I'll be posting MWIF for the last 2 weeks tomorrow, but today I found out that I'd been tagged by Rianna from Frankly, My Dear for the 7x7 Link Award. Thanks, Rianna!
Rules:
-Tell everyone something that no one else knows about
-Link to one of my posts that I personally think best fits the following categories: Most Beautiful Piece, Most Helpful Piece, Most Popular Piece, Most Controversial Piece, Most Surprisingly Successful Piece, Most Underrated Piece, and Most Pride-worthy Piece
-Pass this award on to seven other bloggers
1. Tell everyone something that no one else knows about
Honestly, I don't think there's anything too exciting about me that I haven't mentioned at least once before. Unless I haven't said that I'm a huge Hunger Games fan and am ridiculously excited about the film coming out next week.
2. Link to one of my posts that I personally think best fits the following categories: Most Beautiful Piece, Most Helpful Piece, Most Popular Piece, Most Controversial Piece, Most Surprisingly Successful Piece, Most Underrated Piece, and Most Pride-worthy Piece
According to Blogger, this has gotten the most views out of all of my blog posts. But year after writing it, I sort of wish I could change some of my choices.
Most Controversial Piece
Nothing I've written so far has caused much controversy, but I have some things planned coming up soon...
When it comes to the topic of actors that died too young, one of the first people that comes to mind is James Dean. On September 30, 1955, Dean was killed in a car crash at the age of 24. Although he made only three films (East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant), Dean made a lasting impact during his short life, and he continues to influence many today. After I decided to write about James Dean for the Gone Too Soon blogathon hosted by Comet Over Hollywood, I began to think about the different ways that he has influenced pop culture and media, which is what I'll be discussing today.
Dean has been referenced of mentioned in dozens of popular songs, some of them being "A Young Man Is Gone" by The Beach Boys, "Electrolite" by R.E.M., "James Dean" by the Eagles, "Rockstar" by Nickelback, "Speechless" by Lady GaGa, "Blue Jeans" by Lana Del Ray, "These Days" by Bon Jovi and is one of several stars mentioned in "Vogue" by Madonna.
Dean is also recognized in several television shows and movies. On Happy Days, a picture of Dean is seen in Fonzie's closet, another appears on Rizzo's wall in Grease. The show Queer as Folk compares him to music icons Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix ("They're all legends. They'll always be young, and they will always be beautiful"). Dean is also portrayed by actor James Franco in the biopic James Dean, released by TNT in 2001. I haven't seen the film myself, but I've heard several Dean fans praise Franco's performance and most of the film is said to be accurate compared to Dean's life.
Thanks to Comet Over Hollywood for hosting the Gone Too Soon blogathon. Please go check out the other contributions recognizing other actors whose lives ended prematurely.
I received positive feedback last week when I asked if I should start doing MWIF posts in place of reviews, so thank you all for commenting. I only had a chance to watch five films last week, but I enjoyed everything I saw.
1: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Rating: 4/5
Definitely not my favorite Spielberg film, but Hanks and DiCaprio are great.
2. The Hard Way (1943)
Rating: 4.5/5
I was surprised by how much I liked this film. Ida Lupino's best performance, in my opinion.
3. The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
Rating: 3.8/5
I thought Newman and Woodward had great chemistry, but the plot wasn't anything special, in my opinion.
4. Say Anything... (1989)
Rating: 5/5
My favorite of the films I saw last week. This is a quintessential film for anyone who loves the 80's as much as I do.
5. La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast, 1946)
Rating: 4/5
Nothing will top the Disney adaption, but this is a wonderful film. The black-and-white cinematography is beautiful.
That's it for MWIF week 1. Expect week 2 next Sunday!
You may have noticed I haven't posted many reviews lately. This isn't because I'm not watching films- I am- but I just don't have the motivation to write reviews at the moment. However, I follow several bloggers that do "My Week In Film" posts, where they list the films they've seen over the past seven days and (usually) write a few words about what they thought of it.
I'm considering doing this on my blog, but this would be a bit different since the posts would include modern films I see and probably any films I re-watch. There aren't really any cons to this, but I'm still on the fence about it. So I'm asking my followers: do you think I should begin doing My Week In Film posts or continue with regular reviews? Feedback is much appreciated.
Romantic drama is one of my favorite genres and it's impossible for me to choose just one. Just a few that I love are Casablanca, The African Queen, Forrest Gump and Gone With the Wind.
Yes, I love Forrest Gump. Judge all you want.
3. Worst romance film you've seen?
If you can even call it that.
4. How do you feel about the majority of romantic film being labeled "chick flicks"?
I think it's pretty ridiculous. Yes, most women love romantic films, but there are plenty of men that like them, too.
5. Favorite on-screen couple?
I really love Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment.
6. Favorite off-screen couple?
I sort of answered this in my last survey- I can't choose between Bogie and Bacall and Tracy and Hepburn.
7. Best kiss in a movie?
Nothing else comes close to this.
8. Favorite romantic scene?
For some reason, Blogger wouldn't let me upload it, but this scene from Woman of the Year (even though it's sort of a second answer for question 7).
9. Who are two film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?
This may not be a legitimate answer since they were dating for the first portion of the film, but I always felt that Peter and Mary Jane should have actually gotten back together in Spider-Man 3. Besides that, I love the film- I've never understood why it got so many mixed reviews.
10. Two actors you think would have good chemistry, but have never done a film together?
Bogie and Vivien Leigh. I picture them together in a Hitchcock film for some reason.
11. Favorite romantic song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. "As Time Goes By" is a close second.
12. Best score from a romance film?
Gone With the Wind. And anything else Max Steiner.
13. Most romantic film quote?
Is "We'll always have Paris" too cliche?
14. A film you'd recommend to watch on Valentine's Day?
Something for everyone: For comedy, Adam's Rib or The Thin Man. For drama, Casablanca. For adventure, The African Queen. For action, Spider-Man. For animated, Beauty and the Beast. And many more I'm forgetting.
That's it for my answers. Thank you to everyone who's done this meme so far, and Happy Valentine's Day!
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