilty pleasure
It's really okay about the plot. It's not all that memorable anyway. Bruce Willis has to save the world and along the way he falls in love with Jovovich (who is the fifth element, a perfect being). By the way, I love that the perfect being is a woman. :-)
Indeed, the Fifth Element is really good after five beers, or cough syrup.
BTW Isn't the perfect being being a woman thing is really just Platonic Western Misogyny in a clever disguise?
Wow, serious syntax errors in that last post.
Also, HGTV is more fun when living in an apartment and dreaming about having a house.
Fifth Element is one of Chris's favorite movies; House Hunters is one of my favorite shows but I prefer House Hunters International.
Hm, I suppose a cynic would consider it veiled patriarchy. I, however, am not cynical.
I may be a cynic. But I also know that most mainstream films, like Fifth Element, are made for the adolescent male mind. I used to own one of them, and you must respect what evil lurks in the hearts and minds of 16 year old boys.
I hope my cousin Valerie caught that last comment, Matt. She has a teenage daughter.
I've been too good for too long.
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