Gran Torino's Quite a Ride

I think I might have mentioned that Moker and I are Empty Nesters. We've done a few fun things since September. Gone on "field trips." Stayed in and dined on Jambalaya. Last night we took in a movie, and grabbed a pizza afterward.

When we first started dating, Moker was a big Dirty Harry fan. John Wayne, too. And, of course, Jack Nicholson, when he was younger and even crazier than he is now.

For Date Night, Moker chose Gran Torino, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Eastwood says this might be his last flick. Talk about powerful. Sort of Dirty Harry gets PC, only not.

Have you seen any good movies recently? What do you recommend?

Christmas All Wrapped Up

Moker and I did a rare thing last night...we went to dinner and to the movies. Yup, a Real Date!

We saw Four Christmases, which lends a silly and somewhat bittersweet spin to the Holiday Spirit. Yes, Reese Witherspoon's Epiphany is pretty much cliché. But this Christmas Confection is just that...quite a lot of sweet, innocent, festive fun. Plus, Vince Vaughn shows his comedic chops once And again. Witherspoon made me laugh out loud several times.

This 21st-Century Christmas flick put me in mind of Holiday Fare from Christmases Past. My Top 10, in no particular order, are:

10. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)-The little girl is a tad annoying, but Santa is One Fine Gentleman!

9. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)-The Original...of anything...is usually better.

8. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)-Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed...What's not to love?

7. Holiday Inn (1942)-Irving Berlin wrote the songs, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sang and danced their way through the film. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. Need I say more?

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)-I have a particular soft spot for all made-for-TV Charlie Brown flicks. And for Charles Schulz and his Misunderstood Anti-Hero.

5. Annie (1982)-OK, this was released in June, but I always consider Annie a Christmas Production. Aileen Quinn, who played several of The Orphans on Broadway, is a great Annie, and Carol Burnett is The Best Miss Hannigan. And then there's Bernadette Peters as Lily St. Regis and Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks...I could go on, but I won't.

4. Annie (1999)-If I can't have Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, I'd want Kathy Bates. A fun bit of trivia: Andrea McArdle, the Original Annie on Broadway, has a cameo in this film. Kristen Chenoweth of Wicked fame plays the role of Lily St. Regis. This particular Annie was released in time for Christmas.

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)-An Original and a Classic. A Classic Original. Boris Karloff is the narrator. Priceless!

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)-Ron Howard, Director; Jim Carrey, the Grinch. Need I say more? Oh, one more thing...I have no clue why this re-make does not have an exclamation point in the title!

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)-Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid are So Awesome Together! "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead? "

So, what did I miss? What are your favorite Christmas Classics? Do Tell!