I hope you're having a good June in all accounts! I'm closing out this month with filling out the prompt from Heidi's Inklings!
How it works:
1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.
2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.
Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! That second link is where she gave the following prompt:
An archery scene in book or film
Which, mwahaha, if you don't know, archery is one of my favorite things EVER. I've been obsessed with Robin Hood since I was about 6. Archery is the reason Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger and Legolas is my favorite of the Fellowship. So, of course, I immediately wanted to do a scene from Robin Hood but the problem is...there are a lot of versions. Including both film/tv show adaptations and books, I have 10+ versions under my belt.
To shake things up then, we're going with one of my favorite Pixar movies. Which claims a spot because ARCHERY.
My pick is from the movie Brave (2012). This scene happens early on in the film and could possibly be called the inciting incident? I won't talk about spoilers for the rest of the film.
First, some context and the set-up: Three clans come with their first born sons to compete for the hand of Merida, the daughter of Lord Fergus. Merida is less than thrilled about these Highland games until she learns that she gets to choose the sport that these three lads will compete in.
Ahem.
Now onto the scene itself.
Fergus: "It's time."
Elinor: "Archers, to your marks!"
Fergus: "Aye, archers to-to-to your marks!
Elinor: "And may the lucky arrow find it's target."
While Elinor is saying this, Merida grins, looking at her own arrows as she subtly kicks them farther under her chair. We see each of the archers step up while the crowd reacts.
Fergus: "Oi, get on with it!"
The first archer---the son of MacGuffin---barely pulls back on the string and the arrow almost misses the target.
Merida, to her father: "I bet he wishes he was tossing capers."
Fergus: "Or holding up bridges."
Both chuckle. Elinor slaps at them for not taking this seriously.
Next archer---son of Lord Macintosh---is super dramatic with getting ready. Complete with hair flip and everything.
It's a nice shot, but it doesn't quite hit the red. Which leads to a bit of a meltdown.
Lord Macintosh: "At least you hit the target!"
Young Macintosh starts screaming and wacking the bow on the ground.
Merida: "Oh, that's attractive."
Young Macintosh throws the bow over the crowd and people wait when it disappears until a hand pops up with a voice saying. "Got it!" and the crowd cheers again.
Merida: "Good arm."
Fergus: "And such lovely, flowing locks."
Elinor: "Fergus!"
Fergus: "What?"
The final archer---son of Lord Dingwall---pours out his whole quiver while trying to get one arrow.
Every time he points it at the target the arrow drifts away.
The king finally has enough.
Fergus: "Oh come on! SHOOT!"
The boy looks in surprise at Fergus as he lets go. The arrow hits the middle of the target.
There's some celebration of crude types. Elinor and Fergus are staring wide-eyed.
Fergus: "Well, that's just grand now. Guess who's coming to dinner?" (Which I just realized could be a reference)
Elinor: "Fergus!"
Fergus: "By the way, I hope you don't might being called Lady---"
He looks over to meet the face of a dog instead of his daughter.
Merida: "I am Merida, first born descendant of clan Dunbroch."
Elinor: *stands up, muttering* "What are you doing?"
Merida tries to shoot but she's having trouble with the dress she was jammed into.
Elinor: "Merida!"
Merida: "Curse this dress!"
Elinor: "Merida, stop this!"
The queen hurries down off the dais but isn't able to stop her daughter.
Elinor: "Don't you dare release another arrow."
Elinor: "Merida! I forbid it!"
Talk about epic. As you can guess with the movie poster, there's a lot of archery in this film but this scene is my favorite. Top tier archery is splitting an arrow.
Though, should we count how many times Elinor says the names of her husband and daughter?
Thanks to Heidi for hosting this! Thanks to all of you for reading this! What is your favorite scene in this movie? Have you ever called someone "wee lamb"? (I'm totally going to start that now)
Today at last I'm breaking my hiatus of reviews. It's been a few years since I did a movie review even though the whole point of me starting this blog. But it can't be that difficult, right?
