Movie Review: Penelope (2006)

Hello, everyone!

I first watched the movie that I am going to review today back in 2009, so 10 years ago! I thought that I remembered it almost perfectly, but both my younger and older sister, who watched it with me, didn't remember it at all! A few weeks ago I was finally able to rewatch it with my older sister. I was right, I remembered pretty much everything (except the last 10 minutes). My older sister liked it, but still didn't remember seeing it before! I feel so old...

(Also, yay Netflix! I watched it both times on there).

Note: I was so excited to be watching it that I kept forgetting to write things down, but then I randomly would so these are out of context. Sorry!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Penelope (2006):

A long time ago, the Wilherns were cursed that their first born daughter would have the face of a pig. They never thought about it because they only had sons... until Penelope. The curse will only end when one of her own kind, a "blue blood", someone who has money and position, learns to love her. A reporter wants to make money by showing a photo of her to the public. He also has personal reasons for wanting a slight "revenge" because he got hurt when he previously tried to get a picture. Working with Edward, one of the few people who has seen her, they plan to hire someone to pretend to be a suitor long enough to get a photo. Penelope wants to see the world but it doesn't want to see her. Will she finally find a friend, or will they only run from her?

Genre: Low Fantasy (there is the idea of the curse, but all of it takes place in our world and there is no other mention of magic), Romance.

Length: approx. 104 minutes.

Costumes: 8, nothing brilliant, but nothing bad.
My favorite: I couldn't find any good pictures, but she has an awesome coat!

Script: 9, only one or two bad words!
"Once the queen's dead the king is useless." (Chess!)

Crew:

Directed by: Mark Palansky.

Written by: Leslie Caveny.

Starring:
Christina Ricci as Penelope Wilhern. "Plants are great, I just thought of you as a cop."

James McAvoy as Max Campion, "Johnny".

Catherine O'Hara as Jessica Wilhern.

Richard E. Grant as Franklin Wilhern.
Peter Dinklage as Lemon.
Simon Woods as Edward Humphrey Vanderman III.
Nigel Havers as Edward Vanderman II.
Reese Witherspoon as Annie.

Ronni Ancona as Wanda.
Richard Leaf as Jack the Bartender.
Michael Feast as Jake.

Cinematography: 9, at first I thought that it was a little weird, but I think it was just the screen that I was watching it on.

Cinematography by: Michel Amathieu.

Music: 8, if there was a score or soundtrack it didn't really stick out to me, but I love how they have the song "You Are My Sunshine" in there!

Music by: Joby Talbot.

Quotes: 9. "It's not the power of the curse, it's the power that you give the curse."

Storyline: 7, so there is death, suggestive things, mention of an affair, smoking, drinking (we see people intoxicated a few times), and gambling, but it is all mostly shown as bad.
"Will somebody call my mother?"

Good For: People who don't like how they look, who are scared of being seen, anybody!

Age Range: All ages! There are a few exaggerated drawings that might scare really little kids, and there is mild kissing, but that's it! Penelope is not scary at all, she is really sweet and pretty. She is uncomfortable with how she looks and it shocks people when they first see her, but would never be scary to anyone watching it.

Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts:
How do I even begin to talk about this wonderful movie? It is so incredible sweet! This is one of those movies that makes you happy and encourages you, and one that I could watch all the time. This movie is so adorable! It has a very fall like feeling, so it would be great to watch this month (hint hint, you should!). The question of "Is beauty skin deep?" is one that I really like to see explored and see what people come up with. I can't stop saying how good this is!


Well, it's up to you, my readers, now! Have you seen this movie, what do you think? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)

Hello!
Today is the last day of Hamlette's We ❤ Shakespeare Blogathon (check out the Master Post HERE)!

I've had so much fun writing my other two posts, but this has been my favorite. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! The button I chose to put here is another Romeo and Juliet retelling, but this is my favorite of all the ones that I have watched!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Gnomeo and Juliet (2011):

Based on: Romeo and Juliet - by William Shakespeare.

"The story you are about to see has been told before...a lot. And now we are going to tell it again...but differently."

