Movie Review: The Breakfast Club (1985)

"Don't you forget about me..."

We all have probably heard that song. Maybe some of us know the references from watching other films such as Pitch Perfect (2012), but I'd never actually watched the 1985 cult classic The Breakfast Club.

I wasn't a complete stranger to it, though. Even without knowing names, from the first few minutes into the film I recognized "the guy in the trench coat."

Now I know the names of all the characters. I still don't understand why it's called The Breakfast Club, but I have more thoughts to contribute. With that, enjoy my spoiler-free review of John Hughes's hit film:

The Breakfast Club (1985):

Premise: Five kids are stuck in detention for all of a Saturday. They're all from different school cliques and at first have nothing nice to say to each other. As the tensions of being stuck in the same room with each other escalate, it makes them each question who they really are.

Genres: Coming-of-age, drama.

Length: approx. 97 minutes.

"I'm in a math club." Look at him count!

Age Range: This is rated R, so not advised for under 17 without an adult. It is a movie about teens for teens, but that does come with a little baggage. There is a lot of language including intense swearing and name calling. Teen smoking. Bullying both verbally and references to physical bullying with a discussion of hazing. There are quite a few inappropriate comments about people and their bodies as well an invasion of personal space. Dialogue with suggestive sexual undertones as well as several discussions of whether these teens have or have not done these things. Additionally there are darker subjects such as allusions to domestic violence and attempted suicide.

Crew: Directed and Written by: John Hughes. Produced by: John Hughes and Ned Tanen. Cinematography by: Thomas Del Ruth. Music by: Keith Forsey.

Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Paul Gleason, and John Kapelos.

While all of the five actors playing the roles of the high schoolers were known as part of the "Brat Pack"---the name for a group of young actors who tended to appear in the same films together, playing off of the idea of the 1960s Rat Pack---this movie also possibly sets the stage for casting non-teens to play teenagers. Of the five students, only Molly Ringwald was under 20.

General thoughts:

I am not known as a lover of 80s movies. In fact, I usually stay as far away from that decade as I can (though as I've seen a wider range of films I now consider the 70s to be the worst decades of movies made). With this knowledge of my least favorite decades, years ago my younger sister told me that I wouldn't like The Breakfast Club. I figured she was probably correct, but as it is on the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list, I thought I should check it out. It was the 100th on that list for me to see, so approx. 1/10 of the way there I feel like I'm finally making progress!

Back to this film from 1985, was my sister correct in her prediction? 

"When you grow up your heart dies." Way to shoot an arrow to my heart.

I really like the premise of bringing people together from different groups and having them interact with people they would never choose to. I think that is a very human story and makes us rethink the walls we put up in our own life. At the same time, the execution of that idea is not my favorite here. Maybe that makes it time to admit that I was baffled through most of this film for the way the characters treat each other due to how I never went to a public school. Are high schoolers really this cruel to each other? Does an eight-hour session of detention on a Saturday really exist?

I see this as is a precursor to other stories such as The View From Saturday - by E.L. Konigsburg and Lemonade Mouth (2011), where kids from different school cliques join forces through detention or competition and realize that they are more than the barriers dividing them. The difference with The Breakfast Club (1985) is that all of the film takes place in one day. Brian asks the others what is going to happen to them on Monday, and while dialogue and actions tell some possibilities, we as the audience don't know. It's let up to our imagination. There was the possibility of a sequel for a long time, but that never got fully developed.

I'm left with a few questions. Why was Claire in detention? My web searches for the answer to this question is that it is because she skipped school, but I don't remember that being mentioned anywhere. Then again, while I did watch this movie within the last week, I watched it over a few days in 20 or 40 minute pieces, so I could've lost some of the continuity.

As far as other continuity, I like the way that it tried to show us eight hours in under 100 minutes, but there were a few times it felt a little off to me. There was a bit jump from learning about Bender's life to roaming the halls that did not flow and I would've like to see how Bender convinced the others to do that.

While I was not around in 1985, this film dates itself in a few ways. One being the ending, which is portrayed as being a good one, but I did not think it was the right one. While the characters developed and relationships grew, I don't think it had earned where it went. I did not understand the dynamics between a few of the characters, especially how one was nothing but cruel to another and never apologized yet we the audience are supposed to be rooting for the two of them to come to an understanding? I'm all for connection between these characters, but I think kindness is key to be displayed sometime throughout the eight hours and one day is not enough to grow close the in way the film forced them to be. 

