What You Need Is Some Summertime Adolescent Hijinks

Cosmo Kramer has some great lines in Seinfeld. One of my favorite things he says is when he's suggesting a video for Elaine to rent: "What you need is some summertime adolescent hijinks." I never thought of that as being a genre of film, but you know what, it totally is and it's one of my favorites. Now I've been keeping a summer movie diary on my blog but there are a few summer movies that just go together. These movies are about kids going on adventures, causing mischief, and just having fun during summer break. If you are looking for an entertaining summer movie with lovable characters, memorable one-liners, and friendships that remind you of when you were young, then this is the list for you. Inspired by some of my favorite movies of all time (and my most successful Tumblr post to date), here are, in no particular order, some summertime adolescent hijinks.

The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies is rated PG and the opening scene involves a cop in a jail who finds a prisoner that has hanged himself. The prisoner is actually faking it; he takes out the cop and runs out of the jail to find his mom and his brother in a car waiting for him outside. The brother proceeds to pour gasoline in front the prison and light it on fire. You know just from this first scene that this movie is gonna be something special.
The Goonies is a cult classic, directed by Richard Donner and written by Chris Columbus from a story by Steven Spielberg. These three dudes knew how to make movies about kids in the 1980's. The Goonies is one of their finest and one of my favorite films of all time. The movie tells the story of a group of kids who call themselves the Goonies as they go on a quest for a pirate treasure. First off, the casting is great. You've got everyone from baby Sean Astin to baby Josh Brolin. The Goonies themselves were relatable and each had different strengths: the inventor, the talker, the natural leader, the...Chunk. Who didn't watch this movie and not want to be a Goonie?
The Goondocks (the nickname for where the Goonies lived) was also the most beautiful place in the world. The ocean is right next to the woods; The Goonies made Astoria, Oregon my dream place to live. Another wonderful element of this movie was the score. The main theme is unforgettable, somehow perfectly representing kids on a treasure hunt. And who can forget Cyndi Lauper's "The Goonies R Good Enough" and that bizarre music video?
The Goonies is funny, exciting, and it remains good throughout the years. I enjoy it just as much now as I did as a kid. It's not completely flawless in its writing, editing, and story execution. But it remains a favorite among audiences thirty years later because it represents a type of movie that hasn't been made in a long time. It's an adventure movie that stars kids that actually talk and act like real kids. Its combination of good score, funny writing, and practical effects makes this a summer adventure movie that will have you wishing you were a kid again. For all these reasons, I think The Goonies will continue to be a cult classic and audience favorite for years to come. And also because Goonies never say die.

Super 8 (2011)

I first saw this J.J. Abrams movie at the dollar theater when I was in college. It was love at first sight. Super 8 is a summer blockbuster that's a little underrated, in my opinion. It's the late 1970's and school has just ended for the summer. Six kids are making a short film when they witness a major train crash. Afterwards, strange things keep happening in their town and the kids discover that a creature came from that train and is now wreaking havoc.
Like The Goonies, Super 8 has middle school kids that actually act realistically. The child actors, who were relatively unknown at the time except for Elle Fanning, were all great. Joel Courtney and Fanning were particularly fantastic. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful. This movie is just nice to look at. What I really love about Super 8 is the story. I love that it's about kids making a movie. You get to see a bunch of twelve-year-olds in the seventies make a short film about zombies. It's fun to see the old equipment, like the Super 8 camera, of course, and the way they did their special effects. The main character Joe Lamb made models and he used them in the film. The end credits of the movie are even fun. We get to see the short film the kids made. It's quite a treat.
Abrams and Spielberg joined forces to make an E.T. for my generation. If you are loving Stranger Things right now, then you will love Super 8. It's a movie about making movies with some great monster action. It's the perfect summer movie if you want less beach parties and more explosions.

