Nine Years (and some change) Ago: Movies Meet Their Match + The 30 Song Tag

Hello, friends!

It turns out when one goes on a European vacation in July one forgets about one's blogoversary, which was on July 19th, 2025. As of today it turns out that I've been blogging now for 9 years and about 2 months. 

!!!!!!!!!

Me to myself when I realized I was late.

This is a late edition of my usual yearly summary, so kick back and enjoy the feast of gifs I have in store for you! It's time to celebrate!

Stats:

Followers: 77! You faithful readers mean so much to me!

 All time page views: 457,845! I could thank you guys over and over again, but it can't express how much I appreciate you all reading my silly ramblings.

For once Carmelita and I are in agreement.

Posts: 532, with this being the 533rd!

Top 3 most popular posts:

1. Older vs. Newer Review: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2. Movie Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

3. Book vs. Movie Review: The Summer of the Monkeys

I don't know why those are the favorites, but I'm glad those posts are enjoyed!

My 5 current favorite posts:

1. All My Sons // 10 (+1) More Fictional Boys I Have Adopted

2. Various Family Dynamics // Lemony Snicket's centrality of siblings in stories

3. The Running Wild in Impractical Outfits Tag // Seeing If I Have Any Sense of Style

4. 5 Lessons From Cosmo Brown on How to Be the Perfect Best Friend

5. august slipped away and my tears ricochet // // My Top 10 Fan Videos feat. Taylor Swift Songs

Changes/YouTube videos:

I got one more movie review up since last year: The Breakfast Club (1985). I've decided for now that I'm not going to be doing number ratings, but just talk about what benefits I saw from the movie. I hope to get some more book reviews up in the coming year!

As for my YouTube channel, I've been a bit more successful! Which means I've put up 2 videos:

   Flowers in Your Hair // Enola and Tewksbury (Enola Holmes 1 & 2)

Life in Pink // Barbie (Barbie)

Currently about me:

I am reading: Scaramouche - by Raphael Sabatini.

I am listening to (audiobook): Betsy-Tacy - by Maud Hart Lovelace

I am watching: Leverage. I know, I say this almost every year, but the fact is that I'm scared to finish it because I LOVE IT so much.

I am rewatching: A Series of Unfortunate Events, season 2. If you think this is why I have so many gifs from there, you are correct. 

5 Favorite books:

1. All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Stiefvater 

2. Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery

3. Anne of Green Gables - by L. M. Montgomery

4. Holes - by Louis Sachar

5. Pride and Prejudice - by Jane Austen (this and North & South are always fighting over which I like better.)

5 Favorite movies:

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1947)

2. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

3. Rope (1948)

4. This Beautiful Fantastic (2017)

5. Amazing Grace (2006)

I already talked about this, but I started a Letterboxd account and I am obsessed.

What happens when I talk about my favorite stories.

Favorite TV show:

1. Hotel del Luna (as I've raved about, this is peak cinema)

2. Leverage (Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Sophie, and Nate for the win)

3. Robin Hood BBC (my OUTLAWS! <3)

4. Once Upon a Time (Have I finished this? No. Do I dream of it constantly? Yes)

5. Geek Girl (I just read the book for the first time and it made me love the show EVEN MORE which I didn't think was possible.)

The 30 Songs Tag:

How I usually feel about answering inquiries, but as we're celebrating I'll make an exception.

YEARS AGO (as in 2020) I was tagged by McKayla for The 30 Songs Tag. This seems like as good of a time as ever to jam out.

When McKayla tagged me she had gotten creative and only answered with songs from musicals. Inspired by her, my catch for this post is that I'll be filling out these questions just using songs from movies and TV! I don’t mean anything that is a Broadway musical, but something that originated on screen. There may be a few on here that became Broadway hits but only because they were such fan favorites beforehand.

In case you want to listen along, I've embedded a playlist with all these songs! I couldn't get the Spotify version to work, so YouTube will do.

1. Your favorite song?

And already I regret life choices. I choose my niche to be songs from all of TV and film and then I’m asked for the top favorite. What I’ve been doing with “favorite” questions to avoid an existential crisis is to say my CURRENT favorite, not my all time favorite. For current favorite, I’ve been jamming out to “My Sails are Set” by AURORA from—you may have guessed it based on all these gifs—the live-action TV show One Piece.

