Stats: 1996. Starring Gwyneth Paltrow & Jeremy Northam. PG.
Background: I first watched Emma during my senior year of high school with my friend Kiel. We were supposed to go bowling with my youth group, but when we got to the bowling alley, no one we knew was there. (Turns out there were two bowling alleys in town, and they were at the other one.) So, we rented a movie instead … and I promptly fell asleep! A few years later, I watched Emma again and discovered that I really liked it.
Plot: Emma Woodhouse loves nothing more than helping others fall in love. She has one successful match, which leads her to believe she knows much about love. However, when she tries to find a husband for her new friend Harriet Smith, she realizes she may not be as skilled at matchmaking as she thought. And, of course, there’s Mr. Knightly, the man Emma loves—she just doesn’t realize it yet!
Reaction: A couple years ago, I saw the A&E version of Emma (starring Kate Beckinsale), and I thought it was superior to this version. Then in January, I saw the new BBC version, which I immediately deemed the best by a longshot. So when this Emma came up in the rotation, I actually dreaded watching it. I was pleasantly surprised! Jeremy Northam makes a fine Mr. Knightly—I remember not particularly caring for him before. I love how the viewer can see his burgeoning feelings for Emma, while Emma herself remains completely oblivious. Emma is not particularly likeable as portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow; she is at times petulant, stuck up, rude, and a know-it-all. Is that an accurate portrayal? I wouldn't know, as I've never actually read the book!
One thing hit me while watching this today: Perhaps the reason Emma can’t stand Mrs. Elton is that Mrs. Elton has some of the same undesirable traits that Emma herself has, only they’re exaggerated in Mrs. Elton!
I ended up borrowing my sister's copy of the Kate Beckinsale version, and I watched it shortly after watching this one ... and, wouldn't you know, my opinion changed! I vastly preferred this version to that one. Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that the Knightly of that version is played by the villain from the new Sherlock Holmes, and I found it difficult to root for him!
Verdict: Keep
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
#38 "Ella Enchanted"
Stats: 2004. Starring Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Hugh Dancy. PG.
Background: I can’t remember when I first saw Ella Enchanted. Here’s what I do remember, though: we gave the dvd to my youngest sister for her birthday. One night, my macho male cousin (who was probably 15 or 16 at the time) came over, and we ended up watching Ella Enchanted. He laughed through the entire movie, though he’d later deny that he enjoyed watching “that girl movie.” At some point, I ended up with a copy of my own.
Plot: Cinderella meets Robin Hood meets … Hamlet? The plot is an amalgamation of many stories, though it probably bears most resemblance to Cinderella. When Ella of Frell is a baby, she is given a “gift” by Lucinda, a wayward fairy—Ella must always be obedient. (Sleeping Beauty, anyone?) After Ella’s mother dies, her father marries a woman who has two daughters. The woman and her daughters are horrible to Ella. (Cinderella) Hattie, the oldest, is the president of Prince Char’s fan club. Of course, Ella and Char meet, and Char is immediately taken with Ella, which causes more strife between Ella and Hattie. Char’s uncle Edgar took over the throne after Char’s father’s death … which, naturally, was Edgar’s doing. Though Char is to be crowned, Edgar plans to have Char murdered. (Hamlet!) Edgar also has a snake henchman … can we say Disney’s Robin Hood?
In the end, Ella finds the strength to break her curse, Edgar’s plot is exposed, and Char & Ella marry. Cue the closing group dance! (On the movie’s soundtrack, Jesse McCartney replaces Hugh Dancy for this number. WHY???)
Reaction: Ella Enchanted it a really fun movie. I enjoy it every time I watch it. What bothers me each time, though, is that dear, sweet Westley from The Princess Bride is the bad guy! And if you think he’s bad here, just wait until we get to Kiss the Girls! Seriously, has Cary Elwes played another sympathetic role since The Princess Bride? I certainly haven’t seen it if he has! (If he has, I want to know--so leave it in the comments, please!)
Verdict: Keep
Background: I can’t remember when I first saw Ella Enchanted. Here’s what I do remember, though: we gave the dvd to my youngest sister for her birthday. One night, my macho male cousin (who was probably 15 or 16 at the time) came over, and we ended up watching Ella Enchanted. He laughed through the entire movie, though he’d later deny that he enjoyed watching “that girl movie.” At some point, I ended up with a copy of my own.
Plot: Cinderella meets Robin Hood meets … Hamlet? The plot is an amalgamation of many stories, though it probably bears most resemblance to Cinderella. When Ella of Frell is a baby, she is given a “gift” by Lucinda, a wayward fairy—Ella must always be obedient. (Sleeping Beauty, anyone?) After Ella’s mother dies, her father marries a woman who has two daughters. The woman and her daughters are horrible to Ella. (Cinderella) Hattie, the oldest, is the president of Prince Char’s fan club. Of course, Ella and Char meet, and Char is immediately taken with Ella, which causes more strife between Ella and Hattie. Char’s uncle Edgar took over the throne after Char’s father’s death … which, naturally, was Edgar’s doing. Though Char is to be crowned, Edgar plans to have Char murdered. (Hamlet!) Edgar also has a snake henchman … can we say Disney’s Robin Hood?
In the end, Ella finds the strength to break her curse, Edgar’s plot is exposed, and Char & Ella marry. Cue the closing group dance! (On the movie’s soundtrack, Jesse McCartney replaces Hugh Dancy for this number. WHY???)
Reaction: Ella Enchanted it a really fun movie. I enjoy it every time I watch it. What bothers me each time, though, is that dear, sweet Westley from The Princess Bride is the bad guy! And if you think he’s bad here, just wait until we get to Kiss the Girls! Seriously, has Cary Elwes played another sympathetic role since The Princess Bride? I certainly haven’t seen it if he has! (If he has, I want to know--so leave it in the comments, please!)
Verdict: Keep
Sunday, March 7, 2010
#37 "Double Jeopardy"
Stats: 1999. Starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. R.
Background: I first saw Double Jeopardy on television in the early 2000’s. Since then, I’ve caught bits and pieces on TV, but I never actually watched the dvd. I found Double Jeopardy packaged with Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider in Walmart’s $5 bin. As with Along Came a Spider, I forgot about this movie since it’s filed under “K” in my collection. About a month ago, I came across it and decided to watch it.
Reactions: Without a doubt, Double Jeopardy is an engaging story. When Libby’s husband Nick goes missing while they are sailing, she is charged with his murder and subsequently convicted. Her best friend agrees to raise her son while Libby is in prison; when the friend disappears, Libby discovers that Nick might not be as dead as she thought he was. After learning about double jeopardy, Libby devotes herself to physically preparing to confront Nick in the future; when she’s let out on parole, her quest begins.
While Double Jeopardy has the language problems that most R-rated films do, it’s otherwise pretty much PG-13 fare. However, there is one scene in the first ten minutes of the movie that I was completely unprepared for. Shortly after popping the movie into my dvd player, I went to the kitchen for a snack. When I came back to the TV, I walked into a pretty intense sex scene. Having only seen a network TV version before, I had no idea that would be there. A few years ago, I made the commitment to not own any movies with explicit sex scenes. So that makes my verdict easy …
Verdict: Sell (or throw away--I'm not sure if I'll keep the other two movies yet)
Background: I first saw Double Jeopardy on television in the early 2000’s. Since then, I’ve caught bits and pieces on TV, but I never actually watched the dvd. I found Double Jeopardy packaged with Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider in Walmart’s $5 bin. As with Along Came a Spider, I forgot about this movie since it’s filed under “K” in my collection. About a month ago, I came across it and decided to watch it.
Reactions: Without a doubt, Double Jeopardy is an engaging story. When Libby’s husband Nick goes missing while they are sailing, she is charged with his murder and subsequently convicted. Her best friend agrees to raise her son while Libby is in prison; when the friend disappears, Libby discovers that Nick might not be as dead as she thought he was. After learning about double jeopardy, Libby devotes herself to physically preparing to confront Nick in the future; when she’s let out on parole, her quest begins.
While Double Jeopardy has the language problems that most R-rated films do, it’s otherwise pretty much PG-13 fare. However, there is one scene in the first ten minutes of the movie that I was completely unprepared for. Shortly after popping the movie into my dvd player, I went to the kitchen for a snack. When I came back to the TV, I walked into a pretty intense sex scene. Having only seen a network TV version before, I had no idea that would be there. A few years ago, I made the commitment to not own any movies with explicit sex scenes. So that makes my verdict easy …
Verdict: Sell (or throw away--I'm not sure if I'll keep the other two movies yet)
Monday, March 1, 2010
I'm still alive ...
Some of you may be wondering, considering I've only posted once in the last two months! The reason for this lack of posting, speech (I coach the high school team), is nearly finished for the year, and I fully intend to continue with this project in the coming weeks. In fact, I've watched the next two movies; I just haven't had time to write about them yet!
So, continue to check the blog, as I'll be posting again soon!
So, continue to check the blog, as I'll be posting again soon!
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