5 Reasons Why You Should Give the New Footloose a Shot

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out yet, I am a child of the 80s and hold on dearly to the memories of that simpler, hypercolor t-shirted, hairspray-laden time. So when I hear that they are going to remake a movie that is untouchable in my mind, I have a visceral reaction.

How can you mess with something that achieved perfection during it's own little slice of time? 

How can anyone else play THAT part?

How can someone think they can recapture the magic of that movie?

All these questions went through my head when I first heard they were going to remake Footloose (and don't even get me started about the Dirty Dancing--my favorite movie of all time--remake.) But at the same time, even knowing that I would probably hate it, I felt compelled to see it. I had to know what they did with it, had to know how they tried to recreate something that couldn't be recreated.

So I saw it last night and well...

*ducks head* I kind of really enjoyed it.

I know, I know. I went in there expecting to mock it, but found myself genuinely laughing. I was entertained. And no, the magic of the first one will never be recreated. It's impossible. But I have to say they did a really good job and I have no problem recommending others to go see it.

So, if you're still not convinced, here are my top reasons I think you should give it a shot...

1. They pay homage to the original without being an exact replica.

For instance, the chicken-race with tractors in the original:

In the new one, they have a chicken race and the bad guy rides a tractor for a minute (to give a nod to the original), but then they race with modified school buses instead. 

2. The casting was really great.

Okay, so no one could top Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer, obviously.

But I thought they did a good job casting Julianne Hough (though she wasn't as believable as the good-girl-gone-bad as Lori was) and a great job casting Ren (Kenny Wormald). Also, they did a FABULOUS job casting Willard (Miles Teller). He was spot-on and super funny. (Original on the left, new on the right).

3. They did keep some things exact, which gave me little "aww" sentimental moments. 

For instance, the outfits for the prom:

4. They developed the backstory a bit more, which made the Reverend more of a sympathetic character.

5. Being brought back in time.

Of all the things, I think what I enjoyed most was that sense of being brought back in time. I was too little to see Footloose at the movies when it originally came out, so this felt like a chance to experience a bit of what I missed. Movies were much simpler in the 80s. We've gotten really complicated with plots and special effects and such--which is fine--but sometimes it's nice to just go and simply watch something that is fun, light, and entertaining.

Oh and they even did the freeze frame shot at the end of the last scene, which I haven't seen done in a movie in ages. :) (Couldn't find a pic of the new one, so here's the original last shot.)

So did I convince you? How do you feel about these classic movie remakes? Anyone else seen this one yet?

Life Lessons From Poltergeist

I'm true believer that every good story,whether it be a book, a movie, or a TV show, has a lesson--some nugget of knowledge that can help us get through life better. So I figured I'd start occasionally picking out a story here on the blog and sharing the most important things I learned from it.

And in honor of Halloween approaching, I figured I'd pick one of the formative horror movies of my young years--Poltergeist.

Now pay attention. If you don't heed these life lessons, you could end up sucked into the television. I'm doing you a public service. 

1. Never leave your TV on a white noise/snow channel. This is where the evil lurks.

2. Never trust a clown or have one in your house. (see the movie IT for further confirmation on this lesson.)

3. If your orthodontist tells you to get braces, ask for those invisalign things instead. The metal kind can attack you.

4. No large oaks should be within ten feet of your house because, well, they eat children.

(We actually had one of these trees in our yard when I first saw this movie. It would tap against our windows at night. I think it ate a few neighbors.)

5. If chairs do THIS in your house...Move. The. F*ck. Out. Okay? Let's not negotiate on this one.

6. And for the love of God, DO NOT go into the light. 

Here's the trailer for the movie, which contains one more lesson--if you have to ask the neighbors if they've experienced any disturbances lately, you should have already left town and be staying at a Holiday Inn. 

See, now aren't you glad you read this? You may have been walking down the street today and stumbled into a people-eating oak tree. Your welcome.

So were you a fan of this movie? Did it scare the bejeezus out of you like it did me at the time? What's your favorite 80s horror movie? And did I miss any life lessons from this one?

Sappy Sunday: Sleepless In Seattle

Welcome to Sappy Sunday, where I'm unrepentant in my love for the sappy. Today I'm featuring one of those movies that I can watch over and over again. If I'm flipping channels and this is on, I can't seem to turn away.

And what's so interesting about this romantic comedy is that the hero and the heroine's love story doesn't start until the end of the movie. There's this unwritten rule in romance that the hero and heroine need to meet by chapter one (or the first few minutes of the movie) and this movie breaks that rule in spades. Proof that breaking the rules can work really well when done right.

If you haven't seen this one (how is that possible?), get thee to Netflix--stat!

Some favorite quotes (courtesy of IMDB):

Sam Baldwin: Didn't you see Fatal Attraction? 
Jonah Baldwin: You wouldn't let me! 
Sam Baldwin: Well I saw it and it scared the shit out of me. It scared the shit out of every man in America. 

Annie Reed: Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance... nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was... 
Becky: A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie. 

*The one above defined me at the time. Guess that's why I decided to write books, lol. 

Dennis Reed: Annie, when you're attracted to someone, it just means that your subconscious is attracted to their subconscious, subconsciously. So what we think of as fate is just two neuroses knowing that they are a perfect match. 

Sam Baldwin: I'll tell you what I'm doing this weekend, I'm getting laid. It's the 1990's and nobody's getting laid. I'm the only man in America who's getting laid this weekend and I haven't been laid that much. Six girls in college, maybe seven. 
[sees Jonah standing in the doorway] 
Sam Baldwin: How long have you been standing there? 
Jonah Baldwin: Forever. 
Sam Baldwin: What did you just hear me say? 
Jonah Baldwin: Six girls in college, maybe seven. 
Sam Baldwin: Seven... EIGHT! Mary Kelly. 
Jonah Baldwin: [holds Annie's letter] This is the one I like! 

And my favorite scene (sorry for the subtitles at the bottom, couldn't find one without):

Aww, now aren't you all warm and fuzzy? :) Anyone else have an unhealthy affection for this movie?