Tag: movies

I am a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies.  Here is my list of favorite Hitchcock flicks:

Dial M for Murder

Lifeboat

North by Northwest

Psycho

Rear Window

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

The Trouble with Harry

To Catch a Thief

Vertigo

If you like classic movies (and don’t mind black and white), check out these works from the master.  It’s hard to pick out my favorite, but a notable entry is “The Trouble with Harry” — a rare Hitchcock comedy, albeit a tad morbid.

Also, Jimmy Stewart is in three of them on this list: “Rear Window,” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” and “Vertigo.”

Lastly, Hitchcock did two versions of “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” one in ’56 and the other, much earlier, in ’34.  The earlier version is quite good for 1934, but not good enough to make it on my list.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.

I recently posted my all time favorite movies. These are flicks that I gladly watch over and over again.

However, I’m working on other lists as well.

Yesterday, in my “High School Musical 3” post, I admitted to not a big fan of musicals.  Even so, some do stand out.

Although the list is quite diverse, these are the musicals that I have opted to watch multiple times and actually enjoyed doing so:

Fiddler on the Roof

Footloose

Jesus Christ Superstar

Hairspray

Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Mary Poppins

My Fair Lady

Oklahoma!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one on the planet that doesn’t “get” Disney’s “High School Musical” franchise. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of musicals, but still, why is everyone going bonkers over it?

In 2006, The Disney Channel debuted its made-for-TV production, “High School Musical.” I watched it; it was okay and I generously gave it 3 stars (out of 5). Then there was a sing-a-long version and a dance-a-long version.  For the record, I passed on those.

In 2007, Disney unleashed its made-for-TV sequel, “High School Musical 2.” It was okay, a bit more contrived and more over-the-top; I gave it 3 stars—but maybe I should rethink that.

Now there is “High School Musical 3.” What is interesting is that it will be released in theaters—tomorrow. Imagine that, a made-for-TV movie that spawns a theater-released sequel. Rest assured, I won’t be rushing out to view it, but it will eventually turn up on The Disney Channel, so I might check it out then.

There’s already talk about “High School Musical 4” with different characters (as opposed to a “College Musical” with the same characters). That seems like a recipe for disaster, but this whole thing is a head-scratcher to me.

Interestingly, Disney, apparently seeking to jump on their own bandwagon, did “Camp Rock” this summer. It was less contrived and even had the Jonas Brothers in it, but didn’t catch on like its cousin, “High School Musical.”

Although I may seem like a curmudgeon when it comes to musicals, there are some that I actually like. Check back tomorrow to find out which ones.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.

Today, I made my list of “All Time Favorite Movie Picks” to post on Netflix.  These are the ones that I watch over and over again.

Here is my list (in alphabetical order):

10 Things I Hate About You

As Good as It Gets

Bend It Like Beckham

Bruce Almighty

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Forrest Gump

Freaky Friday (2003)

Groundhog Day

Juno

Men in Black

Murphy’s Romance

National Treasure

Ocean’s Eleven

Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl

Pretty Woman

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raising Helen

Saved!

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Star Trek: First Contact

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne Ultimatum

The Breakfast Club

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (2005)

The Matrix

Transformers

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.

When the chick-flick 27 Dresses hit the theaters, I passed on it. But when my daughter bought the DVD I caved and ended up watching it.  I was pleasantly surprised. Not that I had low expectations, but my even my moderate expectations were exceeded. (Note to self: If a flick has Katherine Heigl in it, it’s worth checking out—as far as I’m concerned; she stole the show.)

If you’ve seen the movie, you recall the bar scene where the two main characters—emboldened courtesy of adult beverages—try to correctly recall the words and sing Elton John’s classic hit, “Bennie and the Jets.”  I was never sure of the lyrics either, so I had to look them up—I’m still don’t know what the song means. Anyway, it was a hoot to hear them try to belt it out in their inebriated condition.

The premise of the movie was that Heigl’s character had been a bridesmaid in 27 weddings, but never a bride. The reoccurring gag was the brides claiming that the dresses could be shortened and worn again—of course they never were.

As my daughter began planning for her upcoming nuptials, she recalled similar complaints of friends about weddings they’ve been in: expensive dresses that they would never wear again and uncomfortable shoes that hurt their feet.

My ever practical and most resourceful daughter has addressed these issues. She is making the bridesmaids’ dresses—so even if they don’t don them again, at least it didn’t cost them anything. (For the record, she did buy her dress, which she won’t wear again.)

Oh, as far as the uncomfortable shoes—the ladies in the wedding party will be sporting flip-flops, as will the bride.  Problems solved.

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.