Alphabet Movie Meme

Katy Rochelle from The Drama Llama came up with this fun little meme, chronicling a bunch of random opinions listed from A to Z. "As all alphabet memes go, each letter is a theme or question to answer about your love of the movies." 

So here goes nothing!

Anticipating Movie of 2014

 Pinocchio - Guillermo del Toro

When I first heard that Guillermo del Toro was creating a dark, twisted version of Pinocchio, I nearly leapt with excitement! His film Pan's Labyrinth is in my opinion one of the greatest movies ever made. It was dark, beautiful, mysterious, and always riveting. When I was a child, I found Pinocchio to be quite a frightening and upsetting movie. I couldn't imagine a better person to recreate this legendary tale, or a better company to bring the animation to life!

Book Adaptation I'd Love to See

Looking for Alaska - John Green

We've seen so many great teen movies over the past couple of decades. From 'Clueless' to '10 Things I Hate About You', from 'Mean Girls' to 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', each have had their own fantastically memorable imprint on the lives of many teenagers. It's time to give Looking for Alaska a go, because honestly, it's one of the most entertaining and original young-adult novels I've read.

Celebrity I'd Most Like to Meet

Glenn Close

What can I say? Glenn Close is my absolute favourite actress of all time. The first time I became acquainted with her work was in 101 Dalmations, where she played the devious Cruella de Vil. I fell in love with her then. The second film I saw of hers (many years later) was Albert Nobbs, where her subtle yet powerful performance broke my heart and moved me to tears. Then it came... the performance to end all performances. Her performance in Dangerous Liaisons is arguably the greatest that has ever graced the silver-screen. When she wipes her makeup off after her world has crumbled around her... it was just unforgettable. I've seen much more of her work since then, and I'd love to meet her so that I can just talk about everything at once! Who am I kidding? I'd probably scream and faint. 

Dream Director / Actor Pairing

Alfred Hitchcock and Kate Winslet

In my opinion, Hitchcock is the all time greatest director of thriller movies. What's more is that he is fantastic at creating some of the most villainous vixens to ever grace the screen. Kate Winslet on the other hand is the kind of actress that completely BECOMES her character. Not only is she drop-dead beautiful, she's one of the most talented actresses of all time. To see the master of suspense collaborate with Winslet, a master of character-crafting, would be one of the most legendary things I can think of. 

Essential Classic Film 

Casablanca - Michael Curtiz

As unoriginal as my choice is, I couldn't possibly think of a greater 'classic' than Casablanca. I'm not alone when I say that this is the greatest film ever made. It's in my top 10 all time favourite movies AND it is my Number 1 romance movie of all time. Why? Because it is perfect. The performances, the story, the dialogue, the cinematography, the music... it's nothing short of perfect. Can't beat this movie, it is the ultimate classic. 

Favourite Film Franchise 

Indiana Jones - Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

This was a no brainer. Indiana Jones is THE series that I can watch unlimited times and never get bored of. For a loooong time, my favourite film was Temple of Doom. Then I changed to Raiders of the Lost Ark. THEN I changed to The Last Crusade, which I still think is the best of the series (but of course it is subject to change). Also, screw the haters, I LOVED Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. People who go on about how 'this is impossible' etc. obviously pick and choose what inaccuracies to call out. Every single film has its unbelievable moments, which is why I just love this series so much. It's thrilling, funny, romantic, exciting, action-packed, pure-cinema gold!

Genre I Watch the Most

Drama (Duh!), Romance (Close-second)

I'm pretty sure that 80% of all the films ever made would fit into the category of 'drama,' which is why that would be the genre I watch the most by far! However, it is ROMANCE that captivates me, "heart and soul." I love the way it makes me nervous, gets me giddy with excitement, breaks my heart with tragic endings, and makes me sing with "they all lived happily ever after." It is my favourite genre, so I watch it often. However, the genre of drama is where the truest portrayals of the human condition lie, which is why I love it almost as much.

Hidden Gem

Millennium Actress - Satoshi Kon

Have you ever seen a movie so beautiful that the images and music alone can make you cry? Well Millennium Actress had that powerful effect on me. It touched my soul... words cannot describe the love I have for this film. This film deserves more attention than what it has received, and Satoshi Kon should be as widely recognised as the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. It's my favourite animated movie of all time, and a truly unsung gem of cinema. 

