My Top 10 Movie List

As part of my 101 goals I said I would list my top 10 movies and see if they changed in the next year as I watch different ones. I apologise for not being able to find decent quality trailers for all of them, but here they are anyway, (in no particular order) my top 10 favourite films (it was sooooo hard to choose just 10 btw!!!)

Groundhog Day -

This is pretty much a perfect movie, it's touching, it's funny, it has Bill Murray in it, I mean, it's just awesome. Andi McDowell - because of this, I can forgive her for wrecking pretty much every scene of Four Weddings and a Funeral that she was in, she's just that good! : ) It's such a simple premise, but it's done so well - a grumpy, selfish, weatherman is forced to live the same day over and over again - see, simple right? But what is done with this story is beautiful and I love it!

*(one of my) favourite quotes* -
Rita: Are you drunk or something?
Phil: Drunk is more fun.




Annie Hall -

A wonderful Woody Allen movie that is a realistic and beautiful love story. It's romantic, intelligent, witty, and Diane Keaton is just sublime. I really don't know what to say except watch it, and then tell everyone how brilliant it is.

*Favourite scene* - There are so many... This is the one that really made me fall in love with Diane Keaton though.






Edward Scissorhands -

I know I'm choosing movies that probably everyone has seen but this is just a really beautiful film, plus I had to put a Johnny Depp film in the list. I cry every time at this film (not that that should necessarily be an indicator, I cry at everything! : ) and it's almost like a silent movie in places. Johnny Depp is such an incredible actor, I mean yeah he can do the over the top Captain Jack Sparrow stuff, the kooky Willy Wonka stuff, even the gruff singing stuff in Sweeney Todd, but in this, he barely speaks throughout the whole movie and yet you fall in love with him. His eyes are so expressive, he's so vulnerable and separate from everyone else, I just love this film. You know they wanted Tom freakin' Cruise to do this film instead of the Deppmeister? How awful would that have been? Thankfully everyone involved came to their senses and with Tim Burton's direction and the surburbia sets juxtaposed with the gothic mansion of the inventor... I mean, this movie is just insanely beautiful - pure fairytale. Unfortunately I can't find a trailer that doesn't wreck the best moments of the film, so you'll just have to see it and thank me later : )

*Favourite scene* - All of it. It's just beautiful.

Cyrano De Bergerac -

Most people have probably seen Roxanne, with Steve Martin (based on this) but not this version with Gerard Depardieu. I admit, I pretty much love the Gerard Depardieu,  I mean, his accent is so dreamy (as C says, he speaks French very well : ) but his acting is also so effortless. This is again, a moving love story, so sue me, I enjoy them, but it is also a chance to see French cinema at a pretty high level (I wouldn't go quite as far as "at it's best") It's a story of unrequited love and truly selfless love, and I have loved it ever since I saw it in high school French class!

*Favourite quote* - All of Cyrano's poetry - simply sublime!

Singin' in the rain -

I really wanted to pick a musical for one of my choices (cos I love 'em) but couldn't decide between this and Moulin Rouge. I know a lot of people (C included) would disagree that Singin' is the better movie, and maybe it's not, but it has a nostalgia for me that I just cannot get away from. To me, this film represents me lying on the sofa when ill and with my blanket and teddies watching this to cheer myself up. Don't get me wrong, you can watch this film when healthy too : ) Apart from the, quite frankly, completely unnecessary Broadway Musical bit near the end, the film is near perfect, and Gene Kelly makes tap dancing look macho, I mean come on!  Do you need another reason to watch it? Ok, the dance routines are perfect, the songs are great, the story's fantastic, the acting's pretty good : ) and the ending is lovely. I think it's a film everyone should see at least once!

*Trivia* - The actress playing Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), who gets her voice dubbed in the film by Debbie Reynold's character actually dubbed Debbie Reynold's voice for those scenes of the movie! How weird is that?! Or is it ironic??



Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (and Raiders, and Temple of Doom)

With limited space on my list, I had to choose just one Indy film, and my personal favourite is The Last Crusade - James Bond and Indiana Jones in the same movie! What I love most about Indy is that he's not smooth, I mean, he's a charmer and very good looking, but he's not great at being an adventurer. He falls off things, he's scared of snakes, he makes mistakes, gets hit and captured (a lot) and underneath the rugged leather jacket and fedora, he's really just a goofy, glasses wearing, intelligent archeologist professor. So the juxtaposition of Indy with his smoother dad who he really just wants to impress makes this film my favourite of the trilogy. Plus it's a great story, and the Nazis lose! (Sorry to spoil the ending!) It's a really lovely film and is great fun to watch : )

*Favourite quote* - "Our situation has not improved..." : )




The Lives of Others -

This is a truly perfect film. It's about the monitoring of the cultural scene of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police and the Stasi officer who is responsible for bugging and recording the actions of a playwright and his girlfriend. The true reasons of the secret police for following their actions are soon revealed and as the ideas of the Stasi officer recording them change, the film builds to a beautiful and very exciting climax. There's not really much I can say about this film, except it is brave in what it reveals about the secret police of the time, and it is exceptionally well written and acted. Moreover this film made me think. The idea that this happened, that the secret police did exist and were responsible for so many deaths... it's mind blowing. It's an emotionally powerful film and again, just beautiful.

