The Beauty of Tuck Everlasting: Confessions of a Non-Book-Purist

The sweet earth opened out its wide four corners to her like the petals of a flower ready to be picked, and it shimmered with light and possibility till she was dizzy with it. 

~ Tuck Everlasting (Book)

Let me just dive right into the confessions:

• I watched and loved the movie many times over before I picked up the book.

• I adored both the movie and the book.

• I really don't mind that they were different from each other. 

• In fact, I love them both for being their own brilliant works.

I just finished reading Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt for the very first time the other night. It's an enchanting and strange little tale about a 10-year-old girl who speaks for so many growing-up hearts with her conflicting desires to explore the world and never leave the familiarity of home. It's also, of course, about the Tucks - an endearing family with a desire to belong...to Winnie, to the world, to life.

There's an innocence about the story that makes the profound questions and observations all the more powerful for the contrast.

The movie version shares many similarities in plot and distinct elements. But it's also an altogether different story experience. Miles is a heartbroken man "looking for wars to fight." Romance is a much more imminent possibility for teenage Winnie. And the Tuck family is more of a sober (but still entirely lovable) mystery.

You won't find answers about everlasting life in either version, at least in a direct fashion (although I believe the movie offers a beautiful hint), but you can find thought-provoking questions, as well as memorable words and portrayals of deep love and wise living. 

Some of my favorite lines from each to ponder...

Do not fear death. Fear the unlived life. 

(Movie)

She had done it because - in spite of everything, she loved them. This of all things her family understood, and afterward they drew together staunchly around her.

(Book)

Wake up with the dawn. 

(Movie)

You can't pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest. Being part of the whole thing, that's the blessing.

(Book)

I feel quite happy to have finally enjoyed the book! And I've started watching the movie again, because this story world...? It charms me and begs me to linger in a moment where time's wheel pauses and offers much-needed perspective on life, "shimmer[ing] with light and possibility."

***

Have you read or watched Tuck Everlasting? What struck you most about the story? 

If you've experienced both, were you OK with the movie being different from the book? Do you prefer one version over the other?

A Trick and a Treat: Cute Edition

Trick
For those of you who are tired of me posting cat pictures, I apologize! I just couldn't resist sharing this:

Yes, that's Muffin Man! 

I'm used to the silly cat climbing under my bedspread and taking a nap. But usually he does so after I've already made the bed.... Of course, one morning, not that long ago, when I didn't make my bed right away, he curled up in the blankets. Imagine my surprise when I went to make my bed, found it difficult to tug the sheets into place, and then promptly discovered a warm lump hidden in the covers! 

Tricky cat! But still, he's adorable...

Treat

Now, this treat is a little bit early in several ways - it came one day earlier than the estimated shipping date (hooray, Amazon.com!), and it came before Halloween (it's Christmas-themed)!

Love's Christmas Journey - finally on DVD!!

If you missed my review, you can read it HERE. It's been a year since this aired on TV, and after all the wondering and waiting, it is finally available to own on DVD! Looking forward to watching this cute Christmas addition to the Love Comes Softly series once again - minus the commercials! Definitely a treat for fans of the movie series. =)

For Halloween I hope to put together another "tricks and treats" post featuring my Kindle-book discoveries! Until then, do you have any fun "tricks" or "treats" you've received lately?

Re-reading vs. Re-watching: What is my problem??

Why is it that I can watch the same movie over and over again, but I have a difficult time picking up a book I've already read? I know there are people out there who talk about how they love a book so much, they've read it multiple times. And yet, I only re-read three books for the Contentment Reading Challenge 2011, and I haven't really re-read much else without being forced to do so.

So, what is my problem??

If it had to do with a loss of surprise (i.e.: I already know the whole plot, including the ending), then I wouldn't like to re-watch movies for the same reason. There are movies I've seen a gazillion times (give or take a time or two), and I still love them, despite the fact that I can quote them almost word-for-word (and annoy the people I'm watching with).

Perhaps part of it has to do with the time commitment. When I sit down to watch a movie, generally I'm devoting an hour and a half to two hours of my time. But when I sit down to read a book, it takes a lot longer, especially if I have to read between other commitments (we're talking days).

