DIVA'S LIST OF MOVIES EVERYONE SHOULD SEE PERIOD

I look forward to your comments and additions. Please be aware, this is a work in progress as great movies still come out occasionally. Some of these will change your life, some will just make you laugh until you cry.

Princess Bride
*Love Actually
School Ties
Clueless
Slumdog Millionaire
Star Wars (especially the originial, but really all of them)
Indiana Jones
Moulin Rouge
Back to the Future
Seven Pounds
William Shakespear's Romeo & Juliet (directed by Baz Lurman)
Ocean's 11
Chicago
Dave
Michael Clayton
Erin Brockovich
Stranger than Fiction (don't expect your usual Will Ferrell fare)
Toy Story
American President
Catch Me If You Can
Pretty Woman
Glory
Braveheart
The Count of Monte Cristo
Newsies
Mighty Ducks
ET
*Momento
Airplane!
The Breakfast Club
Amadeus
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Hairspray
The Green Mile
O Brother Where Art Thou
The Italian Job
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
Driving Miss Daisy
The Prestige
The Illusionist
Ground Hog Day
Hotel Rwanda
Its a Wonderful Life
White Christmas/Holiday Inn
Singing In the Rain
Hairspray
LA Confidential
A League of Their Own
Seabiscut
National Treasure
Pirates of the Carribean
An Affair to Remember
Fight Club
You've Got Mail
Sleepless in Seatle
The Manchurin Candidate
Wag the Dog
National Velvet
The Pink Panther (the original)
Rain Man
Dreamer
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Say Anything
*Risky Business
Roman Holiday
The Usual Suspects
The Hudsucker Proxy
Saving Private Ryan
Traffic
Crash
12 Angry Men
West Side Story
Wizard of Oz
The Shawshank Redemption
Lord of the Rings
The Matrix
Forrest Gump
Gone With the Wind
Spartacus
The Fugitive




*Not mom approved-a movie that you would be uncomfortable watching with the one who bore you...

Author to check out: AJ Jacobs

Quirky, Witty and Enlightening, anything by AJ Jacobs is sure to please. I'm in the middle of "In the Know" and am already looking forward to "Living Biblically!" http://www.ajjacobs.com/content/home.asp

It's Time for Oscar!

Yes, dear readers, Oscar noms came out early this morning. Here at Pop Culture Gospel, Diva and I are planning on seeing and reviewing each movie that was nominated...a big goal to be sure, but one we hope to reach.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" led all movies with 13 nominations, including Best Actor for Brad Pitt, Direction, and Best Film. I haven't seen this film yet, but it is one I certainly plan to see. Also no surprise to me was the nomination to Heath Ledger for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight, and it will be no surprise to me when he wins.

We'll have more on the nominated films in the coming weeks--who do you think should win?

See all the nominations by clicking here.

Yes We Did America!

I would be a horrible blogger if I didn't mention yesterday's events on the Gospel. Unless you live under a rock (and I'm pretty sure not even then), you know that yesterday Senator Barack Obama from the state of Illinois was inaugurated as our 44th President. It was a truly momentous day, and one that you could almost literally feel the world stop and watch.

Over the last couple days, I have watched much more of my share of inauguration coverage...from the free HBO special on Sunday to Inauguration Day coverage on multiple news networks, to the many balls that were televised Tuesday night. It was amazing to see history unveil itself right before you, and knowing that you were going to have one of those "I remember exactly where I was" memories.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the Inauguration, in no particular order. If you have any others, please feel free to comment.

1. The HBO special in general...if you get a chance to watch it, you should. It has a Farm Aid feel in a way...pretty amazing this was pulled together for a President.
2. Malia Obama taking pictures of her favorite celebrities as she saw them. I don't know why, but this made me really happy. I guess it makes me believe that Michelle and Barack have two normal girls, not two spoiled little brats.
3. Seeing 1.5 million people show up on the National Mall. Also, the fact that there were no arrests and no one was hurt.
   
4. ABC had cameras in the elementary school in Jakarta where Obama went for a while as a boy. It was close to midnight there, and one little boy in the classroom kept nodding off, but was trying so hard to stay awake. I wonder if he crashed as soon as the cameras were off.
   
5. Joe Biden walking out onto the platform, and saying "Hey!" to everyone as he walked out like he was joining a big party. I guess he kinda was.
6. Pastor Rick Warren and how he said "Malia" and "Sasha". Still cracks me up! (By the way, if you watch the linked clip...you may only want to watch the first few seconds.)
   
7. Aretha Franklin's hat.
   
8. Sasha Obama giving her dad the "thumbs up" after he finished the Oath of Office. Too cute.
9. Obama's speech. If you haven't had a chance to see or read it, you should. Nothing short of awesome.
   
10. The benediction from Rev. Joseph Lowery--particularly the line "...we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right." Some might say he was racist, but he included everyone, so I think it's just funny.
11. President Obama getting out of the limo and walking the parade route, showing that this election is not just about him, but about all Americans.
12. The first dance between Barack and Michelle...Beyonce singing "At Last" with tears in her eyes. And by the way, it's great to have a President with some killer dance moves.
13. Obama doing "the bump" with a 9th grader who was invited to The Neighborhood Ball.
    
14. President Bush flying away on the helicopter as soon as the Inauguration was over.
15. Hearing what this day meant to so many people--this was the first election I truly cared about, but to hear the stories of those who have waited much longer than me for this day to come was very touching.

UPDATE: Apparently Chief Justice Roberts re-administered the Oath of Office to President Obama today to make sure that there was no question that he was legally President (and we all know if he hadn't, someone would have been whining about it.) So Congratulations Mr. President--it's been a long road, but I'm glad we got there!

