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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Couples for Couples Tag

Hello!
All this month, Cordy at Any Merry Little Thought has been hosting a Lovely Blog Party all of the month of February!
I wasn't able to participate more, but I did decide to do this tag she created for it!

Watch out, there just a lot of spoilers for a lot of things. (The Adventures of Robin HoodAnastasia, Anne of Green Gables, The Chronicles of Narnia, Ever After, Ivanhoe, Jane Eyre, Little Women, The Lord of the Rings, The Music Man, Pride & Prejudice, The Princess Diaries, Robin Hood BBC, Sense & SensibilitySingin' in the Rain,)

The Couples for Couples Tag:

Ivanhoe and Rebecca: Name a couple that should have been together:
Susan and Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia. I am a little upset, because I did have a soft spot for them. (It's been forever since I read TCoN, I should reread.)

Jo and Laurie: Name a couple that should have stayed friends...or did stay friends...:
This couple stayed friends, but should have been a couple. Alan and Kate from Robin Hood BBC.

Jane and Mr. Rochester: Name a couple that looked like the chances of a happily ever after were next to none!
Henry and Danelle from Ever After.

Jane and Mr. Bingley: Name a couple that is just sooo happy!
Don Lockwood and Kathy Seldon from Singin' in the Rain. They make me happy.

Kit and Ella: Name your favorite fairytale couple:
Belle and Beast from Beauty and the Beast.

Molly Gibson and Roger Hamley: Name a couple where the woman is basically ignored by the suitor until the end of the story (frustration at it's finest!! :P :P)
I am going to agree with Olivia's answer, and reverse it. The couple where the suitor is basically ignored by the woman until the end of the story: Marianne and Colonel Brandon.

Sarah and Jacob Witting: Name a couple that found love later in life
Clarisse and Joseph from The Princess Diaries (2001-04).

Don Lockwood and Kathy Seldon: Name a couple from a musical:
Marian Paroo and Harold Hill (Gregory) from The Music Man (1962). This movie just makes me so happy.

Anne and Gilbert: Name a couple that didn't start out on the right foot:
Anya and Dimitri from Anastasia (1997). I love how Vlad keeps track of their "progress".

Faramir and Eowyn: Name a couple with the sweetest love story:
You know, I can't have a post about favorite couples without including these two:
Robin Hood and Maid Marian from The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

I really had to think, because all of Cordy's prompts were what I was going to say for that category!

Thank you so much to Cordy for hosting this Lovely Blog Party! And, thank you for reading! Do you agree with me on any of these couples?

And remember:
"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, where you stop your story." -Orson Welles

MovieCritic

Monday, February 26, 2018

Movie Review: The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)

Hello!
Crystal at In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood hosted an Elizabeth Taylor blogathon! And as of now I only have one movie reviewed with her in it, I thought it was about time for another!
Be sure to check out all the other entries!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954):
Based on Babylon Revisited - by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
When Charles Wills is reporting on the end of World War II in Paris, France, he falls in love with an energetic girl, Helen. Helen's sister, Marion, also loves Charles, but he doesn't seem to notice. Her father, James, has a continuing joke about all their oil fields, which never showed a drop of oil. The whole family, excepting Marion, is all about taking chances, an living each day as their last.
Genre: Drama
Length: approx. 116 minutes.
Costumes: 5, some of the dresses are a little low, and we have three scenes where people are not wearing clothes.
Costumes by: Helen Rose.
Script: 9, uh, I don't think there are any bad words.
"I'm sick to death of death."
Crew: Directed by: Richard Brooks. Produced by: Jack Cummings
Screenplay by:
Julius J. Epstein
Philip G. Epstein
Richard Brooks
Based on: Babylon Revisited - by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Starring:
Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Ellswirth
Van Johnson as Charles Wills
Walter Pidgeon as James Ellswirth
Donna Reed as Marion Ellswirth
George Dolenz as Claude Matine
Sandy Descher as Vicki
Kurt Kasznar as Maurice
Eva Gabor as Lorraine Quarl
Roger Moore as Paul
Music: 9.
Music by: Conrad Salinger
Cinematography by: Joseph Ruttenberg
Quotes: 9, "We have many things to remember together."
Storyline: 4, there is a lot of drinking, smoking, suggestive things, kissing, and death.
Good For: Whoever has lost someone.
Overall Score: 6.

