Tag: blog hop

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Mock Squid Soup Movies

That Thing You Do! #Review – Mock Squid Soup No.18 #cinephiles #film #comedy

Wikipedia

I’m following in the footsteps of The Armchair Squid this month reviewing That Thing You Do! Click here to check out his review.

If anyone is interested in my experience of watching That Thing You Do!, click here to see my notes.

This review will consist of me asking myself 10 questions and answering them to the best of my ability.

1. What is this film about?

The movie is about a man and a band that converge briefly in the 1960s and some good music is made. The movie is partly about Guy and how one small opportunity changed his life and brought his love for music to the forefront of his life. It’s also the story of how a band forms, rises to fame, and then falls apart. There’s also a love story.

2. What did I think of the title, poster, and or trailer?

I honestly don’t remember what I thought when I first saw the trailer. I watch the IMDB trailer to see if it would bring it all back, but I don’t think it’s the same. Perhaps I never actually saw the trailer when the movie first came out. In 1996 or 97 when I first saw this film, it’s likely that I would have watched it without having seen a trailer just because of its premise. After watching it again years later, I know I wanted to see this movie for the music, the era, and the story of the band… I honestly didn’t know Guy was the main character until I saw the film.

3. What did I think of the main character(s) and how the actors performed them?

I think this movie was the perfect launching path for some growing talents. While Charlize and Giovanni were merely faces in the crowd, Steve Zahn got to show off his acting and singing talent. Tom Everett Scott is good. You can tell he’s a bit fresh but it works for him. As for Mr. Hanks, it was odd to see him in a supporting role, but of course, it’s an authoritative supporting role, so it suits him well.

4. What did I think of the direction and cinematography?

The film had serious and comedic moments happening back-to-back, so the homage to 60s film and the Beatles’ films was appreciated. It almost felt like a panoramic sitcom without an audience, but I liked it.

5. What did I think of the soundtrack and score?

I love this soundtrack. All the original songs brought together to create the Play-Tone galaxy and more is just fun stuff. Plus, “That Thing You Do!” actually hit the real pop charts after the release of this movie. That’s just cool.

6. What did I like about the story as a whole?

I like that Guy was for lack of a better term, a good guy. He was the glue and the magic that made it all possible. He was a great character to watch.

7. What did I not like about the story?

I liked Faye so much, but I couldn’t get into her and Jimmy. I was just waiting for that to end.

8. Would I recommend this movie to others?

Yes, but not everyone will be into it because of the music, which only makes me sad.

9. If yes, who? What would I rate this movie?

I think anyone who appreciates music and or 1960s period films will appreciate this movie even if they don’t fall in love with it. I really like this movie, but even I admit that it’s a little corny and cliché.

On a scale of 1 to 5 movie reels, I give this film 4 reels.

MLikeIt

10. Was there anything in this movie that could be related to me or anything I have written?

Well, as I briefly mentioned earlier, this is my kind of movie. I love music and 50s – 70s period films. If I could go back in time and erase all the racism and war from that era, I think I’d thrive there. I haven’t written anything taking place during that time, and haven’t really incorporated music into my work, but I will one day.

Watch, rent, or buy this movie here.

Mock Squid Soup – Film Society

41375-mocksquidsoup2
MOCK! and The Armchair Squid are proud to introduce Mock Squid Soup: A Film Society. Each month, on the second Friday, we shall host a bloghop devoted to movie reviews. We invite others to participate and post their reviews…Don’t be shy; come join the fun! 😀

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Question of the Month

#Question of the Month: a #bloghop to think about. No. 12- What’s your advice on starting a blog?

A little while ago, Michael D’Agostino, of A Life Examined, brought up the idea of a new blog hop called Question of the Month. He thinks blog readers would like to know a little more about us, the bloggers. So we’re all gathering to show you guys who we are by taking part in the Question of the Month blog hop. On the first Monday of each month, we answer the question that gets posted here.

This month’s question is: “If a friend came to you looking for advice on starting a blog, what three pieces of advice would you give them?”

So, since we’ve been advised to stay away from some of the commonly applied tips of the trade such as: visit other blogs, write what you love, and link back to older posts from time to time, I’m going to try to think a bit outside the box.