Are they in school or jail? Is there a difference?

There was another reason that I did not love the ending. Ideally, part of characters finding the similarities between each other is where they come to realize that the differences are important, too. Here, it feels like the differences between "us weirdos" was kind of erased? For no real reason? I'm more than a little grumpy about this.

Another way that it is dated to the 80s is in terms of content, and in particular I felt it was typical that while three of the characters really pressed about details of their personal and intimate lives, the other two never were under this same pressure. That unfortunately played into stereotypes instead of challenging them. Not that needed to know, I just think it unfair of how these characters were treated as opposed to Andrew and Bender. 

"Didn't we already talk about this?" I was thinking the same thing.

With all of this, I didn't dislike it either. One of the dancing scenes made me ridiculously happy. The montage of what it was like being bored was peak comedy. While I didn't love some of the cinematographic choices for invading a person's personal space, for the most part the camera angles didn't strike me as being anything special. That is until a scene where Andrew is talking about his relationship with his dad. The camera moves around him, behind the heads of the other teens, ducking behind walls, but the focus is always on Andrew and doesn't change until he's done. It was a very effective way to capture his feelings with the breaks in the viewer seeing him almost working along with his breathing.

My absolute favorite part of the movie was a scene between Andrew and Allison where he asks her what's going on. There is such a softness and gentleness to this gesture and I loved the demonstration that persisting in asking a simple question means that someone is listening to you. 

I also am not ashamed to admit that I cried while watching this film. Not in the part that people usually do I suspect, but when my favorite character cried. How dare you hurt his poor feelings!

I'm glad I watched this movie. It had depth. It feels like an ode to the struggles some high schoolers face, and I appreciate that. So to reassure what the band Simple Minds is singing about, no, I won't be forgetting about it any time soon. With that, I think the message of this movie was accomplished.

"Don't you forget about me // Don't, don't, don't, don't // Don't you forget about me"

This is my entry in the blogathon hosted by Hamlette (of Hamlette's Soliloquy) and Quiggy (of Midnite Drive-In), which is the Back to 1985 Blogathon! Make sure to check out HERE and HERE for a roster of all of the entries celebrating the films of 1985.

Thanks to both Hamlette and Quiggy for hosting!

How accurate is this movie to your high school experience? What are other stories of people from different backgrounds getting together that you enjoy? Do you have a favorite character from this movie? Does anyone know why it's called The Breakfast Club? I understand the club part and when the title is said, but it seemed non sequitur to me. However, most of my own thoughts probably seem non sequitur to others, so maybe this movie and I are well matched!

Thanks for reading, friends! 

Chloe the MovieCritic

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

Book vs. TV Show Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

Greetings, my readers!

I warn you, that while I am going to tell a sorry tale, you don’t have to be forced into reading it.

Really, ‘Ask any stable person, “Should I watch?” and they will say, “Look away!”’

For any of you who stayed after that dire warning, then welcome! I am here to finally talk about A Series of Unfortunate Events!

This series and I go way back. One day my sister started listening to the first book on audio cassette (yes, I’m that old, in case any of you are wondering) and I was struck by how horrid The Bad Beginning was. I thought it was a sweet relief when it was finally over! But not for my sister.

She wanted more.

From that moment she started listening to all of the audiobooks and laughing with glee through out. My younger sister and I sat back in horror! Why was she finding such terrible things amusing? What could we do to fix it? It turned out that the answer was nothing. So I just kept listening to the books with her, befuddled.

Way back in 2019 I heard that some crazy person had made a TV series out of those books on Netflix. I was determined to stay far away from it.

That is, until I saw some of Skye’s amazing art and suddenly wanted to see what that was about.

Now, to where the story really begins. I told my sister about it and we decided to watch together, though my plan was to scoff at it the whole time.

But something came in the way of my plans. The show was actually funny. It was a blast. And while I felt like a wretched person to get so much joy out of children suffering, here we are. All at once it clicked. I understood why my sister liked it so much. I understood the satire, comedy, and humor. It was so clever! I became an avid fan. Since then I have decided to revisit all of the books and review them along the way. Enjoy this dark and dreary tale!

I will be reviewing the episodes of the show with the corresponding books. Most of the books are broken into two episodes so I will review both at the same time to keep thing consistent.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. These reviews both for the book and TV show are free of all possible spoilers!

