Irene's Top Ten Favorite Christmas Carols

                                         'Tis the season

Merry Christmas everyone! I wanted to have Anna write a list of her favorite Christmas carols, but unfortunately we have been very busy, and I am just now getting around to writing this little list, because hey, we need at least one Christmas post, right? Anyway, here's a list of a few of my favorite carols. I excluded songs like Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, because although they are groovy, they're not exactly carols.

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Although I am not ranking these in any particular order, I will say that this exceedingly British carol is definitely near the top of the list. It personifies the solemnity of Christmas morn. We have so many songs singing praises of the joy (which is splendid) of Christmas that it's nice to have one telling grown men to remember that if it weren't for Christ coming into the world, we'd all be in Satan's clutches. And the words are so epic, ya know! And I also have a soft spot for songs in the minor key...

'This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface!'

2. Once In Royal David's City: This is Mama's favorite Christmas carol, and I can't but agree with her that it is a beautiful hymn. So quiet, so peaceful. This one sounds like the very early morning on Christmas day, when everything is still quiet but the world knows Jesus is born.

'He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall; with the poor, the weak, the lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.'

3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing: Okay, who doesn't like this carol? It's so happy! I like how the melody builds and builds up to the last line.

'Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!'

4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear: Rather like number 2 in aura, this Christmas carol has more of an icy feeling. Like you're outside on a midnight clear, drinking it the quietness of Christmas morn. It's a lovely carol.

'It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold. "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heav'n's all gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.'

5. Angels We Have Heard On High: This carol is gorgeous, in my opinion. So clear, like bells ringing in the frosty air. I looked it up, and that one part (you know what I'm talking about) is a melisma, and it's just so beautiful. Like snow delicately falling over the sound of those crystal clear bells.

'Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.'

6. Carol of the Bells: The only negative thing about this carol is that you kinda need a large group of people to sing it correctly. But when you do, my is it beautiful! It's so haunting, like it's waiting in a dark forest filled with snow and anticipation for the coming Christmas day.

'Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away. Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold....'

7. O Holy Night: Although this carol isn't my absolute favorite, it stills deserves to be on this list. It's calm and serene, and then passionate and moving. 

'A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.'

8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem: This has to be the coziest Christmas carol out there. It's so dreamy, like lying before a fire on Christmas eve. It does mention the word sleep several times, so no wonder it's so dreamy.

'O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.'

9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are: My family and I sing this carol often in our morning prayers throughout the Nativity fast, so it never was exactly fresh and new, but I still thought it was awesome when I was a kid (courtesy of minor key), especially the verses. I think it's wonderful that the Three Kings finally get a song (and by finally, I mean 1863).

'Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume. Breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorr'wing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.'

10. Silent Night: Did you honestly think I wouldn't put Silent Night on here? Although this carol is sung almost too often, a good rendition of it (like the Regensburger Domspatzen version) is always beautiful. A wonderful carol to sing late on Christmas eve, it is one of the most soothing and beautiful carols out there.

'Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. 'Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.'

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

                                 'Glories stream from heaven afar, heav'nly hosts sing Allelluia; 

                                           Christ the savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a work often named among the great American novels, written by the native Missourian Samuel L. Clemens, better know by his nom de plume Mark Twain. In it, the tales of a boy, Huckleberry Finn, are told in a natural American style, almost unknown in the year of 1884. As the narrator, Huck Finn tells the story of his and a runaway slave's exploits as they traverse the great Mississippi river, as well as the towns and people surrounding it.

'You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter.'

