Quotes – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Q – Quotes by Troy Anderson

Published on April 19, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

I was going to share my MC’s greatest quotes, but I decided to help Paige Rion out and turn my Q post over to her. Check it out here. I get her back by taking her U post, next week.

But, I still have a few choice quotes from my male MC Troy Anderson to share with you.

“I remember everything you say to me.”

“I haven’t heard your voice in eight years, and I like the way it sounds.”

“I can’t believe we waited so long to do that.”

“We’ll… work… something… out,” Troy spoke between kisses. “We’ll steal Ryan’s notes.”

“That I want to be with you.”

“If you ask me, we haven’t moved fast enough.”

“Listen, if it takes you a little while longer to get to where I’m at, that’s fine. I’ll wait.”

Troy is such a great guy, but trust me, he’s not perfect. Do your favorite lines still get to you, even after you’ve read them 400 times?

AVAILABLE JUNE 2, 2014!!!!

Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon

Published on January 26, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Last year, I participated in three of 5 stages in the 5 Obsturction Blogathon created by Nostra of myfilmviews.com. I enjoyed the blogathon because it made me look at movies and movie reviews in a different way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finished it because life got in the way, but I promised myself if he hosted another blogathon, I would be all in. MyFilmViews.com along with Karamel Kinema have created the Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon.

The rules are simple, answer the following 16 questions.

Life

1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit? The first movie I remember seeing in the movie theater was 1977 Smokey and the Bandit. The movie stared Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. I remember not really understanding it. I was really young.

2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie (for example something which happened at the time you were watching it)? Smokey and the Bandit holds a strong memory. The story: “The Bandit is hired to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.” That trailer of beer was Coors beer and my father worked for Coors at the time in the marketing department and it was shameless marketing how often they showed that truck full of Coors beer.

3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life? 1980 Urban Cowboy because it took place in Houston and that’s were I was living at the time. It was cool to have a movie set in your own city. We got to share it with the word. Although the movie didn’t do much to dispel any of the Texas stereotypes.

4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood (for example if you are feeling down/nursing a heartbreak)? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is my go to movie to put myself in a good mood. Not only is it southern and sexy it has some amazing dialogue.

5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you? It would be some type of chick lit movie with a lot of humor, but at the center, it would be my journey to find my passion. Thandie Newton could play me. Although we look nothing alike.

6. Which existing movie best represents you? The Matrix – I spent most of my life doing what was expected of me. I wasn’t unhappy, but I always thought I was supposed to be doing something else. I feel like I had been asleep for a long time, but two years ago, I finally woke up.

7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see? The Avengers. It is my favorite movie with my favorite movie character (Tony Stark/Ironman) and the dialogue is brilliant.

8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why? (you know, director, producer, actor, cinematographer, costume designer, sound designer etc?) I would like to be a studio executive/executive producer. I would have the opportunity to make decisions on what movies got made and help to raise funding for those movies. If I did have this job, trust me, there would be a new Avenger movie out every six months for the rest of my life.

Love

1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing? I haven’t, but how cool would that be.

2. What is your favorite movie relationship and why? Anna Scott & William Thacker – not only is it the regular person with the famous person, but the movie doesn’t just stop when they finally get together, you get to find out what happens after that. That movie had the most satisfying ending.

3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown? I have loved movies as long as I can remember. A movie a week was normal for my family growing up. Often we had a movie day on Monday holidays, we would spend the whole day at the movies watching one after the other. We got in four one time. It’s my favorite escape.

4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why? I have two depending on where we were in our relationship. He’s Just Not that Into You if I needed him to think differently about relationships and Titantic if I wanted him to see what never dying love is all about. (I know, most of them die, but it’s a feeling)

5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why? Legolas from LOTR and The Hobbit. Not only is he beautiful in the most masculine sort of way for an Elf, but he is loyal, understands tradition, spiritual and he will fight and die for you.

6. What was the first movie that made you fall in in love with film and cinema? I had an early love of movies, but I think The Breakfast Club made me recognize and fall in love with a perfect movie. It was the first moment I realize what an amazing script, amazing cast and an amazing director could create.

7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger? My friends used to play the movie quote game and I would pick the most obscure dialogue or line and stump them every time. On a trip to London when I was 15, I got home sick and the thing that made me feel better was reciting the entire script of The Breakfast Club. My love of quotes is where Sydney Quotes the Movies come from.

