Big Star Wars News

Carrie Fisher has confirmed that she will be part of the new Star Wars movies (well, at least number 7, which will be directed by J.J. Abrams). She told The Palm Beach Illustrated that  she will reprise her role as Princess Leia. She joked about where she imagines the princess will be in the sequel. "She's in an intergalactic old follks' home. I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle.

In other news, Disney has announced that they are developing some "stand-alone movies" featuring Star Wars characters. They did not announce who those characters are.

What characters from the Star Wars franchise would you like to see get their own big screen treatment?

My Favorite Movies: What's Up Doc

In the 1930s and 1940s, there were wonderful films called "screwball comedies." These films starred great comedic actresses such as Carole Lombard, Katherine Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck, and Irene Dunne, and great leading men such as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, and Jimmy Stewart. The film most often called the first screwball comedy is It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. It is one of the great film comedies, and one of the very few comedies to win the Academy Award for best picture.

Screwball comedies pretty much went out the Hays Code. However, there have been a few films since then that could be called a screwball comedy. My favorite of these is Peter Bogdanovich's, What's Up Doc from 1972. The film stars Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and introduced the great comedienne, Madeline Kahn. It is one of the best comedies ever written, in my opinion. It has similarities to another great screwball comedy, Bringing Up Baby, with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, and if you're going to borrow from another movie, then Bringing Up Baby is one of the best. It's just too bad that What's Up Doc doesn't have a leopard.

The film centers around four plaid overnight cases. One contains top secret documents, another contains igneous rocks, another expensive jewels, and the last - what is most commonly found in an overnight case: clothes and toiletries, and a very large text book. When the four cases are hidden, stolen, and mistaken for another in a San Francisco hotel, hilarity ensues in a heightened farcical manner.

If I were to include all of the great lines in the movie, I would pretty much be quoting the entire script, so I've decided to just post my favorites. (There are still a lot.) Some of the quotes may not seem very funny, but I've included them because either the situation in which they were said, or the delivery were hilarious. So, I would suggest you watch the movie to appreciate them, and to simply enjoy a classic screwball comedy.

Quotes:

Eunice: Howard! Howard Bannister! Howard, when I ask you to wait for me somewhere, I expect you to stay there until I come back.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice: Now, it is difficult enough for me to have to see to all these arrangements myself.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice: It is exactly six fifteen. If we reach the hotel in half an hour, we'll have just enough time for the banquet.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice (to the porter): Put these things in a taxi.
Porter: Yes, Eunice.

Judy: They told me they'd be in room 1717 at the Hotel Crystal.
Fritz (the hotel concierge): This is the Bristol, madam, not the Crystal.
Judy: Then one of us must be in the wrong hotel.

Howard: Your bell is flat, half a tone off.

Judy: What's up, Doc?
Howard: I beg your pardon?
Judy: We've gotta stop meeting like this.
Howard: I think you're making a mistake. You see, I just came in here for something for a headache.
Judy: You're gonna need an awfully big glass of water to get that down.

Howard: I guess you're not really interested in igneous rock formations.
Judy: Not as much as I am in the metamorphic or sedimentary rock categories. I mean, I can take your igneous rocks or leave them. I relate primarily to micas, quartz, feldspar. You can keep your pyroxenes, magnetites, and coarse-grained plutonics as far as I'm concerned.
Howard: I forgot why I came in here.
Judy: Headache.
Howard: Oh, yes. Thank you and goodbye.

Judy: So, that's all I am to you? A mistake, a clerical error? Erase me, forget you even know my name.
Howard: I don't know your name.
Judy: Judy Maxwell.
Howard: How do you do?
Judy: How do you do?

Judy: Did you know that three percent of all fatal accidents happen in corner drugstores?

Judy: Eunice? That's a person named Eunice?

Judy: Steve, you didn't tell me you were married.
Howard: We're not married.
Judy: Congratulations!
Eunice: But we will be soon.
Judy: Condolences.

Eunice: Who is this person?
Howard: I haven't the vaguest idea. She was behind a rock in the drugstore.

