Team Rubicon

I have been aware of this group of Marines, doctors and other volunteers who went to Haiti to give aid, food and help in any way to those in need. The name of this group? Team Rubicon. The things they have done for our brothers and sisters in Christ in denied areas due to risk is wonderful.

It is good to know that there are people out there who care so much to drop everything to give aid because they are equipped with the guts and the know-how.

I noticed they pray every morning and evening together and here is their prayer, from Saint Ignatius:

Lord, teach me to be generous.

Teach me to serve you as you deserve;

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labor and not to ask for reward,

save that of knowing that I do your will.

God Bless these people for their dedication, intelligence and most importantly for their love.

Paramount Summer Film Series

Matthew and I are going to be attending many of the old classic films that the Paramount is playing this summer.  We missed the first opening shows of Casablanca and From Here to Eternity, damn.  But now we have the schedule and are aware.

Last night we saw American Madness and It Happened One Night.  Both 1930's movies directed by Frank R. Capra.  Our friend, Sam, joined us for the first movie.

American Madness (1932)

The plot was very good and the movie was extremely entertaining.  I used to shudder at the idea of watching black and white movies and now I found it quite charming.  Less of a distraction if I am thinking about how obnoxious the color of some guy's suit is, etc.  I loved the clothes the men and women wore, except for Phyllis Dickinson's (Kay Johnson) mink coat.  That was gross, the feet and heads of the minks were still attached, ugh!

Set during the Great Depression Tom Dickinson (Walter Huston) has to save his bank without losing his values and integrity.  He battles time, his wife's desire for more attention, his love of the American worker and the board of directors' desires.  Walter Huston was amazing in his role, truly made the movie what it was.  Any other actor wouldn't have done it for me.

Compliments:

The acting was fabulous.  I loved it when the inspector appeared on the scene, he was amusing.  The scenes with the board of directors was hilarious.  The scene of Matt confronting Cluett at his home was intense and exciting.  I enjoyed many of the side scenes for their amusement or for the emotions they provoked.

Complaints:

I don't believe the interaction of Mrs. Dickinson's disappointment with her husband was portrayed very well.  This was written and directed by men, I doubt a woman was consulted.  I think it was obvious that Cluett was not straight so was it supposed to be funny when he hit on Mrs. Dickinson or was he just not as good as an actor?  The black shoe-shiner scene was ridiculous.  If you are just going to make fun of black people then why have them in the movie at all?  The loose ends were tied up rather quickly and that made me raise an eyebrow.  Oh, and what happened with the ten dollars that Matt kept asking to borrow so his girlfriend wouldn't find out?

It Happened One Night (1934) Romantic Comedy

This was my first Clark Gable film and I love him immensely!  His voice and mannerisms were extremely well done and in this type of movie the two main actors had to be strong in order for it to be pulled off.  Gable played Peter Warne who's strong opinions, moodiness and ready for action clearly made the movie hilarious and dramatic.  He played a reporter who was a gentleman and was honorable to the last principle.  He took care of the young runaway, made sure she was safe, warm and fed and was selfless in his own actions.  He sold some of his things to help her and while doing so totally fell for her.  One of my favorite parts was how he handed her a pair of his pajamas and hung up a rope to throw a blanket over it so they could feel at ease to sleep each night.

Claudette Colbert played the young runaway, Ellen Andrews with just as much hilarity as Gable.  However she came off as very young when in the beginning she stated she was 21.  I felt that she was portrayed as too helpless with a stubborn streak.  If she really had that stubborn streak, she wouldn't have been so helpless.  It was a cute theme and probably made a bunch of men want girls like that.  I wish I could be a girl like that but the real fear of it all is that there aren't many men like Warne who would truly be selfless and take care of a woman in that way out there anymore.  Thus, women have grown to feel like they need to be independent and fend for themselves.  So when a man tries to be selfless a woman becomes confused and usually strikes out at the man in her fear and confusion causing him to feel rejection and then he does leave the woman to her own devices.  This leaves the woman to feel like she is right to try to maintain independence.  It is a tangled web we weave.  

Anyway, I was not expecting to see such a great romantic comedy coming from 1934!  It was hilarious and captivating.  I actually think that no other romantic comedy compares (please challenge this if you have another movie to suggest).  As annoying as a helpless woman can be, the movie was hilarious and very logical in the events that occurred.

This was the first film to win all five academy awards (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay).  The only two to win the same five awards since was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Silence of the Lambs (1991).  

Compliments:

Casting done well.  I heard that Gable was "loaned" to this set because he was being paid by his station for doing nothing so they sent him over.  The scenes of people riding on the bus or Peter and Ellen in the car were hilarious.  I really enjoyed all of the problems they faced as they tried to get to New York undetected.  

Complaints:

In addition to what I said above would have to include another ridiculous scene with the black man with a bell.  *shakes head*

I thought I'd include a snippet of what we saw.  I hope to see it again sometime, it was really delightful, we left the theater and walked back to the car very happy.  I usually leave a movie totally bogged down by special effects, too many subplots and scenes which I am drained from having experienced the movie.  I'd have to say that last night was wonderful, refreshing and light.

The Ramblings of my Mind

We can all agree that even the most minor decisions will affect other people or develop into larger consequences further down the road.  Right?

So, my question is...  Why do people get so upset when you make the wrong decision?  

Is it because they trusted you to make a decision that they personally wanted?  Does that make sense?  Do you want to give up your free will to make choices as you see fit?  Should we not then be able to respect the decisions that other people make?

I don't know what brought this about.  I guess I have consequences looming up around me and I am wondering how I am best to handle them.  My decisions from here on out will direct who I am and I am trying to study each and make the best decision to the best of my ability.  Am I being vague?  I don't think I really even understand what I am mulling over myself.  The title is ramblings...

I have recently started to understand that when someone is angry with me then it is probably because I hurt them (Go ahead and be puzzled over this, I'm slow about some things).  And rather than them coming to me to tell me about it and give me the chance to correct my mistake they take the "high road" of righteousness and are mean and nasty to me instead.

I would gladly get on my knees and do whatever the person wants to get back into their good graces.  I only am asking for the chance.  (note:  this is only in reference to those who mean the world to me.  I would never lower my own dignity for just anyone.  If you've discovered my blog off of facebook you don't necessarily rank but if I told you about my blog then you are in that world that I speak of.)

I suppose it is hard to go to someone and open yourself up to say that you have been hurt.  However I don't see myself laughing off someone who decides to tell me about it.  Do I give off that impression of haughtiness and uncaring?  Goodness, I hope not.  I sometimes suspect that my true expression comes off fake.  I find it hard to tell someone exactly how I feel.  It doesn't mean that my feelings are any less real or as intense.  I just find that sometimes.....

words.....

fail.