New Year's Movie Meme

Hi everyone! I'm on my holiday vacation (and I've still a week more) and have been having a wonderful time! I actually plan to do a post about what I've been up to later this week, but for now I'm going to do Rachel's New Year's meme.

I love surveys, though I haven't done any yet on this blog so I'm excited to do this! Rachel's doing this in celebration of her reaching fifty followers. I too reached fifty last week, and I also had been pondering about taking the leap of faith and doing my own movie survey. I don't know, what do you guys think? Let me know - if I know people are interested I'll have more confidence to make one! (If I do, it'll probably be in a month or so).

As for now, here are my answers to Rachel's!

1. What is your all-time favorite Grace Kelly costume?

This is a cruel question. I really can't pick just one, absolutely everything Grace wore was beautiful and gorgeous. I don't think I could possibly choose an all-time favorite but for me, here's one of the strongest contenders for that title:

from "High Society" (1956)

I honestly didn't even like "High Society" all that much, but this dress is simply gorgeous. *swoons*

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?

This is also a hard question because I don't really believe in remakes of the classics. Even if a film wasn't all that good the first time, well, Hollywood today couldn't make it any better than it originally was. So out of my devotion to Classic Hollywood I can't really come up with an answer for this one.

3. Name your favorite femme fatale.

Gilda.

She was my first experience with a femme fatale, and I think Rita Hayworth did a wonderful job. To me Gilda is the posterchild for a femme fatale, and especially since she was willing to simply "put the blame on Mame," for everything she did.

4. Name the best movie with the word "heaven" in its title.

Hmmm... See the sad thing is, I haven't even seen "Leave Her to Heaven," which I know is pretty terrible and I'll have to remedy that soon enough. (I also really need to see "All This and Heaven Too".) The only movie I can think of (which also happens to have Gene Tierney in it), though it's probably not the best, but I'll go with it anyway, is: "Heaven Can Wait." (1943). Don Ameche stars in it.

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen (since Laura gave me the idea).

Don't kill me, guys. Don't send me hate mail or anything! But I'll have to go with Shirley Temple in "The Littlest Rebel" (1935). I actually detest that movie on several levels, and here's another confession: I'm really not that much of a Shirley Temple fan. I respect her because she was one of the biggest movie stars of that era, and I do like a number of the films she made as a teenager, but... still not her biggest fan.

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?

Guys, I'm sorry to be annoying again, but I really haven't seen any monster films at all! So I'm going to have to pass on answering this. But for that matter, do you have any suggestions for monster movies?

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?

I'm not much of a Western person either but I'm going to say "The Searchers" (1956). My dad had to force me into watching this (he also forced me into "High Noon", but I like this one better), and in the end I had to admit it was pretty good. (NO, I was totally not influenced by Natalie Wood's presence in this movie... what? what are you suggesting there?...)

 

What? No? Natalie had nothing to do with it....

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?

Pretty much anyone who is a classic movie lover. Anybody who has ever watched a classic film with someone who isn't a fan of it will know what I have endured. Partly it's my own fault because I decide to be all stubborn and force some of my friends to watch classic films because I think by some miracle they'll be converted and we'll just sit around and have conversations about Greer's voice or Bette vs. Joan or the horrors of Cary Grant growing a mustache. A good example is when I made a group of my friends watch "Gone With the Wind" (1939). I told them about Rhett trying to smash Scarlett's skull and Atlanta burning to the ground and Rhett swearing and all that exciting stuff, and I put it on. But they only lasted about twenty minutes before taking to Facebook. And I was sitting there like an idiot, going, "Look! Atlanta's burning! Melanie's dying!"  (Mind you, these are the same people that said that Greer's voice wasn't perfect...)

I will never get people who don't love classic film. But, each to their own, as they say...

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?

As much as I love film I can't think of one particular film that changed my life. I try not to let things influence me to that certain of an extent. But classic film in general has a big influence on me and the way I act though. (Does that totally override my last statement?). Classic movie stars are my role models and inspirations, which some people may roll their eyes at, but I think I'm getting a lot more out of looking up to Lucy than I would Kim Kardashian (or any other "reality star" of today for that matter). So the basic answer is not one particular film but just classic movies in general. They have a positive influence on me definitely.

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch.