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - by Lemony Snicket:

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are the three Baudelaire children who have always had happy lives. All that changes one day when they learn that their parents have perished in a terrible fire. They are sent to live with a relative, Count Olaf, that they have never heard of. It turns out to be for good reason because he is an awful person as well as an awful actor. The children wish they could live with Olaf’s kind neighbor Justice Strauss because she isn’t mean to them, and has a wonderful library. Are things worse than they seem with an evil plot behind everything?

‘They wondered how many other eyes were in Count Olaf’s house, and whether, for the rest of their lives they would always feel as though Count Olaf were watching them even when he wasn’t nearby.’

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction.

Characters: 7. I like these characters a lot more now that I know the whole story. There are many bad characters, but the good ones make it worth it.

My favorites:

Lemony Snicket: You might be asking, “Wait, the author is one of your favorite characters?”. Yes, yes he is. He has spent years getting this information to share. His life hints at being a sad one, but this isn’t his story so he doesn’t tell it. There is an air of mystery about him that is intriguing.

Violet Baudelaire: I’ll admit it, one of the many reasons I didn’t like these books was the characters. They were so boring and miserable. Through that all, I always liked Violet because she is so sweet and wants to keep her siblings safe. Her inventing mind is quite impressive!

‘Like most 14 year olds, she was right handed.’

Klaus Baudelaire: I always thought that Klaus was annoying. Like, an annoying version of Lemony Snicket. This time around, though, I could just see how upset he is with their dreadful circumstances, and he has every right to be! Still don’t really like him in the books, but he gets better upon rereads.

Sunny Baudelaire: Sunny is remarkably bright for a baby. There isn’t much to say about her yet, but she is very brave for someone so small.

Mr. Poe: Guys, Tim Curry’s narration of Mr. Poe might be my favorite of all narrations. His coughing and uselessness are infuriatingly hilarious.

Justice Strauss: She is so kind and a bright light for the children who have lost so much. Especially her and Sunny together make me very happy.

Words/Writing style: 10. There are no bad words. This writing style is what makes it or breaks it for so many people. Basically, Lemony Snicket has disregarded every single rule of writing,while constantly correcting things that people usually don’t pay attention to. Here is an example of his rule breaking:

‘The book was long, and difficult to read, and Klaus became more and more tired as the night wore on. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over.’

How many times have I read the same sentence over and over? More than I can count. Here is one where he goes to great lengths to explain things. This is a very helpful one, actually, and I think of it anytime I hear the two words “literally” and “figuratively”:

‘It is very useful, when one is young, to learn the difference between “literally” and “figuratively”. If something happens literally, it actually happens; if something happens figuratively, it feels like it is happening.

‘If you are literally jumping for joy, for instance, it means you are leaping in the air because you are very happy. If you are figuratively jumping for joy, it means you are so happy that you could jump for joy, but are saving you energy for other matters.’

World building/Setting: 7. It’s set in an unnamed town of no importance. It takes it to a new level of including special laws and why they make such an impact on the story. All of it has a feeling of gloom that fits the story quite well.

Quotability: 10. This seems so bizarre that this is my favorite quote of the whole book, but it is. Even in context it isn’t pleasant, but I love it and say it to myself so often:

‘“A stubborn mule,” Count Olaf explained, “does not move in the direction its owner wants it to. In that way it is like you children, who insist on mucking up my plans. Any animal owner will tell you that a stubborn mule will move in the proper direction of there is a carrot in front of it and a stick behind it. It will move towards the carrot because it wants the reward of food and away from the stick because it does not want the punishment of pain.”’

Awards: 3: Silberner Lufti (2000), Book Sense Book of the Year Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2001), & Nene Award (2003).

Content: 7. Count Olaf and his friends are the worst people you can imagine and it shows. He is utterly cruel to the Baudelaires, but it is shown as being wrong. Your heart aches for the poor kids! People are threatened and get mild injuries. People get intoxicated. It has one suggestive line, but it was by an unsavory character and not to be emulated.

Originality: 9. While this isn’t my favorite in the series, I have to admit that it is full of creativity! It is pretty short but every single element matters and is tied it. Impressive!

Good For: I’m stepping away from my usual format to explain something. You might wonder, as I once did, why someone could enjoy this? I have to clarify that we don’t like to see the Baudelaires in trouble. We wish that they could get away from it all! One of the reasons that this story endures is because of the children. They are smart and resourceful. It is good for people who want to be inspired by them and to realize that their lives aren’t so bad in comparison. If Violet, Klaus, and Sunny can endure things, they you can, too.

