Hop's Thoughts

Just a list with a quick note...no classics, which most of my friends haven't seen.  Just obscure, odd films I like a lot.  I will try to leave out the plethora of foreign films on my list and stick to American films. Easy A - Emma Stone in this "teen" comedy. Hilariously funny, but very thoughtful. One False Move - Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton before they were stars. Thrilling. 44 Inch Chest - Irish Mob movie starring Ray Winstone & Ian McShane. Top notch acting. Alpha Dog - Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake. You will be in shock by Timblerlake's performance. Badlands - Martin Sheen & Sissy Spacek in Terrence Malick's beautifully filmed crime drama. Bug - Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon and Harry Connick Jr in this claustrophobic thriller. Elephant - Gus Van Zant's film based on Columbine from different perspectives. Difficult at times. Eve's Bayou - A respected surgeon's infidelities wreak havoc on his family in the South. Felici...

About three and half years ago I started this blog.  I've abandoned it. I've gone to another site, but I've come back for different reasons.  When the blog started, it was meant to be comical.  Then it turned serious.  Finally it turned into a therapy session for me at time.  The worst part about the blog has been the fact that it's kept me from writing anything substantial.  The best part, is it's allowed me to work through some problems I just haven't had others to help me with.  I've had as many as 60 people read my blog and I've had as few as one.  Sure I'd love it if thousands of people read it.  I'd be happy if all my friends and family read it, but the reality is, everyone is busy with their own thing. I've delved into my personal life way more than I had ever wanted to and many have actually been worried for me.  It's never gotten that bad, trust me.  The blog has seen an angry time in my life.  Not anger, so much as ...

I'm so scattered tonight, I can't even think of a topic.  The storm blew in and caused so much havoc for so many and I thought I'd be one of those without power.  Alone in the dark, wishing things were different.  I have been sitting here for the better part of the last twelve hours, reading, watching, looking at the devastation.  Someone would laugh at that last line if we were still friends.   Odd thoughts are in my head this morning.  I want to walk outside and soak in all this rain and damage.  I don't even know if it's bad. I haven't heard to many sirens this evening, but friends are suffering through it.  I want a bagel from Garth Road.  I'm in the mood for a cheeseburger, but a really crappy one...like from McDonald's.  I have two movies, but don't feel in the mood for either.  The Help and Shotgun Stories.  I have nothing to do for the next two days. Schools are closed tomorrow and Wednesday I don't have class. I need m...

Everyone knows I am very opinionated and I am a bit of an insomniac.  These are givens and I won't bore you with them tonight.  A lot of people say to me, "you have a lot to say about others, but ....."  Well here's some fodder for the next time you want to abuse me or some items to let you know where I am coming from. In the past year, if I'm not trying to figure something out in my head, I get very distracted.  I need stimulation or I get depressed. Sometimes I give myself math problems just to clear my head.  Two nights ago, I was really depressed about something, so I took an IQ test.  Surprisingly I did very badly...and I won't say what I got, because people will think I'm a dick. If I'm leaving my apartment, I flick the lights on, then off before I leave.  When I leave the building I always check to see if I have my keys about five or six times.  I almost always look up and to the left whenever I walk through the door.  I have only ...

Last year I wrote a a blog mapping out a three day Halloween inspired film festival which Featured two double features and capping off Halloween night with, well obviously, Halloween.  So this year we'll plan on a six day Halloween festival, leading up to the big night.  The movies in last year's festival were Nosferatu, Night of the Living Dead, Frankenstein, Texas Chainsaw Massacre & Halloween.  So we need some serious changes. Friday - You're tired from a long work week. Weather is getting a little colder. You want to start the festival off right, but you're also looking for something light.  Maybe a comedy.  The perfect horror/comedy to start this off is Shaun of the Dead.  Simon Pegg stars a Shaun in this hilarious and not remotely scary zombie. What the movie lacks in terror it makes up for in wit.  A perfect beginning. Saturday - We dipped our toes into horror last night, so let's dive right in.  I'm suggesting Hellraiser.  Pin...

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/lana-wachowski-opens-up-about-difficult-past-and-attempted-suicide-20121024 Today I saw a link to a video for a speech by Lana Wachowski.  The last name rung a bell, but I could't put my finger on it. Lana, used to be Larry, one of the writer, director, producers of the Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta and the upcoming Cloud Atlas.  Lana is transgendered and has "come out" as a woman.  She was being honored by the Human Rights Campaign. I didn't know what to expect when this broad woman with crazy hair and a raspy voice began to speak.  She began with the usual pleasantries and told of her hair dresser. She then tells of her desire to be a quiet person and how hard the success of the Matrix movies made this.  The first ten minutes is telling of how she's not quite ready to be this spokesperson.  Then she speaks about the new movie Cloud Atlas and reveals the heart of the movie and this speech. She states,"The resp...

What Happened? I need to unload my mind. Today has been depressing. Grew up in Brooklyn surrounded by blacks, Spanish, Oriental.  They were people.  My people. Today, 40 some years later, we live in a world with more hate than those days.  When did the world become this way.  Stop blaming 9/11.  I'm missing Game one of the world series, but not that sad. I am changing. Giving less meaning to sports and more to the world around me. How can I help? I donate to charity. I fight for causes, but my two cents there and ten dollars here makes as much difference as spitting into the ocean.  I'm tired. Tired of not sleeping. Tired of looking for something to do for a living that will make me happy. The kids make me happy. I'm at peace with them. One told his mom he said bad words, she applauded his honesty, but scolded his behavior.  Mom's like this get it. Another mother came in, moved a barricade I had to protect the children and didn't put it back. ...