Saboteur, 1942

Director: ALFRED HITCHCOCK

Stars: Robert Cummings, Priscilla Lane, Otto Kruger

Barry (Cummings) is on the run from the bad guys and the police when he is falsely accused of setting fire to the aircraft factory where he and his best friend worked. As this factory made aircraft for use in the war, this was a distinctly anti-American act. But Barry has a clue to who might have started it, because of a chance encounter at work, and he sets out on his own to prove his innocence because if he waits for the police, it will be too late. The bad guys are planning some big event and he must stop it.

But he isn't completely alone. When he seeks shelter in a cabin in the woods, he meets Pat (Lane), who eventually comes to believe that he is telling the truth.

Because of Robert Cummings, this is one of my favorites of Hitch's films! Cummings is so brilliant. (And handsome, too!) Hitch has a common theme of the common man being wrongfully accused. And Cummings plays it well.

CAMEO: Hitch appears on the street when the real Saboteur's car stops, and it's actually about an hour into the movie.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets, 2007

Director: Jon Turtletaub

Stars: Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel

When evidence has shown up that ties the Gates family to the Lincoln assassination, Ben gates (Cage) and his father Patrick (Voight), will cross oceans and do whatever it takes to clear their family name. But they're up against the worst kind of villain: Mitch Wilkinson (Harris), who discovered the Gates-Lincoln connection, is bent on finding this second treasure that is said to be hidden under a great National landmark. He kidnaps Ben's mother (Mirren) in order to use Ben to search for the treasure.

This one is really great as well. I love how these movies are fast-paced, action- packed, and very clever, weaving fiction into history. Love it!

National Treasure, 2004

Director: Jon Turtletaub

Stars: Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight,

The Gates family has handed down the tradition of the great treasure collected over thousands of years and hid somewhere by our founding fathers, with the last clue left to a Gates long ago. Now Ben Gates (Cage) has spent all his life and every penny he has on treasure hunting, and finally he has another clue, leading to the next step.

The problem is: the next step is to look on the back of the Declaration of Independence for an invisible message from the founders. And Ian (Bean) the man who funded Ben's exploits, is after the treasure too, and he has no problem being on the wrong side of the law. After his warning to the FBI goes unheeded, Ben decides that the only way to stop Ian from stealing the Declaration is to steal it first. So that's what he and his computer genius friend Riley (Bartha) set out to do. But Dr Abigail Chase (Kruger) catches them, and they decide they have to take her along with them, to keep her safe from Ian. But soon she stays out of curiosity, as they get closer and closer to finding the greatest treasure of all time.

I LOVE this movie! It's ridiculous, of course, but so much fun!

The Postman, 1997

Director: Kevin Costner

Stars: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, Scott Bairstow

It's 2013. Wars and diseases have killed off most of the people on the planet, and in the US, small groups of people band together in their towns, and fear the outsiders. The Postman (Costner) wanders around performing Shakespeare for the townspeople, trying to brighten their lives a little.

This movie seems to have two parts (it's based on a book): in the first part, Costner's character is shanghaied by a group of soldiers ruled by a man who wants to take over the world, basically. He runs an army of slaves and kills anyone who can't keep up.

Eventually, Costner escapes and wandering through the woods, comes upon an old, wrecked Postal Service jeep, filled with letters and packages. He decides to take them to the nearest town, and deliver them to the people there. He impersonates a Postman and tells the people that the United States is a nation again, with a new government and everything. He is only doing this to be fed.

So, eventually there's a showdown between The Postman, who has united the people again, and the psycho who wants to rule the world.

There's a LOT of violence, so don't watch this if you can't take violence. And there is one sex scene, through which I fast-forwarded, but it seemed to go on for a while anyway, and you basically see her naked.

So, yeah, not for kids, but in the end, it's ok. I thought I would hate it, but I ended up kind of liking it.

Patriot Games, 1992

Director: Philip Noyce

Stars: Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin

Jack Ryan (Ford), an analyst for the CIA, is visiting Ireland with his wife (Archer) and daughter, when he happens upon an assassination attempt, and saves the life of the intended target. In so doing, he kills one of the radicals, a young kid who was dragged along by his older brother (Bean). Now the brother wants Ryan dead, and will stop at nothing to harm him and his family.

Very suspenseful!

Iron Man, 2008

Director: Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man 2, Cowboys and Aliens)

Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard

Playboy bachelor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), has taken over his father's weapons manufacturing company, and lives like a crazy genius king in his gorgeous Malibu mansion. So his life is a little upset when on a trip to the Middle East for a weapon demonstration for the military, Tony is kidnapped by terrorists in a violent encounter. When he wakes up as their prisoner, he finds some kind of weird circle thing in his chest, visible to the outside, which is keeping him alive (keeps the shrapnel away from his organs). So, that's disturbing. And then the terrorists want him to build them one of his famous weapons, but instead, he builds himself a suit that will protect him on the way out of the cave.