As Huckleberry Finn tell us in the opening lines of his story, we need not of read Tom Sawyer to understand this story, as it is almost entirely a stand-alone work. Huckleberry Finn is a poor boy, what some would call 'Swamp Trash'. However, he does not find having no shoes and being permanently covered in dirt humiliating in the least. In fact, he finds it far more favorable than having to mind his manners and get gussied up for church every Sunday. But Huck Finn's comfortable life living with the old Widow Douglas, an old woman who has taken him in, is soon to be disrupted by his alcoholic and abusive father. To escape from his father's cabin, Huck fakes his own death and takes off to a seldom-visited island. There he meets Jim, a black slave who had just learned that he was to be sold to a man in New Orleans, where slaves were reputably treated very badly. Huck agrees to travel down the Mississippi on a raft with Jim, and together they encounter a staggeringly large amount of adventures, including runaway-slave hunters, a couple of murderous mutineers, a family feud, and two river rats known as the 'King' and the 'Duke' who bring along their own boat-load of trouble.

The entire book comes to its climactic ending adventure when Huckleberry Finn is mistaken for none other than his very good friend Tom Sawyer. Tom's aunt, Aunt Sally, and her husband have not seen their nephew for ages, so immediately assume this young boy at their doorstep is their visiting relative. Huckleberry Finn is in the vicinity in the first place to rescue Jim, who was betrayed and handed over to Tom's aunt and uncle as a cotton-picking slave. With Jim being locked in an old rickety shack, Huck believes he will not have much trouble releasing his friend from imprisonment, until Tom Sawyer himself shows up, complicating matters to no end. The undertaking and conclusion of this escapade is incredibly hilarious.

Mark Twain did a wonderful job of satirically condemning the institutional racism that was prevalent in the 1800's. He shows it as it truly is: Absolutely absurd. To think that a person does not wish to be free or care for their own family, or not be sold and taken from their home at a moments notice just because of their skin color is incredibly absurd. And despite Huckleberry Finn growing up in the South, where everybody had a slave, or knew somebody who owned a slave,  and to aid a runaway slave was considered a grave sin, he manages to still be a character who is always concerned about what is morally right, despite telling himself several times that it's just too much trouble even trying to be good, and he might as well give it up, as he is just plain bad. In fact, Huck Finn has such a moral compass that he does things he wholeheartedly believes to be wrong, just because he knows he will feel terrible if he does the alternative.

This whole book in incredibly witty, but I will just share with you a few of my favorite lines... Well, quite a few, but I couldn't leave any of them out, could I? Here they are:

_

'Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free - and who was to blame for it? Why, me.'

~

'Jim said that bees won't sting idiots, but I didn't believe that, because I tried them lots of times myself and they wouldn't sting me.'

~

'Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain't got no business doing wrong when he ain't ignorant and knows better.'

~

Huckleberry Finn: '"Well, then, what'll we make him the ink out of?"'

Tom Sawyer: '"Many makes it out of iron-rust and tears; but that's the common sort and women; the best authorities uses their own blood. Jim can do that;"'...

~

'I do believe [Jim] cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so.'

~

Huck: '"Jim ain't got no tin plates. They feed him in a pan."'

Tom: '"That ain't nothing; we can get him some."'

Huck: '"Can't nobody read his plates."'

Tom: '"That ain't got nothing to do with it, Huck Finn. All he's got to do is to write on the plate and throw it out. You don't have to be able to read it. Why, half the time you can't read anything a prisoner writes on a tin plate, or anywhere else."'

Huck: '"Well, then, what's the sense in wasting the plates?"'

Tom: '"Why, blame it all, it ain't the prisoner's plates."'

Huck: '"But it's somebody's plates, ain't it?"'

_

There are plenty more good ones, but I mustn't take up all your time. Just go read the book. It's very beneficial to your psychic 😄

~ Irene

Go For Broke! (1951)

                Going for broke with the guys of the 442nd!

