Monday Movie Meme - Somebody's there but Nobody's Home

Last week was a dud, where my updating of the Monday Movie Meme is concerned. I apologize for the delay; let’s get this thing back in business, shall we?! The theme for this week’s meme is fairly a pretty straightforward -- but challenging (for me, at least) one: Nobody’s Home.

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring somebody who is brain dead or in a vegetative state.

The person who fits this bill would have to be clinically diagnosed as having little to no brain function. This would likely mean that he or she is also hospitalized, but that does not necessarily have to be the case -- especially in scenes or situations where people are receiving home visits from their doctors, or being assessed out in the field on their state of health, or something like that.

Here is my one selection (Yes, that’s right...I am even having difficulty thinking of more than one movie that fits this topic) for this week’s Nobody’s Home theme.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I am not sure how accurate my selection is, since I didn’t read the book that this movie is based on. There is a scene in the 2011 version starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, however, where the Lisabeth character (played by Mara) visits her former Guardian after he had a stroke. She talks to him but he doesn’t respond to her in any way, so if I’m not mistaken, I believe that he was in some sort of vegetative state following his stroke. I’m going out on a limb here with my movie pick this week, so correct me if I’m wrong...

What movies featuring brain dead people, or those in a vegetative state, would YOU add to the list?

Monday Movie Meme - Walking the Walk!

Thanks to all who joined in on last week’s “Sisterhood of the World” celebration! The theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme is inspired by The Swede, father of Tina Downey at Life is Good. The Swede exceeded his expected time in walking the longest loop in a “Walking the Walk” event for Parkinson’s Disease at one of their local parks.

To many, it might sound like an extraordinary accomplishment but the experience is nothing unusual for a man who spends his time doing what he does best -- living!

Having Parkinson’s does not keep him from participating in activities that he enjoys. The Swede remains an avid hiking and cycling man that you would likely also find skiing cross-country. He is the man behind the theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme: Walking the Walk!

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring retirees or seniors who do not let aging and/or illness slow them down. The characters I’m referring to live vibrant lives and stand their ground in ways they believe are justified given their circumstances or position among people around them.

Here are my selections for this week’s Walking the Walk! theme.

The Aquadettes

An elderly woman named Margo takes back her freedom to enjoy life while managing the pain of Multiple Sclerosis in this 10 minute documentary, directed by Drea Cooper.

The use of medicinal marijuana allows Margo to participate in water stunts as a member of her retirement community’s synchronized swimming team.

Stay tuned for an interview with Cooper, to be posted as a part of my upcoming Couch Fest chats series. In the meantime, you can watch "The Aquadettes" movie on YouTube!

The Hangover: Part II

A vow of silence didn’t stop the elderly monk from partying with a group of drunken strangers in Bangkok, in this comedy directed by Todd Phillips. Maybe viewers can use this as a lesson that you don’t have to say much to have a good time.

The a benefit of silence lies in being able to refrain from saying something you might regret. Instead, you just sit back and watch other people make a fool of themselves with their silly -- sometimes unintelligible -- comments.

Throw Mama from the Train

The woman in this comedy movie, helmed by Stu Silver, may be a mean old lady but she holds her own. Momma’s take-no-prisoners approach toward her son Owen and his friend Larry is enabled by the fact that she is always the boss. That is...until she is shaken to her core!

What movies have YOU watched that include retired or elderly people who are still going strong and living life to their fullest?

Monday Movie Meme: The Sisterhood of Award Recipients

The theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme is based on the kindness of my Road Trip partner, Tina Downey at Life is Good. Thanks to Tina, I received the “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.” It is given to 10-12 lovely lady friends of previous award recipients but I will pass the badge onto eight of the coolest blogger chicks I know because...well...I need to keep it as short and sweet as possible, ok?!

So, let's get down to business with the Monday Movie Meme theme: Badges of Honor.

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring people who receive awards in one or more scenes. The awards can be in any form (statue, certificate, medal, sash, crown, etc.) and can -- but do not have to necessarily -- result from competitions or contests.

Here are my selections for this week’s Badges of Honor theme, followed by the ladies to whom I’m passing the “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.”

The Fighter

 Different guys win prize money, titles, Championship belts and/or a combination of the three in this boxing movie about two brothers torn apart by greed, family quarrels and bad reputations. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams.

Courage Under Fire

Army Lieutenant Serling (played by Denzel Washington) who fought in the Gulf War receives a Silver Star upon his return. He later heads an investigation that intends to qualify Army Captain Walden as the first woman in history to win a Medal of Honor for valor in combat. Two awards, one movie. Checkmate!

Troop Beverly Hills

A ritzy housewife leads her daughter’s Wilderness Girl scouting troop in a race to become recognized by their regional council -- that’s if a nearby competing troop doesn’t interfere with their progress. There is a trophy at the end and I won’t tell you who wins it, for it would spoil the plot of this movie. So, go on and watch it already....it’s cookie time!

Now, here are my eight “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award” recipients:

So much can be said about Angela Brown at Pursuit of Publishness that I know I’m not alone in the army of appreciation for her strides in the blogging world. When Angela is not publishing her own YA novellas and working on future stories, she uses any remaining free time to support the work of other authors while also raising the profile of blog posts, giveaways and other online happenings that might otherwise fall under the radar.

Sydney Aaliyah who shares Happiness, Passion, Love & Faith to those who care to welcome a healthy dose of her musings. She quotes the movies like a true cinemaniac while also letting you know that the stories behind tattoos, and the people who rock them, are often much different -- sometimes even more surprising, than we think.

I always look forward to getting my glimpses of overseas travel, life ponderings and positive vibes from Erika at Chimerikal. She has a lot of offer the world and is very supportive of those in her circle. Erika is honestly the one of the (few), if not the most, best things that came of the Blog Everyday in May Challenge and for that, I am grateful to have found a new blogging buddy.

Alana Garrigues at Writercize has good things cooking up in her box of writing tricks. She teaches us how to play with words in a way that’s fun and useful for build our mental strength and creativity.

In addition to being my fellow LAMB, Shala Thomas at Life Between Films spreads her love of indie cinema through film festival reviews, roundups, recommendations and artist spotlights.

Kristen Dyrr at Random Musings from the KristenHead is among those who make sure my blogging efforts aren’t done in vain. She re-started blogging with a bang after Posterous closed down and if I don’t say so myself, this fellow caretaker of felines (aside from having the A-to-Z and Blog Blitz in common, we’re both cat mommies) has done a great job of making her fresh start count with a growing network of friends, fans and followers. Go Kristen!

When you come across someone like Alison at AliOfftheMark, who tells it like it is -- or how she perceives it to be, you gotta appreciate the raw and uncensored material. Ali’s not one for sugar-coating things such as the awkwardness of teaching your toddlers how to refer to their “lady parts” and finding some normalcy and practicality in pay-by-the-hour hotels, she keeps it real.

Paula at Paula’s Place is one of the strongest women that I’ve had a chance to come across this year. Her life experiences could make for one heck of a memoir; Paula’s family should be proud of her compassion for people and the work she’s done as a health professional. I’m just glad to have the opportunity to check out what she contributes to the online space.

What movies have YOU watched that feature people receiving awards?