Obviously, he gets free, and now his whole outlook on life has changed. He sees what his weapons really do to people and what happens when they get into the wrong hands. And soon he finds out that there may have been more to his captivity then he originally thought.

Okay, so I wrote a lengthy paragraph that covers the beginning, and then just kind of leave it. If you like action movies, you'll love it. Tony is very funny. His assistant, Pepper Pots (Paltrow), is a very cute character, and I love how they interact together.

True Lies, 1994

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!

Arnold Schwarzenegger-- Bill Paxton

Director: James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar, The Terminator)

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton

Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger) is a secret agent, whose cover as a salesman has his wife Helen (Curtis) bored with her life, and when someone contacts her pretending to be an agent, she goes along with him, wanting some excitement in her life. Harry uses his government surveillance abilities to spy on his wife and find out if she's cheating on him. He begins to take this a little too far, eventually interrogating her and then pretending to turn her into an agent. (She doesn't know who she's dealing with.)

In one part, Jamie Lee Curtis strips and dances for her husband, though she doesn't know it's her husband at the time because he's sitting in shadow and disguising his voice. I think he just does it for fun, so it's kind of amusing, but also awful! And awkward. I always fast forward.

And the other part of the story is some terrorists who are trying to kill everyone, of course, kidnap him, his wife, his daughter, and he has save everybody. It's funny, and action-packed (hello, it's Arnold!), but with too much sex and language for my taste.

Secondhand Lions, 2003

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION

Robert Duvall- Josh Lucas



Director: Tim McCanlies

Stars: Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment, Kyra Sedgwick, Josh Lucas

I love this film.

Walter (Osment) is sent by his selfish mother (Sedgwick) to live with her bachelor uncles Hub (Duvall) and Garth (Caine). Hub and Garth reluctantly take him in, and eventually grow to like him, since he seems to get on the nerves of other relatives who are just coming over to get into the men's wills. Rumor has it, Hub and Garth have millions stashed away somewhere.

A lot of the movie is Garth telling Walter the story of Hub and Garth's lives: how they traveled to Europe, fought in the French Foreign Legion, and lived in Africa. Tales of action, adventure, romance!

This movie is beautiful from start to finish. I can't do it justice at all. You'll love it.

Back to the Future, 1985

Director: Robert Zemeckis (Romancing the Stone, Forrest Gump, Cast Away)

Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

My favorite.

In 1985, Marty McFly (Fox) hops in a DeLorean to escape from terrorists, and he accidentally gets sent back in time to November 5, 1955. His friend "Doc"- Dr. Emmet Brown- (Lloyd) had converted the DeLorean into a time machine. Marty finds Doc in 1955, and together they have to repair the broken time machine and get Marty back to the future!

But a wrench is thrown into their plans when Marty bumps into his high school age father and mother, and interferes with their first meeting, which was pivotal in their relationship. Marty has to convince his wimpy father that Lorraine (Thompson) is the girl for him. Extra complications arise when Lorraine apparently has a crush on Marty, her future son!

This movie is brilliant, and I could watch it over and over again. I think my favorite part is when Marty plays Johnny B. Goode at the dance. Michael J Fox didn't actually play it, but wanting to be accurate, he learned all the correct fingerings on the guitar. He probably could have played it!

I have watched these movies (parts 2 and 3, as well) with commentaries a few times. They have so much information and insights for geeks like me! I loved it.

The Italian Job, 2003

Director: F. Gary Gray

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def

Charlie (Wahlberg) brings master-thief safe-cracker John (Sutherland) out of retirement for one last job- to steal over $30 million in gold bricks. It all goes off without a hitch, until afterwards when Steve (Norton) turns on his friends and kills John. The others fake their own deaths, and Steve changes his name and starts to spend his money.

A year later, Charlie and the gang find Steve in Los Angeles, and after recruiting John's daughter Stella (Theron), who has inherited her father's ability to crack safes, they set out to get back their money. For John's sake; it's not about the money, of course!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's crazy how Hollywood can get you to cheer for the thieves! We're not supposed to be on their side! But we totally are.

This one is pure fun! Mini Cooper car chases, lots of explosives, Jason Statham being all charming, what more could you want?

Hawaii Five-0, tv series, 2010-

my new favorite show!

2. Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-O ran from 1968-1980, and was a police action drama starring Jack Lord and James MacArthur (yes, that would be Fritz from Disney's Swiss Family Robinson, folks!). I'm sure it was great- it did run for 12 seasons after all. But now, 30 years later, it's back!

Now starring Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, and Grace Park. It reminds me of NCIS: Los Angeles, except the guys are better looking (HAVE YOU SEEN THAT PICTURE? <<<<<<<<------), and of course, it takes place in Hawaii. I would probably never want to visit Hawaii, but it sure is pretty on tv!

I've started season 2 because that's where the show is now and I can watch full episodes on CBS.com. But I'm excited to watch season 1 through Netflix. I really love Netflix, and right now especially. I can even watch all 12 seasons of the old version of Five-O on Netflix- instantly! I might give it a go.