Should Sanji be my favorite? I don't know, but he is. The dork.

2. Your least favorite song?

Instead of one song I’m going to say a whole “album,” because I hardly liked any of the songs from Descendants 3 (2019). Which is a bummer because, as a huge fan of the first two movies, I was looking forward to this SO MUCH back in 2019.

3. A Song That Makes You Happy?

It’s a little ridiculous how happy I get when I hear “Determinate” from Lemonade Mouth (2011). I remember hearing it a lot when it came out and thinking that it was weird. Then in 2020 I watched the movie and LOVED IT. Now I can’t be upset in any way while listening to that song.

4. A Song That Makes You Sad?

“Never Forget” sung by Michelle Pfeiffer from the credits of Murder on the Orient Express (2017). It is a gut punch in song form if I’ve ever heard one.

How I imagine this songs warms up for wrecking emotional damage on my heart.

5. A Song That You Often Get Stuck in Your Head?

SO MANY. I’m very susceptible to song cues. One that always surprises me is “Something That I Want” from the credits of Tangled (2010).

6. A Song That Reminds You of Someone?

It’s been a few years since I raved about Julie and the Phantoms, but those of you who have been around for a while are probably not surprised that I brought it up again. “This Band is Back” reminds me of my sisters and I love to play it whenever we’re all together.

7. A Song That Reminds You of Someplace?

When I hear "Let’s Go Make a Memory" from A Week Away (2021) I am immediately transported to driving down dirt roads with my sister in the summertime. My sister does not like that movie but it doesn’t stop us from jamming out.

(Editing Chloe is realizing how many times she uses the phrase "jamming out" and apologizes but knows if she don't publish this post now she wont' ever)

8. A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event?

"The Other Side" from The Greatest Showman (2017) reminds me of the time that a friend and I performed it for karaoke. *dies from embarrassment* I’m just such a horrible singer, guys.

9. A Song You Know All the Words to?

I am notorious for not knowing the words to songs.

Source: Legit me, guys

However, back in 2015 I thought I was the coolest person ever to be listening to Liv and Maddie songs on my iPod. I especially loved rocking out to “You, Me and the Beat” and “Say Hey.” I just listened to them again, and yep, I somehow still know all the words. 

10. A Song You Could Dance to?

If you watch me closely while I’m listening to “When Can I See You Again?” by Owl City, from Wreck it Ralph (2014), I will in fact do a little kick when the word “sidekick” is said. 

And “Better When I’m Dancing” by Megan Trainor from The Peanuts Movie (2015) is pretty self-explanatory. I just looked up when that movie came out because I was thinking it was around 2018, but NO. 2015?? A decade?? I'm old.

Me being happy-go-lucky then being forced to come to grips with my age.

11. A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep?

Admittedly most of the songs on my lullaby playlist are from movies. The first I always go to is “If I Had Words - Version Two” from Babe (1995). 

12. A Song From Your Favorite Band?

“The Line” by Twenty One Pilots which is in the show Arcane: League of Legends. It may come as a surprise but I don’t actually listen to songs from movies non-stop; I’m almost alway jamming out to Twenty One Pilots 24/7. I was SO STOKED around a year ago when I heard that TØP was going to have a song in the show because the music from the first season SLAPPED but when I first heard it I wasn’t really a fan. Fast forward to me listening to it all last semester, and I am now a huge fan.

AND TØP JUST RELEASED A NEW ALBUM TODAY. ACK. EEEP.

13. A Song From A Band You Hate?

I don’t think I hate this band, but based on how you can never find me listening to country music, I would probably not be able to handle the Zac Brown Band. But I love their version of “From Now On” from the Greatest Showman Reimagined album.

(Update: I just learned that the Zac Brown Band is responsible for the monstrosity that is "Chicken Fried" so yes, this is a good answer to this question because I hate that song. They have one winner with me)

Me whenever that chicken dance of a song comes on.

14. A Song Nobody Would Expect You to Love?

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King (1994). Growing up I was the kid who always rolled my eyes or stuck my tongue out when there was any kind of romance plot. Therefore my sisters are shocked that I love this song. It’s always in my top for Disney songs which surprises everyone who knows me.

