Movies: Month in Review {January 2017}
Hello, all! I hope you're having a splendid Saturday <3
I really enjoyed writing my previous "month in review" post, so I decided to try to keep a record of this past month's new cinematic experiences, too :)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
I actually quite enjoyed this one, which kind of surprised me since I have to be "in the right mood" for the first Alice movie, and I'm not a big Alice in Wonderland fan in general. But this movie was really fun and clever :) I especially loved the character of Time. He was cool. And there were so many familiar faces in the movie! Richard Armitage and Hattie Morahan made appearances, and it was simultaneously exciting to see them and also a little . . . weird. Like, "should they be playing in an Alice in Wonderland movie?" It was also funny to see Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter opposite each other, because Les Mis :-P
Some of the lines were extremely quotable: *walks into room and extends hand* "PWESENT!" ~ "Earthquake. HAHAHA!" ~ "How was it?" "The world?" "Yes." "Most interesting. You should visit it sometime." ~ "Well, thank you for your you." "What?" "Thank you for your time."
Ben-Hur (2016)
Well, *I* liked this one, but I hear that I may be in the minority in that. Apparently it ends rather drastically differently than the book? I haven't read the book (though I do want to one day), so I couldn't say whether it is or it isn't. Anyway, the movie certainly had its flaws, but overall I thought it was compelling and touching and well-done and all that.
I really enjoyed writing my previous "month in review" post, so I decided to try to keep a record of this past month's new cinematic experiences, too :)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
I actually quite enjoyed this one, which kind of surprised me since I have to be "in the right mood" for the first Alice movie, and I'm not a big Alice in Wonderland fan in general. But this movie was really fun and clever :) I especially loved the character of Time. He was cool. And there were so many familiar faces in the movie! Richard Armitage and Hattie Morahan made appearances, and it was simultaneously exciting to see them and also a little . . . weird. Like, "should they be playing in an Alice in Wonderland movie?" It was also funny to see Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter opposite each other, because Les Mis :-P
Some of the lines were extremely quotable: *walks into room and extends hand* "PWESENT!" ~ "Earthquake. HAHAHA!" ~ "How was it?" "The world?" "Yes." "Most interesting. You should visit it sometime." ~ "Well, thank you for your you." "What?" "Thank you for your time."
Well, *I* liked this one, but I hear that I may be in the minority in that. Apparently it ends rather drastically differently than the book? I haven't read the book (though I do want to one day), so I couldn't say whether it is or it isn't. Anyway, the movie certainly had its flaws, but overall I thought it was compelling and touching and well-done and all that.
Die Hard (1988)
So that . . . happened. Ahem. Don't judge me :-P My brother wanted to show it to me, guys! "I'm a good girl, I am." ;-P
I'm not even sure how to talk about this . . . I guess just that it's telling when, in a movie about terrorist-y people, more F-bombs are dropped than any other kind. (Seriously. It felt like the F-word was used in colorful variations nearly every other word.) And, of course, the violence and all. Needless to say, my mom and I were doing this a lot:
 |
| I FINALLY GOT TO USE THIS GIF. I FINALLY GOT TO USE THIS GIF. |
But I think what disturbs me most is that I kind of liked it.
Pollyanna (1960)
I feel a little silly saying this, but FEELINGS THOUGH. LEGIT FEELINGS. This was a darling, thoroughly enjoyable movie :) I read an abridged Illustrated Classics version of the book when I was younger, but now I want to read "the real deal," dontcha know ;D
The Man from Snowy River (1982) & Return to Snowy River (1988)
Umm . . . let's just say that there were things I liked about these movies and others that I did not like so much. For one thing, DA HECK WAS THAT WITH THE DEMON/WEREWOLF HORSE HERD???? Those eerie full-moon shots? I don't understand. However, I have to admit that the scenery in these movies was S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. And the music is definitely up to snuff, too. Like, buy-worthy :D And the relationships were pretty good, too.
Oh, and I watched about an hour and a half of Free State of Jones (2016), which . . . may or may not have been a good idea.
Did you discover any new movies this month? Have you seen any of these? What did you think of them?
Hee hee, I can't get over yours and your mother's "reaction" to Die Hard-! I can SOOO picture you two making those expressions. :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, yes xD Thanks for the comment, Éowyn! It made me happy :)
DeleteWHERE DID YOU FIND THAT PICTURE OF POLLYANNA?!! That is so pretty!! :D I'm glad you enjoyed the movie. I really like that one, too. I don't think I've ever read the book the whole way through, but I have read bits of it. (I didn't like is as much as the movie.)
