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This three hour BBC miniseries is just precious. It’s lighthearted, humorous, and perfect. Pride and Prejudice is revisited and reintroduced. Lost in Austen pays homage to Jane Austen’s original masterpiece while reinventing it. My friend, who is not a Pride and Prejudice fan—blasphemous I know!—loved this film. My other friend, who is a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, to the point of being a purist, loved it also. Two endorsements right there! Make that three as it has mine also!
It starts with the heroine, a representative for all modern women, reading the classic tale. She has read it so many times, she can say it by heart, practically see herself there at Pemberley running to Darcy—wait hold up!
Amanda Price thinks she’s going crazy what with Elizabeth Bennet showing up in her bathroom and all. It is just one more sign of impending institutionalization. Really, how could a fictional character appear in her bathroom? The lives of those in Georgian England are made up after all… right?
When a wall opens up in Amanda’s bathroom and Elizabeth affirms it is her house on the other side, Amanda can’t resist stepping through. Like Alice, Amanda has gone through the rabbit hole and is trapped in Wonderland. The door swings shut behind her, but Amanda is filled with only a slight trepidation as she descends into the madness that is the Bennet house right at the beginning of the story.
What follows is a fabulous, wonderful, delicious story of a modern girl trying to make the story happen only to mess it up. Every time Amanda attempts to fix things, it gets worse. Some end up married to the wrong person, new background on characters is revealed, and more. Who could imagine blustering Mrs. Bennett as a ball-buster? One of the things that I loved was how Wickham is redeemed in this version. How? Watch and find out!
I’ve been told that the American version is missing a scene where Amanda is singing. I noticed a jerky transition where it should have occurred. There are also a few minor things left out, so I’ve been told. I wish they hadn’t taken it out, I mean once you’re at three hours, what’s another fifteen or so minutes right? Anyway, it was marvelous. Get it from your library or buy a copy – you’ll love it!
PS: Elliot Cowan, who plays Mr. Darcy, in looks is a cross between Colin Firth and Heath Ledger. Yum! His wet white shirt scene… double yum! Take a look:
Wow, another movie that was totally trashed by reviewers is yet another one I really enjoyed watching. I think My Life in Ruins is a smash. It uses stereotypes to make everything appear awful at first and then slowly unravels the truth beneath the façade. You have obnoxious American tourists, an old lady that steals everything that isn’t nailed down, a gentleman who thinks he’s the life of the party, Australians you can’t understand even though they speak English, a married couple at each other’s throats, a moody teenager, divorced woman on a man hunt, etc.
Georgia, played by Nia Vardalos, must take this ragtag group of tourists through Greece. She knows everything there is to know about the ruins and monuments, but she’s disillusioned. Nobody cares about history or the treasures right before their eyes. Georgia has lost her kaffee.
Richard Dreyfuss plays Irv, the tourist who thinks he’s hilarious. Irv is rude, makes terrible jokes, and wears down Georgia’s every last nerve until she snaps. To her horror she finds out this is the worse trip for him ever not because she’s a terrible tour guide, but because his wife is dead and this is his first time abroad without her.
Poupi, a terrible name if there ever was one and one of the few things that was just this side of ridiculous in the movie, is the bus driver. Alexis Georgoulis is quite handsome under his beard and long hair. Poupi crushes on Georgia and helps her rediscover her love of Greece and love of life during this trip.
The romance is cute, the bad guy gets his dues, and you get to enjoy the fabulous scenery of Greece. Having been, I’m so glad they showed the Parthenon in Athens at night. It truly is an amazing sight to see. It looked magical in person and on screen.
My one major irk, and my mother’s too, who saw this with me, was Nia’s shoes. How on earth could that woman traipse around Greece’s ruins in high heels, tall platform shoes, etc.? It just isn’t possible. Delphi for instance, was repaved by the Romans in old marble monuments. The road is slippery and sweats in the summer months and it tricky to navigate in tennis shoes! The Parthenon has gravel and chunks of rocks everywhere, no way! She would twist an ankle and fall.