15. A Song That Describes You?

Going through my “Describing Me” playlist (yes, such a creative title), I realize the mix is eclectic to say the least. I’m going to say “Zero” by Imagine Dragons from Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) because even though I didn’t like that movie, one of the reasons I didn’t like it is because I related TOO HARD. It also has the double meaning of me being obsessed with math so I have to choose a song that is a number.

And I’m pretty sure I’ve said this somewhere on the blog before, but as the middle sister I relate hardcore to “Surface Pressure” from Encanto (2021). I know, I’m basic.

16. An Underrated Song More People Should Love?

This song is not technically from a movie, but it’s inspired by a movie, so I can break my own rules. “When I Was Older” by Billie Eilish is inspired by the film Roma (2018) and while that film isn’t in my favorites (if you want to know what my favorite hispanic films are, I made a list a while back HERE), the song definitely has all my love. It’s SUCH A VIBE. Yet neither Billie Eilish fans yet nor people who have seen Roma seem to know about it??

Me asking you guys to all love this song, too, after my SUPER convincing argument.

17. A Song That You Hear Often on the Radio

I remember when Encanto (2021) came out they were playing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” everywhere but I always covered my ears because I hadn’t seen Encanto yet and didn’t want it to be spoiled. When my boss and I were driving around the other day I’m pretty sure every time I glanced at the radio it was a song from K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025), but we didn’t have the volume on. Again, I don’t want spoilers so I’ll listen to it once I’ve seen the movie!

18. A Song You Wish You Heard on the Radio

Okay, I also remember when “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (2023) was everywhere, but I also find “Man I Am” by Sam Smith from the same movie to be a BOP and think it would be fun to have that as a contrast on the radio.

19. A Song You Listen to When You're Happy

The first time I finished NaNoWriMo I was so stoked I put on “Don’t Give Up on Me” by Andy Grammar and was screaming it at the top of my lungs out of joy. I understand that it’s an odd choice based on it being from an acclaimed sob sack of a movie, but I haven’t actually seen Five Feet Apart (2019)…

20. A Song You Listen to When You're Sad

“The Call” by Regina Spektor from Prince Caspian (2008). *cue the sobbing*

21. A Song You Listen To When You're Angry?

One of my first that I go to is “On My Own” not from Les Mis but from Teen Beach 2 (2015). Something about way all the instruments hit just scratches the itch and calms me enough so I don’t want to punch everything.

Feat. Zoro also chilling instead of fighting.

22. A Song You Want to Play at Your Wedding

I’ve never considered this, folks. XD For party vibes, I absolutely love “My Romeo” by Jessi from Cinderella and the Four Knights. Everyone would be confused because it’s almost all in Korean. The vibes are on fire!

23. A Song You Want to Play at Your Funeral

“Carried Me With You” by Brandi Carlile from the movie Onward (2020). It’s about family connection and ACK it’s gorgeous. This is my reminder that I should listen to more Brandi Carlile because I’ve loved everything I’ve heard from her so far.

24. A Song That Makes You Laugh

When I started watching A Series of Unfortunate Events my intent was to make fun of it. Then the song “It’s the Count” made me laugh like crazy and I finally understood the humor that the show is conveying. And look at me now, I’m such a fan, I keep putting gifs from the show into my blog posts.

25. A Song That You Can Play

Even though both songs are on the piano, the character Nini plays ukulele so it feels appropriate that I can play “The Rose Song” and “Wondering” from High School Musical The Musical The Series on my ukulele. Now I just need to find a key for "The Rose Song" where I sound half decent.

26. A Song You Wish You Could Play

I can’t tell you guys how many times I’ve tried to play “Tell Me If You Wanna Go Home” performed by Keira Knightley and Hailee Steinfeld from Begin Again (2012). The problem is, I’m on my ukulele so I don’t get the epic electric guitar. *sigh* It just never sounds as cool.

27. A Song From Your Childhood

My sisters and I had a collection of Disney Box Office Hits and I’m amazed that the CD somehow survived my childhood based on how much we played it. My favorite from there was probably “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson that was in Princess Diaries 2 (2004). I also really loved “I Thought I Lost You” from Bolt (2008).