Hmm. Well one performer that I obviously truly love is Lucy. And I will watch her in absolutely anything, even an advertisement for Snuggies. However, I have to admit, "The Big Street" (1942) is uncomfortable to watch because Lucy is really mean in it. Like, her character is awful. Not to mention it's also a pretty bad movie, THOUGH at the same time I feel she gave one of her best performances (she also looks really gorgeous in this movie). Does that make any sense at all?

I guess what I basically mean is that it was hard seeing Lucy play a character so mean and heartless because we're used to the Lucy we all love. But at the same time she did a really good job of playing this cold character, in what is still a 2 star movie. (??? sigh).

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe.  

Before I answer this, I want to make a point of saying that I DON'T LOATHE HER, she's just not one of my favorites and I do think she is overrated. Yes, just a little. But please don't send me hate mail (and besides, I'm actually praising her in this answer).

So who is this "her"?

Yes, Marilyn Monroe. But I really liked her in "Some Like it Hot" (1958) - it's one of my favorite films in fact and she was quite good in it. In general, Marilyn tends not to be one of my favorites, but I really did like her in this. 

12. And finally, since it will be New Year's soon, do you have any movie or blogging-related resolutions for 2012?

I think to get better at my movie critiquing and a little more serious about it. So basically to become a better movie reviewer. And I think to also be able to strip down layers of the film - stuff like the actors, the movie score, heck, even the poster - to its core and really be able to analyze that better. I think that's what a real critic would do, and then think about the other stuff afterwards, whereas for me it tends to be in reverse. And since I review a movie every Sunday, I'm definitely going to get a lot of practice in doing this!

***

I had a lot of fun answering these questions and finally being able to do a meme! Thanks for making this, Rachel, and congratulations on reaching fifty followers! :)

I'm probably going to write another blog sometime later this week about the fun classic Hollywood related stuff I've been doing over break. But if I'm not able to get around to doing it, well.. then... Have a really happy New Year! And I'll see in you in 2012!

PS: If I made a meme of my own and you think you'd do it, let me know. :) 

Reviews By a 10 Year Old Kid (AKA: Rianna embarrasses herself)

Taking a note from a few other bloggers, I have decided to embarrass myself greatly and share with you five little reviews I wrote as a nine or ten year old kid. Please remember that I was nine. I hope you get a good laugh out of it, my lovely little blog readers. I was in a bit of a writer's block today - but tomorrow I can probably produce something more worthy of your time. For now... have a good giggle.

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Well will start off with Rianna's incredibly embarrassing ten year old child review for "Forever Darling" (1956), with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

"FOREVER DARLING (1956)"

Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz

Ten year old Rianna says -

Even though this movie litrally would've been titled, "Four More Years, Darling", since the love duo of Ball and Arnaz lasted until 1960 only, "Forever, Darling" is sweet and charming. It's a lot like the amazing TV series and "The Long, Long Trailer", but I liked this better than the Long, Long Trailer. Ball and Arnaz play similar characters to their TV show, but slightly different. Arnaz is a scientist this time and Ball is not always botching things up. Susan Vega (Ball) and Larry Vega (Arnaz) were the perfect couple when they were married. But five years later, they are drifting a part. Susan is turning into a clone of her cousin Millie Opdike, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't stop swooning over James Mason at the movies! Larry is almost never at home for dinner nad is constantly eating, breathing, and thinking all about his new pesticide. (Except for that one time when he has a dream about Ava Gardner.....). Then Larry announces that he and Susan will be taking a 2 year field trip to test the pesticide! Susan is furious. After having a fight with Larry, her guardian angel, James Mason, shows up. She has mixed emotions about Mason-first she's scared of him, then angry at him, and then in love with him! But Mason, in his charming voice and attitude, is able to coax Susan into learning more about Larry's work. Susan suddenly, with a burst of inspiration, agrees. She finds the perfect oppertunity to do so when Larry announces he's going on a camping trip for a day to test the pesticide before the 2 year field trip. Nothing can go wrong, can it? But, of course, in it's usual Lucy way, it does! This movie, of course, is perdictible. But Ball and Arnaz's acting, of course, is superb. So what, it's not an Oscar-y movie, but it's still great for Lucy fans. Four stars for pure Desiluness! ~~~~~~~~

What Makes Teenage Rianna Cringe the Most - 

• My usage of the phrase "love duo". UGH! What the bloody L is that supposed to mean? (Yes, I'm  American - but I have habit of using British phrases. Long story... you'll get used to it) This makes me cringe so much I was contemplating not even mentioning it ;)
• The fact that I give away nearly the entire plot, making this review about a thousand pages long. 
• My insane obsession with "~". I guess i thought it looked cool. (?)
• Last but not least, my equally obnoxious use of "Desiluness." Only a true Lucy fan could use a word like THAT. Plus, as much as I love Lucy and Desi, too, it isn't really a four star movie. And "The Long Long Trailer" is much better. But I guess, in my little ten year old brain...