*Favourite quote* - not from the film itself, but from the director - "More than anything else, The Lives of Others is a human drama about the ability of human beings to do the right thing, no matter how far they have gone down the wrong path."



Peter's Friends -

A film about 6 friends from university and their partners coming together for a New Year's Eve party - once again, a pretty simple idea, with lots of complications. One of the reasons I love this film is because of the brill British actors in it - including Stephen Fry (national treasure), Hugh Laurie (he of bumbling Bertie Wooster and emotionally complicated House fame), Emma Thompson (she being one of the very few people ever to win writing and actress Oscars), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake and Harry Potter movies) and Kenneth Branagh, who also wrote and directed the film. I have to admit to being biased, I love all the actors I've just mentioned and esp. Kenneth Branagh. I would watch pretty much anything with him in it anyway, but he isn't the best thing in this : O The scenes between Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton as they work to overcome the death of their young son are very moving, and Emma Thompson's "fill me with your little babies" is wickedly funny. However, I do think that Kenneth Branagh's direction makes this film what it is; his very long shots - esp when they all meet again - are done to perfection and the montage of them around the dinner table is really great too. The soundtrack is great - lots of Tears for Fears mixed with some Springsteen (can't go wrong with The Boss!) and best of all, it's very British!

*Favourite scene* - round the piano! Hugh Laurie's musical talents shine through and everyone is just so wonderful in this scene.




It's A Wonderful Life -

I'd never seen this before I met C and the first time we saw this together was our first Christmas at the wonderful Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh. I'm fast running out of adjectives to describe these films but I think heartwarming is the one for this film. It follows the life of George Bailey, a lovely quintessentially American (can you be quintessentially American or just British?) man who is pushed into becoming the head of the bank his father ran and after an accident caused by his deputy wishes he had never been born. It is a beautiful film, makes me cry twice (in exactly the same places), has the wonderful James Stewart in it, is shown every Christmas at our cinema (guess where we'll be in a few months time : ) and I look forward to seeing it with C every year.

*Favourite quote* - 
Young Mary: George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die




Some Like It Hot -

I was really torn between this and any Cary Grant film I've ever seen, but I have to be fair and choose this. It's awesome! I've seen it many many times, and every time I fall a little bit more in love with Jack Lemmon's performance - it's so effortlessly perfect! Marylin Monroe is also just wonderful, so vulnerable, and sweet, yet clearly a bit damaged and worldly (see "I'm through with love") Tony Curtis plays both the Cary Grant role, "Nobody talks like that!" and the tom cat musician wonderfully and I just can't recommend this film enough. In fact, don't just watch this - watch this, then watch The Apartment and The Odd Couple to see what a fabulous director Billy Wilder is and what an amazing actor Jack Lemmon is! I don't really want to give you a clip of my favourite scene (maracas!) in case that ruins any of the brilliance of it, so just so you have something to compare Tony Curtis' impression of Cary Grant to, here's a clip of him in Bringing Up Baby.



Alright, this isn't my absolute favourite scene of the movie, but it does show the three of them fabulously - (plus I couldn't find a trailer that didn't ruin the ending, but felt I had to post something, so...)




One film that very narrowly missed out on my list was Back to the Future (and the rest of the trilogy!) : )
This shows Michael J Fox arguably at his best (apart from Spin City of course!) He's a brilliant comic actor and these films just prove it. Add to that the fact that they are hugely enjoyable and likeable and you can't go wrong! The idea of getting in a delorian and accidentally going back in time to when your parents were in high school, making your mum fall in love with you and having to make your parents fall in love with eachother while trying to get back to the future and save a highly eccentric scientist is pretty great for a comedy sci-fi movie! Everyone in all of these films are perfectly cast and I love every second of them, I could watch them over and over. (Cheers C for getting them on DVD for me!) Plus, it's the anniversary of the films at the moment (which is why I thought I'd slip it on to the list anyway) so if Back to The Future is at a cinema near you, head to it right away, I know we will!

*Trivia* - MJF had to make this film on night shoots while still filming Family Ties because he couldn't get time off to make it - that's dedication!

Instead of giving you a clip from the films, I'm gonna share this - a stand up comedy song from the guy who plays Biff - so funny!



and also a gratuitous clip of MJF in Scrubs to show (in case you didn't already know) just what a brilliant actor he is - (from just under 2 mins in!)




