Monday 22 June 2015

Great Movies

Lately I seem to have renewed my appreciation of movies, after becoming slightly sick of watching the same stories unfold over and over again on TV shows.

It's amazing the works of art that can be created through movies.  It's amazing the emotions they can make us feel.  I wouldn't call myself an emotional person, but sometimes I still can't help but cry when watching movies.  I'm not sure if everyone else does too.



In history we're learning about World War 2, the Holocaust in particular after we completed our semester test.  We're watching Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List in class, and were meant to finish it today in the double period.  Despite the fact that I'm staying home today, I felt the need to finish the movie by myself anyway, and that's exactly what I did.

Oscar Schindler, the saviour, isn't the most likeable man.  He's a selfish business man, he loves women, he loves money.  The only reason he employs Jews is because they're cheap.  He uses war for demand, and slave labour to supply, and the only reason his factory could be called a 'haven' is because he employed a Jewish man to run the business for him.  He does become a humanitarian in the end though, after seeing the horrendous treatment of these human beings first hand.  Based on a true story, Oscar Schindler manages to save around 1100 Jews in this work of art.

The movie is confronting and intense and ingenuous.  It's filmed in black and white, but the colour red appears sometimes, creating all sorts of symbolism.  I see red as blood on the Nazi soldiers' uniforms.  I saw red on the coat of the little girl going into hiding.  Sometimes there was even a subtle red filter on different members of the Nazi party, or maybe I was imagining that.  There was so much unadulterated cruelty in this movie, and I never want to watch it again.



On to a happier note, the other night my mum chose the movie, Saving Mr. Banks, which is based on the true story of P.L Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, and how Walt Disney had trouble trying to gain the rights to her story.  It wasn't all Disney and happiness though.  In fact, it was quite a sad story as well.

"People write stories to set things right in the world." says Walt Disney to Travers.  Mary Poppins is based upon her childhood which she never quite got over.  Her father died, her story was sad, and her own version of Mary Poppins didn't succeed in fixing everything.  So I guess she had to write a version where Mary did.

I just love how the message isn't that Mary Poppins came to save the children, but rather to save the father.  There's the issue of the banks and the money and the children, and the cruelty and misunderstanding of Mr. Banks; but he really is a good person after all.  He loves them, just as her father really did love her.  At the end he fixes the kite, and what should be a happy ending is bittersweet and cry-worthy.



And last of all, today I decided to watch 10 Things I Hate About You because it has Heath Ledger and why not.  Seriously, this movie is one of the best.

It just makes me so so happy.  My favourite scenes would have to be Heath Ledger's face when he says "Are you saying I'm not a pretty boy"; when Kat's drunk at that party, dancing on tables and Patrick (Heath) is being all caring; when Cameron (Gordon-Levitt) goes on a tirade and Bianca kisses him to get him to shut up; and that paintball date after Kat flashes the teacher to get Patrick out of detention.  I just feel like smiling.

There were also so many things I didn't notice about this movie in all the times I've watched it before.  The counsellor's name is Ms Perky, the English teacher is really against white people, Heath's got an Australian accent the whole time, and at one point the dad says "My insurance doesn't cover PMS" which is just the funniest thing.  I mean, I probably did notice this stuff but I must not have remembered any of it.

Kat is also a pretty empowered person, I reckon.  It's funny how someone invented 15 years ago can embody idealistic culture now.  The difference is that back then what she did was weird, and now it would be considered cool for being unconventional.  The way she draws on the porch, listens to indie music and reads opinionated books; the way she sticks to her philosophy of doing things for herself and not society's expectations - Girls today envy that.

If someone would make a chick flick just as good as that one today, I'd really appreciate it.

Love,
M

38 comments:

  1. Wow. I'm going to make it a point to watch Schindler's List. I'm very interested in the World War era and the situation in Germany then.
    And the movie sounds promising and informative, since it's based on a true story. Thanks, M!

    Love,
    Saee
    Wonderland

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  2. Hahahaha 10 things I hate about you sounds like a girl halrious movie �� I can't believe I've never heard of it!

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    1. *hilarious (oops)

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    2. I can't believe you've never heard of it either! It's like a classic feel-good chick flick kind of movie. You need to watch it.

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  3. From this list, I only watched 10 things I hate about you but I would like to watch Schindler's List. Maybe I will download it tonight :)

    www.dicexcvi.com

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    1. I hope you did because it's a fantastic movie and I think everyone should watch it.

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  4. I love this post so much - I've been on the lookout for new movies to watch and these hold a lot of promise. I also love how you write, it's so well thought-out and entertaining. I also wrote about 10 Things I Hate About You on my latest blog post waah this is the coolest coincidence ever, haha. You should definitely watch Easy A if you haven't, it reminds me a lot of 10 Things. xx

    Andrea | Collars and Bones

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    1. Easy A :') That one's pretty great too. You're making me feel like watching it now. Thanks so much Andrea! I'm glad I helped.

