Karen Spends Her Welfare Money On DVDs…
Monday, September 10, 2007Posted in: Julia Styles, Luke Raby, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, The Notebook, The prince and me
TTG and I had a very lazy weekend, for the first time in a while. We went for our usual walk round the local park on Sunday evening, and when we got back, we proceeded to watch The Prince And Me, and The Notebook, straight after. (Yes it was a very late night.)
I wanted to watch The Prince and Me, mainly because of Julia Styles. I really like her as an actress, and loved her in Save The Last Dance, with Sean Patrick Thomas. Luke Mably (Edvard) was ok too, if a little too pretty, and a little too English.
I liked the story. It was totally girly, and completely fluffy. A quintessential fairy-tale romance. Loved it.
Paige is a brainy farm girl from Wisconsin who wants to go to med school. Eddie, on the other hand is the playboy crown prince of Denmark who’s never done a day’s work in his life.
Fed up with the expectations of his parents and country, Edvard decides to go to Wisconsin (I can’t be arsed explaining why he chooses Wisconsin) and enrolls in the same college as Paige. They first meet, when Eddie sees Paige whilst she’s working in a restaurant, and unfortunately for Eddie, he doesn’t quite make the first impression that he would have liked.
Coincidentally, they become lab partners in school, which horrifies Paige, as she’s desperate to do well, and she looks at the partnership with Eddie as the quickest route to an F grade.
Anyway, Paige discovers that Eddie isn’t just a pretty face, and they end up falling in love, but as we know, the course of true love never did run smooth. (Especially in Hollywood films.)
I liked the chemistry between Paige and Eddie, and I liked the contrasts between their two worlds. I thought the cinematography was excellent, and I was really pleased that they actually filmed on location in Europe (Prague), rather than filming in some purpose-built set in America.
The secondary characters all played their parts well, Ben Miller as Soren, Eddie’s butler, was quite funny, and I found myself eagerly waiting for him to speak, because he had this dry wit thing going for him. Miranda Richardson, as Eddie’s mother had the icy haughtiness of a queen, down to a fine art. Can I just say, I thought she looked amazing, much better than her sister Joely (101 Dalmatians), who looks as if she’s been nip-tucked (ha-ha, get it?) to within an inch of her life.
Overall good film, definitely one for the girls though. TTG fell asleep in the middle of it, which I pretty much expected. *g*
The Notebook
I also enjoyed The Notebook, once again though, it was a film for romance lovers of the female persuasion. I read the original book by Nicholas Sparks a couple of years ago, and I have to say, it was pretty hard not to compare the book with the film. I still enjoyed Rachel McAdam’s performance, as well as Ryan Gosling’s slightly overstated and much practiced wry smile.
I thought Gena Rowlands was excellent in her role, as was James Garner. I always remember him in The Rockford Files (re-runs of course), and I sometimes forget that actually, he’s an old man now.
Once again, nice film, and I actually shed a tear or two at some of the bittersweet scenes between Garner and Rowlands. Well worth watching if you’re not looking for War and Peace.
So, any of you watched any really good films lately?
By the way, Heroes is being aired over here at the moment, and I have to say, I’m just lovin’ it!
Ann Aguirre
September 10
8:53 pm
Heroes is my favorite show. Our schedules are always a bit off the States, but we finally got it in March, and season one just wrapped up a few weeks ago. I’m already missing it!
How hot is Sendhil Ramamurthy?
avidbookreader
September 10
9:35 pm
Heroes was this TV phenomonon that went completely under the radar for me. I haven’t watched it yet but I am looking forward to it. I am catching up on The Closer right now. One show you need to watch but it’s on HBO, is The Wire. LOVE, LOVE that show. –Keishon
Rosie
September 10
10:16 pm
One of the few TV programs I watch is HEROES. Who knew? My kids got me hooked by telling me how good it is. We’re gearing up for Season 2 here. Supposed to start Sept 24th I think.
Eve Vaughn
September 10
10:40 pm
Karen, if you like tear-jerkers, you’ll love A Walk To Remember with Mandy Moore and Shane West. Another favorite of mine is Where The Heart Is with Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd.
Isn’t Heroes fantastic?!!!! I have been an addict since episode one. Besides having superb storylines that leave you on the edge of your seat every week, there are so many hunks. I would love to be the meat in a Peter and Mohinder sandwich.
*VBG* I can’t wait for Season two to begin!! Two weeks!! Whoooo!!
Barbara B.
September 10
11:19 pm
I’ve never seen The Prince & Me. Why do you say the character is almost too English? Was it a caricature of what Americans think Englishmen are like?
BTW, Karen, Miranda Richardson is not Joely Richardson’s sister. Joely’s sister is Natasha Richardson. They’re Vanessa Redgrave’s daughters. Miranda Richardson IS awesome, though.
Ann Bruce
September 10
11:37 pm
I loved Miranda Richardson the moment I saw her on Black Adder. And that was where Hugh Laurie caught my eye as well. They’re both such versatile actors.
If anyone wants a good laugh, check out Black Adder. Numerous reruns on PBS in North America, or just get the complete DVD set.
