Category Archives: TV & Movies

I don’t watch a lot of TV and movies but I do have my favorites. And I do get temporarily obsessed.

My Thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Literature, TV & Movies,

Usually, after seeing one of the Narnia movies in the theater, I hasten to write my own thoughts and impressions before reading other people’s opinions and other people’s movie reviews. I do this to make sure that I write exactly what I personally think without influence from anyone else.

Unfortunately, for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I was too lazy to do this and so I’ve already read the mixed reviews out there on this movie. Well, I’ve seen the latest movie from Narnia franchise both in 3D and 2D, and I personally enjoyed the 2D version better (because I didn’t have to get distracted by the 3D glasses slipping off my nose).

Here are some of my not-so-organized thoughts on the movie.

 “You’re on the DAWN TREADER” (or so says the minotaur)

 Let me open with one of the funniest scenes in the movie, when Eustace was hysterically demanding to know where he was, and the minotaur told him that he was on the Dawn Treader. Eustace faints, and the surprised minotaur turns to Caspian and asks, “Was it something I said?”

Eustacetavros

Anyway, I thought I’d dedicate a part in this blog entry about the boat itself, the Dawn Treader. During the production stage, I was looking at how this boat was being built, and I didn’t like it at all, mainly because I thought the dragon head looked scary. Well, come movie time, the Dawn Treader took my breath away – it was so lovely, and grand, and it had a wonderful purple sail!

The Eustace and Reepicheep Show (“It’s a dance, boy!”)

For some reason, there are two major characters in the Narnia books that I never particularly warmed up to – and those two are Eustace and Reepicheep. But this movie completely changed that.

narniavotdt-02

In the movie Prince Caspian, I did not enjoy how they made Reepicheep a comic relief because I felt he was too valiant and proud (in the book version at least), and he took himself too seriously. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader though, I didn’t mind at all that Reep had so many funny lines. And I particularly loved his line, “We have nothing if not belief.”

There are two scenes involving Eustace that I really loved in the movie, even though they weren’t necessarilyl in the book. The first is the scene where Reepicheep turned the duel into a fencing lesson for Eustace (and Reep tells him, “It’s a dance, boy!” or something to that effect). We see a faint glimmer of the post-dragon Eustace in his initial reaction when Reep congratulated him afterwards, which was a tentative smile, which was of course followed by his defense about how the results would have been different if the playing field was more level.

Another scene I loved was when dragon Eustace grabbed Edmund, dramatically flew around the Dawn Treader, before showing him the words “I am Eustace” on the ground. I also loved how the dragon Eustace resembled the boy Eustace.

When Reep approached the teary eyed dragon who couldn’t sleep, I thought it was the sweetest thing. I also loved how he assured Eustace that extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people.

Another scene that I loved was when dragon Eustace saw the sea serpent and turned around in fright. Reep dropped to his nose and said, “Look at me!” Eustace looks at him sullenly, but did as he was told – he went back to fight.

I really thought these two stole the entire show, and I’m now fully confident that Eustace (or more correctly, Will Poulter) can carry the weight of the next movies on his shoulders (if they ever get made). After all, it will be all Eustace in The Silver Chair and The Last Battle (well, along with Jill Pole of course).

Finally, it’s Caspian, not Cathpian

I am SO glad that Ben Barnes went back to his natural British accent for the movie (and he grew an Aragornish beard as well!). There’s just something about Narnia that always felt British, so it really threw me (and a lot of other fans) off when Prince Caspian appeared on screen with a vaguely Mediterranean accent. Actually, the reason for the accent does make sense, it just didn’t feel right for me.

Edmund and His Never-Ending White Witch Flashbacks

I’m actually okay with all the White Witch flashbacks in Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, although a lot of fans are complaining about it. I understand that it’s there because they need a bit of continuity from one movie to another. But then again, the moviemakers need to consider that the Narnia series is a lot different from any of the other fantasy series out there – there are always new major characters in every book. Oh well. Perhaps if I’ve betrayed and nearly killed my siblings  as well as an entire country for turkish delight, I’ll probably have flashbacks for the rest of my life as well.

All in all, I thought Edmund and Lucy were very grown-up and mature in these movies, and they are getting better and looking better as they grow up. But I still liked them both better in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe because there was something so raw and natural about how they acted.

