Black Swan

I just got back from Black Swan. I know many of you won't be seeing it because it is rated R, but it keeps whirling through my head and I need to talk about it.

It was much more of a psychological thriller than I was expecting, and my stomach was basically in knots the whole movie, or I would be cringing and hiding my face. Yet it was beautiful. And gross. And weird. But definitely, definitely, definitely unforgettable.

I can't decide if I love it or hate it.  I feel like there needs to be a discussion on symbols and what everything means.

But I know that Natalie Portman can act (as if I didn't know that already. Girl is GENIUS!) because half the time I was watching the movie I wanted to shake her and tell her to get herself some gumption. 

And I know Natalie Portman isn't really like that. 

PS. Isn't that like the freakiest picture ever?? I didn't even see a trailer before I saw the movie, or that picture. It might've been prudent of me to research what I was getting into....

Ponyo

The other night I watched this sweet little movie called Ponyo.


It's by the same director who did My Neighbor Totoro, and I think you get the same delight watching these two movies. Plus Ponyo has a little of The Little Mermaid mixed in.


I've told you before how much I love My Neighbor Totoro...  wait I totally thought I did, but searching my archives I don't see one. Wha?!?

If you haven't seen this movie.... then I'm sad for you.  It's such an ode to the imagination of children. And it's totally funny!

Here's a trailer. That theme song is amazing.






and I'm so glad I found another movie that's like it!

Ponyo trailer!



Personally though I think the voice clips they take for the trailer is a bit misleading for the story...

Go watch it!

Scarlett v. Katherine

So for my Shakespeare class we were watching the Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton version of Taming of the Shrew, (Which was totally hilarious and wonderful if you haven't seen it) and the entire time I knew that Katherine (Elizabeth Taylor) reminded me of someone.

It bugged me the first half of the movie, and then it totally clicked!


um hello! Katherine= Scarlett !!










but the it's not until the end of the movie when she is "tamed" that she realizes that she can get a lot more by doing what he wants.

I know there is controversy over whether Katherine actually believed her last speech or was just saying it, but personally from how the movie depicted her, I interpret it as if Scarlett was saying that to Rhett. It's not that she believes it, because honestly I don't think you can break either of their spirits, but that Scarlett was willing to do anything in order to be successful and safe and taken care of. I think Katherine is the same way.

Plus throughout that entire movie the quote from My Big Fat Greek Wedding kept popping into my head:

 "The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants"

If Katherine's husband Petruchio thought she was totally submissive to him, she could totally influence him more and be more in charge than if he was suspicious, because let's face it, woman in that time had very little individual power.

Epic News

Since I stalk Josh Groban's twitter, I knew he was planning on being in a movie soon, but had no hints of what it was about or who else would be in it.

Then he linked to this page and my jaw dropped.

okay, 1. It has Ryan Gosling in it.

The man is amazing and is usually in freakin' amazing movies.

2. Steve Carrell

The man is hilarious. LOVE the Office.

3. FREAKIN ANALEIGH TIPTON is in it!!!!

I mean whaa??

So #3 may not mean much to the rest of you, besides maybe if you saw her on America's Next Top Model that one season, but she went to my high school!!! I mean I thought it was cool that she got onto that TV show and stuff, but I mean she will probably get to meet Josh Groban!!! *dies*

Whenever this thing comes out I will def pay ten bucks to see it in theaters.

PS. Just Saw How to Train Your Dragon. LOVE it. Hilarious and heartwarming and still action-y and tense. haha I get quite into movies when I like the characters. aka. toothless

Remind anyone else of this guy?

aka Totoro aka The movie that made my childhood.

Madness

Is it odd that probably my favorite quote from Hamlet is: 

 "Lord, we know what we are, but/ know not what we may be." (Act 4. Scene 5)

Spoken by the mad Ophelia.

Obviously there are tons of quotes from this play that we always hear :To be or not to be, that is the question, etc.

But I really like what Ophelia was saying there. Because we can recognize what we are in this moment, but can we every really know what we can become, what we can accomplish, what we can influence? 

PS. Since I am writing my paper on the differences in the portrayls of Ophelia in Branaugh's version and the version with Mel Gibson, here are her two scenes of madness from the two films. 

Which is your favorite portrayal? Which one makes you feel like she is truly mad and makes you feel more when you watch it?

Gibson version with Helena Bonham-Carter:

(Start at the seven minute marker)

Branaugh version with Kate Winslet:
Winslet's version is much longer as Branaugh put the ENTIRE play into the film.

Part 2 after Laertes comes back











.
.
.
.

Personally I loved the Kate Winslet version better. I just found it more haunting and pitiable. I felt like Helena could have done an AMAZING job, but it just didn't do it for me. I was kind of disappointed. When kate is cracking up in that second video it is totally unsettling and sad.

You make me swoon kate, with you amazingness.

