My top 3 Christmas Films

As an English teacher, I love having an excuse to crack out the Christmas films with my pupils every year, I'm missing it right now but I'm hoping to introduce Isabella to one on Christmas Eve. Here are my three favourites:

Elf

Brilliant comedy, suitable for family watching and full of Christmas spirit.

Love Actually

I love these kinds of films - lots of different stories woven together. This film is so focused on what's important at this (and any) time of year - friends and family.

Home Alone

This one takes me right back to my childhood. I always wanted to fill our house with booby traps too!

Top 5 Childhood Films

1. The Little Mermaid

This was the first film I ever saw at the cinema, aged about 5. It's always been my favourite Disney even though I cried all the way home that day, heartbroken that Ariel had to leave her family for her prince. Already got this one lined up for Isabella.

2. E.T. 

I loved this tale of friendship even though it was another tearjerker. It's such a classic. Some films lose effect over time but not this one.

3. Back to the Future

All three of these bring back such happy memories of fun films that I didn't cry over! I loved all three but especially the second as it hardly ever seemed to be on. The actors were brilliant as was the concept (even if it is disappointing that we have no hoverboards here in 2015).

4. Three Men and a Little Baby

Another fun 80s one with a happy ending. This was also the start of my following the avuncular Tom Selleck. Watching three single men try to bring up a baby...brilliant. Again, the sequel somehow seemed better as it was more elusive.

5. Labrynth

This was one that scared and thrilled me in equal measures. I always wanted to watch the riddle scene again to figure it out. I bought and watched this again a couple of years ago but it wasn't the same.

Special mentions: Flight of the Navigator, Batteries not Included, Crocodile Dundee, Home Alone

Christmas

My favourite Christmas movie...

Robin Williams

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Like many, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Robin Williams death this summer. Another legend gone far too soon. Growing up with classics like Mrs Doubtfire and Aladdin, I already had a great appreciation for this comic genius. As a teenager, I watched Mork and Mindy reruns and over the last few years, I became acquainted with some of his best known, more serious works, Dead Poets' Society and Good Morning Vietnam.

Since his passing, I wanted to appreciate even more of his work and just recently we have watched Patch Adams (a true story which I believe, really captures Williams' own spirit) and Good Will Hunting. I can't believe it took me so long to watch either of these.  

We will be continuing our Robin Williams season around here with his stand up DVD as soon as it is back in stock.  We only learned last year that he started out in stand up and we're really looking forward to seeing it. 

It's very sad that I'm only just discovering some of his greatness but it's also such a positive legacy that he left behind. I look forward to introducing Isabella to his films as she grows up.

Atonement

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I first watched this film about six years ago and quite honestly, I didn't 'get it'. I found it quite confusing and didn't really connect with the characters.

As part of my 100 classics goal, I recently read the book. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. The tragic story was compelling and I connected with all the characters, even feeling sorry for Briony. Of course, I often enjoy books more than their film adaptations. It was so good, I decided to revisit the film.

And I was pleasantly surprised! Having the whole story to mind, the film is much easier to follow and more enjoyable. I still found some of the characters difficult but on the whole it was a good experience.

I don't often read the book and watch the film so close together when I make comparisons but will be doing in future. It made the film much more enjoyable as I wasn't constantly trying to remember the book to see how true to the story they stayed.

Heinz Ruhmann

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When I'm not being too lazy, I like to watch more German films; both for entertainment and to improve my language skills. 

A few years ago, Nico introduced me to the Feuerzangenbowle - a Christmas film. It was good but it was back when I struggled to follow feature length films. 

It came as part of a set and recently we watched the Pauker - a film all about a teacher who turns around  that difficult class. This time I followed the whole thing without subtitles and really enjoyed it.

Then, when Isabella was born, Nico bought her a musical toy with changeable tunes. One was a lullaby which I knew straight away and the other, I had no idea what it was. Nico couldn't believe I didn't know it and immediately ordered the film it comes from - another Heinz Ruhmann classic he grew up with - Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne. We watched it this week and it was another one I loved and could follow easily.

I really recommend these films for anyone who speaks German and especially for those who are learning.

P.S. Here's that lovely lullaby.

The Notebook

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We were watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother a while ago and I was gobsmacked when Nico had to ask me what a Ryan Gosling storyline was all about.  I guess I should be relieved - it is clearly a woman thing after all.  I mentioned at the time that my all time favourite film is the Notebook which is also, I believe, the reason all women fall in love with Ryan Gosling.

While stocking up for our new blu-ray player, Nico 'accidently' ordered the German version of the film and we watched it this weekend.  It turned out that he had seen it before but I have to say, I watched it with totally different eyes as a married woman and, of course, cried my eyes out more than ever at the end.
     

I think it's the kind of story that has something for everyone - or for every woman at least.  I say story on purpose since I also read the book and as ever, the book is even better, although for once, there's not much in it.
     

If you haven't seen it, welcome back for wherever you have been locked away, go out and get it immediately.  *Warning!*  Women - You will fall in love with Ryan Gosling!  Men - You might do too...

Happy TImes:Forrest Gump

Absolutely loved watching this film with my year nine class in preparation for the film review assignment after the holidays. 

The film never gets boring, no matter how many times I see it.  There are few films that can make me laugh, cry and feel a whole range of emotions in between.

