Top Ten (Thurs)day: Favorite Films

toptentuesdayI was once again too preoccupied this week to post my Top Ten list on Tuesday, but I’m on vacation so I have a good excuse :)

This week’s meme was about ten things I like other than books, so I picked…

Top Ten Favorite Movies
(and yes, it’s in order!)

Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice (2005)
The story is based on Jane Austen’s novel about five sisters – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet – in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young man (Mr. Bingley) and his best friend (Mr. Darcy) arrive in their neighborhood.

I wasn’t too into romances until nearly the end of high school, but when they started playing this movie on the TV all the time during my senior year of high school, I was hooked. Even though I read the book afterwards, I still love this version. Cinematography. Music. Acting (the rain scene is my favorite!) I could watch this movie all day, everyday.

TangledTangled (2010)
The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.

This movie never fails to make me laugh! Firstly, it’s perfectly casted. It’s also entertaining for all ages and genders, since Rapunzel and Flynn are both main characters. And it’s another example of Alan Menken’s musical genius. This movie also holds a special place in my heart, since Matt and I danced to “I See the Light” for our first wedding dance <3

Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991)
Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead and discovers her captor to be an enchanted prince.

A classic. The first animated movie ever nominated for Best Picture. THE movie that got me into romances back in high school. I remember watching this movie multiple times EACH night one week when I was 16, crying when we think the Beast died, and smiling through my tears when he says, “Belle, it’s me.” Awwww <3 Again, wonderful music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and on the newer releases there’s a fantastic documentary about the making of Beauty and the Beast that will make you cry.

Love ActuallyLove Actually (2003)
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

It doesn’t need to be Christmas for me to watch this movie. My friends and I in college would watch this all the time. My favorite story arch is Colin Firth’s, of course. I love that proposal! I also really like the Prime Minister’s plot too, although I HATE Billy Bob Thornton, and between his character and that one sex-obsessed guy, I’m convinced the director/writer hates America. But the rest of the movie is great :)

The Young VictoriaThe Young Victoria (2009)
A dramatization of the turbulent years of Queen Victoria’s rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert.

This is the movie that made me fall in love with Emily Blunt, and which has also made it hard for me to despise George Wickham in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice because that actor also plays the romantic Prince Albert in this movie. I adore the acting and the music in this movie, and I love all things about the Victorian-Era, so of course this movie belongs in that category.

Ever AfterEver After (1998)
With the sudden death of her loving father, Danielle is made a servant by her new stepmother. Still, Danielle grows up to be a happy and strong-willed young lady, and one day her path crosses that of handsome Prince Henry, who has troubles of his own at home.

Another movie I fell in love with during high school, this movie still gets me all dreamy-eyed. I was never really that into Cinderella, but this version features a stronger, stubborn heroine and the incredibly talented eyebrows acting of Anjelica Huston. Also, I will finally be visiting the main castle, Château de Hautefort, this summer!!

Star TrekStar Trek (2009)
The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father’s legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful, time-traveling Romulan creates black holes to destroy one Federation planet at a time.

This is probably the most random entry on my list, but it is also probably the film I have watched the most. I’m not that well familiar with Star Trek. I’ve watched the original series and some of Voyager (because my dad watched it all the time), but I was never super into it. Not until I saw this movie in theaters. I knew it was going to become special to me after I found myself crying within the first 5 minutes. I love movies that make me cry. And soon after I would put this movie on every night to fall asleep to (I also did this with Young Victoria). My best friend and I both love this movie so we quote it to each other all the time :)

PenelopePenelope (2006)
A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with one who will love her faithfully.

I found this movie by mistake, but right away I loved it. It helps that I have a celebrity crush on James McAvoy :) if you like quirky romances, you’ll definitely love this one! Great acting with a fun modern fairy tale plot.

You've Got MailYou’ve Got Mail (1998)
Two business rivals hate each other at the office but fall in love over the internet.

I have always liked this movie, but it just recently made it onto my list of favorite movies. I went through a 90s chick flick phase last fall, and I probably watched You’ve Got Mail at least a dozen times. I love the Pride and Prejudice romance, and, although I feel like I’ve said this about every other movie on my list, the acting is wonderful. Plus Meg Ryan’s character owns a children’s bookstore! Love it :)

Meet the RobinsonsMeet the Robinsons (2007)
When an orphaned child genius named Lewis has his science fair project ruined by a mysterious time-traveling villain from the future, he must join forces with a strange boy in order to travel to the future, steal his invention back, and save a new-found family from a bleak future where mind control devices enslave the masses.

