The King's Speech - Edited: I really loved this movie, it was well made, well acted, great plot, and I don't feel that I missed out on anything by seeing the edited version. This movie has been rather infamous for it's "one scene" which caused it to be rated R, where, as part of his speech therapy, Colin Firth's character swears repeatedly, using the F-word several times over (at least so I've heard, in the edited version we only had one F-word). I understand why the scene was included, it is very much a part of the movie and it probably would not have been all that terrible to see it unedited. On the other hand, I do not feel as though I missed anything, I knew that the extra swear words were there, I knew why they were being said, and that it was not with the feeling that a swear word might normally be said; all that being said I'm just as happy to have missed some of the ugly words, even said as I mentioned above. It was a wonderful movie, very powerful, sometimes it was hard to watch and at one point it brought me close to tears. I think people should see it, whether you see it edited or not is up to you. I think that perhaps a bit to much fuss is being made over the swearing scene, on both sides of the debate. At any rate, see this movie.

The 39 Steps: I recently saw a version of this movie on PBS, it was made by the BBC and a pretty good show, so I decided that I should see Hitchcock's version. I believe this movie was made in the 30s, at any rate it was in the early days of film, and it's very innovative and well made, but I wish I could have seen how Hitch would have done it when the technology was better. I recommend it, and if you watch this and want more there have been at least six versions of this story.

The Lemon Drop Kid: I heard about this movie through a friend of mine, she was telling about how it had been her husband's favorite movie when he was a kid. When I saw it at the library I decided to give it a try. It's a Bob Hope movie, and in that respect, rather typical of Bob Hope and his movie. It was amusing but I didn't love it. It also turned out to be somewhat of a Christmas movie, at least taking place in the Christmas season.

Joe Versus the Volcano: This is the first movie to pair Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as romantic leads. It was an odd, quirky and funny movie. Meg Ryan plays three different roles in the movie.

Notorious: This is a spy movie and perhaps the spy movie that made the genera what it is today. Ingrid Bergman is convinced to take a spy job by Carey Grant, her father's Nazi sympathies make her perfect for the job. She doesn't have the cleanest past but she and Grant fall for each other on the way down to Brazil where the job will be taking place. The job creates trouble in paradise. This is an innovative and well made movie, by Hitchcock naturally.

Rope: This may have creeped me out the most of all the Hitchcock movies that I've ever seen. The rope is about two college aged, well off, intellectual young men who have murdered a friend of theirs for the art of it. It's eerie to listen to listen to them talk about it, their reasoning and what they do afterwords. The pair throw a party and serve out from their friend's resting place, inviting his friends and family. Jimmy Stewart is in attendance, a friend and former teacher, it was theories of his which inspired the act. Stewart is therefore the one that becomes the most suspicious through the course of the party. A very well made movie but I don't know that I'd care to see it again.

Saboteur: It was a Hitchcock mini marathon while I was working on getting a quilt tied. This movie takes place during WWII, and is somewhat of a propaganda movie to stir people to the war effort, not as much as other movies of the same period however. Barry Kane and his friend work at an air craft plant and when the plant is set a fire he and his friend try to help put it out, leading to his friend's death. After the fire Barry is wrongfully suspected of sabotage, he has to go on the run and try to clear his name. It's an interesting journey and along the way we see both the good and the bad of people. I recommend this movie.

Shadow of a Doubt: This movie, the last in my Hitchcock marathon, was not my favorite, nor was it pleasant to consider. In a small town a family waits for a visit from their Uncle Charlie, especially his name sake Charlie (Charlotte), she feels a special connection to her uncle. Uncle Charlie is much beloved but seems to be a little edgy, especially when two men show up to interview the family for the common good and to take pictures. Only Charlie finds out what Uncle Charlie knows, that these men are detectives that are looking for the "Merry Widow Murderer". Charlie is caught in a very hard and dangerous spot.

Tangled: I went to this movie with great expectations, the previews and advertisements that I've seen for this movie, as well as the reviews from friends etc. all made it sound very good. On the whole the movie was very good but I felt like it was not quite as good as the previews. I didn't care for the songs in the movie that much, but there were a lot of great and very funny moments in the movie. One thing was strange was hearing Zachary Levi's voice come out of a different face, Levi plays the title role in Chuck and it was a different sort of role for him. It was a really good movie but not as high I suppose as I expect from Disney and Pixar.

State of the Union: If you've seen Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, also directed by Frank Capra, you'll have seen a movie in the same vein as this one. This movie is all about the political system and rather a call to action to the voters. Angela Lansbury (I think that woman must have looked old when she was 5, her face, even when young and fresh, just says 'old' to me) is a hard business woman who's having an affair with a man that she wants to put in the white house as president. Spencer Tracy is the man and he's got ideas that could make him a great president, and that also upset those who are trying to put him in the white house. Katherine Hepburn, of course, plays Tracy's loving wife, who supports him in his ideas and efforts, until Tracy changes and becomes a 'yes' man, conforming to the will of Landsbury and co. This was a wonderful movie, but I can't help noticing that in movies with Tracy and Hepburn, her characters are wonderful the whole way through, while his tend to be pompous and jerks who come around by the end of the movie and make the phenomenal speech. I like the speeches but I don't really care for the guy/characters making them.

The Song of the Thin Man: So, this is the last of the series, I suppose I skipped a few by accident. It was a fine movie but no where near as good as the first, maybe one should start with the end of this series and work back so they finish with the best one. Just a thought.

Night and Day: I'd heard about this movie and figured that I would give it a try, it's about Cole Porter and his rise to fame. Mostly it's a showcase for Cole Porter songs, I don't mind Cole Porter but I don't love him either. Unless you're a really big fan of Cary Grant or Cole Porter I wouldn't bother.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner: I recently read a biography about Katherine Hepburn and this movie was mentioned, it's the last movie she and Spencer Tracy made together and I believe it was Tracy's last movie before he died. I saw it at the library, or maybe I put it on hold, either way I got it and watched it and it was phenomenal. Now despite my praise, and not to take away from it, this movie was a bit hard to watch. The plot centers around a biracial couple telling their parents that they mean to get married, it takes place in the late 60s or early 70s. I imagine that this movie was quite groundbreaking when it was made and possibly harder to watch then. It's hard to watch because even for all the progress made since the movie was made, the same issues still linger. The parents of the couple all struggle with the situation, they've worked for such a coupling to be possible and yet the prejudices and stereotypes that they were raised with are still hard to fight, the same struggles occur today. It's a very powerful movie, Sidney Poitier is fantastic in it, I think that everyone should see it.

Rear Window: I don't recall being too impressed with this movie the first time that I saw it but that was several years ago and I enjoyed it more this time. Alfred Hitchcock was truly a master at what he did, it's amazing to see the craftsmanship that he put into this and his other movies. I guess I have a bit more appreciation now and watching a documentary about it didn't hurt. I'm not Jimmy Stewart's biggest fan but both he and Grace Kelley were quite good in this movie. I think something that made me not so impressed with the movie the first time that I saw it is the advancement of movies since then. When I first watched this movie other movies like Bourn Identity etc. were around, perhaps not so masterfully done but designed to get adrenaline pumping. I also watched Rear Window in the comfort of my own home, not in a dark movie theater, that tones down the excitement some I would imagine.