Eunice: Don't you know the meaning of propriety?
Judy: Propriety. Noun. Conformity to established standards of behavior or manners; suitability, rightness or justness. See "etiquette."

Howard (knocks on door): Eunice. Eunice.
Eunice: Who's there?
Howard: It's me, Howard Bannister. Your fiance.

Judy: I don't know who he is, but I hate him.

Howard: I don't think of you as a woman, Eunice. I think of you as... as Eunice.

Eunice: As the years go by, romance fades and something else takes its place. Do you know what that is?
Howard: Senility.
Eunice: Trust.
Howard: That's what I meant.

Eunice: Tell me exactly what you're going to say to him.
Howard: What? Well, I'll probably say something like, "Hello there, Mr. Larrabee, I'm Howard."
Eunice: You are not.
Howard: I'm not Howard?
Eunice: You are not going to say, "Hi, my name is Howard." Anyone can say that. Anyone.
Howard: Anyone named Howard.

Eunice: Well, do your best. Be dignified.
Howard: I'll be dignified.
Eunice: Be solemn, but not stuffy.
Howard: I'll be solemn.
Eunice: Act friendly, but impersonal.
Howard: I'll be friendly.
Eunice: Pull the door open.
Howard: I'll pull the door open.

Waiter: You're upside down, sir.
Howard: I'm upside down.

Hugh: You're upside down.
Howard: I know.

Howard: You!
Judy? Eunice, Howard. Eunice. (to Mr. Larrabee) We've almost got that stammer cured.

Larrabee: You like Emerson?
Judy: I adore Emerson.
Larrabee: I adore anyone who adores Emerson.
Judy: And I adore anyone who adores anyone who adores Emerson. Your turn.

Howard: Help!

Judy: It so happens, Mr. Simon, that Howard had discussions with Leonard Bernstein about the possibility of conducting an avalanche in E flat.

Fritz: Get out of there, but don't let anyone see you.
Harry (the house detective): Roger.
Fritz: Fritz.

Howard: You have got to get out of here.
Judy: And miss all the good stuff that's coming?
Howard: She will be here any minute.
Judy: That's the good stuff that's coming.

Howard: I'm having a nightmare.

Hugh: I find that story as difficult to swallow as I do this potage au gelee.
Judy: How would you like to swallow one sandwich d'knuckles?

Howard: Don't you understand anything?
Judy: Like what?
Howard: Like Eunice.
Judy: Nope. I don't understand Eunice.

Judy: Steve, you don't want to marry Eunice.
Howard: I'm not Steve. I'm Howard.
Judy: Neither of you wants to marry Eunice.
Howard: Why do you say that?
Judy: You don't want to marry someone who's gonna get wrinkled and lined and flabby.
Howard: Everyone gets wrinkled, lined and flabby.
Judy: By next week?

Waiter: Charles, what kind of wine are you serving at table 1?

Fritz: What kind of house detective are you? You can't commit a simple burglary?
Harry: I'm ashamed.

Fritz: Snakes, as you know, live in mortal fear of... uh... tile.

Howard: You are not Burnsy. Burnsy is Burnsy. I mean, Eunice is Burnsy. I mean, she isn't Burnsy. Nobody is Burnsy.

Howard: You're just different.
Judy: Thank you. I know I'm different, but from now on I'm gonna try to be the same.
Howard: The same as what?
Judy: The same as people who aren't different.

Judy: I think you dropped something.

Howard: What do you think you're doing?
Judy: I think I'm taking a bath. Aren't I?

Howard: You are the last straw that breaks my camel's back. You are the plague. You bring havoc and chaos to everyone. But why to me? Why? Why? Why?
Judy: Because you look cute in your pajamas, Steve.

Howard: I can't seem to breath. Is it possible to break a lung?

Judy: No, no, no. I can't. I'm terrified of heights. I have acrophobia.
Howard: There's a ledge.
Judy: I have ledgeaphobia.

Howard: She has a violent temper.
Judy: I can't!
Howard: She studies karate.
Judy: Maybe I can.

Eunice: Howard, I'm going to count to five.
Howard: Don't count, Eunice. I hate it when you count.

Eunice: Since when have you taken bubble baths?
Howard: It came out of the faucet that way.