The Sandlot (1993)

You wanna know why, in 2016, you can still buy T-shirts at Target that say "You're killin' me, Smalls" on them? Because The Sandlot is an American gem and a cultural icon. The Sandlot, set in the 1960's, is about a kid named Scottie Smalls who moves to a new town. He's a bookworm who's not too good at sports but he eventually becomes accepted by a group of kids who are obsessed with baseball and teach him how to play.
The Sandlot isn't the smartest or most grown-up movie in the world. In fact, if you didn't grow up watching it, you might not really get it. But here's why you should give it a chance. The Sandlot is the definition of light-hearted. If you want something fun and silly to watch this summer, with nothing too heavy in it, this movie is perfect. It's funny, simple, relatable. My favorite thing about The Sandlot is that there isn't too much of a plot up until the last half hour or so. If you have read my blog for a while, you know that characters are the most important thing for me in a movie; there doesn't even really need to be much of a plot if the characters are good. And that's what this movie is. For most of time, it's just a group of kids doing stereotypical summer activities: playing baseball, going to the pool, having Fourth of July barbecues, telling scary neighborhood legends, going to the fair, having treehouse campouts. Each kid at the sandlot is unique and funny in their own way. You want to join their group and do all of these fun summer activities, too. And coming from someone who sucks at sports like no other, The Sandlot makes me want to play baseball more than any other movie. Now that's something.
The Sandlot is the ultimate summer movie and it will make you laugh and give you ideas on how to enjoy your summer. If there is a place in your heart for The Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights, then there is plenty of room for The Sandlot.

Stand by Me (1986)

Okay, now it's time for the heavy stuff. If you're looking for a summer movie that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next, look no further than the 1980's classic Stand by Me. Based on a short story by Stephen King, this film tells the story of four best friends in 1959 going out into the woods to find the dead body of a kid named Ray Brower. From the description it might sound like a typical horror story by Stephen King but it isn't a horror movie at all. It's a movie about four friends learning about each other, overcoming their own personal problems, and growing up.
The four best friends are played by Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell. The casting in Stand by Me is wonderful. A quote from Wheaton describes the perfect casting choices: "Rob Reiner found four young boys who basically were the characters we played. I was awkward and nerdy and shy and uncomfortable in my own skin and really, really sensitive and River was cool and really smart and passionate and even at that age kind of like a father figure to some of us, Jerry was one of the funniest people I had ever seen in my life, either before or since, and Corey was unbelievably angry and in an incredible amount of pain and had an absolute terrible relationship with his parents." The writing is also amazing. There are some really funny or poignant lines that stay with you. I also love the soundtrack. It has some of the most classic songs from that time, including "Rockin' Robin," "Lollipop," and, of course, "Stand by Me." It's one of my favorite things to listen to, during the summer especially.
If The Goonies adventure was pure fun, then the Stand by Me adventure is all existential (and lucky for Feldman, he got to go on both of them). Even though it has a lot of funny moments, it also has a lot of sad ones, too, which it makes it a very relatable film. Stand by Me is the perfect coming-of-age movie. In the beginning of the film, the kids argue about whether Goofy is a dog or not. By the end, they have all experienced death firsthand as they discover the body of Ray Brower. By the end, they have grown up. It's kind of sad, but that's how life is. We grow up. And that's the beauty of Stand by Me. 

Heavyweights (1995)

One of the most bizarre and least-known movies on this list, Heavyweights is a hidden gem among the sea of Disney's live-action sports and comedy movies that were released in the nineties. This movie is about a group of kids who go to a weight loss camp called Camp Hope for the summer. While it seems it may actually be a fun experience at first, a new camp owner, the tough and borderline psychotic fitness guru Tony Perkis, proves otherwise.
First, we need to talk about the crazy cast and filmmakers. This movie was co-written by Judd Apatow and stars Paul Feig; just a few years later they would be making Freaks and Geeks together and now both have amazing careers. It also stars Tom McGowan from Frasier, Aaron Schwartz and Shaun Weiss from The Mighty Ducks, and a young Kenan Thompson. There are also cameos from Jeffrey Tambor and Tim Blake Nelson. But no one in Heavyweights shines quite as much as a very young, not-famous-yet Ben Stiller as Tony Perkis. Surprisingly buff and absolutely hilarious, Stiller is definitely the best part of this movie. Even his parents play parts in this film as the former owners of Camp Hope.
With its funny script and choice casting, Heavyweights deserves more love. It's a great summertime movie because it is set in a summer camp and it's full of pranks, mischief, and fun. The message of the movie is also inspiring: pick the right exercise plan and diet for you and take responsibility for yourself. The end-of-the-movie moral could have easily taken other sketchy roads but it ended up being encouraging and sincere. If all these aren't reasons enough to give an hour and a half of your summer to Heavyweights, then maybe this one scene will change your mind: everyone in the camp, including the counselors, gorging on junk food in slow motion while "The Thieving Magpie" plays in the background.

