Movie Review: Legally Blonde (2001)

Hello, friends! 

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.

However, further developments brings us to why I'm talking about this today. This is my entry in Taking Up Room's Seventh Broadway Bound Blogathon! 

I already commemorated my trip to Broadway this spring, but I still wanted to bring it up somehow so I decided to talk about the movie that I watched on the plane.

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!

Chloe the (Blonde) MovieCritic

Book vs. TV Show Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room

Hello, readers!

It is time to continue reviewing a tale of misery and woe! Lemony Snicketʼs series of unfortunate events is going to go on for many more reviews. Confused at what Iʼm talking about? Check out my review for the first book and first episodes of the series, The Bad Beginning.

Because this is such a big series, Iʼm going to get more and more vague when it comes to the descriptions for each book/episode. In whatever format you chose, this is a fun series and I want you to enjoy it as it comes without knowing what happens!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. All of these reviews are spoiler free for your enjoyment!

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room - by Lemony Snicket:

The Baudelaires are ready for a new chapter in their life, but they are tentative when they are going to be living with another relative that they have never heard of. Could it be as bad as last time? Uncle Monty seems really nice and treats the children to cake, movies, and soon a trip! His profession as a herpetologist is strange at first, but Violet, Klaus, and Sunny can get used to it. When Uncle Montyʼs new assistant, Stephano, arrives, the quiet world the children were starting to build again shatters. What kind of danger lies in wait in the Reptile Room?

ʻ“Dewk!” Sunny shrieked in a generic cry of frustration and pounded her little fist on the floor. The word “generic” here means when one is unable to think of anything else to say, and Sunny was not alone in this. Violet and Klaus were, of course, too old to say things like, “dewk”, but they wished they werenʼt.ʼ

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction, Mystery.

Characters: 8. The characters have most certainly grown on me with each time I read it. 

My favorites:

Violet: She is so resourceful! I love how she is respectful and optimistic and knows when the time is to act.

ʻ“Nice girls shouldnʼt know how to do those kinds of things.”

“My sister is a nice girl and can do many things.”ʼ

Klaus: If you read my last review you know that I sometimes have a hard time liking Klaus because he gets on my nerves. It was all because of something that I didnʼt understand: whenever someone says a fancy word they try to explain what it means and Klaus, the know-it-all, says he already knows. When I was little I thought it was the most infuriating thing! Well, this book explains it:

ʻOccasionally, people thought that because they were orphans they were also dim- witted.ʼ

Klaus reads a ton of books and of course he knows lots of words so I understand how he can get frustrated when people are constantly thinking that he doesnʼt know anything, especially when half the time they incorrectly define the words.

 ʻKlaus sighed. He felt sometimes as if he had spent half his life explaining things to Mr. Poe.ʼ

Sunny: Poor Sunny goes through a lot in this book and I just want to cuddle her.

Uncle Monty: I never realized it, but when it comes to books and movies I get VERY suspicious. And because of that I tend to dislike characters when it isnʼt their fault. I didnʼt trust Monty for the longest time when I first read this book. Poor guy! Now I like him even in his oblivion.

ʻ“How many time must I remind you, itʼs not polite to interrupt!” Uncle Monty interrupted.ʼ

Words/Writing style: 7. This rating is bumped down because there are some poorly used words. Lemony Snicket tells us that people sometime yell out names when they are surprised or scared, but I donʼt approve. We didnʼt need to hear it Mr. Poe, so I donʼt appreciate it.

There is one other bad word, but it is pointed out:

ʻIt is, as you know, very, very, rude and usually unnecessary to use profanity...ʼ

Exactly! I wouldnʼt want to copy anything that the person who said it does, but I still donʼt approve. Even when Lemony Snicket made me laugh.

Besides that, the writing style continues to be so much fun. All of the rule breaking and straightening out are a hoot. My favorite is when the word “ever” is used over 200 times. Just read the book and youʼll find out what that means.

World building/Setting: 8. When I first listened to the whole series this book struck me as having one of the most unique settings. While I now appreciate how each of the books have a different creative setting, I still really like this one. Imagine starting a peaceful life on “Lousy Lane”!

Quotability: 9. Lemony Snicketʼs writing sticks with you and is worth of repeating! I think my sister and I both think of this book whenever we think of eavesdropping and we think of some lines about it.