Another big part of it has to do with greediness and the book-reviewer syndrome. You know what I'm talking about, right?? There are so many great, new books coming out all the time!! And my TBR stack just keeps getting bigger and bigger... Why re-read books when you have so many new ones you haven't even read once?

*Sigh* I sound so spoiled! I mean, how blessed am I to have so much reading material??

I think if I took the time to consider what would cause me to re-read a book - and if I reminded myself how many wonderful books I have read - maybe I would be encouraged to re-read more and not be so enamored with the new. (Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying new, unread books! I just want to understand the pleasures of re-reading more.) Worth a try, I hope!

Re-watching and Re-reading

• The Favorite Scenes - You know those scenes that make you sigh with delight, or feel warm and fuzzy inside, or make you cry, or make you gasp? It's fun to re-watch and re-read scenes like those! Unfortunately, that kind of makes up most of my re-reading - going back and just re-living those favorite scenes. So while they're great and can inspire return visits to the story, I think this is one I have to beware of, because in and of themselves those scenes don't always help me re-read the whole book. The favorite scenes have to be combined with other qualities...

• The Music - In a movie, the music really can make a big difference. And it's not just the soundtracks with lyrics (although I enjoy those, too!). Consider the BBC Sherlock series, or Kate & Leopold, or Tuck Everlasting, or How to Train Your Dragon. The music sets the scene and draws you in emotionally. I think the books that I would be more inspired to re-read are the ones that have a certain "music" to them - those books that are well-written and have their own unique, engaging style that makes me feel involved in the story and intrigued by the way the author strings words together. 

• The Setting - It's the place you want to re-visit. Like beautiful Ireland in Leap Year or New Orleans in The Princess and the Frog or Radiator Springs in Cars. 

• The Dialogue - My family and I kind of have our own language, and you'd have to have seen a lot of random movies in order to get it. You see, we quote movies all the time. I'm not sure this comes off quite the same in books (after all, you're reading it, not hearing it). But still - some great dialogue can make you want to re-live the wit or the zingers or what-have-you.

• The Characters - When characters become so dear that they're like family, or so similar to yourself that they're like your best friends, or so intriguing that you just want to try harder to understand them...that's when you want to spend more time with them.

• The Theme - Sometimes you need to reminded of something important. That's one thing I love about Hallmark movies and ones like them (the tear-jerkers) - they often help me put things in perspective. Even though it isn't always fun to watch or read about things like war and losing a loved one, those sorts of stories remind us of how precious life is, and how much we need to cling to hope.

Basically, I think the stories we want to re-discover and enjoy more than once are the ones that contain a journey we need/want to take over and over again. It doesn't matter that you've read or seen it before. Each time you take the journey, you learn something new and yet find comfort in the familiarity of it. Like a good friendship, it helps you grow while offering you something stable. You know the plot and are guaranteed a happy ending (generally!), but each new viewing/reading encourages and inspires you in new ways.

At least, that's why I like watching certain movies over and over again. And I hope that this exercise will show me that some books are worth the time investment of a re-visit!

Blogoversary Day 1: Remembering Movie Week

Welcome to the first day of the week-long blogoversary extravaganza here at "Seasons of Humility!" This week is going to be all about reminiscing the past year on the blog, particularly the themed weeks. Today we're remembering Movie Week!

For those of you who are visiting or are new to the blog (or if you just want a blast from the past!), here are the links to the posts from Movie Week:

• A Week at the Movies!
• Our First Features: Jane Austen Movies
• Movie Update
• Our Second Set of Features: Pixar Movies
• Credits

Today's post is going to be like the "Movie Update" post from Movie Week. I'll share some of what I've been watching recently with mini reviews. I love movies, and I've seen some great ones recently! Click the cover pictures to check out the following movies on Amazon.com. (And keep reading to the end of the post for a chance to enter a fun giveaway!)

Megamind

Don't be turned off by the big, blue head and the hero vs. villain theme--this movies is fantastic and anything but predictable! Megamind is clever, witty, and just plain fun!

Megamind and Minion are lovable characters, and from the first moment I saw Megamind as a baby on the screen, he stole my heart with his bright green eyes and his future-self's laugh-worthy narration. With a great message of understanding, not being held back by the past, and good triumphing over evil, this movie is not only entertaining, but also meaningful.