Eunice: Why are your rocks in the bathroom?
Howard: I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't.

Eunice: Howard, you are not being open with me.
Howard: I am being open with you, Eunice. I'm always open. [knock on the door] It's open.

Judy: Why, Miss Burns, what are you doing in Mr. Bannister's bedroom? Don't you know the meaning of propriety?

Howard: Come in, it's broken. I mean, it's open.

Hotel Manager: Mr. Bannister, I have a message from the staff of the hotel.
Howard: Really? What is it?
Hotel Manager: Goodbye.
Howard: That's the entire message?
Hotel Manager: We'd appreciate it if you would check out.
Howard: When?
Hotel Manager: Yesterday.
Howard: That soon?

Howard: My fiancee, Miss Sleep is still burning, and... Miss Burns is still sleeping.

Howard: What were you trying to become?
Judy: A graduate.

Judy: Something always seemed to go wrong.
Howard: Yes, I can believe that.
Judy: Well, this last time was not my fault.
Howard: What happened?
Judy: Nothing. Nothing really. It was just a little classroom. It sort of burned down.
Howard: Burned down?
Judy: Well, blew up, actually.
Howard: Political activism?
Judy: Chemistry major.

Howard (re: a letter): Did you open this?
Judy: How else could I read it?

Howard: Let me read you this letter. "Dear Howard," do you hear that? "Howard."
Eunice: That is your name.

Judy: Sure, what could go wrong?
Howard: Please, don't you say that.

Eunice (on the phone): Thank you, Miss...
Judy: Louise.
Eunice: I thought you said your name was Sylvia.
Judy: Yes, Sylvia-Louise. You know, with a hyphen.

Judy: Did anyone ever tell you that you were very sexy?
Hugh: Well, actually no.
Judy: They never will.

Hugh: I don't know who he is, but she is definitely not herself.

Hugh: Don't shoot me. I'm part Italian.

Larrabee: Don't you dare strike that brave, unbalanced woman.

Howard: What are you doing? This is a one-way street.
Judy: We're only going one way.

Judge: A foul and depraved-looking lot, Bailiff.
Bailiff: Those are just the spectators, Your Honor.

Bailiff: Is Your Honor feeling all right?
Judge: No, My Honor is not feeling all right.

Judge: You made me smash my lifesavers.

Judge: Order in the court!
Bailiff: Order in the court!
Judge: Everyone be quiet!
Bailiff: Everyone be quiet!
Judge: Silence!
Bailiff: Silence!
Judge: You too.
Bailiff: Me too.

Howard: The one who isn't my fiancee doesn't call me Howard, and the one who isn't my wife doesn't call me Howard. Because the one who isn't my fiancee also isn't my wife. The other one who isn't my wife, who is my fiancee, she doesn't call me Steve. She calls me Howard. Do you see?

Howard: Is that clear?
Judge: No, but it is consistent.

Howard: First, there was this trouble between me and Hugh.
Judge: You and me?
Howard: No, not you. Hugh.
Hugh: I am Hugh.
Judge: You are me?
Hugh: No, I am Hugh.
Judge: Stop saying that. Make him stop saying that.
[Policeman puts his hand on Hugh's shoulder]
Hugh: Don't touch me, I'm a doctor.
Judge: Of what?
Hugh: Music.
Judge: Can you fix a hi-fi?
Hugh: No, sir.
Judge: Then shut up!

Judy: I guess I owe you $20,000.
Howard: Don't be silly.
Judy: Listen, if I paid you off at $10 a week we'd be even in... um... 38 years and five and a half months.
Howard: You did that fast.
Judy: New math. Mount Holyoke.

Larrabee: C'est la vie.
Hugh: C'est la guerre.
Judy: C'est la dreck.

Larrabee: Simon, you're a plagiarist. And what's worse, you're a bad loser, and you're nasty. I don't like you, and I want you to go away.

Judy: There's a professor there whom I hope to study with. A brilliant man, Dr. Howard Bannister. No, Bannister, as in "sliding down the."

Howard: I'm sorry.
Judy: Let me tell you something. Love means never having to say you're sorry. [bats her eyelashes]
Howard: That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
(Side note: If you know why this is so funny, post a comment.)

