Christmas at the Movies

I am almost embarrassed to admit this. But let me tell you something: I've been to four movies in the theaters in the past month.

 Some might ask why the waste of money...I ask why not the investment of money in my happiness? (I know, so Bobby Kennedy-esque of me.) In the past few years I've contracted a love of watching movies during holiday weekends. It just makes everything feel more special and festive. Depending on your taste in movies, I'd highly recommend any of these four. Let's start with my favorite and most recent: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. 

I went to see Sherlock Holmes this afternoon with my parents. (Jealous?) Going to a movie on Christmas Eve is a tradition I want to continue. If I could also guarantee as good a movie as this one each year I would be one happy girl. Guy Ritchie hit a home run with this one (again). It was brilliant all the way down to the costumes, the witty dry humor throughout, and my personal favorite, the clangy musical score that sounds like some sinister old British man is plunking away on a 150-year-old piano. The Robert Downy Jr./Jude Law dynamic is hilarious as ever. While, I'm sure, much more cartoony and with more of that in-your-face quality than Arthur Conan Doyle's literary character on whom the movie is based, the movie adaptation entertains you start to finish and is completely worth seeing in theaters. Let me tell you an amazing fact about this movie: both of my parents loved it. Now that is a Christmas miracle. Go see it.

On to movie number two: New Year's Eve

I watched this with my sister-in-law Stephanie last week. Okay, disclaimer, I am a girl. And I like me some RomComs from time to time. But let's not write this off completely. Guys, if you must be dragged along to something, I'd pick this one. At the very least, it's got plots that you can follow! Oooooo, a plot. Something we girls aren't always looking for in our movie selections. It's got a zillion celebrities, a zillion intertwining stories, and a few twists that may surprise even you. I won't give anything away, but I will say that my favorite storyline involves Robert DeNiro's character. (I'm a Goodfellas fan, okay? It can't be helped.) It successfully entertained me and even gave me those "It's a new year!" warm fuzzies. 

I'm excited to tell you about the third: The Muppets. 

This is just a silly, clever, good time. I went on Thanksgiving weekend with my two brothers, sister-in-law, girlfriend-in-law, and my niece Sawyer (just shy of 3 years old) for her first experience in a movie theater. This one just left me feeling good. And how can you not love Jason Segel? Tell me. How? You can tell he is a huge Muppets fan himself and is loving every one of those 103 minutes on screen. You get some funny new songs along with a fabulous performance of my old favorite. Basically, you leave this movie with a renewed sense of hope in humanity. And muppetity. Working together. Side by side. The future is looking up.

Finally, I suppose I must come clean and also talk about the fourth movie...okay no judging...Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

Yes, I am a secret twi-hard. I went with some friends from Trinity for, yes, the midnight showing on opening night. Yes, I was wearing a "Team Jaward" shirt (because who wants to choose between Jacob and Edward? Why not both?) that I puffy painted myself. But I digress. Obviously, if you don't want a healthy dose of angsty, predictable, idealistic romance between vamps/humans/werewolves then just continue to keep your distance. I, on the other hand, sometimes just gotta get my fix. I read all four books a long time ago and can't help myself. The Edward/Bella wedding was gorgeous and there were a few gems in the soundtrack: Christina Perri's and Angus and Julia Stone's songs being my favorites. 

While you may not support my movie-going antics on the fourth selection, one thing you should conclude from this post is that there are tons of fabulous movies in theaters right now. Get out there!

(And Merry Christmas Eve! Woohoo!)