Why So Many Movies, Jim?

I went to see Safe House last night. It was actually good. I was ready for just a formulaic thriller that would entertain me but that I wouldn't care much about. It turned out to be a well acted and directed movie. While still formulaic, it held my attention. My main criticism is that the chase and fighting scenes were sped up for effect. A friend of mind mentioned that when I asked her if I should see the movie. So, of course it was very obvious to me. I wonder now if I would have realized it if I hadn't known. Anyway, it will be a good film to stream or see on-demand.

I saw the new Will Ferrel Casa Di Me Padre movie last Saturday night. Blazing Saddles for this time. Just be prepared to be offended constantly, which makes it worth seeing.



The highlight of my movie going week was seeing one of my top 5 movies of all time, Casablanca, on the "big screen". It was the 70th anniversary of the film's release. So, here's my story about Casablanca...

Bill and I went to Greece and Turkey in 1999. It was in the "salad days" of my time in Georgia. The trip started in Athens. It was pre-Olympics. Seeing the Parthenon and Acropolis were a dream come true. We did get in trouble for taking photos of sacred objects. I pride myself on not being an ugly American, but I guess I can be. I loved Athens. Although, we had to limit our outdoor times as the pollution was so bad. It is one of those places that truly lives up to its reputation - good and bad.

We then moved on to the next leg of the trip. Air Greece, or whatever it's called, was on strike so our 1/2 hour flight to Santorini turned into an awful 8 hour ferry boat trip. It was not a cruise ship! However, I soon forgot about it after arriving in Santorini. A mystical place if there is one. After a couple days, we couldn't even remember what day it was. Santorini is in my list of top 5 places in the world. Why the need for all the lists is beyond me. If you get a chance to visit it, do. Our next stop was Mykinos. Nice, but forgettable. Although, the scenery on the beaches was nice. We ended the trip in Istanbul, which is where my Casablanca story begins.

We arrived in Istanbul. Made it through the very scary passport checkpoint and went to our hotel, Four Seasons Hotel It's an an old Turkish prison converted to a luxury hotel. Sublime is the only descriptor necessary for it.

Bill got horribly sick the day we arrived. We learned later it was strep throat. He was so sick he didn't get out of bed for three days. I saw the sites on my own. The tourist areas of Instanbul are full of very aggressive street merchants. To this day, it's only the second time in all my travels that I have felt at risk. The other time was when I got lost in the old city of Jerusalem. I was by myself as I had decided not to go with the group that day. I went to Israel on a tour with Mom. But, that's a whole other story. I don't think I have felt threatened like Istanbul ever again. And, Johannesburg, South Africa is no picnic! But, I digress.

One evening, after I had dinner in the hotel, I was watching TV while Bill was hallucinating from a high fever. I had on CNN International and the story broke about John Kennedy Jr's death, July 16th 1999. I watched the story for awhile and then started flipping channels and landed on a station playing Casablanca. While the movie was on, the Muslim call to prayer was playing in the city. I knew I was in a foreign place when I heard that. It's quite a beautiful, yet haunting sound to hear for the first time. I watched Casablanca, perhaps for the first time. I was riveted, and have been riveted ever since. So to recap, Turkish prison converted to the ultimate in luxury hotels, another death of American "royalty", Muslim call to prayer playing, very ill partner all while watching Casablanca. A movie that captures the best and worst in all of us.

All the memories of that trip to Greece and Turkey flooded back to me after watching the movie. That is what movies that rise to the level of art do. Help us remember that life is full of wonders and hardships, gifts and sacrifices and if we sit still, sublime moments that add layers of depth to who we are.