We'll pretend this is what I looked like as a wee one listening to these songs.

28. Your Favorite Duet

To be clear, I don’t like the version of “You’re Welcome” from Moana (2016) that is usually played. I am, however, the biggest fan of the version with both Jordan Fisher and Lin-Manuel Miranda. I love it so much, it’s probably unhealthy.

29. Your Favorite Song at this Time Last Year

Audrey Hepburn’s “Moon River” had been hyped up a lot and I found it to be lovelier than I thought it was going to be. July 2024 I finally watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)!

30. A Song From Your Favorite Album

I’ve been trying to use a different movie/TV show for each question and I should’ve planned this better so I could say Julie and the Phantoms. Another couple of albums that I listen to a LOT (which I’m saying would qualify for “favorite album” in this context of movies and TV shows) is the soundtrack to The Book of Life (2014) and Home (2015). My favorite songs off of each of those are probably “I Love You Too Much” (and the accompanying version in Spanish, “Te Amo y Más”) and “Towards the Sun” respectively.

*is still humming “Something That I Want”*

Thank you so much for reading this blog! I can't believe that I have an archive that is 9 years old now! Even though my posts have been sporadic these last few years I'm now no longer in college! My high hopes are to get back into the rhythm of writing and answering comments. Because comments are my favorite thing EVER! 

So tell me: how many of these songs do you know? Have I now infected anyone else with "Something That I Want"? Has anyone else seen the live action One Piece or A Series of Unfortunate Events? 

See you guys! 

Chloe the MovieCritic

The Legends of Western Cinema Week 2025 Tag // where I pretend that I watch enough westerns to know what I'm talking about

Howdy, "pardners"! 

Buckle up, as today is the last day of Legends of Western Cinema Week, hosted by Hamlette, Heidi, and Olivia! These gals have hosted this a score of times over the last few years and it's exciting to see their continued knowledge of the genre!

I'm dropping in to fill out the tag because it's been a couple years since I last did, and I figured that I'd probably seen more western movies to increase my participation. Turns out I have seen...1 more western. I am clearly not doing this genre justice. This is not entirely for a lack of trying because for our last family movie night, I came up with eight (8) options, all of which were westerns, and my dad didn't like any of them and instead came up with his own choice. According to my calculations, I've seen about 39, so that should be sufficient to answer these 10 questions!

Cliff -- a tense cliffhanger: 

It's been YEARS since I watched it, but I remember everything falling apart and then ending in Dances with Wolves (1990). Good times. Definitely didn't scar me. *eye twitch*

Gulch -- a cool ambush scene: 

The Magnificent Seven (1960) is all about staging an ambush to protect a small town from the local outlaw oppressors.

Canyon -- a big gunfight: 

I remember being impressed with the gunfight scene in The Man From Laramie (1955), but I remember nothing else about it. Besides that it was maybe a one-on-one, so one couldn't call it a BIG gunfight.

The biggest gunfight I can think of is in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1972). They also talk about the skill because "I'm better when I move."

Mountains -- high stakes: 

Back to the Future Part III (1990). It's high stakes because due to time travel one possible future is known and the characters are trying to prevent that. So all Marty has to do is stay out of trouble...but that's not really his strong suit as he hates to back down from a fight. What with knowing his character tendencies from the last two movies as well as possible futures, the stakes are as high as you can get.

Valley -- a beautiful romance: 

While it's probably a basic answer, I'll say The Man From Snowy River (1982). I love Jim Craig so of course Jessica, the daughter of Jim's boss, also fancies him.

Desert -- a suspenseful plot: 

The original True Grit (1969) claims this spot. Rooster Cogburn, Ranger La Boeuf, and Mattie Ross are trying to catch the man who killed Mattie's father. They're hot on the trail yet there's suspense of whether they'll catch him or if this is a wasted journey. And not to mention that final scene which throws all the more complications into the suspense.

Forest -- themes about renewal: 

The Big Trees (1952)? This is maybe not quite a western and I didn't really like it, but hey, it's what I've got. The film features a lumber company that is cutting down the trees that California is famous for and it is about the conflict of the people who live there and love the trees. If I recall correctly, there's some rhetoric about using the lumber for new things vs. how the new things will have no purpose if the land is destroyed. I'm not a Kirk Douglas fan though I did find it hilarious that someone named Douglas---like Douglas firs---was in a movie about trees. And it goes with the prompt "Forest."

