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Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter T

I'm with the Missus Lady. I can't decide which movie not to talk about. So, this week you get two thoughtful kindly hearted stories. Both are British films. The Humans really ought to visit the British Isles one day. This Beautiful Fantastic (2017) Setting: A British city   Some people classify this story as a modern fairy tale. I don't know why. Isn't it possible for a timid soul to dream possibilities for herself, fall in love with an unlikely person, become almost like a daughter to a grumpy neighbor, and grow a beautiful garden seemingly overnight? This is definitely a feel good movie. It's also a tearful one for sentimentals like Missus Lady. Hero Man looked quite satisfied with the ending, too. Their Finest    (2017)   Setting: London, 1940 World War II Catrin is hired by the Ministry of Information to provide a woman's point of view on propaganda films in production. Proving herself to be a decent script writer, she is assigned to work on the next f

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter S

Something good, happy, nice, and wonderful is developing in our home. I can't put my finger on it. Just feels like it. Purrrrrrr. Miss Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (2005) Setting: Any bucolic town USA (movie was shot in the Pasadena and Glendale area) Frank (played by Robert Carlyle) is a grieving widower who gets passed on a dangerous mountainous road by happy guy Steve (performed by John Goodman). Minutes later Frank catches up to Steve who somehow crashed on a wide portion of the road. Frank keeps Steve talking while waiting for the ambulance and during the ambulance ride. Steve tells him about being a kid in love with Lisa and taking ballroom dance classes from Miss Hotchkiss. Young Steve and Lisa promised each other that they would meet on a certain day in the distant future at Miss Hotchkiss' school, which was where adult Steve had been heading. Steve got Frank to promise to go to the school and tell Lisa that he tried to get there. Frank does. Before h

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter R

Today's movie is about "So what that I'm an old person and screw you for thinking so." Pause. "I'm doing it anyway." My Humans are those kind of people. At least I think so and they think so. That's all that counts. Purrrrrrrr. Redwood Highway (2013) Setting: Oregon Marie lives in a retirement facility in southern Oregon. She has been invited to her granddaughter's wedding on the Oregon coast about 80 miles away. Because Marie is a difficult woman, meaning she and her kids have major friction, she can't get a ride there. So what else can the old coot do but sneak out one morning with her backpack and fishing pole and start walking up the Redwood Highway. Road trip! Is Marie a experienced hiker? What does her family do when they find out she's gone from the facility? Does Marie's orneriness get ironed out by the people she meets on the way? Does she meet someone who may be her true love? What caused her to be such an unh

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter Q

According to the Missus Lady, if you asked the Mama, who I knew as the Tiny Old Lady, "What have you been doing?" and she happened to be very tired, she would answer, "I have been to see the queen." I miss the Little Old Lady. Mewwwwwww Queen of Katwe (2016) Setting: Katwe, a slum in the city of Kampala Uganda This movie is based on the life of Phiona Matessi, an Ugandan chess queen. This young woman won several junior chess championships in Uganda, as well as represented the country in four Chess Olympiads, which are tournaments with teams from various countries. What is very inspiring about Phiona's story is that the odds were quite high against her learning to play chess when you consider her circumstances. Mewwww. Phiona and her family lived in a large slum called Katwe. When she was nine years old, she had to leave school because her father had died and the family could no longer afford to send her to school. She was also needed to help care fo

P-u-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!

I'm tired of writing about movies. But, I have to say something. Missus Lady says so. She says she's not filling in for me like last time.  So, okay. The other day Missus Lady received a surprise package from Miss Georgy (You rock!) of Jubilee Street . In it were sweet stuff including a couple of blank journals and blank postcards to invite creativity. Purrrrrrrrrr.  This morning Missus Lady and Hero Man painted postcards in the backyard.  She painted an island, I think, while he painted Me! Purrrrrrrrrrr. A note from Su-sieee! Mac: This week the theme is the letter P on ABC Wednesday . Click here to check out what bloggers from around the world have written. Thank you,  ABCW team! P.S. Maybe Molly will be back with a movie review next week.

