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Coral Russell is a self confessed movie junkie.  She loves using movies, technology, music, arts, and plain old curiosity when it comes to teaching or learning a new language at English as a New Language. Connect with her on Jinni here.

For the first time in my life, I’m going to a film festival! The Plaza Classic Film Festival in El Paso, TX August 5- 15, 2010 is touted as being one of the largest of it’s kind in the world. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and with over 60 films to choose from, I’m going to pick five that I haven’t seen before and see what Jinni has to say about them.

1. Picnic (1955) with  William Holden and Kim Novak

I have a soft spot for movies from the 50s and this one features a handsome drifter who interacts with five women in a small Kansas town over Labor Day Weekend.  Sounds simple, yet scandalous.  This was adapted from a play, so it’s “talky” and the “slow paced” - which to me means good dialog and character development.

2. Leave Her to Heaven (1945) with Gene Tierney and Cornel Wilde

Is there such a thing as loving too much?  How can that be, unless it involves, perhaps… murder?  The setting is Maine and I just can’t picture that as a place for hot, obsessive romance, but maybe I’m missing something.

3. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Anime movie by Hayao Miyazaki.

This movie is a classic in the sense that it is one of the highest grossing films in Japanese history, from one of the most famous Japanese anime movie directors and highly recommended by critics as “insanely creative.”  I’ve seen several of his other films and I’m not going to miss the opportunity to see this on the big screen!

4. Cat People (1942) Irena Dubrovna and Oliver Reed

Something goes horribly wrong in a young couple’s marriage when the young bride fears she will turn into an animal if she becomes too “aroused.”  When the young husband seeks comfort in another woman’s arms, someone’s going to get owned.  A psychological thriller that single-handedly saved RKO from going belly up.

5. Murder, My Sweet (1944) with Dick Powell and Claire Trevor

Film noir at its best, with detective Phillip Marlowe being seduced, beaten up, and drugged all in the line of duty.

These movies are easily available via companies like Netflix, but thanks to film festivals and a few movie theaters around the country, it’s a real treat to be able to see them on the big screen again.  There are 10 films in all I’m planning to see at the Plaza Classic Film Festival.  I’ve already seen most of the movies on the schedule.  Does this mean I watch too many movies?  Nah!

What’s your favorite gene (search term) on Jinni? Is there one, or several combined, that especially expresses your tastes – or your life? Email us at bloggers@jinni.com with a piece about your favorite gene and the 5 movies or shows that express it for you (200-500 words; or you can present your ideas in images/video), and we’ll publish our Gene 5 selections on a rolling basis.

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