Inklings // July and August 2025

Hello, friends!

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

How it works:

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to Heidi's blog in your post.

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

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

July 2025 prompt: 

A sword dueling scene in book or film

Link to the other July entries HERE.

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

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

"Who are you?"

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

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

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

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

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

August 2025 prompt: 

A bread-making scene in book or film

Link to the other August entries HERE.

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

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

Which leads to fire...

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // May 2025

Hello, friends!

"The end of May and early June" blend together, and I'm not the only one who thinks so, as Evan Hansen sings the same thing. Today I'm participating in a May event even though it's June because May is such a delightful month!

This is May's Inklings hosted by Heidi who blogs at Along the Brandywine!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the link form in the monthly post so everyone can visit your post.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! May had the following prompt:

A stagecoach scene in book or film

While at first I was thinking of all of the Western movies I've seen, it suddenly hit me that it's been a while since I talked about a book for Inklings. All the way back in last May! The title of my blog shows my penchant for movies, but I still love books and should not default to movies all the time.

Therefore my choice is the book Cloaked - by Rachel Kovaciny.

The entire first chapter takes place on a stagecoach, so here are the first couple of paragraphs that open the book!:

"You see? I'll be perfectly fine," Mary Rose O'Brien assured her dutiful chaperone, Mrs. Shaw. She climbed into the stagecoach, took her place on the only empty seat, then smoothed out the skirt of her brown travelling dress to keep it at least somewhat presentable.

In truth, the stagecoach was more cramped than Mary Rose expected. Two people would barely fit on each wooden bench. If you didn't know your neighbor well already, you would by the end of the ride. And yet, a man had contrived to fall asleep on the opposite seat, curled up on his back with his dusty boots tipped up against the side. The stage was so small that she might have leaned forward and touched his shoulder without leaving her own seat.

Mrs. Shaw frowned up at Mary Rose from where she stood in the street, though that didn't mean she was displeased with Mary Rose, the stagecoach, or anything else in particular. Mrs. Shaw rarely found anything pleasant enough to bother changing her expression..."

This was fun for me to visit because I read Cloaked all the way back in 2017! It is the first in Rachel Kovaciny's Once Upon a Western series. I've reviewed book 2 (Dancing and Doughnuts) and book 3 (One Bad Apple), but this post is reminding me that I never got the chance to read her latest in the series, My Rock and My Refuge or her collection of short stories, Prairie Tales Vol. 1. I need to get on that!

You can find Rachel on her author blog, but she also blogs at The Edge of the Precipice and Hamlette's Soliloquy, so you can go check out her thoughts on other stories as well as updates on her own!

A huge thanks to Heidi for hosting this even though I've been behind on joining in! Now that school's done I don't have plans on missing another...

As for you readers, have you ever been on a stagecoach? I was on one once for a tour around my hometown when I was really little and that was long enough! It was fun, but I can't imagine going across the country in that. What are some of your favorite scenes with stagecoaches? Any Western book recommendations for me?

Have a great day!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // February 2025

Hello, friends!

This is spring break for me so while I've got plans for the actual full week, I thought I'd pop in and write a quick post! February went by unbelievable quickly (very rude!) so we're still catching up, but having fun while we do it. This is therefore my entry in Heidi's February Inklings!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! February has the following prompt:

A scene at the piano

I'm choosing a couple of moments from The Music Man (1962). Because when talking about musicals last month this never really came up, so I'm not throwing away my shot now.

This scene starts about 20 minutes in, and mostly serving to introduce characters so there are no spoilers!

And yes, this is technically two different scenes because there's a scene that splits them, but they take place in the same room at sequential times and one is resolving the other.

If you think I'm indecisive for picking too, then know that there are other piano scenes in this movie, including a "player piano player!", so I have made some decisions.

This scene involves two songs, so here is the first.

Marian Paroo is the librarian of River City and she is coming home to teach piano. We first hear the piano from outside. The little girl, Amaryllis, hits a wrong note, and Marian's mother, Mrs. Paroo, reaches over to correct her. A few seconds later Amaryllis does it again. Hitting the exact same wrong note.

The third time she does it Marian corrects her.

Marian and her mother get into a debate about the stranger who followed Marian home.

Marian turns instead to instructing her pupil.

"Now don't dawdle, Amaryllis."

"Don't get faster, dear."

Mrs. Paroo thinks Marian was too hasty when it came to the stranger and Marian scoffs instead with literary references. Which is her job as a librarian, but how no one will listen to her recommendations.

"I can't help my concern that the ladies of River City
Keep ignoring all my council and advice."