The Terminal

Once I got past Tom Hanks having a Bulgarian accent, I found The Terminal to be such an intriguing movie! ;) But seriously, while Tom Hanks plays quite a different role in this movie from You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle, he still won me over with his sweet disposition and his determination to keep a promise he made and to not lose purpose even when falling "between the cracks." It certainly wouldn't be easy to adapt to living for weeks/months in an airport terminal! And yet Victor (Tom Hanks) perseveres and makes some loyal, quirky friends along the way. This movie is a treat!

Despicable Me

This is another movie that shouldn't be judged by first appearances. I was told this was a great movie, and my mom reassured me that even though the beginning seems strange, it's a cute story. Well, I'm here to tell you that she was right! This movie is adorable--different, but oh, so cute! With little yellow minions, a villain with a dream from his childhood to reach the moon, and three girls in need of some love, Despicable Me is unique and definitely one to make you say, "Awwww!"

The Giveaway

All three of these movies can be found on Amazon.com, as well as many other movies. So today's giveaway is a $15 Amazon.com gift card, to help the winner celebrate his or her own Movie Day/Week!

Just leave a comment mentioning a movie you recently watched that you really enjoyed, and include your e-mail address, and you'll be entered for a chance to win!

(And pack your bags for tomorrow--don't forget the sunscreen!--because we'll be reminiscing Vacation Week with author Laura Frantz!)

Reminiscing: Favorite Movies of 2010

Welcome back to the retreat! I've put a few more logs on the fire, so it should be quite comfortable inside. Anyone want some hot chocolate? With marshmallows and whipped cream? Oh, and of course some chocolate sauce and chocolate chips! ;)

Today we're talking about our favorite movies from 2010. I'm going to cheat a little and mention my top 5 favorite movies that I saw for the first time this year. They're not necessarily movies that were released this year. Hope you don't mind! I'll go backwards through the list, starting with my 5th favorite.

Favorite Movies of 2010

• #5: Northanger Abbey--The winter/spring of 2010 was my official foray into the world of PBS Masterpiece. I loved Northanger Abbey so much when I watched it on T.V. with one of my college friends that I ended up buying a DVD copy! While this had already aired on PBS Masterpiece before, I saw it for the first time this past year and fell in love with the humorous and charming Henry Tilney. You can read my review HERE.

• #4: How to Train Your Dragon--Even though the first time I watched this was through Amazon.com Video on Demand, I was still blown away by this epic and very sweet story! I watched it again the other night (after getting a copy for Christmas) on the big screen T.V. in our home, and I was even more impressed with the animation and the music. Great movie!

• #3: Toy Story 3--This might actually be my second favorite of the year, but wherever it fits it for sure has to be on this list! I have loved all of the Pixar movies thus far, and the Toy Story series is no exception. This latest installment has made me cry every time I have seen it (twice in theaters, and once at home so far). Very powerful! You can read my review HERE.

• #2: Sherlock--What an intriguing new series! Over this past year I have fallen in love with PBS Masterpiece, and this new PBS Masterpiece Mystery version of the story of Sherlock Holmes thrilled me with it's great characters, wonderful humor, and freaky plots. I have season 1 on DVD, and I cannot wait for season 2 to come out next year!!! You can read my reviews of this series HERE.
  

• #1: North & South--While I admit that this is not a 2010 release, I saw this movie/miniseries for the first time this past year, and it is absolutely breath-taking. Simply gorgeous! Thank you to everyone who recommended this movie to me--I am so, so glad I have seen it, and that I have it on DVD so I can watch it over and over again! You can read my review HERE.

What are your favorite movies you saw for the first time this past year? What are you looking forward to watching in 2011? (I know I'm looking forward to more PBS Masterpiece!)

(Note: The picture at the top of the post is of my grandparents' fireplace. Cozy!)

Fall Friday (Movies and a Giveaway!)

Part of our family's fall festivities is to watch our favorite Halloween movies. And no, they are not Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Friday the 13th! I got to watch two of the following three with my parents when they came up to visit me. =)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Disney animated short about the story of Ichabod Crane is a classic! It is narrated by Bing Crosby, and the songs and clever telling of the story are so much fun. The superstitious nature of Ichabod Crane provides for a lot of laughs, but I can't say I blame him for being nervous with talk of the Headless Horseman! ;)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Who doesn't love this one? There's just something so sweet about Linus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang. I love all of the main Charlie Brown holiday movies, and this one has a lot of interesting story lines. This is another classic!

