Post by spencer101f on Feb 10, 2008 20:43:27 GMT -5
January 4
The Fairy's Mistake
Budget: $19 Million
Rating: G
Synopsis: In The Fairy's Mistake, two very different sisters have two very different encounters with the fairy Ethelinda. Rosella is kind and helpful. Her reward: Jewels and gems tumble out of her mouth whenever she speaks. Myrtle is rude and spiteful. Her punishment: Bugs and vipers slither out of her mouth. The fairy Ethelinda feels she's meted out justice just right -- until she discovers Rosella has been locked up by a greedy prince and Myrtle is having the time of her life!
January 18
White Lies & Pixie Dust
Budget: $20 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Two young cousins, Elise Wright and Frances Griffith, living in Cottingley claimed to have taken five photgraphs with cryptozoological creatures, depicting the two in various activities with these supposed fairies. Elsie was 16 and Frances was 10 at the time. The photographs sparked a decades-long debate about the authenticity of the photographs. Thus, the cousins earned widespread notoriety. Although they eventually admitted four of the photographs to be fake, they still disagree about the authenticity of the last. Conan Doyle detailed a view of the pictures, but his championing did little to dispel the growing image of him as a gullible man. In August 1921, a last expedition was made to Cottingley. This time the clairvoyant, Geoffrey Hodson, was brought along to verify any fairy sightings. The feeling was that if anyone apart from the girls could see the fairies, Hodson could. Alas, the fairies were not photographed although they were seen both by Hodson and by Elsie. Both Elsie and Frances have since agreed that they humoured Hodson to a sometimes ludicrous extent. This admission played right into the hands of their critics. Quite apart from 'playing Mr. Hodson along' there were still the allegations of faking the whole fairy business in the first place and when more fairy photographs were not forthcoming, the 'Cottingley incident' seemed all set to be relegated to the dusty gallery of 'famous fakes'. The cousins remained evasive about the authenticity of the pictures for most of their lives, at times claiming they were forgeries, and at other times leaving it to the individual to decide. In 1981, in an interview by Joe Cooper for the magazine The Unexplained, the cousins stated that the photos were fake; they had held up cut-outs with tacks. Frances Way (nee Griffiths), however, continued to maintain until her death in July 1986 (Elsie died in April 1988) that they did see fairies and that the fifth photograph, which showed fairies in a sunbath, was genuine.
February 1
Just My Therapist & Me
Budget: $52 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A straight, 37-year old female falls in love with her straight, 23-year old female therapist. How can 2 straights turn lesbian overnight? Will the therapist be able to help both of them? Wait, one more question. Will their BOYFRIENDS know they are dating behind each others' backs?
February 13
The Perfect Fit
Budget: $20 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: A take on the classic fairytale, "Cinderella," "The Perfect Fit" resolves around a female redneck who goes to a masquerade ball with a guy. Later, the guy has to return his suit to the suit shop before midnight. He realizes that it is late and needs to go, so he leaves. His left penny loafer shoe slips off his foot, but he does not notice, since he is running so fast. Then, the redneck woman, Eliza Mesher, tries to find the man who owns that shoe, and the man she dated.
April 4
House at Pooh Corner
Budget: $10 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: The story of the author of the Pooh Books, A.A. Milne.
May 9
Dueling Dragons: Fire
Budget: $175 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A battle between a red dragon, representing fire, and a blue dragon, representing ice. DD: Ice will be released in 2009.
June 6
A Nation Divided
Budget: $120 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: A tragic event befell the world. World War I. This story is of the trials and tribulations of what happened before, during, and after World War I, mostly revolving around US involvement, but still including other strong powers, such as France and Germany. The Great War spanned four years and involved many nation states. Allies were chosen because of propaganda, language and cultural ties, thriving economy, and power.
Here's the events in the film and their order in the film:
On June 28, 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated. Many have considered this event to be the spark that started World War I around the world.
On August 1, 1914, war broke out in Germany declaring war on Russia, after ongoing attacks of Austria-Hungary on Serbia. On August 3, Germany declared war on France. A day later, Germany invaded neutral Belgium. On the same day, Britain declares war on Germany.
President Wilson is seen shaking hands with American citizens and then a quick shot goes over to him declaring US neutrality policy. Just a few days later, the Battle of the Frontiers began.
In August 1914, Japan declares war on Germany. Austria-Hungary invades Russian Poland, and Russia invades East Prussia.