- During World War II, Lt. Michael Grayson (Van Johnson) is newly commissioned American Army officer who looks forward to being assigned to the 36th Texas Division. Instead, he is put in charge of Japanese-American soldiers, who form the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Grayson is bigoted and uneasy about the assignment, but when the unit goes into combat in Italy, he admires their courage and determination. The 442nd eventually becomes the most decorated unit in the U.S. Army. -

(Ripped straight off of Google, 'cause no way I'm gonna write up a summary of this movie)

You know when you tell people how you love movies from the 40's and 50's (you know you do) and those people are all like 'Yeah, but people were so racist back then! They didn't even cast black people or hire Asian people to play Asians!' Because I know some people who think that. Well ya know what? They can go walk off a cliff!

Some of the real members of the 442nd

The 442nd regiment was honestly one of the coolest things ever. It was a wonderful embodiment of the American sentiment that it doesn't matter who your parents were, what your skin color is, or where you originated from, as long as you pull your weight and fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, well then by golly you're an American! Another positive thing about this movie (although this whole review is about the positive traits of this movie) is that, as Daddy said, American relations with the Japanese (both native and American-Japanese) were very, shall we say, strained, so movies like this made in the early 50's really helped smooth out the bad feelings. This here review's gonna be kinda structured. You'll see what I mean when I mean what I see........ That was supposed to make more sense when written down...

Favorite Characters:

I would say my favorite character is this lovely guy. Half Japanese, half Irish, Sgt. O'Hara is so responsible and worthy of followers, it's no wonder he's promoted to Lieutenant before the movie's two-thirds of the way done. Sgt. O'Hara is not given as much screen time as he deserves, but the scenes he is in you can easily pick up on his sense of humor and peace-making skills. He is also super brave and has a cute little brother, so that's fun.

My second favorite character is Sam. The audience gets to know the most about Sam's background, his personal and family life. Like the fact that he sends all his red-cross goodies home to his family living at a basically-prison-camp-for-American-Japanese in the states (I'm pretty sure they had a legitimate name, but I can't think of it), as well as the fact that he's got a girl and her name is Terry. Sam is kind to the smaller, weaker characters in the movie (I'm looking at you Tommy) and always ready to protect them from bullies and jerks (I'm looking at you Chick), as well as    being a heck of a fighter and just one cool dude. And he's got great hair, so that had me sold in his first five minutes.

                                                                                               

There were lots of other good characters as well, like Kaz, and Tommy, and good ol' Lt. Michael Grayson, but those two guys up there take the cake. Moving on....

Favorite Moments: 

So many wonderful moments in this movie. Near the beginning we meet all of our heroes-to-be and they go through a training course with good ol' Lt. Grayson, and it is pretty darn hilarious. Let me just say, sometimes it's hard being short. I wouldn't know of course, but it just seems like it would be. The entire training scene is thoroughly enjoyable. And how about when the Lieutenant first meets Tommy?

                                                   

Mustn't forget Good Ol' Lt. Grayson

I really love it when Lt. Grayson finally meets up with his old buddy from the 36th Texas Division while he and the boys are chillin' at a cafe in France (?). The Lieutenant's big-mouth friend is shooting off about how he didn't ever believe he'd see the day when he'd fight side by side with a Jap. He continues making cracks at our boys and calling them 'Japs'. Grayson was not in the cafe while this was taking place. He comes through the door and first greets his men, and then sees his ol' friend standing by the bar. He goes up to meet him and jovially pats him on the back. Sam and Tommy and the rest all see that their Lieutenant is real buddy-buddy with this smart-mouth, which makes Chick (the wet-blanket and self-designed tough boy of the group) very cynical about our good ol' Lt. Grayson indeed. He bets against Sam that Grayson would rather go and have fun with his old friend from Texas than have a drink with some Japs, and sure enough, the Lieutenant heads out the door with big-mouth without even saying goodbye to our boys. But not for the reason they believe. Ol' big-mouth had been living up to his assigned name in that there cafe, so good ol' Lt. Grayson had asked him to step outside. He tells big-mouth not to call his men 'Japs'. He can call them Nisei, or Buddha-heads, Japanese-Americans, whatever, just not Japs. Big-mouth from Texas does not take this well, and Grayson promptly punches him. And a very well-deserved punch, I might add.

