Archive for "Movies"
Low Key Birthday Weekend
Posted on November 4, 2021 by Ching under Confessions, Life, Movies.
I’ve been feeling a bit down lately and so I haven’t really been my usual jubilant self. This translated into a pretty low key birthday — unlike previous years when I’m celebrating my birthday every single day of the month for three months straight until the end of the year. It’s just weird. Maybe this is what a mid-life crisis feels like? Anyway, I’m trying to be as normal as possible despite not feeling completely like myself. It might be time for therapy again. I haven’t done anything because it’s not really negatively impacting my health and those around me but I do feel strange so perhaps I should do something about it?
But I digress, in an effort to be normal, we decided to have people over last weekend. As you know, my birthday usually falls on Halloween weekend so, whenever we have a get together around the time of my birthday, costumes are usually encouraged. I love costumes but I’m not one to go all out either so I try to keep things as simple as possible while still trying to be clever. One year I was little too clever with my “domestic goddess” costume idea I kept having to explain to people what I was dressed as all evening.
This year, no one understood what I was — yet again — so I ended up renting 13 Going On 30 for $4 just so people would see “the dress.” I was supposed to be Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) and Brian was supposed to be Mattie (Mark Ruffalo), which is a super easy costume for him since it’s just jeans and a button-down shirt. Brian has outgrown the whole costume thing and doesn’t really like dressing up for Halloween anymore. Not sure he ever really enjoyed it, though he seemed to a long, long time ago. Maybe we are just old and not fun anymore?
Speaking of the movie, I rented it so I actually sat there and watched some of it. It came out almost 20 years ago (2004) so I didn’t remember much of it except for the iconic scenes. I really enjoyed watching it again and it even made me cry in parts. And, no, it’s not because I’m depressed. Movies have always made me cry — even the ones that are supposed to be funny. I’m not exactly sure why.
Here’s a preview of the movie for those of you who have never seen it.
So yeah, it’s a romcom (aka romantic comedy) and not a drama but I still cried. But There’s Something About Mary made me cry too; as did Shrek and a bunch of other movies. I think I’ve yet to watch a movie that didn’t make me cry or move me in some way. Even stupid movies make me cry. Maybe in those situations it’s because I’ve lost two hours of my life I will never get back. I don’t know. I’ll pay better attention next time and try to figure out exactly what is going on and why my face is suddenly wet with teardrops.
At the risk of ruining the movie for you, it’s a happy ending. She comes to her senses, rewrites her future, and marries her best friend. I actually really like this movie. It had enough funny parts to keep me entertained. It’s cute and, even though I’d seen it before, it still made me cry. Happy endings always make me cry.
I sometimes wonder if happy endings make me cry because I don’t understand how it’s always the most mundane things that supposedly bring people happiness. The ending showed them moving into a pink house in the suburbs and it looked like she might have turned out to be a school teacher or maybe a housewife and not a big time magazine editor with a fancy New York apartment. Maybe I cried because even though she had everything she’d ever wanted in her alternate life, she ended up hating herself and wasn’t happy? Once she realized what she had become, she decided she didn’t like herself very much, and I guess I didn’t understand it. I mean, it’s entirely possible to have everything you want and not hate yourself. Why couldn’t she be a big time magazine editor with a fancy New York apartment AND still marry her best friend? I guess that wouldn’t make for a very dramatic movie but it makes me sad that you can’t have both.
Anyway, I forgot that the whole alternate future thing happens while she’s in the closet at her birthday party so I thought it was perfect that I watched the movie on my actual birthday. Maybe it’ll start an annual tradition of watching it every year on my birthday just to remind myself of what happiness looks like because I tend to forget sometimes. Until next time, GNG.
No Comments
Tallgrass Film Festival 2018
Posted on November 4, 2018 by Ching under Events, Movies.
Speaking of friends we don’t get to see very much, we had the opportunity to catch up with April a couple of weeks ago. Cory and Gavin were at scout camp and so she had a weekend to herself. We had some extra tickets to Tallgrass Film Festival and she was able to join us.