The Swirly Green Mist

Okay, so this was the plot twist I was most worried about. I’m not too happy about it, but I can live with it. I just hope they made it that way and that color as a foreshadowing of the Lady of the Green Kirtle, the villain in the next Narnia movie, The Silver Chair. I just hope that if they ever made that into a movie, they won’t get Tilda Swinton for the role because it would be way too confusing for a lot of movie-goers.

All in all, I was very pleased with this movie, and I hope it earns enough to get the next Narnia movie greenlit. In the meantime, I’m going to do my part to help the movie make money by watching it as many times as I can afford, and getting my friends and family to watch it too. I still have faith that they can make The Silver Chair, mainly because I’d love to see Puddleglum on the big screen. As Reepicheep said, “We have nothing if not belief.”

Dancing to T Pain

TV & Movies, , , , ,

I wouldn’t really call myself a T. Pain fan, nor would I ever endorse the lyrics of this song which is just wrong on so many levels. But I have to admit I loved the scene in Step Up 2 where Tyler (Channing Tatum) and Andie (Briana Evigan) had a dance-off to this song.

I’ve seen other people dancing to this song after that, but I’ve never really liked it since I always invariably compare it to the dance scene in Step Up 2. But then I saw Twitch and Courtney using NappyTabs’ choreography in So You Think You Can Dance, and I have to say – I liked this as well. Here’s the full video of the performance.

The Cast of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE – 1995 vs 2005 (The Bingleys and the Darcys)

TV & Movies

I love the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie staring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen so much that it took me a while to warm up to the 1995 TV series starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Now, I’ll have to say I love both equally.

In a previous blog entry, I compared the performances of the 1995 and 2005 cast for the Bennet family and chose the ones I liked better. I kept a tally (which I will continue here) to see which adaptation wins for me in terms of individual cast performances.The final tally for the Bennets showed 3 votes for 2005 (Jane, Lizzie and Kitty Bennet) and 4 votes for 1995 (Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mary and Lydia Bennet). Now, I will move on to the Bingleys and the Darcys, and will keep the running tally as well to include the Bennets.

CAROLINE BINGLEY

miss bingley

Anna Chancellor (1995) vs Kelly Reilly (2005)  

I got distracted watching Kelly Reilly because I kept trying to remember where I saw her before (I checked IMDB afterwards and found out that she was Mary Morstan in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie). My only problem with her is that I thought she was a little too openly mean, which makes it very obvious for anyone who’s watching that she detests the Bennets. Anna Chancellor was a bit more sly.

TALLY for Bingleys/Darcys – 2005: 0, 1995: 1

RUNNING TALLY (including Bennets) – 2005: 3, 1995: 5

CHARLES BINGLEY

mr bingley

Crispin Bonham-Carter (1995) vs Simon Woods (2005)

I liked both of them a lot, but I felt that Simon Woods’ Mr. Bingley felt rather flat to me (though he is more handsome). To be fair, there wasn’t enough time to flesh him out in the span of two hours of course, so this is not his fault. I really really liked the scene where he is practicing his proposal with Mr. Darcy, especially when he bowed to Mr. Darcy and said, “Miss Bennet” and Mr. Darcy bowed back and replied, “Mr. Bingley.” Despite this, I still thought that Crispin Bonham-Carter did a better job.

TALLY for Bingleys/Darcys – 2005: 0, 1995: 2

RUNNING TALLY (including Bennets) – 2005: 3, 1995: 6

GEORGINA DARCY

georgiana

Emilia Fox (1995) vs Tamzin Merchant (2005) 

Tamzin Merchant wins this one for me without a doubt for three reasons: first, she looked like she’s really 15 (the age of Georgina Darcy) while I thought Emilia Fox looked older; second, she showed personality and life, even though she had probably less than 5 minutes of screen time; and third, she did her own piano playing – and she’s really good. I wish I could play “Georgiana” on the piano(forte) too.