Mrs. Paroo thinks there are other factors involved.

"...Even if you can quote Balzac and Shakespeare
And all them other highfalutin' Greeks."

"Momma, if you don't mind my sayin' so
You have a bad habit of changin' ev'ry subject"

And we're back to talking about the stranger.

"I have my standards where men are concerned."

"There's not a man alive

Who could hope to measure up to that blend'a

Paul Bunyan, Saint Pat and Noah Webster

You've got concocted for yourself outta your Irish imagination,

Your Iowa stubbornness, and your liberry fulla' books."

Marian gasps at her mother's words. Just then Amaryllis stops playing. 

"Well, if that isn't the best I ever heard."

To which Amaryllis cheerily says: "Thank you!"

Skipping ahead a few minutes, the second part of this scene is when Amaryllis asks:

"Can I play my crosshand piece?"

"May I."

"May I play my crosshand piece?"

And it is quite an impressive crosshand.

Amaryllis's notes turn into the song "Goodnight, My Someone."

Thanks to Heidi for giving me a chance to talk about one of my favorite movies! Have any of you seen this? How well do you play piano? I admit that Amaryllis is better than I am. 

Happy March! If you don't have a spring break then I hope you have sunny days!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // January 2025

 Hi, friends!

How are you all doing? Right now I would be very involved in school except I'm sick (don't worry, I've been watching BBC's Pride & Prejudice so I'll be well in no time). 

Instead, I'm going to join in Heidi's Inklings! I haven't been able to participate since August and while I've come up with ideas for the other prompts I never got around to post them. To start off the year strong I'm linking up today with the activities!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! January is kicking off with the following prompt:

A scene at sunrise

I originally had a different scene in mind, but I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that there was a scene with character A showing character B something at sunrise. And I became very attached to whatever scene this was. With perseverance, I finally thought of it!

My pick for this month is a scene from The Book of Life (2014), which has the bonus of being animated and sunrise art is lovely.

I love this movie in more ways than is probably healthy.

Spoiler alert: this scene happens about 60% of the way through, so while there is still a lot more fun that happens afterwards (I'm stopping talking about it right before drama goes down), if you haven't seen this movie you might want to skip this post. Or you can enjoy the gorgeously animated pictures. It's your choice.

Manolo asked Maria to meet him at the bridge and when she gets there she finds a path of candles. The beginning notes of a song float through the air as the walk across the bridge is accompanied by "Can't Help Falling in Love" performed by Diego Luna's gentle voice.

What Manolo wanted to show Maria is how the first rays of light make San Angel glitter. 

"What you're feeling, that's how I feel every time I'm with you..." 

And then everything goes downhill. Good times.

Thanks to Heidi for hosting! Has anyone else seen this movie? Are there other animated movies that you love for their sunrise illustrations? Are there other movies where characters show each other the sunrise?

Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // August 2024

 Hello, friends!

The last month was pretty quiet from me as the summer just sped by (Olympics!) but now that I'm back at school it seems like a good idea to get one last post in before classes get out of control.

The best bite-sized way to experience stories is through Heidi's Inklings!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! That second link is where she gave the following prompt:

A scene by the ocean in book or film

Because the prompt is for book or film I try to alternate and do a book every other month in between the films but for this month I'm going to break this guideline. The ocean just demands to be represented visually!

My choice is from the 2002 film version of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Mwahaha I just love this poster.

If I had to guess, I'd say this scene happens about 40 minutes into the story. It's about the introduction of new characters so there aren't really spoilers for the ending but without context for why Edmond is there it might be confusing. So continue with your own discretion if you haven't seen this.

Usually what I like to do with scenes from movies is reconstruct it through gifs but I couldn't find any gifs of this scene which is such a pity. Here's the clip of the scene for your full enjoyment!

Now to talk about it! To start off, the cinematography of this movie is incredible and contributes to it being one of my favorite films of all time. This scene in particular has my favorite cinematography of the whole movie! It's the top of the top! I get chills when Edmond is running along the beach, shouting for joy, and slowly we pan over the backs of the pirates in the foreground as Edmond is in the background. It's just EPIC.

My next point is about how iconic Luigi Vampa is. I did not like the book as much of the movie for many reasons, but one of those reasons was Señor Vampa. The book goes into his backstory but you don't need the backstory! Part of what makes him such a thrilling character is the air of mystery that hangs about him. I adore his little smirk after calmly saying "then we slit your throat and are a little short-handed."

Followed by Edmond's diplomacy with "I find smuggling is the life for me and I'd be delighted to kill your friend the maggot." Out of context that is wild but it's SUCH A TIGHT SCRIPT.