The Parent Trap (1998)

Does anything say summertime adolescent hijinks more than switching places with your secret twin that you met at summer camp? The Parent Trap is the remake of the 1961 Disney movie and stars Lindsay Lohan as both Hallie Parker and Annie James in her film debut. Both girls are from different sides of the world and meet by chance at a summer camp. They soon realize that they are really twins, separated as babies after their parents divorced and never learning of the other's existence. Hallie and Annie come up with a plan to switch places after camp, hoping to get their parents back together.
This movie could have been a disaster for Lindsay Lohan - she was a child actor, it was her first movie, and she was playing two parts, But she pulls it together and does a fantastic job. The Parent Trap made the world fall in love with Lohan and I think she was able to make a lot of good movies after this because she did just such a great job. Elaine Hendrix as Meredith Blake, the woman who wants to marry Hallie and Annie's father, was another great casting choice. She is overdramatic and malicious, making her character hilarious as well as downright awful. The Parent Trap is also a great movie if you enjoy nineties styles. Hallie and Annie have great outfits and if you grew up in the late '90's and early 2000's, you would love the styles in this movie. It's got everything from scrunchies to denim jackets to Lipsmackers.
The Parent Trap is a great summer movie. It's a lot of fun and really heartwarming. And after watching it, you will be wishing that the tagline of this film could have been: "Prepare for trouble, and make it double."

Good Burger (1997)

This might be the weirdest movie on this list. But it's Dan Schneider, so that's not too surprising. Based on the comedy sketch from All That, Good Burger is a nineties staple that tells the story of the restaurant Good Burger as it competes with a new burger joint called Mondo Burger. At Good Burger, two unlikely friends must team up to stop Mondo Burger from putting their restaurant out of business: simpleminded, Good Burger-obsessed Ed and slacker Dexter.
If you are familiar with All That and are fans of Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, you probably have already seen Good Burger. Written by and starring Dan Schneider, this film is the precursor to later Schneider successes like Drake and Josh and Victorious. He uses his special brand of bizarre comedy to make this movie unique. I think it actually gets funnier the more times you watch it. Plus, both Shaquille O'Neal and Linda Cardellini make appearances. Does it get any better than that?
Good Burger is pure nineties, from the sets to the costumes. Even the R&B-heavy soundtrack in the background (including the gem "We're All Dudes" by Kel Mitchell and Less Than Jake) leaves you feeling nostalgic.
Good Burger is weird and wild. It's pure silliness and that's what makes it great for summer. You'll laugh and remember the crappy summer jobs you had. And then you'll wish that the Demented Hills Dancers was a real dance group you could join. 

The Sasquatch Gang (2006)

The Sasquatch Gang is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen and nobody knows what it is. Hopefully I can help spread the good word. From the producer of Napoleon Dynamite and starring Justin Long and Jeremy Sumpter, The Sasquatch Gang takes place during one fateful summer in Oregon. Four nerdy friends discover what they believe to be Sasquatch tracks and scat and they report what they find. Everyone in town gets excited and patiently waits for a Sasquatch expert named Artimus Snodgrass to declare it a real find. We follow different people's stories throughout the few days this movie takes place and learn how they all are involved in the Sasquatch incident.
If you are a fan of the kind of humor in Napoleon Dynamite, you will love The Sasquatch Gang. For whatever reason, comedies are never recognized at the Oscar's but I honestly think Justin Long deserved a nomination for his performance as metalhead doofus Zeke Wilder. It's one of the funniest performances I've ever seen in a movie. Even with all the silliness involving Big Foot, the characters are very real and fleshed out. There are unconfident girls trying to find themselves, douchey teenage boys, cops obsessed with conspiracy theories. Every character is funny and interesting. Technical aspects of The Sasquatch Gang are also wonderful. The soundtrack and the costumes are fantastic. The editing and cinematography are also awesome. The movie is not linear: we go forward and backwards in time. We may even see a scene we've watched already again but from another character's perspective. The movie is also set in chapters; each new chapter begins with a drawing done in comic book-style art. It's really cool.
The Sasquatch Gang is a funny, surprising movie. There are a lot of good morals hidden in between the jokes. And it will make you long for a summer vacation filled with nothing but enjoying your favorite hobbies and hanging out with your friends.