Enjoy the following spoiler-free thoughts!
Legally Blonde (2001):
Premise: When Elle Woods's boyfriend, Warner, leaves her to go to Harvard, Elle decides she's going to become the kind of girl Warner would want to marry. A serious girl, aka a lawyer. She applies to Harvard to follow in his footsteps but is met with skepticism not only because of her outfits but her whole way of living; her undergrad degree being in fashion merchandising. Can a previous sorority queen turn into a attorney?
Based on: the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and Brigid Kerrigan. Screenplay written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Law and Order, Drama. It's marketed as a Rom-Com, but I don't think it really fits either of those genres, because while they are present in the set-up, it morphs into a court room drama about making all kinds of statements about the world.
Originality: I feel like this movie sparked a whole new genre which is why it's hard to place it! Another film people usually associate this movie with is Mean Girls (2004) but I don't think the color pink is a fair resemblance, because that is the only thing I see it being close to. Mean Girls is all about leaning into stereotypes to the point of destruction while this is challenging those stereotypes in a tongue-in-cheek manner. As for other films that are similar in my opinion, I can see Barbie (2023) getting some influences from this, not in a copying way but in, as I said, pioneering a new genre. I always forget about the play on words of "legally blind", but when I remember it I'm again awed by the brilliance of the concept and execution.
Length: 96 minutes.
Age Range: It's rated PG-13 for a smattering of language (from swearing to name calling) and innuendo. A portion of the film is about a court case centered around murder and affairs are accused and hinted at. In class debates can have some harsh words but they are all about learning how to have better persuasion skills.
Crew: Directed by: Robert Luketic. Produced by: Marc Platt and Ric Kidney. Cinematography by: Anthony B. Richmond. Music by: Rolfe Kent.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Davis, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Victor Garber, Jennifer Coolidge, and Moondoggie (as Bruiser Woods).
Cinematography: The opening shots are well-known and are referenced in other things, for example, the show Wednesday (2022). Cinematography can help keep a courtroom story interesting and this does that without any unnecessary flairs.
Costumes: Elle is known for her style and her reputation for pink is not lying. She's not always dressed for the occasion (when lied to...) but she always goes full out.
This is what I want my hair to look like every day and I think I'm pretty successful in my effort.
Music: The first song on the soundtrack "Perfect Day" is pretty iconic, but listening to the rest of the soundtrack I couldn't remember where most of the songs came into play. That's not a bad thing, I'm just so focused on the story that I don't pay attention to the background music.
Quotability: The opening gif I have is arguably the most famous line, but there are so many other zingers! Besides the inspiration parts about not losing faith in yourself, Elle can keep the ball rolling in a conversation like no one else.
"Whoever said 'orange is the new pink' was seriously disturbed."
Good For: Blondes! And for our non-blonde friends to get a look into our little worlds. I'm sure those in law could tell you about the accuracies for the profession, but regardless of the precision, I think this would be fun for lawyers to watch to get a new perspective and analyze why this holds up.
Worth watching?: At this point, this film is a cult classic, so understanding cultural references are enough to recommend checking this film out (raise your hand if you know what is "hard"). Besides that, there are many reasons to speak favorably of this film. Whether it's a comfort film or a "pick me up" or an inspirational tribute to fighting against the trials in the world, I believe it's worth the time.
Will I watch again?: When I first watched it I didn't fully lean into it and therefore didn't get the full experience. I thought it was okay, but no great shakes. Ever since then, though, I've been thinking about rewatching it, and when I finally got around to doing that this year it did not disappoint; my view of it skyrocketed. I definitely will watch it again in the future.
Thoughts: I relate to Elle in a lot of ways because, well, I'm blonde. And I have been treated like a Blonde---capital B!---many a times. It doesn't usually bother me because I prefer people underestimate me that have high expectations. But every once in a while I get annoyed at the stereotype and love to find power in thinking of this movie.