And it's pretty epic when our boys use their Japanese martial arts moves on the Krauts. Or when they capture a group of aforementioned Krauts, and those German are just a little confused about why they are being captured by their own allies.

Rating:

Hehe, I like thinking I'm a movie critic. As I find this film thoroughly unique, entertaining, and not to mention educational, I proudly give my 11 out of 11 and a half. So there.

Notes:

You know, it's funny, but I find it rather strange that the modern day media and film-making companies haven't cast more light on the 442nd regiment. It would certainly fit their agenda of supposed diversity and equality. But maybe 'Go For Broke' and the real men of the 442nd are just too darn American and inspiring (not to mention masculine) for the mainstream media and Hollywood to cast their illustrious glances on. But pardon me, I find myself becoming too political. 

The most highly decorated unit in U.S. history. Go For Broke.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

My Favorite Alan Ladd Movies

                    My Top Five Favorite Alan Ladd Movies

Hello there! In honor of that wonderful actor Alan Ladd's birthday (September 3rd) a blogathon is being hosted by Pale Writer. I knew I would have to write something when I first heard about it. I originally had the idea of doing my Top Ten favorite Alan Ladd movies, since that would fit neatly into mine and Anna's 'Top Ten' category, but then I realized I've only seen nine of Alan's movies. Whoops. Kinda embarrassing, I know. Maybe you're saying 'Hey, why don't you just go out a watch a couple of his movies. Treat yourself to something nice.' That would be a good idea, except what if the movies aren't good enough to be listed as my absolute favorites? What then? What if it's too late to enter my list for the blogathon? What then, I ask you?! So I just decided to do my top five. Enjoy 😁

1. And Now Tomorrow (1944)

Poor but talented Dr. Merek Vance returns to his 

hometown after many years away with a serum that may be capable of restoring the hearing of wealthy Emily Blair. Problem is, he doesn't want anything to do with what he thinks is nothing but a spoiled rich girl. And she wants nothing to do with what she thinks is a cynical and rude doctor.

I think this is my favorite role from Mr. Ladd. He's so wonderful, I can't handle it. I usually don't like romances, but this movie is just straight up sweet, and doesn't have too many wishy-washy scenes. Acting's great (of course. It's Alan Ladd and Loretta Young), story's heart-warming and fuzzy, and the dialogue is quick and snappy. I love it 💗

                                                                                                                                                            

 2. Branded (1950)

Outlaw Choya gets in on a sweet deal that his outlaw 

buddies discovered. Apparently, twenty-five years ago

the son of a wealthy ranching family was kidnapped and 

never seen again. Choya just happens to be of the right age 

and overall appearance to maybe pass off as the long-lost 

Lavery boy. Besides that, Choya's partner-in-crime tattoos  

a distinctive birthmark on his shoulder. And with that, Choya 

sets out to fool the Lavery family and come into a nice, fat

inheritance. But what happens when this conscienceless

desperado starts falling in love with family he's supposed to

hoodwink? 

I love movies where men of questionable morals start out to

cheat and rob a family or person but then end up with a terrible

case of the conscience. This movie is a great example of that 

story-line. I love Choya's character arc and I also quite like 

and admire the main girl, Ruth Lavery, which is quite strange

for a western. The whole movie's both an exciting western,

full of plot twists and turns,as well as a sweet and fuzzy 

bowl of chicken soup. It's a movie that makes me happy 😄

3. This Gun For Hire (1942)

Paid killer Phillip Raven begins to track down his employer

when he realizes he has been given marked bills in payment

for his latest job. While on the trail of his treacherous boss,

Raven happens to sit next to the beautiful lady named Ellen while hitching a ride on a train out of town. Although she is engaged to a police lieutenant, Ellen decides to try and help Raven walk the straight-and-narrow as he dodges both the police and his former employer's hit-men.