Upcoming Movies: New Trailers

There are new trailers for two movies that I'm excited to see in 2013.

Superman


The Lone Ranger

My Favorite Movies: El Dorado

I am not a big western fan. There are a few I like, but not many. Among the few I like, one of my favorites is El Dorado. The movie has a great cast that includes John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, and Ed Asner. It has a wonderful script by Howard Hawks, who also directed it. Hawks was writer or director or both for great films such as Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, Ball of Fire, and The Big Sleep.

John Wayne plays Cole Thornton, a gun for hire who finds out his next job is near the same town where his old friend, J.P. Harrah (Mitchum) is the Sheriff. Cole decides to turn the job down when he finds out that the man who wants to hire him, Bart Jason (Ed Asner), didn't tell him the complete truth about the job. The only way Jason can continue to grow his business is to get the land (and especially the water on that land) that the MacDonald's have owned for over 20 years. Jason doesn't care how he gets the land, he just wants it.

I love the sound bites in the trailer. "The story of two close friends who didn't need an enemy to start a war." "Wayne and Mitchum - a pair of bull-headed battlers who lock horns and then join forces against the best guns in the west." "A beat-up band of misfits with nothing to lose but their lives." I really miss trailers with sound-bites like that.

There are so many great lines in the film, that I really couldn't leave any of my favorites out. So, enjoy a peek at El Dorado through the many great lines. And then go get the movie.

J.P.: Cole, that's about close enough to that gun.
Cole: I just wanted to see if you slowed down any.
J.P.: Not that much.

J.P.: I guess you're supposed to take care of me.
Cole: Well, not that I couldn't do it, Harrah, but I don't think I'd like that.
J.P.: I'm glad to hear you say that. Not that I couldn't handle you, but I don't think I'd like that either.

J.P.: I gather you knew him before you knew me.
Cole: Before me? I knew her when she was a kid.
Maudie: Didn't I tell you that J.P.?
J.P.: No, you never did. Up until now I thought you had good taste.
Cole: And up until now I thought she had good taste.

Maudie: Have you known him a long time?
J.P.: Yea. I've known him a long time. Since before the war. We've, uh, we've traveled some together.
Maudie: Sure, I know what that means. It means either you saved his life or he saved yours, or both. And neither of you will talk about it. Men.
J.P.: Would you like it set to music, Maudie, with a full orchestra?

Cole: Next time you shoot somebody, don't go near 'em until you know they're dead.

Cole: Who are you?
Doc Miller: The name's Miller. Some people call me a doctor, and some, other things.

J.P.: Doctor, can he be moved?
Doc: Sure, in a couple of hours. But don't go bouncing him around.
Maudie: He can stay here. I'll make him comfortable.
J.P.: Well, I've got a fine bed over at my place. It's narrow and it's hard and it's uncomfortable, but he won't get bounced around.

Cole: Pick up your gun.
Milt: Against him or you?
Cole: Me first.
Mississippi: Why should you go first?
Cole (to Milt): Pick it up.
Mississippi: Just a second, I...
Cole (to Mississippi): Tell me about it later.
Mississippi: I'll tell you about it now.
Cole: (to Mississippi): Shut up.

Nelse: (to Cole): You promise to take Milt's place?
Milt: You got a lot of faith in me, don't you Nelse?
Nelse: Faith can move mountains, Milt, but it can't beat a faster draw.

Cole: Just a minute son.
Mississippi: I am not your son. I am Alan Bedillion Treherne.
Cole: Lord almighty.
Mississippi: Yea, well, that's why most people call me Mississippi.

Nelse: You're pretty good with a knife. Can you use a gun?
Mississippi: Well, if I could, I'd be using one.

Cole: Wanna get something to eat, Mississippi?
Mississippi: Mr. Thornton, I would've walked right out here, right into those two fellas if you hadn't stopped me.
Cole: I asked you if you were hungry.
Mississippi: I'm trying to thank you.
Cole: I'm hungry.

Cole: If you're gonna stay around here, I got two pieces of advice for you. Get rid of that hat, learn how to use a gun.

