This one took some time. Have been really busy lately and I also had to think about what I should write... And since this is my ranting on why I love movies so much, then I should start at the beginning. So in this part I will be writing about childhood memories. The movies I saw as a kid, that influenced my taste and the reason that I today have a rather... large DVD collection. As you will know by what I told you about on Twitter. So now I'm gong to tell you about my first time to the cinema, the first movie that made me go "wow" and other movies that have made an impact on me. And I'll tell you about 2 TV-shows I remember very well. I'll try to limit this to movies seen under under the age of 13, since that is the start of the teenage years. But I won't promise anything... haha

So... The year is 1985, it's almost christmas and my aunt and uncle had "borrowed" me to go to the cinema. I guess they needed an excuse to go see it. Anyway... I'm 7 years old, and having the time of my life. And the movie is Santa Claus - The Movie

This one is of course a part of my DVD collection. And every christmas for the past 7-8 years I've seen it. Now it's not christmas without it.

And since it's almost christmas and I'm already taking about it, I'll continue on other christmas memories from my childhood. Things I've got to see, or it just won't be a proper christmas. I'm sure you all have it.

The first one is Jul i Skomakergata. And for you that's not from Norway and don't know what I'm talking about, you can read about it here. Here's a link to the intro. The music makes me smile and I'm a kid again when I see it.

And then theres Dinner for One. In Norway we see this December 23 at 9pm... every year. I know that everywhere else, it's shown New Years Eve. But you know us Norwegians, we're always different

Moving along... another great memory for me is The Snowman. Loved it from the first time I saw it. And today it's in my DVD collection. The next one is a Czech-German fairy-tale film from 1973. Can you guess it....? Yes, it's Three Nuts for Cinderella. If you never heard of this one, read more here. Every Christmas Eve at 11am, if I'm not at work, I sit down to see it. But if I miss it, I have it on DVD so I can put it on when I want to.

The next two are Norwegian film that you might not have heard about. At least the first one. It's called Reisen til Julestjernen, or "The Journey to the Christmas Star". Take a look at the clip even though you probably won't understand a thing. The music just when it starts.... for me it's just perfect. The last one you might have heard of. It's not a christmas movie, but it's on TV every year here in Norway and its Flåklypa Grand Prix or "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix". The car race in the end is so much fun and many of the details is used in the pod race in Star Wars - episode 1, including the sabotage, the late start, the engine trouble, the dirty tricks and even elements of the camerawork.

But enough about christmas movies and let's move along.

I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I do remember the movie. For as long as I can remember, I've always looked up at the stars, planets and space. So one day my uncle (not the same one I mentioned before), thought I would love to see this movie. And he was right.... The movie was Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope.

This movie has influenced me in more ways that I can count. It made me love Sci-fi, adventure & fairytale movies, just to name a few. As I got older it made me understand the possibilities of movies as a way of telling stories, and that it's only your imagination that can stop you.

Since this blog is getting a bit long... for me anyway, I'm a talker, not a writer . And since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I just show you some pictures, trailers or clips from movies that have brought me some great memories. The order is random...

The Goonies

Willow

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial

Håkon Håkonsen (the intro in the Norwegian version)

or "Shipwrecked" as it was called internationally.

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

saw this one first and loved it

Indiana Jones And The Raiders of The Lost Ark

then in the way they were released

Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom

Close Encounters of The Third Kind

Ghostbusters

I don't remember if I saw this one or no.2 first. But I do remember I saw them close together.

Ghostbusters 2

saw this one at the cinema when I was 11

Dirty Dancing

Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars - Episode VI: Return of The Jedi

Hook

I know... I was 14 when I saw this one. But I love it and I just had to put it in here

Les Mondes Engloutis

This is one of the 2 TV-shows I remember very well. I'm guessing you have no idea what this is, so you can read more about it here. The two seasons are today a part of my DVD collection. It was a christmas present from Trine last year.

The other one I don't have any information on. But here is the intro to it.