Important Moment In My Film Life

Ikiru - Akira Kurosawa

A man finds out he is dying of stomach cancer, and realises that he has wasted so much of his life. By the end of the film, he turns that around and achieves something that made a great difference to the community. Takashi Shimura's face when he looks upon his creation, is probably the most touching thing I've ever seen. This scene... the whole movie, taught me to seize the day, live life to the fullest, and above all, care for others above yourself. That is where you'll find you've truly lived up to your fullest potential. 

Just Right Movie for Rainy Day 

Bridget Jones's Diary - Sharon Maguire

From the moment the opening credits begin, and Renee Zellweger mimes the song "All by Myself," I feel so warm and fuzzy inside. Bridget Jones's Diary is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. The social commentary is hilarious, the acting is marvellous, the soundtrack is phenomenal, and the romance is ohhh sooo good. As far as modern adaptation's of Pride and Prejudice go, this one is the best. I love snuggling up on the couch and watching the ball of laughter that is Bridget!

Kiddie Movie I Still Shamelessly Enjoy 

The Wizard of Oz - Victor Fleming

This movie has such a powerful effect on me. It was my favourite film as a child, which means every single time I watch it... I get the same childish excitement and nostalgic feelings. I can't help but sing as loud as I can to every single song. I laugh like the wicked witch at all the corny and witty jokes these crazy characters reel off. Most of all, it brings me back to a peaceful time, where I had no troubles as a child... all I cared about was watching movies and eating packets of cheese (I freaking loved cheese).

Location I'd Most Like to Visit 

Seoul, South Korea

I am a huge fan of South-Korean cinema. I'm an even bigger fan of Korean Dramas (Romantic TV-series). I adore K-Pop, and I find their fashion both hilarious and beautiful. The language is awesome, and the people look awesome. Let's just say, I'm dying to visit this city! One day...

Marathon I First Attended - Disney

(I've never attended a cinema-marathon, so I'll go by my first home-movie marathon). 

I watched every notable Disney film to see what was the best of the best. Gosh, the nostalgia trip this blogathon took me on! I grew up with Disney, so I cried at like 50% of the movies. My conclusion: Best Picture: Beauty and the Beast; Best Leading Role: Mulan, Best Song: Colours of the Wind - Pocahontas; Best Villain: Maleficent - Beauty and the Beast, Most Emotional: The Lion King. 

Netflix Movie I Actually Watched (I used Quickflix instead)

The Lives of Others - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

This movie left me speechless and in tears. Ulrich Muhe gave an unforgettable, understated performance as "a good man." One of the true masterpieces from the 21st century, this film won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2007 Oscars. 

One Movie I Saw In Theatre More Than 5x 

(Never achieved this, but I re-watched the movie several times after buying the DVD)

Les Miserables - Tom Hooper

"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men." 

"I dreamed a dream in time gone by." 

"It is time for us all to decide who we are. Do we fight for the right to a night at the opera now."

"Till then, this I swear, this I swear by the stars." 

"On my own, pretending he's beside me." 

"And remember, the truth that once was spoken... to love another person is to see the face of God." 

I saw Les Miserables with my mother. By the time it finished, we were both drenched in tears, audibly sobbing at the back of the theatre. So embarrassing... but so rewarding.

Preferred Place to Watch a New Movie

I like them all for different reasons.

Cinema Pros: Great HD quality, nice atmosphere at times, submersing with the right film (i.e. Gravity)

Cinema Cons: Rambunctious crowds, easy to miss certain aspects of the film.

TV Pros: 'Pause, Play, Rewind (PPR).' Friend/Family atmosphere. 

TV Cons: Some movies are better on the big screen. (i.e. Life of Pi). 

Laptop Pros: Headphones = Better sound quality. Quiet atmosphere. Very submersing. 'PPR.'

Laptop Cons: Small screen, sometimes bad quality. Not as director intended for film to be seen. 

Quote That Inspires Me

Ruth Gordon - Harold and Maude

"A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E.    L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room."

Remakes: Friend or Foe?

They can either be the greatest of friends, or the most diabolical of foes.

Some remakes are truly fantastic films that stand-up on their own, one of the most notable being The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The absolute worst remake I've ever seen is The Omen (2006), which turned what I think is arguably the greatest of horror films into pure cinematic trash. So I'm on the fence with this one. It depends on how they adapt the source material really. 