Thanks for reading! Have you seen this movie? What did you think of it? Thanks to Crystal for hosting this!

MovieCritic

Monday, February 19, 2018

We ❤ Superheros Week ~ The Tag

Hello, all you superhero fans!
For We ❤ Superheros Week, Hamlette created this fun tag! So, here I am with my answers, even though I am a little late...
Make sure to go check out all the other posts!

We Love Superheros Week Tag:

1.  Who are your favorite superheroes?  (Go ahead and list up to five if you want!)
Wonder Woman
Spiderman
Frozone
Elastagirl
&
Batman. Not any of the new versions, but old black and white TV show.
Those are really all the ones I know about...

2.  What's your favorite superhero movie?
Big Hero 6, maybe?
I'm not sure. I actually haven't seen that many, but I do want to fix that. Uh, The Incredibles?
I have no clue. But, I am open to recommendations...

3.  Do you have a favorite superhero couple?
Elastagirl and Mr. Incredible ~~~~~ Helen and Bob Parr.

4.  What was your introduction to the world of superheroes?
The Incredibles, I think. But then I also watched bits of a few Spiderman movies.

5.  If you could be any superhero for a day, who would you like to be?
Frozone! He is just so great. I love ice and snow, so I love to have his powers.

6.  Do you have a favorite supervillain?
Megamind. Definitely.

7.  Can you think of a superhero who should get their own solo film, but hasn't yet?
Frozone! I know, I am answering him for everything, but... he is so awesome.

8.  Do you read comic books?
Definitely! That is how I know about Wonder Woman!!!!! And I'm talking about the classics.

9.  Why do you like superheroes?
Because, once you start reading comic books, you can't put them down...

I like that they use their powers for good, to help people. (They are just awesome, right?)

10.  Have you ever cosplayed as a superhero?  Feel free to share pics if you want!
My sister dressed up for Halloween as a superhero, and one time when I was really little and playing a game with some friends I was assigned the part of "batwoman", I was very confused because I didn't know who that was...

Sorry this is late! Make sure to go check out every one's posts HERE!

Who is your favorite superhero? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Friday, February 16, 2018

Movie Review: The Incredibles (2004)

Hello!
As Hamlette hosted We ❤ Superheros Week this year, I thought I would join in with the first "super" movie I ever saw!
I actually wish that I have seen a lot more superheros movies, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

While this is the first, I have always thought that it was a little weird, and that it wasn't my favorite ever. You'll never guess what it is (unless you read the title of this post, or you are looking at the above picture)

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

The Incredibles (2004):
"It is time for their secret identities to become their only identity."
Bob and Helen Parr have pretty regular lives. Ever since superheros were made to be against the law, they have just been leading normal lives, raising their three children. Bob gets fired, but doesn't want Helen to be disappointed, so he starts working for a mysterious boss, doing superhero work. But, being a little out of shape among other things, Bob gets in trouble and needs his whole family's help.
"What are you waiting for?"
"I don't know, something amazing I guess."
Genre: Action
Length: approx. 115 minutes.
Costumes: 7, they are definitely not my favorite, but we do have the fabulous Superhero fashion designer. "He'll look fabulous."
Script: 9, no bad words.
Crew:
Directed by: Brad Bird
Produced by: John Walker
Written by: Brad Bird
Starring the voices of:
Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible.
Holly Hunter as Helen Parr/Elastigirl.
Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr.
Spencer Fox as Dash Parr.
Jason Lee as Incredi-Boy/Syndrome.
Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best/Frozone.
Brad Bird as Edna Mode.
Wallace Shawn as Gilbert Huph.
Michael Bird as Tony Rydinger.
Bret Parker as Kari McKeen.
Elizabeth Peña as Mirage.
Eli Fucile and Maeve Andrews as Jack-Jack Parr.
Lou Romano as Bernie Kropp, Dash's teacher.
Music: 9
Music by: Michael Giacchino
Quotes: 9, "We're going towards the people who tried to kill us?"
Storyline: 7, there is suggestive stuff, and death. It deals with a very big subject, which I am not sure quite how to react to it. I have always been really confused by this movie, there is just a weird feeling about it.
Good For: People who like superheros, people who are going through a hard time in their family.
Overall Score: 8!