I originally only had a couple of tickets for a movie screening but some folks at work who got better tickets ended up not being able to use theirs so I got upgraded. First of all, it’s a well known fact that I rarely (if ever) turn down free event tickets. It doesn’t matter how busy or packed my weekend already is, I will make it work. And, if I can’t use them, I make sure the tickets go to someone I know who will appreciate and enjoy them. LOL.
Instead of the two movie screening tickets, I ended up with four movie screening tickets and four gala tickets. It was a tall (pun intended) order for an already busy weekend but, after careful examination of our calendar, Brian and I figured out that we could use all four tickets by giving up pickle ball on Sunday. We could watch Eleven Hundred to Lubbock and attend then gala party on Saturday and then use the remaining tickets to watch the screening of White Tide: The Legend of Culebra and attend the gala party on Sunday.
The tickets weren’t marked for specific movies or parties so I figured that we could use them for any movie or any of the four gala parties throughout the film fest.
Anyway, we had to adjust our plans when Jenni asked if she could have a set of movie/gala passes for Adam. She got a Tallpass from all of the volunteer work that she’s done for Tallgrass Film Festival so she had access to everything but she wanted to share the experience with him and he didn’t have any passes. It’s always more fun to go with people so I committed the tickets to her. That meant we had an extra set left which ended up going to April.
This actually worked out better because we got to attend the movie screening and the party on Saturday with a group of people and we didn’t have to give up Sunday night pickle ball, which I didn’t really want to miss. LOL.
Here are a few pictures from our outing:
Photo of the Eleven Hundred to Lubbock cast/crew receiving their Stubbornly Independent award.
Not the best group pic because it was dark at the party (intentionally because they had lots of glow in the dark decorations that look best in blacklight); however, Brian managed to get everyone in the photo. Clockwise around Brian’s head starting with me: Michael, Michelle, Jenni, Adam, and April.
April and I took advantage of the Glam Station, which reminded me of the free makeup stations they always have that #ZINCON during the theme parties.
Here’s a picture of me with makeup artist, Tedi Stephens, of TediFX.
April got a couple of glow in the dark flowers.
Pic of me with local producer and director, Rod Pocowatchit.
Pic of me and April as we were leaving the event.
Brian and I had participated in other TFF fundraising events (Dudegrass is super fun!) in the past but this was our first time attending the film fest itself. It’s actually a ton of fun and you get exposed to films you wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see. This will definitely be on our list of things to do for years to come.
ELEVEN HUNDRED TO LUBBOCK – Trailer from Good Kitty Studios on Vimeo.
1 Comment
A Star is Born Movie Night
Posted on October 22, 2018 by Ching under Movies, Things to Do.
We’ve had a few fun movie outings with our Zumba family this year. Most recently we went to see Crazy Rich Asians and before that was Mamma Mia! 2 and I Feel Pretty. Brian doesn’t always get super excited about these types of movies so it’s nice to go with a bunch of people just as excited as I am.
Not as many came out for A Star is Born because some people had already seen it. However, our friend Alex was in town from Manhattan so she went to the movies with us. That was a special treat in and of itself.
After the movie, the plan was to go to Buffalo Wild Wings but they didn’t have enough room for us. When I told them there would 20 of us, they told me the wait would be 45 minutes to an hour. Yikes!
I called Carlos O’Kelly’s and it was the same situation. Danielle suggested we check the Mexican place. I was like, “I did. They told me an hour.” I thought she meant Carlos, which is where we normally go. She actually meant El Agave which is on the other end of the same strip as BWW. I didn’t think of it because we’d never eaten there before. As luck would have it, they had enough room for our group and we didn’t have to wait at all. The food wasn’t bad either.
Here’s a pic of our group. A couple of people who went to the movies opted out of dinner and then Rose, who couldn’t make the early movie, was able to join us for dinner. It worked out pretty well overall.
Here are some pictures of food.
I had the chicken mole. I actually liked it and would probably have it again if we find ourselves over that way.
Brian had a combo plate.