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter O

I love a movie with penguins. Who wouldn't, I ask you? Who? Maybe owls. This movie stars a dog. Rrrrfh . I like dogs. My first friends and protectors were dogs. I love dogs. Rrrfh . Sometimes Missus Lady and Hero Man remark how much like a dog I am. My Humans so know me. Rrrrfh. Oddball and the Penguins (2015) Setting: Middle Island off the coast of Warrnambool, Australia Fairy penguins do indeed have a breeding colony on Middle Island off the southwestern coast of Australia. And, Oddball was an actual maremma sheepdog who saved the colony of fairy penguins from dying off on Middle Island in 2006. So, purrrrrrr , this movie is inspired by a true heart-warming tale. Why were the fairy penguins dying off? How did the farmer who owned Oddball knew he could protect the penguins? Also, who among the townspeople didn't want the little penguins to flourish, and why didn't they? I love this movie. Rrrrfh! Purrrrrrrrrrr. A note from Su-sieee! Mac: The letter O

"Nothing from Me," Says Molly the Cat

No movie review from me today. But, here's a photo of purrrrrrrrrrrrty me taking a snoozer of a stretch .  See ya next week with a movie . Ciao. A Note from Su-sieee! Mac Molly the Cat refused to write about today's selection, A New Kind of Love , a 1963 silly comedy romp starring the sparkly and sparking duo of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. She said, "How can I write about the movie, Missus Lady, when I've never seen it? Also, it's not on Netflix." Always the logical cat, Missy Molly is, by golly. Molly gave me her glare of a stare then a turn of her back when I said she could paraphrase what I told her about the movie. That Girl! She didn't care that it was one of my favorite movies from my teenage years, making the circuits of the day, evening, and late Saturday night movie stations. It was a funny, sexy, actually quite layered, love story, but one I'd probably cringe at a lot if I were to see it for the first time today. A Ne

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter M

Sir Billy Connolly is one of the Missus Lady's favorite actors. Until she saw Mrs Brown , she thought of Connolly as being that Scottish actor in a 1980s high school sitcom who played the teacher of a class of specially smart, and troubled, kids in New York City. It was when the Humans first signed up for Netflix that Missus Lady got on a Billy Connolly kick and came to realize how versatile an actor he is. The Man Who Sued God (2001) Setting: Some place in Australia Steve (so wonderfully interpreted by Billy Connolly) is a lawyer turned fisherman. Not sure if he does it for a living or just says that's what he does. One day his fishing boat is struck by lightening. Ka-Bloom! The insurance company tells him that they will not honor his claim because it was destroyed by an Act of God. Oh-oh. Steve sees red. And, sues! But, who does he sue? Uhm...the churches. Yup. Steve sues the churches because they are God's representatives on Earth. How are the churches g

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter L

This week's movie selection is an old one starring Timothy Bottoms and a young fetching Dame Maggie Smith.  Some film guys categorize the movie as a comedy-drama, while others call it a bittersweet romantic comedy. Mister Hero Man says that often a movie is considered a comedy because a drama just happens to have natural funny elements to it. I suppose. But isn't that the life of humans anyway? Missus Lady says that this movie is in the same vein as Harold and Maude , which was released two years prior to this one, except the story of love is more obvious between a woman twice the age of a young man. Missus Lady says she doesn't know how she missed this movie when it first came out. Maybe it had a small run because of the theme. I don't know why many people are askance at a May–December relationship. The Missus Lady would know. The First, and Late, Husband was twice her age. People had asked if the First, and Late, Husband was someone famous or if she (not knowing

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter K

We've been quite busy this week getting everything ready for a  party this Saturday. Missus Lady and Hero Man will be celebrating their #21 anniversary. It's a casual affair at the house.  There are so many things to do, but the Humans don't seem too concerned that they've only done a few things. Missus Lady is learning that it takes her longer to do things and that she poops out sooner. Not sure what Hero Man thinks, but he does seem to be having fun.  Boxes still line one wall of the living room. Missus Lady says that if she moves the boxes, then something will have to go into that space. Neither want to think about what can fill the space, and they do want to fill it to cover the dark spot I left when I used to lie there. When Missus Lady thinks the boxes can stay where they are, she says, "Let's go with being thought of as eclectic." We shall see. Purrrrrrrrrrr. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) Setting: Feudal Japan We love this movie! All t