River -- traveling to a new home: 

This is kind of lacking on the traveling part, but Ransom Stoddard is trying to set up a new life and a law practice in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and we see him arrive to town because that's right when everything starts going wrong. Those bothersome stage robbers...

Plains -- characters who are farmers: 

In Home on the Range (2004), the cows are trying to save the Pearl's dairy farm "Patch of Heaven." This was one of my favorite movies when I was little. We had this little mobile player that you could put DVDs in and my sisters would get tired of watching Home on the Range so I'd just watch it by myself on that tiny screen.

Mesa -- an animal central to the story: 

While the last answer also fit this category, I'm going to put my most recently watched Western here: The Rare Breed (1966). It features a lot of ranching, most prominently the sale of the adorable Vindicator. While ranchers are plotting and making deals they start to wonder which is feistier: Vindicator, or the mother-daughter duo who owns him.

Those are my answers! Make sure to check out the master posts HERE, HERE, and HERE for the links to all the other tag answers, giveaways, games, and more!

Thanks to Hamlette, Heidi, and Olivia for hosting this again! I love the challenge to try to watch more westerns and I hope to have a few more under my belt by the next time this roles around.

Thanks to all of you for reading! Have you seen any of these movies? What are some western suggestions for me? Does anyone here love the suspense of True Grit? Is anyone surprised that I mentioned not one or two but THREE Jimmy Stewart movies? Is there anything that you're better at if you move? 

Happy trails!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // July and August 2025

Hello, friends!

This post has twice the fun for Heidi's monthly Inklings because I'm posting my answers to the prompts for both July and August. I'm late for July because I was gone for most of the month, but as the prompt is one of my absolute favorite things, of course I want to be able to ramble about it. 

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 Heidi's blog in your post.

2. Make sure to come back and leave a link to your entry in the box on that month's post.

HERE are my previous entries; this is one of my favorite link-ups!

July 2025 prompt: 

A sword dueling scene in book or film

Link to the other July entries HERE.

Sword duels are essential to swashbuckling films and I love swashbuckling to my CORE. I would say it's my favorite genre but I don't think I've watched enough to count. But I definitely count The Son of Monte Cristo (1940), which has all kinds of delicious dueling.

There are a couple of scenes here to fulfill the dueling requirement, so I'll just choose the first one, which starts with some formalities.

"Who are you?"

*brandishes sword* "My friend here will introduce me!"

"Don't worry, my father was the best swordsman in France!"

The sword fight even gets some action on the stairs (with someone rolling down them in style!). I can't find images from it, so you'll have to go enjoy the scene yourself. Which is very easy to do as this movie is in the public domain!

I started rewatching The Son of Monte Cristo just to watch the swashbuckling bits while writing up this post, but now of course I'm going to watch the rest of it. This used to be my 4th favorite movie of all time and I would say that I could watch it on repeat and never get tired of it. While it's not in my tippy top favorites anymore, I still adore this movie despite the rest of my family thinking I'm crazy. It just scratches a particular itch that I have when it comes to stories.

Now that I've watched it again I'm going to have to say it's back up into my tippy top favorites. It's dorky but it's dorky in my kind of way.

August 2025 prompt: 

A bread-making scene in book or film

Link to the other August entries HERE.

My choice is from the film Support Your Local Sheriff (1969). Prudy is one of my favorite characters and I relate to her based on how many unexpected situations she finds herself in. One of which completes this prompt. 

Let's just say it's full contact baking.

Which leads to fire...

...and frustration because why do these things keep happening to her??

Which is usually how my cooking turns out, too. Just now I'm sporting a cut from doing the dishes, so you can imagine what happens when I get close to the stove.

Me answering this prompt in this way has a second motive because Support Your Local Sheriff is my favorite western and currently Heidi, Olivia, and Rachel (Hamlette) are currently hosting Legends of Western Cinema Week! Go to any of these posts to join the fun: Along the Brandywine, Meanwhile in Rivendell..., and Hamlette's Soliloquy. 