It'll be interesting to see if any of the films I see this year sneak in to my top ten by the end of it. I'm already thinking about Mon Oncle... Hmmmmmm.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your comments on my choices and suggestions for great films I should see,
Peace, love and happy movie watching, : )
C

P.S - Dinner tonight is chilli - another untried recipe, this time from How It All Vegan (review to be posted later : )

101 Goals - a update! : ) and a challenge!

Hi! The next bit of my post (cont. from yesterday) is about my 101 goals. As it stands now, they are updated to include yesterday, and looking at them, my record isn't really that great : S

We had issues doing the dishes every night when we were ill, and tbh over the weekend we just got a little lazy, but that's fixable for sure. Turning the light out by 1am is just needed really, but it's not happening because we're so used to going to sleep gone 2.  Also we visit the hospital frequently to see a relative of ours and don't get back from there til 8:30pm - after that, dinner, relaxing, bath etc, it tends to be pretty late anyway, and then we'll wind down for bed. The trick is I think just turning the 'puter off early enough to relax ready for sleep around 1am. I'll keep working on it though. Another goal this coincides with is my reading challenge. So far I am on chapter 4 of Birdsong and it's been over a week! I just don't have enough time reading in the evenings - must do that instead of watching things on the computer.  The rest of my daily goals have been going ok, getting breakfast has been hard, but I'm getting there with it, I posted A Cow At My Table on Facebook so that's one of my vegan related posts up, I'm getting through my movies too (more about that in the next post) and I haven't eaten crisps for over a week.  However, with the crisps thing, I think I've just substituted bombay mix for crisps grrrrrrrrrr. So now the challenge is to be off the bombay mix too. We shall see how that goes.  I feel I'm doing pretty well but there's some easy stuff I should start doing this week.  I'll give another update next week : )

A bit earlier in this post I mentioned our relative who is in hospital. The fantastic news is that she's coming out of hospital next Tuesday!!!! : ) I want to make a cake for her to celebrate with friends and family, and obviously that cake has to be completely vegan for me to make it soooooo I was wondering if anyone had any tried and true vegan cake recipes. I'm leaning towards Aunt Bonnie's cake from How It All Vegan, but if anyone has any ideas, email me and let me know! : )

Okey dokey, will post about the awesome film we watched last night and also about dinner tonight - potato on a pizza you ask? What a crazy idea! Will it work?! We will just have to wait and see : )

Peace and love and happy cooking,
C

My First Post!!!

Despite the shameless homage to (rather than rip-off of) Monty Python, I am serious about this being a "completely vegan" blog. After all, that's what I am now! My first post is going to be a fairly long one, so stay with me, I just want to explain my reasons for starting this blog and my 101 goals for the next year.

I decided to start this blog as one of my 101 things to do in 2010/2011 - the idea came from the Project Zero site here I'll admit I got a few ideas from other people cos they sounded great, including a few from the lovely Mipa from Alien's Day Out but mainly it's a list of personal goals that I'd like to achieve in the next year. I changed my personal deadline from 1001 days to 1 year because it gives a nice timescale and I'd like to look back next year and see all the things I was able to do!

I went vegan 3 weeks ago on Wednesday (2 days ago) and I really want to get more involved in the vegan community and do something for the movement. My goal is that by highlighting veganism as a choice and posting links and recipes on here and my facebook page, people may begin to think of it as a valid choice rather than an extreme alternative to carnivorism and a life of deprivation. I also wanted a blog that documented my veganism throughout my first year as a vegan (at least! : ) that I can look back on, but also as a possible resource for other vegans. I also hope that anyone planning to come and visit Edinburgh as a vegan will find useful information about restaurants and cafes from this blog as well!

I have found that veganism, more than just being a dietary choice, presents many issues day to day and I want my blog to focus on these as well as the yummy vegan food I eat (I'm also hoping that by documenting my choices it'll help me to become more creative and healthy in my eating habits too) After all vegans do eat a lot of awesome food!

Here is my list of 101 goals to be achieved in the next year, I started today and have already achieved one goal just by starting this blog! : )

Daily goals

1) Take daily vitamin B12 supplement (1/30 misses)
2) Make the bed daily (0/30 misses)
3) Unplug all appliances at night (0/30 misses)
4) Floss daily (1/30 misses)
5) Do dishes before bed (4/30 misses)
6) Turn the light out at bedtime before 1am - excluding festivals and weekends! (4/30 misses)
7) Drink 2 litres of water a day every day for 2 weeks (0/14)
8) Eat 5 different types of fruit/veg a day (3/30 misses)
9) Eat breakfast every day (1/30 misses)