Dear Future House,

Please look something like the house in the newer Pride and Prejudice.






I like it a lot.

{but can't find any more pictures. Just look at the interior of their house next time you watch}

I die every time I watch it. But then again I swoon at many things in this movie.

The music.
The dance scenes.
When Lizzy denies Darcy (such chemistry).
The costumes.
The sets.

Romeo and Juliet or Romeo + Juliet?

So I am taking a Shakespeare and Film class this semester. For our first essay we read the play, and watched the Zeffirelli and Lurhmann movies to compare and contrast.

(I compared Mercutio's Queen Mab speech)

My question to you is: Which do you prefer?

(In case you are not familiar with the director's names, here is a picture from each)

Zeffirelli

Luhrmann

Personally? I prefer the one more focused on love instead of violence. Plus my head is spinning most of the time in Luhrmann's. Too. noisy.

It's kind of crazy how different these interpretations are. It's so cool to see how differently people respond to it and what you learn from each one though! I suppose that is what makes it good, right?

PS. This guy I know (but not really friends with) said a few weeks ago that he hates analyzing books and discussing themes and such. That it kills the stories. My heart died a little.

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!

Okay I'm not sure if that line will be in the movie, but I am going to go see the midnight premiere of Alice in Wonderland.

I'm not sure why though.... I know it's supposed to be when she is like older and returns or something, but I don't really get how it will be different. And for some reason I keep thinking that I will like Tim Burton movies. So I keep going to see them. And each time I sit there wondering what the heck I am witnessing and count down till it's over. Haven't liked a single one (except maybe nightmare before Christmas, but that may very well be because it was from my childhood) .

So, here's so hoping that this one will change my mind, open my eyes, and convert me to a Tim Burton fan!

I just love days like these

• Watching movies {She's the Man} and laughing at the corniness and ridiculousness of it.
• Baking chocolate chip cookies {but first eating the dough with spoons}
• Hanging out with an old friend on a cloudy winter day.

All we need is a fire.

PS. I'm totally getting an apicoectomy or "reverse root canal" where they go in through the top of my tooth. Meaning they will flip up part of my gum to reach the root. Cute, huh?

What's next America??

So first we stole The Office from Britain and made our own.

.... Okay I can't think of anything else we have stolen and made our own version of but I am pretty sure there are some.

So I was at the movies the other day and saw this trailer.

Many of you have probably seen it already, but have you seen this?

Personally, I like hearing their accents in the original. I will probably still watch the newer version, but really, it won't hold a candle to the British one in my book.

Plus, it has Matthew MacFadyen from my beloved Pride and Prejudice. 

(Which may have been why I watched this movie in the first place.)

PS. The movie is pretty good, but does have some drug use and nudity and 

profanity and some pretty gross scenes that had me gagging.

Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis

I watched this a few days ago for the first time. Apparently I really liked it because I am still constantly singing

"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis.
Meet me at the fair..."

and that's all the words I know. But it's quite catchy.

Meet Me In St. Louis ("Meet Me...

But now, I must go write a little because I am nearly 10,000 words behind in Nanowrimo.



PS. Did you guys know that "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was originally sung in this movie?!

Wind wind wind

Anyone else hope imagine that when the wind is blowing your hair in every direction that you look like Pocahontas??


What I'm talking about is near the 2 min mark...





Just me? Alright.




PS. I promise to lay off the videos for a bit after this.

Paper Heart

Whenever fall rolls around, I am ready to cozy up and enjoy the cooler weather.

And nothing makes me want a buddy to get all cozy with more than love songs and cute movies. I cannot believe I never saw the previews for Paper Hearts before this as it came out in August, but I would really like to see it. Have any of you seen it? Lemme know if I should take it off my netflix.

Paper Heart Trailer
by ThePlaylist

...and thanks to my fellow blogger La Jeune Marie (who's blog is quite cute)  I have discovered my new favorite singer, Meiko.

My favorite so far is:


Have any favorite love songs? What was the first song you danced to with your husband (or most memorable moment with a song playing)?

Now I'm off to listen to some sappy songs and wish for someone to them with.

Edith Piaf

My first experience of Edith was in the movie La Vie en Rose. It's quite amazing, and if you haven't seen it, I recommend you do. She had an amazing life, so many hardships and never gave up fighting.

Though I love the movie, her music is even more amazing! I totally feel more cultured when I listen to her It's really inspiring, and makes me want to sing along really loud!

If you don't know any of her songs, my favorites are "Milord" "Rien de rien" and "Padam Padam" and I could probably name off like ten more, but those are pretty amazing.

PS. I should *probably* think of a different adjective than amazing

Frankly my dear,

watching Gone with the Wind for a History of Film class, doesn't seem much like work to me.

Of course writing the paper on it might be a little more work. Well worth it though.

PS. Quite a seductive pose for the 1930s isn't it?