TALLY for Bingleys/Darcys – 2005: 1, 1995: 2

RUNNING TALLY (including Bennets) – 2005: 4, 1995: 6

FITZWILLIAM DARCY

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Colin Firth (1995) vs Matthew MacFadyen (2005) 

This is definitely the hardest one I had to judge. I know that one of the criticisms for Matthew MacFadyen’s portrayal was that his Mr. Darcy was too mopey and had very limited facial expressions, but then we must consider that the movie only spanned two hours, which is considerably less time to flesh out the character as compared to what Colin Firth was able to do in six hours. I do think that Colin Firth is a genius and he was able to really portray the agony of Mr. Darcy. However, though I liked both of their performances very much, I will have to give this to Matthew MacFadyen mainly because of his intensity in the proposal scene in the rain.

TALLY for Bingleys/Darcys – 2005: 2, 1995: 2

RUNNING TALLY (including Bennets) – 2005: 5, 1995: 6

As a summary, I liked the 1995 Bingleys and the 2005 Darcys, so we end with a tie. However, since the 1995 was one vote ahead of the 2005 for the Bennets, the 1995 is still currently in the lead in my running tally.

The Cast of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE – 1995 vs 2005 (The Bennets)

TV & Movies

Like a lot of people, I saw the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie before I saw the 1995 adaptation. Since I was so blown away by the 2005 movie, it took me a while to begin appreciating the 1995 TV series. Now I love both – the 2005 movie for its unbelievable soundtrack (I’m currently learning to play “Dawn” on the piano) and breathtaking cinematography, as well as the intense chemistry between Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew MacFadyen’s Mr. Darcy; and the 1995 TV series for its length (6 hours! quite enough to bring to life a lot more of the story) and faithfulness to the novel.

In this blog entry, I will try to compare the performances of the cast, and pick the one I liked better. Since there are so many of them, I will start with the family from Longbourn, the Bennet family.

MR. BENNET

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Benjamin Whitrow (1995) vs Donald Sutherland (2005) 

Much as I like Donald Sutherland as an actor, I think Benjamin Whitrow was able to capture the crustiness of the character in general. But there was one line by Donald Sutherland that I particularly loved. This was when he said, “How happy for you, Mr. Collins, to possess the talent of flattering with such (pause) delicacy.”

TALLY – 2005: 0, 1995: 1

MRS. BENNET

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Alison Steadman (1995) vs Brenda Blethyn (2005)

They were both able to portray the cringe-enducing character of Mrs. Bennet, but I prefer Alison Steadman because she was shriller and a lot more over the top and ridiculous, adding a bit of comic relief.

TALLY – 2005: 0, 1995: 2

JANE BENNET

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Susannah Harker (1995) vs Rosamund Pike (2005) 

I thought Susannah Harker looked a little too old to play the part of the lovely Jane Bennet. I also thought she was a little too passive and beatific, so I guess it’s safe to say Rosamund Pike wins it for me. She was not only incredibly lovely, she was also very composed and kind.

TALLY – 2005: 1, 1995: 2

ELIZABETH BENNET

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Jennifer Ehle (1995) vs Keira Knightley (2005)

This was the easiest choice for me. At first, I couldn’t get myself to watch the 1995 adaptation because Jennifer Ehle did not meet my idea of Lizzie – except for her dark hair. She was, once more, a little too old and a little too smiley for my taste. And I got distracted by the fact that she had a resemblance to Meryl Streep. I’m sorry. I guess it’s just that I thought Keira Knightley played the role of Lizzie extremely well.

TALLY – 2005: 2, 1995: 2

MARY BENNET

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Lucy Briers (1995) vs Talulah Riley (2005) 

Both of them didn’t have much screen time, but I’m going for Lucy Briers because she was more plain-looking and had more of a touch of conceit about her accomplishments and wisdom. I actually thought that Talulah Riley was quite pretty and had a nice voice.

TALLY – 2005: 2, 1995: 3

KITTY BENNET

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Polly Maberly (1995) vs Carey Mulligan (2005) 

This is a very tough call for me since both didn’t have much screen time either. However, I particularly liked Carey Mulligan’s highly excited plea to Mr. Bingley – “Oh, do have a ball!” – when she went with her mother and sisters to Netherfield. Just for that line alone, I’ll have to choose Carey Mulligan though I really liked Polly Maberly as well.

