I don't think ANYTHING bugs me as much as when I tell someone that I like a movie and they say, "Chick Flick." I truly believe this a rude comment, meant to be derogatory...and, bottom line, I guess I am never quite sure
why it is said. Is it meant to put
me down (and 'chicks' in general) or the movie? Why do you feel the need to 'rate' a movie as such? And, what constitutes a movie being a "chick flick" anyway?
I had this conversation a couple of months ago while attempting to loan a movie to a friend who, by the way, is not a chick. Among the STACK of movies that he was happy to have me loan him was the (brilliant) Academy Award winning film,
Once.As he sifted through all the DVDs he grabbed
Once and handed it back to me. "Chick Flick" he said without even looking up. I threw a highly-defensive remark right back at him--along with the DVD. "Are you kidding me?" I added.
He said, "Look at this cover...boy and girl walking together toward the sunset...Chick Flick."
I'm telling you truly--NOTHING irritates me more than this.
I asked him what makes a 'chick flick' AND, even more importantly, why he is unable to watch such a film, even on a recommendation from me--someone who knows him and thinks he might really enjoy it.
He said, "A chick flick is made to appeal to woman. It's heavy on the relational and emotional side...it's a movie where you're left crying at the end. You know, like 'Beaches.'"
Really? I told him that I'd never seen Beaches in its entirety, but that I have cried in hell of a lot of movies.
I, in fact, cry at some point during MOST movies (ask my kids.) Heck, I bawled in "
Shawshank Redemption", "Million Dollar Baby" and, most recently, (and for the third time) while watching "Crash." He stopped me to say that he had cried in "Crash" too.
OK. But it's not a chick flick...right? Deeply emotional as well as relational, but you'd never call it Chick Flick for sure!
He said, "OK...a Chick Flick is a movie where people live happily ever after...chicks go nuts for that kind of stuff!" I tell ya, I about threw a shoe. I hated the conversation. But I am stubborn as a
freakin' ox. I don't give up easily.
I made him take the movie. I assured him that it was not romantic, he probably wouldn't cry and if it encouraged him to watch the movie, I would swear that nobody in the film lives happily ever after.
He took it. And he had it, along with five or six of my other recommended DVDs, for the last couple of months.
Yesterday I had a voice mail from him on my phone.
"Hey, I couldn't sleep last night, so I popped in Once. Oh my gosh Julie! What a good movie! I love the guys voice and his songs and I really like the non-traditional ending! It was really good."Wow. I called him back and he could not stop 'gushing' over the film and its brilliance. He even told me that he had downloaded the music and couldn't wait to purchase the movie for himself.
And, he suggested that the movie cover be changed so that it didn't look like a chick flick.
I very kindly suggested that perhaps he change his attitude about movies in general and not judge a book by its cover. I went on to say that--as far as I was concerned--having deep emotions is a human trait, not a female one. I added that having a good relationship is not just the stuff of fiction and fairy tales...we
all desire this...women and men.
A good movie that touches your heart or stirs your soul or encourages your hope for love and relationship should not be delegated--or negatively judged--as belonging to just one half of our population. I believe those who quickly dismiss a movie, calling it 'chick flick' are missing out on some very good films.
Or, perhaps, they are just sitting alone in a dark room at night with a Kleenex box realizing that they are deeply moved by an emotionally touching movie...
It's OK guys. You won't be judged.
In fact...we like you like that.
While looking for pictures to use at my Grandmother's funeral, I came upon this classic. Allison and Daina on their graduation day from Serrano Intermediate School TWELVE YEARS AGO.
Just a few of the reasons I am especially happy today...
So...I have (GREAT) tickets to game three and game four (if the Dodgers don't sweep of course) of the NLDS playoffs at Dodgers Stadium. We know where...we know when. The only thing we DON'T know is WHO they will be playing--the Cubs or the Phillies. We SHOULD know tomorrow and game one will be on Wednesday.
I talked to Allison today!
Though we truly thought it could never really happen,
We were parked in Lot #3 and by the time we went out to our car...
My friend, Dave
GREAT night with Courtney, Adam and Tim
Seriously...how great is this??
Combining Hearts & E fforts to Empower, Rebuild, Serve
My oh my what a night...
Incredible friends...
beer...
prime rib...
Manny...
a guy mopping up the spilled beer!!!
Dodger Chefs...
more beer...
Soooo much fun!
Allison gave me this book for my birthday last year. Or maybe it was for Christmas, I can't remember.
It's been a really good season.
As the 'E's start showing up in the standings I must confess that I hold on even tighter to each and every wonderful day left in the season. I just watched the Dodgers win again (magic number is 8) and was thinking of how much I really love this game...every single bit of it!
I finally got a personal trainer.
That's four and half now.
One of the GREAT benefits of being (a little) older is the incredible perspective that seems to come with each added year. You've heard people say 'If I knew then what I know now...'
This is my friend, David. He invited me (and a whole lot of other baseball lovers) to come on this fabulous Dodger getaway! Seriously, it's been an amazing couple of days.
David and Emily put together the 'field trip' (pun intended!) to Petco. The meals, the rooms, the after parties...all arranged by these great people. And OH what fun it has been!!
David even mixed up the drinks for us!
Dodgers win! And the game was spectacular!
After the game...Me and Dodger announcer, Charley Steiner...
...and Steve Lyons. Wow.
Yes, this is Russell Martin. Wow!!
I am in San Diego for the Dodgers/Padres game and could not wait to blog. Dear Lord, this is the most beautiful hotel room I have ever been in...with a view of the world!! I walked into the room and could not stop saying, "WOW! WOW! WOW!"
From my patio.
Straight down. I am on the 19th floor.
An absolutely GORGEOUS night at Angel Stadium. We had amazing (cushioned!) seats and our own waiter! 'James' brought us beer, sushi, more beer and strawberry shortcake! SO good!
The Angels were spectacular. The Yankees...not so much.
With Amy and Roy
...if you can't win, why not provide a bench and bullpen clearing brawl?
The Angels POUNDED the Yankees (how cool is THAT to write?) Beating them 12 to 1!
I had the JOY of being at the Dodgers game today as they won their EIGHTH straight, sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks! The boys in blue gave Ange the BEST 'first time at Dodger Stadium' experience EVER! (And we were in the shade the whole time!!!)
The view from our original seats...
The view from our seats from the 7th inning on!
DODGERS WIN!
And move to a game and a half ahead of Arizona!
An AMAZING DAY at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!
Today I will be going to Dodger Stadium to watch the
Tomorrow, I will be going to Angel Stadium to watch the
Tuesday night, I will be going to Petco Park to watch the
I am seriously considering an 18-day tour of Greece as my 2009 Summer Adventure. The trip is put together by the same guide who toured my group on the fabulous three-week European vacation I enjoyed in 2006.
Tonight the girls came over and we just had fun.
OK...here's my opinion...
Elijah is nearly a year and a half now!
And Sunny...
I don't think ANYTHING bugs me as much as when I tell someone that I like a movie and they say, "Chick Flick." I truly believe this a rude comment, meant to be derogatory...and, bottom line, I guess I am never quite sure why it is said. Is it meant to put me down (and 'chicks' in general) or the movie? Why do you feel the need to 'rate' a movie as such? And, what constitutes a movie being a "chick flick" anyway?
Last night, Eric Gagne moved into my house...