This is, I think, the best put-together movie on this list. The

acting's fabulous, and the cinematography sets a dark and 

depressing stage, perfect for a film noir. Although I wouldn't 

say that Raven is my favorite Alan Ladd role (he's a bit un-hinged, if you know what I mean) he still puts in a heck of a performance. And of course Mr. Ladd and Miss Veronica Lake together are bound to be nothing short of spectacular. Great, albeit tragic, film.

4. Whispering Smith (1948)

Luke 'Whispering' Smith is an 1800's policeman tasked with

stopping a gang of train-robbers terrorizing his railroad line.

Whispering Smith is faced with a serious problem when 

his best friend Murray is fired from his job for the railroad and, 

in an act of defiance, joins the very gang of outlaws that Smith 

is trying to put out of order. To further complicate matters, 

Murray's wife, and Luke's old flame, claims to still be in love 

with Luke.

Whispering Smith has got to be one of the greatest guys to ever

draw breath. He is practically perfect in every way. And as much as I enjoy Alan Ladd in his more cynical roles, it's nice to see him as a mild-mannered and gentle guy like Luke who can still ride wild horses and take down bad guys with the best of 'em. One of the things I love about this movie is that Luke has to fight against his own best friend. The DRAMA guys! It's heartrendingly amazing. And just a little note, I do NOT like Marian, Murray's wife, at all. She made her choice between Murray and Luke long ago, but when the former shows up for just a quick stop, she's falling all over him! Honestly, lady, have a little pride!

5. China (1943)

David Jones, a war profiteer, is traveling through China with 

his buddy Johnny Sparrow shortly before Pearl Harbor. 

While travelling cross-country to Shanghai, Mr. Jones and his 

friend encounter school-teacher Carolyn Grant. Soon the cynical 

Mr. Jones finds himself driving Miss Grant and a large group of 

Chinese school girls through Japanese infested territory in what

soon becomes a fight for freedom and China.

This movie was WAY more emotionally taxing than I was prepared for. It's pretty intense at times, but it's still a wonderful movie. Alan Ladd's character, David Jones, finds that there are more important things in this world than money and his personal safety (never would have guessed that) and along the bumpy road of this astounding discovery, he also finds love. Sighhhhhhhh. But seriously, it's a really good movie, with Alan Ladd at his best,chalk-full of action and excitement, along with a meaningful message and a fairly theologically correct talk about God. What won't they think of next?

And there you have my five favorite Alan Ladd movies. Mind you, they may be moved around or even replaced as I add more of Alan's movies to my list, but for now they are my golden five! I also readily enjoy The Blue Dahlia (1946)', 'The Glass Key (1942)', and I don't really remember Shane, but I do remember that I loved the scenery, so there's that for all you Shane fans.
Happy (slightly late) birthday, Alan Ladd. I've loved you in every single movie I've seen you in and you shall forever remain one of my favorite actors.

East of Eden (1955)

So, I have a confession to make. I keep on telling you guys that I usually wait until I have seen a movie at least two times before I review it, but let's be honest, that's a complete lie. Of the three movies I've already reviewed on here, two of them I've only seen once. And this will make a third. I know, I'm a liar, but this movie's just too great to not review right away, okay?

WARNING: This is just gonna be a gushy review. Not very coherent at all. I won't really tell you the plot line, and I'll try not to spoil too many important plot points. Spoiler Alerts will be provided for those of you who even care.

James Dean was only in three or four movies before he died, sadly. But man alive, was he a good actor! Just wanted to get that out here, 'cause he really impressed me. And John Steinbeck, thank you very much for writing what you did. Mama told me I shouldn't watch the movie before I read the book, but then again, she's watched A Tale of Two Cities and hasn't read the book, so there 😉

Really rough outline of the plot: Cal Trask is unloved (or so he thinks). His brother, Aron, has always been the good son, always doing just what his father wants and expects of him, and Cal has let this eat him up with jealousy. WARNING, SPOILERS COMING UP. Both sons have been told that their mother is dead, but Cal finds out that not only is this not true, but also that his mother owns a generally low-down-gambling-and-anything-illegal-you-wanna-do house in the city across the mountains, Monterey. Nobody knows this but him.