TV Faves: Stranger Things

I have yet to write about any television shows I enjoy, but after seeing the new Netflix original show Stranger Things, I figured it was about time.

Stranger Things is created by the Duffer Brothers and stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and Matthew Modine. It tells the story of a boy who goes missing in Hawkins, Indiana in 1983. When other bizarre occurrences seem to link to to the missing boy, his mother and the police chief suspect that there may be more that's going on.

This show is a supernatural thriller, but it is also one of the best mysteries I've seen in a long time. The show constantly keeps you guessing. Is it aliens? Is it ghosts? Is it scientists or the government or both? Each new episode leaves you coming up with a different theory than the one you had before. The storytelling is great. I really appreciate a TV show that doesn't pander to its audience. Stranger Things lets you figure out stuff on your own. It doesn't always tell you; it shows you. And it all just leaves you on the edge of your seat, itching for a second season.

The acting is also phenomenal. Winona Ryder is one of my favorite actresses and we haven't seen her in much lately. She was really able to show her abilities in the role of Joyce, the mother of the missing boy. I also had never seen David Harbour in anything else before, but I loved his performance of Chief Hopper. When you first meet Hopper, you don't really like him at all, but as the series progresses, so does he. He becomes extremely heroic and helpful. You really just feel for both of these characters as they desperately try to find Joyce's son and figure out what's going on in their town. There were a lot of unknowns cast as the teenagers and kids and, honestly, that was such a great decision. There were some amazing young actors and I hope that this will be a launching pad for them. The three main kids were so funny and likable and the teenagers were very real; every teen character in this show was someone I knew in high school.

Where Stranger Things really succeeds and why it has been getting great reviews, in my opinion, is in its aesthetics. The show is set in the 1980s, and it really takes you there. There are elements in both the story and the cinematography that pay homage to Poltergeist, E.T., Escape to Witch Mountain, and even Twin Peaks. Even the main titles make me feel like I'm watching Tron. Three nerdy kids going on a supernatural adventure with a dark electronic soundtrack in the background can make anybody feel nostalgic for those eighties fantasy and horror movies we loved watching growing up. The Duffer Brothers are able to take all these tropes and elements from these films and make something unique and wonderful. You are not going to want to be on your phone while watching this series. The cinematography is beautiful and the editing and lighting are on point. The story, the acting, and all the technical aspects are going to make you want to re-watch this series over and over again and wait impatiently for the next season.

I can see how the obvious tributes to Spielberg and Stephen King may be cliche or annoying to some viewers. But give Stranger Things a chance. It takes inspiration from great artists and turns it into a show that is distinctive and can stand on its own in our current world of reboots and remakes. There's so much to keep you invested and entertained. So just sit back in your La-Z-Boy, relax, and don't let the Demogorgon get you.

Now Playing: The BFG (2016)

Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors. I loved his books growing up but I never got around to reading the 1982 novel The BFG until September of last year. Just like all of Dahl's other books, it was imaginative, witty, and it just made me feel all warm and fuzzy after finishing it. My mother also enjoyed the book so we went and saw The BFG together in theaters. Even with the few changes from the book, we both came out of the theater rambling on about how much we loved it. The BFG is exactly what a children's fantasy movie should be.

The BFG is directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, who wrote other films such as E.T. and The Indian in the Cupboard. It tells the story of a ten-year-old orphan named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who is stolen by the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance) and taken to Giant Country. Sophie begins to enjoy her time there and becomes friends with the BFG but soon she finds herself in danger of being eaten by other giants who are not so friendly and much, much bigger. I was initially shocked when I read that The BFG wasn't doing well financially but was doing well critically, but then of course, I was brought back into reality. It may be Disney and Spielberg working together, but it is a movie based off an old kid's book with good writing that isn't dumbed-down and has a story-line that we haven't seen a hundred times already. I hope this meager review of The BFG will encourage people to see it even though it is competing with Finding Dory and The Secret Life of Pets right now. This film is offering audiences something that we rarely see in films anymore, particularly children's films. I actually predict it to be one of, if not the most underrated movie of the year. Of course, it is too early to tell.

