Over the weekend, Mr Bite and I were updating and looking over our Google Doc spreadsheet of the films we've seen.
(Yes, we have a spreadsheet of the films we've seen. With ratings by each of us.)
(Bear with me.)
It dawned on me that this spreadsheeted information might be worth sharing. As a counterbalance to my books, you see, but on a one-off basis only. I see fewer movies than I read books, and care about them less, so I think a one-off post will do just fine.
Our spreadsheet says that I saw 20 films in 2011, of which 3 were at the cinema (the rest were mostly recorded from TV). 2010 was somewhat more productive in a viewing sense, with 31 films seen overall and 4 at the cinema.
Our spreadsheet only goes back to mid-2009, but since then I have given 2 films 9.5 / 10 ratings:
(Yes, we have a spreadsheet of the films we've seen. With ratings by each of us.)
(Bear with me.)
It dawned on me that this spreadsheeted information might be worth sharing. As a counterbalance to my books, you see, but on a one-off basis only. I see fewer movies than I read books, and care about them less, so I think a one-off post will do just fine.
Our spreadsheet says that I saw 20 films in 2011, of which 3 were at the cinema (the rest were mostly recorded from TV). 2010 was somewhat more productive in a viewing sense, with 31 films seen overall and 4 at the cinema.
Our spreadsheet only goes back to mid-2009, but since then I have given 2 films 9.5 / 10 ratings:
- Black Swan, seen at the movies in January 2011. This film captivated me with its psychology, ballet, filming effects, and plot twists. I thought Natalie Portman was outstanding.
- Love Actually, seen most recently in July 2009, but watched many, many times previously. This is one of my favourite movies ever. It is one of a handful of DVDs I own. With 2.5 years gone since I last saw it, I suspect it's time for another re-run.
In addition to the above, 6 films received 9 / 10 ratings:
- V for Vendetta, recorded from TV and watched in March 2011. Scary and clever and captivating.
- Moon, watched at an outdoor cinema screening in Perth in February 2010. I ate sushi for dinner, lay back on the grass, and was completely caught up in the science fiction plot.
- Wall-E, watched on a DVD from the library in February 2010. If you haven't seen this animated movie - find it. And watch it. It is great!
- The Dark Knight, recorded from TV and watched in December 2009. I found this disturbing, but good. Perhaps even disturbingly good.
- Changeling, watched on a DVD from the library in October 2009. Oddly, Mr Bite and I both gave this 9/10 but on looking over our ratings struggled to remember the film. We recalled it after looking it up, but I think perhaps I over-rated it at the time.
- Star Trek (the latest one), seen at the movies in June 2009. This rating may reflect the fact that it was the first formal date for Mr Bite and I. I was too anxious to take in much of the movie, so I can only assume my rating reflects him rather than movie content!
Honourable mentions can also go to Amelie, Iron Man, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Avatar, which I gave 8.5 ratings to, and Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows, which we just saw last weekend (at the movies no less). I gave that a rating of 8.25, in part, I suspect, due to Robert Downey Jr. and Stephen Fry both being in it.
And there we have a snapshot of my movie-related entertainment from the last 2 years.
Moving on to topics that may be more entertaining to the rest of the world, I revisited the above papaya and cashew balls on the weekend. The original papaya version was super easy, delightfully pink, and extremely delicious. The batch I made as a Christmas gift was well received by my Mum, and I've been contemplating possible variations ever since.
This contemplation resulted in pineapple cashew balls:
This contemplation resulted in pineapple cashew balls:
I have always linked dried papaya with dried pineapple, I think because I often got both in my Christmas stocking as a child. They still seem far more exciting and 'special' to me than other dried fruits.
These pineapple and cashew balls are made to the exact same recipe as the papaya ones, but with a direct swap of pineapple for papaya: 1 cup dried pineapple, 1/2 cup cashews, 1/4 cup dessicated coconut, and 1tsp vanilla processed in a food processor, rolled into balls, coated in extra dessicated coconut (or in my case, coconut flakes, because the dessicated coconut ran out), and refrigerated until set.
Still easy.
Still quite nice looking.
And still quite delicious.
I will confess to liking the papaya ones slightly better, as the flavour and colour of those were more intense than the pineapple variant. The pineapple provides a more subtle sweetness, which was still enjoyable, but didn't quite have the 'punch' of the papaya.
I think making both together would be the perfect solution.
What about you - do you have favourite movies? What about uses for dried pineapple?
My archivist/librarian mother, who worked at the National Film and Sound Archive for most of her life, would love you so much right now. I bet she'd trade me in without even blinking.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of these pineapple ones even more than the pink ones! As for movies, I can't really think straight about that right now, as I'm overwhelmed in love for my rewatching of The West Wing. :D
Who knew our similarities extended to family? My mother is a librarian / archivist at the state library of WA :D Perhaps this goes some way towards explaining our mutual love of books?!
