2019 Tolkien Blog Party: Would You Rather Tag!

Hello, fellow Tolkien fans!

This week Hamlette who blogs at The Edge of the Precipice is celebrating all things Tolkien with her Tolkien Blog Party! There is a giveaway, two different games, and lots of blog posts, so be sure to check it out!

Isn't this button great? These are what my book covers look like.

This is her seventh year hosting this! Three years ago I participated for the first time, and it was the very first blog party I ever joined! Ever since then I've made sure to participate in one way or another. Last year I was in a different country and therefore very late in my answers, so this year I made sure to be on time!

Here are my posts from past years: 2016, 2017, 2018.

For the tag this year Hamlette has switched it up and made it a would you rather tag, and I am very excited to answer! I hope you enjoy!

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings then spoilers are ahead, so please don't read any further.

And just to be clear, I'll be answering these based on the fact that I've read:
The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, & The Return of the King.
And I've watched:
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, & The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Would You Rather...

1.  ...join Thorin's Company or the Fellowship?

Oh man, just when I thought that the would you rather questions would be easier...

I'm going to have to choose Thorin's Company. I love The Hobbit to bits, and I feel like the Fellowship is perfect the way it is and I'd only get in the way.

2.  ...ride Shadowfax or an eagle?

I've ridden a horse before, but I've never ridden an eagle, so definitely that.

3.  ...travel through Moria or Mirkwood?

Mirkwood, 100%. I wouldn't want to be trapped underground, I'd rather be able to breathe fresh air. Though Moria is a very friendly place, right? (hahahahaha NO.) At least you just speak friend to enter...

4.  ...learn to make elvish rope or mithril chainmail?

Does it seem like I have enough patience to make chainmail? A clue: no. I have a very short attention span, but I think I could make rope.

5.  ...try to outwit Smaug or Saruman?

Outwit? I would never outwit either of them, but if I had to try it would be Smaug. I would hope to just be funny enough that he thinks I'm entertaining to watch and doesn't want to eat me.

6.  ...spend an hour with Grima Wormtongue or Denethor?

When I was little and saw part of The Return of the King movie, I was absolutely freaked out by Denethor. The guy is a total creep and I don't want to be anywhere near him. I feel like I could be in the same room with Wormtongue for an hour and just ignore him.

7.  ...attend Faramir's wedding or Samwise's wedding?

This is not fair because Sam and Faramir are two of my favorite characters in the whole trilogy. I'll have to pick Sam, just because I feel it would be nicer. And also because I don't really like Eowyn. Sorry! Maybe when I see the movies I'll like her more.

8.  ...have to care for the One Ring or the Arkenstone for a day?

Now, I don't think that I would be tempted to ever put the One Ring on, but just the strain of carrying it around for even an hour would kill me. I get super stressed really easily and it would be too much for me to handle, it would tear me apart. To that end, the Arkenstone for sure. A lot of people want it, but it doesn't mess with your mind, right?

9.  ...have tea with Bilbo or Frodo?

Definitely tea with Bilbo. I'd do something else with Frodo, but I would love to hear Bilbo's stories while drinking hot tea.

10.  ...fight alongside Boromir or Eomer?

Not going to lie, Eomer is another one of my favorites. But, I'd rather fight along side Legolas, if I had the choice. Sadly, he's not part of the question, so Eomer.

Thank you so much to Hamlette for hosting this again! It is a treat each year to participate! Everyone, please go make sure that you read all of the other posts HERE!

Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: STAR WARS VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

Hello!!!!
The time has come for me to do another STAR WARS review! And I only do these on very special occasions therefore today must be special! (I mean, every day is special, but STAR WARS related). Today, September 25th is Mark Hamill's birthday, and because he is the last jedi, that is exactly what I'll be reviewing.

I am very excited about this because A New Hope will always be my favorite because it is the original, but this one is a very close second! I also have visited two of the locations where they did a lot of the filming! Eeek!