Beginning September 15, 1914, trenches begin to appear. Things such as "no man's land" begin to appear throughout the entire country and the world. September 15 involves "the race to the sea."
On December 21, 1914, Germany made its first air raid on Britain.
February 4, 1915: German U-Boats attack allied and neutral shipping and Germany declares a blockade on Britain. The first passenger ship sank on March 1,1915. It was the British liner Falaba. On March 11, Britain announced blockades of German ports.
By April 1915, poision gas was finally used, with the first gas being used by the Germans.
Later on, on May 7, 1915, German U-Boats sank the British liner Lusitania, which featured a numerous amount of losses of American lives. On March 24, 1916, a French passenger ship, Sussex, was torpedoed. Many have said that the Lusitania sinking was the spark that got the US involved in the war.
President Wilson was re-elected in 1916 due to his campaign slogan, "I've kept you out of the war."
On April 16, 1917, the Us finally got involved in the war by declaring war on Germany. On June 15, 1917, the US Espionage Act was passed, which meant that it was a crime for a person to convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies.
Once the US entered the war, propaganda began to show up in a myriad of places in the US. It had already flourished in other countries. Some propaganda included "Destroy the Mad Brute!" and stuff like getting women to join the nurse force.
On December 7, 1917, the US declared war on Austria-Hungary.
A few weeks later, Wilson had an idea to share. He called it the "Fourteen Points." He made the speech to Congress. About a month later, he made another speech, called "Four Principles," to Congress.
On May 25, 1918, German U-Boats first appeared in US waters.
In November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and later flees to Holland.
Fighting ceased on November 11, 1918. Today, it is known as "Armistice Day."
Shortly after this war, many nations were in debt. However, the US pretty much thrived. The United States, did not suffer the catastrophic losses of the major belligerents. U.S. losses in life were great, but this was small in comparison to the millions lost by the other major and central powers. Furthermore, the United States was a great continental power, with a great population and many resources. The war stimulated the U.S. economy, increased employment and wages, and brought great profit to the industries. The United States emerged from the war as the greatest power in the world as well as the creditor nation of the world. These circumstances thrust the United States into a position as world leaders, while the American people still assumed that Europe had little to do with America.
Austria-Hungary collapsed during the war, torn apart by its multi-national divisions. Though the Treaty negotiators in Paris in 1919, recognized a new political arrangement after the war, it, too, lacked stability because it was impossible to put to rest the multi-ethnic tension between the people in the region.
Germany had entered World War I as the greatest power among the belligerents, with its people immensely proud of Germany's achievements in the years since unification. Their defeat in war was a profound shock, and was coupled with economic privation and collapse. It was more than the German people could accept. The unusual circumstances at the end of the war, in which their government collapsed and the Social Democratic Party assumed power, were not of their choosing.
In France, the heavy losses in manpower at the front decimated an entire generation of Frenchmen and is thought to have created a leadership vacuum when that generation came of age. France had fallen behind Germany and England in population during the 19th century. They were, therefore, less able to sustain wartime losses. France also suffered untold property damage since most of the war on the western front was fought on French soil.
To take their minds off the war, many American citizens (and foreign citizens) spent time enjoying vaudeville entertainment or going to the moviehouse to see silent pictures, among many other refreshingly satisfying activities.
From 1914-1918, the world, as a whole, was a completely different place. Devastation arose. Lives were lost. Many powers became weak, while others become strong. Destruction arose. Families were seperated. Without this war, however, the US would not be what it is today.
July 11
Soaring Dreams
Budget: $150 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: This film profiles the astronauts, crew, and civilians who were involved in the January 28, 1986 flight of the spaceship, Challenger, that resulted in its explosion upon takeoff. Center point of the film is the safety inspections and arguments surrounding the use of the o-rings that ultimately were blamed for the explosion. It also discusses family related issues (like when families heard about the deaths).
August 15
1,000 Cranes
Budget: $60 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: The story of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who was diagnosed with lukemia, due to an atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima about 1 mile from her house. On August 3, 1955, she received a gift in the hospital of 1,000 origami paper cranes as a "get well" gift. Before she dies, her goal is to fold all 1,000 pieces of paper into cranes. Based on a true story.
September 5
Maus: A Survivor's Tale-Part I
Budget: $8 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: A rotoscoping film about the Holocaust in which mice represent victims and pigs represent the Nazis. A Jewish mice family is torn apart by Hitler's Nazi squad. What happens next? You'll have to watch to find out. NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN! Although this is an animated film, there is loads of blood and gore, and extreme violence throughout. This is NOT for children!