TALLY – 2005: 3, 1995: 3

LYDIA BENNET

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Julia Sawalha (1995) vs Jena Malone (2005)

So the tie-breaker goes to the youngest Bennet. This is another tough call for me because I thought they were both sufficiently irritating and insufferable. The only problem was that I was quite distracted trying to remember where I saw Jena Malone before (it was “The Ruins,” as I found out later on by checking IMDB). I loved Jena Malone’s evident silliness when she said excitedly, “Officers! As far as the eye can see!” However, I would give this win to Julia Sawalha simply for the scene where she was seductively rubbing Mr. Wickham’s back with her toe.

FINAL TALLY – 2005: 3, 1995: 4

For the cast of the Bennet family, the 1995 adaptation wins!

My Favorite Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Scenes from Pride and Prejudice (Part 2 of 2)

TV & Movies,

My favorite movie at the moment is the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice directed by Joe Wright. I’ve only seen this movie for the first time more than a week ago (11 June 2010 to be exact) but have since watched it more than 15 times. Here is the second part of my list of top 10 favorite Mr. Darcy and Lizzie scenes in reverse order. Check out the first part here.

# 5 – Proposal at dawn

Though this must be the top favorite of a lot of Pride and Prejudice fans (after all, this was the proposal where Lizzie finally said yes), there are scenes that I enjoyed more. Of course, it’s quite hard to refuse a slightly disheveled looking Mr. Darcy saying “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you.” though I’m not even sure if that was a stutter or if he was repeating himself for emphasis. But it was so lovely all the same, and such a perfect way to end the story.

# 4 – And so he smiles.

How can I not love the only scene where Mr. Darcy actually smiles? While Georgiana is playing so well on the pianoforte, Lizzie and the Gardiners arrive. Mr. Darcy seemed much more relaxed and open than we’ve ever seen him before, which is either because of the presence of his sister, or his growing love for Lizzie, or probably a combination of both. I particularly love how proud he seemed to be of his brother, and how so many smiling looks were exchanged between Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, Mr. Darcy and Lizzie, and Georgiana and Lizzie. Such a nice happy family-to-be.

# 3 – The most awkward call of all time

While Lizzie is settled down alone at the Collins, Mr. Darcy storms in and stands fidgeting, looking most awkward and out of his depth. He glances around with a slightly panicked expression on his face, and when it was quite obvious that Lizzie was waiting for him to say something, the only thing he could come up with is, “This is a charming home.” When he hears the arrival of Mrs. Collins, he hurriedly departs with the words, “It’s been a pleasure.” We echo Charlotte’s astonishment when she asked, “What on earth did you to do to poor Mr. Darcy?” and Lizzie replies with equal astonishment, “I have no idea.”

# 2 – Surprise, surprise

Lizzie is visiting Pemberly with her Aunt and Uncle, and she strays away accidentantally and spies Georgina in a room, playing on the pianoforte. This is interrupted by the sudden arrival of her brother, Mr. Darcy, who looks up and sees Lizzie. She tries to run, much embarassed by having been seen by Mr. Darcy in his own estate. He follows her, quite obviously very surprised (though pleased) to see her. His demeanor has already changed much from his stiff and formal attitude before, and you could see how he wanted to stay there talking to her for a longer time. However, she hurries off and turns down his offer to see her back to the village.

# 1 – “I love you. Most ardently.” (a.k.a. the trainwreck proposal)

Without a doubt, this is my favorite scene in the entire movie. Mr. Darcy proposes to Lizzie in the rain by saying that he loves her most ardently, and yet unwittingly insults her in the process. I love this intense scene so much that I better just transcribe the whole conversation here:

Mr. Darcy: Miss Elizabeth. I have struggled in vain and I can bear it no longer. These past months have been a torment. I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you… I had to see you. I have fought against my better judgment, my family’s expectations, the inferiority of your birth by rank and circumstance. These things I am willing to put aside and ask you to end my agony.

Lizzie: I don’t understand.

Mr. Darcy: I love you. Most ardently. Please do me the honor of accepting my hand.

Lizzie: (after a pause) Sir, I appreciate the struggle you have been through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain. Believe me, it was unconsciously done.

Mr. Darcy: Is this your reply?

Lizzie: Yes, sir.

Mr. Darcy: Are you… are you laughing at me?

Lizzie: No.

Mr. Darcy: Are you rejecting me?

Lizzie: I’m sure that the feelings which, as you’ve told me have hindered your regard, will help you in overcoming it.