Tom Hanks is also one of my favourite actors and he thoroughly deserved the Best Actor Oscar for his work here.

This time I especially notice the music and was moved so far as to invest in the soundtrack - well worth it. 

If you haven't seen it in a while (and maybe even if you have), what are you waiting for?

See the Godfather Trilogy - done!

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Making the most of the holidays, I finally got around to watching the third part in this series this week.

I have to say, being a film fan, I quite enjoyed this trilogy.  The first part was a good film in itself, the second showed us the background - great for me as a history lover and someone who studied American history -, and the third shows us how the story continued. 

When I studied media studies, we learnt about the traditional elements of a story and the balance of good and bad, and all of these things played out well in this story.  It's not a girly film, but I'd recommend the series to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Classics

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I think Nico thought I had lost the plot a little bit when I picked this old gem up in the supermarket the other day.  

When I was little, we had a whole range of Disney classics on VHS and for me, it's a big memory from my childhood.  I've talked before about the Little Mermaid and how that was the first film I ever saw at the cinema.  Well, Lady and the Tramp, or Susi und Strolch as it's known here, is another of those classics for me, along with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin - so now you know what is next on the list Nico.  :-)

To balance our collection out a little, I did order Braveheart the other day.  Firstly, because I'm looking through old Oscar winners lists for inspiration and also to show Nico a little of the country and its history before we head there on honeymoon this summer.

The Hunger Games

Regular readers will know that I'm a big film fan as well as a bookworm and that when it comes to film adaptations, I have to read the books first.  Some films completely ruin the story for no good reason (My Sister's Keeper?), some just don't translate well into film (Twilight?), and others make the transition brilliantly (Narnia...) and really bring the story to life.

Our latest comparison over the weekend was the Hunger Games.  I read the books back in May and was blown away even though I had heard of the premise of the story and was totally put off by it.  Nico read the first one last week - he's never finished an English book so quickly - they are brilliant reads.  We saw the film on Saturday and found that while there were some changes, and the feelings weren't put over as well as in the book, the film was generally good.  

One thing that I do find sometimes is that I am a bit spoiled by having read the book in that I can't watch the film with fresh eyes and give it a fair comment because I'll always be comparing it.  However, I do like to see the characters come to life and am really looking forward to the sequel which is now being filmed.

The Graduate

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At the weekend, we finally got around to watching this old classic.  I already knew the premise of the story but what really surprised me was Dustin Hoffman - he does look so much younger but I was left wondering whether he was actually twenty when he took the part and just looked older because of the style of the day or whether he played it when he was older.  I had to research it and discovered he was actually thirty at the time.  He is really quite a classic actor, one of my favourites.

I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it but it is worth the watch and one of my favourites from the classics we've seen lately.  The music is also excellent.

A song for the weekend...

In my quest for more classic films, I inadvertently bought the remake of Footloose.  We watched it last weekend and surprisingly - I really loved it!  The music is fantastic.

Childhood Films

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On Saturday evening I went back to my roots and watched this old classic.  E.T. was one of the big movies of my childhood, it brought me to tears every time I watched it.  Saturday was probably the first time in about twenty years that I watched it and I have to say it's a very different experience as an adult, the movie did still bring me to tears though - the classics will do that to you!  I noticed the music more than ever, not many films have such great scores any more.  I thought the acting from the children was great but was surprised at how poor the mother's character seemed compared to when I was younger and how young the actors looked!  I was also surprised that I wasn't terrified by this film as a child.  I still remember having to run out of the school hall on a snow day so nobody so me cry at the part where he dies!  Classic.

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Here is another of my former favourites - Labyrinth.  I used to love this fantasy tale as it seemed like another world.  I especially liked the bit with the two guys above as I could never figure it out.  It's another one I added to my adult collection but unlike E.T. it seemed more of a let down when watched through grown up eyes.  The effects certainly didn't stand the test of time and I didn't find it as enjoyable but I'm holding on to it for future generations as it's a great kids film.

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When thinking back to the films of my childhood, many Disney ones come to mind but this has to be the top of the list.  Little Mermaid was the first film I ever saw at the cinema.  We were on holiday in Scarborough and my little sister was just a baby so my Mum stayed at the cottage with her while my Dad took my brother and me to the cinema.  I loved the film but cried all the way home and scared my mother to death when she saw me all upset...all because I couldn't believe that Ariel would leave her father and sisters to go off and get married - what a Daddy's girl!!  This one is also in my collection now.

What films take you back?

The Usual Suspects

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I believe I watched part of this film before, I think it was when I took media studies but I'm not sure.  During my media studies AS level, we watched clips of several films that left me wanting more, many of which I still haven't gotten around to.  Another one that pops to mind is Shallow Grave.  One that I definitely did not want to see again as it falls into one of my two least favourite catagories (Westerns and alien films) is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Anyway, last week I was doing some ordering on Amazon and found The Usual Suspects at a good price and we watched it at the weekend.  At first, it put me in the mind of Reservoir Dogs in that it was a crime thriller and had flashbacks however, although I loved Reservoir Dogs, I much preferred The Usual Suspects.  For me, it required more thought from the viewer, both films had good twists but somehow, this one was better for me.  I am my father's daughter and had this one figured out before the end but there was a lot of drama and suspense as well as a host of brilliant actors.  I won't spoil things, but I highly recommend it.