Time for my necessary note: If you watch the STAR WARS movies you have to watch them in a certain order, or a lot of things will be spoiled. This series is awesome, and so please don't spoil it for yourself. Watch it in this order:
IV: A New Hope (1977), V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), I: The Phantom Menace (1999), II: Attack of the Clones (2002), III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), VII: The Force Awakens (2015), and VIII: The Last Jedi (2017).

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

STAR WARS VIII: The Last Jedi (2017):

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
The Resistance has been found! With the First Order right on their heels, and running low on supplies, they don't know what they will do when time runs out. Finn, Poe Dameron, and Rose decide that desperate measures must be taken. They come up with a plan to hack into the First Order's security long enough for them to get away, but that involves finding a master code breaker. Meanwhile, Rey wants to become a jedi, but Luke Skywalker has given up. She wants him to be her master, but is he hiding the truth about the past?
"We are the spark that will light the fire the will burn down the First Order."

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy.

Length: approx. 152 minutes.

Costumes: 7, nothing amazing, and there is a scene where someone isn't wearing a shirt.

Script: 7, there are a few bad words (thank you, Finn and Poe).
"Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you see it then you'll never make it through the night."

Crew:

Directed by: Rian Johnson.

Written by: Rian Johnson and George Lucas.

Starring:
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. "The galaxy may need a legend."

Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa.

Daisy Ridley as Rey. "Something inside of me has always been there and now it's awake."

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren.

John Boyega as Finn.

Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico.
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron. "Happy beeps."

Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke.
Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo.
Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux.
Benicio del Toro as DJ.
Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca.
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. "Wipe that nervous expression off your face."
Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata.
Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma.
Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico.

Cinematography: 10, it is amazing. I know since I've been there. There is just one thing which looked really cool, but when I think about it it doesn't make a lot of sense. Oh well. In the storyline it helps the opposing side.
The animals are CGI, but they are so cute!

Cinematography by: Steve Yedlin.

Music: 10!! Forever and ever I'll give it a 10.

Music by: John Williams.

Quotes: 10! "That's how we're going to win this war, not fighting what we hate, but saving what we love." (This might be my favorite line of the whole franchise).

Storyline: 7, there is a lot of violence, torture, and shooting, then killing and death. There is also one suggestive line (thanks Maz) and a few gross things.
"There are things that you cannot solve by jumping into a cock pit and blowing something up."

Good For: STAR WARS fans!

Age Range: It is rated PG-13 because of the violence, but I think it just depends on what each person is comfortable with. I've known younger kids to watch more violent things and be fine.

Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts:
Okay, I know that quite a few STAR WARS fans didn't like this one, but I love it! A lot happens in the 2 and a half hours and there is never a quiet moment. I really relate to Luke Skywalker, and Mark Hamill did such a great job playing him (as always)! I have watched this movie so many times but never get tired of it. This movie deals a lot with fear and selflessness. Ack, these characters are so amazing!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hamill!

Thanks to all of you for reading! Have you seen this? If you have I would love to chat about it in the comments! Have a great day!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Greetings, friends!

There are a ton of musicals out there. I'm usually really picky about them because either I like the songs, but not the story or vise versa. Whenever I ask people to tell me a few of their favorite musicals, one of them is almost always The Phantom of the Opera. It is really famous and I had never seen it until last Tuesday! Here we are onto the review!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004):

Based on: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra - by Gaston Leroux. 

When new owners take over the Opera house, strange things begin happening. They receive a note from the Opera Ghost, demanding certain things. After having trouble with the star Carlotta, a young girl named Christine takes the stage. She gets reintroduced to one of her childhood friends, but she is worried because she keeps hearing voices. Whom she thinks is The Angel of Music is actually the Phantom. Is he just lonely, or does he have more sinister plans?

Genre: Musical, Romance.

Length: approx. 140 minutes.

