Movies: Months in Review {March & April 2020}
Emma. (2020) ● PG [should be PG-13, lol]
I'm going to be talking more about this in another post, so I'll leave it at this:
I like it very much. Fight me. 😛
Howards End (2017) ● TV-14
*scratches head* This was . . . this was . . . weird? I . . . I have confusion. The cast was fantastic (especially Hayley Atwell), but the story was . . . ? As has been stated, a head-scratcher.
Literally, Right Before Aaron (2017) ● TV-14
This was sublimely awful. I loved watching it.
[I actually did a whole rant review of it in video format and sent it to some friends. It's too long to embed here, but if you're interested in seeing it, give me a shout and maybe I'll be able to email it to you. 😄]
Set It Up (2018) ● TV-14
Awwww, I loved this. There was more sexual content in it than I expected after reading reviews, so that was an unpleasant surprise, but it was still adorable, with (mostly) good messages and good resolution.
AND CHARLIE AND HARPER?? Get out of here.
The Best of Enemies (2019) ● PG-13
It's tricky, giving a two-sentence review of historical dramas. They're among the highest caliber of films, so "It was excellent" feels glib and unoriginal. But one runs out of words to describe them, especially because it's difficult to convey why they're so worthwhile beyond a blank recitation of the social facts ⎼ which most people can gain just as easily and more accurately from an Internet synopsis, anyway. You need to experience them for yourself.
The Sound of Silence (2019) ● unrated? [can't find the rating online; I'd probably rate it PG]
This movie didn't do absolutely everything I wanted it to do, but I haven't really stopped thinking about it since I watched it, which is usually a good sign. It's thought-provoking (clearly), and it has a startlingly unique atmosphere. I'm looking forward to watching it again.
The Switch (2010) ● PG-13
Let's get this out of the way right now: THIS MOVIE HAS A VERY SKETCHY PREMISE. 😂 I know this. I concede this. But, from clips I'd seen, I thought it would also have enough genuine sweetness and humor to make it worth the watch.
Aaaaand . . . it did, kinda. It also had a LOT of cheesiness 😶, but I think I'll watch it again. [Jeff Goldblum's character is A Treasure™.]
I like it very much. Fight me. 😛
Literally, Right Before Aaron (2017) ● TV-14
[I actually did a whole rant review of it in video format and sent it to some friends. It's too long to embed here, but if you're interested in seeing it, give me a shout and maybe I'll be able to email it to you. 😄]
Set It Up (2018) ● TV-14
AND CHARLIE AND HARPER?? Get out of here.
The Sound of Silence (2019) ● unrated? [can't find the rating online; I'd probably rate it PG]
The Switch (2010) ● PG-13
Aaaaand . . . it did, kinda. It also had a LOT of cheesiness 😶, but I think I'll watch it again. [Jeff Goldblum's character is A Treasure™.]
What have you watched lately?
Any recs?
The new Emma is a delight and a treasure and I shall not be accepting criticism of this position at this time. xD
ReplyDeleteBill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse, tho ... "i tHINK I FELT A COLD DRAFT."
Cheers to that, mate!
DeleteOoh, you saw Emma!!! 👏🏻 I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts! 😉
ReplyDeleteOn a whim I watched the first two episodes of Belgravia a couple days ago; I don’t love it, but I would like to see how everything unfolds in the last two episodes. 😉
I started watching The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and I have about 2/3 of the last episode left to watch—it is so good. 👌🏻
I also watched Little Women 2019 twice last week. 😁
And I’ve been really wanting to see S&S 2008 again lately. <3
I did! Aww, thanks. ;)
DeleteAh, I've been vacillating about Belgravia. Do I want to see it, or do I not? xD The real questions, haha.
Ahhh, yay! I'd be interested in your thoughts when you finish, if you want to share them! ;D
YES GIRL. :D
OOH CHILD. I will always support seeing S&S '08 again. Frabjous movie, that. ;D
Ps: I love the new blog look + profile photo! 😍
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! :D <3
DeleteI haven't seen any of these, but the new Emma looks fun! Oh, and yes, I now want to hear your review of Literally, Right Before Aaron! :)
ReplyDeleteNew blog look!!! It's so pretty and springy!!!
