i always love a feel-good movie, and perhaps one of my all-time favorites would be rodgers and hammerstein's the sound of music... i watched quite a chunk of it yesterday at wowow, and still i consider it a grand movie. imagine, it was done way back in the 60's, and until now it never fails to capture the hearts of just about anyone. (i wonder if somebody hates this movie!) from the songs, to the story, to the characters, oh how i wish i was stuck in this film capsule! the early parts of the film quite reminded me of our class' vividly memorable production (with the line-ups and the whistles and all... pretty hilarious!) .. among the songs, i'd pick "my favorite things" and, ahmm, "the sound of music". (weird fantasy: me, high-pitched, with alps scenery:"the hills are aliiiiive... with the sound of muuu..siiic!!!!) julie andrews was wonderful, and still is (i sneaked to watch the dvd of "the princess diaries 2" a couple of weeks ago). and dear, it's a treat to see christopher plummer when he was still fine-looking (come on, i had a slight crush on captain von trapp when i watched tSoM a few years back, and it's all coming baaack...). man, did he grow old and wrinkled and white-haired when i saw him alongside russell crowe on "the insider"! just goes to show we can't forever hold on to our dazzle... 50 years later, i wonder how i'll look like? ;-)

watching "tSoM" with my dad, he told me about his experience back then in 1963 (i think he was 7 or 8), when the family watched the big-screen version at the local orpheum... he said he couldn't see a thing because it was a standing-room show, and the theater was jam-packed and everyone was on their feet to see the screen! he then related that "the sound of music" was shown for a record six months here! that's so fanatical! nowadays, the usual 'playspan' of a major big-budgeted film is around 10 weeks only, or maybe three months...

all been said, "the sound of music" is pretty much a testament to the term "oldies but goodies"...

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i've been perusing self-help/inspirational books from the bookshelf lately, recent of them is francis j. kong's "one day at a time". i like the stories, parables, words of wisdom, and bits & pieces the book has to offer. there's an entry on october 31 that talks about not supporting or watching horror films because it fools the mind into thinking scared and it's a waste of money & time. since anyway, it's got a connection with my blog entry (= movies!), i want to share with you this funny cynical list (excerpt):

"Tips from the Horror Movie Characters' Survival Guide"

1. If you're searching for something that caused a mysterious noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.
2. When you have the benefit of numbers, never pair it off or go it alone.
3. Do not search the basement, especially if the electrical power has just gone out.
4. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to hell.
5. Never stand in, on, above, below, beside or anywhere near a grave, crypt, tomb, mausoleum or any other house of the dead.
6. If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.
7. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog, the Bermuda Triangle or any small town in Maine.
8. Beware of strangers bearing tools such as chain saws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawn mowers, butane torches, soldering irons or band saws,
9. If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.
10. When you have killed a monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

i never really liked horror movies. though i did watch them voraciously when i was younger, but now i don't because i find them tasteless and boring (scaredy-cat!!!). i'd rather like suspense... and some romance. and i secretly want to watch "madagascar"!

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