ReplyDeleteOh yes. The Man from Snowy River. That's one that fell rather flat for me, I'm afraid.
Those Alice through the Looking Glass quotes sound really fun. :)
I realize I'm going kind of out of order here, but have you ever seen the older version of Ben Hur? With Charlton Heston? Just curious to know how the two compare in your mind (if you have seen the old one). As for me, I grew up on the Charlton Heston version so I have a feeling I'm going to be pretty hard to please when it comes to the new one. If I ever watch it. :P
This was a really fun post, Olivia! I enjoyed it. And I think this is a marvelous way to keep track of the movies you watch each month! :)
On Pinterest! I seem to recall I was scrolling for quite a while, though :) It is pretty, isn't it?! Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it -- 'twas adorable :)
Delete*whispers* Same. But don't tell the others. Actually, I did like it, but there were some aspects of it that I didn't :-/
They're really quite fun :D
I have not, to my shame, but I understand it's remarkable. Haha, yes, I'm sure I would have been skeptical if I had read the book/watched the classic version, too xD
Thanks! I'm enjoying them, too . . . we'll see how long they last :) Hope you're having a great day, my beautiful friend!
Man from Snowy River is the best one out of the two!! and we did the music in Orchestra ISN'T IT GREAT?! =D
ReplyDeleteAlso I've been to the Snowy Mountains and it is GORGEOUS.. anyway I'll stop.. hehe
That GIF is perfection and a perfect place to use it! Also no worries at all for inviting you to pin on that board, I'm glad you're liking it!
Oooh, that must have been fun!! Yes, I remember being really impressed with the music :D
DeleteAAAAAAHHH EVIE THAT IS SO COOL. #sortofjealous #notreally #butmaybe
Haha, thanks! Yeah, that board is a real lifesaver :)
I love these monthly movie round-ups!! :-) They're so much fun!
ReplyDeleteSooooooooooooooooooooooooo, this month, I saw two new movies--both (coincidentally) animated: "Moana" and "Cars." "Moana" was AMAZING (I know we've talked about this ;-) ) and "Cars" was actually really cool! It felt very "homelike" to me because it's all about cars, and racing, and my family (not my parents, but my extended family) have been involved in racing for a REALLY long time . . . so it was a familiar environment, a familiar storyline; and I very much appreciated seeing it dealt with so lovingly :-)
Side note: I just got a new Ann Rinaldi novel ("Wolf By the Ears") from the library and it looks REALLY GOOD and I'm super stoked :-)
P.S.: The CTM gif killed me ;-)
DeleteThank ya! :D
DeleteOKAY BUT THE SONG YOU RECOMMENDED FROM MOANA. That is all.
Awww, Cars is a cute movie, isn't it? I should re-watch it one of these days . . . oh, wow, I didn't know that about your family! That's, like -- really cool 0_0
EEEEEEEKKK, I need to keep my eyes open for that one . . . Ann Rinaldi, though <3
p.s. I know right xD
I KNOW. I didn't even tell you about the very best song on the soundtrack because it's super, super spoiler-ish. But sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
DeleteIt is, rather! I'm proud of them ;-)
"WOLF BY THE EARS" IS SO SO SO GOOD. I'm like 2/3 of the way through and I absolutely love it. Ann Rinaldi is such a genius. You need to read it too so's we can fangirl ;-)
Well, thank you! I really should try to see it . . .
DeleteHehe, I probably would be, too ;)
I AGREE. Okie dokie, I'll keep my eyes open :D
Oh, Olivia, you must read "the real deal" Pollyanna! =D But I would definitely suggest that you watch the BBC version of Pollyanna, too as it stays much closer to the book. We read the book first and were kind of disappointed with what we saw of the Disney version. It's a fine movie, and Haley Mills is a lovely Pollyanna, but I do wish that they would have kept it more true to the book. :/ Anywho... guess that's what I get for reading the book first. :P
ReplyDeleteHaha! Apparently it's QUITE different from the book . . . I suppose we'll have to see which I like better if/when I get the other versions watched/read ;) Hehe, I guess so :P
DeleteOh yes, and new movies I've discovered this past month? Well (and you probably already know this ;D) I watched Mirror Mirror and the new Cinderella movie, which I enjoyed very much! ^_^
ReplyDelete(Also, what is that gif that you finally got to use from? xD)
Eeeek, yes! I'm so happy you liked Mirror Mirror and Cinderella :D :D
DeleteHeeehee, it's from the TV show Call the Midwife :)
I desperately want to see the Free State of Jones!