November 14
Showstopper
Budget: $18 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A wonderful, compelling dramatic musical that follows the life of one teen in fulfilling her lifelong dream. Susan Smith, a very compassionate animal-lover has been diagnosed with cancer since age five. Now, the doctors are finding that her cancer is getting bigger and bigger and she could die within the next few years. At the age of sixteen, Susan becomes very unhappy. Her parents can't take the pain. However, the doctor said she has a few years left to live. After hearing this news, she thinks about everything she's gone through since she's been diagnosed. She then decides to relive her dream of becoming a famous singer. However, she doesn't know how to become famous because of the fact that there are no celebrities where she lives. Her parents decide that if she really wants to do this, they would take her to New York and she could audition for a Broadway show. That night, Susan packs. The next day, she and her parents fly all the way out to New York and to their surprise, there were auditions being held THAT DAY for a new musical coming to New York, called "Wonderful," a musical about what's wrong with the world today and what we can do to fix it. Susan realizes that it's a depressing show, but she really wants to fulfill her dreams, so she decides to try out for it. The next day, the casting director calls her and says she got the lead in the show. She was ecstatic! She came by the theater around three o' clock in the afternoon to pick up her script and music. The director told her the first rehearsel is that night at seven o' clock. She goes back at seven o' clock. Susan and the rest of the cast rehearse and rehearse for three months, from June to August. That September (2006), "Wonderful" opens on Broadway. However, it didn't open up to very good reviews, but many people went to see it anyways, despite the reviews. The audiences' comments varied. Some enjoyed it, some didn't. But, they all agreed on one thing---The lead actress, Susan. They all agreed that she was the best part of the show and she could really go far. After that show closed in November of 2006, Susan Smith's cancer had grown to unbearable heights and she was rushed to the emergency room after her collapse at the closing night party. While she was in the hospital, she got a letter from the casting director. What could it be about? This summer, meet the girl with a goal in her heart.
November 25 (Day Before Thanksgiving)
I'm Not Moving: The Rosa Parks Story
Budget: $50 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: "On December 1, 1955, Parks became famous for refusing to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. This action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation. In addition, this launched Martin Luther King, Jr., who was involved with the boycott, to prominence in the civil rights movement. She has had a lasting legacy worldwide. In Montgomery, the first four rows of bus seats were reserved for white people. Buses had "colored" sections for black people—who made up more than 75% of the bus system's riders—generally in the rear of the bus. These sections were not fixed in size but were determined by the placement of a movable sign. Black people also could sit in the middle rows, until the white section was full. Then they had to move to seats in the rear, stand, or, if there was no room, leave the bus. Black people were not allowed to sit across the aisle from white people. The driver also could move the "colored" section sign, or remove it altogether. If white people were already sitting in the front, black people could board to pay the fare, but then had to disembark and reenter through the rear door. There were times when the bus departed before the black customers who had paid made it to the back entrance. For years, the black community had complained that the situation was unfair, and Parks was no exception. When Parks refused to give up her seat, a police officer arrested her. As the officer took her away, she recalled that she asked, "Why do you push us around?" The officer's response as she remembered it was, "I don't know, but the law's the law, and you're under arrest." She later said, "I only knew that, as I was being arrested, that it was the very last time that I would ever ride in humiliation of this kind." Parks was charged with a violation of Chapter 6, Section 11 segregation law of the Montgomery City code, even though she technically had not taken up a white-only seat—she had been in a colored section. E.D. Nixon and Clifford Durr bailed Parks out of jail the evening of December 1. On Sunday, December 4, 1955, plans for the Montgomery Bus Boycott were announced at black churches in the area, and a front-page article in The Montgomery Advertiser helped spread the word. At a church rally that night, attendees unanimously agreed to continue the boycott until they were treated with the level of courtesy they expected, until black drivers were hired, and until seating in the middle of the bus was handled on a first-come basis. These are recounts and recallings of the events before, during, and after the day of December 1, 1955.
December 25 (Christmas)
Judy, Stuck in Character
Budget: $16 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: The movie starts off at the beginning of Judy Garland's life singing when she was two years old. It jumps to when she was 12 and was signed by MGM and later when her father dies. The movie tells about her early struggles with MGM and with the addiction to barbiturates. It then jumps to the marriage to Vincette Minelli and the struggles with that, and leads into the rest of the movie and her marriages to Sid Luft, Mark Herron, and Mickey Deans and ends when she dies in 1969.