Mississippi: Johnny didn't believe in guns. He always thought ---
Cole: He's dead. Think about that, unless you can learn to stay out of trouble.
Mississippi: That's one thing even Johnny couldn't teach me to do.

Mississippi: Cole! Cole Thornton! Where are you?
Cole: Close enough to blow your hat off, if I hadn't recognized it.

Cole: You know better than to follow a man that way?
Mississippi: Sorry. I didn't know there was another way.

Mississippi: You sure your friend's worth helping?
Cole: You just spent two years chasing some fellas that killed a friend of yours. You think your friend was worth two years?
Mississippi: I guess I asked a fool question.
Cole: You did.

Mississippi: I figure he'd be pretty mad, you turning him down and showing up on the other side.
Cole: I hope he is.
Mississippi: How come?
Cole: Fella in his business hasn't got a right to get mad. He gets mad, he's not so good. So, the madder he gets, the better I like it.

Cole: Why do you wanna keep stickin' your nose in this?
Mississippi: Maybe I could help. You saved my life two times.
Cole: But I'm gonna be too busy to keep doing that.

Mississippi: "Gaily Bedight, a gallant knight, in sunshine and in shadow, had journeyed long, singing a song, in search of El Dorado. Over the mountains of the moon, down the valley of the shadow, ride, boldly ride." Always liked that poem too. Make me want to --
Cole: Ride, boldly ride? Well, it don't work out that way.
Mississippi: I'm learning that.

Cole: I'm looking for a gun for a fella who can't shoot.

Mississippi: Well, where are we headed for?
Cole: To see a girl.
Mississippi: To see a girl?
Cole: Yes, a girl. Don't you think I could know a girl?
Mississippi: Always make you mad, don't I?
Cole: Mostly.

Maudie: So, J.P. found out the hard way. She ran off with a drummer.

Mississippi: Well, I found one thing out.
Cole: What's that?
Mississippi: You know a girl.

Bull (to Cole): If it hadn't been so dark, I might've spotted you. I might have anyhow, if I hadn't been trying to figure out what that other fella's got on top of his head.
Mississippi: It's called a hat.
Bull: Well, I'll have to take your word for that.

J.P.: What are you doing here?
Cole: I'm looking at a tin star with a drunk pinned on it.

Cole: Are you sure that Johnny Diamond wasn't an embalmer.

J.P.: Did we have a fight or something?
Cole: Or something.

J.P.: Wait for me!
Cole: Why?

Cole: What did they look like?
Matt: I know what they looked like. One of them was tall, one of them was short. One of them had a bad leg.
(Side note: Great description. They'd be easy to find. *wink*)

Girl: Is it that you look for three men?
Mississippi: That's right.
Girl: One walks with a leg which is not good? Another is very tall?

Cole: What kept you?
Mississippi: I talked to a girl. She said she saw --
Cole: A girl?
Mississippi: Don't you think I can know a girl?

J.P.: One got away, Cole.
Cole: You oughta know, you missed him.

Cole: Did you get him?
Mississippi: Who?
Cole: The fella that ran out of the church.
Mississippi: Well, yes and no.
Cole: What do you mean? Did you or didn't you?
Mississippi: I hit the sign, and the sign hit him.
Cole (sarcastically): That's great.
Mississippi: He was limping when he left.
Cole: He was limping when he got here.

Cole: If you have to use that [gun], make sure which way it's pointed.

J.P.: Joe, you're playing a lot of sour notes on that piano.
Joe: I know I am.
J.P.: You don't look very happy.
Joe: I'm certainly not.
J.P.: Wouldn't you like to move away from that piano, Joe?
Joe: You're darn right I would.
J.P.: Well, then, move!

Mississippi: There's somebody out there with a gun.
Bull: Everybody in town's got a gun.
Mississippi: Yea, not pointing at us, though.

Bull (to J.P.): First time in two months I've felt like doing nothing for you. Now you don't want me to do it.
J.P.: Was there something wrong with that, or is it just my hangover?

Mississippi: She would've shot that fella.
Cole: She shot me.
Mississippi: Uh, she, uh... Hmm. She's somethin'.