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty well done! It wasn't exactly what I expected and I didn't exactly love it, but it was quite adequate ;)
DeleteI am so jealous right now!! I have seen zip of these though I really want see them. I'm so glad you got to see them!!! I don't think I could watch Alice through the Looking Glass because I love the book because it is about chess (I love chess!), and the movie is about time, plus it has Richard Armitage is in it and I can only EVER see him as Guy of Gisborne and Thoirn Oakenshield. But then you put that picture there which makes me want to see it any way!!!
ReplyDeleteMovies I watched? Um, I saw Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams is so funny!), And Kubo and the Two Strings which was really sweet.
Is that Hallie Mills? Now I really want to see that.
I love these little reviews! They are so much fun!!! Plus I know what to watch so we're on the same page. ;)
Haha, that's okay! Yeah, apparently Alice through the Looking Glass is a bit different . . . honestly it was cool to see Richard in it but it was also a little weird because it's Alice in Wonderland, after all xD
DeleteOh, cool! I need to get around to watching Mrs. Doubtfire sometime, and I've never heard of the other one. What's it about?
Yep! She's really cute :)
Aww, thank you! Haha one and the same ;D
Yeah, now that I think about it, he would probably be a good character!
DeleteIt is about this boy, Kubo, who can make origami by playing his mandalin. It is very cool!!!
Yep, they're great!! ;D
Yep, he was! But it was still kind of strange :P
DeleteOoh, that does sound cool! So is it like a fantasy, or . . . ?
Yes, it is. It has a weird feel to it, but it is such a sweet story.
DeleteI have seen Polyanna, only then a other Polyanna!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that gif from CTM! It's great! I love Chummy in CTM! She's so funny!
I haven't seen any of the other movies and currently don't have anything that I have watched lately, except for Gilmore Girls(which is absolutely a MUST see if you like to laugh).
Loved the post!
Oh, cool! There seem to be a lot of versions :D
DeleteChummy is the BEST, isn't she? xD
GILMORE GIRLS. YAAAAASS.
Thanks!
I'm so glad you saw the Pollyanna movie! It's so sweet. :) And while I'm not dissuading you from reading the book, I have to mention that I didn't care for it at all, compared to the movie. :/
ReplyDeleteTwo more things-the Charlton Heston version of Ben Hur is AMAZING but I haven't seen the newer version, so I have no thoughts on that. :P And that gif is hysterical! :)
It really is! Haha, yes, "I hear such different accounts of [the book vs. the movie] as to puzzle me exceedingly." :D
DeleteThat's what I've heard; I really need to try to watch it! Haha I know, I love it xD
Hello. Me again. I just tagged you at my blog, so if you're in the mood to answer a bunch of random questions, here they are! (Haha.)
ReplyDeletehttp://marchramblings.blogspot.com/2017/02/sunshine-blogger-award.html
Haha, thank you! I really enjoyed the tag :)
DeleteHhmmm, I must say that I really hated Through the Looking Glass, maybe that was because I watched it on the second leg of a 14 hour flight and was exhausted, but it really didn't give me the same delight the first movie had.
ReplyDeleteBen Hur! I LOOOOOOOOVED this movie very, very much. I've gotten about a third into the book and despised every moment of it, which is odd, because I like old books and usually don't allow myself to stop even if I hate it, but I stopped in Ben Hur the book.
OH MY GOODNESS! *yells Polllllly-aaaaana the way that obnoxious little boy does* Wow I haven't thought about that movie in ages. I mostly hate it but because I grew up with it I kinda like it at the same time :P
Well now I want to go binge watch movies all night, thanks a lot :)
Well, that might do it, hehe :-P
DeleteHuh, that is odd! I'm interested to see what the book is like xD
Hahahaha, that makes sense, mostly hating something but kind of liking it, too. We've all been there :D
Anytime ;)
I actually went to see Alice with my mom and sister so it's one of my favorites from 2016.
ReplyDelete2016 was the year for good movies but this year we still get Beauty and the Beast plus Satr Wars so....