Slumdog Millionaire, The Women, Speed Racer-this wasn't your momma's weekend.

This weekend was monumental on many levels. Saturday night we ventured out to see the much lauded "Slumdog Millionaire" This thought-provoking flick has critics and audiences raving from the UK, India, and across the US. The acting was suberb, the story amazing, the music electrifying. Highly recommended for anyone, but be warned. There are disturbing, truthful images and storylines throughout the movie. It may have a "feel good" ending, but it's a rocky road to get there.

The Women-a remake of a 1939 movie, the star-studded cast presented a true "chick flick." Not a single male in this film from start to finish. (though apparently, the original had some truly different plot!) A darling Meg Ryan is back with a touch of "Kathleen Kelly" from You've Got Mail. Annette Benning, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Debra Messing round out the main characters with Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher, Candace Bergen, and Cloris Leachman supporting. Eva Mendes plays the femme fatale. A great movie to see with your girlfriends or if you have some really girly guy friends...

Your guy friends WILL enjoy Speed Racer! Like a green screen cross between Talladaga Nights and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this family oriented movie is sure to please. Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, & John Goodman create a movie that looks like fun. I never followed the original cartoons, so I can't vouch for how true the film is, but for a light-hearted, good-guys-win flick, Go Speed Racer!

My Daytime Guilty Pleasure Show--and No, It's Not a Soap Opera

Like so many people out there, I found myself without a job last month and am spending my days searching for the next big thing, eating ramen noodles, and watching a lot of crazy stuff on TV.

And much like the last time I was without a job (for three months after college graduation), I am using a crazy television show to help get me through the day. Before, it was Charmed (please don't hold that against me...I was young and stupid)...but these days, it's another show about the paranormal that I look forward to each day.

Each afternoon, The Discovery Channel has a show called "A Haunting" (playing at 2 and 3 p.m. Eastern). Each episode tells a story about a family who lives in a haunted house or has some experience with a ghost or demon. Now, I hate being scared--I refuse to go see scary movies and The Sixth Sense is about as frightening as I can take (lame, I realize). I went on a Ghost Tour once and told my friends that if I actually saw anything, I'd look like a character from Scooby Doo and I'd be running so fast you couldn't see my legs. But this show completely sucks me in every day. The stories are so interesting and even though I find myself yelling "Oh HELL no!" several times throughout the show, I can't look away. It is a little fun to get scared every once in a while...and maybe it's a good way to take my mind off the fact that I don't have a job right now.

Anyway, if you like good ghost stories, you should check it out. If you're unemployed like me, it will definitely take your mind off the job search. And if you are employed, set your DVR and get ready for the goosebumps.

Movies to Rent (or not) This Week...

As a typical winter past time, four movies made it home from Blockbuster this past week. Number one would have to be:

The Duchess Kiera Knightly as the lead role brings the Duchess of Devonshire to life. With rich fashion and clever dialoge, it's a movie that won't leave you wanting more, except maybe a different life for the D of D. The costume's create a vision that even the yoga-pant-wearing-couch-potatos won't be able to get enough of. Ralph Fiennes is wonderfully hateful and the enticing Dominic Cooper also stars in...

Mamma Mia While never having seen the stage version, I've heard great things. The film was hopelessly not great. As a musician and musical buff, it pains me to say that the fast forward button was used multiple times during the 108 min. Sadly, it occured during ALL of Pierce Brosnan's numbers. Most the cast members were worth consideration. Pierce, Colin Firth, & Christine Baranski should stick to acting, they do it much better than singing.

In a word: The Duchess-wish I had seen it in Theaters. Mamma Mia-please never again...

This is why I heart Tina Fey.

Tina Fey rocks. Enough said. I think a lot more people would watch award shows if all the speeches were as good as this one. And in the spirit of Tina's speech, I too would like to take a minute to tell all the haters to suck it. Suck it losers! You didn't think I'd call anyone out did you? It's not that kind of blog.

January Playlist

Top 25 Songs you should download for Jan. 2009.

1 Ain't Nothing Wrong With That-Robert Randolph and the Family Band My newest jam, if this doesn't make you move, nothing will!
2 Time on Your Side-Emily Jane White Great lyrics and an awesome voice.
3 Alright-Knivez Out The whole soundtrack from the movie 21 rocks!
4 Cheap and Cheerful-The Kills Such an ironic song!
5 Infatuation-Maroon 5 Anything by Maroon 5.
6 No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature-The Guess Who Getting back to the roots.
7 Low Rider-War see above
8 Ticks-Brad Paisley The best of country, Brad Paisley.
9 Homecoming-Kanye West w/ Chris Martin Kanye & Coldplay, awesome!
10 Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)-The White Stripes Have a new appreciation for the White Stripes, esp this album.
11 And Then You Kissed Me-The Cardigans Totally underappreciated band.
12 Buildings and Mountains-The Republic Tigers My best friends jam.
13 I Turn My Camera-Spoon Cool song.
14 She Left Me For Jesus-Hayes Carll Totally tonge in cheek.
15 Blood of the Lamb-Billy Bragg and Wilco Rockin' song.
16 Gotta Serve Somebody-Bob Dylan Great song writing, Dylan is a god.
17 You Are Goodbye-Holly Conlan Good song.
18 Standing-Patty Griffith Fanastic song writing.
19 Son of Preacher Man-Dusty Springfield Dusty rocks.
20 Peachy-Missy Higgins New rising artist.
21 Nashville-David Mead Who doesn't love Nasville?
22 The Stoop-Little Jackie Masterful song.
23 At Last-Etta James Classic.
24 Gangsta's Paradise-Coolio Takin' it back, Old School.
25 Auld Lang Syne-Straight No Chaser Fantastic new band.

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