Luigi's disappointment that the fight is over so quickly is a hoot. His eye-roll cracks me up.

And of course Jacapo! <3 His loyalty is so fierce and I am here for it.

The final stinger is quoted by my family all the time:

"His name? We shall call him Sátara."

"Sounds fearsome."

"It means driftwood."

Thanks to Heidi for hosting and thanks to all of you for reading! Go check out the other entries HERE!

What are some of your favorite cinematographic moments in film? Do you prefer the book or the movie of The Count of Monte Cristo? Do you prefer characters to remain mysterious or do you want to know all about them? How would you react to escaping from the Chateau d'If?

Chloe the MovieCritic 

Inklings // June 2024

Greetings, friends!

I hope you're having a good June in all accounts! I'm closing out this month with filling out the prompt from Heidi's Inklings!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! That second link is where she gave the following prompt:

An archery scene in book or film

Which, mwahaha, if you don't know, archery is one of my favorite things EVER. I've been obsessed with Robin Hood since I was about 6. Archery is the reason Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger and Legolas is my favorite of the Fellowship. So, of course, I immediately wanted to do a scene from Robin Hood but the problem is...there are a lot of versions. Including both film/tv show adaptations and books, I have 10+ versions under my belt.

To shake things up then, we're going with one of my favorite Pixar movies. Which claims a spot because ARCHERY. 

My pick is from the movie Brave (2012). This scene happens early on in the film and could possibly be called the inciting incident? I won't talk about spoilers for the rest of the film.

First, some context and the set-up: Three clans come with their first born sons to compete for the hand of Merida, the daughter of Lord Fergus. Merida is less than thrilled about these Highland games until she learns that she gets to choose the sport that these three lads will compete in.

Ahem.

Now onto the scene itself.

Fergus: "It's time."

Elinor: "Archers, to your marks!"

Fergus: "Aye, archers to-to-to your marks!

Elinor: "And may the lucky arrow find it's target."

While Elinor is saying this, Merida grins, looking at her own arrows as she subtly kicks them farther under her chair. We see each of the archers step up while the crowd reacts.

Fergus: "Oi, get on with it!"

The first archer---the son of MacGuffin---barely pulls back on the string and the arrow almost misses the target.

Merida, to her father: "I bet he wishes he was tossing capers."

Fergus: "Or holding up bridges."

Both chuckle. Elinor slaps at them for not taking this seriously.

Next archer---son of Lord Macintosh---is super dramatic with getting ready. Complete with hair flip and everything. 

It's a nice shot, but it doesn't quite hit the red. Which leads to a bit of a meltdown.

Lord Macintosh: "At least you hit the target!"

Young Macintosh starts screaming and wacking the bow on the ground.

Merida: "Oh, that's attractive."

Young Macintosh throws the bow over the crowd and people wait when it disappears until a hand pops up with a voice saying. "Got it!" and the crowd cheers again.

Merida: "Good arm."

Fergus: "And such lovely, flowing locks."

Elinor: "Fergus!"

Fergus: "What?"

The final archer---son of Lord Dingwall---pours out his whole quiver while trying to get one arrow.

Every time he points it at the target the arrow drifts away. 

The king finally has enough. 

Fergus: "Oh come on! SHOOT!"

The boy looks in surprise at Fergus as he lets go. The arrow hits the middle of the target. 

There's some celebration of crude types. Elinor and Fergus are staring wide-eyed. 

Fergus: "Well, that's just grand now. Guess who's coming to dinner?" (Which I just realized could be a reference)

Elinor: "Fergus!"

Fergus: "By the way, I hope you don't might being called Lady---" 

He looks over to meet the face of a dog instead of his daughter.

Merida: "I am Merida, first born descendant of clan Dunbroch."

Elinor: *stands up, muttering* "What are you doing?"

Merida tries to shoot but she's having trouble with the dress she was jammed into.

Elinor: "Merida!"

Merida: "Curse this dress!"

Elinor: "Merida, stop this!" 

The queen hurries down off the dais but isn't able to stop her daughter.

Elinor: "Don't you dare release another arrow."

Elinor: "Merida! I forbid it!"

Talk about epic. As you can guess with the movie poster, there's a lot of archery in this film but this scene is my favorite. Top tier archery is splitting an arrow.

Though, should we count how many times Elinor says the names of her husband and daughter?

Thanks to Heidi for hosting this! Thanks to all of you for reading this! What is your favorite scene in this movie? Have you ever called someone "wee lamb"? (I'm totally going to start that now)

Chloe the MovieCritic