It is fun, I think!
DeleteHaha okay! Do you have an email address you prefer?
Awww, thank you!! I'm glad you like it. :D
Yeah, here it is: queen13movies@gmail.com
Delete:)
I watched those first two as well! I liked Emma - not as much as the Romola Garai version, but it was definitely a visual treat and entertaining. :) Howards End was really strange IMO. I enjoyed the production values and costumes and acting, but the story made me upset, haha. Glad it wasn't just me that was confused!
ReplyDeleteCool! Yes, Howards End left me and my parents a little perplexed. We were trying to glean the "point" of the story and had difficulty. xD Nope, definitely not just you!
DeleteWell... I'm not going to see the new Emma because the Romola Garai version is priceless and perfection itself. But I would like to read a post of your thoughts on it!!
ReplyDeleteIt's most definitely not for everyone! xD Thanks! :)
DeleteYour new blog look is so pretty! I just saw The Best of Enemies and I was surprised at how good it was. And making a story that deals with the KKK during segregation without violence can be difficult, but they did it very well.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Yes, TBoE was excellent. I know, I was also relieved that there wasn't that much violence. Very solid movie.
DeleteO.o You LIKED the new Emma?? Now, I have not seen it. But???????? I am very much inclined to hate it, from what I've seen. :P But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOUR NEW BLOG LOOK, THOUGH. ♥
Yep, I loved it. I don't think you would like it at all, though. ;) Especially if the 2009 version is one of your favorite period dramas.
DeleteTHANK YOU. *beams*
Thank you, Natalie! I'm not the only one inclined to turn up my nose at the this new Emma! :) :) And you love the BBC Emma?? My absolute favorite version!!
DeleteI will say though, Olivia that that Emma video was quite hilarious! :) I suppose....I might see it if the opportunity presented itself.....that is with the full knoweledge that my alltime favorite Knightley will forever be Johnny Lee Miller! :) :) Love your new blog header - how do you create your headers?? Glad I saw the above about Howard's End as I had considered watching it, but am glad to be spared any weirdness! :) :)
DeleteKatherine, hehe, the new Emma is certainly not going to appeal to everyone, so I don't universally recommend it. I'd suggest researching the content and the intentions behind it before trying it. ;-P
DeleteAnd thanks so much! Right now I make my headers using this website called iPiccy. It's free (for now) and has a lot of options, so I like it. :) <3
Haha, glad to be of help! Yeah, Howards End isn't one I'd really recommend? I mean, it's not BAD, necessarily; it just didn't work for me. xD
Yes, there are way to many opinioned Austen fans out there to please with a new Emma......oh, yeah, I guess I'm one of them! Hee Hee! Thanks for the input!
DeleteI might have to check iPiccy out sometime - I just love your header layout! I'm using Canva for our headers and love it a lot!
Haha! You're welcome :D
DeleteAwww, thank you! <3 <3 Ooh, yes, I think I've used Canva at times, too!
So I've not heard of most of these movies. I'm going to have to pass on Emma, at least for now, because I love (much of) Emma 2009 and I still like the Kate beckinsale version, plus what I've heard of the new one, I think it would give me a stroke. Howard's End from what I've heard is not my thing.
ReplyDeleteI heard of none of the others. I'm curious to see Literally, Right Before Aaron, is it awful as in parody and funny or what exactly, your descriptions is intriguing?
I can't seem to get enough willpower to watch anything; I've collected a list of things to try, but that seems to be all I do.
Someone else who likes the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma! I am shocked and delighted. :D
DeleteHaha, yeah . . . Literally, Right Before Aaron is just bizarre. It's sort of billed as a rom-com, but really it's just about a really terrible guy trying desperately to win his ex-girlfriend back the weekend of her wedding to another man. It's a disaster. As far as I know, the main guy is supposed to be sort of sympathetic, which just makes the whole movie flop, in my opinion. :-P
Yeah, sometimes one just isn't feeling it.