This is a fabulous contemporary update of the Christmas Carol. Matthew McConaughey is Connor Mead. Connor is the new Mr. Scrooge, except he’s gorgeous, charming, and wealthy. So what’s wrong with the guy? Connor is a miser, just like Scrooge. How? Unlike Scrooge, Connor withholds love/feelings instead of money/possessions. Just like Scrooge, Connor gets visited by 3 ghosts and is forced to learn just what kind of man he really is.
The first ghost is the Ghost of Girlfriend Past. She is a 16 year old girl to whom Connor lost his virginity. Played by Emma Stone, she’s hardly recognizable in braces, frizzy red hair in pigtails and a crazy outfit. If it wasn’t for Stone’s distinctive voice I wouldn’t have been able to place her at all from her role in House Bunny.
Noureen DeWulf plays Melanie, the Ghost of Girlfriend Present. As Connor Mead’s overworked secretary she is the most consistent woman in his life. Melanie’s job includes scheduling everything from photo shoots to play dates. She draws the line at breaking up with his women (a firm believer in karma). DeWulf is fantastic and a sheer joy to watch on screen.
Nadja, Ghost of Girlfriend Future, is played by Emily Foxler. Beautiful and ethereal she leads Connor through the life he can expect if he doesn’t change his ways. Silent like the angel of death from Christmas Carol, she is nevertheless affective in communicating to the audience.
Daniel Sunjata is the wedding beefcake brought in to sex up Jenny Perotti’s love life. It bugged me the whole movie how gorgeous he was and how familiar his face and unable to place him. Ladies before you go to IMDB.com he’s James Holt from the Devil Wears Prada. He plays a sincere, sweet, and intelligent man, luckily for him when Jenny and Connor reunite he is not left out in the cold.
Jenny Perotti, played by Jennifer Garner, is the love of Connor Mead’s life. We watch them as youngsters, as teenagers, as just starting out in life adults and as established adults. Jenny is the girl next door, the one right under your nose. She’s been hurt by Connor in the past. If only being around him didn’t make her feel for him all over again she could move on with her life… will Connor learn his mistakes and if he does can he get her to believe in him again?
I predict Ghosts of Girlfriends past becoming a favorite among many. It certainly is one of mine!
This love triangle features a priest, a rabbi, and a–oh you heard that joke have you? Well, drat there goes my punch line!
Anyway this movie is a bit old, but I saw it for the first time the other day and I’m so glad I sat down to watch it, VHS tape, preview ads, broken remote and all. Can you imagine? Wow! If you’re a person who has a hard time watching Ben Stiller because he stars in movies along the same vein as Will Farrell you’ll be pleasantly surprised by his comedy routine in this movie. There’s nothing over the top, gross, or poorly done on his part to disrupt the romantic overtones of the story.
Jake, Brian, and Anna were friends in eighth grade until tragedy struck and Anna had to move away. Jake and Brian continued on being the best of friends. They were both interested in religion and teaching each other about their faith. Eventually their interest lead them to seek becoming leaders of their respective faiths. Years of study, devotion, and passion for their cause lead us to present day where Rabbi Jake Schram (Ben Stiller) and Father Brian Finn (Edward Norton) are making a splash in the community. New York will never be the same. As luck would have it Anna Riley turns up after all their years apart, as a high power executive woman ready to kick butt and take names and with a little… erm… faith reconnect with old friends. She laughs herself silly upon hearing their occupations.
Jake and Anna are immediately attracted to one another, but Jake must marry in order to receive his due (a promotion when the old Rabbi leaves for retirement). Unfortunately the woman must be Jewish and all the mothers in his congregation are trying to hook him up with their daughters and he can’t say no for fear of offending them. When Jake gives up trying for the perfect Jewish girl, he pursues Anna with a vengeance and passion that leave them both stunned and Jake a little fearful. Nobody will understand - not his parish, not the board members, and most certainly not his mother.
Meanwhile, Brian is struggling his his vows of celibacy as he faces the undeniable truth: he’s in love with his best friend, Anna. Every conversation, every touch, every look feeds into his confusion. He’s reading more into her every action. When things come to a head after a teary phone call from Anna, Brian is stunned, hurt, and furious with his other best friend Jake.