Mr. Darcy: Might I ask why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus repulsed?

Lizzie: And I might as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your better judgment.

Mr. Darcy: No, believe me, I…

Lizzie: If I was uncivil, then that is some excuse. But I have other reasons, you know I have.

Mr. Darcy: What reasons?

Lizzie: Do you think anything might tempt me to accept the man who has ruined, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister? Do you deny it, Mr. Darcy? That you separated a young couple who loved each other, exposing your friend to the censure of the world for caprice and my sister to its derision for disappointed hopes, involving them both in misery of the acutest kind?

Mr. Darcy: I do not deny it.

Lizzie: How could you do it?

Mr. Darcy: Because I believed your sister indifferent.

Lizzie: Indifferent?

Mr. Darcy: I watched them most carefully and realized his attachment was deeper than hers.

Lizzie: That’s because she’s shy!

Mr. Darcy: Bingley too is modest and was persuaded she didn’t feel strongly.

Lizzie: Because you suggested it!

Mr. Darcy: I did it for his own good!

Lizzie: My sister hardly shows her true feelings to me. (silence) I suppose you suspect that his… his fortune had some bearing…

Mr. Darcy: No, believe me I wouldn’t do your sister the dishonour, though it was suggested…

Lizzie: What was?

Mr. Darcy: (after a pause) It was made perfectly clear an advantageous marriage…

Lizzie: (enraged) Did my sister give that impression?

Mr. Darcy: No, no! No, there was, however, I have to admit, the matter of your family…

Lizzie: Our want of connection? Mr. Bingley didn’t seem to vex himself about that…

Mr. Darcy: No, it was more than that.

Lizzie: How, sir?

Mr. Darcy: It was the lack of propriety shown by your mother, your three younger sisters, and even, on occasion, your father. (thunderclaps are heard, Lizzie is obviously hurt) Forgive me. You and your sister I must exclude from this.

Lizzie: And what about Mr. Wickham?

Mr. Darcy: (moves closer) Mr. Wickham?

Lizzie: What excuse can you give your… your behavior towards him?

Mr. Darcy: You take an eager interest in that gentleman’s affairs.

Lizzie: He told of his misfortunes…

Mr. Darcy: Oh yes, his misfortunes have been very great indeed.

Lizzie: You ruined his chances and then you treat him with sarcasm.

Mr. Darcy: So this is your opinon of me? Thank you for explaining so fully. Perhaps these offences might have been overlooked had not your pride been hurt…

Lizzie: My pride?!

Mr. Darcy: …by my honesty in admitting scruples about our relationship. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your circumstances?

Lizzie: And those are the words of a gentleman. From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.

Mr. Darcy: (leans in, looks at Lizzie for a long time as if about to kiss her) Forgive me, madam, for taking up so much of your time.

My Favorite Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Scenes from Pride and Prejudice (Part 1 of 2)

TV & Movies

My favorite movie at the moment is the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice directed by Joe Wright. I’ve only seen this movie for the first time more than a week ago (11 June 2010 to be exact) but have since watched it more than 15 times. Here is the first part of my list of top 10 favorite Mr. Darcy and Lizzie scenes in reverse order. Check out the second part here.

# 10 – Barely tolerable

This is the scene where Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were talking to Mrs. Bennet, Jane and Lizzie in the ball. In passing, Lizzie mentioned that poetry had the power to drive away love, to which Mr. Darcy replied, “I thought that poetry was the food of love.” Lizzie replied that it may be the case if it’s a “fine stout love,” but not if it is merely a “vague inclination,” at which point a poor sonnet can be counted upon to kill it outright. Mr. Darcy replied, “So what do you recommend to encourage affection?” probably unconsciously planning to file the information for future reference, should he wish to encourage Lizzie’s affection. Lizzie quickly replied: “Dancing. Even if one’s partner is barely tolerable.” then stalked off. This must have suprised him since it shows that she heard his earlier comment that she was “barely tolerable,” and she had the guts to call him to it.

# 9 – No false modesty here

This is the scene where Lizzie is playing piano rather poorly, and Mr. Darcy walks towards the piano to watch her. Lizzie says, “You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all your state to hear me, but I won’t be alarmed even if your sister does play so well.” To which Mr. Darcy replied, “I am well enough acquainted with you, Miss Elizabeth, to know that I cannot alarm you, even should I wish it.” I love his look filled with subdued longing after their full exchange, as he gazes at Lizzie.

