A lighter topic

I write about a lot of more serious topics, but I'm not really a serious person.  I really enjoy having fun, and one thing I frequently do as a diversion (spurred on largely by Zach's love for this activity) is go to the movies.  I saw quite a few during 2012, and I am going to share my top 10 in case you are looking for something to rent.  The actors in italics are not necessarily the main characters, but the more famous actors, just in case you are curious "who's in it?"

10. 21 Jump Street  I'm sure you saw the previews, and you may have even rolled your eyes at the antics of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, assuming (understandably so) that all the funniest parts were in the trailer. I am happy to report that this assumption is false.  There is no deeper meaning in this movie, but it's a good solid 2 hours of funny, if that's what you're looking for!

9. Moonrise Kingdom  (Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray)This was one of the more unique storylines I've seen lately.  A child in foster care is at scout camp, and doesn't really fit in, so he runs away with a young girl.  Despite his oddities, they become close friends and even fall in (pre-teen) love.  It comes complete with a happy ending, too.

8. The Descendants  (George Clooney) I've always been interested in visiting Hawaii.  This movie made me want to go even more, and not just to visit, but to make it my home.  (Ok so I don't really ever foresee myself not living in the Pacific Northwest, but it's kind of a nice alternate reality to imagine.)  Have you ever felt angry at someone you loved while something horrible was happening to them, and had to reconcile all those emotions?  Then you will probably be able to relate to this movie.

7. Argo  (Ben Stiller, John Goodman, Victor Garber)  This movie captures an interesting bit of American history that was classified until the Clinton presidency.  It almost has to be a true story, because you cannot make this stuff up.  The cast really brings the story to life, and I challenge you to TRY not to have white knuckles by the end!!

6.  The Hunger Games  (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson) I read the whole trilogy of books just before going to see the movie, and I would recommend reading at least the first book before you see the movie; they do a really, really excellent job filling in some of the stuff that would seem difficult to understand from the vantage point of the main character, Katniss (Lawrence) but I still feel like there would have been some leaps that were not intuitive to me had I not read the books first.

5. Seven Psychopaths  (Collin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken)  I wasn't quite sure what this movie was about going into it.  I thought I would find it entertaining but ultimately forgettable.  Wrong!!  It is one of the funniest movies I saw all year, and I'm not sure it was even billed as a comedy; or, at the very least, it is a different type of comedy than "21 Jump Street," more subtle and dry (and just a little graphic at times).  A writer (Farrell) is trying to come up with a plot involving 7 psychopathic people, and looks to real life for inspiration.  Christopher Walken basically plays who you expect him to play, which makes it that much more awesome.

4.  The Grey (Liam Neeson)  A plane full of men wrecks in the freezing arctic, and as the men try and survive the cold and the elements, they are also being hunted by a pack of wolves.  As they conquer some of the wolf pack, the wolf pack conquers some of them.  This movie makes even Bear Grylls look like a big wimp.

3.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower  (Emma Watson, Kate Walsh, Paul Rudd) A freshman-in-high-school boy looks for acceptance in the early 1990's.  Basically, I loved it because I found it relatable on a strange level.  I wasn't quite that shy or affected when I began college at OSU, but I was fairly shy and found some of the best and deepest friends of my life among people who were very different from me.

2.  Pitch Perfect (Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth Banks)  Ok DON'T JUDGE until you've seen it.  I dragged Zach along with me, and even he loved it!!  Beca (Kendrick) is a college freshman who is being forced to attend the university her dad teaches at, even though she wants to produce music in L.A.  Her dad encourages her to be involved in a group, saying he will let her drop out after one year if she is involved in a group and still doesn't want to come back to be a sophomore.  She joins the Barden Bellas, an all-female a capella group which has graduated the strongest members and is looking to rebuild.  From there, all I can say is that hilarity ensues, and the musical numbers they put together are really, really catchy.  (And the a capella competition commentators are a hilarious touch.) I would put this movie on par with "Bridesmaids" in proving that women really can be really, really funny!

1.  Bernie  (Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey)  Don't go into this expecting to see a typical Jack Black movie.  You will almost forget it is him by the end of it, because he doesn't do any of that weird attention-seeking stuff.  He gives life to the character, and he is very believable.  He plays Bernie Tiede in a part-film-part-documentary about an early 1990's murder in east Texas.  Bernie came into town, worked for the church, and made little old ladies feel like they were the center of the universe when they became widowed.  He was beloved all throughout town, and befriended an especially crotchety one (MacLaine) especially closely.  One day something horrible happened...I will let the movie tell you the story.