This story is about next door neighbor's garden gnomes. Like their owners they are bitter enemies. It's the blues vs. the reds! They like to show each other up by racing lawnmowers down the alley. When the blues's mower gets wrecked by a red, two blues, Gnomeo and Benny, plan for revenge. They are also very proud of their gardens. The leader of the reds is very protective of his daughter, Juliet. She spots a rare flower and decides fetch it to prove to her father that she doesn't need to be protected. Gnomeo and Juliet meet and fall for each other without knowing the other's color! As it is later pointed out, "It's doomed."

Genre: Romance, Comedy.

Length: approx. 84 minutes.

Costumes: 7, there is one gnome that goes around without really any clothes on, and we see people's underthings, but besides that they are good.

Script: 9, no bad words that I recall!
"How romantically tragic."

Crew:

Directed by: Kelly Asbury

"'Okay, I'm thinking of a movie that is one word and it sounds like "spider".'

'Is it "Spiderman"?'

'You're good!'"

Written by: Kelly Asbury, Mark Burton, Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil, Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg, Steve Hamilton Shaw, John R. Smith, & Rob Sprackling.
Starring the voices of:
James McAvoy as Gnomeo.

Emily Blunt as Juliet. 
"'When will you realize that you are delicate?'
'I'm not delicate!'"
Matt Lucas as Benny.

Jason Statham as Tybalt.
Ashley Jensen as Nanette. (She is on the red side, but she is actually green because she is a frog.)
Jim Cummings as Featherstone.
Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick.

Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury.
Patrick Stewart as William Shakespeare.
Stephen Merchant as Paris.

Ozzy Osbourne as Fawn.
Kelly Asbury as Red Goon Gnomes.
Dolly Parton as Dolly Gnome.
James Daniel Wilson as Fishing Gnome.

Animation: 9, as you well know, I'm not a fan of digital animation, but I love this!!

Music: 10, they did such a good job with this! All of the music is based on Elton John's and for "Your Song" they changed the words to make it for garden gnomes. But, my favorite part is when the character Benny is hitting buttons. Each button he hits makes a noise and he plays out the opening for "Benny and the Jets"!

Music by: James Newton Howard, Chris Bacon, and Elton John.

Quotes: 9, "Oh, Gnomeo, Gnomeo, are we really doomed to never see each other again? Why must you wear a blue hat? Why couldn't it be red like my father? Or green like a leprechaun? Or purple, like...uh...like...um...like some weird guy?"

Sorry, I had to put this picture here because the face she makes when she says "weird guy" always cracks me up.

Notes: This movie is so great! It has so many Shakespeare references! They live on Verona Drive, their owners names are Miss Montague and Mr. Capulet, we see references/Easter eggs to the plays As You Like It, The Tempest, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, and I think there is one for King Lear, but I'm not familiar with that one so I'm not positive. They even changed some of the lines in Romeo and Juliet to make them fit!
"I don't know, a weed by any other name is still a weed."

Storyline: 8, there is some crude humor, suggestive things, separation, dealing with revenge (though it shows that it is bad), and the gnomes fight a bit.
"Other people's hate destroyed my love, and I could do nothing about it."

Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts: I do know some people who don't like it, but I do, and they did a really good job making this!


A huge thank you to Hamlette for hosting this! I had a great time. Once again, go check out the other posts HERE!

Thanks for reading! Have you seen this movie? What do you think?

MovieCritic

Book vs. Movie Review: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Hello!
Welcome to the first day of my Blog Costume Party! Today I will be reviewing one of my favorite books. And, this is my favorite costume I have ever had!

Also, I am posting photos from a few years ago and then we were just taking pictures and I didn't consider the possibilities so I had my face uncovered, therefor, I have had to blur these. Sorry about that!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - by C. S. Lewis

"Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny."
A little girl is transported into the magical world of Narnia by going through a wardrobe. At first the snow all around seems beautiful, but the girl learns that it is cursed to always be snowy. It turns out that she and her siblings are who the people of this world have been waiting for, and things turn to war.
Genre: Fantasy.