Content: 8. There are some violent threats and fear that goes with it. There is a death and the after affects are vividly described. All of this though is shown as bad!

I like how Lemony Snicket makes fun of things that are usually thought of as dangerous, as shown in this line:

“There is a pair of snakes whoʼve learned to drive a car so recklessly that they would run you over in the street and never stop to apologize.”

Notes: My sister and I feel like Lemony Snicket is well versed in Monty Python, and took some inspiration from that. Does anyone else see that? Doesn't just the name say a lot?

Originality: 9. I donʼt think Iʼve ever read another book that feature snake in this way! The ending is particularly complex which is something that pleases me.

Good For: This is such a hard thing to pin down because it really depends on the person! Either you will love the writing and root for the children to come out on top in all of their woe, or you will find the misery too disturbing. Do you like droll writing that is hilarious in the midst of trouble while having poignagt moments? This might be for you! 

Age Range: The range this spans is quite large. Itʼs written as Middle Grade Fiction so kids can look up to the Baudelaires who carry on in spite of troubles, and are relatable as Violet and Klaus are fourteen and twelve. On the flip side my sister and I are two adults who are WAY too into these books.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: Certainly! The themes that are explored in here hit quite deep, in particular, regret. We all wish that we could correct something in our lives by doing something different, but we canʼt. This book made me think about it a lot and appreciate that weʼll have more choices and chances to do right in the future.

ʻOne of the most difficult things to think about in life is ones regrets. Something will happen to you and would will do the wrong thing and for years afterward you will wish you had done something different. For instance, sometimes when Iʼm walking along the seashore or visiting the grave of a friend, I will remember a day a long time ago when I didnʼt bring a flashlight with me to a place where I shouldʼve brought a flashlight and the results were disastrous. “Why didnʼt I bring a flashlight?” I think to myself even though it is too late to do anything about it, “I shouldʼve brought a flashlight.”ʼ

Will I read again?: Iʼm not afraid of a lot of things, but one thing that I just canʼt stand is snakes. When I first read this book I was so relieved when it was over and never wanted to read it again. But you know what? I donʼt mind any more. This book is a little dry in places but still important to the series and I will read it many more times in my life Iʼm sure.

'Klaus sighed, and opened a book, and as at so many other times when the middle Baudelaire child did not want to think about his circumstances, he began to read.' 

Audiobook: Length: approx. 191 minutes.

I used to abhor it, but now my favorite part of this audiobook is the song “In the Reptile Room”. It is so horridly funny I canʼt even explain it. I highly recommend reading it this way, though Iʼm not fond of Tim Curryʼs narration of Monty. Besides that the narration is perfect!

Bonus thoughts:

This time around the ending struck a chord with me. It is soft in the middle of a hard world and I might be obsessed with it now. The accompanying music from the audiobook nearly made me cry.

VS.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4: The Reptile Room Parts 1 & 2 (2017):

Based on: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room - by Lemony Snicket 

“Itʼs a brand new episode in your lives, Baudalaires!” 

Lousy Lane seems like an unfortunate place for the Baudelairesʼs to start their new lives, but they donʼt have a choice, as it is up to Mr. Poe. Despite their fears, Uncle Monty seems to be a good guardian. He is friendly and teaches them about reptiles as he is a herpetologist. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny each get to do what they like and are taken care of. But Lemony Snicket informs us that this happiness wonʼt last. What with a new assistant, secret messages, movies, and snakes, someone is bound to get hurt...

“Iʼm giving you the verified film discount.”

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Mystery. 

Length: Episode 3: approx. 48 minutes. Episode 4: approx. 43 minutes. Total time: 91 minutes.

Script: 7. It took out one bad word that was in the book, but there is an instance where one person screams some names which annoys me. Not cool, dude.

“Iʼm terribly sorry if I was rude to him, children, but frankly, that man ruffles my scales.” 

Crew: Directed by: Mark Palansky. Produced by: Daniel Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Emily Fox, & Barry Sonnenfeld. Written by: Daniel Handler, Emily Fox, & Joe Tracz.

Starring:

Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket.

Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire.

Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire.

Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire.

Aasif Mandvi as Uncle Monty.

K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe.

Neil Patrick Harris as Stephano.

Matthew Walker as the Ticket Seller.

