A quick run down

Although  I have not been reviewing any movies in the past year and a half, I in fact have been watching movies on a regular basis. I will do a quick run down of some of my favorites. There may be future posts on these movies, as this will just be a quick run down on the ones I enjoyed.

Action Movies

The Dark Knight Rises-A great ending to a great trilogy
Avengers-Another entertaining comic book movie
Zero Dark Thirty-How we kill Osama Bin Laden
Jack Reacher-Tom Cruise doing his action movie thing again
End of Watch-A crazy movie about cops in LA
Lawless-Tom Hardy's best film of the year, how brothers sold their moonshine
The Bourne Legacy-No Matt Damon, but non the less enjoyable
Taken 2-Not the first one, but he still has his unique skill set, and he did find the guys and kill them
Chronicle-Just another film about high school kids gaining super powers
Safe House-Intense movie about a CIA agent gone rogue
Man on a Ledge-The title says it all
Hit and Run-A comedic movie about avoiding the past in the witness protection
Contraband-Smuggling money in a cargo ship, Mark Wahlberg dominates
Act of Valor-An awesome look into the marines and how they work
Iron Man 3-Entertaining not my favorite of the three
Star Trek Into Darkness-My first trek experience, and it was a good cast, good story
Gangster Squad-A special task force asked to take done the infamous Mickey Cohen
Broken City-Misses the mark, but twists and turns, and dirty politicians


Drama Movies

Silver Linings Playbook-Two people trying to figure out life, find a silver lining in life.
The Place Beyond the Pines-Intriguing movie about actions affecting the course of our life.
Les Miserables-Very well done movie of the musical
The Perks of Being a Wallflower-The problems of high school kids, very intense but well don't
Lincoln-The life of President Abraham Lincoln
Life of Pi-I should have seen in the theater, but a great story about how we see life
Flight-A glimpse into overcoming addiction
Argo-Incredible story about the hostages in Iran
Trouble With the Curve-The relationship of a daughter and her aging father
Mud-How two boys help a convict
People Like Us-Having to give up your fathers estate to a sister you never knew
Big Miracle-The power of news, and saving 3 whales

Comedy and the Rest

The Five Year Engagement-The wedding date keeps getting pushed back, will love last the wait
Liberal Arts-Romantic comedy
Celeste and Jessy Forever-Another complicated love story
Moonrise Kingdom-Classic Wes Anderson film about a young love
Safety Not Guaranteed-Chasing down an ad in a newspaper needing someone to time travel with
Your Sisters Sister-A complicated romantic comedy
Pitch Perfect-Good music, that makes fun of the competitive world of a Capella groups
Wanderlust-Two people that need a change and stumble upon a commune full of hippies
Parental Guidance-Everyone has different ways of parenting, but can all have the same effect
This Means War-Your typical chick flick
21 Jump Street-A pretty hilarious film about to dumb cops going undercover at a high school
Now You See Me-Yes another magic movie, but has a nice twist or two
Admission-Missed a punch, still an enjoyable film and about a teacher wanting the best for his student
The Great Gatsby-A very well done remake
42-Well done movie about the life of Jackie Robinson
The Kings of Summer- A great movie about a high school kid that is King of his summer

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

One of my favorite movies from last year was Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Partially because Emily Blunt is a favorite, but the story is more then just a complicated love story. It directed my thought inward, looking at my ability to go through life with faith rather than relying on a knowledge  of the results of my decisions.

It stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. There is a rich Yemeni Sheikh that has a vision to bring salmon fishing to his native Yemen. Ewan McGregor's plays Dr. Alfred Jones a fisheries expert in Britain, and is approached by the Sheikh's assistant Emily Blunt, Harriet to assist on the project. Dr. Jones doesn't think that it is even worth talking about and doesn't want to help, but when there becomes pressure from the prime minister to get a 'good will' story out of the middle east he is forced to help. The Sheikh has unlimited resources and faith, that the project will work. Dr. Jones also is having trouble with his marriage and so he decides to jump in and see where it takes him. While the fish project was starting to take off Harriet's boyfriend is deployed to Afghanistan, and as expected adds more stress in her life. That is where the love story gets complicated, and attracts the romance fans.

My favorite scene is when the Sheikh and Dr. Jones are fly fishing, and they are discussing the project. The Sheikh can tell that Dr. Jones is more than doubtful of the project. Dr. Jones had stated that he is more of a facts and figures man, they go on to have this exchange:

1. 
   
2. Sheikh Muhammed: You're not a religious man?
3. Dr. Alfred Jones: No. No, I'm not.
4. Sheikh Muhammed: But you're a fisherman, Dr. Jones.
5. Dr. Alfred Jones: I'm sorry, I don't follow.
6. Sheikh Muhammed: How many hours do you fish before you catch something? Dozens?
7. Dr. Alfred Jones: Gosh, hundreds sometimes.
8. Sheikh Muhammed: Is that a good use of your time for a facts-and-figures man? But you persist in the wind and the rain and the cold with such poor odds of success. Why? Because you're a man of faith, Dr. Alfred.

I feel that there is a message there that can be related to our individual lives. No matter how  bad things get we still get out of bed each day. There is embedded in everyone a level of faith that tomorrow will be better. We all 'persist in the wind and the rain and the cold with such poor odds of success' because we will catch that fish. Faith is often connected to religion, but I don't see that it is always the case. Faith is acting on a hope for things that we don't see but believe in. Wether that is in a God, a better life, a promotion at work, winning the championship. They are all things we cannot see right now but we simply hope for, and believe that if we act on that hope that we will achieve that goal or come to a knowledge of that belief. 

That was the case for the Sheikh, he had a hope that he would be able to bring salmon fishing to his country. The Sheikh saw salmon fishing as something that all social classes, all political parties, all religions could do and be equal. It was something that his people could do and put all differences aside, and for that moment have peace in his land.