Will the friends be able to patch up their broken hearts, misunderstandings, and keep the faith? Watch and find out!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Originally posted 2009-01-11 05:28:34. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Walk in the Clouds is one of the sweetest love stories I have ever seen on the silver screen. I’ve fallen in love with the cast and characters as surely as I have fallen in love with Pride and Prejudice. The grandfather (Anthony Quinn) is by far my favorite; he’s got eyes in the back of his head. The man turns up every time poor Paul (Keanu Reeves) tries to run off and follow the plan he and Victoria (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón) hatched before arriving to her family’s vineyard. Who doesn’t love Anthony Quinn? Really? I want him to adopt me so I can be his granddaughter.
Walk in the Clouds is the name of the vineyard the Aragóns have cultivated and inhabited for generations. They are a proud set of Mexican descendants who have recipes that were in their family cookbook before Americans created their Constitution. Something Papa Aragón loves to rub Paul Sutton’s face in. Papa doesn’t believe this drifter is or could ever be the right man for his daughter, Victoria and tries to scare him off.
Leaving is exactly what Paul needs to do. His plans were to help Victoria by posing as her husband. They met on the train, and then on the bus, and then alongside the road to her family’s home. She tells Paul that her father is going to kill her – and he just might, for Victoria has a secret… she’s pregnant and the father deserted her when he found out.
The unfolding of love and devotion throughout Walk in the Clouds between the gorgeous Victoria and honest Paul will pull at your heartstrings. There are some decidedly sensual moments throughout the movie – when Victoria teaches Paul how to fan the grapes and when they’re both covered in grape juice from the harvest. Whew! If you have never seen Walk in the Clouds – you must! If you have reestablish your connection with this tremendously wonderful tale set around the end of World War Two.
Rating: 5 Stars
Originally posted 2009-01-10 05:09:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter
I saw this movie 3 times within 3 days and enjoyed it every time.
Todd Anderson is the vice president of customer relations and order fulfillment for a company that sells over the phone patriotic kitsch. Within five minutes of the movie starting, Todd learns that despite his excellent record and that of his team they’re being outsourced. If he wants to keep his job he must head to India for the purpose of training his replacement and the new team. Part of the job description is to get the minutes per incident down to six, a nearly impossible feat due to the accent and cultural differences.
Culture shock hit the minute Todd lands in India and gets off the plane. Frustrated, irritated, and disappointed with everything Todd bungles his way through 24 hours. Some of the things he misses that seem common knowledge enough to me are worthy of a little eye rolling. If it’s a social gaffe to double dip in America why would you think it’s okay to lick your fingers before putting your hand back into a bowl of food?
In any case, the more Todd resists India the bleaker things seem. Will he ever be able to return home to America or will he be stuck in India forever? Luckily he learns quickly that the best way to get what he wants is to stop resisting India’s culture and charm. Within the month this movie takes place becomes a top notch manager and teacher.
As the story develops, Todd also finds a love interest. He learns the differences of courting and just how important appearances are for women. The romance is referred to by Asha, the girl, as a Holiday in Goa, which means the love affair before one has to enter an arranged marriage. She is accepting that it’s not a love match, but expects love to develop over time. When confronted by how crazy it was to agree to something so archaic, Asha tells Todd it’s crazier that Americans have a 50% divorce rate.
They fall in love and naturally must part ways, but wait!!!! Without giving too much away I will say this: the ending is positive and open ended with enough leeway to write any conclusion a viewer wishes.
I read a really funny review of 17 Again right before going to see the movie. It said something along the lines of if you can suspend belief that someone who looked like Zack Efron could wind up looking like Matthew Perry in twenty years then you can enjoy the movie. Truer words never spoken.
Matthew Perry plays in the beginning and at the end of the movie with the majority of the film being driven by Zack Efron. What I liked about the casting the most (besides that Zack is such a hunk) was that both Matthew and Zack developed and acted mannerisms in the same way and also were able to deliver similar lines in the same manner.
Zack was also very believable. He did nothing over the top. It was funny to watch him extract himself from his “daughter’s clutches” and a delight to watch him become good friends with his son. While there was a slight weird factor, it was still cute to watch him fall back in love with his wife. Very romantic. Loved his scene in the court room!
