Have you seen this movie? Or read the book? They are both fantastic. My boys had to do the proverbial book report and I had this one in my personal library and so Trevor started reading it.

“You do know that’s movie, right?”

“Really?”
“And it has Tom Hanks.”

“Really?”
“Yeah, we should rent it.”

But the gods of cable heard my cry that day and lo and behold, The Green Mile appeared magically on AMC this past weekend. So I rolled tape on it (dvr) and holy crap, it’s 4 hours long (with commercials).  Better get two packages of popcorn in the microwave.

The Green Mile is based on a serial novel by Stephen King.  It was published in 6 volumes ( low priced paper back books)  The version I have is bound into 1 thick book. Mr. King loves his words.

It tells the story of a corrections officer (Hanks) on Death Row in the 1930s and follows the mysterious occurrences that surround a large man, John Coffeey, wrongly convicted of murder. I won’t kid you, there are some tough scenes in this film (and book) including an electrocution that goes very wrong.  The late great Michael Jeter, makes an appearance as a fellow inmate with a pet mouse that won’t stay dead.

Ha.. I just realized, this is the same director, Frank Darabont, that helmed Shawshank Redemption, which I talked about last month. Darabont has a history of making movies based on Stephen King stories including these two and The Mist.  I should probably watch that one.

Anyway, it’s a great flick. Check it out. And then read the book. You can borrow mine whenever Trevor is done with it.

And I still haven't finished it.

Attempt No. 1: I started watching this movie (The Fountain) 2 weeks ago.  My son Tanner was with me and when the dvd started to skip about 10 minutes into it, he said to me, “This is an awesome movie and I am so glad we are watching it.”  Sarcasm is a genetic trait in our family and so I took it the disc and wiped off the offending fingerprints but then realized that I didn’t have the time that I needed to watch it and so I stopped.

Attempt No. 2: Sat down on a Saturday morning and ate my breakfast and started watching it again. Got about 15 minutes into it (great beginning with Aztec warriors and Wolverine as a Spanish conquistador, very cool) and suddenly realized that I don’t smoke weed and it’s too bright outside and this movie is going to be one freaky ride. (Hugh Jackman’s character keeps bouncing 1000 years in the future and backwards trying to save his beloved  from dying using the tree of life. Huh?)

Attempt No. 3:  Sat down on Halloween night after giving out 30 bucks of candy (hey teenagers! Go find a party to go to instead of begging for candy door to door) and tried to watch it again  along with a very attractive female friend.

Hey at least this time I got through the first 30 minutes of the movie.

————–

I can’t recommend The Fountain because I can’t seem to get through it. However, I will recommend Stardust, a movie I caught on cable over the weekend starring the lovely Claire Danes as a star reborn as a human and Michelle Pfeiffer as an evil witch trying to cut out her heart.

I did finish watching that one.  Twice.

It takes a lot of man (and woman) hours to pull of a show like this and the fact that it only lasts 3 days makes it feel so….anti-climactic.  All of this planning and behind-the-scenes logistics and vendor issues just to make those 3 days run smooth can be oh-so-stressful and I don’t know how my Team Leader and Project Manager can pull it off on a (somewhat) daily basis.  I know my brain was fried by the end of the day.

So hats off to them, my fellow CAMs and everybody out at TML including all the people who recognized me from FOX 4 and said they missed me in the morning.  Thanks 4 watching!

Now as far as movies are concerned, I got sucked into watching The Shawshank Redemption for the 203rd time.  I’ve been working on my Morgan Freeman impression and so during the entire movie I kept repeating his words back to the screen.

I must admit I didn’t think much of Andy first time I laid eyes on him; looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over. That was my first impression of the man.

I would pause the TV and get up and go to the kitchen for a drink and say out loud:

I must admit I didn’t care much for Lipton Iced Tea first time I took a drink; looked like river water that had been strained through a dirty t-shirt. That was my first impression of the tea.

You know, it’s fun to pretend that Morgan Freeman is narrating your life. You should try it sometime.

Anyway, if for some strange reason you have never seen The Shawshank Redemption, go rent it today.  Especially if you’re a guy.

Or just wait until it comes on TNT. Should be in about 2 hours. Seriously, they replay, like every week.

What movie did I want to see?
This one:

Who wants to see a scary movie by yourself, right?

Nobody spoil it for me, but I think there might be a ghost in that house.

Holy crap. I just watched the trailer and I scared myself.

Never mind. I don’t want to see this movie now.

Anyway, started watching the great John Cusack in Grosse Point Blank.

I had forgotten how smart and funny this movie is. Plus there are quite a few actors who had not quite made it that show up in little parts. Like Jeremy Piven, Hank Azaria and a don’t blink or you’ll miss her Jenna Elfman.  Also the John’s sister Joan Cusack stars as his assistant.

The storyline involves a professional assassin who comes back home for his 10 high school reunion.

Minnie Driver looks great and she has great chemistry with John. I could see them doing a smart sit-com together.  Quick, call my agent, I have an idea to pitch!

Currently showing on a cable station near you. Probably right now.