Snack I Enjoy the Most 

M&M's

Ahh, you now know my greatest shame. Whenever I go to the movies, I must have M&M's. I like pop-corn, but it leaves me really thirsty and I always feel super sick afterwards. My substitute is the sickeningly-sweet, chock-full of fat, chocolatey-goodness that is M&M's. 

Twist That Boggled My Mind 

Oldboy - Chan-Wook Park

That twist man... so fucked up. My jaw hit the floor when the first twist was revealed. Just after I picked it up, another twist attacked! My jaw didn't stand a chance. It just fainted, and it stayed on the floor until the credits rolled. One of the craziest, most twisted movies I've ever seen. LOVE IT!

Unapolagetic Fanperson For 

Russell Crowe

I've heard him called the worst actor in Hollywood, to the most overrated actor of all time. I've heard countless people say he was terrible in Les Miserables, from friends to movie-bloggers. I wholeheartedly disagree with them. He is one of the greatest actors of all time. From humble beginnings in Australia, he played a young gay man in 'The Sum of Us,' (1994). From there he went on to Hollywood, and took the world by storm in L.A. Confidential (1997). He then went on to give a powerhouse performance in The Insider (1999), eventually winning an Oscar in 2000 for Gladiator. His greatest performance IMO was in 'A Beautiful Mind' (2001), where he played a complicated and fragile man. As for Les Miserables, I thought he sang terrifically. His rendition of 'Stars' is my favourite of all time. I love this man's talent, regardless of what others say. 

Very Excited For Award Show Season?

In a word: No

2013 has been such a disappointing year for me. There were some great films that came out, such as Gravity, Mud, Blue Jasmine etc. I'm just so disappointed that many independent films have been overlooked by the mass of online movie-bloggers, and all the major awards ceremonies. Upstream Colour, Adore, The Hunt, Frances Ha, The Past... all of these movies are either not major contenders, or have no hope of garnering any nominations. The thing that sickens me most is that Naomi Watts and Robin Wright's performances in 'Adore' are being completely ignored. I consider them the Best Actress and Supporting Actress performances of the year.

Am I excited? No. I've yet to see a few films that will be in contention, but none of them really pique my interest other than 12 Years a Slave. 

Wish I Never Watched

Spring Breakers - Harmony Korine

Many have praised this film for its subtle social commentary on the ridiculous ideals of stupid slutty teenage girls. Sure, I can see that. However, it happens to be one of the most excruciating cinematic experiences of my life. It's unbelievably slow, unforgivably repetitive, and in my opinion, one of the most irritating movies ever made. WE GET IT SELENA GOMEZ, YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN AND ESCAPE A NORMAL, BORING LIFE. YOU CAN STOP REPEATING YOURSELF NOW!

XXX Movie I Watched At a Really Young Age

The Thing - John Carpenter

I must have seen this movie over a dozen times. Many of those viewings occurred whilst I was under the age of ten. I wanted to act brave in front of my older siblings, so I sat down and watched this with them frequently. I DIDN'T ENJOY MYSELF AT ALL! This movie scared the absolute living crap out of me. I had terrible nightmares from it, one nightmare even included my mother turning into one of those 'things.' Now that I'm older, I can proudly say that this is the greatest horror movie of all time. I'll never forget the searing images from this underrated gem. 

Your Latest Movie Obsession 

LGBT cinema

I'm starting to explore LGBT cinema from all corners of the globe. From Britain to China, from the US to Australia, from the Philippines to France, from Canada to South Korea. I've enjoyed it every step of the way, for its such an under-explored subject in the world of cinema. It's interesting to see the director's take on same-sex attraction and transgender people, which is why I am currently obsessed with these movies. 

My expression was exactly the same as Leo's while I was watching The Great Gatsby. 

ZZZ - Catchers 

The Great Gatsby

For a film filled with parties, glitz, glamour, and romance, The Great Gatsby just left me utterly bored. Some people adore this film, and I'm happy for them. I can't help how I felt whilst watching this movie. I was so pumped to see it when I walked into the cinema, but I ended up leaving exhausted. I just found the characters, the relationships... just about everything so disengaging. It's definitely a film I could've slept through, had I not paid good money to see it!