First, I need to talk about the incredible casting. This was Ruby Barnhill's first movie and she did an amazing job. There couldn't have been a more perfect Sophie. She was adorable and smart and very likable. I hope Ruby Barnhill continues to make movies for a long time. Mark Rylance brought the BFG to life in the best way possible. His accent was great and his eyes are just so bright and happy. Jemaine Clement as Fleshlumpeater and Penelope Wilton as the Queen were also wonderful casting choices. As a fan of Flight of the Conchords, it was fun to recognize Jemaine in little ways in this gigantic computer-animated creature. And Wilton played the Queen as both dignified and fun-loving, just how she was in the book.

The effects really were quite amazing. They used the real actor's faces (probably using motion capture or something similar) and contorted them to look like giants and of course constructed these huge bodies. It made the giants, particularly the BFG, look so much more real. The giants are obviously an important part of this story and they needed to be tangible, as-real-as-possible creatures and I think this movie achieved that. One of my favorite aspects of the film was how the filmmakers created the dreams. They were all different colors and they reminded me of little pixies. I love the part where Sophie is laying down surrounded by bottles of dreams and they keep lighting up in different colors. It was very beautiful and, well, dreamy. An amazing scene involves the BFG and Sophie going to Dream Country so that Sophie can see how her new friend catches dreams. Dream Country is absolutely beautiful. It is hidden on the underside of a giant pool of water. It consists of a giant tree. The only lights are those from the millions of dreams flying around. The stars are all completely visible. The whole scene is just so pretty and magical. And of course, I have to mention the Whizpoppers. If you've read the book, you'll remember that Whizpoppers is one of the fun words used by the BFG to describe out-of-this-world flatulence caused by a drink called frobscottle. I was very interested to see how the filmmakers would portray this in the movie and, I must say, they did quite a good job. I won't give too much of this part away because I think it's probably the most fun the first time you see it.

I also have to mention the magical score by John Williams. His fantasy scores are just incredibly top-notch. His music in The BFG gave you the same feelings you felt when you watched E.T. and the first few Harry Potter films. Williams can give moments the whimsy or the awe they deserve with the most perfect music. He really can do no wrong.

There definitely were changes made from the book, as there always will be in book-to-movie translations. The biggest difference, to me, was the ending. In the book, Sophie and the BFG were given their own houses right next to the Queen's. This was not the case in the movie. But for me, the ending the filmmakers went with wasn't terrible and it certainly did not ruin the film for me. Overall, I think this movie did the book justice. The film had a cast that represented the characters well, used a lot of the same language from the book, and had the same basic plot. Avid Dahl fans may not be happy with the changes, but personally, I was not put off by them.

When my mom and I left the theater and were talking about The BFG on the way home, we both agreed we haven't seen a new film like that in a long time. And that's because there hasn't been one made like this for a long time. This is a fantasy film on par with some of the classic magical movies you grew up loving. After watching this movie, I was reminded of when I saw Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the first time when I was eight years old. There was no movie like that at the time. It was magical, it mixed practical and CGI effects, it had an incredible story, and the children in the movie reacted to the strange and wonderful things the same as you would. My mom thought The BFG reminded her more of watching The Wizard of Oz as a kid. Those films, or even something like E.T., stayed with us until we grew up because they were both relatable and remarkable. Many recent fantasy films lack the charm and the appeal of the ones we loved, and are often bogged down in giant explosions and gratuitous amounts of CGI, all complete with boring storylines and so-so characters. This is why I argue that The BFG will be the underrated film of this year, because I think a lot of people, especially kids, don't want to give it a chance. Kids now don't have Hook or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They have Minions and Warcraft. If you are in need of a simple, beautiful fantasy film that is going to make you feel nostalgic and lightheated and happy, then you need to see The BFG. It's a film that is great to see in theaters and we need more people going to see this movie, so that we can have more movies like The BFG. 

Summer Movie Diary: The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)

Summertime means going on vacation and what better vacation is there than a trip to Rome with Hilary Duff?

What it's all about: Based on the Disney Channel gem, The Lizzie McGuire Movie follows Lizzie and Gordo on a school trip to Rome after their junior high graduation. Lizzie wants to have the perfect European vacation and she seems to get her wish when she meets Paolo, an Italian pop star. After a falling out with his singing partner Isabella, Paolo convinces Lizzie to sing with him at the Italian Music Awards. Gordo continually helps Lizzie sneak away so she can rehearse, even though he starts to figure out that Paolo may not be as wonderful as he seems.