Here are several clips from the movie that I found on YouTube:



Halloween Haunts

I loved Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and all the original Disney characters as a child. This collection has three stories: one starring Mickey, Goofy, and Donald as ghost-busters; another starring Pluto and a bunch of cats; and the last starring Donald and his nephews. Lots of laughs in this one, too!

Now, I'm not saying I recommend these movies for everyone. Yes, they are all animated, but I know parents have to be careful when choosing what they should allow their young children to watch. However, I will say that I've watched these ones for years and I continue to enjoy them immensely. In my opinion, they sure beat any type of scary movie! ;)

Earlier in this post I mentioned that I watched two of the three of these recently. Leave a comment with your guess as to which one I didn't watch this year, and I'll draw a name out of those who guess correctly. The winner will receive my gently used copy of In Every Heartbeat! (You must leave your e-mail address in your comment and you must have a U.S. mailing address.) The winner will be announced Halloween night!

(The Legend of Sleepy Hollow picture is from this site, and the Halloween Haunts picture is from this site.)

Christmas in July: Day One

Merry Christmas . . . in July! Now my guess is that it won't be a white Christmas for most of us, since it is summer, but I hope that it will be a wonderful time for all of us anyway!

This week will be centered on various Christmas traditions. But before I tell you about the tradition we'll be discussing today, I want to let you know about the giveaways this week! The Christmas-themed giveaway will be going on all week. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post with your valid e-mail address.

For additional entries in the drawing, just leave a comment on any of the subsequent posts this week (between today and Saturday). Only one comment per post will count as an extra entry. Just for clarification, here are the rules in list form:

• Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address. This is a requirement in order to be entered into the drawing.

• You must have a U.S. mailing address.

• For extra entries, post a comment on any of the other Christmas-themed posts this week. (Only one extra entry per post for a possible total of 4 extra entries.)

• Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 24.
  

Now, would you like to know what the giveaway is for? =) The Christmas-themed giveaway will include a set of Hallmark "Jingling Holiday Bells Salt & Pepper Shakers" (courtesy of my mom!) and a gently used hardcover copy of The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere. These can be set aside for a few months until Christmas, or you can have your own Christmas in July at home!

There will also be another book giveaway this week if I can get two more followers! I would love to have 50 followers by my 100th post (which is scheduled for Wednesday). So spread the word, and if I can reach 50 followers by then, I'll do another book giveaway!

And now let us begin our Christmas traditions discussion! Today's tradition is: movies! There are so many Christmas movies out there, and I'm curious to know which ones are on your "must see" list each year. Following are just some of my favorite Christmas movies, in no particular order:

• Jingle All the Way
  
• Christmas Vacation
• The Polar Express
• The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2
• Christmas with the Kranks
  
• The Christmas Shoes
• A Charlie Brown Christmas

I'm sure there are many others that I haven't listed that are great Christmas movies, as well! There are so many funny movies, and there are some really touching ones (like The Christmas Shoes, which is a real tear-jerker!). And Jingle All the Way is especially neat for those of us who have Arnold Schwarzenegger for a "governator" (if only for a little longer!). Also, I simply adore The Polar Express, which is very well done, in my opinion!

I would love to hear about some of those Christmas movies you watch every year!

Toy Story 3

Since my "Birthday Story Bash" theme was all about Toy Story, I simply have to tell you what I thought of Toy Story 3! I'll try not to give anything away, but if you simply cannot hear anything about the movie until you see it for yourself, then go see it right away! (Then you can come back and compare notes with me!)

A dear, wonderful friend and I (both back for summer vacation after our first year away at college) went to see this movie on opening day (yesterday, June 18). After getting our tickets and making our way to the theater marked "Toy Story 3," we settled into our seats along with people of varying ages--adults, high schoolers, and young kids alike. Pixar movies are great for people of all ages! =)

After sitting through advertisement after advertisement, and then the cute movie "short" from Pixar, it was finally time. It was a thrilling moment for me--after the long wait, I was finally going to watch Toy Story 3!