# 8 – May I have the next dance?

Charlotte and Lizzie are chatting cheerfully, when they are suddenly accosted by the always formal Mr. Darcy, who gravely asked, “Miss Elizabeth, may I have the next dance?” To which Lizzie replied in an equally formal tone, “You may.” Mr. Darcy gives a slight bow before walking off. If you didn’t know that he was already in love with her at that point, you would think he was the most difficult man to get along with.

# 7 – Electrified

Lizzie curtsies stiffly at Mr. Darcy, then bestows a friendly smile and curtsy to Mr. Bingley before she climbs the carriage on the way home. Unexpectedly, it is Mr. Darcy who helps her up, and after exchanging a fleeting look, we get a close up of Mr. Darcy’s hand, which looked as if it was electrified by the touch of Lizzie’s hand.

# 6 – A world of their own

The first time they danced (and their conversation) was so intense that it was as if they were on a world (or on a hallway) on their own. Of course, there are still such witty conversation such as Mr. Darcy asking Lizzie, “Do you talk, as a rule, while dancing?” and Lizzie replying, “No… No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn… Makes it all so much more enjoyable, don’t you think? ”

Complete Song List from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Music & Theatre, TV & Movies,

This is the most difficult song list I’ve ever tried to make, since the soundtrack contained instrumental music. I had to really familiarize myself with the melodies before I could begin making the list.

1. DAWN (track 1)

– Played at the beginning of the movie while the opening credits are showing. Lizzie is walking home and we first get a glimpse of the Bennet’s household (with Mary conveniently playing on the piano).

 2. MERYTOWN HALL (track 4)

– Played during the ball, with Kitty and Lydia dancing while Jane, Lizzie and Charlotte were chatting.  The song suddenly stops midway at the entrance of Mr. Bingley, Ms. Bingley and of course, Mr. Darcy, and resumes once they are at the other end of the hall.

3. ANOTHER DANCE (track 11)

– Played during the same ball while Jane and Mr. Bingley were dancing.

4. STARS AND BUTTERFLIES (track 2)

– Played while Lizzie was walking to Netherfield to visit Jane.

5. THE MILITIA MARCHES IN (track 5)

– Played while Lydia, Kitty and Mrs. Bennet were watching the officers marching into Merytown.

6. ARRIVAL AT NETHERFIELD (track 7)

– Played while the Bennets are preparing for the ball at Netherfield until they get there.

7. CAN’T SLOW DOWN (track 14)

– Played while Lizzie is dancing with Mr. Collins.

8. A POSTCARD TO HENRY PURCELL (track 8)

– Played in the very intense scene where Lizzie is dancing with Mr. Darcy.

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9. LEAVING NETHERFIELD (track 10)

– Played while Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy were, well, what else… leaving Netherfield.

10. THE SECRET LIFE OF DAYDREAMS (track 12)

– Played while Lizzie is on the swing after Charlotte just told her that she was engaged to Mr. Collins, until Lizzie arrived for a visit to the newlyweds.

11. DARCY’S LETTER (track 13)

– Played when Lizzie first found out (at church) that Mr. Darcy was responsible for separating Mr. Bingley and her sister Jane, until the scene where she is running on the bridge, soon to be followed by Mr. Darcy in what has now become the famous proposal scene in the rain. After the proposal, the second part of Darcy’s Letter plays again when Mr. Darcy came over to give his letter of explanation to Lizzie. It is once more played when Lizzie and the Gardiners are on the way home after finding out about Lydia running away with Mr. Wickham (or was it “Your Hands Are Cold”?).

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12. LIZ ON TOP OF THE WORLD (track 9)

– Played in the glorious shot of Lizzie standing on the cliff, looking at her surroundings, while she is traveling with the Gardiners.

13. THE LIVING SCULPTURES OF PEMBERLY (track 3)

– Played when Lizzie and the Gardiners were inside the Pemberly estate.

14. GEORGIANA (track 6)

– Played while Georgiana and Mr. Darcy are waiting for Lizzie and the Gardiners to arrive. It was also played in the hilarious scene where Mr. Bingley is practicing his proposal with Mr. Darcy.