I was non-stop laughing throughout this movie. I was laughing at everything (in a good way) from the dialogue to the actors to the clothes. I highly recommend going to see this movie. It’s feel good, ends happy, and let’s face it has Zack Efron in it. What more of a reason do you need?
As I was walking out of the theater, everybody was raving. If you’re still not convinced go in the morning to a matinee and pay less for your ticket. You’ll be glad you did.
The movie: BBC 2008 v. staring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Redmayne, and Hans Matheson
I read this book in eighth grade at the urging of my English teacher who thought I would enjoy this book above all others he had offered up for students to read and on which to do a report. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Tess of D’Ubervilles was my first DNF (did not finish) ever. I learned how to speed read with this book. I learned out to read the bare minimum and still understand what was going on in the book.
I suppose it is meant to be one of the greatest love stories ever written but even watching the movie, a much condensed version, acted wonderfully makes me want to find the eight hundred plus page book and hurl it at a wall.
There is so much sadness in this story. Lots of spoilers; in fact I tell the whole story below:
Mr. D’Uberfield finds out he and his family are of noble blood and when things go badly on the farm sends Tess to speak with their rich relatives. Alec D’Ubervilles immediately lusts after her and offers her a position in his family’s home. At first opportunity he rapes her. Tess runs back home, pregnant from the event. The baby dies.
Tess goes off again to work as a dairy maid. There she meets Angel Clare and falls in love. He does too. They marry. He finds out about Alec and the baby and leaves her. For a year perhaps two I’m not quite sure but he stays away in South America.
Meanwhile Alec finds Tess again and pursues her like a dog after a bone. Tess writes to Angel begging his forgiveness and his help. Angel never got the letters but after surviving yellow fever goes back to England determined to find Tess. He searches and searches and follows Tess’ trail until finally he finds her as mistress/wife to the object of her downfall.
Tess tells Angel to go away and never return because she’s already dead. Brokenhearted all over again Tess turns and goes upstairs where after a confrontation with Alec she kills him with a bread knife. From there she runs to Angel’s side and tells him she’s murdered the man that has ruined her/them and now that she has can he forgive her and take her back. They run off together, find an empty home and for the first time he makes love to Tess.
When they are found by a servant they run off again. They stop at Stone Henge. Tess talks about dying. Tess begs him to take care of her family and marry her younger sister. He begs her not to ask this of him. They fall asleep.
Upon waking they are surrounded by law enforcement agents. There is no escape. The story ends Angel and her younger sister wait outside the city where the bell tolls Tess’ execution.
Book: 1 Stars because the story is completely terrible and angst driven. There’s no happiness to be found not even in Tess and Angel’s stolen moments.
Mini-Series: 4 Stars… the acting, scenery, and script are all perfectly executed. Gemma makes a lovely Tess, you really feel for her. Eddie is perfect as Angel, beautiful, sweet, kind, loving. Alec could not have been betters played by anyone. Hans does a phenomenal job. He’s easy to despise; playing the entitled gentleman who thinks little beyond his own pleasures so adeptly.
I love Cinderella. I don’t really know anybody who doesn’t adore this type of character. Her story is one of rags to riches; poor in money but rich in love. Take her story, a timeless classic, and add Rodgers and Hammerstein to the mix and you have a hit musical. I love all versions of this musical but my all time favorite stars quite a cast of famous names including: Brandy Norwood, Bernadette Peters, Veanne Cox, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Whitney Houston, and Natalie Desselle.
In this version three new songs are added to the mix. They’re fun, uplifting, and just exciting to watch on screen. The first to appear is ‘The Deepest Love in all the World,’ sung by Brandy Norwood and Paolo Montalban. This song occurs just before they first meet in the market and it’s completely wonderful. It is probably my favorite song in the whole production. The next addition is ‘Falling in Love with Love,’ sung by the unparalleled Bernadette Peters. You really get to know the Stepmother in this sequence. The last is probably my least favorite, but it occurs at the very end of the movie in all the wrap-up so you can easily ignore it and that is ‘The Music in You’ sung by Whitney Houston.