Why it's great: I could be boring and call this movie a guilty pleasure, but it's not. It's just a fun movie that makes you laugh, shake your head, and sing along to the amazing soundtrack - no need to feel guilty at all. If you enjoyed the early 2000's silliness of the TV show, the movie is right up your alley (even though Miranda does not make an appearance in the film, which is definitely a disappointment). Nevertheless, The Lizzie McGuire Movie has a lot of fun moments and one of the greatest plot twists/villains in movie history. Plus, the ending is absolute perfection: Hilary Duff sings a duet of "This is What Dreams are Made of" with herself. 

Why it's a perfect summer movie: This movie is just pure fun. Nothing too serious or too much to think about - just plain entertainment. There was also this period in teen movies and TV in the 2000's with characters that were obsessed with having perfect "moments:" perfect school picture day, perfect prom, perfect date, perfect vacation. I believe that the European summer vacation in The Lizzie McGuire Movie was what every tween in 2003 would have hoped for. Mary-Kate and Ashley would have been proud.

Now Playing: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

There are few really good horror movies that have come out in the past 25 years or so, but when one does hit the scene, people take notice right away. That's the story of 10 Cloverfield Lane, a surprisingly fantastic addition to the Cloverfield franchise. I have never seen Cloverfield so I went into this movie having no expectations except hearing that it was amazing. This movie certainly lived up to the hype. From the cinematography to the acting, 10 Cloverfield Lane is definitely one of the most thrilling movies I have seen in a while and I think it's up there with some of the best horror films ever made.

10 Cloverfield Lane stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher, Jr. It tells the story of a girl named Michelle who gets into a car accident and then wakes up trapped in an unknown location. It turns out that she and another man are being held in an underground bunker by Howard Stambler, who is convinced that Earth has been attacked and it is unsafe to go outside. 

There are so many elements to this film that make it wonderful. The acting, cinematography, and general direction all deserve praise. The story was smart and interesting and I was on the edge of my seat the whole movie.

There's been a lot of acclaim for John Goodman's performance in this role, but frankly, the three leads all were fantastic. I loved Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and this movie also proves that she needs more recognition. Her character Michelle was such a badass and that's always really refreshing to see in a horror movie. She was resourceful and brave; she was confused and frightened. Winstead gave us a horror movie heroine that was both relatable and inspiring. John Goodman's Howard, I think, will go down as one of the best horror movie villains of all time. You didn't know whether he was crazy or not the whole movie and it was exciting and frustrating. John Gallagher, Jr. played Emmett, Howard's old employee who is also living in the bunker. You loved Emmett; he tried to keep a good sense of humor throughout the ordeal and be friendly with everyone. All three characters were really different and played so well. 

I think my favorite technical element of 10 Cloverfield Lane was the cinematography. Holy wow, every shot was absolutely beautiful. At times, it felt like Wes Anderson had made a horror movie. Every scene was perfectly set in a very specific way. The lighting was great. The cinematography gave the bunker a homey feel while also making it seem eerie at the same time. Horror movies are difficult to make on a lot of levels. The story has to be right and the characters have to be real. Sometimes the focus of making a good villain and having a lot of jump scares leaves a horror movie looking bland. 10 Cloverfield Lane achieved great story, great characters, and a great look. Jeff Cutter, the cinematographer, deserves a gold medal. 

I really appreciate the storytelling of 10 Cloverfield Lane. And what I mean by that is how this film didn't dumb anything down or pander to the audience. Not everything was right out said or explained. This is due to many things: the script, the directing, etc. But overall, what made this movie great was the ability for the audience to come to their own conclusions about certain characters and certain events. It's great when you watch a movie with people and immediately want to discuss it afterwards. Films today often treat audience members like they're idiots, and because we give these kinds of movies lots of money, they turn out to be right. It's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. But when a movie like this makes us put the pieces together ourselves, and does really well, it makes us set a higher standard for movies later on. And that's a good thing. I also like that you didn't have to see Cloverfield or know anything about Cloverfield to enjoy 10 Cloverfield Lane. In fact, now I'm curious to watch Cloverfield to see if there were any little connections. 

If you're more of a fan of psychological thrillers than gory, jump-scare-filled horror films, then you should give 10 Cloverfield Lane a try. This film plays on your anxieties and keeps you excited throughout. If they continue to make Cloverfield movies, I hope they are as good as this one. 

