Sunshine Blogger Award

 

 

Sunshine Blogger Award is an award designed to get a blogger out of his or her comfort zone.  It is an honor bestowed by one fellow blogger on another blogger, and gets the fellow blogger to answer some questions that the first blogger created.  Rachel at Hamlette's Soliloquy picked me as one of the honorees.  Thanks, Rachel.  I always like to answer these kinds of questions.  

Then I have  to come up with my own set of questions.  Which takes some effort to find a theme, but they come easy when I finally find one. The "out of comfort zone" I mentioned is having to come up my own set of nominees for the award. I have an aversion to this, mainly because of the "chain mail" sense it gives me. As usual, I will skip this and just say "anyone who wants to can try their hand at the questions and claim me as their nominator. 

The rules, as stated, are as follows:

• Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog. 
• Thank the person who nominated you. 
• Provide a link to your nominator’s blog. 
• Answer your nominator’s questions. 
• Nominate up to 11 bloggers. 
• Ask your nominees 11 questions. 
• Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts.

1.  What was the first movie you have memory of watching?

In the theater? Probably Bedknobs and Broomsticks was one of the first, but I really don't remember it.  Since I don't really remember most of the ones I saw as a youngster, the one I really remember vividly seeing was going to the drive-in (of course) with family to see The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. I must have been 12.

2.  Have you ever written a fan letter to a celebrity? (If so, did you get a response?)

Not to a film celebrity, but I wrote a fan letter to Bill Pronzini (a mystery author), trying to get a line on the nom de plumes under which he had been published. Not only did I get a response, he sent me a 7 or 8 page printout of all the stuff he had done up to that point. Thanks, Bill.  Still remember that honor some 35 years later.

3. What are the three funniest movies you've ever seen?

Blazing Saddles

Arsenic and Old Lace

This is Spinal Tap

4. What movie do you really want to change the ending of?

This is a tough question, because movies I like I don't want to change and movies I don't like, I don't really care.  But the ending of Taps always didn't set well with me, although I liked it up until the final ending.

5.  What movie do you wish had a sequel, but it doesn't?

This one is easy.  It even had the promise of said sequel in the end credits. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension The promised sequel, "Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League" virtually guaranteed we'd find out more about Hanoi Xan, a character that was hinted at during the first movie but never introduced,

 

6. Who were your favorite actor and actress  when you were a teen?

Already stated numerous times that my favorite actor was John Wayne.  Favorite actress? Probably Goldie Hawn.

 

7. Who are your favorite actor and actress now?

If you mean still active, probably Sly and Sigourney Weaver.

 

8. Does anyone else in your family love movies?

Well my sister and I have entirely different tastes in movies, but she DOES like movies.

9.  If you could pick an actor/actress to play you in a movie who would you choose?

Begs the question: Me now or me as a younger person?  If  he were playing me at 60 I'd pick someone who could pull off the cynical without being annoying at it (which I like to think I am).  Somebody like Jason Alexander (although he would have to slim down a bit.) And wear a toupee since i am not balding...

 

10.  Do you ever watch a movie in the theater more than once?

Only did that once. I saw An American Werewolf in London once a week for every week it was in the theater (as I recall, 4 times).

 

11. Are there any movies coming out in 2024 that you are looking forward to?

I heard there is another installment in the Lethal Weapon franchise forthcoming, although maybe not until next year. And Marvel is going to pair Deadpool and Wolverine in one film, due to be released this summer.

Now for the questions I came up with: Since I am doing an ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe series of reviews I chose superheroes as a theme..

 

1. Here's a basic one: Marvel or DC? And why did you pick that option?

2  Along those lines: Who is the best Marvel comics superhero?

3. And who is the best DC superhero?

4. If you were a superhero, what would be your super power(s)?

5. If you were a superhero, would you have a sidekick or would you go solo?

5. Every superhero has a weakness.  Be honest. What's your?

7. You are asked to join a superhero team. Honor, or No, thanks?

8. Your super nemesis: What is his or her main attribute?

9. What is your favorite superhero movie? Why?

10. And what is your least favorite? Why?

11. What superhero from the comics is overdue for his or her own movie?

As I said, I have an aversion to tagging people, so feel free to consider yourself tagged if you want it, or don't.  That way no one is obligated or hurt by the picking.

Quiggy

 

Blogger Recognition Award

I've been nominated for another award.  I like these awards because there is no competition, so no worry whether I'll win or or lose, and no trepidation about giving an acceptance speech, so no worry whether I'll get up in front of a bunch of people and say something that will be mocked for years to come, like "You like me.  You really like me!"


So Sally @ 18 Cinema Lane thinks this blog deserves an award.  (I guess there's no accounting for taste...:-D)  But seriously, thanks, Sally for the recognition.

The rules say I should tell people why I started this blog in the first place.  So here goes.

When I was 20 years old I got a job with a friend delivering the Dallas Times Herald to residents in the town where I lived.  Since we always had one or two extras, I took it home.  I wasn't all that interested in the news of the world back then, but I was interested in the movies.

On Fridays, a column by a guy named Joe Bob Briggs (pseudonym of John Bloom) appeared in the "Entertainment" section.  Briggs was the drive-in movie critic.  Not a fan of the "indoor bullstuff",  his column dealt with the trashy blood guts and gore cinema of the ubiquitous (at the time) drive-in movie theater.  I read the column religiously every week, until he made some comment once that ended up getting him fired. 