Also featuring: Usman Ally, Matty Cardarople, John DeSantis, Jacqueline Robbins, Joyce Robbins, Cobie Smulders, Will Arnett, Sara Canning, & Luke Camilleri.

Costumes: 9. I still don't know what time period this is supposed to be, but the costumes are so well designed! There is one person who looks so different that I would never have recognized him if it hadn't been pointed out to me. Yes, I am as bad as all of the adults. Once I noticed I can see it, but that initial look wasn't obvious to me.

Cinematography: 10. I wouldn't have noticed this until my sister pointed it out, but now I am shocked by how good it is: when the children meet Monty the dialogue and cinematography mirror that of when they met Count Olaf in the first episode. It is a brilliantly played move! It shows how the same words and actions can have the opposite meanings and intents when said in a different way. The set design for Monty's house is also fabulous and I now want to live there. The CGI for animals isn't the best as it looks fake, but I'm so impressed that I'm not going to take off a point for that.

Cinematography by: Bernard Couture.

Music: 9. The theme song is still as splendid as always. For each book the verse in the middle is changed to fit the story and the lyrics are so clever with their rhymes. I also noticed the score in the background more than in the first episode which almost made me cry at one point, but that was just me being overly emotional.

Music by: James Newton Howard & Sven Faulconer.

Notes: All of the references had my sister and I really excited! There was one Easter egg that appeared in the background while Lemony Snicket was talking and we couldn't stop screaming because it confirms something later in the series that is never talked about directly. It also subtly incorporates things that will be used later on which pleases me tremendously. I am now interested in seeing the movie The Dawn Patrol (1938) which is said to be Violet's favorite movie! Lemony Snicket's other series, All the Wrong Questions, is also mentioned!

ʻ“Howʼd he find us?”

“Thatʼs the wrong question. What do we do?”ʼ

Quotability: 10. The quotes are so repeatable! Even words that aren't said but just appear teach me things! Even Em (who seems to know every word) had to look up what vitiated means.

“Life is a conundrum of esoterica.”

My sister claims that Klaus defined "esoterica" incorrectly. His description better fits ephemera, as he mentions documents instead just generic facts. Em is very proud to have corrected the bookworm, but I'm still dubious. What do you guys think?

Content: 8. There are threats, kidnapping, death, and some scary things if you don't like snakes. Or just make you sad. It did both for me.

Originality: 10. Of the whole TV show, these are probably the episodes that differ the most from the books, but I don't mind at all because I absolutely love it! It takes some things that are only briefly mentioned in the book and expands them in an absolutely epic way! From awesome ticket sellers to spyglasses to danger, it is so gripping! It really highlights movies, which I love because movies are one of my favorite things. That's what this blog is all about! 

“Thereʼs more to a movie than just a movie just like a book can contain crucial secrets about the world of snakes or it can be used to prop open a refrigerator door when youʼre airing it out.”

I now wish that there was way more of this kind of content in the whole series. At the same time it really presses how much more comfortable streaming services are which was a hilarious promotion.

“Subtitles? This movie is boring already.”

Later, said by other characters:

 ʻ“If itʼs in English then why are their English subtitles?” 

“All the best movies have subtitles.”ʼ

(I actually said that to my sister today because we were watching a movie in English with English subtitles. Though I have to say that I usually don't like subtitles because they are so distracting and all I can do is read them. These episodes have made me change my mind.)

Good For: It's hard to say who would like it and who wouldn't! We watch it not because we like to see people in trouble. There is some warmth to this in the midst of darkness that is one of the reasons that I really like it. The other is that it is hilarious! It took me awhile to adjust to the humor, but it's worth a try! I feel like it's also good for siblings because the Baudelaires are so close through everything.

Age Range: It's rated PG I believe, and I think that's accurate. Just like the book, too!

Overall Score: 9!

Worth watching?: Absolutely for one reason in particular besides the fantastic additions with the movie. And that reason has a name: Montgomery Montgomery. As pointed out in my review of the book, I never liked Monty. I didn't trust him. But, watching this I just immediately loved Aasif Mandvi's portrayal! He is so welcoming, and wants the best for the Baudelaires. In the book he seems a little rude and full of himself (just a tiny bit) but here though he doesn't realize things, and as the intro says, makes a few mistakes, his heart is present through out. He is eccentric in all the best ways. I love him so much here!