I love the multi-ethnic casting! An Asian prince, a Caucasian king, a Black queen, and so on. Jason Alexander as the prince’s valet is spectacularly funny. Whoopi plays a wonderfully concerned queenly mother who just happens to always want her own way. Wink. Brandy is charming as Cinderella. She really makes you feel that she is Cinderella; her eyes are very expressive. Everyone was wonderful, so even as you recognize them on screen or try to figure out who they are the acting pulls you back into the movie before you can say Bibbity Bobbity Boo.
The choreography, costumes, singing, dialogue is colorful, spirited, enchanting, and just wow. Honestly, if you’re looking for a gift for your daughter, sister, or friend you can’t go wrong picking this movie out. It’s a feel good, put a spring in your step happy movie that gets you singing and dancing around the room just so you can join in the festivities.
Rating: 5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-12-12 11:04:02. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Have you worn out your copy of Pride and Prejudice? Are Colin Firth and Matthew MacFayden in need of a little healthy competition? Richard Armitage is just the man to sooth your hunger for another hunk of delicious brooding male. You will melt. Mr. John Thornton is a new Darcyesque figure to fall in love with over and over again.
Richard Armitage is not only singularly fine; he’s also a terrific actor. When he proposes, you’ll die. Loved Mr. Darcy’s fumbling attempts at wooing Elizabeth Bennet? You’re going to enjoy watching Mr. Thornton try to win over the forthright Miss Margaret Hale. Daniela Denby-Ashe does a beautiful job portraying the vicar’s headstrong opinionated daughter.
The story is about a retired vicar and his family moving to the North to Milton, a fairly large factory town. Here they confront illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, and social mores their life in the South leave them unprepared for, especially the mother and daughter. Mr. Hale befriends Mr. Thornton soon after Mr. Thornton makes a singularly bad impression on Miss Margaret Hale. Misunderstandings and stubbornness are rife throughout the miniseries as the protagonists dance around each other trying to understand one another.
If you come into this knowing nothing, you will love it. If you have read the Elizabeth Gaskell novel by the same name, you will love it. Trust me, if you borrow this instead of buying it outright you’re going to be bummed at the thought of returning it. Sandy Welch’s screenplay is phenomenal—four hours of 100% heart-warming goodness can’t be beat. This may just have replaced the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries as best BBC miniseries.
I am very upset with Associated Press Movie Critic Christy Lemire’s review of Twilight. She gave the film 1.5 Stars and wrote a very unappealing look at the book’s film adaptation. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I think the review was written to be controversial rather than an adequate depiction of the movie. I don’t know why critics try to take the fun out of something, but I am determined she was just being a sourpuss about the whole affair.
I went to the midnight premiere last night wearing one of my handmade Twilight pendants. I sat there in my seat waiting for the movie to start for nearly two hours and chatted with a nice girl who came dragging along a friend who wasn’t at all interested in the movie or books. We were both Edward fans and had similar opinions and views of the books and the waiting time was spent very pleasurably. I commend the theater for opening up seating immediately instead of making us wait outside. The one question we both asked was:
Would the movie live up to the hype?
I say it did. Sure there were some over the top segments, but it was done in accordance to the book. The slow-down filming of the scenes pushed it to the level of being too much. This mostly occurs with the introduction of the supermodel vampires - wonderfully cast and in the biology scene when Edward first gets a whiff of Bella’s pungent and lethal scent. It was unintentionally funny, and I think watching it a second time away from immature boy commentators will be thoroughly acceptable instead of slightly laughable.
Thoughts on the Casting:
Bella was perfectly cast with Kristen Stewart. She made watching the slightly awkward and shy Bella Swan very enjoyable not at all the sullen face Lemire makes her out to be. (Her hair I could kill for - gorgeous!) The sexual/romantic tension between Stewart and Robert Pattinson, playing vampire Edward Cullens, was phenomenal. Very hot kiss scenes between them (once again would be more enjoyable without the immature boys yelling across the theater… and that’s saying something because the scenes were amazing even with the commentary going on.)
The Cullens family was wonderfully cast too. I was worried with how many unknown names (at least to me) that were appearing throughout the film that it would fall short of readers’ expectations. Alice played by Ashley Greene was perky, cute, and fun. Jackson Rathbone played a seriously sexy Jasper. I loved him in the film and could watch him as often as Bella and Edward. Jasper is the newest Vegan vampire and it’s very hard for him to be around humans - hence the nearly always present expression of pain on his face.