Yes, where did you find that Pollyanna picture? It's so sweet
Awwwww, that's so sweet! It'd probably be one of my favorites in such a case, too :D
DeleteTrue, true! In fact, one of my friends and I are hoping to take our moms to see BatB when it comes out, so that'll be fun :)
Pinterest! You just have to scroll for a bit, I think :D
Olivia, cool post! The Man from Snowy River has been my favorite movie since I was 3, and I gave birth to all 3 of my kids while listening to its soundtrack, but at the same time... not a perfect movie. The sequel, however, is utterly meh. Blah. So disappointing.
ReplyDeleteDie Hard is great fun, aside from all the cussing.
Haven't seen the new Ben-Hur cuz the trailers all looked ishy, and I love the Charlton Heston version so much, I probably would have just been annoyed. Book is excellent, though!
I quite like Hayley Mills. Need to show Pollyanna to my kids one of these days.
Thanks, Hamlette! Oh, that's so cool -- the music was awesome! Heehee, I didn't mind the sequel up until a certain point, and Then I Minded. But anyway. Long story :P
DeleteHaha, basically.
Fair enough -- I don't think that I would have liked the new movie if I'd seen the CH version/read the book beforehand :P
Yes, she's a pleasant actress to watch. I've only seen her in this and That Darn Cat!, but I quite enjoy her films :)
Ohh... I was creeped out by the trailer for "Alice Through the Looking Glass" by I guess looks can be deceiving? :P Haha, some of those quotes sound funny, though!
ReplyDeleteWell, I for one enjoyed Ben-Hur too. *nods head approvingly* The Charlton Heston one is still my favourite, but it had it's good points (and it's bad points, I must admit). ;)
HAHAHA THAT CALL THE MIDWIFE GIF HAHAHAHAHA.
POLLYANNA!!!! <3 <3 <3 I grew up with this movie!!! I love it - it's THE BEST. :D I enjoyed it more than the book, haha. (Although, I haven't read the book since... I have no idea when.) When my Daddy was a little boy, (he often tells the story) the first crush he ever had was on Hayley Mills, when he saw her play the role of Pollyanna. Haha. AWW. XD
Man From Snowy River! Well, I like it 'cause it's Aussie. ;) Although I haven't seen it for ages. Jessica always annoyed me, though. And yeah, some parts are a bit boring. The second one was 'bleh.'
A new movie I've seen RECENTLY... umm... Far and Away? :D I really liked it! Some parts were - ahem - a bit unnecessary, but I did enjoy it very much, and I'd definitely watch it again. Also, I saw La La Land, and LOVED it! I've been in a bit of a dreamy mood from it... it makes me want to see it again. *dreamy sigh*
Great post!
~Miss Meg
Haha, well, as with the first one, it IS a bit weird/disturbing :P But yes, I'd say it's enjoyable!
Delete*high fives* We will stand together to support the new Ben-Hur :D Though I do want to see the CH version.
I KNOW RIGHT. I was so happy that I finally found an excuse to use it :D
Awwwww! It really is SO cute and sweet and happy and unexpectedly-feelsy. Dawwww, that's such a cute story of your dad's xD
Yes, indeed! Hehe, she didn't bother me too much, but all of the characters certainly had their moments, let us say :P
You saw Far and Away?!?! Happiness! *sigh* That is such a good movie -- despite, as you mention, it's unnecessary bits :P Oh, La La Land! I'm kind of torn -- I reeeeaaaaallly wanted to see it at first, but then I read up on the ending and now I'm kind of like, "No." But we'll see, I guess xD
Thanks, dear!
Alas, I've seen none of those (yet).
ReplyDeleteAbout the new Ben-Hur, I have never read the book, but I've seen the original film a couple of times and that was pretty good. So I'll give the new one a try whenever I feel like stopping my television binges.
I really want to see the original; maybe I'll try to read the book first and then watch it? Haha, I understand about television binges ;D
DeleteEek! I want to see Through the Looking Glass so bad!!! JOHNNY DEPP!!! Though I was confused because I recently read the book and Time was not in it at all????
ReplyDeleteYou totally piqued my interest for Ben-Hur when you said they changed it from the book! :) I HATED THE BOOK. So if they changed it... I might like it! :)
Haha, yeah, apparently 'tis a bit different from the book :P But it's loads of fun!
DeleteOh, my! And here I was thinking the book was awesome . . . I guess we'll have to see what my opinion of it is whenever I get around to reading it! xD
Erg, I need to watch it!!!
DeleteYeaaahhh... I didn't think so, but that's just me. :) I would love to hear what you think of it if/when you read it!
I shall try to let you know if and when it happens! :D
Delete