Part of what makes the movie so full of heart is Elle herself. Elle has so much integrity and that's why she gets along with so many people. She's brimming over with kindness! Going to Harvard is a shock because instead of people understanding her good intentions, they make mock of her. That's a hard lesson to learn, but Elle uses that power to be all the stronger for the people who need her, like Paulette. It can be very lonely to be in a place where no one has anything in common with you and it is important to find strength in your community. However, with the development of friendship between Elle and Vivian, it shows that we are sometimes too quick to judge others about outside appearances.
Elle is a diva but she's got brains! She has a higher GPA than I do. This is all about breaking the stereotypes about what is important, because her passions give her a step up in the most unexpected ways.
Don't try to fool her.
This movie is mostly about fighting against sexism, but I should acknowledge that everyone here is very privileged to be attending this school. From my one film class and my literature major graduate sister, I've learned that it's important to understand which stories aren't being told. Though I don't like the term, this could be boiled down to "first world problems". However, I think it's deeper than that because fighting against one kind of injustice always leads to questioning other social systems in the world.
Besides, it's about working hard, which Elle does. She gives everything her all. I love that Elle finds that her passion for life can go beyond marketing and speaking for those without a voice or suffering from the same kind of social persecution.
There is also a sequel that I'm not tickled pink over because I feel it loses that sense of purpose that Elle had in the first one. It's played up more for laughing at ridiculous situations instead of calling out biases in the world.
But the world of business also has the world of marketing and franchises. There is a spin-off about twins called Legally Blondes. There have been reports of a third/a prequel.
Besides, Legally Blonde did indeed become a musical! My favorite song is "There! Right There!" which is all about wondering if a suspect is "gay or European" based on clothing style, which is too true. The songs about Ireland are a little much for me, but my friends and I were cracking up while playing cards and listening. We also had a slight mishap while listening to the soundtrack; I was amazed that the first and second songs were so far apart! Turns out we were listening on shuffle.
How well does the story carry over into musical form? The singing makes sense because it holds up the assumed frivolity for the sorority girls in the first song, but I'm not sure that it works for every situation. Then again, it is a musical so we must suspend our disbelief from the beginning. Of course the color palette (pink!) stands out enough to make a memorable set, I imagine. Though the props and sets people might get a little tired of it after a while (just speaking from personal experience with the color gold...).
Broadway show continuation is a make or break when it comes to the new cast. This was true for this show because it was such a big deal, there is a reality show about the recasting: The Search for Elle Woods.
All in all, the story is about looking at things from a new perspective, so even if it isn't your traditional musical, it's challenging the format and way things are done which is the moral.
Maybe the world isn't black and white; maybe we should look through those rose-colored glasses every once in a while.
Thank you to Rebecca for hosting! It's been an honor. Make sure you check out the other blog posts HERE.
Today is actually the Tony awards, so by the time I have this posted the results might already be out, but I'm rooting for Water for Elephants to win as many as it can.
What do you think of courtroom dramas? What do you think makes for a good carryover to a musical? What stereotypes do you get put into? Thanks to all of you for reading!
Do any of you have shows that you watch a lot, not necessarily because they're your favorite, but because they are comfort shows? One of mine is Gilmore Girls.
It's my little sister's ultimate comfort show and through her influence I also watch it when I need a smile. You can also tell her sway because she included a picture from Gilmore Girls when she made my header for this blog. I have a long and complicated history with this story but today I'm not going to go deeply into my thoughts on the show as a whole itself, just celebrate some of my favorite parts.
Yes, I have an ulterior motive, which will become clear soon. Stay tuned.
There aren't spoilers for these, just some messy ramblings. If you haven't ever seen Gilmore Girls I hope this gives you a look into what the show is through all my abstract thoughts; if you have seen Gilmore Girls, then I hope you enjoy my sneaky references!
I will say that some of these I've only watched once, so I may not remember all the side plots for each of these episodes, but they have elements that make me smile and think, "Yeah, that's a favorite." It is strange that my favorites aren't the ones I watch the most, but these are my favorite because they capture what I think is the essence of the show.