Lemire mentioned that Rosalie only had one expression - the sneer and scowl. Well if Lemire has read the books Rosalie is the disapproving vampire. She doesn’t like Bella and all Bella ever sees her do is sneer and scowl. Rosalie does provide some good humor at the start of the flight from danger scenes.
Dr. Carlisle Cullen is also one sexy vampire. Yum. He plays the hot fatherly doctor figure very well. Of the vampires, he looks most like a vampire. The others are as pale as Bella in most instances.
The high school mortals were also amazing in their roles. The film built up their friendship quickly without much dialogue. I could easily believe that the group had been friends for years. Eric and Mike were fantastic. Jessica and Angela too. Jessica provided a lot of humor to her scenes because you can see where her thoughts were all the time based on her facial expressions.
Bella’s father and mother were similarly excellent choices, though I agree with Lemire’s comment on the bad cop style mustache for Billy Burke.
Jacob and the rest of the Quileute Tribe were done well. I have never been a Jacob fan by any stretch of the imagination but I enjoyed him in this movie. I did hear on the way out of the theaters that some girls were switching loyalties to Edward. I thought Jacob was pretty cute - apparently they didn’t agree.
Casting gets a 5 out of 5.
Thoughts on Special Effects:
Lemire says Twilight was a low budget film. I don’t know what that means, or how much Twilight ran on so I can’t really comment on money to visual effects and ask something like where did all the money go?
Edward’s flying through the trees reminded me of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It was more choppy than the Chinese film and harder to get behind. This goes very much into the over the top area. The meadow sequence was perfectly acceptable. I also enjoyed his second run through the trees and climbing up them with Bella on his back. That was easier to believe in a way. Sort of Spider-Manish. I also liked his pet name for her in spider monkey. Much better than sweetheart, baby, luv, honey, sexy, etc. we hear most of the time. It’s unique and therefore special.
The ballet studio sequence was wonderful. I can only imagine how hard it was to edit out all the camera and extra people and I’ve seen the behind the scenes look at the ballet studio and what they were doing. It was amazing! I liked it a lot and I sure most moviegoers will too.
Back to the meadow - Edward as his sparkly vampire self could have passed easily any sunny day in San Francisco as a Queen with glitter decorating his whole body. I could see the diamond comment, but it wasn’t as noticeable or excessive as the books made it out to be. If all vampires looked like that in the sun they should just move to California and nobody would notice or look twice.
Ending:
The ending was great with prom. Jacob showed up but didn’t get to dance with Bella. I’m so vindictive that I giggled on the inside at this, striking up a point for Edward. Very possessive returning to Bella’s side when he spies the soon to be werewolf.
The gazebo reminded me of a lot of dancing sequences in other high school films… for instance A Cinderella Story. But I loved how he picked her up and had her dance with him. As they were dancing the other couples noticeably left the gazebo giving Edward and Bella a few private moments at the end. The parting words were sweet and the moment sizzling even as it was tender.
Overall I give this movie 4.5 Stars. A must see for any Twilight fan and a chance for non-Twihards to become smitten with Twilight and its biting appeal.
Originally posted 2008-11-21 13:18:31. Republished by Old Post Promoter
So I finally gave in and watched P.S. I Love You for the first time. It sounded like such a sad and depressing movie that I really didn’t want to watch it. How many others thought the same thing when it first came out? And while the movie has its sad moments, it also had a lot of touching and funny moments helping the movie grow just as it helped the main character, Holly Kennedy, to grow.
Holly and Gerry have been an item since their teenage days, married young and still don’t have kids. Gerry dies from a brain tumor and his death has for all intensive purposes has killed Holly too. She herself is dead to life and is struggling, going through a facsimile of living and doing it poorly. Holly wallows in her apartment remembering Gerry and moments of their life together until…
A birthday cake and tape recording jumpstart Holly. On her thirtieth birthday, Holly receives these two gifts from her dead husband. She thinks it’s a terrible joke until she plays the message. Gerry is talking to her, telling her that he loves her but it’s time to move on and enjoy life again. He plans to give her ten messages, in all different ways at random intervals, to help her get over him.