8. What is your favorite date from a movie? I don’t know if this actually qualifies as a date, but my favorite couple moment is from Notting Hill when Anna gives William the Chagall painting and says my favorite movie line of all time, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

Where did your love of movies come from? Join the blogathon and tell us.

The 5 Obstruction Blogathon – Obstruction 2

Published on July 30, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Month two of The 5 Obstruction Blogathon and we are challenged to write a review of a movie and include an interview. I get a gold check mark if I am able to interview a person involved in the movie. Well, fortunately, I didn’t have to go to far to find a quality interview. On a recent trip to LA, my brother ran into one of his high school friends, Mr. James Lopez. James is a studio executive at Screen Gem a division of Sony Pictures.

He was generous enough to answer my amateur journalist questions and I think I got some good stuff. Hope you enjoy.

Think Like a Man

Think Like a Man chronicles the relationships of four guys attempt to get back at their women once they discover they are being manipulated by the mandates in the book, Act Like a Lady and Think Like a Man by comedian Steve Harvey.

As the Studio Executive on this film, James’ responsibilities covered the time frame from acquiring the project for Screen Gem to the films release and every step in-inbetween.

While I didn’t want to bust my own magic movie bubble, I was fascinated by how this self help book with no characters was transformed into an ensemble cast motion picture. James credits the writers in creating the unique take on the project, which was essential in getting the movie green lighted.

The movie is full amazing relationship dialogue between men and women. During the writing process, James felt the movie needed some extra “funny”. He hired a comedic writer to “punch up” (industry term) the comedy. The result is a good movie with great witty rhetoric and one liners. Some of my favorite:

“We’ve been betrayed by one of our own. A man. I’m talking about a man with a penis. Someone who should know better.”

“I’m one of the guys except I have a vagina.”

“I swear to God Frodo Baggins had it easier.”

“All this waiting for better is making you bitter.”

“Honesty is overrated. That’s in the Bile. Old Testament.”

During casting, James’ used his influence to secure Romany Malco in the role of Zeke, the player. You may know Romany from 40 Year Old Virgin and Blades of Glory. Zeke is one of my favorite character’s in the book. The Player who falls in love get’s me every time. (Don’t ask why.)

As a writer, I am fascinated with the timeline and process of a book from idea to publication. I asked James to give me the rundown of Think Like a Man’s journey.

The book was published in January of 2009.
Producer tracked the success of the book.
The producer bought the movie rights to the book.
Screen Gem optioned it for a movie.
Writers were hired to determine how to craft a screenplay out of a book with no characters.
Studio liked the idea of the book becoming a living character in the movie that guided the actions of these characters.
The script is written and it is to long.
Comedy writer is hired to punch up the comedy.
Table read (hire actors to do it, but not necessarily the actors in the film). They are looking at timing and to see how the dialogue plays out. Where it gets a laugh or it just lies there.
Green Light the movie – where the money comes in.
Casting and scheduling
Pre-Production (8 weeks) – location, scouting, logistics
Production (33 days of filming)
Editing (3 months)
Mixing for sound and music
Test and screening – changes based on test
Lock Picture
Release (2012)
Marketing and Promotion

For a picture of this size and with this type of cast, once green light, the movie came about fairly quick. They must have done something right because the movie was a great success. The movie cost $12 million to make and grossed over $90 million in the domestic box office.

I had to ask James if he could tell me anything about the sequel. He was tight lipped, but he did let me know the entire cast will be back for the sequel and an addition of Wendi McLendon-Covery from Braidsmaid. Again, a choice championed by Mr. Lopez.

Look for more instant classic’s from James Lopez (I’ve know him since I was 10, how cool is that) in 2013 and 2014 such as Battle of the Year (release in September 2013), About Last Night (remake of the Rob Lowe/Demi Moore 80’s classic release in February 2014) and Think Like A Man 2 (release in June 2014).

Have you seen Think Like A Man? What did you think?

Thank Like a Man – Cast and Crew – NYTimes.com

SQM – Pacific Rim

Published on July 16, 2013July 16, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

From the mind of Guillermo Del Toro, the man who wrote the screenplay for the Hellboy series and The Hobbit Series and one of my favorites, Pan’s Labyrinth, wrote and directed this robots meet alien monsters movie, Pacific Rim.

I enjoyed this movie. It’s a great story with an original story line and great robots and monsters. Two thing that sealed the deal for me in picking this movie as my second favorite of the year (IronMan3 is #1 if you’re wondering) 1, most of the movie took place in Hong Kong, which is a city I spent a lot of time in when I lived in Asia and 2, at the end, the male and female protagonist are shown in the final scene and they didn’t end it with a kiss. (Thank you, I hate that, see Speed).