What are movies that scratch an itch for you? What's an ingredient (such as a sword fight) that makes you love a story? How are you when it comes to baking (i.e. how much flour ends up in your face and hair)?

Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Take 3: The Sunshine Blogger Award X3 // Questions Courtesy of Hamlette

Happy bright and brilliant summer, friends!

My excuses for why I don't blog...

I'm here today to fill out the Sunshine Blogger Award! The story behind this tag is quite wild, but to summarize, I'm very late. Because the last time I filled out this award was 2020. Since, then, I've been nominated for it A LOT, which I'm very honored about! 

I will get to answering all of the questions one day, but today's edition is special because it features the three times that Hamlette of Hamlette's Soliloquy tagged me for the award. A huge thanks to Hamlette! Her movie-themed questions are perfect for this blog.

Rules:

List the award’s official rules

Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog

Thank the person who nominated you

Provide a link to your nominator’s blog

Answer your nominator’s questions

Nominate up to 11 bloggers

Ask your nominees 11 questions

Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts

Tagged by Hamlette on August 30th, 2021:

1. What was your favorite movie when you were 10 years old?

Even though I'd only seen the ending at that point, I think it was The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). There's another one that immediately comes to mind, but I first was obsessed with it while I was 9, and it also dates me because it came out that year...

2. What's your favorite movie now?

While It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is my favorite movie of all time, to focus on the "now" part of the question, let's talk about a movie that I'm currently enamored of, to mix it up.

It is in fact another Jimmy Stewart movie: Rope (1948). I should really do a whole post on this movie, but just know that I could talk about it all day. And I kind of did that, because for two weeks after I watched it when people would ask me "How are you?" I would launch into telling them about this movie. I'm in the process of convincing my parents to watch it.

3. What would be your dream cast for an adaptation of your favorite book?

The problem is that a lot of my favorite books either already have amazing adaptations (Pride and Prejudice), or the characters are young so I'd want a new face and therefore can't cast them from people who are already in the industry. 

One of my favorite books is Anna Karenina and I haven't seen the 2012 movie yet, but I was imagining their casting of Domnhall Gleeson as Levin the entire time I was reading it. But not with such a horrible beard. Get rid of that and you can see his despair and troubled soul through his entire face.

2012 version

My preference...

As for the rest of the cast, I'm pretty down with the 2012 choices from what I've seen! But that's still yet to be determined once I actually watch it.

4. What's your favorite movie soundtrack?

All time favorite: How to Train Your Dragon, composed by John Powell.

Current favorite/what I listen to the most: Knives Out, composed by Nathan Johnson.

5. Do you have a favorite movie-watching snack?

I am not a popcorn person. I think I would have to say a slushie of some kind? A favorite thing that my sisters and I would do in the summer is we'd have been out playing tennis or hiking or some kind of outdoorsy thing, then in the hot part of the day we would come inside, make ourselves "slushies" (crushed ice and juice) and watch a movie.

6. Who is your favorite person to watch movies with?

My younger sister, Fi. She has the biggest reactions to things which amuses me greatly. That's the whole point of watching a movie with another person, isn't it? To see what they think of it! She also doesn't remember movies if it's been more than five years since she watched it, so she'll gasp at all the plot twists of movies she's already seen.

Besides, she would help me make the aforementioned slushie.

7. Is there a hairstyle in a movie that you've always wished you could pull off?

I can't tell you guys how many times I've tried to do Leia's crown braid from The Empire Strikes Back (1980). On me it always just looks wrong and out of whack, whereas Leia looks so regal and commanding and powerful. I usually default to doing Rey's classic hair in that case. Just recently I chopped my hair short again so it may be a few months before I can attempt it again.

I think the problem is I'm always too close to my forehead...

8. What movie animal would you like as a pet?

I was watching something recently where I saw a pet and thought "If I'm ever asked to choose a movie pet, it's going to be you!" The only problem is that I don't remember what that was.

I'm going to go with the soot sprites from Spirited Away (2001). They would probably just copy whatever I was doing for work in such an exaggerated manner that I wouldn't be able to continue due to laughing.

9. What movie house would you like to stay in on vacation?

The house from Penelope. It's got a swing inside. And a cool one-way window to play chess with!