The Fairy's Mistake
Budget: $19 Million
Rating: G
Synopsis: In The Fairy's Mistake, two very different sisters have two very different encounters with the fairy Ethelinda. Rosella is kind and helpful. Her reward: Jewels and gems tumble out of her mouth whenever she speaks. Myrtle is rude and spiteful. Her punishment: Bugs and vipers slither out of her mouth. The fairy Ethelinda feels she's meted out justice just right -- until she discovers Rosella has been locked up by a greedy prince and Myrtle is having the time of her life!
January 18
White Lies & Pixie Dust
Budget: $20 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Two young cousins, Elise Wright and Frances Griffith, living in Cottingley claimed to have taken five photgraphs with cryptozoological creatures, depicting the two in various activities with these supposed fairies. Elsie was 16 and Frances was 10 at the time. The photographs sparked a decades-long debate about the authenticity of the photographs. Thus, the cousins earned widespread notoriety. Although they eventually admitted four of the photographs to be fake, they still disagree about the authenticity of the last. Conan Doyle detailed a view of the pictures, but his championing did little to dispel the growing image of him as a gullible man. In August 1921, a last expedition was made to Cottingley. This time the clairvoyant, Geoffrey Hodson, was brought along to verify any fairy sightings. The feeling was that if anyone apart from the girls could see the fairies, Hodson could. Alas, the fairies were not photographed although they were seen both by Hodson and by Elsie. Both Elsie and Frances have since agreed that they humoured Hodson to a sometimes ludicrous extent. This admission played right into the hands of their critics. Quite apart from 'playing Mr. Hodson along' there were still the allegations of faking the whole fairy business in the first place and when more fairy photographs were not forthcoming, the 'Cottingley incident' seemed all set to be relegated to the dusty gallery of 'famous fakes'. The cousins remained evasive about the authenticity of the pictures for most of their lives, at times claiming they were forgeries, and at other times leaving it to the individual to decide. In 1981, in an interview by Joe Cooper for the magazine The Unexplained, the cousins stated that the photos were fake; they had held up cut-outs with tacks. Frances Way (nee Griffiths), however, continued to maintain until her death in July 1986 (Elsie died in April 1988) that they did see fairies and that the fifth photograph, which showed fairies in a sunbath, was genuine.
February 1
Just My Therapist & Me
Budget: $52 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A straight, 37-year old female falls in love with her straight, 23-year old female therapist. How can 2 straights turn lesbian overnight? Will the therapist be able to help both of them? Wait, one more question. Will their BOYFRIENDS know they are dating behind each others' backs?
February 13
The Perfect Fit
Budget: $20 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: A take on the classic fairytale, "Cinderella," "The Perfect Fit" resolves around a female redneck who goes to a masquerade ball with a guy. Later, the guy has to return his suit to the suit shop before midnight. He realizes that it is late and needs to go, so he leaves. His left penny loafer shoe slips off his foot, but he does not notice, since he is running so fast. Then, the redneck woman, Eliza Mesher, tries to find the man who owns that shoe, and the man she dated.
April 4
House at Pooh Corner
Budget: $10 million
Rating: PG
Synopsis: The story of the author of the Pooh Books, A.A. Milne.
May 9
Dueling Dragons: Fire
Budget: $175 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A battle between a red dragon, representing fire, and a blue dragon, representing ice. DD: Ice will be released in 2009.
June 6
A Nation Divided
Budget: $120 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: A tragic event befell the world. World War I. This story is of the trials and tribulations of what happened before, during, and after World War I, mostly revolving around US involvement, but still including other strong powers, such as France and Germany. The Great War spanned four years and involved many nation states. Allies were chosen because of propaganda, language and cultural ties, thriving economy, and power.
Here's the events in the film and their order in the film:
On June 28, 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated. Many have considered this event to be the spark that started World War I around the world.
On August 1, 1914, war broke out in Germany declaring war on Russia, after ongoing attacks of Austria-Hungary on Serbia. On August 3, Germany declared war on France. A day later, Germany invaded neutral Belgium. On the same day, Britain declares war on Germany.
President Wilson is seen shaking hands with American citizens and then a quick shot goes over to him declaring US neutrality policy. Just a few days later, the Battle of the Frontiers began.
In August 1914, Japan declares war on Germany. Austria-Hungary invades Russian Poland, and Russia invades East Prussia.
Beginning September 15, 1914, trenches begin to appear. Things such as "no man's land" begin to appear throughout the entire country and the world. September 15 involves "the race to the sea."