Next to suffer my ten year old wrath is "The Lady Eve" (1941). * shivers *

"THE LADY EVE (1941)"

Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda

Ten year old Rianna says - 

'The Lady Eve' is a fun movie, good for kids ages ten and up. (They will understand the idea more.) The beginning is a little rocky, but soon you will be propelled into the plot as Stanwyck, playing a young daughter of a con-artist tries to ploy into Fonda, a 'geeky' but handsome young man who has just come back from an Amazon tour and "isn't used to seeing women still.” As expected, he is loaded with cash. Stanwyck and her father try to con money out of him by playing casino games, and Stanwyck begins a planned romantic relationship with Fonda. Fonda, easily fooled, plays along and soon Stanwyck finds herself actually in love with the young man! The rest, I will leave to everyone else to find out, but you’ll find a lot of inner-joy and pleasure to watch this movie, and will be very ‘pleased as pink’, as they say, at the nice turnout. I’d give it a 4 and a half stars if I could, but I can’t, so it’s displayed as 4 stars above, but really, I’d give it 4 and a half. Rent this movie as soon as you can! (And try to ignore Stanwyck’s fur coat, please).

What Makes Teenage Rianna Cringe the Most -

• My trying to determine the perfect age group for watchers of "The Lady Eve." Because a 10 year old kid would totally know that, right?
• My use of "inner-joy" and "pleased as pink." 'Nuff said.
• My great indecision and babbling about the film's rating.... that would just make any person annoyed, wouldn't it?
• The "trying to ignore Stanwyck's fur coat, please." I am still totally against fur - I have a chinchilla, after all! - but still... it's just... I don't know. annoying sounding. To me, anyway ;)

Okay, I'll give you just one more. This is for "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" (1947).

"THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER (1947)"

Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple

Ten year old Rianna says - 

I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed Cary Grant (a la Archibald Leach.....funny) and Myrna Loy's preformances in this movie, but I was surprised that I enjoyed Shirley Temple. I was very much afraid this would be another showcase of her dripping sweet cuteness and silly songs, but thank goodness, I guess growing up helped. Surprisingly, she really DID deserve to be in this movie with these two Hollywood stars and made the best out of it. Temple plays a love-struck teenager who is in love with a man, Grant, that comes to speak at her school. Loy, who plays Temple's older sister, however, finds the man horribly annoying. It's a really cute movie if you're trying to introduce a teenager to classic movies and show that classic movies CAN be cool (and in many situations, cooler than today's movies). It's sweet and what I would call a classic chic flick (You don't need Kate Hudson or designer Prada labels in a movie for it to be a chic flick, or made in the last few years). I enjoyed it; it was really cute, for sure. It will bring you back to the era.....of bobby-soxers! ~ rent this movie!!!!!

What Makes Teenage Rianna Cringe the Most -

• My use of "dripping sweet cuteness and silly songs" - it just doesn't make sense. I mean, as much as I am not a big Shirley fan, she was a teenager by now, so really, what was I expecting?
• The whole business about me blabbering away about using this movie to introduce classics to teenagers - in spite of the fact I wasn't yet a teenager myself. I mean, yeah, it's a good movie. But still, I'm just blabbering too much.
• My spelling of chick flick as "chic flick." Good God! 
• "back to the era.........of bobby soxers!" follow by yet another "~" and more !!!!!!

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Well, I don't know about you, but I've finished embarrassing myself at the present moment. Oh, who knows? I may embarrass myself like this some more another day. But for today, I'm finished.

Before I leave you, yesterday I went to the bookstore and got two books - "Diana at 50" by Life magazine (it's got tons of great pictures... more on that later) and "Desilu", which i am not sure why I didn't get it earlier! It's got some great pictures of Lucy and Desi inside, and the following is one of my favorite. I scanned it for you. It's so awesome/and lovely. I love the pictures of them as children on the wall with the plaques underneath that read "Our President" and "Our Vice President." (They mean President and Vice-President of Desilu, of course).