5 Powerful Movies Every Woman Should Watch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure page for details.

Movies move us. They empower, makes us think, fuel our conversations and allow us to escape, even if for just a brief while, to a place where everything is possible. I have compiled a list of 5 powerful and emotional movies, you should truly take the time to watch, at least once.

1. Thelma And Louise

What is it about?
Two women break free from a chained, small live by going on a Road trip with unforeseen and dramatic consequences

Why should you watch it?
Because it is one of the best showcases of the deep friendship between two women. And because Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are
amazing in bringing this connection to live.

2. Alien

What is it about?
On their voyage home, the crew of the deepspace tug Nostromo investigate an alien distress signal, inadvertently picking up and bringing aboard an extraterrestrial life form with violent and lethal survival instincts

Why should you watch it?
Because Sigourney Weaver’s powerful performance as Sergeant Ripley showcased the strength of a woman in a physical demanding leading role.

3. Kill Bill vol. I

What is is about?

Four years after taking a bullet in the head at her own wedding, The Bride emerges from a coma and decides it’s time for payback! Having been gunned down by her former boss and his deadly squad of international assassins, it’s a kill-or- be- killed fight.

Why should you watch it?

Because Uma Thurman’s Martial Art skills are amazing

4. Million Dollar Baby

What is it about?
A young female boxer, Maggie (played by Hillary Swank) fights for her dream to make it big in her field, supported by a rough around
the edges trainer, portrait by Clint Eastwood.

Why should you watch it?
Because this story could have been made overly sentimental, and cliche but Clint Eastwood as a director managed to give it real heart, even if it leaves you sobbing at the end.

5. Coco Before Chanel

What is it about?
The portrait of a woman (Coco Chanel)  who fought herself from poverty to become an icon in the fashion industry and beyond.

Why should you watch it?
Because it showcases the rise of a woman who never gave up on her dream, no matter what her circumstances.

Let me tell you about this dog… – A Weekend Coffee Share Post

 

Coffee Time 

 

If we were having coffee this weekend, I would welcome you, and tell you that I am relieved that my friend’s dog is okay. I was worried about the puppy all day yesterday because she is still so little (and cute), but she seems to be fine now. I would also use this as the major excuse, why I did not get as much work done yesterday, as I had planned to.

I would then make you a coffee in my new French Press. Never owned one before, always went for the traditional machines or the espresso machines, but I decided to try it anyway. Can you taste the difference between this one and a standard coffee machine? I am sorry I can’t. But they take away less space, so when I send my daughter off to college, she will get one of those.

We are having chocolate oatmeal cranberry cookies today (vegan). I am hungry, haven’t had much of a chance to eat, because I had to catch up on yesterday’s slacking, so excuse my manners if I shove a few extra cookies into my mouth. I hope you don’t mind. No worries, there are plenty, I made extra. The apple pie in the fridge (also vegan) is not for us, though, it is for the above-mentioned friend, who could really use a treat right now – and can’t bake worth a darn. Sorry, but being a friend means you know their strength and their weaknesses, and embrace them both.

I would tell you, that I would have three things on my agenda today that are a must:
1. Visit the blogs on my list I did not get to read yesterday
2. Write as much as content for the two holiday projects I have coming up (they are kind of secret, so I have to show you, but I can not let the cat out of the bag over the internet yet)
3. Write the outline for the script I have in my head. It isn’t a complicated script, but it was originally a story idea, that just would translate better on screen than it would in a book. Simply because it has a lot of physical action.

Once I wrote the outline, I will be able to define it better, and present you a short synopsis. Still working out all of the plot holes in my head, which are the size of a Florida sinkhole at the moment.

What are your plans for the day, the weekend? Any special projects you have in place, or something that did not go as planned, but worked  out at the end? Why not add your thoughts and plans to the linky  right here.  (Via Part Time Monster)

I hope you enjoyed your stay, and will join in again next weekend. I am always baking something – I can’t help myself – so always come hungry!