Summary: If you don't know, the show Gilmore Girls is about single mother Lorelai Gilmore as she gets her daughter Rory through high school and college. All of this is backed by a quirky town that she has escaped to to not live like her high society parents.
10.
Season 4, Episode 13: "Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels"
I had a list to decide between to take the last spot and I rewatched this one to try to decide, and voila, my decision was made.
I still don't understand the ridiculousness that is this title, but that goes for a lot of the episodes. Emily and Richard navigating high society and being annoyed that Lorelai brought her daughter instead of a man makes me chuckle.
If you haven't seen this show, I think the reason so many of come back to it again and again is for Stars Hollow itself. It has such a fun energy and community. The Firelight Festival has all of that, especially with Kirk and his walkie talkie.
So much energy that we're running away from each other.
I love how chaotic Liz is, but even more than that, I love how much Liz adores Luke. It's precious and makes me so happy. Siblings for the win.
9.
Season 1, Episode 10: "Forgiveness and Stuff"
This has some good stuff with Richard. Lorelai working through issues with her parents, I am sad to say, lasts the whole show. But that's good, too, because despite all the hurt they are all really trying to become functional. I like this episode for that, for all the work they go through.
And the Santa burger is so disgusting.
You can't have a Christmas scene without some heart strings being pulled, and this does just that.
8.
Season 1, Episode 2: "The Loreleis’ First Day at Chilton"
Iconic.
This is just a classic. Starting with sleeping through the alarm ("It didn't purr!" "...What?") and then the introduction of all of Rory's new classmates, this is solid. And it has great Lorelai and Rory moments like the above gif.
I did not watch this show chronologically for a long time, but when eventually I decided to I was amazed of how much of the credits pull from this episode.
The Chilton years are great fun but it takes a lot for the students to accept Rory. I could choose a ton of different episodes to check off Chilton, but this one is quintessential.
7.
Season 2, Episode 5: "Nick and Nora, Sid and Nancy"
I'm sure all the Gilmore Girls fans can tell a lot about what I think of the show just based on my favorite episodes. If you are one, you know what I mean. And I think this is the one that reveals my hand. If #10 didn't already give that away.
This is up here because it is the introduction of one of my favorite characters, the one and only Jess Mariano. If you're not a fan of Jess, please don't run away, I will explain myself! Not today, but I will explain myself in the future. I have a whole post about him planned.
This show is basically made up of moments in Luke's diner, but the picture above is one of my favorites. Taylor trying to be the big authority all while Lorelai does anything she wants tells a lot about Luke's tolerance. The kids wanting fries and Lorelai just wanting a donut.
Luke going through all the different tactics of trying to raise someone is what I am here for.
6.
Season 7, Episode 22: "Bon Voyage"
You guys may notice that there aren't any season 5 or season 6 episodes in this list, and that this is the only season 7 episode. That's because those seasons annoy me greatly. For this being my comfort show, I only usually rewatch seasons 2 and 3, with occasional episodes from seasons 1 and 4.
This here is the finale. And it did such a great job with wrapping everything up. I've just watched it the once, but I'm pretty sure I cried. It has all the Stars Hollow charm and community along with big decisions which are hard decisions.
I got into this show for one relationship and one relationship only. But slowly another one began to grow, and this is the culmination I could only dream of.
5.
Season 2, Episode 10: "The Bracebridge Dinner"
I am Lorelai in a few different ways, and one is that I LOVE snow. And this episode features some very good snow, indeed. I don't care if the snow looks fake, it's snow.
A snowman building contest, the town getting to stay at the Independence, sleigh rides! What else do you want? I love the whole medieval-themed antics and the confusion over the food.
The whole Rune vs. Kirk dynamic bubbling in the background just makes me want to see more. I don't remember much of Michel in this episode which is sad because he is fabulous and one of my favorite parts of the whole show. Oh, and I just remembered all the convincing Sookie had to do to get Jackson to be part! Good times.