And oh! this movie did not disappoint in the slightest! If I had to describe it in three words, I would say that the movie is heart-warming, heart-pounding, and heart-breaking . Yes, all three of those words!

Heart-warming: This came in many forms! Whether it was the family dynamics between Andy, his mom, and his sister (which were certainly true to life--arguments and all!), or the romantic elements between Buzz and Jessie (this isn't giving anything away if you've seen Toy Story 2, because that was hinted at towards the end), I was touched by it all. There were many moments that were cute and funny!

Heart-pounding: Yes, there was quite a bit of action in this movie--even more so than the other two, I think. And there were moments when I was really afraid for the characters. The villain is quite dastardly, and while he reminds me of Stinky Pete from the second movie (a bit), I thought he was even more evil. Lots of danger involved in this movie!

Heart-breaking: Oh! This was the hardest and most moving part of the movie. There were numerous sad moments throughout the movie, and there were some that even brought me to tears. And this wasn't the occasional tear that trickled down my cheek like when I watched other Pixar movies--this was practically sobbing in the theater because I just could not hold in the emotion. It's practically impossible (at least it was for me!) not to cry! If you've seen the previews, you know that Andy is getting ready to go to college. And this really, really hit home for me and my friend. Pixar captured the feelings so well.

Overall, this movie has it all! If you loved the first two Toy Story movies, this one is a must-see! But if you're anything like me, be sure and bring some tissues. It's harder to watch than many other Pixar movies, but it's more than worth it, especially with its great message about putting others before oneself. I highly, highly recommend it!

(Picture is from the Pixar website.)

Credits

The credits are rolling, and I would now like to share with you one of my favorite directors: Michael Landon Jr. From http://www.imdb.com/, here's a list of the movies he has directed:

• Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love
• Michael Landon, the Father I Knew
• Love Comes Softly
• Love's Enduring Promise
• Love's Long Journey
• Love's Abiding Joy
• The Last Sin Eater
• Saving Sarah Cain
• The Velveteen Rabbit
• When Calls the Heart (2010)

He has also written, acted in, and produced other movies/productions. I have seen all but the first two (and the last) on the list above, and I have loved each one of them. His movies have a purpose to them, and I think they really share God's love with the viewers.

I am a big fan of the Love Comes Softly series, and I think the first three are my favorites. I also love The Last Sin Eater. I read the book after I watched the movie, and I thought the movie followed the book very nicely. What a moving story! The story shares a different, unique perspective on Jesus and His sacrifice, and in my opinion it is a great reminder of just how great the cost Jesus paid for our sins is and how great God's grace is. I highly recommend the movie for older teens and adults.

For younger children, I happily recommend The Velveteen Rabbit. When I was younger, I used to watch an animated version of this story. I think Michael Landon Jr.'s take on this story is superb, and I really enjoyed it. I think the combination of animation and real-life acting really added to the movie, and it is such a sweet story!

I hope that When Calls the Heart really does come out this year! This is another movie based on a book by Janette Oke (who wrote the Love Comes Softly books), and I can't wait to see it!

Do you have any favorite directors? You can also share any of your favorite producers, actors, stunt doubles . . . you're choice! Let's keep those credits rolling!

(Photo from http://www.videosforfamily.com/audiointerviews.htm.)

Our Second Set of Features: Pixar Movies

We're back in front of the big screen to take a look at some of the best animated movies of all time (at least in my opinion!). Pixar has done an amazing job with their movies, and many of them not only offer great entertainment, but also a moving and inspiring story. From their website (http://www.pixar.com/), here's a list of their movies:

• Toy Story
• A Bug's Life
• Toy Story 2
• Monsters, Inc.
• Finding Nemo
• The Incredibles
• Cars
• Ratatouille
• WALL-E
• Up
• Toy Story 3 (Coming soon!)

I would share my top three favorite ones with you (that I've seen so far--which is all but Toy Story 3), but I think I'll have to make it my top four favorites! (And even then it's hard to choose because they're all so good!)

Toy Story 2 is a keeper for sure! Part of the reason might be because my sister loved this movie so much when she was a little girl, and we just had to see Jessie when we went to Disneyland. She also carried around her little Woody doll at Disneyland, which was adorable! But besides that, I love this movie because it shows the importance of living in the present and enjoying every moment of time we spend with our loved ones.