But I also just saw North by Northwest and was very impressed with that house. The trouble is I'm not interested in visiting Mount Rushmore. But that HOUSE. I don't know why I loved it so much. If only it was in a different location... 

10. What's the oldest movie you've watched?

...like, ever? I'm not sure! I only started keeping track of all the movies I watch in 2017, and it feels like I watched more silent movies before then. The oldest movies I've reviewed on this blog are The General (1927) and 7th Heaven (1927), so maybe one of them?

One of the reasons why I haven't been blogging recently is because I got a Letterboxd account and have been having a ton of fun filling out all of the movies I've watched. And it agrees that 1927 seems to be my oldest year.

11. What's the newest movie you've watched?

When I first started answering these questions the answer was a film from 2021. So even though I'm so late now, I really was trying to get these questions answered between homework! I decided that because I never posted it I should just start afresh.

I think the newest movie I've seen is Mufasa: The Lion King (2024). I saw it in theaters with some of my best friends. I do not like CGI-centric movies but they really wanted to go. It was fun enough! All spring I've been singing the song "We Go Together" to myself.

Tagged by Hamlette on August 8th, 2023:

1.  What's the last movie you watched?

My family has started declaring Sunday Night = Movie Night. On this most recent Movie Night, we watched Glass Onion (2022). It didn't quite have the same punch as Knives Out (2019), but the mystery still got me good. So well done, Mr. Rian Johnson.

2.  What's the next movie you plan to watch?

To go with our Sunday Night Movie Night, I started writing down our ideas that we have throughout the week so we don't spend so long trying to figure out what to watch. We just peruse the list. The next one on the list that I would really like to watch is It Happened One Night (1934).

3.  What new movie release are you looking forward to?

I'm not really looking forward to too many films, as shown on my Coming Soon page, but I am a sucker for Frankenstein. And the trailer for Guillermo del Toro's upcoming version looks solid. And now I'm curious about the next Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Men, because the cast is, again, BRILLIANT.

4.  What TV show(s) have you seen every episode of at least once?

I am not a fan of TV shows where the episodes aren't connected and you can just watch whichever one you want. It leads to me not being as connected to the characters where I want to watch TV shows because it has the opportunity of being a longer overall story than a movie, not for it being shorter bits than a movie. So when I start a TV show I plan to watch every episode, so saying I've seen all of the episodes is not a bragging right for me.

Source

5.  Pirates or vampires?

PIRATES.

Except I say this with a smile on my face.

I've never been a fan of vampires, but El conde (2023) absolutely ended me ever wanting to see vampires again.

6.  Do you own a camera?

I do, and it's a lovely purple. I just don't know where in this house it is, or if my sister has it...

7.  What's the last thing you did outside?

This question is making me realize I haven't actually spent time outside recently. Most of my work I do is outside so I associate being inside with resting. As far as doing things outside for fun, I went for a bike ride the other day which was short and sweet. I also weeded my greenhouse! 

They weren't successful in convincing me otherwise.

8.  How far do you live from where you were born?

From where I was born, it's about 90 minutes. Because that's where the big hospital is. I've just recently moved home again, though!

9.  Have you ever ridden a horse?

I have, most recently in 2019. I really enjoy it and I think that horses are beautiful animals. Not sure that I could ever ride like Jim Craig, but I can admire from afar.

10.  What ice cream flavor do you heartily dislike?

I kind of dislike ice cream as a general rule. I actually dislike anything sweet really as a common rule (except brownies...).

11.  What was the last thing you ate as a snack?

A piece of cheese, I think? Now that you mention it, I'm kind of hungry again so I should go find a cracker.

Tagged by Hamlette on March 30th, 2024:

1. What's the first movie you have a memory of watching?

This is different than the movies that I bet were my first movies because they've always been part of my life and I don't remember a time of not knowing what was happening. Those would be The Wizard of Oz (1939) and The Princess Bride (1987), among others. However, the first movie I remember watching for the first time (I'm probably confusing this question) is Sense and Sensibility (1995).

This shot in particular lives in my head.