Bird on a Wire, 1990

Director: John Badham (also directed Saturday Night Fever)

Stars: Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn

Rick has spent 15 years in Witness Protection after helping put murderous drug dealers Diggs and Sorenson behind bars. When his former fiancee Marianne (Hawn) thinks she recognizes him at a gas station in Detroit, he knows it's time to move on, before Diggs and Sorenson find him too. Unbeknownst to him, however, his new contact in the FBI is working with the drug dealers, and gives them his location. When they come to Detroit to kill him, Marianne unwittingly saves his life. Now they are both on the run!

I love this movie! I also feel a special attachment to it, since it takes place in the Midwest. (It was filmed in British Columbia, Canada, though, sadly.) But it's supposed to be Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri, so that should count for something!

Just a little warning: this isn't the cleanest movie. You see Mel's butt (he was shot in the butt), and there's a sex scene, though you don't see too much.

NOTE: Okay, one thing I always notice and I've never noticed on any other movie before (not that no one else has done this, I've just never noticed before): the credits at the end come from the top and go to the bottom! It's a little weird!

Thor, 2011

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman

I am not into comic books, and really never have been. But after Iron Man, I've watched these movies about super heroes and have really enjoyed them. I didn't like Spiderman, though, because his life is just plain sad. And the only Superman I will ever love is Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the show from the early 90's starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. I own all 4 seasons and absolutely love it. I know some of the episodes by heart. But the Superman movies (from any decade) are completely lame and depressing. And don't even get me started on Smallville.

Thor (Hemsworth) is the arrogant prince of Asgard (another planet and another realm). His father Odin (Hopkins), tries to teach him to be a good leader and have wisdom, but Thor picks a fight with their sworn enemies (FREAKY ice creatures), and starts an actual war. Odin banishes him to Earth, along with his powerful, magical hammer, which made its appearance at the end of Iron Man 2. (I love how Hollywood is bringing together at least 3 different stories of superheroes -Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor- to be The Avengers together! How cool is that! I'm pretty excited for that movie.)

So Thor starts hanging out with some physicists who saw him fall to earth (Natalie Portman among them), and eventually, by all the things that happen, they're convinced he really is from another planet. A weird creature shows up, sent by Thor's crazy younger brother, to kill Thor. And Thor has to defeat him with his magic hammer.

It's silly like a superhero movie, but also cute, and though there isn't mush to the romance, it's still there. I definitely recommend it!

Lethal Weapon 2, 1989

Director: Richard Donner

Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci

Riggs and Murtaugh return! Hurray! And with them is a new character, Leo (a very hysterical Pesci), a man they must protect from South African crazies who have diplomatic immunity, which, at least in television and movies, is absolutely disgusting. Do people really use diplomatic immunity the way they do in Hollywood? Because if so, why do we have it? It seems wrong to me!

Anyway, it was really good for an action movie. Once again, I've just got to warn anyone who wants to watch it that there is nudity and language, and naturally, violence.

Basically, the good guys fight the bad guys. Riggs is a part of the Murtaugh's family now.

If you liked Lethal Weapon 1, I'm sure you'll like 2!

The A-Team, 2010

Director: Joe Carnahan

Stars: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel

If you're familiar with the tv show from the 80's of the same name, you know that these men were sent to prison for a crime they didn't commit, and that they promptly escaped from prison. Well, this movie is about how they meet, and then, skipping ahead, years later, we get to learn about that crime they didn't commit which drove them to prison, and then to the Los Angeles Underground! So basically this is the prequel to the classic tv show.

I LOVE THE A-TEAM!!!!

Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith (Neeson), Lieutenant Templeton "Face" Peck (Cooper), Sargent B.A. Baracus (Jackson), and Captain H.M. Murdock (Copley) are The A-Team! They're the best Alpha team out there. But then they're set up- framed!- and sent to separate prisons (well, three prisons and one Veteran's Hospital for Murdock - he's a little nuts). Six months later, they all break out, and their mission is to find the one who framed them and clear their own names.

(There is even a little bit of romance between Lieutenant Carissa Sosa (Biel) and Peck. So that keeps things interesting.)

I was surprised at how much I liked Murdock (played by South African Sharlto Copley- who is he? He came out of nowhere!), the crazy pilot of the group, and in true A-Team fashion, there are quite a few scenes where Murdock gets to show off his moves in flight! I'd have to say he was my favorite.

Brilliant!

Get Smart, 2008

Director: Peter Segal

Stars: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin

This was based on the 1960's tv show Get Smart, starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon, about Maxwell Smart, a bumbling secret agent working for "Control", and his partner, Agent 99 (who doesn't have a name- it's just 99! I love that!). Together they fight against the KAOS agents who are bent on destroying the world.

Well, that's how I remember it anyway. And it's close enough!

This is an action-adventure-comedy-romance. It's totally cute, and I highly recommend it!!

Steve Carell is kind of brilliant!