Thursday, June 26, 2014

Get to Know Melissa Henderson

by Melissa Henderson
Our newest writer answers questions about her favorite movies, music and movies about music.

What is the first movie you remember going to see?

I lived in Germany when I was a kidlet and we spent most of our family time travelling around Europe instead of spending time at the movies. I know, it's tragic. Now, my memory is not the best, and while I do not recall the first movie I ever saw in theatres, I do remember the first time I went to the movies alone! BAM! Home Alone!

To this day, I still have to close my eyes when Daniel Stern is slowwwwllllllly stepping down barefoot on that damn nail. (**shudder**) Some things just take you back to your first viewing reaction.
What is the movie that made you fall in love with movies?

I know for a fact that “Inconceivable”is the first big word I ever used all while never knowing what it actually meant. Soooo, I'm going to have to go with The Princess Bride on this one! A beautiful princess? Pirates? Prince Humperdink? Giant, scary Rodents of Unusual Size? What little girl doesn't love all of that? I'm pretty sure my brother and I drove my parents crazy with “My name is Inigo Montoya...You kill my father, prepare to die!”

Do you have a favorite movie snack?

I am a fat kid at heart, so the answer is probably just best to be left at YES. However, surrounding that fat kid is a gal who loves to talk... SOOOO:

Popcorn (no butter)
(Mixing in Smarties or Skittles or M&Ms in the popcorn is a must)
Frozen yogurt
Pizza (Cheese or Veggie)
Cherry Blasters
And water.... Gotta stay hydrated!

Side note: I have never once actually had ALL of the above in one sitting... I don't think we have a good Roll You Out of the Theatre Policy in effect.

Someone is going to make a movie of your life. What is it called and who plays you?

Unfiltered Voice: A Tale of ADD, Lack of Volume Control, And An Unsuspecting World.

Played by: Juliette Lewis (The Actress/Musician, NOT the Scientologist... I'm all levels of crazy, but have to draw the line somewhere!)
You love music as much as movies. Who are some of your favorite artists?

My favourite musicians change as often as my favourite movies! (Since I'm Canadian, you HAVE to keep the U in favoUrites!) I am a punker at heart, but really I love almost everything... So let's go with my top four most played bands over the past few months: Alexisonfire, Silverstein, Beatles and The Avett Brothers.

Do you have a favorite performance by a singer/musician?

I have seen so many, have many favourites, again these are ever-changing due to my mood, and what I have recently watched. This week, it is Eminem in 8 Mile and Alanis Morissette with the voice that kills in Dogma. Awhile ago it was Jack White in Cold Mountain, Jennifer Lopez in Selena, Mariah Carey in Precious, and David Bowie in Labyrinth.
What is your favorite music biopic ever made?

Geez, these are tough questions and I just can't commit to one. When I was younger, I loved Selena... And I still do! Coal Miner's Daughter was another fave. More recent viewings leave me stuck on The Buddy Holly Story, Walk The Line and Nowhere Boy.

You're also, as you've said, a big fan of horror. What are some of your favorites?

I'm going to stop repeating myself about why I can't pick just one and give you a list of my favourites. (In no particular order:)

Contracted
Cabin in the Woods
The Evil Dead (1981)
Nosferatu
The Shining
Drag Me To Hell
Scream

What is the worst horror movie that you secretly love?

Alien 3 (Now it's not a secret... Don't hate me.)
Who are three of your favorite filmmakers of all time?

Quentin Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese. It's so hard to nail it down to just three. Obviously Stanley Kubrick, Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock are the silent three behind my above-mentioned three. Have I managed to secretly sneak six in where only three were allowed? I'll do this every time you know!

Thanks for reading my all about me! (Read it as “Thanks for calling me on the Telephone!” - Brendan Fraser, Blast From the Past)

11 comments:

  1. Hello Melissa! I have to admit, I wasn't sure about you when you said no butter on your popcorn. Fortunately you then showed the good sense to talk about mixing in candy.

    Don't feel bad about your Alien 3 love. I love that movie as well, despite the MASSIVE amount of BS you need to swallow to buy the central premise. I much prefer the so-called "assembly cut" to the original release.

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  2. I'm sorry, I had to stop reading halfway through the column. The Avett Brothers have been my favorite current band for the past several years now! I saw them live twice so far and they were AMAZING both times! You now have a friend and a fan for life. :) Now I will resume reading.

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    1. And as this is a movie blog, I must also comment that your taste in music biopics and directors is exquisite as well! It's great to know you a little better and have you aboard, Melissa!

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  3. I was getting ready to revoke your "Fat Kid at Heart" status when you said "no butter" but wow, Skittles in popcorn, you don't fuck around!

    You've got great taste, Melissa, and I think we can be friends, but I have one additional question: What are your feelings on Starship Troopers? And the bands, Jefferson Starship and Trooper?

    Looking forward to more of you and more of "U".

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    1. I've done M&Ms in popcorn before. A very wise person taught me that combination. Yum!

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    2. I second the looking for to more of you (because you seem very cool) and 'u'; as a Brit I support that too!

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    3. I also want to try that combination of m&ms and popcorn!

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  4. Thank you guys!

    HAHA! If you put butter on the popcorn then all the candy would melt. This way the candy to popcorn ratio can be controlled and it's not just a big sloppy delicious mess.

    I loved Starship Troopers when I watched it years ago, but haven't had the chance to revisit it in years... My guess is I'll love it even more now! The plan is to watch it this week and follow it up with the podcast. (Have I mentioned how MUCH I LOVE THIS SITE?)

    I have been trying to watch a movie a day in 2014, but sadly (and HORRIBLE timing for Junesploitation), I have been so busy this month that it's been more like 2 movies A WEEK!!!! What the crap?

    I met and interviewed Trooper ten years ago... Ray asked if I was going to be at his show to which I answered "Front row centre, I will be". His response: " Heh heh...Yoda".

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  5. I'm going to be watching Alien 3 for the first time this Halloween, and I've come to find that it actually has a huge cult following of people who genuinely love it.

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    1. Alien 3 was the first Alien I was able to see in the theatre (I just checked IMDB and I was 12 so I guess my parents helped me get in?) so I remember being very excited about it but then pretty disappointed that they went back to the less is more formula of the original (which I didn't care much for at the time - stupid kid) but I still liked it and it's only gotten better over time. Not that it's a great movie and the production was a nightmare (highly recommend the Alien Anthology blu-ray for some great documentaries about all of them) but I think a lot of the negativity from the critics came more from it not comparing well to Aliens. If you go in not expecting more of that, you probably have a better chance of enjoying it - hope you do!

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    2. Sol, which cut do you recommend for maximum enjoyment? I'll be sure to watch those documentaries on the anthology set as well, thanks.

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