Costumes: 7, okay, so there are some really amazing costumes in here, but quite a few are a little low, or skimpy. There is also a scene where someone isn't wearing a shirt, or pants.

My favorite: Look at that dress!

Script: 8, they are one or two bad words and a name in vain. There isn't really a lot of talking besides the singing.

Crew:

Directed by: Joel Schumacher.

Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joel Schumacher, Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, & Gaston Leroux.

Starring:
Gerald Butler as The Phantom.

Emmy Rossum as Christine Daaé.

Patrick Wilson as Raoul de Chagny.

Is it weird to anyone else that Raoul and I basicly have the same haircut?

Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry.
Minnie Driver as Carlotta Giudicelli. (Margaret Preece as Carlotta's singing voice except for one song.)

Simon Callow as Gilles André.
Ciarán Hinds as Richard Firmin.
Jennifer Ellison as Meg Giry.
Victor McGuire as Ubaldo Piangi.
Murray Melvin as Monsieur Reyer.
Kevin McNally as Joseph Buquet.
James Fleet as Monsieur Lefèvre.
Ramin Karimloo as Gustave Daaé. (This is interesting because he also played The Phantom and Raoul in different stage versions.)

Cinematography: 7, there were some cool things, but there was a lot of potential that they didn't use.

Cinematography by: John Mathieson.

Music: 9, the music is very impressive! I thought that a few of the songs sounded too much like another, but all of the singing was amazing!

Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Quotes: 7, as I said, there isn't a lot of talking without singing.

Storyline: 6, there is drinking, gruesome things, death, hanging, and some very suggestive things.

Good For: Musical lovers!

Age Range: It is rated PG-13 because of some scary things, but I think it just depends on each person.

Overall Score: 7.5!

Why, of all times I could have watched this did I decide to now? Well, Rebekah Brannan, one of the bloggers at Pure Entertainment Preservation Society (PEPS), is hosting a blogathon in honor of all things about The Phantom of the Opera because it is the 110th anniversary of when the novel first started being a serial in a newspaper! I thought this would be the perfect time to finally watch this to join this party!

I am still trying to decide what I thought of it. I had heard the song "The Music of the Night" before watching (my dad plays it all the time). I was certainly surprised at the story, I thought it was going a completely different way! I definitely want to re-watch it, and see some different versions, so I think that means I liked it.

If you are a "Phan", they would love if you joined!

Thank you so much for reading! Am I the only one who has gone so long without seeing it? What do you think of it? Make sure to check out all of the other entries in the blogathon HERE!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Ahoy, matey!

This fine day that ye find yerselves in just 'appens to be National Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Because of this occasion I am in a jolly mood to write a film review. Enjoy yerselves!

"I knew there was a good reason."

(Whew, it is really hard to type like this)

Here are the links to when I reviewed the first two movies:
Curse of the Black Pearl
Dead Man's Chest

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007):

Based on: the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.
"For certain you have to be lost to find something that cannot be found, else everyone would know where it is."
Continuing from where the second movie ended, the crew head to Davy Jones's Locker to get help. They encounter different tests, and they also find that the loyalties among the crew might be divided. With the East Indian Trading Company on the rise and in control of the sea, pirates from all around the world will have to decide, is worth it to all join together and fight?
"And so despair leads to betrayal."

Genre: Swashbuckler, Adventure.

Length: approx. 169 minutes. Yeah, it's really long.

Costumes: 6, there are scenes were people are wearing no shirts, or things are low.

Script: 9, I didn't notice any bad words, and I'm usually very sensitive to that.
"Words whispered through prison bars loose their charm."

Crew:

Directed by: Gore Verbinski.

Written by: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.

Starring:
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

"'You're mad!'

'Thank goodness for that because if I wasn't this probably wouldn't work.'" (This is actually one of my mottoes)

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner.

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.
Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa.
Bill Nighy as Davy Jones.

Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett.

Kevin R. McNally as Gibbs.
Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook as Pintel and Ragetti.

Jack Davenport as James Norrington.