Characters: 10! I am not being biased, these characters are so amazing!

My favorites:
Everyone! But, if I have to choose the top 5, they would be:
Aslan: So powerful, so kind, so loving.
Lucy: Her faith is just amazing.
Edmund: He is probably the most relatable.
Peter: He has so much responsibility, and he handles it so well.
Susan: "The gentle", and she is!
Mr. Tumnus: Don't we all love him?

Words: 10! 'It was a full moon, and shining on all the snow, it made everything almost as bright as day -- only the shadows were rather confusing.'

Quotes: 10! "Things never happen the same way twice, dear one."

Notes: It is said that C. S. Lewis based the Professor on J. R. R. Tolkien.

Storyline: 10! There is some fighting and death, but the most important thing about the storyline is that it is an allegory, and a beautiful one at that.

Good For: Everyone everywhere. If you haven't read this book please, please, do!

Overall Score: 10!!!!!

Bonus thoughts: Did I mention that this is one of my favorite books?

(I'm sorry that there aren't as many quotes as usual, I couldn't find the sheet I wrote them all down on! The ones you read here are off of memory. Once I finally find the sheet I will update this.)


VS.


The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005):

Based on: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - by C.S.Lewis
Lucy finds herself in the world of Narnia after hiding in a wardrobe. She befriends a faun named Mr. Tumnus, and everything seems like it is perfect there, but she soon discovers otherwise. The land is cursed in eternal snow, and it turns out that she and her siblings might be able to help end it.

Genre: Fantasy.
Length: approx. 145 minutes.
Costumes: 9. They are all just perfect!
My favorite: You'll see more on Jadis's later, so I won't say any of those. Well, I like this:

Script: 9.

'"I'm just trying to think logically."

"No, you're trying to be smart, as usual."'

Crew:
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Produced by:
Mark Johnson
Phillip Steuer

Screenplay by:
Ann Peacock
Andrew Adamson
Christopher Markus
Stephen McFeely
Starring:
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie.

Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie.

William Mosley as Peter Pevensie.

Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie.

Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan.
Tilda Swinton as The White Witch.

James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus.

Ray Winstone as the voice of Mr. Beaver.

Dawn French as the voice of Mrs. Beaver.
Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik.
Jim Broadbent as Professor Digory Kirke.

James Cosmo as Father Christmas.
Michael Madsen as the voice of Maugrim.
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Mrs. Macready.

Cinematography: 9, look at this!!!

Cinematography by: Donald McAlpine

Music: 10!! I love it! I even listened to part of it while writing this.

Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Oscars won: 1: Best Makeup.

Quotes: 10,
'"Besides, we could all use the fresh air."
"It's not like there isn't air inside."'

Notes: Oh my word. This movie has such nostalgia for me. I have nearly cried several times while watching it.

Ah! My heart! I can't even...

Storyline: 8! As I said, there is war so fighting and death, but once again, this has a very powerful allegory.
There are only a few small differences from the book: they added some things, took one or two things out, but really not that much, and it would have all fit in the book. And the actors don't look as the characters are described, but they all play the parts so perfectly that it makes up for it.

Good For: EVERYONE!

Overall Score: 9.5!!

Bonus thoughts: A favorite!

The book wins!

"Bow down for the queen of Narnia!" - Thoughts on the Jadis, the White Witch.

From the book.

Played by Tilda Swinton.

Her preferred title: Her Imperial Majesty, Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands
Jadis is described as 7 feet tall and has skin as white as paper.
She is very greedy as she always wants more and more power. Whatever it takes, she will do it.
She is called the white witch because she cast Narnia into eternal winter. This really worked for my costume because I love snow!!

About my costume:

As I said above, this is my favorite costume I have ever had. And one of the things that is so impressive about it is that we (my mom and I) came up with it pretty much on the spot without any planning. It is kind of a combination of all of Tilda Swinton's outfits. Also, I had a cold that day so I was very pale.

What do you think? Who looks more like the White Witch?

Thank you so much for reading! Come back tomorrow to see who my sisters dress up as!

MovieCritic