Bull: If you're gonna do that, here's a couple of badges. Now, raise your right hand. I forgot the words, but you'd better say "I do."
Cole/Mississippi: I do.
Bull: Now you're deputies.
Mississippi: You suppose these'll do any good if anybody takes a shot at us?
Bull: Give 'em a good mark to shoot at.

J.P.: I suppose I've asked this before, but who is he?
Cole: Tell him your name, Mississippi.
Mississippi: Alan Bedillion Treherne.
J.P.: Well, no wonder he carries a knife.

J.P.: Bull, do you suppose you could slip out the back door and get Doc Miller over here without getting shot?
Bull: If I thought I was gonna get shot I wouldn't go.

J.P.: Alan Bedillion Ter-who?
Cole: Terhane.
Mississippi: Treherne.
J.P./Cole: Treherne.
Mississippi: Yea.

J.P.: Bull, you suppose you could slip out the back door and bring us some food?
Bull: Without getting shot?
J.P.: I wish you would.
Bull: I don't know what he wants me to do - get shot or get food.
Mississippi: Want me to go with you?
Bull: Yea. If I get shot you can bring back the food.

Josephine (Joey): Good morning, Sheriff.
J.P.: Joey, I'm taking a bath.
Joey: Oh, don't mind me, Sheriff. I was raised with four brothers.
J.P.: Well, I'm not your brother.

Joey: You look a lot better without that hat.
Mississippi: Well, thank you, Ma'am.

J.P.: All right, let her come through this way. I'll close my eyes.

Cole: Mississippi, you wanna ride, boldly ride again? Might be some trouble.
Mississippi: Over the mountains of the moon, down the valley of the shadow... here we come.

Mississippi: These are the people who wait for people outside of doors. Kind of makes you wonder about that door, doesn't it?
Cole: You're learning, Mississippi.

J.P.: They've got McLeod and their gunhands, and they've got your brother. You just take a look around here. We've got two cripples, a green kid, and a noisy old --
Bull: Indian fighter.
J.P.: Indian fighter.

Mississippi: How you gonna get down from there?
Cole: That's easy. I'm gonna fall down.

Mississippi: "And when his strength failed him at length, he met a pilgrim shadow, 'Shadow,' said he, 'where can it be, this land called El Dorado?'" I'll see you, Cole.
Cole: I hope so.

Now, for those of you who are curious to see Alan Bedillion Treherne's (a.k.a. Mississippi) hat that everyone talks about, I won't make you wait until you see the movie (which I'm sure you want to now). It's a great hat. And the young James Caan doesn't look too bad himself (here he is with Michele Carey, who plays Joey).

Coming Soon: Movies I Want to See

I don't go to the movies as much as I used to. I don't know if it's because there haven't been as many movies I've wanted to see, or that I used to go see movies I didn't really want to see. Hmmmm. Well, anyway, I was perusing upcoming movies on Internet Movie Database (the source of all knowledge) and I found quite a few movies I want to see in the next year. Some I already knew about, and a few are new to me, but sound good.

Vamps (Nov 2, 2012):  I've been watching so much Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel lately that maybe I'm more interested in vampires, so this movie caught my interest. It sounds campy and fun. And Dan Stevens (from Downton Abbey) is in it, so even better. It's written and directed by Amy Heckerling, who wrote Clueless, and stars her Clueless leading lady, Alicia Silverston. This is one of the movies I hadn't heard of before. I look forward to finding out if it's worth paying money to see it on the big screen.

Skyfall (Nov 9, 2012): I never went to any Bond movies until Daniel Craig took over the role of agent 007. I liked Casino Royale, but really wasn't as excited about his second Bond film. I hope that Skyfall will be more like Casino Royale.

Les Miserables (Dec 25, 2012): If you've read past posts of my blog, you'll know that I am very excited about this movie. (Click here for my latest post about the movie.) I've seen the stage production many times and the last time I saw it I felt that maybe I've seen it too many times and it's become "old hat" to me, so I'm looking forward to seeing it in a different medium, in a totally new way. I love the movie poster (see above) that recreates the theatrical poster using the actress playing Cosette as a child.