Chow Yun-fat as Sao Feng.

Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma.

Stellan Skarsgård as Bootstrap Bill Turner.

Martin Klebba as Marty.

David Bailie as Cotton.
Jonathan Pryce as Weatherby Swann.
David Schofield as Mr. Mercer.
Keith Richards as Edward Teague.
Greg Ellis as Theodore Groves.

Cinematography: 9, it has some really cool things, though sometimes the CGI is a little obvious.

Cinematography by: Dariusz Wolski.

Music: 10! Oh, it is so good! One of my favorites.

Music by: Hans Zimmer.

Quotes: 9, "Now we're being followed by rocks. Never had that before."

Storyline: 5, fighting, violence, gruesome, death, hanging, bringing people back from the dead, drinking, and some very suggestive things. There is this one rather suggestive scene (with what leads up to it and what follows), but I was actually really pleased with how they did it because I had remembered it differently.
"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness."

Good For: Anyone who loves swashbucklers (that's me) and adventure movies, whoever has had to make hard decisions, anyone who is missing people.

Age Range: It is rated PG-13 because there is a lot of fighting (and the suggestive scene I mentioned), and I would agree with that.

Overall Score: 8!

"We need to interrogate survivors and that works best when they're alive."

Bonus thoughts:
This movie is so long, and there is so much in here! I feel like I would understand more of it if I rewatched it a lot, but it is hard to find the time. The first and second movies will always be my favorites just because this one is a little too weird for me. It is a very satisfying conclusion (*cough*but now it isn't the end*cough*). Megan wrote a really good post on it that you should check out! (There are spoilers though).


Thank ye fer readin'! Which of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is your favorite? Have a good National Talk Like a Pirate Day!

MovieCritic

The Hobbiton Tag!

Hello, everyone!

We Lord of the Rings fans get really excited around this time of year because on the 22nd of this month is Frodo's and Bilbo's birthday! Emily who blogs at The Ones That Really Matter created this tag in honor of them, and tagged all of her followers. I knew that I had to do it. I had a movie review planned for today, but you'll be getting a lot of those in the next few days, so this will be a nice break, right?

The Rules:
1. Please use the above graphic and link back to me!
2. Answer the questions!
3. Tag as few or as many people you'd like!

The Questions:
1. You've invited Bilbo over for second breakfast. What are you serving?

The traditional Irish breakfast! I went to Ireland for about a month with my mom last year (today is actually the year anniversary of our leaving!) and I was about to experience the Irish breakfast which consists of: A fried egg or scrambled eggs, a rasher, black pudding, white pudding (both are sausages), Clonakilty sausage, fried tomato, beans (if you are near Dublin), and toast.
I know, I thought that it sounds gross and the first day I had it I thought that it was gross, but then I had it every morning. You get used to it and it tastes so good and seems very much like what a hobbit would eat.

2. It's a nice, cozy evening in your hobbit hole. What kind of hot drink do you relax with?

Tea! I drink a lot of tea. I used to be very picky and only like it a certain way, but now I drink any kind of tea, any temperature. I also really like hot chocolate.

3. You have to invite either Gollum or the Sackville-Bagginses to your birthday party. Who do you choose?

Oh dear. Well, I feel like I could entertain the Sackville-Bagginses, but I'd be really worn out.

4. Cold weather has hit the Shire. Do you curl up with a sweater or a blanket?

Answer: run around outside! I love the cold weather. I'm like Elsa.

"The cold never bothers me anyway."

In our house because we have a wood stove it gets really hot in the winter, so you don't really need either, but I'll pick a blanket.

5. Who would you rather go on an adventure with, Bilbo or Frodo?

Bilbo! I really like Frodo, and we have a lot in common because we are both INFPs (Myers-Briggs), but Bilbo is one of my favorite characters ever and I would love to spend time with him doing something adventurous.