Cal on the right with his mother on the left.

Alright, there you have it. The whole set-up for an emotional roller-coaster. If you don't cry at least once, well, I might start doubting you have a heart, hate to say it. But don't get me wrong, it's an awesome and epic emotional roller-coaster that you won't be sorry you got on. 

Let's talk about characters: Every single character in this movie is so, so different, and so very real. There's Cal, who is extremely insecure but very eager to please as well. James Dean's acting is phenomenal in this part. Just a little raise of an eyebrow, just a little movement of the hand and this guy's got emotions electrifying the room. As I said before, I was impressed. I like Cal in a 'Here, let me comfort you and tell you you're actually not bad but stop being an idiot' kind of way. Kid needs a hug, that's for sure. Then there's Mr. Trask, Cal's father. Mr. Trask is an avid bible-thumper. But, surprisingly, this doesn't mean he's super harsh and cruel. In movies, they usually pair being a bible-quotin' Christian with being a jerk and most likely insane. Mr. Trask is neither of these. He is kind and tries to understand his son Cal, although at first he doesn't succeed. I didn't actually LIKE him, but I didn't hate him either. Next, there's the extraordinary Abra. She's the girlfriend, soon to be fiance (or IS she?) of Aron Trask. She is outgoing, outspoken, and very friendly. In the beginning of the movie she's afraid of Cal (can't blame her, he acts a little insane) but she eventually becomes friends with him and then (SPOILERS COMING UP) a littler more than friends. They have a strange relationship. She wants to care for and comfort him, as she understands what it feels like to think one is not loved. But then again, she believes she is loved by Aron and does not want to let him down. Poor girl's in a tough situation throughout almost all the movie. And let's not forget that she saves both the characters of this film and us, the viewers, from one of the saddest and most heart-wrenching movie endings in history. Thank you Abra, so much. And how about Aron himself? Well, Aron is a goody two shoes in the beginning. He has a girlfriend he loves, he loves his father and does as he asks, and he love his strange little brother. All is well with him. But a funny thing I noticed in this movie is that while at the beginning Cal seems emotionally and mentally unstable and Aron seems like a outstandingly stable guy, by the end of the movie we see who can handle the shocking and terrible truth better.

There are several side characters, but the only one of great consequence to the plot is Mrs. Trask, better known as Cathy, herself. Cathy Ames (as she is now known) is a pretty amoral woman.  She runs her gambling house in the nasty town of Monterey (don't know if it's still nasty, just saying that it was in the time of the story. No offense intended to current or former Montereyins) and cares nothing about the family she's left behind. But who knows, maybe seeing one of her own sons will break the cold shell and reveal a human heart somewhere deep down inside?

Hey, how 'bout the cinematography and filming in general? Answer: Smashing. Scenery was beautiful and the director used different camera angles (sometimes quite strange ones) to evoke special feelings and atmospheres. All cinematography was masterfully done.

This shot. Only one word for it: GORGEOUS!

And how about the soundtrack? To be honest, I was so too caught up in the incredible acting and beautiful filming that I didn't really pay much attention to the music. But I never felt as though it were ruining the moment, you know, being too ostentatious, and it certainly added to the tension several times, so I guess it did its job. I'll have to listen to JUST the music sometime soon.

This theme is definitely beautiful though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7iF0BxuNo

I would share my favorite moments with you, but they are more than a little crucial to the plot. However, I will tell you how many times I cried. Not counting just being teary-eyed, I think I full out cried three times. You may cry more or less. I can't tell what makes you break down.