Les enfants de la liberté

I don't have this on DVD, but it's still a great childhood memory.

Jaws

I'm putting this one at the end for one reason. I was told, not that long ago, that when my mother was pregnant with me, she went to see Jaws. It must have had an effect, because I have always loved this movie. I don't remember when I saw it for myself, but I do remember it was before my 13th birthday.

I really hope that you have enjoyed reading this and that I can post part 3 before the end of the year. But this is a busy time of year for me, so don't keep your hopes up

Bye

Thought is was time for me to write a longer blog entry. But what should I write about...

It was thuginthemaking who had the idea. Since I have a rather big collection of DVD's. She thought I should write about my love of movies. Sounded like a good idea at the time, so I have been thinking about it since then. And calling it part 1, is sort of my promise to you that there will be several blogs on the subject

And since I have a great fondness for movies based on true stories, this is what my blog is about. At this moment I have 84 movies that fall in to this category. I'll try not write about all of them, but pick out a chosen few.

So I will start with Remember The Titans.

If there happen to be someone who haven't seen this movie... see it and you will know why I love it. I'll leave it at that

But there are other Sports films that's in my collection. Coach Carter, Miracle, Glory Road, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Invincible, The Rookie & We Are Marshall. These movies will make you proud, sad, angry, happy, nervous... I could go on and on.

But let's move on instead. Change 'category' and move on to Thirteen Days.

The reason why I love this movie is that through the entire film, you sit there thinking 'this is going to hell'. Even though you know perfectly well that everything "ended well". Just see it and you understand what I mean.

But there are other movies about events that changed history, about people that saw something wrong and tried to change it. All The President's Men,

They don't make journalists like this anymore. The power of the truth off the written word.

And then there are two incidents in history that at the end of seeing these movies, you will either feel happy and proud or sad and angry. Apollo 13 & Hotel Rwanda

Two other favorites of mine is Amistad & Amazing Grace. These two movies tells stories about a time in our history that should never be forgotten. And that some people fought against it, and eventually abolished slavery.

Then there are different men and women who stood up against injustice and changed this. The Hurricane, I still think Denzel was robed of an Oscar for this role. Milk, Sean Penn is fantastic in this one. Erin Brockovich, you can't help but love this movie. A strong and smart woman, a story that just takes you and don't let go until the movie's over. And Julia.. we love Julia. North Country, this is what I wrote on MovieTome.com review.

"A strong film... a very good film.
And I get angry, very angry when I see this film. I just want to punch out almost every man in the film, and rip off their... family jewels.
Because there are some men that I like in the story. But they are few and far apart.
And it makes me cry when I know women have gone through this, and still does. It just breaks my heart.
So to all the fathers out there. See this film and don't act like Josey's father. Be the father he is in the end.
Protect the women around you, and beat the crap out of them that don't. "

The next film on my list is Zodiac. The story is great, the actors are fantastic and the director takes his time in telling the story. This in itself makes it a fantastic movie. What should scare the crap out of you, is the fact that this is based on a true story.

There is one Norwegian movie that I think as many as possible should see, and that is Max Manus or the international title Max Manus - Man of War. For some of you this will be a movie with subtitles, but I urge you to see it anyway. It's really good.

There is one actor I have to write about in this part. And that is Michael Sheen... if you haven't heard of him, what rock have you been hiding under?! I just love the way this guy acts. From Tony Blair in 'The Queen' to Lucian in 'Underworld', Michael Sheen is just amazing. So here are three off his movies that are based on true stories. The Queen, Frost/Nixon & The Damned United. I don't like soccer, but I'll see this movie anyway, just because it Michael Sheen. So I'm really looking forward to November 20th. Then I get to see Michael as Aro in New Moon.

To finish off this blog. I wanted to end with a movie that made me smile. It's a really feel-good movie about... well wine. I don't like wine, but this movie made me want to change my mind. Just so that I could find out what they were taking about. Bottle Shock.

I'll start to work on my next entry in a few days. 'til then... go see some movies

Happy birthday Trine