Oz: The Great and Powerful (Mar 8, 2013): I like origin stories. I like seeing how writers create back stories for popular fictional characters. I love the look of this movie from the trailer, and I love seeing the shout-out to Dorothy's transport into Oz with the house being caught up in the same tornado as the wizard. See this post for the movie trailer.

The Host (Mar 29, 2013): The Host was written by Stephanie Meyer, who wrote the Twilight series. Although I did not like Twilight, I did read The Host, and I liked it. I thought the story was more compelling. I liked the characters much better than in Twilight, and I thought her writing was better. I am interested to see how they filmed this book because it's about a parasitic alien who takes over the body of a human. Saoirse Ronan (Lovely Bones) plays Melanie, the "host," and I think she'll do a good job playing a character who is two people in body.

The Big Wedding (April 26, 2013): This is another movie that I hadn't heard anything about until I looked for upcoming movies, but it looks like it might be good. It's about a long-divorced couple who pretend they are still married when their family reunites for a wedding. The cast includes Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Katherine Heigl, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, and Topher Grace.

Iron Man 3 (May 3, 2013): I just recently watched Iron Man 2 for the first time. It was okay. I felt like it tried to do too much in one movie, but I still like Robert Downey, Jr as Tony Stark, and I've been on a real superhero movie kick lately, so I'm going to give this sequel a try. I also love Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley, who are in the franchise for the first time.

The Great Gatsby (May 10, 2013): I'm more curious about this movie because the book is such a classic, not because I have a burning desire to see it. I've never  read the book or see any of the three other film versions, so I don't know if I will end up seeing the movie in theaters. We'll see.

Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17, 2013): I liked the Star Trek reboot that came out a few years ago. The only thing I'm sad about with this movie is that Chris Hemsworth won't be in it, because (**spoiler alert**) he died. However, it's rumored that Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing Khan. I loved The Wrath of Khan, so to have Benedict (whom I love in Sherlock) play a younger Khan is a huge draw for me.

Man of Steel (June 14, 2013): Another superhero movie. And Henry Cavill (The Tudors, Count of Monte Cristo) is playing Superman. I'm so there! That is all.

Monsters University (June 21, 2103): Another origins movie. I loved Monsters, Inc, however, my favorite part of the movie was Boo, and she can't be in it because won't have even been born yet. But most Pixar movies are so much better than other movies being made that I will probably like it even with Boo.

The Lone Ranger (July 3, 2013): Johnny Depp plays Tonto. I will be seeing this movie mainly to see how Johnny does in the role of a Native American. He is one of the most versatile actors in films today, and he can play almost anything. I say "almost" because I didn't like his Barnabas in Dark Shadows much at all. I'm not a big Western fan, and I've never seen any Lone Ranger movies or TV series, so it will all be new to me.

Despicable 2 (July 3, 2013): "It's so fluffy!" How can you beat that line or Agnes's delivery of it? I almost bought the stuffed unicorn from the movie at Universal Studios because... well, because it was so fluffy. The best part of this sequel is that Agnes is in it. It makes me smile.

Red 2 (Aug 2, 2013): I was surprised at how much I liked Red. My favorite part of the movie was seeing Helen Mirren as a former CIA agent. Priceless. I will be seeing this sequel.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (Aug 16, 2013): The first Percy Jackson was entertaining, but nothing to write home about. However, the cast in this sequel is why I will be returning to the world of Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon. Get a load of this: Sean Bean (Zeus), Stanley Tucci (Dionysus), Anthony Head (Chiron), and Nathan Fillion (Hermes). Yes, you read that right - Nathan Fillion is playing Hermes! That's going to be good!

The Mortal Instruments (Aug 23, 2013): Another movie I hadn't heard about before. It looks intriguing. This movie is about an ordinary teenage girl from New York City who goes on a quest to save her mother who has been taken by a demon. The movie stars Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Lily Collins (Mirror, Mirror), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors, Bend it Like Beckham), and Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd). We started the list with vampires, and end it with demons. It seems apropos.

Whoo! So, there's my list. Which of these movies are you looking forward to? Are there other movies coming out in the next year that you're excited to see.