Summer Movie Diary: Jaws (1975)

Today is the first day of summer and so it seems like a good time to start a Summer Movie Diary on my blog. Last year I did a Halloween Movie Diary and it was really fun. There are so many great movies that can get you in the mood for summer so I thought I could share some of my favorites with you for the next few months. This post will be all about the 1975 classic Jaws.

What it's all about: Jaws takes place in an American summer resort town called Amity Island. A few gruesome shark attacks leave both the tourists and local islanders worried. Police chief Brody, marine biologist Hooper, and shark hunter Quint head out to sea to find and kill the shark that's been killing and eating so many people.

Why it's great: Jaws is a movie that made history. It's considered to be the first summer blockbuster ever. It was a box office hit, a critical success, and is preserved in the National Film Registry. The John Williams soundtrack is recognizable to anyone; it's one of the creepiest film scores ever. The writing and acting is also sensational. Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider are both such likable guys. You root for them the whole movie. The shark itself is also unforgettable. This is a monster movie that has a real monster. And the shark is considered to be one the greatest movie monsters of all time. It stands out among the Frankensteins and Wolfmans as something that is actually real and very dangerous. Imagine seeing this movie in the theaters in 1975. It would have been terrifying. Jaws is also just a perfect Spielberg creation: it's tense, exciting, funny. There's character development as well as great action sequences. Jaws is simply a jack-of-all-trades, so to speak. It's a horror film, it's an adventure film. You've got hilarious one-liners and a couple of bloody, chewed-off limbs; you can't go wrong.

Why it's a perfect summer movie: It's set during the Fourth of July and it's just a fun, lighthearted beach flick for the whole family.

7 Awesome Fictional Rock Bands in Movies

Movies can have this incredible ability to share a 90 minute story of a person who isn’t real and completely inspire the viewer to live their life as this person. Who didn’t watch The Sandlot and came out not wanting to play baseball? Didn’t everyone want to be as cool and daring as James Bond after watching one of his movies? Movies about musicians have the same ability, whether you play music or not. They can be inspiring tales of perseverance and raw talent or comedies about trying to make it big. It’s really exciting to see musicians perform in movies and it’s somehow more exciting when they’re performing rock and roll. Some rock bands played big roles in movies, some standing the test of time to becoming household names today. This list will include seven fictional rock bands that stuck with us and made us all want to rock out.

7. Pink Slip from Freaky Friday (2003)

 In 2003, Evanescence was playing on the radio and Avril Lavigne was in her heyday. Was there a cooler time for pop-rock music for girls? That bratty girl pop music blared throughout the soundtrack of the 2003 remake of Disney’s Freaky Friday starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. In the movie, Lohan’s character Anna is in a band called Pink Slip. This five-member band led by three girls was inspiring for girls watching at the time. And with lyrics like “Don’t wanna grow up/I wanna get out,” just about every tween audience member felt the urge to buy a Telecaster and scream into a microphone. High school rock bands, especially in the movies, often ride the line between fun and desperation to make it big, but either way, there is something infectious about the music. Pink Slip was a rock band that made you want to both cringe at the awkward teen-drama moments and secretly wish to form your own garage band with your friends. 

6. The Weird Sisters from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

There is so much lore in the Harry Potter universe, we often forget that there was a famous rock band in the wizarding world. Known as the Weird Sisters, the band was one of Harry Potter’s favorites and they played at the Yule Ball during his fourth year at Hogwarts. A wise directorial choice allowed real rock stars to write songs for and perform as the Weird Sisters in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film. With all the dangerous situations and magic spells, this was one part of the movie that was truly relatable to the audience: teens dancing to a rock band performing at a school dance. All the band members wore black makeup and had dark costumes. The instruments even had interesting designs. The Weird Sisters were glam in all its glory. What is great about the Weird Sisters was that they were all played by real rock stars: Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey of Pulp, Johnny Greenwood and Phil Selway of Radiohead, Jason Buckle of All Seeing I, and Steven Claydon of Add N to (X). Cocker even wrote all the songs for the film, including the dance jam “Do the Hippogriff.” Seeing a glam rock band played by recognizable musicians in a Harry Potter movie was unique and fun. Who doesn’t want to picture Hermione Granger headbanging to rock and roll in a ball gown?

