Monday, June 6, 2011

Monday Movies ~ The Art of Giving!



Feature Presentation...
MONDAY MOVIE MEME



June is a big month for gift giving. In addition to the many birthdays that fall during this summer month, there's Father's Day and several Graduation ceremonies. In the Bumbles extended family there are many June birthdays. This means lots of fun parties and time with family. It also means a lot of gift purchasing. Molly she enjoys shopping for gifts for others when she knows what will make them happy. I do too! If she's uncertain, Molly asks the parents of the little ones. The movies also provide us with many examples of gift giving. Problem is, the gifts aren't always given with good intentions and the gifts, good and bad, aren't always well-received. This week, The Bumbles blog gives us a list of movies that highlight the act of giving a gift. from different level of schooling. Share on your blog movies that feature presents, gifts or other tokens being presented, linking your post back to The Bumbles Blog.


Marvin's Room (1996) Leonardo DiCaprio plays teenager, Hank, who is unhappy and is admitted to a mental institution after setting fire to his family's home.. His mother, Lee (Meryl Streep), who isn't without her issues, drags him to visit his quirky aunt Bessie (Diane Keaton) in Florida. Lee keeps the real reason for their visit to Florida from Hank until well after they arrive. Bessie enjoys spending time with Hank who isn't used to someone talking to and listening to him. Their unexpected bond strengthens considerably when Bessie gives Hank his grandfather's tool-kit to keep.

Catch Me if You Can (2002) Con man Frank Abagnale, Jr. played by Leonardo DiCaprio, purchases a Cadillac for his father, Frank Abagnale,(Christopher Walken) in the hopes that his father can use it to persuade Franks' mother to return home

A Christmas Story (1983) Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) desperately wants a Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle for Christmas. His mother and his teacher tell him "You'll shoot his eye out", of course but, to his dismay, so does the department store Santa! On Christmas morning, poor Ralphie opens a gift from his aunt and it's a big pink bunny costume complete with tall ears and a tail. His mother loves it and makes poor try it on! Fortunately, dad's on his side and Ralphie spends little time in the bunny suit. Then Ralphie realizes all the gift under the tree have been opened and it slowly dawns on him that he didn't get his dream gift, a Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle. But then his dad says "Hey Ralphie..."!

Unfaithful (2002) Olivier Martinez portrays book seller, Paul, of rare and second-hand books. He and Connie Sumner (Diane Lane) literally crash into each other on the sidewalk in Soho outside his apartment. Connie’s knee is bleeding so Paul invites her up to his book-filled apartment. There’s definitely a connection but Connie is happily (?) married to Ed (Richard Gere) and has a young son. Paul gives Connie a book of poetry, quoting some lines from it that he feels describe her. Later on in the film Ed discovers that Connie has given Paul her favorite snow globe from her collection at home, a gift given to her by Ed. Uhoh!.

Juno (2007) After an argument with the teenage father, Paulie (Michael Cera) of her soon-to-be-born baby, Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) fills Paulie’s mail box with his favorite orange tic-tacs.

Christmas Vacation (1989) Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his family (including Beverly D’Angelo as his wife and Juliette Lewis as his daughter) are planning a bit Christmas celebration. Before Christmas Day is here Clark is at the end of his rope as everything seems to be going wrong and he’s surrounded by his nutty, scary extended family. But Clark can manage because he’s got his ‘eye on the prize‘: his Christmas bonus financial windfall he’s anxiously anticipating! Once it arrives, Clark plans to share a huge surprise he’s put a deposit on for his wife and kids. What poor ol’ Clark doesn’t bargain for is that his Christmas bonus is...enrollment in the Jelly-of-the-Month Club?!!

9 comments:

  1. Many of these are some of my favorite films, and Christmas Vacation is a classic! Love your picks :)

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  2. A lot of great movies on this list. I particularly liked Juno and A Christmas Story. I also like that you have two of Leo's on the list. He is my boyfriend, dontcha know!

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  3. Yeah, Juno! That was a cute scene.

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  4. Juno! Love the Tick Tack scene! Great picks!

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  5. A Christmas Story is the perfect movie for today's question!

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  6. Oh Amy those are all INCREDIBLE choices! A X-Mas Story is one we should have come up with. I have never heard of Marvin's Room - adding it to the queue - thanks!

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  7. I liked Catch Me if You Can and Unfaithful but forgot about that Cadillac car! lol.

    The Madlab Post

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  8. I can't believe I am this behind in my Reader! Anyway, I love all of these movies but never would have thought of any of them for this theme. Bravo :)

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