Category Archives: Movies in Bed

Movies in Bed: Beauty and the Beast

Post by Mark T Locker.

I realize that I’m coming to the party about twenty years late. I guess as a surly teenage boy Disney cartoons weren’t much on my radar. I think my favorite movie of that year was Howard’s End, one of those old-timey British Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham-Carter period pieces, before Helena got weird. I’m sure I had seen La Belle et la Bête, Jean Cocteau’s post-occupation masterpiece. I’m still a huge fan of that movie.

Well, every Friday is family movie night at our house. After digging through our piles of DVDs looking for Aladdin with no success, we landed on Beauty and the Beast. In classic Disney form, it’s full of fun songs and a startlingly simplified version of the story. Which is not to say it was not enjoyable; it’s just so different from the 1946 French version. There is good reason this movie has become a Disney classic. It’s got all the right ingredients: castles; talking objects; princesses; true love; songs. Friends, you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Angela Lansbury, as a teakettle, sing you a ditty.

I’m sure everyone out there has already seen this dozens of times. I’ve only seen it once now. What should we watch tonight?

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Movies in Bed: X-Men First Class

Post by Mark T. Locker.

I used to be a huge fan of superhero/comic book movies. They didn’t come out that often and whenever they did, my sister and I would be sure to catch the latest on the big screen. The first two X-Men movies fell under that category. We even saw one of the Hulk movies, but it was the one nobody liked and about five minutes later they began a new one, to start off that whole Iron Man/Thor/Hulk/Captain America/Avengers thing. The X-Men have continued to make movies as well, though X-Men: The Last Stand was so unbearable to me that I didn’t even look up when this movie, clearly designed to refresh the series, was released.

I was wrong to do so. I’m not generally into back story but this movie which brings us back to the beginnings of Magneto and Professor X and the genesis of the X-Men is a story in its own right. And I liked it. Of course, everyone is played by handsome young things so that it will be easy to look at. Jennifer Lawrence plays Mystique, so that’s fun. Kevin Bacon plays the bad guy, so that’s fun too. We have a whole new level to Back to Bacon now. The most recent X-Men movie, Days of Future Past or something, just came out so now is a great time to catch up. Available streaming and probably on DVD as well.

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Movies in Bed: Veronica Mars

Post by Mark T. Locker.

You may or may not have heard of Veronica Mars. It was a teen detective drama that aired on CW for three seasons. It was way better than it sounds and when it was canceled there were a number of sad but vocal fans. You are more likely to have heard about its triumphant return, in a very 21st-century way. Creator Rob Thomas wanted to make a Veronica Mars movie. Warner Brothers agreed to release it but would not fund it. So Rob Thomas turned to his fans and launched the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever, raising nearly $6 million. We got our movie, and exclusive T-shirts, and WB released it. History is made.

Veronica Mars was a spunky high school student, daughter of Keith Mars, former sheriff and current private eye. She was pretty good as a detective herself, kind of the Encyclopedia Brown of modern southern California preppy culture. The movie opens with her being offered a job at a prestigious law firm. But when she sees that dreamy bad-boy and ex-boyfriend (ex to the chagrin of many) Logan Echolls is embroiled in a murder investigation, Veronica heads home to Neptune to try and help out. It’s basically a long version of the TV show, with a few winks to the rabid fans (known collectively as “Marshmallows”) and a few painfully obvious product placements. If you haven’t watched the show, you should watch the show. The movie, I’ve heard, is much better with context. It’s available to buy from lots of different online sources.

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Movies in Bed: Secrets: Richard III Revealed

Post by Mark T. Locker.

I don’t know about you, but I love forensic history shows. You know the ones: scientists carefully combing over some sort of historical site or remains with a brush and a pick trying to understand the truth behind what happened and, possibly, why. This one’s pretty darned compelling. The tomb of Richard III, hunchbacked king of England made eternal by William Shakespeare, was presumed destroyed and lost forever. But a team of cunning historians suspected that this otherwise unassuming parking lot in Leicester, England might hold some secrets beneath the pavement. Curiously, there was a big red “R” painted in one of the parking spots. Why not dig there first? Who knows?

You’ll never guess what they found! They found a skeleton. AND this skeleton had a notable curvature of the spine. AND this skeleton had met a rather grisly end, most certainly on a Medieval battlefield. Take a look at a halberd and you’ll know that this is not the way anyone should expire. But guys, they found Richard III. Almost certainly. The reproduction of his facial features based off the skull are eerily similar to well-known portraits of the king. It’s a slightly melodramatized show, but it’s laden with real science and facts so you can enjoy it without feeling too guilty.

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Movies in Bed: The LEGO Movie

Post by Mark T. Locker.

EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! That’s pretty much the mantra in the deliriously happy LEGO world our hero Emmet lives in. What he doesn’t realize is that he is living in a totalitarian society ruled by the ruthless President/Lord Business. You must build all your sets according to the rules. Do not diverge from the rules. Why would you? Everything is awesome! Tacos on Tuesdays! But then one day, quite by accident, he finds himself immersed in a new world. After tumbling down a hole and becoming fused with a mysterious object, he becomes the prophesied “Special” whose job is to defeat Lord Business, who means to glue all pieces together.

Emmet is hilariously not ready for this role. He’s a super happy-go-lucky guy who has never questioned anything ever. Filled with all your favorite LEGO minifigures from Batman (who is an egomaniac) to 80s space guy with the crack in his helmet that I remember so well from my own childhood, this movie is surprisingly entertaining and peppered with enough subtle jokes for the grown-ups to keep everyone happy. My favorite character is Unikitty, the happy unicorn/kitty hybrid whose repressed rage is just WAITING to be unleashed! And when it does, you’d better watch out!

This movie just came out on DVD so pick up a copy and have an awesome night in with the family.

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