15. YOUR HANDS ARE COLD (track 15)

– Played when Mr. Darcy proposed once more to Lizzie at dawn in the meadow.

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16. MRS. DARCY (track 16)

– Played while Mr. Darcy and Lizzie went to talk to Mr. Bennet about their plans to get married.

17. CREDITS (track 17)

– Played during (where else?) closing credits.

Favorite New Moon Quotes

TV & Movies,

Bella: I thought we agreed… No presents.

Charlie: Well… the one from me isn’t wrapped so it don’t count.

Bella: (looking at the camera) It’s actually great. Thanks Dad.

Charlie: Uh, it goes with this one, from your Mom. We coordinated… Well, she coordinated me.

-oOo-

Jessica: Today’s a big day Bella… (Bella looks at her, upset) R & J essay due.

Bella: Oh yeah.

Mike: Wherefore art thou, Bella?

-oOo-

Edward: Happy birthday.

Bella: Don’t remind me.

Edward: Well your birthday is definitely something to celebrate.

Bella: My aging is not.

Edward: (amused) Your aging… I think eighteen is a little too young to start worrying about that.

Bella: It’s one year older than you.

Edward: No it isn’t. I’m a hundred and nine.

Bella: Well… Maybe I shouldn’t be dating such an old man. It’s gross. I should be thoroughly repulsed.

-oOo-

Jacob: Bella.

Bella: Jacob!

Edward: I’ll leave you to talk.

Bella: Hello biceps. You know, anabolic steroids are really bad for you.

Jacob: Oh, I’m just filling out Bella. You know, it wouldn’t seem so drastic if we hang out more.

Bella: You should switch schools. Come hang out with the pale faces.

Jacob: I’m alright. I prefer the rez school’s exclusivity. They let any old riffraff into this place. (looks pointedly at Edward)

Complete Song List from New Moon

TV & Movies, ,

Before writing this post, I checked my similar post on the Twilight song list and realized that I listened to all the songs in the soundtrack before watching the movie. I don’t remember doing that, but it was exactly the same thing I did before watching New Moon. I even made soundtrack predictions on which scene each song will be used, but it seems I got everything wrong. Oh well.

Anyway, here is the complete song list from The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

1) Monsters (Hurricane Bells) – track 10 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella was driving on the way to school on her birthday, and while she’s taking the picture of her friends (Jessica, Mike, Eric and Angela).

2) The Violet Hour (Sea Wolf) – track 11 in the soundtrack

– This was played during Bella’s birthday party at the Cullens’ house until she had her paper cut.

3) Satellite Heart (Anya Maria) – track 6 in the soundtrack

– This was played while Bella and a visibly upset Edward were on the way home.

4) Roslyn (Bon Iver and St. Vincent) – track 8 in the soundtrack

– This was played while Bella was printing out her picture with Edward and sitting on a table with her friends on a sunny day, and Edward was at her room until they went for a walk in the forest.

5) Possibility (Lykke Li) – track 4 in the soundtrack

– This was played while Bella was sitting at her room, depressed, as the months passed by. It continued while Bella was writing bouncing emails to Alice, having nightmares and sitting at the Cullens cafeteria table by herself.

6) I Belong to You (Muse) – track 7 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella told Charlie that she was going out for a girl’s night out with Jessica.

7) Friends (Band of Skulls) – track 2 in the soundtrack

– This was played during Bella’s first Edward hallucination, when she approached the guys with a disapproving and incredulous Jessica looking at her.

8) All I Believe In (The Magic Numbers & Amadou & Mariam) – bonus track in the soundtrack

– This was played when Jacob started fixing the motorbikes and during the montage when Jacob and Bella were at his garage

9) Shooting the Moon (Ok Go) – track 12 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Jacob started wrestling with Quil and throughout the montage of Jacob fixing the bike with Bella.

10) The Meadow (Alexandre Desplat) – track 15 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella was at the meadow and she saw Laurent.

11) Done All Wrong (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) – track 9 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella was about to enter Emily’s house while Paul and Jacob were having their wolf scuffle. I guess the song about doing wrong is appropriate since Bella, the vampire girl, is now visiting the werewolves place.