On December 21, 1914, Germany made its first air raid on Britain.
February 4, 1915: German U-Boats attack allied and neutral shipping and Germany declares a blockade on Britain. The first passenger ship sank on March 1,1915. It was the British liner Falaba. On March 11, Britain announced blockades of German ports.
By April 1915, poision gas was finally used, with the first gas being used by the Germans.
Later on, on May 7, 1915, German U-Boats sank the British liner Lusitania, which featured a numerous amount of losses of American lives. On March 24, 1916, a French passenger ship, Sussex, was torpedoed. Many have said that the Lusitania sinking was the spark that got the US involved in the war.
President Wilson was re-elected in 1916 due to his campaign slogan, "I've kept you out of the war."
On April 16, 1917, the Us finally got involved in the war by declaring war on Germany. On June 15, 1917, the US Espionage Act was passed, which meant that it was a crime for a person to convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies.
Once the US entered the war, propaganda began to show up in a myriad of places in the US. It had already flourished in other countries. Some propaganda included "Destroy the Mad Brute!" and stuff like getting women to join the nurse force.
On December 7, 1917, the US declared war on Austria-Hungary.
A few weeks later, Wilson had an idea to share. He called it the "Fourteen Points." He made the speech to Congress. About a month later, he made another speech, called "Four Principles," to Congress.
On May 25, 1918, German U-Boats first appeared in US waters.
In November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and later flees to Holland.
Fighting ceased on November 11, 1918. Today, it is known as "Armistice Day."
Shortly after this war, many nations were in debt. However, the US pretty much thrived. The United States, did not suffer the catastrophic losses of the major belligerents. U.S. losses in life were great, but this was small in comparison to the millions lost by the other major and central powers. Furthermore, the United States was a great continental power, with a great population and many resources. The war stimulated the U.S. economy, increased employment and wages, and brought great profit to the industries. The United States emerged from the war as the greatest power in the world as well as the creditor nation of the world. These circumstances thrust the United States into a position as world leaders, while the American people still assumed that Europe had little to do with America.
Austria-Hungary collapsed during the war, torn apart by its multi-national divisions. Though the Treaty negotiators in Paris in 1919, recognized a new political arrangement after the war, it, too, lacked stability because it was impossible to put to rest the multi-ethnic tension between the people in the region.
Germany had entered World War I as the greatest power among the belligerents, with its people immensely proud of Germany's achievements in the years since unification. Their defeat in war was a profound shock, and was coupled with economic privation and collapse. It was more than the German people could accept. The unusual circumstances at the end of the war, in which their government collapsed and the Social Democratic Party assumed power, were not of their choosing.
In France, the heavy losses in manpower at the front decimated an entire generation of Frenchmen and is thought to have created a leadership vacuum when that generation came of age. France had fallen behind Germany and England in population during the 19th century. They were, therefore, less able to sustain wartime losses. France also suffered untold property damage since most of the war on the western front was fought on French soil.
To take their minds off the war, many American citizens (and foreign citizens) spent time enjoying vaudeville entertainment or going to the moviehouse to see silent pictures, among many other refreshingly satisfying activities.
From 1914-1918, the world, as a whole, was a completely different place. Devastation arose. Lives were lost. Many powers became weak, while others become strong. Destruction arose. Families were seperated. Without this war, however, the US would not be what it is today.
July 11
Soaring Dreams
Budget: $150 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: This film profiles the astronauts, crew, and civilians who were involved in the January 28, 1986 flight of the spaceship, Challenger, that resulted in its explosion upon takeoff. Center point of the film is the safety inspections and arguments surrounding the use of the o-rings that ultimately were blamed for the explosion. It also discusses family related issues (like when families heard about the deaths).
August 15
1,000 Cranes
Budget: $60 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: The story of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who was diagnosed with lukemia, due to an atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima about 1 mile from her house. On August 3, 1955, she received a gift in the hospital of 1,000 origami paper cranes as a "get well" gift. Before she dies, her goal is to fold all 1,000 pieces of paper into cranes. Based on a true story.
September 5
Maus: A Survivor's Tale-Part I
Budget: $8 million
Rating: R
Synopsis: A rotoscoping film about the Holocaust in which mice represent victims and pigs represent the Nazis. A Jewish mice family is torn apart by Hitler's Nazi squad. What happens next? You'll have to watch to find out. NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN! Although this is an animated film, there is loads of blood and gore, and extreme violence throughout. This is NOT for children!