Ann Aguirre
September 11
12:03 am
I also like Julia Styles; I enjoy the wry, understated way she portrays most of her characters. I’ve tried to watch every movie she’s been in, but I can’t find a copy of Save the Last Dance around here.
We’re going to see Bourne 3 for her as well.
Kat O+
September 11
1:03 am
I love Julia Styles, too (even though she should have had a stand-in to do her ballet scenes in Save The Last Dance–they’re so bad!). Unfortunately, Heroes overlaps with House over here and Hugh Laurie wins out, I’m afraid. I haven’t been to the movies in yonkers, but Paris, Je T’aime was lovely.
Kaz Augustin
September 11
2:26 am
Now, I find Edmund from Blackadder Series 2 downright sexy! That beard! That hair! And, most importantly, that brain! Swoon. (And that’s saying something because I usually go for the frowny bald guys.)
And, Karen, check out:
http://boycottkaren.blogspot.com/
http://kittydtime.blogspot.com/
Shelly @ Bewitched
September 11
2:57 am
The Prince & Me is one of my girly faves! But stay far, far away from #2. *shudder*
Heroes is an excellent show! I’m trying to cram the eps that I missed before the second season opener here.
shiloh walker
September 11
3:31 am
I haven’t watched Heroes. Last thing I need is another TV show to get hooked on.
My current addictions are House and Saving Grace. No more. Please, no more.
And Karen… shame on you, ;)spending that welfare money on DVDs. It supposed to go to feed your bonbon addiction and buy more books, you being such a simpleton and all, those books are the only thing you can manage.
Dee Tenorio
September 11
3:55 am
Darn, I posted to this one already and it went to the ether. Suffice it to say–Heroes, Oh good googly moogly YES!!! and I’m with Shelly. Hisss! at #2. LOL. I’m not sure what I like less, the end or that my own MOM lied to me about it so I’d watch it. (She’s with you, Karen, she loves that movie.)
Oh, and as for those blog links, snort. Good God, Karen’s being smeared by a 10 year old girl. If that’s not a desperate plea for attention, I have no idea what is.
Dee
Sandra Schwab
September 11
6:33 am
At the moment I’m digging into British documentaries — I’ve just finished watching THE BRITISH ISLES – A NATURAL HISTORY presented by Alan Titchmarsh. I loved, loved, loved A PICTURE OF BRITAIN with David Dimbleby and, of course, COAST (need to buy the second season of that one) (because of COAST I spent a miserable 2 1/2 hours in Berwick upon Tweed earlier this year: all shops were closed, it was raining cats and dogs, and the big Elizabethan walls aren’t that exciting to look at for 2 1/2 hours …).
Ooops, gotta run. One of my kitties was sick in the bathroom. *sigh*
December/Stacia
September 11
6:35 am
Oh, the hubs and I are obsessed with Heroes! Twice on Wednesdays…ah.
December/Stacia
September 11
6:40 am
I just looked at those links…oh man. That girl needs to stop, right this minute.
loonigrrl
September 11
8:07 am
Karen?!? What do you mean?!?!? “Much practiced wry smile”?!?!?!?!
*sighs longingly* I heart Ryan Gosling.
wendy
September 11
10:58 am
I loved that movie with Julia and Heath Ledger. You know, the one with Allison Janney as the principal writing the romance novel. Was it based on The Taming of the Shrew?
Anne
September 11
1:36 pm
I LOVE Heroes! GREAT show! And The Notebook… bawl my eyes out every single time. Fabulous movie. I just adore Rachel McAdams. She’s a very talented actress. Have you seen The Family Stone? She’s good in that movie, and it’s another phenomenal one. And another of my new all-time favorites that Rachel is in is Wedding Crashers. So many great one-liners. And God, Vince Vaughn is hilarious!
Recently watched (finally) Wild Hogs and it was really good. Seriously, the one who made that movie? William H. Macy. He was so damn funny. Snicker.
And also finally watched Stranger Than Fiction it was really good as well. Totally different role for Will Ferrell but he did it well.
and now I’m done rambling on. 🙂
Karen Scott
September 11
3:38 pm
December, I checked out the links this morning. I’m thinking that it’s somebody, pretending to be a couple of somebodies, pretending to be Patsy. There’s no point calling attention to them, because they’re anonymous. If they give me actual names, they can have all the link loving they want, but for now, she/they are less than vapour to me.
Besides, we all know that one dimensional blogs are hard to keep up to, seeing as the subject matter is so limited. I’ll give ’em two weeks before they get bored, and start repeating themselves.
Actually, I think they already started doing that. *g*
Karen Scott
September 11
3:43 pm
Wendy, the film you mean is Ten Things I Hate About You, I totally loved that film. Alison Janney was hilarious in that!
Karen Scott
September 11
8:30 pm
By the way Barbara, you’re right about Natasha being Joely Richardson’s sister, not Miranda. I always get them mixed up for some reason.
FlannerySC
September 12
3:53 pm
Heroes Season 1 (with unaired pilot episode) is now availible on DVD!!!! It’s availible at Netflix (for those in USA). My kids and I are addicts.
And I loved The Notebook (Book) can’t stand what they do to the books in the movies, so I don’t watch them. The RUINED Message in a Bottle.