6. You're stuck in your hobbit hole with a snowstorm outside. How do you spend your evening?

How do you know I'm not creating the snowstorm? Just joking! I would either be reading, watching a movie, or playing some kind of game with my family. Most likely Catan.

7. You're planning your birthday party. What's the entertainment: Gandalf's fireworks or Merry and Pippin's singing and dancing?

Merry and Pippin! They are hilarious and I love to laugh. It is the perfect situation! 'Cause, this is what happens when there are fireworks:

8. Of course as a hobbit, you prefer to go barefoot. But if you were the sort for such things, would you prefer fuzzy socks or cozy slippers?

Probably both, socks inside slippers.

9. Sam's brought you some of his autumn harvest! What do you make; pumpkin pie? Baked apples? Butternut squash soup? The options are endless!

That is very kind of him! It is known that I am a terrible cook (I just need more practice), but I have made an apple pie in the past, and I've never done it, but I know how to make apple sauce, so one of those.

10. It's a beautiful, crisp autumn day in the Shire. What are your plans for the day?

Probably take a walk, admiring all of the pretty leaves!

I tag:
Hamlette
Fawnabelle Baggins
Ceci
& anyone else who wants to do it!

Thank you to Emily for creating this tag. Am I just a little obsessed with being cold?

Later this month Hamlette who blogs at The Edge of the Precipice is hosting a whole week devoted to Tolkien, so click here to check it out!

Thanks to all of you for reading!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: The Inspector General (1949)

Hello, everyone!

I hope that you are all having a nice September so far! It has been very rainy here, which I love because I can sit inside and write movie reviews...

For today I thought I'd review a comedy with the famous star Danny Kaye! I hope you enjoy!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

The Inspector General (1949):

Based on: Suggested by a play by Nikolai Gogol.
"'To whom it may concern.' What a silly way to start a letter."
After a fake travelling salesman is found out, his assistant, Georgi, has no where to go. Hungry and thirsty, he arrives in town and gets thrown in jail just because they are "cleaning up". The jailers accidentally get the idea that he is the inspector general, who is going from town to town making sure things are in order! Georgi confused, agrees because he is so hungry. His greedy former boss, Yakov, who knows that he is a fraud, convinces him that if the people find out he isn't real they will kill him. Georgi likes a girl that he has met here, and actually wants to help, but what will happen if the people try to get rid of him?
"Things are not as bad as you thought, oh no, they are much worse."

Genre: Comedy.

Length: approx. 102 minutes.

Costumes: 7, a few are a little low, but there are some pretty fancy ones!

My favorite: I like one of Leza's that is blue, but this red one is nice, too!

Script: 10, no bad words!
"Maybe I can't read or write, but I'm not illiterate."

Crew:

Directed by: Henry Koster.

Written by: Philip Rapp, Harry Kurnitz, & Nikolai Gogol.

Starring:
Danny Kaye as Georgi.

Walter Slezak as Yakov.
Barbara Bates as Leza.

Gene Lockhart as The Mayor.

Alan Hale as Kovatch.

Walter Catlett as Colonel Castine.

Elsa Lanchester as Maria.
Rhys Williams as Inspector General.

Cinematography: 7, just regular.

Cinematography by: Elwood Bredell.

Music: 8.

Music by: Sylvia Fine (lyrics and music) & Johnny Green (score).

Quotes: 8, "We shall see what we shall see."

Notes: There are a few Hamlet references.

Storyline: 7, there is drinking, and some suggestive things (thanks, Maria).

Good For: People who like Danny Kaye (that's me), people who like comedies.

Age Range: Any age would like it, I think! The first time I watched it I was with my 90+ year old grandma, she liked it, and I liked it, too!

Overall Score: 8.

Bonus thoughts:
My favorite thing about this movie is definitely Danny Kaye. He is so great to watch, and super funny! I love the part where he imagines giving himself advice. The romance between Leza and Georgi is very sweet, too.


Thanks for reading! Have any of you seen this?

MovieCritic