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter J

The Humans own the movie I'm writing about today, one of the few that they actually see over and over. This is one of the Missus Lady's favorite musicals. Maybe top favorite. Every so often she breaks out singing "I've just been to the windy city" (usually while cooking or cleaning) and if Hero Man is nearby, he joins in. Happy sounds!  Yeah, they like to sing along during the movie.  The movie was made in 1953, the year that the Missus Lady was born. She said she first saw the movie when she was a teenager so all the Indian-and-Cowboy stuff was your regular movie rigmarole. She knows better today, she said. All in all, she likes this movie because of the songs and she loves how much fun Doris Day had singing and dancing as Calamity Jane. Calamity Jane Setting: The Dakota Territory in mid-1870s to 1880s. I think without the musical stuff, the story would be considered a screwball comedy in the best way. Girl loves boy (not Wild Bill Hickcock) who loves

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter I

Emphasis on the word incredible , because this post is, after all, for the letter I for ABC Wednesday. The film I'm talking about today is incredible, no doubt about it. You know what else is incredible? The changing weather patterns. Incredible Harvey. Incredible Irma. And, the incredible high temperatures we had over the weekend. Depending on who was talking, it was 106, 116, or 119 degrees last Saturday. It was so hot I didn't want to eat. Not move a tiny bit at all. I kinda wished the Missus Lady would've shaved me. And, now, tonight, it got so cool, I snuggled on the couch next to the Missus Lady, who was under her comforter. Sacré bleu!   Mewwwwwww. Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance (2015) Setting: Cefn Ffirest, Wales, a once-upon-a-time mining village This is a documentary about a bunch of working class people who pooled their money to purchase a racehorse to breed and raise her foal into a winning racehorse. They called themselves t

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter H

The Missus Lady knew right away what movie she wanted me to review for the letter H. Mewwww. The movie is labeled a romantic comedy. Considering the subject matter, it's the best way to go.  Female hysteria.  Both Missus Lady and Hero Man had no idea that was a medical thing, and a very common diagnosis at that. Treatment was manual stimulation by a professional physician. I kid you not. Purrrrrrrr. The other night Missus Lady was wondering if there was a connection between hysteria and hysterectomy. It turns out yeah. The root hystera comes from the Greek, meaning of the womb . According to the Wikipedia article about female hysteria, the condition was known way back in ancient Greece times. Some Greek eggheads thought that a woman's womb wandered about her body, I suppose like a snake, causing all kinds of havoc. What's interesting is that female hysteria stopped being a major complaint in the 1900s.  Could it be because of a certain invention? Let me assure y

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter G

Hero Man and Missus Lady watched two bank heist movies recently.  I thought that was unusual because they don't normally like that kind of movie. But, then they weren't the usual slick, devilish robbery films with young or younger folks. No. The main characters are in their 70s.  Mewwwwwwww. One movie was made in England, while the other was based in the United States. The story lines are similar.  The seniors are upstanding citizens who manage to live comfortably on their limited income. Then, pow! their former companies announce that they are doing poorly so they must decrease or stop the monthly current pensions. Mewwwwwww. Golden Years (2016) Setting: Southwest England (filming was done in Bristol and the Cotswolds) Arthur and Martha become criminals by accident. Arthur is standing by the bank door when the armored car guard bumps into Arthur and is knocked out cold. The locked satchel full of money pops out of the truck. Arthur's reaction: Take the money an

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter F

Hello ABC Wednesday visitors!  We're six weeks into the alphabet, so if this is your first time to the blog, welcome. My name is Molly the Cat, and I'm writing movie reviews for this ABCW round. The Missus Lady, one of my humans and the writer of this blog, is letting me try out my words. Nice of her, don't you think? Missus Lady usually has two or three choices for me to pick from. Today's pick is one that the Missus Lady saw more than several years ago, way before my time. I chose it anyway because the Missus Lady liked it so much, and it introduced her to Gerard Butler. Purrrrrrr. Dear Frankie (2004) Setting: Greenock, Scotland This is a story about a mother who loves her young son so much that she is willing to lie about his father. Nine-year-old Frankie, his mom, Lizzie, and grandmother are constantly moving because they are running away from Frankie's abusive dad. But, Frankie doesn't know that his dad is a bad dude or that they're avo