The Kate Beckinsale version was my introduction to Emma, I didn't realize until later everyone meant the Gwyneth Paltrow (worst of the three I've seen) version when they spoke of Emma, and hardly anyone liked/had seen the one I watched first.
DeleteIt's a sad thing. Everyone hates the Kate Beckinsale version (it seems). :( But I love it.
DeleteLiterally, Right Before Aaron tho XD
ReplyDeleteI still haven't seen the new Emma!! To be honest, I was rather deterred by the trailer and some of the remarks about it. The book is my favourite Jane Austen story and I absolutely love the 2009 version, so I don't really need a new one. But if I ever have the opportunity to watch it I'd give it a go. ;)
I don't know any of the others!
I've been re-watching a lot of films lately. I watched the 3rd Anne movie (the continuing story) with my little sister and it brought back all the feels. <3 I just "get" Anne on a soul level. Is it weird to say that those stories are part of me?
I watched a few musicals though! I saw a bootleg of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and also "Next to Normal". (I quite liked both, but the latter had a lot of swearing.) I also watched Bandstand twice and LOVED IT!! And I saw "Love Never Dies" (a filmed stage version of Australia's professional production a few years ago) which really Moved me in a deep way. Parts creeped me out somewhat, but some of it was SO beautiful. The "Love Never Dies" number was stuck in my head for days afterwards, and now I'm inspired to learn opera just so I can sing that song haha. XD
In March, I saw quite a few new movies! High School Musical (cheesy, but I liked it more than I thought I would! I think maybe the fact that the main girl is called Gabriella tickled me ;) And also baby Zac Efron, haha), Ladies in Black (a little yawn-worthy, but quaint, and I would watch it again), RV Runaway Vacation (a little painful to watch tbh xD), Jumunji (didn't think I'd like it but I ended up loving it! SO funny, oh my goodness! I haven't laughed that hard in a long time), and Bethany Hamilton's documentary "Unstoppable" (which I got to see in cinemas!). (That was a very inspiring watch - would recommend!)
Wow, there you go - weeks of isolation actually gives me time to watch more stuff. ;)
XD XD XD
DeleteI would suggest that diehard 2009 fans stay away from the new Emma. ;D It's really primarily going to appeal to people who like satirized versions of classics, I think? *shrugs*
It's not weird AT ALL to say that. At least, not to me, because I feel that, as you said, on a soul level. ;) We re-watched the 2nd Anne recently and it's given me a hankering to re-watch all of them again. :D
Bandstand! I was so excited to get to see that. What's your favorite number from that show? Mine is probably "Love Will Come and Find Me Again," but I also LOOOOOOOVE "Nobody". ;) And Love Never Dies! That show gives me STRUGGLES, because THE MUSIC IS SO STINKING FANTASTIC AND I WANT TO LOVE IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. (I mean, "Till I Hear You Sing"?? "Love Never Dies"?? "Once Upon Another Time"????? What the heck. So good.) But then I get hung up on the adultery angle and I'm just like, "eesh I don't know how to feel." *facepalm*
Oh, Ladies in Black has been on my radar for a while. I started it, haven't finished it yet, but probably will eventually. And my brother likes Jumanji a lot! From the few clips I've seen, I could see it being hilarious. ;D
Ahh, I STILL don't know what my favourite number from Bandstand is! It changes all the time, haha! I love "Love Will Come and Find Me Again", "Who I Was", "First Steps First", "Nobody", and "Welcome Home"... yeah, I can't answer that, sorry. xD
DeleteYeahhh, Love Never Dies was a real struggle for me, too. I mean, I kind of liked it that she didn't end up with either one of the two men, but at the same time, HELLO SHE WAS MARRIED, SHE KIND OF ALREADY MADE HER DECISION... it was just a little weird. But yess, the music is beautiful! <3 <3 <3