So much of the dialogue has some double meanings and philosophy, too, which is so great to hear and interrupt.

“Now, I know the few dangerous reptiles can make you skeptical of the entire species, but, if you give them a chance, and you get to know them well enough to tell the dangerous from the good, I promise you: no harm will come to you in the reptile room.”

Will I watch again?: Totally! These episodes are some of my favorite of the first season, if not the whole series.

Bonus thoughts:

“So, weʼre allowed to read all these books?”

“You are not only allowed, you are implored to read these books!”ʼ

I always have to throw a shoutout to Louis Hynes for making me actually like and relate to Klaus! I understand Klaus through this as he is heartbroken that his parents died and left him and his siblings, but heʼs also angry that they kept so many secrets from them. What were their lives truly like? Where they the people he knew or something else?

I can't decide which is better because it depends on the person! I personally like the tv show episodes, but others may like the book. I will say that the book is more mysterious. I remember the first time that I read it I was so shocked by a twist! It was one of the first times I remember being surprised like that. Rereading it I saw the foreshadowing, but it is still really cool. Here it takes that particular thing away and instead goes a route which would be more funny. I like both, but I'm glad that I got to experience the mystery first prior to seeing it obvious like that. If you have read the books but not seen this, I recommend it! It is really fun and quirky, staying true to books while branching out into new realms. It also hints more and more at things to come with tantalizing clues about the past!

That's it from me! Tell, am I the only one who gets really suspicious of new characters? Is there a show or movie based on a book that is different but you still really love it? Am I the only one who has a hard time liking Klaus? Is anyone else terrified by snakes? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

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

Happy summer, late Emancipation Day, and late Father's Day, all in one!

Itʼs been a hot second since Iʼve done one of my famous Older vs. Newer reviews, hasnʼt it? Even with that these two movies I'm talking about today are based on the same short story but are very different from each other in other aspects. Iʼve been daydreaming about these two movies while working so I am here to put my thoughts down for you all to read. I hope that you enjoy!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. Both of these reviews are completely free of any spoilers!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947):

Based on: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - by James Thurber.

“You werenʼt thinking at all, you were daydreaming!”

Much to his boss and his motherʼs annoyance, the thing that Walter Mitty does best is daydream. They badger him about it, wishing he would stop and pay attention to the world. For Walter, none of his life is interesting, but whatʼs in his head is where he can be a hero. When he runs into a girl who looks exactly like a person who is frequently in his imagination he gets wrapped up in a crime scheme. He wants to help Rosalind but now everyone is trying to convince him that he is going insane. Has he made it all up? 

ʻ“The minute youʼre killed the FBI will double their efforts.” 

“Oh, thatʼs very reassuring.”'

Genres: Comedy, Family.

Length: approx. 110 minutes.

Script: 10. No bad words that I marked down!

ʻ“Whatʼs that awful smell?”

“Itʼs the cologne you gave me for Christmas.” 

“Itʼs lovely, isnʼt?”ʼ

Crew: Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod. Written by: Ken Englund, Everett Freeman, and Philip Rapp based on a short story by James Thurber.

Starring:

Danny Kaye as Walter Mitty.

“Mitty, when I need your help Iʼll ask for it.”

Looking quite dapper, Mr. Mitty.

Virginia Mayo as Rosalind van Hoorn.

Fay Bainter as Mrs. Eunice Mitty.

Ann Rutherford as Gertrude Griswold.

Gordon Jones as Tubby Wadsworth.

Florence Bates as Mrs. Irma Griswold.

Boris Karloff as Dr. Hugo Hollingshead.

Konstantin Shayne as Peter van Hoorn.

Thurston Hall as Bruce Pierce.

Reginald Denny as Colonel.

Henry Corden as Hendrick.

Doris Lloyd as Mrs. Leticia Follinsbee.

Fritz Feld as Anatole.

Frank Reicher as Karl Maasdam.

Milton Parsons as Butler Tyler.

The Goldwyn Girls as Dancing Ensemble.

Costumes: 8. Some events involve womenʼs undergarments which made me roll my eyes. At one point there was this bizarre hat that resembled leaves and I couldnʼt stop laughing simply because it was so odd.

See? What DO you call that hat?