Blessings!

Claudia

Coffee, Cake and Movies – A Weekend Coffee Share Blog Post

Coffee Quote by mangomoonstudio

If you would sit here with me for a cup of coffee, I would first of all offer you some homemade German cake. There is no way to have a proper “Kaffeeklatsch” or a coffee get-together without proper cake. Of course, I baked that from scratch, and, of course, there will be enough for you to take some home with you.

But I would also talk to you about two movies I watched this week, both of them taking me by surprise.

American Sniper – Movie Poster

The first one was “American Sniper” a movie I wanted to refuse to see because of it political ties, something I wanted nothing to do with. I did not even want to be a part of the discussion – which is rare for me. But my husband wanted to watch it on his day off, so I decided to watch it with him, and was very much surprised how much I liked it, simply because I allowed myself to get into the story, and temporarily forgot about all of the other fuss. From a film standpoint, it is a very good movie.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Movie Poster

The second movie I would tell you about would be “Guardians of The Galaxy”. Like the movie before I was avoiding to watch it, because I was not sure how in the world this concept would translate on the screen. Something told me that this movie was not a good idea. But I was hoping for the best because after all I am a Marvel fan, and Marvel knows how to make movies – at least most of the time.  I should have listened to myself. I would tell you, that I felt like calling Marvel, asking for my 2 1/2 hours back, a time that I felt was wasted by bad acting, and horrible jokes.

I would end our “Kaffeeklatsch” by inviting you back next week, promising you I will bake something different, equally delightful. And maybe you could tell me about the movies you were inspired to watch (or should not have watched).

Blessings!
Claudia

Celebrating The Week With Gratitude – A Celebrate The Small Things Blog Post

“Gratitude” by Allroads
http://goo.gl/xVlNy9

I hope you all had a wonderful week. If you did, why not participate in the “Celebrate The Small Things” Blog Hop and share with us what you are grateful for?

What am I grateful for this week:

I am grateful that I am back on track with my daily exercise. I try to walk a minimum of 12000 steps a day, but when we were all sick that was not possible. Now, thanks to my favorite motivational tool ( the Fitbit Charge) and the fact that we are all well, I am back to my regular routine. At least when it comes to exercise.

I am also grateful that my son has decided to become a vegetarian. That is totally his choice – my daughter switched to a vegetarian diet when she was 12 as well, and now is a vegan – but it makes it so much easier to cook every day, because now instead of cooking for one meat-eater, one vegetarian (me) and one vegan – the only meat I have to cook is for the dogs, unless my husband is home, who is staying on the standard American diet – well, at least for now, there is hope there too.

I am grateful that there is more leakage of the Suicide Squad movie – well, the shooting of the movie to be exact. I can not wait to see Jared Leto play the Joker. As both a Leto and a comics fan (both Marvel and DC), I am so happy for any snippet of info I can get my hands on.

What are you grateful for this week? Is there something you are really looking forward to, or something you experienced that still leaves you in a state of glee each time you think about it? Please share, we all love great news – oh, and do not forget to stop by all of the other wonderful bloggers who are participating in this blog hop.

Blessings

Claudia

P.S The above gratitude poster was designed by Allroads and is available here. Please support independent artists!

Fast Five Fridays And Gratitude Blog Hop Smash Up

Blog Hop Time!

This weeks Fast Five Friday has as its topic romantic movies, which is not a surprise, considering that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I am usually not a fan of romantic movies, I rather read this genre,  than watch them. My favorite movies are mostly of the more action oriented variety. But I did find 5 romantic movies, which I really enjoyed, and I am going to share them with you today:

Warm Bodies – The Movie

Barefoot – The Movie

The Fault In Our Stars – The Movie

City of Angels – The Movie

Dirty Dancing – The Original Movie

If you have not seen these movies, you really should. Barefoot was an unexpected pleasure, and John Green’s movie as well as City of Angels are tear-jerkers. Warm Bodies is just simply cute, and Dirty Dancing is a classic.