12) Hearing Damage (Thom Yorke) – track 3 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Charlie and the rest of the townspeople were combing the forest hunting for the wolves, and Victoria attacked Harry Clearwater behind Charlie’s back. The song is still playing during the impressive scene of the werewolves chasing the ever-graceful (and ever-sneaky) Victoria until she jumps to the water.

13) Slow Life (Grizzly Bear) – track 13 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Bella was under water, unconscious. She was looking at her Edward hallucination until Jacob towed her from the water. The lyrics are very appropriate for Bella: “Even though you’re the only one I see / If you ask, I’ll cut you free…”

14) No Sound but the Wind (Editors) – track 14 in the soundtrack

– This was played when Edward and Bella were on the way home from the Cullens’ place after Bella asked for their vote on whether she should become a vampire. I thought it would be used when the Cullens were packing up to leave Forks because of the line, “We can never go home / We no longer have one…” but I suppose it also applies to Bella.

15) A White Demon Love Song (The Killers) – track 5 in the soundtrack

– This was played during the closing credits.

16) Meet Me at the Equinox (Death Cab for Cutie) – track 1 in the soundtrack

– I didn’t actually hear it, but I’m assuming they played this during the closing credits as well. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

My First Impression on New Moon (the Movie)

TV & Movies

First of all, let me start with a disclaimer – I’ve only watched New Moon once when it opened last Friday, so this post is only about my first impression on the movie. I’ll probably write a review after I’ve seen it a couple of times. I haven’t read any other reviews as well so that I won’t be prejudiced or influenced by them.

I was a bit wary because a friend who watched the premiere showing of New Moon the night before told me that teenage fangirls kept screaming whenever Edward was on screen, making it hard to concentrate on the movie and hard to listen to the dialogue. Thankfully, I didn’t have this experience. The crowd was pretty quiet except for the spontaneous intake of breath when Jacob first removed his shirt. I guess he really was sort of beautiful in that scene.

Anyway, here are some of my comments about the movie:

1. The effects were so much better. Seriously. It only makes the special effects of Twilight so much more laughable. I loved how the wolves transform, and how the vampires (especially Victoria) move. No more swooshing sound either whenever the vampires are running, though there is still that tinkling sound when Edward exposed his body to the sunlight.

2. The make up was so much better too. The vampires (especially Esme) were paler and less natural looking. However, I thought Edward’s lipstick was a bit too… red.

3. There were a lot of direct quotes from the books. I didn’t even realize this while watching the movie since I haven’t read New Moon in years. The next day, I got out my copy of New Moon and re-read it the whole day, and was pleasantly surprised at the number of quotes lifted word for word from the book.

4. Taylor Lautner was… great. He was able to do something that the book wasn’t able to do – make me sympathetic to Team Jacob. As I mentioned, the audience all gasped when he first took off his shirt – myself included. It was a spontaneous reaction. It’s obvious he really worked out, and I thought he looks better with cropped hair.

5. The soundtrack, which I thought was too depressing when I first listened to it, fit quite well in the movie. I made another post regarding my predictions on where the songs would appear, but it seems I got everything wrong. All I remember is “Satellite Heart” was played in Bella’s truck when Bella and Edward was talking after the disastrous birthday party, “Possibility” was played while the months passed and Bella was just sitting depressed at her room, and “A White Demon Love Song” was played during the closing credits.

6. Alice’s outfits were always very cute. She was always very cute too, though her hair is a bit longer.

7. I love the scene where Bella was just sitting in her room and the camera was rotating around her, while the passing months (October, November, and so on) were super-imposed on the screen. The changing seasons were shown as well in the window outside her room. I thought it was a very creative way to translate that part from the book, which had blank pages with only the words October, November and so on…

8. I love the scene where Bella is seen sitting alone in the Cullens’ table at the cafeteria, and her friends were looking at her. That wasn’t in the book, but it was a great way to show how she was dealing with the pain and how isolated she was from her friends.

9. I loved the ending! I won’t give any spoilers, but there was also a rather loud reaction from the audience when “Directed by Chris Weitz” appeared on the screen.

10. I love how the movie followed the book faithfully. This is something I wish other moviemakers would do – respect the book, respect the story and respect the fans. I don’t think there were any major plot differences, like in Twilight.