Cinematography: 10. I thought it was very fun! The settings and things that prompted each of the daydreams were so fun! My favorite was this gambling on the Mississippi dream that involved lots of bubbles. It was so fun and whimsical! It reminded me of The Wizard of Oz (1938), but it was definitely its own thing. And the opening credits were fun!

Cinematography by: Lee Garmes.

Just give me bubbles and I'm happy.

Music: 7. Danny Kaye sings one song (of course! Because itʼs Danny Kaye!) but I donʼt remember any specific background score of any kind.

Music by: David Raksin.

Notes: It was fun to spot references in the stories mentioned and to specific places like Yellowstone.

Quotability: N/A. This is a hard category because I never quote movies unless my sisters have seen it to because or else I have no one to say it to who would understand. Nevertheless, there were good lines throughout!

“The only exercise you ever get is jumping to conclusions.”

Content: 8. Walter works at a "racy" and "raunchy" magazine so there are some intense story ideas that get talked about and there are some strange posters on the wall, but nothing truly shocking. It's a very small detail. There is also smoking and murder, but not shown in a positive light. 

Originality: 10! It is so fun and imaginative, if you forgive my pun. Walter is such a sweet character who really helps the story along. All six stories in his head that I counted are unique, inventive, and amusing. I'm impressed! I already talked about my favorite imagined scene because of the cinematography, but another favorite was one with a Western flair.

Good For: any Danny Kaye fans, anyone who loves to imagine stories and daydream.

Age Range: This is perfectly acceptable for all and any ages and is enjoyable, too! Young and old alike would like the circumstances and dreams that Walter finds himself in.

Overall Score: 9.

Worth watching?: Certainly! My dad got me to watch this and I'm glad he did. Danny Kaye is always a joy to watch and as an introvert I related a lot to him here. I actually noted merely four minutes in how similar we are. My mind wanders more often that I care to admit so it was fun to see someone else doing it. I'm not alone!

Will I watch again?: Yes! Both of my sisters are big Danny Kaye fans so I want to see it with them sometime and see what they think.

ʻ“You have a good face.”

“Uh, well, you have a good one, too...'ʼ

He has a mix between a worried and a dreamy face right here.

(Completely irrelevant information that I still think is fun, is that I saw this the same day that I saw the first episode in the first season of Julie and the Phantoms. Any of my readers who have stuck around for a few months know how attached I am to that show...)

VS.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013):

Based on: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - by James Thurber.

Life magazine is shutting down and the workers are planning the final edition. Though they have never met, Walter Mitty has a friendship with Sean OʼConnell, the famous photographer. Sean has chosen the last cover photo for Life, but the picture that he wants to use is missing from the selections he sent Walter. Walter is always dreaming of being an exciting person but now he gets a chance to do extraordinary things as he travels the globe looking for Sean, to ask for a new copy of the picture. His only clues of Seanʼs whereabouts are the other pictures that he sent. Walter wants to tell a coworker, Cheryl, how he feels before they wonʼt be working together again. Will he find Sean OʼConnell while there is still time to print the magazine?

Genres: Adventure, Drama, 

Length: approx. 114 minutes.

Script: 6. A name in vain is used quite a few times. In addition to that there is some mild name calling.

“If I threw a paper clip do you think he would move?”

Crew: Directed by: Ben Stiller. Written by: Steve Conrad based on the short story by James Thurber.

Starring:

Ben Stiller as Walter Mitty.

“Hey, dream machine.”

Kristen Wiig as Cheryl Melhoff.

Adam Scott as Ted Hendricks.

Kathryn Hahn as Odessa Mitty.

Shirley MacLaine as Edna Mitty.

Patton Oswalt as Todd Maher.

Sean Penn as Sean O'Connell.

Marcus Antturi as Rich Melhoff.

Jonathan C. Daly as Tim Naughton.

Terence Bernie Hines as Gary Mannheim.

Adrian Martinez as Hernando.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Helicopter Pilot.

Kai Lennox as Phil Melhoff.

Gary Wilmes as Walter's Dad.

Joey Slotnick as Retirement Home Administrator.

Paul Fitzgerald as Don Proctor.

Thornhallur Sigurdsson as Trawler Captain.

Cameos from Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, and Craig Castaldo (Radio Man). 

Costumes: 8. Nothing specific, but just normal clothing that works perfectly fine.

