Some Kind of Wonderful

Warren and I went to an outdoor movie at the local coffee shop. "The Shop" is a converted garage with a huge parking lot and a wall with a movie screen painted on it. A few weekends ago we went to Big Trouble in Little China and this weekend we went to Some Kind of Wonderful, a John Hughes film. I had never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Warren did not enjoy it that much. I think that might have something to do with the fact that he has not seen as many 80's movies as I have and might be forgetting what it is like to be an angsty teen. Either way it was less entertaining and silly than the Kurt Russell vehicle but still satisfying.

It got me thinking about just how much I love John Hughes movies. Here is a complete list of them. I bolded movies that I have seen and starred the ones I love the most. Did you know that he wrote some movies as Edmund Dantes? I would highly recommend watching/rewatching some John Hughes. I think I might.

Delta House (1979) (TV)
National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982)
At Ease (1983) (TV)
Mr. Mom (1983)
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Nate and Hayes (with David Odell) (1983)
Sixteen Candles (1984) (also Director)*
The Breakfast Club (1985) (also Director)*
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
Weird Science (1985) (also Director)
Pretty in Pink (1986)*
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) (also Director)*
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) (also Director)*
She's Having a Baby (1988) (also Director)
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Uncle Buck (1989) (also Director)*
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Home Alone (1990)
Career Opportunities (1991)
Only the Lonely (1991) (Producer Only)
Dutch (1991)
Curly Sue (1991) (also Director)*
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Beethoven (with Amy Holden Jones) (1993) (as Edmund Dantes)
Dennis the Menace (1993)
Baby's Day Out (1994)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
101 Dalmatians (1996)
Flubber (1997)
Home Alone 3 (1997)
Reach the Rock (1998)
Just Visiting (with Christian Clavier and Jean-Marie Poire) (2001)
Maid in Manhattan (2002) (Story Only) (originally titled "The Chambermaid") (as Edmund Dantes)
Drillbit Taylor (2008) (Story Only) (as Edmund Dantes)

I also found this article about how much women in their 20s and 30s are in love with the idea of Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles. It is pretty funny.

Jake Ryan article

Get out your dancin' shoes...

and get excited for October.


Warren just showed this to me. (Isn't he the best?) Footloose is happening again. I am so excited about this. The kids still want to dance but this time they get a little freaky and there appears to be some kind of bus fight. Also Dennis Quaid is the dad and Julianne Hough is the preacher's daughter. I can't wait.

The end of the world as we know it

You may or may not know that Warren loves post-apocalyptic films and books. We spend a great deal of time together and I too have developed a love. I also like to think of it as research for prolonging my life after something bad happens. If you were wanting to gather skills and knowledge about living in a post-apocalyptic world. Here is a list to get you started. *Note: A few of these are as the apocalypse is going down but there are lessons to be learned none the less.

The Stand-Steven King mini-series- Lesson: plagues bring out the worst and best in people.

Blindness- Jose Saramago novel. I don't know that this counts but I have mentally filed it into this genre. This is really about the breakdown of society when things get bad. Lesson: Don't trust anyone!

Idiocracy- it seems dumb but it makes some valid points. I think of it quite a bit when I see people who are doing stupid things--the break down of society if you will. Lesson: Read Books now!

WallE- think about it people are too lazy to care or see what is happening. Lesson: We could be our own undoing (A lot of these have that as the lesson.)

Minority Report-Lesson: Don't hang with Tom Cruise. (I don't think that is really the lesson. I just don't like him.)

The Island-good looking clones to keep you alive forever. Yes! Lesson: Make lots of money to pay for the clones.

The Day After Tomorrow- Lesson: This is what happens when we don't take care of the environment

Children of Men- The book is better than the movie. Lesson: Make friends with a cabin/home off the beaten path.

I, Robot- Lesson: Be nice to your appliances

I am Legend - Lesson: What can I say? Will Smith gets it/Zombies are mean.

Planet of the Apes- an oldy but a goody. Lesson: Don't trust animals. Also, don't watch the Mark Wahlberg version ( I love him but don't kid yourself).

The Road- I think this was going to be/is a movie but I only read the book (kind of a bummer. that is really saying something for this genre)

Zombieland-comedic look at post apocalypse. Bill Murray is in it. Need I say more. Plenty of lessons to be had.

The Happening- this time Mark Wahlberg does get it (although he seems kind of funny to me when he is trying to be serious) Lesson: Plants are not to be trusted either.

The City of Ember and subsequent books- yes, these are children books but they are amazing none the less. Lesson: When faced with darkness don't wait to die. Go out and see what you can find. What do you have to lose? Also, kids are helpful in this area.

The next apocalypse movie that I will be reading: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

But I wanted to go to the prom

So I was all excited to go to the law school prom. Unfortunately for me it is the same weekend that I have already made plans to return to Seattle for a fun filled birthday weekend (the big 3-0) for a friend. Sadly, I will just have to wait for next year's prom. I am pretty sure this clip (my favorite part from the movie Footloose) is exactly the type of hi jinx I will be missing out on. (Although I know my husband breathed a sigh of relief at not having to attend. He didn't even know it was going on, at least that is the story he is sticking to. Thank God the law school wives are on top of the school social calendar) Oh well, I will have a full year to look for a dress for Prom and to ponder the question; why does law school have a prom in the first place?

P.S. How can you not absolutely adore Footloose. They just want to dance... and when they do it is amazing. I have always had a special place in my heart for Kevin Bacon and this is why.