Age Range: Violet and Klaus are fourteen and twelve, so it is good for people those same ages. It is great for adults, too, but maybe my sister and I are a little too into it. I know a six year old little boy who LOVED this book so much. It spans a huge range! The audiobook might be a little scary for tiny kids, but that depends on the person.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: While this isn’t the most interesting of the books, it is an important beginning. Yes, it is worth it especially for all of the quotes I listed.

Will I read again?: When I was younger the answer would’ve been a screamed “NO!”, but now I believe that I will. My sister reads these books almost every year, and while I can’t see myself doing it that frequently, I can see it becoming a tradition.

Audiobook: Length: approx. 150 minutes.

Usually I am extremely picky about audiobooks and the narrators, but I highly recommend listening to this one instead of reading it. I used to hate Tim Curry’s voice, but now I can’t picture it without him. Mr. Poe’s cough is so realistic! Plus, with the audiobook you get the awesome music from The Gothic Archies. That was another reason I hated these books so much, but now it is unendingly amusing. My copy of this (old and outdated as it is. Yes, I still have the original cassette) also includes an interview with the author that you don’t want to miss.

Bonus thoughts:

‘“Casing the joint” means observing a particular location in order to formulate a plan. For instance, if you are a bank robber---although I hope you aren’t---you might go to the bank a few days before you planned to rob it. Perhaps wearing a disguise, you would look around the bank and observe security guards, cameras, and other obstacles, so you could plan how to avoid capture or death during your burglary.’

Lemony Snicket is funny in a grim way. If nothing I have said has convinced you so far, continue onward for the review of the TV show.

VS.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2: The Bad Beginning Parts 1 & 2 (2017):

Based on: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - by Lemony Snicket.

Lemony Snicket is here to present a truly tragic tale, and advises that you watch something else. The Baudelaires were three happy children with their two loving parents until a fire claimed their parents lives. Now all they have is each other as they go to live with their closest living relative, a man named Count Olaf who doesn’t seem to be a count in anything, much less the plays he stars in. He and his acting troupe are horrible, making Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, do tedious chores and not providing them with the things they need. Their neighbor Justice Strauss and her library is the only cheery thing. Lemony Snicket warns us that this is only the bad beginning, and much worse is to follow...

“This story will be dreadful, melancholy, and calamitous, a word which here means dreadful and melancholy.”

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family.

Length: Episode 1: approx. 49 minutes. Episode 2: approx. 63 minutes. Total time: 112 minutes.

Script: 9. A name in vain is used once, but that’s it.

“Let me give you a piece of advice. If you use fancy pantsy words first thing in the morning you’re going to end up a very lonely man.”

(As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I’m Olaf. This encounter between him and Klaus was very much like me and my sister when it comes to words)

Crew: Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld. Produced by: Daniel Handler and Neil Patrick Harris. Written by: Daniel Handler and Joe Tracz.

Starring:

Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket.

Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire.

Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire.

Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire.

Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf.

“He’s employed as an actor so you know his excitement is genuine.”

K. Todd Freeman as Arthur Poe.

Joan Cusack as Justice Strauss.

Cleo King as Eleanora Poe.

Usman Ally, Matty Cardarople, John DeSantis, Jacqueline Robbins, & Joyce Robbins as

members of Count Olaf’s acting troupe.

Sara Canning as Jacquelyn.

Luke Camilleri as Gustav.

Costumes: 9. Something that makes for such a fun aesthetic is the clothing. A specific time period is never set (all we know is that they had lived in an enormous mansion in a dirty city), but the clothing (and I’m not expert) hints at the 50s or 60s. The children wear pastel colors that pop on the screen in all the darkness. It’s really fun! It might seem like a weird thing to obsess about, but I take it as I can.

Cinematography: 8. There is some CGI that is a little fake looking, but it doesn’t bother me too much because we all know that babies can only do certain things through computer imaging. As I said, the contrast of colors is so fun, and the overall aesthetic pleases me way too much.

Cinematography by: Bernard Couture.

Music: 9. I couldn’t tell you if there is a score in the background (maybe that’s a good thing, maybe it isn’t), but the theme song is so good. I already quoted it earlier so I won’t repeat myself, but the lyrics are so clever! My sister and I love to scream sing it at the top of our lungs. It captures the feeling that you get from this show so well! You can feel it taking inspiration from the Gothic Archies which makes me extremely happy.