4.
Season 2, Episode 19: "Teach Me Tonight"
I don't know why this is one of my favorites when you have the context that I watched this when I was learning to drive and then refused to go driving with my dad.
Ahem. All you fans know why I like this episode.
There are magic tricks! What's the problem with that?
I love how Luke asks Rory for help. And how she's very willing to tutor even if her student is uncooperative. Having been a tutor myself, this would drive me crazy (ha, did you see what I did there?) in real life, but I find it amusing in a show.
I like the talk about "You could be anything!" and getting to see Rory's reasons for why she wants to be a journalist, because we've heard about it up until then, but not why.
This also holds the prize for having some lines that absolutely BREAK ME. Congratulations.
3.
Season 2, Episode 13: "A Tisket, A Tasket"
I could probably do a whole post about my mixed feelings on the plot device that is the "basket sale". It is often SO problematic, but Lorelai sums up how it's cute and fun here. It's more light here than in other stories, and while Taylor takes it very seriously others are a little mischievous.
And why is it so cute? Sookie and Jackson!! The whole Kirk debacle is so very Kirk. Any time Sookie describes her food I get hungry, but a whole basket that is edible?? Amazing. Just saying, the real snack is Sookie because look at her here, she's STUNNING.
I also love Lorelai chasing Luke around his own diner in an attempt to have him save her from the truly pathetic. Priorities.
And of course there's the other sale of a basket. Ahem. Moving on before I get attacked but I promise that a post I write one day will be titled a line from this show.
2.
Season 4, Episode 20: "Luke Can See Her Face"
Luke and the audiobook!! And how he mocks it and feels pathetic! And then---AND THEN---all of a sudden it works? Afterwards passing on the information to someone who really needs it is well done.
"I had this friend, let's call him Philip."
I don't love every second of it, it should be noted I skip over all the stuff with Paris because this was a really weird plot for her. But you get Jackson sleeping with the zucchini! ("Is that code for something?") The re-bonding moments for Lorelai, Sookie, and Michel are golden. Everyone is very stressed in this episode, but there is levity, too.
1.
Season 4, Episode 21: "Last Week Fights, This Week Tights"
I'm not crying, you are.
This was one of the first ones I watched, and I loved it then. Now having the context for the whole 4 seasons leading up to it? EVEN BETTER. It's so soft and gentle and I want to be wrapped up in this episode.
Huh, Chloe likes all the episodes with a medieval/renaissance theme...maybe this means something...
This is in the top because I love so many of the plot threads. Lane, the boys, and Mrs. Kim? Hilarious. "You two are girls!"
The beginning, the middle, the end, I love it. YES, THE END. *arrow to the heart*
As the kids say nowadays, this episode lives rent free in my mind.
Anyway, this post is all a lead up to say that I have a new fan video up on YouTube, all about Lorelai Gilmore. There are spoilers, but I only really go into season 4 (and a few clips from 5?), so 6 and 7 and the revival are all out of it, so if you've seen that far, you can watch it!
I first heard this song through a fan video for Isabela Madrigal and I LOVED the energy. Last fall semester I had the brilliant idea that it could work for Lorelai and I've been playing with it every since. I only realized when I put this up that the song is called "Primadonna" not "Primadonna Girl", so my bad. Along with other editing flaws, I apologize for the poor quality for the images! My fan videos skills are completely self taught just for fun, so I only use screen recording and iMovie, but if you have any suggestions of how to make better quality without all the import and export problems, I'd love to hear it!
Several of the episodes I talked about above feature heavily in this video if that's any indication that I enjoy them. If there was any doubt.
Yes, there is a plethora of Gilmore Girls fan videos out there, but I still have so many ideas for more. Do you guys have a favorite Gilmore Girls fan video?
Thanks for reading and/or watching! What are some of your comfort shows? Which of you are Gilmore Girls fans? What are your favorite episodes? Tell me all your thoughts on the show!