November 14
Showstopper
Budget: $18 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A wonderful, compelling dramatic musical that follows the life of one teen in fulfilling her lifelong dream. Susan Smith, a very compassionate animal-lover has been diagnosed with cancer since age five. Now, the doctors are finding that her cancer is getting bigger and bigger and she could die within the next few years. At the age of sixteen, Susan becomes very unhappy. Her parents can't take the pain. However, the doctor said she has a few years left to live. After hearing this news, she thinks about everything she's gone through since she's been diagnosed. She then decides to relive her dream of becoming a famous singer. However, she doesn't know how to become famous because of the fact that there are no celebrities where she lives. Her parents decide that if she really wants to do this, they would take her to New York and she could audition for a Broadway show. That night, Susan packs. The next day, she and her parents fly all the way out to New York and to their surprise, there were auditions being held THAT DAY for a new musical coming to New York, called "Wonderful," a musical about what's wrong with the world today and what we can do to fix it. Susan realizes that it's a depressing show, but she really wants to fulfill her dreams, so she decides to try out for it. The next day, the casting director calls her and says she got the lead in the show. She was ecstatic! She came by the theater around three o' clock in the afternoon to pick up her script and music. The director told her the first rehearsel is that night at seven o' clock. She goes back at seven o' clock. Susan and the rest of the cast rehearse and rehearse for three months, from June to August. That September (2006), "Wonderful" opens on Broadway. However, it didn't open up to very good reviews, but many people went to see it anyways, despite the reviews. The audiences' comments varied. Some enjoyed it, some didn't. But, they all agreed on one thing---The lead actress, Susan. They all agreed that she was the best part of the show and she could really go far. After that show closed in November of 2006, Susan Smith's cancer had grown to unbearable heights and she was rushed to the emergency room after her collapse at the closing night party. While she was in the hospital, she got a letter from the casting director. What could it be about? This summer, meet the girl with a goal in her heart.
November 25 (Day Before Thanksgiving)
I'm Not Moving: The Rosa Parks Story
Budget: $50 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: "On December 1, 1955, Parks became famous for refusing to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. This action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation. In addition, this launched Martin Luther King, Jr., who was involved with the boycott, to prominence in the civil rights movement. She has had a lasting legacy worldwide. In Montgomery, the first four rows of bus seats were reserved for white people. Buses had "colored" sections for black people—who made up more than 75% of the bus system's riders—generally in the rear of the bus. These sections were not fixed in size but were determined by the placement of a movable sign. Black people also could sit in the middle rows, until the white section was full. Then they had to move to seats in the rear, stand, or, if there was no room, leave the bus. Black people were not allowed to sit across the aisle from white people. The driver also could move the "colored" section sign, or remove it altogether. If white people were already sitting in the front, black people could board to pay the fare, but then had to disembark and reenter through the rear door. There were times when the bus departed before the black customers who had paid made it to the back entrance. For years, the black community had complained that the situation was unfair, and Parks was no exception. When Parks refused to give up her seat, a police officer arrested her. As the officer took her away, she recalled that she asked, "Why do you push us around?" The officer's response as she remembered it was, "I don't know, but the law's the law, and you're under arrest." She later said, "I only knew that, as I was being arrested, that it was the very last time that I would ever ride in humiliation of this kind." Parks was charged with a violation of Chapter 6, Section 11 segregation law of the Montgomery City code, even though she technically had not taken up a white-only seat—she had been in a colored section. E.D. Nixon and Clifford Durr bailed Parks out of jail the evening of December 1. On Sunday, December 4, 1955, plans for the Montgomery Bus Boycott were announced at black churches in the area, and a front-page article in The Montgomery Advertiser helped spread the word. At a church rally that night, attendees unanimously agreed to continue the boycott until they were treated with the level of courtesy they expected, until black drivers were hired, and until seating in the middle of the bus was handled on a first-come basis. These are recounts and recallings of the events before, during, and after the day of December 1, 1955.
December 25 (Christmas)
Judy, Stuck in Character
Budget: $16 million
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: The movie starts off at the beginning of Judy Garland's life singing when she was two years old. It jumps to when she was 12 and was signed by MGM and later when her father dies. The movie tells about her early struggles with MGM and with the addiction to barbiturates. It then jumps to the marriage to Vincette Minelli and the struggles with that, and leads into the rest of the movie and her marriages to Sid Luft, Mark Herron, and Mickey Deans and ends when she dies in 1969.