Thank you so much to Hamlette for hosting this! Do you like this movie? Would you explain it to me a little? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Movie Review: The General (1927)

Hello, everyone!
Lea at Silent∙ology hosted a Buster Keaton blogathon! And, as I have only ever reviewed talkies on my blog, I thought I would change it up and participate!
So I thought I would start my silent movie reviewing career with one of the most famous. No, this is not the first time I've ever seen Buster Keaton, it is only the first movie I've seen him in, as I have seen short films (one). And no, this is not the first full length silent movie I have ever seen. It is the third.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

The General (1927):
(Why is it every time I review a black and white movie, the only cover I can find is in color?)
A young man, Johnnie Gray, wants to enlist, but they will not let him because he is useful to them as the railroad engineer of The General. Annabelle Lee is very disappointed in him, because she thinks he didn't even try to enlist. When The General is stolen, Johnnie tries everything to get it back.
Genre: Silent, Comedy, Action.
Length: approx. 107 minutes.
Costumes: 8, I really like this one: (Hers, not his.)
Script: N?A, Well... as it is a silent movie, there isn't really any script. But, some of the cards/captions are pretty good.
"Aren't you going to enlist?"
Crew:
Directed by: 
Buster Keaton
Clyde Bruckman
Produced by:
Joseph Schenck
Buster Keaton
Screenplay by:
Al Boasberg
Clyde Bruckman
Buster Keaton
Charles Henry Smith
Paul Girard Smith
Based on: The Great Locomotive Chase - by William Pittenger
Starring:
Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray
Marion Mack as Annabelle Lee
Charles Henry Smith as Annabelle's Father
Frank Barnes as Annabelle's Brother
Glen Cavender as Union Captain Anderson
Jim Farley as General Thatcher
Frederick Vroom as a Confederate General
Cinematography: 9, this is known especially for Buster Keaton sitting on a train's wheels when it begins to move. I couldn't find a picture of it, but you should look it up!
Cinematography by:
Bert Haines
Devereaux Jennings
Music: 9, I did really like the choices, and how they worked with parts in the movie.
Quotes: 7, once again, silent movies are not known for their great speeches....
"If you lose this war don't blame me."
NOTE: This movie is about The Civil War, but it is routing for the south. So, while it is funny, I don't really like it, because there just was a weird feeling about it.
Storyline: 4, there is smoking, war, kidnapping, and death, but I mostly put it this low for the above reason.
Good For: People who like trains, people who like silent movies.
Overall Score: 7!

Thanks again to Silent∙ology for hosting this!

MovieCritic

Monday, February 5, 2018

Another Period Drama Tag

Hello!
I am so sorry these posts have been so random lately, this year so far has been crazy!

Anyway, the amazing Elanor at Musings of an Austen Wannabe, created this tag, then tagged me! And the fabulous Ruth, the lovely Cordy , and the splendid Olivia tagged me as well! Thank you, Elanor, Ruth, Cordy, and Olivia!! Of course, it's a period drama tag, so I can't pass it up! And, when four people have tagged you for the same tag, I guess it's time to do it.

I am going to try to do a different movie/book/actor for each question, but it might not work.
Another Period Drama Tag:
Rule #1: Answer the questions
Rule #2: Link back to the person who tagged you
Rule #3: Tag at least one other blogger to do the tag

Here are the questions:
1.  What was the most recent period drama you watched?  Share what you thought of it.:

Uh, the last one was Sense & Sensibility (1995). I have seen it before, and I love it to pieces. My sisters and I were laughing, and crying, and my dad was wondering what in the world was going on. It is actually so funny, especially Hugh Grant. But, Alan Rickman is my favorite. I wasn't even going to watch, but then I got sucked in. I love that movie so much.

2.  Do you generally prefer period dramas in the form of a movie or a TV series/mini-series?  Why?:

If it is based on a book, I usually like mini-series if it is based on a book, but then some of my favorite period dramas are just movies. And I love it when I find a full series that is a period drama and that is clean.

Sorry, that was not a good answer. These are hard questions!

3.  What is your favorite musical period drama?:

I have lots of others, but I'll say My Fair Lady. Just 'cause I get those songs stuck in my head all. the. time.