This movie has a stellar cast for the voices, and it's such a classic! I love the song that Jessie sings ("When She Loved Me"), even though it's bittersweet. Overall, I just love Toy Story 2!

Finding Nemo is another favorite of mine. What beautiful animation, and what a beautiful story! With moments of hilarity and moments full of emotion, this movie really is moving. I personally love Crush and Squirt (and if you don't know who these characters are, you really must see the movie!).

I also love the lesson of learning to let go and trust those you love, as hard as that can be. Although the characters in this movie are sea creatures, this lesson is so applicable to all of us. Even though we as humans aren't perfect, worrying and holding each other back won't do anyone any good. I love when Marlin tells Dory, "I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to him," and Dory replies, "You can't let nothing ever happen to him, or else . . . nothing would ever happen to him!" (Or something like that.) This life can be full of adventure, and God can use us for good if we let Him (and if we don't hold back!).

When I first saw previews for Cars, I thought it was going to be a children's movie that wouldn't be very entertaining for teenagers and adults. Was I ever wrong! I watched this twice in theaters, and I've seen it many more times on DVD. Pixar animation always seems to get better and better! This movie, with its emphasis on community and living a simple life, is wonderful. I love the setting of a small town along Route 66! So fun!

One of my new favorites is Up. I saw this movie the night before (I believe) my 18th birthday. The main character reminds me to some extent of my own grandpa, and I love how the movie is not only focused on this older man, but it portrays him as able to be strong.

Up makes me cry every time I see it, especially the parts that have to do with the story of the main character and his wife. This is a touching movie that shows the importance of embracing the past, but then moving on and living life and loving others. It also shows how the memories we make aren't contained in the possessions we have, but rather in our hearts and how we live. This is such an excellent movie!

I would recommend any and all of the Pixar movies, and I'm hoping to see many more in the future! How about you? Any favorite Pixar movies?

(Pictures are from the Pixar website.)

Movie Update

Here are some of the movies I've been watching recently:

The Rocketeer

From Amazon.com: "The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense, and intrigue! Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who's a secret Nazi spy (Timothy Dalton). With the help of his actress girlfriend, the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world! The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero!"

This was an interesting movie. The film includes everything--from adventure, to drama, to danger, and even romance! There was some violence (shooting and evil henchmen and everything!) and some language (if I remember correctly), but overall it made for a fun movie to watch with my friend!

The Princess and the Frog

From Amazon.com: "Disney celebrates a modern-day classic from the directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Discover what really happened after the princess kissed the frog in an inspired twist on the world's most famous kiss. This hilarious adventure leaps off the screen with stunning animation, irresistible music and an unforgettable cast of characters. Enter Princess Tiana's world of talking frogs, singing alligators and lovesick fireflies as she embarks on an incredible journey through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Spurred on by a little bit of courage and a great big dream, these new friends come to realize what's truly important in life...love, family and friendship. Overflowing with humor and heart, The Princess and the Frog is an incredible motion picture experience your whole family will want to enjoy again and again!"

I saw this movie twice in theaters and a couple of times at home! This is such a wonderful movie! I can't resist a sweet romance from Disney, and this movie--with its great music and fun animation--didn't disappoint me at all. While some elements of this movie are scarier than other Disney movies (and I would say perhaps too much so for young children), I think the lesson of focusing on what you need rather than what you want is so important, and one I ought to remember. The emphasis on love (not just romantic love, but also love within a family and between friends) over wealth and even over dreams of success is commendable. If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it!

The Jewel of the Nile

From Amazon.com: "In the blockbuster Romancing The Stone, novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) and wanderer Jack Colton (Michael Douglas) went sailing off into the sunset together. In this thrill-packed sequel, Ralph (Danny DeVito) is back on their trail and they're back in the fast lane on a perilous trek through the fierce North African Desert. Not even treacherous tribes, deadly dungeons and semingly endless villains can stop this trio from finding, once and for all, that mysterious 'jewel.'" (From the Blu-ray description.)

It's been quite a while since I've seen Romancing the Stone, but I think I much prefer this sequel. It is just too, too funny! Of course, it might take a certain sense of humor to really enjoy it. But in my opinion, this movie is a hoot! Of course, there's romance (it's what I like, what can I say?), along with adventure and some witty lines. However, there is also quite a bit of swearing, and a scene or two that could be skipped. For those reasons, I'm wary of recommending it. But I personally love the humor, and I was happy to watch it again.