I'll leave you with that SUPER short little review and you can enjoy what I didn't spoil yourself. If you don't want to watch this movie, I totally understand...

Honestly, I mean it! 

Well, maybe I don't.

Anyway, enough James Dean gifs. You really should watch this movie. It's a powerful and beautiful work of art that has an important and inspiring message. 

Verdict: I absolutely loved it.

                                                                   ~ Irene

It's So Classic Book Tag

IT'S SO CLASSIC TAG

Anna and I got tagged by Hamlette to do this tag, originally from the website Rebellious Writing, but since I have read a few more classics than Anna, it's just gonna be me answering the questions. Enjoy 😃

1. What is one classic that hasn't been made into a movie yet, but really needs to?

You know, as I was reading The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, I kept on thinking of what each scene would look like if it were in a movie! It's been made a few times, technically, but never the whole entire thing. Never just the straight up story, ya know? I also think it would look really cool with modern day film quality and all. Very depressing, but also very aesthetically pleasing 😉

2. What draws you to classics? 

Well, usually, if something has lasted over fifty years and is still well-loved and well-read, than it's probably pretty good. Not always, but usually. I like that almost everybody back in the day included God and actual moral standards in their stories, even if the characters (and maybe even the writers themselves) weren't exactly the pinnacles of good Christian behavior. Also, insults were just so classy back then (I say, right after I have spoken about having Christian behavior and moral standards...)!

3. What is an underrated classic?

You know, I hate to say this, but I've never actually read an underrated classic. Pretty lame, isn't it? Although I do love The Hobbit, and I know it's a pretty popular book, but SOMEONE on the internet doesn't like it! 😉 I know it's very different from The Lord of the Rings, but Tolkien did write it more for his young children than that other wonderful trilogy, so I think that explains the sometime lacking sense of seriousness. But honestly how could you NOT like a book that has a sentence like: 'Out leapt the King under the Mountain, and his companions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone; they were in shining armour, and red light leapt from their eyes. In the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire.' So epic! I also cry every time Thorin dies, so yeah. And there's so much beautiful poetry! I love that book! Anyway, onto the next question...

4. What is one classic that you didn't expect to love, but ended up loving anyway?

So, Great Expectations has a wonderful atmosphere, and many great qualities (which I might just write about someday) but I did find it a little difficult to keep reading at some parts. It just got kind of convoluted at times. So when my friend told me to read 'A Tale of Two Cities' I was like 'Okay, for you, but it's probably gonna be kind of boring.' Boy, was I wrong! I really loved it guys, I really did! Sydney Carton is amazing! I know everyone knows that already, but I didn't! Not only was the story interesting and the characters wonderfully done, but it was actually quite engrossing. Like, I wanted to pick it up when I saw it lying on the table. Well done, Charles Dickens, well done.

5. What are your most favorite and least favorite classics?

Most favorite: The Lord of the Rings, but that's actually three books, so we'll go with A Tale of Two Cities.... For now. Least favorite: I didn't finish Little Women when I read it, but I did read it awhile ago, so I won't make any judgments on it right now.

6. Who is your favorite character from a classic?

Oooh, this is a hard one. I love almost everybody in The Lord of the Rings, but I think I'll go with Sydney Carton right now.

7. What's a popular classic that you felt wasn't actually that great?

Um, again, Little Women. *ducks rotten eggs* Okay, okay, I actually have absolutely no idea if I would like that book if I read it now. Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't.

8. Who is your favorite classic author?

I love Charles Dickens, J.R.R. Tolkein, and does C.S. Lewis count as a classic author? 'Cause if so, then he's definitely on this list. I also really like Jack London's and Laura Ingalls Wilder's writing.

9. In your opinion, what makes a classic a classic?

I think it has to be old, say at least fifty years, so as to rule out books that will not stand the test of time. And it has to be a particularly outstanding work of prose or poetry. It must leave you with a feeling that you have been touched in at least some small way.