DeleteI'm glad the pineapple appeals - but make the pink ones too! I suspect they'd complement The West Wing rewatching beautifully ;)
I love hearing about your spreadsheet - love it - in fact my blog is as far as I get with such recording but would love a spreadsheet - my inner nerd is just too tired! As for favourite movies - the two the spring to mind are the Princes Bride and Wonderland (michael winterbottom one). I was wondering if you look back on your spreadsheet and re-rate movies - the best are the ones that age well and not all do. H
ReplyDeleteaving said that I think I remember Love Actually more fondly than I felt about it at first - I have a weakness for anything with Bill Nighy in it - and I think this is the film I saw at the outdoor cinema where it was raining and the screen kept falling down.
Oh goodness, rainy outdoor cinema with a falling down screen would definitely detract from any movie. What a shame. I really like Princess Bride too (it fell just short of being mentioned) but haven't seen Wonderland - I will now make a note to look it up. I like the re-rating idea as my ratings definitely would shift with time, and you're right in that the best are those that age well.
DeleteMore generally, I'm very glad my spread sheeting tendencies appeal. My inner nerd seems to have endless energy ;)
A spread sheet is a pretty nice idea... I always forget if I liked movies or not. I also tend to forget the names. I'm always told I need a sheet of movies that I need to watch. Apparently I was a sheltered child.
ReplyDeleteThe papaya ones are a bit prettier. I've only ever had papaya in the chewable pill form- papaya enzyme. My mother took that for stomach pains during her pregnancies and we took it for pain growing up. It tastes really good.. and I think it works!
I need a sheet of movies to watch too I think. Mr Bite keeps discovering these 'timeless classics' I've never seen. Our childhoods must have been similarly lacking!
DeleteI've never heard of papaya pills. What a great concept though! It is meant to be good for stomach pains in fresh form too, and I've heard it is soothing. I'll keep any eye out for chewable tablets, if only for interest's sake.
I love your spreadsheet for rating movies. We watch so many movies and I always struggle to remember which ones I have enjoyed the most. I like your top picks, Black Swan was one of the best movies I saw last year and I do have very fond memories of Love Actually. I like to watch Aussie movies although not all of them are the best quality. Red Dog was fantastic even though it made me weep a few times.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of your fruit balls too, must try them one day!
I still have to see Red Dog! I was hoping to make it to an outdoor screening over summer but I think we've missed it now. It may be a DVD watch...like so many of our movies, as the above documents! We're terrible at actually getting to the cinema.
DeleteAs a total TypeA person, I totally appreciate that you have a film review spread sheet. I don't have one, but now I think: I totally should!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite all time movie is definitely The Royal Tenenbaums, which Andy (and a lot of people probably) find boring as hell. I also love all films by this director, Wes Anderson, like The Life Aquatic and Rushmore. Something about the story-book feel, and the gorgeous sets & costumes, pulls me in and I can watch them over and over again.
I like to indulge my Type A personality as much as possible, so I almost have too many spreadsheets. Except, of course, us Type A people can't have too many spreadsheets!
DeleteI am realising that this post was a great way of getting movie suggestions. I haven't seen any of the ones you mention! I'll have to get on to them.
Pineapple and coconut is the best combo! reminds me of a pina colada :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a tried and true combination, that is true! I hadn't thought of the pina colada angle - I could have come up with a much better name if I had ;)
Deletelove the spreadsheet idea - Love some of the movies already mentioned, but I would recommend 'Red Dog' as well and 'American Beauty', 'Million Dollar Baby' and the original 'Alien' flick.
ReplyDeleteI am concerned I'm too much of a wuss for the original Alien! I have a very low scariness tolerance. Also a very low horror tolerance. It can cause all sorts of difficulties when watching movies...
DeleteI am so envious of your spreadsheet! Clearly, I've fallen behind in organized movie watching!
ReplyDeleteOr in obsessive recording...it's a fine line between the two ;)
DeleteHehehe, that made me smile that you have a spread sheet for movies too :-)
ReplyDeleteI haven't been watching too many movies lately, instead it's all about the Mad Men dvds. Good viewing!
I bought dried pineapple for Monkey Boy just today, I don't usually have it on hand but the little fella was rather insistant that he 'needed' some. I'm strictly a dried pear gal, but like you it was often given to me at Christmas.
'Needed' huh? The boy clearly knows how to phrase his requirements :)
DeleteWe're eagerly awaiting the next Mad Men series! I haven't seen series one either, so I have that to catch up on some day. It is great viewing indeed :)