Every adventure gets her out of their apartment and takes her somewhere new. She winds up in Ireland for the trip they never took and ends up sleeping with another hot Irish musician after he somehow knew to sing her Gerry’s song. When she finds out the man was akin to being Gerry’s best friend growing up she’s horrified. The friend too is completely taken aback by the news and rushes to reassure her that Gerry wouldn’t be angry with her. It’s a very sweet moment.
The whole movie is about Holly finding her single self again. She went from being a couple and knowing exactly who she was and how she functioned in that setting to being single. There’s romance in this between flashbacks of her and Gerry and daydreams of Gerry as well as a hint of future love with his best friend, but mostly this movie is like a coming of age story. I liked it a lot despite my original concerns. You’ll cry but you’ll laugh too.
Rating: 4 Stars
Originally posted 2008-11-13 22:20:33. Republished by Old Post Promoter
I’ve just watched Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog for my second time. I just love the musical numbers in this little 45 minute show. If you haven’t seen it yet, you must. Trust me on this- I’ve even embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. Dr. Horrible was created by Joss Whedon during the writers’ strike by calling in a lot of favors. Part comedy, part romance, this little show brings all the musts to a comic book setting.
Characters:
This first one isn’t a character per say but it is an organization. The ELE or Evil League of Evil, is the most prestigious organization an evil bad guy could hope to belong. If you’re not in the ELE you’re in the league with the Henchmen.
Bad Horse is the biggest baddie. He’s the thoroughbred of sin.
Dr. Horrible wants desperately to join the ELE and has a strong application this year. He’s not so much evil as crazy scientist with ideas to change the way the world runs. As he says, it’s not about making money but taking it away from others.
Penny is the girl Dr. Horrible has a crush on. He sees her twice a week usually at his local laundromat and fantasizes about saying hello to her. If only he had the courage. Penny is a young woman who cares for the homeless and sees the world through rose-colored glasses.
Captain Hammer is the “good guy.” I put this in quotes because from our point of view Dr. Horrible is the good guy. Captain Hammer is vain, self-centered and reminds me a bit of Gaston in Disney’s Beauty And The Beast.
In typical Joss Whendon fashion the love interest is partially realized before being ripped apart like with Buffy/Angel and Wash/Zoe from Firefly/Serenity. Still, despite this romantic hiccup the show is simply phenomenal. I give it 5 Stars.
Watch Dr. Horrible Now:
Originally posted 2008-11-06 05:33:44. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Titanic is one of the highest grossing films in romance. Romeo and Juliet were not as star-crossed as Rose and Jack. Interesting how both couples names start with R and J. Before you ask, Rose and Jack are a fictional couple not based on historical accounts. A J. Dawson did exist but he was a Joseph Dawson who worked down in the boilers. The romance was invented to keep moviegoers engross in the unfolding historical catastrophe.
I found this interesting website that looks into the fact and fictions of the movie compared with real life and it makes for a really great read. There are also several actors and actresses paired against photos of their namesakes in the movie. This was fun to see because some are very uncanny in how alike they look.
Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this disaster film, wins a poker hand and gains a ticket on the RMS Titanic for its maiden voyage for America. Excited by this once in a lifetime opportunity Jack Dawson rushes to the harbor and scrambles as quickly as he can onto the departing vessel. As his ticket is a third class ticket, he’s living below deck much like the ship hands were. Life is an adventure for him and every moment was not to be wasted. His life’s philosophy is to make it count.
Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet, is a poor little rich girl stuck in an engagement she does not want with the snobby and slimy Cal Hockley, Billy Zane. Distraught by the life she sees unfolding before her, Rose attempts to commit suicide off the back of the boat. Jack casually smoking nearby comes to her rescue as her attempt almost succeeds and she slips off the railing.
Her shriek alerts Cal and sailors who were nearby and they hotfoot it to the scene. One glance and it appears that Jack was attempting to rape poor Rose which would have lead him to be locked up were it not for Rose’s intervention and a quick story. Jack confirms her telling.