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  5. The first movie has been on my to-watch list for so long now. 10 things I hate about you, I remember when I first watched it on TV, I went crazy for it!

    -Kathie K
    A Sea Change

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    1. I'm still crazy for it! I mean, it's just the sweetest thing - to think it was made the year I was born. Definitely watch Schindler's List.

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  6. Okay. I'm intrigued.. *watching Schindler's List tonight*

    -Jenny

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  7. Ah this has made me want to watch 10 Things I Hate About You again - such a great movie, and even better that Heath Ledger is in it!

    The Velvet Black // UK Style & Beauty Blog

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  8. I haven't watched Schindler's List, but Saving Mr Banks nearly made me cry. We watched 10 Things for our last English assessment, and though it's a brilliant film, I'm going to watch it from the enjoyment from now on, rather than analysing what Kat means when she says she's "sweating like a pig, actually!" It got me 33/40, oh well :)
    Great post,
    Eve @ Pen and Key

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    1. Haha. You're so lucky you got to do that for English, but I hope it didn't ruin the movie for you at all. You need to watch it for enjoyment because it's just the most feel-good movie. Saving Mr. Banks is seriously not that sad, but it made me cry quite a bit too.

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  9. Ooh, I want to watch these movies now!!
    xoxo
    Grace Anne
    http://totallygraced.blogspot.com

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  10. Lovely, well written post :-) These are three of my favourite movies. Schindler's List is an absolute classic and still as fantastic today as it was years ago!
    Life inside the Locket

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    1. Well you have good taste in movies. Thanks Lucy x

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  11. I already have seen them all. and they're all great movies !
    xoxo,

    atwednesdaysiwearpink.blogspot.com

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  12. I've watched all of these save for Saving Mr Banks, but it's on my to watch list! I actually heard about Schindler's list because I had to learn the theme of it for a Solo Violin performance, and my dad decided to make me watch the film so I would be able to emote properly when I play. It worked. The film was SO impactful and is top-notch film material -- classic Spielberg!

    I had a ton of fun watching 10 Things I Hate About You, too, haha. It's just so fun, so coming of age and so real!

    May x | THE MAYDEN

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    1. That is so cool! - that you got to play a solo from Schindler's List on the violin. I can't really remember what it sounded like, but wow.
      And 10 Things I Hate About You is perfect.

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  13. When I was younger I used to be like you. No emotions even now that I think about it, I believe I was super emotional only that each emotion lasted only for minutes so it passed by really quick.
    Now that I'm a little older, I embrace my emotions and I let myself dive into a movie and really feel it. Isn't that the meaning of art? Exchange of emotions, that's what it is.

    Thanks for sharing, M and thanks for stopping by earlier.

    Athina @ Between my Lines
    http://between-my-lines.blogspot.gr/

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    1. I love that - that the meaning of art is the exchange of emotions. Feeling a movie is the reason we should watch it. No problem Athina x

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  14. Oh my gosh. 10 Things I Hate About You, it's a new fave of mine, I lovveee it. I would watch it over and over.
    I watched it this week, before I saw your post, and then a second time, yesterday...seriously, it's great. My favorite character has got to be Heath.
    I did notice what the father stated, and it made me laugh out loud... ;)

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    1. Heath! :') Who's favourite character isn't Heath. 10 Things About You has to be a favourite of mine too, and oh the father's just hilarious :')

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  15. Amazing choice of movies, M!
    I would really, really love to watch the Schindler's List and Saving Mr. Banks. I saw 10 Things I Hate About You ages ago, but I really, really like it! I especially like Kat's poem and Patrick's rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"!
    Heath Ledger is amazing, seriously amazing.
    I was so taken by the movie that I've started reading and interpreting the Shakespearean play it's based on: "The Taming Of The Shrew".
    I think you'd love watching "To Kill A Mockingbird"! It's a really beautiful movie and it really gets to you down to the core.
    Do watch it!
    Stay awesome as ever,
    Much love,
    Archie <3
    http://eeriefairy.blogspot.com

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    1. Wait.. 10 Things I Hate About You is based on Taming of the Shrew? Another chick flick based on a Shakespeare play? I'm starting to gain some serious respect for Shakespeare coz his stories are pretty amazing. I reckon I would like To Kill a Mockingbird and it's something I have wanted to read but can never bring myself to. Maybe I will soon. Thanks Archie x

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  16. I love Saving Mr. Banks! It's one of my all time favorites!!
    <3/ Audrey
    Simplyaudrey89.blogspot.com

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  17. Never seen 10 Things I Hate About You, but I keep meaning to!

    I've heard plenty about Schindler's List and I read a lot about World War II, but I'm just not sure I could handle the movie.

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    1. Definitely keep meaning to until you do because watching it will make you so so happy! As for Schindler's List, it is pretty confrontational but it's such an ingenuous movie.

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