Adventure and Sightseeing

10) Have one amazing epic fantastic incredible night!!!!!
11) Plan a holiday with C
12) Have a picnic in the park
13) Go to a comedy club
14) Go camping – other than at a festival
15) Dance like no one’s watching
16) Watch a 3D/IMAX film
17) Do whatever someone else wants for an entire day
18) Attend a sporting event
19) Visit galleries/museums/exhibitions in Edinburgh (0/5)
20) Go up Arthur’s seat
21) Play chess with C and win!
22) Blow bubbles!
23) Sing karaoke
24) Try a new sport/activity
25) Go to 5 gigs (0/5)
26) Go to the theatre to see a play
27) See a classical music concert
28) Kiss someone special on New Years Eve
29) Learn 3 card tricks and perform them for friends (0/3)
30) Go to a festival
31) Donate blood
32) Get to know 10 new musical artists/bands (0/10)
33) See John Hegley at least once this year and read more of his poetry
34) Watch a sunset and sunrise

Mind, spirit and soul

35) Write a letter to yourself to open in 10 years
36) Write a letter to be opened in 1 year’s time
37) Start a personal journal
38) Start a vegan blog and keep it updated for a year
39) Blog about each task I complete and complete next year’s 101 list!
40) Try and be calmer and more chilled out
41) Tell someone I love them every day and mean it (7/365)
42) Complete “50 questions that will free your mind”
43) Make a wish at 10:10 on October 10th, 2010
44) Buy one piece of original art for the flat and put up the pieces we have already!
45) Buy and read a weekend newspaper each week for a month (0/4)
46) Do 10 things from “365 ways to change the world” book (0/10)
47) Not watch any television programmes on dvd or television for a month
48) Read at least 12 different books from the BBC Big Read list (0/12)
49) Watch at least 52 films from my 1001 films to see before you die book (2/52)
50) Watch 10 documentaries (0/10)
51) Watch 10 foreign films (0/10)
52) Complete a digital detox week
53) Make a list of my fave 10 movies/songs and see if the list changes in the next year
54) Read at least 12 non-fiction books (0/12)
55) Buy the flat fresh flowers once a month (0/12)
56) Make a list of 100 things that make me happy

Health and body

57) Take up fencing again
58) Walk (some of) The West Highland Way
59) Take part in the Midnight Cancer Walk in Edinburgh in 2011
60) Treat myself to a professional facial
61) Don’t eat crisps for 365 days (7/365)
62) Go to the dentist
63) Get a full health checkup
64) Get a massage

Awesome Vegan Food

65) Keep a food diary for a month/ Participate in Vegan MoFo (0/30 days)
66) Make my own vegan ice cream!
67) Try 20 new recipes from any recipe book (2/20)
68) Go to at least 6 Vegan Potluck Dinners (0/6)
69) Make a birthday cake for someone special
70) Try cooking or eating something with 20 different ingredients (0/20)
71) Try 3 new global cuisines (0/3)
72) Grow something edible and eat it
73) Visit new restaurants (1/10)
74) Visit the farmer’s market once a month (0/12)

For the Earth

75) Always take cloth bags when going shopping (2/10 misses)
76) Only give “consumer conscious” gifts as presents (0/5 misses)
77) Don’t buy anything except food for a week
78) Don’t buy anything with logo/brand/packaging for one month

Spreading the Love/Spreading the word of Veganism
79) Post 10 vegan related links on my Facebook page (0/10)
80) Criticise nothing for one day
81) Do 30 random acts of kindness (0/30)
82) Compliment at least one person every day (7/365)
83) Donate clothes/books etc to a charity shop
84) Go to an animal rights rally or demonstration
85) Get someone to watch Earthlings
86) Donate £5 to charity for each item on the list I don’t complete in a year
87) Help a homeless person in some other way than giving money
88) Buy the big issue once a month (0/12)
89) Sponsor an animal

Friends and Family

90) Write honest and meaningful letters to 5 people (1/5)
91) Send out snail mail (0/20)
92) Email Sarah, Solayr and Ashley at least once a week (1/52)
93) Write a thank-you letter for every gift I receive whether material or not
94) Buy someone flowers for no reason
95) For one year, forget no one’s birthday!

Creative activities

96) Take a picture of one place in every season of the year (0/4)
97) Carve a pumpkin for Halloween
98) Give 10 homemade gifts (0/10)

Random

99) Start a savings and holiday fund
100) Get my driver’s license
101) Register to start a degree through open university

As you can see, I plan to write about each achieved goal when completed on this blog and it's impact, (good or bad) on my life. I will start my first book from my Big Read List here today - I decided to start with Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, it's a book I have started a few times but never managed to finish, but I hope that this time I will achieve this goal.

Well that's all for my first post, tomorrow, lots of pictures of yummy vegan Indian food from the restaurant we're planning to go to for a birthday dinner for a friend!

Peace and love
C