Tip #1 – Find a niche. It doesn’t have to be something uber unique, just something that will help narrow your focus and tap into a specific audience. I, for one, have set myself up as a fan and contributor to geek culture. “Geek” has become so broad and popular as of late, that I’ve made a point to single out some of my specific interests, instead of trying to cover them all. I mainly talk about books and movies, but I’ll slip in some of my music interests from time to time.

Tip #2 – Embrace the culture. Many people don’t realize that blogging is a subculture and that within it, there are many micro-cultures to join in and become involved with. Joining blog hops and tours is a good way to connect to others who share your interests and learn from others. It’s important not to become overwhelmed by all the blogosphere has to offer. Many newcomers to the culture may feel the need to try everything all at once, but a little here and there should be enough to help someone find their place and feel like they are a part of something bigger.

Tip #3 – Plan and schedule. Don’t be afraid to think ahead whenever possible. Some blogs are designed to be spontaneous while others clearly work on a set schedule. In either situation, a bit of planning and scheduling can go a long way, even if it’s just setting up post for special occasions and or holidays. It’s always good to have a bit of wiggle room when posting to your blog so as not to turn the positive experience into a stressful one.

So that’s what I got. Hope it’s somewhat helpful.

Please visit the other participants in this hop and even join in if you’d like. I can’t wait to see what other tips will be shared.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Mock Squid Soup Movies

The Grand Budapest Hotel #Review – Mock Squid Soup No.17 #cinephiles #film #comedy

Wikipedia

Please note, this review contains mature themes.

Let’s recap my clues from last week:

Clue #1– This movie won four Oscars though the lead actor has never won one (he’s been nominated twice). ~ I found this clue on IMDB.

Clue #2– As of March 28th, this film is two years old. ~ I found this clue on Google.

Clue #3– This film has a culturally diverse cast with actors from many different countries, which makes sense because the setting of the film is a fictional East Indian country. ~I got this clue from a friend who later admitted he got this movie confused with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (another movie I’ve yet to see).

If anyone is interested in my experience of watching The Grand Budapest Hotel, click here to see my notes.

This review will consist of me asking myself 10 questions and answering them to the best of my ability.

1. What is this film about?

A girl reads a book, flash back to author making notes about writing the book, flashback to author interviewing supportive protagonist of the book… It’s a quirky mystery about a concierge who battles a family over an inheritance and the shenanigans that take place.

2. What did I think of the title, poster, and or trailer?

I don’t like the poster I found on Google, but I liked the trailer I saw when the movie came out. I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see it in the theater and I kinda forgot about it.

3. What did I think of the main character(s) and how the actors performed them?

I thought Ralph Fiennes was great. He’s a versatile actor, but his ability to be serious and funny at the same time set the tone. The character he played was , to me, a bit of an anti-hero. He was vulgar but still noble in many ways.

Willem Defoe was a great villain as usual.

I’m still amazed that Madame D. was Tilda Swinton.

4. What did I think of the direction and cinematography?

Wes Anderson’s signature style shined in this film. I love the scene near the end that looks like a bunch of people are crammed into a small room; the camera rolls out to show a large room where everyone is just standing close together. All the scenes are beautiful even when depicting violence.

5. What did I think of the soundtrack and score?

The music in this film was entertaining. It had a silent film feel to it where the music fit each scene whether it was something delightful or scary. I liked it.

6. What did I like about the story as a whole?

I thought the story was outrageous but not too convoluted. The conspiracy actually made sense.

7. What did I not like about the story?

I could have done without some of the nudity (not that there was a lot) though I guess that’s not a reflection on the story but of the direction of the movie itself.

8. Would I recommend this movie to others?

Sure.

9. If yes, who? What would I rate this movie?

As I’ve said many times before, I’d be selective about who I share it with. I think most will like it, but do know a few stiffs who just wouldn’t get it.

On a scale of 1 to 5 movie reels, I give this film 5 reels.

MLoveIt

10. Was there anything in this movie that could be related to me or anything I have written?

I really don’t think so and I’m okay with that. I managed to write a bit of comedy into my first romance, but this definitely is not my style.

Watch, rent, or buy this movie here.

Mock Squid Soup – Film Society

41375-mocksquidsoup2
MOCK! and The Armchair Squid are proud to introduce Mock Squid Soup: A Film Society. Each month, on the second Friday, we shall host a bloghop devoted to movie reviews. We invite others to participate and post their reviews…Don’t be shy; come join the fun! 😀

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords