Notting Hill

This being my last blog, I decided to use it on a very special movie. Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. A chance encounter brings together reserved bookstore owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) and Hollywood icon Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), who forge an improbable romance until Anna’s mega-stardom begins whittling away at their relationship. Can their love overcome all the pretense — and the flash of the paparazzi? Rhys Ifans co-stars in a scene-stealing turn as Spike, William’s dim-bulb, bedraggled flatmate.

This is just such a beautiful love story that anyone can fall in love with. One of my favorite lines from this film is when Julia Roberts character comes up to Hugh Grant and says, “I’m just a girl. Standing in front of a boy. Asking him to love her.”

So simple and breath taking that you can’t help but love it.

***** 5 Stars

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

Now I’ve tried to stay away from Harry Potter just because I am so completely and totally biased towards them. I love them. Since I was a kid and have read the books, seen all the movies and can quote most of the lines better than the actors themselves.

But tonight, Part 2 of the Deathly Hallows came on and I couldn’t resist talking about it.

It is recommended that you watch Part One before Part Two, but that’s you’re own choice. The beginning is just so quiet, and eerie as Harry, Ron and Hermoine set off to destroy the remaining horcruxes to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

After their Gringotts Bank encounter, You-Know-Who know’s what the trio are now after. It is very dark and sinister and there is only one scene I will warn you about.

Every single time that I see what happens in Snape’s life, meeting Lily, how she fell in love with James, how he found her body after she died, and how he looked at Harry and saw only Lily’s eyes makes me cry. Then when he cast’s a spell to show his patronous, it’s of a doe. The same as Lily’s. When Dumbledore asks, “After all this time?” Snape answers, “Always.”

There was a twitter quote that talked about that moment. It said “J.K. Rowling told a better love story in one chapter than Stephanie Myers did in 4 books”. Which I whole heartily agree.

I will not say that these movies are the best in the world. That’s asking for too much. I will say it’s the best series in the world. The best on going, fan committed, family based movie that I think anyone has seen in long time.

The next to beat will be the Hunger Games. You can quote me on that.

***** 5 Stars

Thor

First, I must say that I am a girl who loves super hero movies. Genuinely, they’re not half bad. Depending on which comic book they’re portraying, I think most of the heroes and villains are accurate toward the comics.

Today, however, I am saddened by the portrayal of Thor. Everyone knows the story of the God of Thunder…except in this movie, he’s a “jock” type. The kind no one wants to even like in a movie or in real life. He’s pompous, arrogant, and just selfish. No wonder his father sends him hurtling to earth as banishment. I would have done it earlier if only to teach him a lesson.

Then the fact that a woman of all people is what teaches him what to be a man is really like. Ugh. Yes, it is a movie and I’m slightly confusing reality with fiction but this is just unconventional.

Besides that Thor was only on earth for 2 DAYS and he learned his lesson in that amount of time is just beyond ridiculous.

I’m sorry, I’m being rather cruel towards this movie, but I couldn’t stand it. Also the fact that all the girls loved Thor and said that I would too.

** 2 Stars

 

She’s The Man

This movie is one of my personal favorites partly because it stars Amanda Bynes and the story line is phenomenal. Based on Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night” Amanda Bynes is Violet who disguises herself as her brother and attends Illyria high school to play soccer on the boys team after her team is cancelled due to lack of funds.

The movie is clever and witty in every sense of the word. Her mannerisms as a “boy” are freakish (in a good/funny sort of way) and slightly over the top which is the style of acting Amanda Bynes.

I love the subtle references to Shakespeare in the movie, for example the name of the spider Marvolo which is one of the characters in the play, and the quote from the actual play “Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. And some have greatness thrust upon them”.

Also the lines in the movie are just so quotable it’s the most amusing part of the whole movie. Almost anything that Violet says can be related to in a group of close knit friends who have seen the movie.

I suggest that if you like this movie, you would also like Napoleon Dynamite.

***** 5 Stars

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

At the time of it’s release, this Disney classic has been called a Masterpiece. As a child watching this movie, I never really understood the lessons this movie was teaching to children. It asks the question, “what makes a real monster and what makes a man?” regarding Quismodo or Frollo, his evil guardian.

It brings to light that though someone is different on the outside, it’s really the inside that counts.

I’m in love with the fact that as an adult, I can still find enjoyment out of this type of movie. The lessons never get old, every moment is unforgettable and it’s defiantly something that everyone in the family can enjoy.

At the urging of his hilarious gargoyle pals, Victor, Hugo and Laverne, Quasimodo defies his evil guardian Frollo and ventures from his tower to the joyous Festival of Fools below. But the crowd turns cruel and rejects him because of the way that he looks. The city turns into a disaster as Frollo searches for the mysterious Esmeralda (voiced by Demi Moore) and it’s up to Quasimodo to save everyone and the city he loves.