Cinematography: 10. This movie explores photography and capturing life, so there are a lot of neat shots! It feels like an independent film in cinematography with very good quality. It shows some cool places in the world which makes you want to travel and see them yourself.

Cinematography by: Stuart Dryburgh. 

Music: 8. The songs on the soundtrack all have the same feeling, but it was very relaxing to listen to while typing this up. It helps amplify the feeling of the movie perfectly.

Music by: Theodore Shapiro.

Notes: There are references to both Indiana Jones and Harry Potter which were very well timed. I just learned that this film created over 15,000 jobs, which is really cool!

Quotability: 8. There were some great lines! Although it may be what everyone else says, my favorite was this one:

“Beautiful things donʼt ask for attention.”

Content: 9. Brief mentions of a strip club and cheating, and one character is divorced. Very clean which pleases me a lot!

Originality: 10. There were some things that I saw coming but that isn't bad! My sister didn't see it at all and was very surprised so it wasn't predictable (unless you're used to seeing this kind of movie like I am) and just had good foreshadowing. It's very satisfying! It was a rollicking good time!

Good For: anyone who loves photography, anyone who loves to daydream, anyone who wants to travel and have adventures.

Age Range: This movie is very profound and I know I wouldn't have understood it if I was under 10 when I watched it. I still would've liked it, but just not gotten everything out of it. Besides the few things I mentioned content-wise, it is fine for any age. I feel that older people would especially enjoy it and absorb all of the meaning.

Overall Score: 9.

Worth watching?: Almost any movie that makes me cry is worth watching, and this certainly did that. In the weirdest way, I feel more fulfilled after watching it? It is a movie that expresses the joy of life.

Will I watch again?: Yes! It had great messages and was funny which is a win-win. My older sister hasn't seen it and I think that she would really dig it, so I want to show it to her sometime.

For the blogathon:

These reviews are my entry in the Midsummer Dream Blogathon hosted by Pure Entertainment Preservation Society! This is the solstice and one of the most famous stories about this day is A Midsummer Night's Dream - by William Shakespeare. That is where Tiffany and Rebekah drew their inspiration! The girls have been very gracious and are letting me post this a day late because I wasn't able to before.

This blogathon is about everything relating to dreams in film. Walter Mitty has the most dreams that I've seen in a movie in a long time so it fits!

I love the light that dreams are given in both of these movies! The message is that life is out there for you to enjoy and experience, but dreaming isn't bad. Sometimes it can be a distraction like when Walter's mind wanders while he's driving or when he burns himself in the 1947 version, but it also can be an inspiration. In one scene in the 2013 version Walter has hit a wall. He has a clue to where he should look next, but is burnt out on adventures. A daydream gives him the courage to press forward!

Comparison of 1947 VS. 2013:

As I said in my introduction, these films don't have much in common besides the basic idea. From what I gathered, the only connections are a character named Walter Mitty who lives more in his head than anywhere else and how he is thrust into an adventure where he has to look for something. They were different, but both brilliant! Which is a rare thing for me to say! Both were excellent. I loved how much the Danny Kaye version made me laugh because of all the scraps he got into. His journey to being brave is marvelous. The Ben Stiller version has such a wonderful beauty to it. It has everything that you could want: humor, journeys, and LIFE. I like especially the storyline in the 2013 version of how Walter keeps talking on the phone to a guy from eHarmony to fill out a dating profile. It was a good contrast to see how he thought that he hadn't ever done anything in his life. I also enjoyed diving into his backstory. In preparation for this review I read the short story that this is based on and the 1947 is closer. It took everything that happened (changing Mrs. Mitty into his mother) and expanded on it, including the catchy "ta pocketa-pocketa-pocketa". Seeing how the story could still apply to modern life in the 2013 version was thought-provoking. I recommend both versions for you to judge which one you like better for yourself! I might be leaning more towards the 2013 version because it made me cry, which, strangely enough, will usually make me love something even more. Though it's hard to beat the king of comedy himself, Danny Kaye...

Thanks to the Brannans for hosting! Check out the other entries HERE. This was great fun! I'm sorry for my once again disjunct schedule, but it's summer and I can't stop dreaming.

Thanks to all of you for reading! This is from a different movie, but I'm going to say it anyway: Adventure is out there!

MovieCritic