4.  Read the book first or watch the movie first?:

Book! This is sort of my blog's motto:
Unless, I have already started watching it when I learn it is based on a book, I'll just keep watching. Or, if it has been on my shelf forever and I just go ahead and watch.

5.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned from a period drama?:

Don't judge others.
Speak with your voice as well as your actions.

6.  Which period drama hero would you be likely to fall in love with in real life?:

Elanor! How am I supposed to answer this!??

Um, I guess I would say Don Pedro of Aragon from Much Ado About Nothing (1993). I mean, he just is so nice, and I feel that he gets left out.
Anndddd... Jim Craig from The Man from Snowy River (1982).
Mr. Darcy, from Pride & Prejudice.

7.  Do you ever like to binge-watch a period drama series?:

Haha. Hahahaha. It's not like I've ever done that.

Kidding. I once watched all of Pride & Prejudice (1995) in one sitting. And I have watched five episodes of Robin Hood BBC in one sitting as well. I know, I'm crazy, but when it is so good you have to keep watching!

8.  What things go best with watching a period drama?:

Family who laugh and talk about it with you. I know, you're thinking, "Why would you talk during a movie?" Well, you don't, but you do talk about the movie. My sister and I yell at the characters, we tell them to do things.

9.  Which period drama do you think you would fit into best?:

Robin Hood!!!!!!! (MC, you just want that to be true.) Okay, okay. I probably wouldn't last one day in Sherwood, but still.

I really cannot think of anything for this question. Um... I took a quiz and it said I should be in Call the Midwife. I'm not sure how accurate that is, so I'll say Mansfield Park.

10. If you could have any period drama character for a best friend, who would it be?  And why?:

Beatrix Potter from Miss Potter (2006). She loves to write, draw, dance (sob), and I think we would be great friends!

11. Show us a picture of a period drama costume you wish you could wear in real life.:

*yawn* Hurry up and get me dressed, maids! (btw, this movie is sssssooooo good.)
Sorry, I'm kidding again. They are all ssssssooooo amazing!!! They are a little too fancy for me, but I would love to wear this one of Meg's from Little Women (1994).
Sorry the picture is a little blurry.

12. Are there any period dramas you like to watch during a particular season or holiday?:

I only watch A Christmas Carol (many different versions) during Christmas.

13. Which period drama has your favorite soundtrack?:

Robin Hood BBC! I could listen to it all day long!

14. Dream cast your favorite actor and actress in a period drama of your choosing; tell which parts they would play and why.***:

I did this backwards, I should have come up with a movie then come up with actors. I came up with actors then found a movie for them to be in. I'm not even sure if this will work, but I tried. I know that it sounds really weird, and it probably won't go, but it was all I could think of.

A new version of Emma:
Holliday Grainger as Emma Woodhouse.
Richard Madden as Mr. Knightley.
My brain is dead, and they are all I can think of.

15. Are there any period dramas you like more than one version of?:

Robin Hood!!!!! (Stop answering that for everything, MC!)

16. What are the top three period dramas that you haven't seen on your to-watch list?:

Only three!!??:
Belle (2013)
Howard's End (1992) [I own this, but I just haven't watched it yet!]
Sense & Sensibility (2008)

17. Show a picture of your favorite period drama hairstyle.:

I know I already used P&P as the answer to what I binge watch, but this is really my favorite hairdo.

18. What was your favorite wedding in a period drama?:

This wedding from Emma (1996):
Look!! Mr. and Mrs. Weston are so happy! And Emma is congratulating them!!

19. What is your favorite biographical period drama?:

AMAZING GRACE. If you have not seen this movie, GO!! It is the true story of William Wilberforce, and it is sssooo beautiful!
And... The King's Speech is really fabulous.

20. Which historical novel will you forever recommend to anyone and everyone?:

Any Jane Austen book, any Charles Dickens book. Forever.


***14. Side note: deceased actors do count

Well, I did use some twice (or thrice), but I am pretty happy with my answers. Thank you so much to all of you for tagging me!

I tag:
Elanor (you have to answer your own tag!)
&
Hamlette
&
Catherine
&
Anyone else who hasn't done it.

Many thanks once again to everyone who tagged me, and thanks for reading! What do you think of all these movies?

MovieCritic