Let’s get to the quotes:

Raliegh Beckett (so cute): I’ll let Raliegh explain this movie.

“We always thought alien life would come from the stars but it came from deep beneath the sea, a portal beneath dimensions in the Pacific Ocean. Something out there had discovered us. The first Kaiju made land in San Francisco. The second attack hit Manilla. Then the third one hit Cabo. Then we learned this was not going to stop. In order to fight monsters, we created monsters of our own. We needed a new weapon. The Jaeger Program was born. Two pilots, our minds, our memories, we were connected when man and in machine become one. We started winning, then it all changed. They counted on the humans to hide, to give up, to fail. We never considered our ability to stand, to endure, that we would rise to the challenge.”

You can’t blame Raliegh for being reluctant to fight, but you can’t deny Stacker Pentacost’s (great name) powers of persuasion.

“Two things, one, don’t ever touch me and two, don’t ever touch me.”

“Haven’t you heard? The world is coming to an end. We need a pilot. I need your fighting skills.”

“This is the end of the world. So where do you want to die? Here or in a Jaeger?”

“Today we are canceling the apocalypse!”

The dark movie needed some comic relief, and this time it came in the form of a short, nasally tattoed scientist who had a unique admiration for the monsters; meet Dr. Newton Geizler.

“Their sole purpose was to aim for the most populated areas and take out the vermin, us.”

“If you’re going to stop them, you have to understand them.”

“Ten Thousand Five Hundred tons of awesome.”

The movie was ten thousand five hundred tons of amazing and I only touched the surface. Go see it. If you need help keeping some of the concepts straight, I’ve included a little Pacific Rim cheat sheet.

Jaegers – robots created to fight the monsters.

Kaiju – alien monsters who pass through a portal in the depths of the pacific ocean to take over earth.

Pilot to Pilot connection – the Jaegers are controlled by two pilots who must enter each others minds to share the viral load in order to control the robot. Only two pilots have been able to control a Jaeger solo without ending up as a vegetable.

Neural Handshake – the process by which the pilots connect. (This connect seems to work best with relatives; brothers or father/son, but doesn’t have to.)

Last but, the opposite of least, let me introduce you to the robots.

If you’re not a sci-fi fan, still go see this movie. If you are a sci-fi fan, hold on to your geeked out mind, this is a good one.

Have you seen Pacific Rim? What did you think?

SQM – Immortals

Published on June 21, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

The New Superman before he was Superman

I watched this movie a few weeks ago because I really liked Henry Cavill in The Tudors and in anticipation of the Man of Steel movie. I thought the movie was going to be like 300 (brilliant), Troy (amazing) and Clash of the Titans (a great story).

It saddens me to report, the only good thing about this movie was the poster and Henry Cavill’s chest and abs. Allow me to guide you through the good, corny and down right bad movie that is Immortals.

Good

Henry Cavill’s body, Some visually stunning fight scenes and the gods.

Let me show you the God.

This scene is long, but really good. The God’s were beautiful.

Corny – The movie made me laugh out loud on more then one occasion and it wasn’t a comedy.

“Let me enlighten you priest.” Then Mickey Rourke’s character set him on fire.

“At least I’ll be spared a slow death. Indecision is not their style.” And then he’s set on fire which is a slow agonizing and painful death.

“We have a war to fight.” Well, duh Theisus. It’s not very motivating to say we have a war to loose.

“It takes more then lighting candles to make babies.” I guess this women is not so easily woo’ed by romantic gestures.

“Personally I’d rather fight with a mad man then against him.” Only a mad man would say that.

“It was designed to be impenetrable. Have you ever know of a gate to be designed to be anything but.” Again, Mr. Obvious rears it’s ugly head.

“I have faith in you Thesius.” All powerful, omnipotent Zeus has faith in his son.

“In peace son bury their fathers. In wars fathers bury their sons.” Ok, I actually like this quote. Sad, but true.

“He bears the olive branch of peace.” But, let’s end it with another cliche for good measure.

Down Right Bad

Boris the Animal helmets – see my post on Boris from Men In Black 3.

Shield bashing drum cadence speech.

Cliche to the point it hurt to watch. I thought they were about to break out in a synchronized dance.

It’s just a really bad movie.

Have you seen Immortals, what did you think?