5. Sex Bob-omb from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, based off the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim, is an amazing film for so many reasons: the writing, the humor, the action, the visual effects. But music also plays a huge role in this film. There are several fictional bands that make appearances in the movie, including Crash and the Boys and the Clash at Demonhead. But this list needs to incorporate the band that plays the biggest part and includes the protagonist as its bassist: Sex Bob-omb. Named after the Super Mario character, the band consists of Scott Pilgrim and his two friends Stephen and Kim. The band is desperate to get gigs and is constantly competing with other bands in the movie. Although wanting to be successful, the band members realize towards the end it isn’t worth selling out and playing music they don’t want to play. The energy that comes from this band is amazing. And getting to know the characters throughout the film makes you vouch for this band even more. The songs are hilarious and raw at the same time; Sex-Bob-omb is just a band you would want to go see in real life. PS: Sex Bob-omb’s songs were written and performed by Beck in the film. Go Beck. 

4. Wyld Stallyns from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

This might be a strange choice for this list, because the audience never got to experience the band Wyld Stallyns being good in the movie. But the entire plot revolves around the fact that one day Wyld Stallyns’ music will cause world peace and be the foundation for a future utopian society. And that is reason enough for this band to be memorable and be a part of some of the best fictional rock bands that film has offered. Bill and Ted are two teenage idiots who have formed a band called Wyld Stallyns, regardless of lack of musical know-how. As they travel through time (to gather famous people for a report so they don’t fail history class), they even gain two more band members from medieval times. But this foursome, though talentless at first, eventually create music that is both inspiring and “excellent for dancing.” Plus, how many bands have a catchphrase accompanied by guitar music?

3. Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem from The Muppet Movie (1979)

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem is the only band on this list that is not comprised of human beings. But that doesn’t stop them from rockin’ out. The band had been playing on The Muppet Show years before but made its film debut in The Movie Movie. They help Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear trick out a van while singing the amazing song “Can You Picture That?” This song was a jam and it had great lyrics, including “Fact is, there’s nothin’ out there you can’t do/Yeah, even Santa Claus believes in you.” Three distinct voices, a blaring organ, a smooth saxophone, and a crazed drummer - you can’t go wrong with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Does it matter that they’re Muppets? That makes them even more impressive. This is a band that does everything from variety shows to rock concerts. There’s no stopping them.

2. Spinal Tap from This is Spinal Tap (1984)

The crowning jewel of mockumentaries, This is Spinal Tap offers probably the most famous fictional band ever created. They’re so amazing, that one could easily confuse the film’s soundtrack as an actual awful glam rock album. This is Spinal Tap tells the story of an aging rock band called Spinal Tap trying to make a comeback with an American tour. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer so perfectly capture the essence of glam rock: the oversexualization of rock stars, the huge production value of musical numbers, the fascination with magic or whimsy in lyrics, the crazy costumes and makeup, and constant balance between being edgy and being popular. Who can forget the laughable performances of “Rock and Roll Creation” and “Stonehenge?” Or the cringe-worthy lyrics of “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm?” And who hasn’t guiltily jammed out to “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight?” The songs are as memorable as the performances and Spinal Tap truly gave us the inside look at the ups and downs of being a rock star (mostly downs if you’re the drummer, of course).

1.   School of Rock from School of Rock (2003)

It doesn’t matter if you were 11 or 91; when you left the theater after seeing School of Rock, you wanted to be in a rock band. Richard Linklater’s School of Rock is not only one of the funniest movies ever made, it’s also just one of the best movies about music, period. It was incredible enough that all these kids could play instruments so well, but that they could write and perform rock music that really rocked, well that was something else. Jack Black’s character, no matter how silly, was truly inspiring to these kids. Stick it to the man, stick up for yourself, do what you love. This movie made every part of being in a rock band look cool, from the lead guitarist to the business-minded band manager. This movie showed that anyone could rock. The kids in School of Rock were the coolest kids ever: they played instruments, they wrote music, they said stuff like “kick-ass.” And having Jack Black as the lead singer of your band is just the perfect ingredient for a good time. This movie surely inspired many kids to pick up a guitar or learn how to sing. And it also made everyone in the audience watching more mad about the results of a fictional Battle of the Bands contest than an actual sports game. The reason School of Rock is number one is because it’s a fun, influential, truly rock ‘n’ roll band that’s out to stick it to the man and prove that you’re never too young or too old to rock.