Celebrate The Small Things:

Now off to the gratitude list “Celebrate The Small Things” hosted by Lexa Cain:

It is getting warmer, and it stopped raining like crazy, I am very grateful for that. Still looking forward to summer, but any improvement is welcome at this moment.

This week my daughter is going to be able to go to a book signing of Amanda Palmer’s new book “The Art of Asking”. We were just talking about finding things to do over the next few days, when we found out about this event. She is so exited, and I am so happy for her.

I am grateful for the fact that I took the leap and created a puplication on Medium, and already got some submissions for it. Daring To Breathe will contain poetry, Flash Fiction and opinions. That way I will be able to not only showcase some of my own work, but that of some really talented people.

What are you grateful for this week? Do you have any Valentine’s Day plans? I will be working, because my husband is out of town on business.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Express Yourself – And Gratitude

This week I am doing another blog hop mash up: Express Yourself and Celebrate The Small Things, in order to participate in all of the wonderful blog hops that happen to be on at the end of each week!

Express Yourself asks what our favorite movie of 2014 was? Ah, I love movies – after all I am a Screenwriter, so that is kind of a job requirement – so I could make a list. But the ultimate favorite movie of last year, well that was “Lucy”, a movie with Scarlett Johansen, that flew a little bit under the radar. Here is the trailer:

Which brings me to gratitude. I am grateful for movies, and how many wonderful movie theaters are in our area.

I am grateful for the way they make me feel, and inspire me in return to want to make an audience feel. That to me is ultimate entertainment, to arouse some kind of emotional responds, may it be the one I intend, or one unintended. Either way.

I am grateful for the Authors and Artists I have spoken to this week, some of which I am interviewing for this blog, and for Medium, and some of who’s work I will share here as Guest bloggers – which is a new thing I am about to start on Avalon.

I am grateful that I have ideas, and even if they are sometimes scary to pull off, I am grateful that I am not shrinking back from the opportunities.

I am grateful to be an Artist.

I am grateful that we have a successful business which allows me to explore my art, without having to worry about the bills being paid, or if there is food on the table.

I am grateful for having a wonderful and supportive husband, great employees, and loving kids.

Enough about what I am grateful for, what are you grateful for this week? I hope you all had a wonderful week, and I am looking forward to sharing again with you next week – blessings!

Claudia

The Fourth Wall – A Daily Prompt Post

Today, Daily Prompt from WordPress asked us to answer the following:

Fourth Wall

You get to spend a day inside your favorite movie. Tell us which one it is — and what happens to you while you’re there.

 

In a way, I am constantly inside stories – but not as an active participant, but as an observer, as the person recording the reaction of characters I created, and put into sometimes impossible situations. I would rather be in the midst of making a movie, than being a part of the story, my participation would be a lot more boring. I am no Superhero, so being in the midst of the Avengers, I would be the one attempting to fix the emotional drama of bystanders.

Another favorite, Harry Potter, would have me sitting in the library of Hogswart, taking in as much of magickal information as I possible could, in the fasted possible time. Maybe grill one of the teachers about potion making, and then hang out with the multitude of ghosts.

As writers, we are inside our favorite stories, emerged in the middle of conflict, and resolution, heartbreak, and happy endings, all of our own making. We are the Captain of our Ship, in control of where it sails, allowing those in our care to do, whatever it is they need to do, to come to a conclusion of our choosing. I am as much inside any story, as I want to be, as much a part of entertainment, of the moments the readers forget their own troubles for just a little while, and focus on those on the page or on the screen.

Now, if you excuse me, I have my own movie to write.