Music by: James Newton Howard.

Notes: Though Violet is two years older than Klaus, Louis Hynes is two years older than Malina Weissman. I don’t mind because you can’t tell and they act out the characters perfectly. This episode is absolutely brilliant because there are so many Easter eggs and references! Books 2, 4, 11, & 12 have subtle mentions as well as a few things that will be big later on a carefully slipped in. There is a reference to another of Lemony Snicket’s books, one that isn’t part of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and my sister and I started screaming when it happened because we were looking for it and VERY excited that we had found it. Also, “I told you never to say that word!”

Quotability: 10! The writing in this show is top notch, which makes so much sense. A lot of the lines are carried over from the book with little changes, but I also like the ones that they put in.

“All of the artistic and financial aspects of my career are finally coming together like two pieces of a bread in the middle of a sandwich.”

*It is pointed out that bread goes on the outside of a sandwich*

Content: 7. Same as the book. There are horrible people who do evil things. There is one suggestive line about someone knowing too much about a word. People are threatened and get hurt, though less than in the book. Additionally, there is a death.

Originality: 9. They kept the story very true to the book, just adding in fun clues and lines. They branch out a little to show you some flashbacks that help to clarify and are overall great!

“There are countless types of books in the world which makes sense as there are countless types of people in the world.”

Good For: It’s so hard to say, because with this you either love it or you hate it. Do you like stories where everything that can go wrong does and the characters have to figure a way out? Stories with incredibly witty dialogue? Then this might be for you!

Age Range: I think it’s rated PG, and I would agree with that. As I said, I was a lot older before I understood the purpose of it, so it depends on the person.

'"...When I was your age."

"But we're all different ages."'

(Someone finally said it! My sisters and I get this kind of comment so often!)

Overall Score: 8.5.

Worth watching?: Yes, of course! This is what catapulted me into my appreciation for the whole series, so yes.

Will I watch again?: This last time my sister and I were searching, vigorously for details, yet I’m sure we missed some that we will have to look for in the future. Also, it makes me laugh a lot, so I won’t be missing out on that.

Bonus thoughts:

Starting with fire, Lemony Snicket is here to illuminate this tale. I have so much to say about these episodes, but I’ve already said so much so I’ll keep it strictly to the characters.

“Klaus Baudelaire was the middle child and only boy. He was a little older than twelve and wore glasses, which made him look intelligent...he was intelligent.”

It is well known that I have never liked Klaus. It didn’t help that my sister was always comparing him to me because we are the middle children. He seemed so whiny and full of himself. Well, Louis Hynes has convinced me otherwise. He portrayal really helps you to understand his frustration when he is so used to researching something when he doesn’t have the answer. You can’t research, “Why has this happened to us?” Violet is more accepting of things, but Klaus knows what is good and what is bad, and doesn’t want to stand on the sidelines. He’s so precious!

I always thought that how Sunny is described in the books was a little ridiculous, so they made her more like a real baby helped make her so special. Oh, and Presley is just the cutest kid ever!

Now for Olaf. He is played so well! He is also the big difference between the books and this show. In the books he is straight up cruel, nasty, and scheming. While he is all of those things here, too, he isn’t as smart as in the books.

“‘N’ for the knowledge cuz I’m very, very, smart.”

I prefer it this way as it gives the whole show some levity, but both have their place. His added quirks don’t take away from the treachery.

Some quick bonus things are that they changed one of Violet’s inventions, but my sister and I agree that what they came up with was awesome. Also, the siblings dynamic is the whole heart of the show. All of them cooking is how my older sister and I cook, too!

Usually I would declare a winner, of whether the book or show episodes are better. I won’t do that here because it is completely up to your own preference! I like the TV show better because it helped me appreciate the books. I will say (and I’m going to say this with every book vs. episode review) if you are looking to experience this story and don’t know where to start, I would encourage the book. The book contains a lot more mystery where the show will, well, show you things that have happened. If you want to guess more, then I say go with the book! But, if you aren’t digging that, then give the show a try.

That is it from me today and the 13th of June! Thank you so much for reading these reviews! Have you seen and/or read these? Which do you prefer? Who are your favorite characters? What are some dark comedies or satire that I should try?

MovieCritic