Years later I found two books that collected many of the articles he wrote, published as Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In and Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In.  (Both of these are now Out Of Print and run you about $100 each on many sites I've seen.... so, NO, you can't borrow them...)

Flash forward to late 2015.  I was reading bloggers on line for a couple of years and decided to create my own blog, The Midnite Drive-In.  Originally I had intended on focusing on the kind of fare that populated the drive-in from the early days of drive-in movies to the decline of the drive-in in the early 90's.  If you've been reading regularly you know I've detoured from that plan, but I still try to get a few obscure and oddball entries now and then.  (ie. sometime next month I will be doing one on Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh)

As far as rule #4 on the list; sharing advice to bloggers:

If you want to be a blogger you have to be committed (in more ways than one...)  Don't be discouraged if you miss a promised deadline for something.  I have had to bow out of three or four promised reviews over the past four years.  But I didn't just chuck it all because I have a desire to share.

And never second guess yourself.  Write what you want to write.  Don't let worries about how it will be perceived deter you.  You are unique, just like everyone else.  You opinion matters.

I won't nominate 15 bloggers.  But I will nominate a few.

1.  Rachel @ Hamlette's Soliloquy  (because she is a frequent collaborator on blogathons)

2.  Chris @ Angelman's Place (because I think he needs the work...:-D)

3. Steve @ MovieMovieBlogBlogII  (because he is a fellow lover of the bizarre)

4. Paddy Lee @ Caftan Woman (because she has suffered through nearly every one of my posts..)

Don't feel left out.  I think everyone should get the award.  If you want, just go ahead and post and say I nominated you.  I won't quibble.


In case you do this, here are the rules as given to me:


1. Thank the person who nominated you and feature a link to their blog in your award post.

2. Post the award banner somewhere in your blog.

3. Share the reason why you started your blog.

4. Share two pieces of advice that could benefit new bloggers.

5.  Nominate a maximum of 15 other bloggers.

6.  Tell your nominees about your award post so they can participate.


Enjoy.

Quiggy

Versatile Blogger Award

Virginie @ The Wonderful World of Cinema nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award.  The only thing I like better than talking about movies is talking about myself :-D.  So I want to thank her for this opportunity.



So the rules for the award are thus:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Provide a link to their blog.
3. List 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15(!!) other blogs.  (And I am taking the easy route on that and just nominating everyone who reads this...)


So,  the 7 things I came up with about myself:

1.  I got involved in reviewing movies because when I was in my 20's I threw the Dallas Times Herald paper in my town.  On Friday, after throwing the Friday edition, I would make a habit of reading Joe Bob Briggs' (John Bloom's pseudonym) column which covered the drive-in movies.  At that time, drive-ins were still ubiquitous, and most of the drive-in movie fare was low-budget horror, sci-fi and slasher stuff.  Briggs was fired from DTH for making some off-color remarks, but he has still continued his career, and in 2000 I came across two collections of his reviews; Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In and Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In.  (Both of these books are out of print and Amazon has sellers selling them for $100+ a pop so, no, you CAN"T borrow them...)


2.  Speaking of books on movies, those aren't the only two I have.  My collection of movie books takes up three shelves on my bookcase.  A few of which I have reviewed here.  My most extensive collection is the FAQ series published by Hal Leonard Books, of which I have 12 or so.  You should check out what's available as they are eminently readable.  Especially well written are Armageddon Films FAQ and Film Noir FAQ.


3.  I am one of John Wayne's biggest fans.  I can say that because I have every (available) movie that John Wayne was ever in.  He may not have been the consummate actor of his day, but I really enjoy the way he comes off on the screen.

4. If you've read this blog, you already know, but my favorite movies are action and sci-fi.  But I also watch just about any movie that is recommended, if the plot intrigues me, even plain old domestic dramas.  Like my attitude towards new foods, I'll try anything once.

5. Humor is my milieu.  Some people might call it sarcasm.  Fine with me.  But I have such an extensive knowledge of movie quotes that I can respond to external stimuli with a comment that I think is funny. Not everyone gets the quote, however.  But if they do, it makes the effort that much better.  Example:  In the shipping department of my place of work I ran across a box that had "Pier 1 Imports" stenciled on it.  I said "Pier 1 Imports!  Man, this place has everything!"  One person in hearing got the reference to the movie "The Blues Brothers".

6.  Outside of movies, my other passion is festivals.  Locally we have a menudo festival every year.  (Menudo is a Mexican dish made with tripe).  I also try to get to the Poteet Strawberry Festival held every year in Poteet, Texas (about 90 miles away).  And just down the road, New Braunfels, a German conclave, has Oktoberfest.  Anything that features food is sure to attract my attention.  I love to eat.

7.  The last thing is, never challenge me to a Trivial Pursuit game.  My mind is cluttered with a bunch of useless trivia, but it comes in handy.  I remember one time playing team Trivial Pursuit.  Our team was up and the other team drew the card.  "Oh, you guys will never get this." they said.  The other two members of my team expressed the same negative opinion, but I said, "No, we'll get it."  They asked the question "Who has won the most Oscars for costume design?"  Without a beat I said "Edith Head".  The rest of them just about fell out of their chairs.

Want to play?  Just post to your blog, but let me know so I can read your 7.

Quiggy