I feel like most people have never even heard of this geeky Disney movie, but I can’t get enough of it. The characters are so lovable and they make you laugh out loud all the time. It’s really a bunch of randomness tied up with a heartwarming bow, so if you need some warm, but not-necessarily-romantic fuzzies in your life, give the Robinson family a try :)

There you have it! So, what are some of your favorite moves? Do we have any in common?!

Favorite Fictional Families

Ahh November :) I might say that this is my favorite month in the whole year, but then October and March are all like, “What about us?” and then I get confused and forget about what I was supposed to be writing about…oh yes! November:  one of my favorite months out of the year. And what do I love most about this month? Family time! There are plenty of opportunities to spend time with family. Combine Thanksgiving family time with all of the book reading I’ve been up to this autumn, and I started to think about some of my favorite fictional families, especially the ones I’d love to be apart of (for a day or so)!

So without further ado, here are my Four Favorite Fictional Families (yes, I love alliteration!):

The_Weasley_Family_at_EgyptThe Weasleys (Harry Potter) – Who doesn’t love the Weasley family? (Except maybe those who haven’t read or seen any of the books or movies.) There’s so many of them that you’re practically guaranteed to like at least one of them ;)

Ginny was always my favorite. I loved being able to see her quietly mature throughout the series. In the beginning you hardly know she’s there but by the last couple of books she’s become a pretty active character, one who is no longer overshadowed by her older brothers.

Morning

Probably my favorite scene from all the films.

And then of course there are the twins. Classic pranksters through and through, but when someone they love needs help, they’re as reliable as anyone else. But of course, don’t expect them not to crack a few jokes here and there…

Then there’s Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the most lovable adoptive parents Harry could have ever dreamed of. They’re quirky (Arthur) and emotional (Molly) but I love them all the more for that!

And, oh…they all have red hair. Awesome points :)

AnneThe Blythes (Anne of Green Gables) – Out of all the families on my list, this is the one I would like to resemble the most. The Blythes are very entertaining and insightful, and they all love each other so dearly.

I really enjoyed the later sequels in the series, when Anne became more and more of a secondary character and we were able to read about all of the adventures her children had, and anyone who is familiar with Anne knows that any child of hers is bound to have some wild adventures…and talk a lot:

Jem always thought Mother had such a beautiful, joyous laugh . . . answering innumerable questions. “Mummy, how far is it from here to the sunset? …Mummy, why can’t we gather up the spilled moonlight? …Mummy, do the souls of dead people REALLY come back on Hallowe’en? …Mummy, what causes the cause? …Mummy, wouldn’t you rather be killed by a rattlesnake than a tiger, because the tiger would mess you up and eat you? …Mummy, what is a cubby? …Mummy, is a widow really a woman whose dreams have come true? Wally Taylor said she was…Mummy, what do little birds do when it rains HARD? …Mummy, are we REALLY a too romantic family?

[Somewhat unrelated, but check out this genius blog–it’s Anne of Green Gables as told through Lego illustrations!]

AOGG

Eric MatthewsThe Matthews (Boy Meets World) – My favorite television show growing up; I wish they still made shows like this! And I hope the new spin-off is just as good :)

I remember staying up late with my sister to watch reruns on the Disney Channel when we were younger. And even now I’ll watch an occasional episode on YouTube (or spend well over an hour looking through Tumblr pictures to use for this post).

Eric was definitely my favorite Matthews family member. He’s so goofy it’s hard not to love him. “Good Lookin’ Guy” will always be the best personal theme song, and of course…who can forget about “Plays with Squirrels”?

And then there’s Cory, the character I probably relate the most to. He deals with real problems that every teenager can relate to, and his family is there to help him, support him, call him out on things. That’s what I love about them–they have real problems and they deal with them in realistic ways. And yes, this is a sitcom, but each of the characters are well-developed and serious when need be, including the parents; they aren’t absent or unimportant, and they help Cory make it through some tough issues.

Meet the RobinsonsThe Robinsons (Meet the Robinsons) – In my opinion, this is the most underrated Disney movie out there. There isn’t anything I don’t like about this movie: it’s geeky, quirky, very original, there’s a dinosaur, jazz frogs, and at the center of it all, there’s a crazy family that loves each other.

My favorite thing about this dorky family is that they embrace failures, because it means that they tried. Man, I just love that philosophy. And their familial motto (penned by Walt Disney himself), is “Keep Moving Forward.”

meet-the-robinsons-disney-quote

Oh, and I also adore the soundtrack :)

Who are your favorite fictional families?