2. Have you ever written a fan letter to a celebrity?  (If so, did you get a reply?)

I used to participate in the Letters About Literature contest which was writing to your favorite author and telling them why and how their books impacted you as a reader. Of course, you didn't send it to the author themselves but the people organizing the contest. I'm surprised at how I don't actually remember all of the people I "wrote" to. I know Jeanie Birdsall was the first, because I loved her book The Penderwicks.

3. What are the three funniest movies you have ever seen?

My type of humor is not what are typically put in the "comedy" genre. For example, I laugh at Nimona (2022) to the point of crying, but I'm also crying for other reasons, so it's not really a comedy.

Let's go with:

- Support Your Local Sheriff (1969): it's more clever than funny, but "have you been touching up your hair again, Pa?" "What do you mean again??" will always make me chuckles.

- Sense and Sensibility (1995): again, it's just so stinking clever. So much so that I gasp at all the little moments and spill my tea on myself.

- Bringing Up Baby (1938) always cracks me up with Susan yelling "DaViD!" at every conceivable moment.

4. What movie do you really want to change the ending of?

The Breakfast Club (1985). I want to take the whole "make-over" part out.

5. What movie do you wish had a sequel, but it doesn't?

The Adventures of Tin-Tin (2011). It's such a fun adventure and there are so many comics for a sequel to be based on!

6. Who were your favorite actor and actress when you were a teen?

I have a rule that a person can only be my favorite if I've seen them in at least five roles. When I was a teen that fell to:

Jimmy Stewart (believe me, well over five roles) and Emma Thompson.

Mwahaha, Rope being meta.

7. Who are your favorite actor and actress now?

Still Jimmy Stewart, of course. Annnnnnd, I think it's still Emma Thompson? I mean, she can pull off both the sparkling wit of Beatrice and the dramatic desperation of professor Trelawney.

8. Does anyone else in your family love movies?

Yes, we are all big movie lovers! However, we all like VERY different genres and appreciate different parts of movies, so it's hard to find one that we all like. Which has made Sunday Nights a fun challenge! My little sister is looking for films that are real, which I have encouraged to be called something else. We finally came up with the qualification of her preferring character-driven stories over plot-driven. If you have any recommendations, please let us know!

9. If you could pick an actor/actress to play you in a movie, who would you choose?

I mean, I aspire to be like Luna Lovegood, so having Evanna Lynch play me seems appropriate. But maybe it's too on the nose.

10. Do you ever watch a movie in the theater more than once?

I have done that once: Star Wars IX: Rise of Skywalker (2019)! I was a lot less worried the second time and could really enjoy it.

11. Are there any movies coming out in 2024 that you are looking forward to?

Seeing how we are now in 2025 due to my tardiness, I'm going to answer this question as a movie that was made in 2024 and I still haven't seen yet but I'm looking forward to it: Pedro Páramo (2024). I read a Juan Rulfo story for a Hispanic Literature class and am therefore interested in more of his work, and this film based off another story of his should do the trick!

My questions (feat. me also pilfering some of my favorite from the above lists):

1. What was your favorite movie when you were 10 years old?

2.  What's the next movie you plan to watch?

3. What would be your dream cast for an adaptation of your favorite book?

4. What movie do you really want to change the ending of?

5. What movie do you wish had a sequel, but it doesn't?

6. What are the three funniest movies you have ever seen?

7. Do you ever watch a movie in the theater more than once?

8. What are your thoughts on the last book you read?

9. What's the oldest movie you've seen?

10. What's the newest movie you've seen?

11. What movie could you watch again and again without getting tired of it?

Instead of nominating 33 people, I'm going to nominate 3 because I was tagged 3 times (and 33 divided by 11 is 3. And I just like doing math when I can):

Sarah Seele of Sixty-Something Trees

The Nutmeg of Only Mildly Mad

Samantha of Bookshire

That's it for this round of questions, but expect more to be coming, especially because Sally of 18 Cinema Lane just nominated me again! Thanks, Sally!

Thanks to Hamlette for all of these various nominations! Thanks to all of you for reading! 

What do you guys think? Has an actor ever been right for a role but you would've changed make-up or hair? Any tips on successfully completing the Princess Leia look? Anyone else want a Tin-Tin sequel?

Have a great rest of your day!

Chloe the MovieCritic