What have you been watching recently?

Our First Features: Jane Austen Movies

Is everyone comfortable? Did you all find yours seats OK? Good! Today's "features" are Jane Austen movies!

I'll start with some of the Jane Austen movies I've seen: Pride and Prejudice (the older version and the newer version, although I fell asleep during parts of the older one--I watched it really late at night!), Sense and Sensibility (with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet), Emma (the one with Gwyneth Paltrow and the PBS version that aired this past winter), and Northanger Abbey (the PBS version). I have also seen two versions of Persuasion, as well as the movie Becoming Jane.

I loved the newer version of Pride and Prejudice. I think the music was wonderful and it was so artistically done, with beautiful landscapes and settings. And Mr. Darcy! Oh my! If you have seen both of them, which one did you prefer? Which actor did you prefer for Mr. Darcy? This story shows the importance of humility, which goes great with my blog! Being able to understand (and admit) when you're wrong is hard, but vital. Relationships require humble love in order to last.

Sense and Sensibility is also a great movie, and the actors in the version I saw did a superb job (in my opinion)! I love how this story shows the need for balance--it's best not to get carried away with our emotions, but it's also important to express our feelings and not hide them inside forever. I love the ending of this movie and the men the girls end up with! If you haven't seen it, I recommend it! The version I saw was the 1995 version.

Oh, and how I love Emma! The version with Gwyneth Paltrow is my favorite so far. I especially love Mr. Knightley! If you want to see a longer version that includes more background (etc.), the PBS version is very good, as well. However, I just love the way the one with Gwyneth Paltrow was done (and the acting is so very good!). This story is so sweet, and I think it's great that it shows the importance of being friends before really falling in love. How better to know what the man is really like before marrying him? And communication in relationships--being able to be honest with each other--is absolutely key.

And I can't forget Northanger Abbey! I saw an encore presentation of this movie on PBS, and I loved it so much that I bought a copy so I could watch it whenever I wanted! I can relate to the heroine of this story--I love to read novels and I have a big imagination (or so I like to think!). I love how this story has a hero who is an honorable and fun man! The lesson of learning to care about the feelings of others, as well as the picture of true love portrayed in the film, make this movie one I am glad to own.

How about you? What are your favorite Jane Austen movies? Who are your favorite Jane Austen heroes?

A Week at the Movies!

Welcome! Please find a seat--there's plenty of room for everyone! If you didn't yet have a chance to grab some snacks and drinks, now's the time, because I'll be playing the previews today. Our first "feature" starts on Tuesday!

There are two movies coming soon to theaters that I particularly want to see:

Shrek Forever After is coming to theaters at the end of May. My family and I have seen the first three Shrek movies, and while the second is by far my favorite, I'm sure I won't be able to resist seeing the fourth installment.

From http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892791/plotsummary, here's the description of the movie:

"A bored and domesticated Shrek pacts with deal-maker Rumpelstiltskin to get back to feeling like a real ogre again, but when he's duped and sent to a twisted version of Far Far Away -- where Rumpelstiltskin is king, ogres are hunted, and he and Fiona have never met -- he sets out to restore his world and reclaim his true love."

It sounds like an interesting premise, to be sure. I'm not certain how original the idea of an alternate reality is in the movie world, but I'm willing to give it a try. However, these movies (while very funny) do contain crude humor, which may not be appropriate for young children (or enjoyable for all adults). But for those who are interested, it could be an entertaining choice when going out to the movies later this month!

Toy Story 3 is coming to theaters in the middle of June. This is a must-see for me! I love many Disney movies, and I enjoyed both Toy Story and Toy Story 2 (although, like Shrek, the second was my favorite). How could I not see this movie? With great voices for the characters, great animation, and with what looks to be a sweet, touching (and fun!) story line, I'm definitely excited for this movie! And as far as I can tell (if this movie is like its predecessors), I have no problem with recommending it for all ages.

Now that I'm home for the summer, I can enjoy watching these movies with my family. Isn't it great to watch movies with those who are "near and dear" to you? I hope that you can enjoy some great movies this summer with your family and friends!