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter E

Purrrrrrr. I had a great day yesterday. The Missus Lady and Hero Man said it was my birthday and that I was seven (seven!) years old. I got extra petting, extra cooing, and extra time outside. I also caught a bird which I brought into the house. The Humans had no idea I found it until almost dinner time. Purrrrrrrr. In honor of my bird day, I picked this movie for you this week. The Eagle Huntress (2016)   Setting: The plains of Mongolia This is a docu mentary about A isholpan, a 1 3 year old nomad girl, whose father is teaching her to be a golden eagle hunter. That is a very cherished profession in their culture, which is passed on from one generation to the next. O nly the males can bec o me eagle hunters, because, as it usually goes, females do not have what it takes to handle eagles while galloping on horses . Aisholpan's father, having no sons, was not going to let his profession die with him. Good for him! From the start of her training, A isholpan shows that s

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter D

Gidget . The Flying Nun . Sybil . Norma Rae . Smokey and the Bandit . Murphy's Romance . Punchline . Where the Heart Is . T hose are some of the TV shows and movies that starred, says Missus Lady, the spunky, good-hearted, awesomely talented, versatile, delightful Sally Field. They were all before my time. But, not this movie I'm talking about today.  I love Sally Field. She's a cutie, a darling, and a sweetheart . Like me. Purrrrrrrrr. Hello, My Name is Doris   (2016) Setting: New York City   Doris is a 60-something single, never-been-married, woman who had been living with her mother for maybe most, if not all, of her life. The story opens with us learning that Doris's mom recently passed away and being encouraged by her brother, and indecently urged by the brother's wife, to downsize their mother's belongings, which Doris ignores. Good for her! Doris has flights of fancy, s o she sometimes gets caught looking weird and goofy. Doris has a crush on John

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter C

Missus Lady can watch a great romance story over and over. And over again. I don't know how many times she has watched the different versions of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre . She always stops at Two Weeks Notice , with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant , when she's channel surfing and Hero Man is not sitting next to her. If he is, she grabs for the remote and flips to the movie during commercials. Hero Man is fine with watching any movie once. But, he might think differently about this week's movie pick that they both enjoyed. It's another British film, by the way. Cuban Fury (2014) Settings: Office and dance floor, somewhere in England. Bruce is 39 years old, shy, overweight, and unhappy, trudging from home to work to home day after day. At work he is hounded by his disgusting colleague Drew . If Bruce ever fought back, he w ould win .  Meeeeewwwwww! Bruce used to be full of energy and spirit when he was a youngster. He was in fact a junior salsa dan

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie for the Letter B

The Humans watch a lot of British black comedies because the Missus Lady loves the quick, dry wit of the British writers. They don't even have to try to be funny, she says.  I don't know what she means. Purrrrrrr. I hear no complaints from the Hero Man so he must think the same way. The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015)   Setting: In and around Glasgow The Missus Lady says this film is wonderfully absurd. The main character is meek, bland barber Barney Thomson who has no customer service skills, so over the years he got pushed further into a corner where no customer wants to sit. One evening after the barber shop closes, Barney and the manager have a heart to heart about woeful Barney that ends in an inadvertent push and shove, the manager dead, and a finally living large Barney. It was an accident so why didn't Barney quipppp just say so instead of hiding the body? Hero Man says if that was the case, there would be no movie. Because the shop is shorthanded, Ba

Molly the Cat's ABC Wednesday Movie

The Humans in this household like to watch movies in the afternoon. Three or four times a week, they do. Their movies come in the mail in a red envelope. I like it when one comes because the Lady or the Hero Man holds up that something - red and announces gleefully, "We got a movie!" I heard the Lady say that she has seen so many movies she can't remember one from the next. A couple times they got a movie that they've already seen. But they don't seem to mind. The Hero Man lets the Lady choose the movies. She's purrrrrty even-handed, choosing a sci-fi movie for him for every girrrly movie for her. Both like comedies. Sometimes a movie ends and the Lady says, "That wasn't a comedy." The Lady decided to do a movie theme for the new round of ABC Wednesday, even creat ing a list of movies she might write about. But she ran out of steam. "You do it, Molly," she said. Mewwwwww. So I am. Here's my first pick. Purrrrrrr. Albert Nobb