10. Relating to newer books, what attributes does a book need to have in order to be worth of the title "classic"?

Definitely what I just said. It may be popular now, but that doesn't mean in fifty years anybody's gonna know what the heck it is.

Thanks so much for tagging Anna and me Hamlette! Um, I'm supposed to tag five people, but like our last tags, I don't want to tag someone who has already been tagged, so I'll just slip out of this one, if that's okay ;D

Almost Angels (1962)

Don't exactly LOVE this poster, but it has a cute picture of Peter in the back and the other poster had a random kid with a random black eye.

See, I told you he has a black eye. What the heck?

I usually wait until I have watched a movie at least twice until I review it, but this movie was just so, I shudder to use the word, precious, (getting strong Gollum vibes here, but it was precious) that I had to post something about it right away! On Allison's Well, a very nifty blog I just found, Allison had a list of of ten Disney movies that time forgot, but shouldn't have. I'm not sure if that's a quote-on-quote quote, but close enough. On that list I found this wonderful little movie. And there you have the backstory. Now on to the review →→→

Tony Fiala can sing. He knows it, his mother knows it, and his father knows it, but his father doesn't want him to sing. He wants him to follow a useful career path, like following in his footsteps and learning how to operate a train. But Tony cannot be kept away from his dream of singing. Without the father's knowledge, Mrs. Fiala sets Tony up to audition for the Vienna Boys' Choir. With only two places left in the choir and eight boys auditioning, Tony manages to nail it. He is now a Vienna Boy.... Although he already was a Vienna boy, he is now a Vienna boy in a Choir.

Vincent Winter as Tony at the audition.

Although Mr. Fiala doesn't like it, he consents to let Tony stay on one condition: That he improve and retain his skills in arithmetic. The teachers at Vienna Boys Choir school assure Mr. Fiala that his son will receive regular schooling as well as his singing lessons. So with many a shout of joy, Tony is officially allowed to stay. Tony's a really sweet kid, and since he has a wonderful voice, he is quickly placed as the soloist. The previous soloist is getting a little too old for the really high notes, so it makes sense for him to be replaced. But do you think he takes it so graciously? Uh, no. The previous soloist (Peter's the name) doesn't take to poor little Tony at all. He tries a WIDE variety of tricks to get him in trouble. Like starting a huge pillow fight in the dorm and taking Tony's radio that was given to him as a gift and playing it loudly, which is forbidden. Or locking him in a room at the hospital so he won't be in time to sing his solo to the children there (in fact, this particular gag actually endangered Tony's life). And he's also just generally not very nice to Tony, but Tony doesn't really seem to notice. He kind of looks with awe upon Peter, as Peter is very knowledgeable in the way of music. He even composes his own music.

Sean Scully as Peter.

As the movie progresses we see not only a delightful, heartwarming, and often times funny, story of friendship and the love of music, but we are also allowed a glimpse of what life is like for a Vienna Choir Boy, at least what it was like in 1962. Will Peter and Tony become friends, or will Peter remain perpetually jealous of the adorable little boy who stole his spot of glory? Will Tony be allowed to stay with the Vienna Boys Choir, or will his father pull him out before he even has a chance to go on tour to such places as India, China, and Australia? If those questions don't sound alluring to you, don't worry, you'll still like this movie. I don't want to spoil the whole film for you, so I'm just gonna show you some pictures instead. SPOILER ALERT: My favorite character is Peter. He's such a good little actor and his eyes are just so expressive! And he doesn't remain a jerk forever, just so ya know. The music teacher's also pretty legit. And now for the pictures:

When you have a boys choir somebody's gotta make the sacrifice.

If you watch the movie you'll see why both these kids look so depressed.

There's a bucket-load of good pictures on almostangels.org that I couldn't put on here because of copyright reasons, but you can hop on over to that website and see them. Or even better, maybe watch the movie, eh?