From there the pair meets up again and again, sneaking off and running around the ship. They fall head over heels in love and Rose gets the nerve to act on the lust she feels building inside her for Jack. One risky and risqué nude drawing later and Rose has had enough of proper conventions and respectable distance. They make love in a car, steaming up the windows as they pursue the phantom edge of ecstasy.
After this fated moment, the story turns as the RMS Titanic hits the iceberg and time as Jack and Rose knew it runs out. Desperate to see her safe, Jack struggles to get Rose to safety and in the process is framed for theft, locked up below level with frigid water rushing every second into the room. Their story is heart wrenching and tear jerking as they fight for their love swearing to do so to their dying breaths.
The movie won 11 Academy Awards. Here’s the list:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Costume Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound Mixing
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Score
Best Film Editing
Best Original Song
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-10-23 10:44:27. Republished by Old Post Promoter
While You Were Sleeping is one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen. This movie is entirely based on a series of misunderstandings and hilarious situations. The movie features an all star cast including Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, and Jack Warden. Everyone was amazing in this film. I even liked Michael Rispoli as Joey Fusco Jr.
Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, played by Sandra Bullock, is a Chicago transit tollbooth worker. What Lucy most wants out of her life is a stamp in her passport and a reason to not work every holiday. She is also hopelessly besotted with daily commuter, Peter Callaghan, played by Peter Gallagher, whom she has never met.
Peter is a charming schmuck, but Lucy doesn’t know this. One day after flashing his perfect white smile in her direction Peter gets mugged on the platform for the L train and falls onto the train tracks. Lucy saves him from certain death and follows him to the hospital.
There a nurse overhears Lucy dreaming aloud to herself and misinterprets. Lucy is ushered in to see Peter, but he is in a coma. Minutes later his family bustles in and the nurse introduces Lucy to them as Peter’s fiancée. Oh boy! Now the fun starts!
Well you can imagine. The mother and father are hysterical in these moments. I love Peter Boyle as Ox Callaghan. Saul, the beloved sort of godfather, played by Jack Warden is a hoot and the grandmother Elsie played by Glynis Johns will leave you in stitches. Elsie sort of reminds me of Grandma Mazur in the Stephanie Plum novels, just crazy in a different way.
As the story spins out Bill Pullman playing as Peter’s brother Jack is suspicious of Lucy. She is not his brother’s type. Surprisingly both find themselves drawn to each other. Jack gets possessive and there’s this whole scene about “The Lean.” Loved it! But they’re not supposed to be with one another as Lucy is Peter’s fiancée. Jack has a great scene with Peter in the hospital while Peter is still in his coma. Poor Jack!
Anyway the fun is watching Lucy navigate her way through muddy waters. She loves the Callaghan family and doesn’t want to give them up and if she comes clean about who she it they won’t want her anymore… not even Jack. Or so she thinks. Feel good fluff!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-10-21 22:45:22. Republished by Old Post Promoter
. Matthew McConaughey is Connor Mead. Connor is the new Mr. Scrooge, except he’s gorgeous, charming, and wealthy. So what’s wrong with the guy? Connor is a miser, just like Scrooge. How? Unlike Scrooge, Connor withholds love/feelings instead of money/possessions. Just like Scrooge, Connor gets visited by 3 ghosts and is forced to learn just what kind of man he really is.
and 
in need of a little healthy competition? Richard Armitage is just the man to sooth your hunger for another hunk of delicious brooding male. You will melt. Mr. John Thornton is a new Darcyesque figure to fall in love with over and over again. 
, you will love it. Trust me, if you borrow this instead of buying it outright you’re going to be bummed at the thought of returning it. Sandy Welch’s screenplay is phenomenal—four hours of 100% heart-warming goodness can’t be beat. This may just have replaced the 
as best BBC miniseries.
. I also liked his pet name for her in spider monkey. Much better than sweetheart, baby, luv, honey, sexy, etc. we hear most of the time. It’s unique and therefore special.
. But I loved how he picked her up and had her dance with him. As they were dancing the other couples noticeably left the gazebo giving Edward and Bella a few private moments at the end. The parting words were sweet and the moment sizzling even as it was tender.
. 