Here are some other answers to this interesting question:

http://crashcoursedummy.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/i-wish/

http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/movie-me/

Just like Honey!!!

http://jamescleggartwritings.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/mugwhah-the-continuing-story-determined-by-you-part-iv/

 

 

A List Of Don’t – Or – It’s A Matter Of Taste (A Daily Prompt Post)

Today we were asked to write about this:

When was the last time a movie, a book, or a television show left you cold despite all your friends (and/or all the critics) raving about it? What was it that made you go against the critical consensus?

I wish, that compiling this list would not have been easy. But it wasn’t. While there are many gems out there, whom also have had their acclaim, either by critiques or fans, some make me wonder: Where you and I watching/reading the same thing?

TV:

Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Seriously, what is up with the hype about this show? I could not stomach more than 10 minutes (and those where torture). Why would I want to watch rich people whom are sort of famous openly air their daily life and problems?

True Blood: I watched one episode. Okay, it was not terrible, but it was not enough to make me come back for a second one. So, no I am not going to grow to like it. Just like I never grew to like Tofu. It is not going to happen.

Movies:

World War Z: Another movie I could not sit through in one setting. I am just glad I did not go to the movies to see it. Netflix, you have saved me again.

Taken: I love action movies. Not this one. And they made a sequel? Taken 2? Just think about it. The chances of someone kidnapping someone in your family or people you know is (thankfully) rare, and you want me to believe, I should come back for another story that involves kidnapping? No thanks.

Books:

50 Shades of Grey: I am not even going to go there. That is just sad. So sad.

Twilight Saga: This series made my resolve to write my own books even stronger. If she can make millions of these books, than there is hope I can make millions of mine. Sparkling vampires, anyone?

What is your list of don’ts?

Here is what other bloggers posted for this prompt:

http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/bad-movie/

http://vexingpoint.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/daily-prompt-matters-of-taste/

http://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/in-this-moment/

http://lindaswritingblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/swimming-upstream/

“Artifact” – My Obsession With A Significant Documentary (A Review)

Title: Artifact

Genre: Documentary

Rating: 5/5 Stars

I was introduced to Jared Leto via my daughters love for his band “30 Seconds To Mars”, and was hooked, even more so when I saw him in “Dallas Buyers Club” as the beautiful, transgender Rayon, marvelously brought to live by Jared. If you have not seen “Dallas Buyers Club”, you have missed out. But I regress. What I really wanted to write about today is the documentary “Artifact”

Essentially, this movie is about the band, their struggle to get a fair contract with their recording studio and them being sued for 30 Million Dollars as a result. On a deeper level, this docu shines a light on the world of greed, the status of the music industry and how we as consumers of the music should be aware that our habits of wanting the product as fast and as cheap as possible, make it harder and harder for an artist or a band to make a living making music. It is a wake up call to anyone who wants to be a musician, to become proactive before making any decisions of signing on with labels, and to have a clear understanding of what they are getting into.

 

The movie is also a statement of perseverance and continuing drive to create songs despite the circumstances. I consider this movie essential to be viewed by anyone who wants to work within the music industry, may it be on the artist side, or on the producing side.

The movie is available on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. Downloaded, talk about it, play it, but pay for it. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

 

Grudge Match – A Film Review

In those rare occasions that both my husband and I have a Saturday afternoon off, we tend to watch a movie together, that we have not had a chance to see at the theater. This week we finally managed to see “Grudge Match”, a film starring Sylvester Stallone (Razor) and Robert De Niro (The Kid) , as two older gentlemen, former talented boxers, who never got the chance to fight that re-match, De Niro’s character was always hoping for.

Here is the trailer:

We truly enjoyed this movie, not because it was really clever, or had many plot twist, but because it was funny, and took a serious stab at the main actors, who seemed to enjoy making fun of their past roles, while still embodying these characters with graze and depth.

Training Scene:

With the addition of Kim Basinger in the mix, as well as Jon Bernthal as Robert’s characters son, and a few scenes with L.L. Cool J. and you have an entertaining mix, that is worth a watch.