This is Jeff and Amanda’s dinner. I forgot that Jeff skipped the movie also but met us for dinner. I think Brian would have much rather skipped the movie too. I thought it was excellent but quite depressing.
I had El Agave’s version of a pina colada. I forget what it’s called but it was yummy.
We originally planned to go to karaoke after but it seemed like people were too tired to go and Brian hates karaoke so I didn’t press it. Specially, since only a couple of people were really interested. We ended the outing after dinner but I thought it was a great night overall. I think everyone had a good time.
Since Brian was a good sport about it, I agreed to go see Venom with him this past weekend. I wouldn’t normally go to these types of movies but I always find myself entertained when I do.
BTW, this is a perfect example of give-and-take in a marriage. We see my movies sometimes and then we see Brian’s movies sometimes. That way no one feels jilted or jipped. Though, I must admit, Brian is the more generous one when it comes to giving in our relationship. I’m constantly dragging him to do things with me — things he wouldn’t normally do. He seems to have fun, though. And it’s always his call. I never force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.
That’s the update for today. Until next time! GNG.
1 Comment
Pre-ZINCON Fun with Friends
Posted on August 3, 2018 by Ching under Movies, Things to Do.
Here’s what we did the weekend before we left for #ZINCON.
Brian and I went to checkout a new dance club in Old Town with some friends. Hideki was actually the one who suggested we check out Fever. It’s where Pandora and Bounce used to be. It’s actually really cool and we plan to go back very soon.
The following night was Mamma Mia! 2 night.
We had a watch party at our house for the first Mamma Mia! movie the previous weekend and then a bunch of us went to see the sequel the following weekend before Brian and I left for #ZINCON. It was perfect timing too, because I signed up for the Best of ABBA session with Steve and Kass so watching the movie right before put me in the right mood. I was super excited to attend my ABBA session after watching both movies.
Here are some pictures of us after watching the movie.
It was super fun watching it with everyone. I was amazed that we didn’t suddenly burst into song and dance in the middle of the movie. Even Alex, who loves and knows all the words to the songs, behaved herself.
Then we went to the Dairy Queen by the movie theater right after. Apparently everyone had the same idea because their drive thru was super busy!
It was the perfect night for sitting outside and visiting.
The next morning we met Jeff for breakfast at Dempsey’s Biscuit Co.
No pickleball for us that day because we had to finish packing. Check out our Zumba-fied suitcases! These are the decals that I got from Jaime at the ZIN Jam.
Our suitcases looked so legit! Anyway, I have one more non-Zumba-related post and then I’ll recap #ZINCON. Have a fabulous weekend and GNG!
No Comments
New Movie Theater in Wichita
Posted on July 3, 2018 by Ching under Movies, Things to Do.
Brian and I finally got to check out the new (I guess, not so new now) AMC movie theater at the old Northrock 14. We used to go to this theater when we first started dating, before it started getting run down. Eventually, we stopped going there and just went mostly to Warren Theatres for our movies, which had dominated the Wichita movie market. And then eventually the theater closed altogether. Fast forward several years later and the old Northrock 14 has been reincarnated as AMC.
It’s been completely gutted and remodeled inside. It actually looks very modern and nice. I like the kiosks where you can purchase tickets. There’s very limited contact with people, should you choose. The butter and soda are even self-serve.
The auditoriums vary in size. Some of them are smaller but they all have the same reclining seats. I also like that they didn’t try to cram so many rows so there’s plenty of room to walk across without getting on top of people.
I also like that it’s all reserved seating because I’m very picky about sitting smack dab in the middle of the auditorium. This way I don’t have to get there early or fight anyone else for it. I just need to buy my tickets in advance.
Our first AMC movie was Deadpool 2 a few weeks ago. And then we went back again this weekend for Solo: A Star Wars Story.
We were in smaller auditoriums both times. I wasn’t so keen on the smaller screens at first but I really like the comfortable seats and the auditorium set up. I also like that I don’t have to pay a premium for reserved seating. We will definitely be back!
In the meantime, here are a couple of movie previews for you to enjoy:
No Comments
