Favorite Movies Tag

 Maribeth at Formidable Courage has tagged me for J&J's Favorite Movies Tag!

Rules

1. List your favorite movies (in no particular order)

2. Post Jame's Movie Tribute Video somewhere on your blog

3. Tag other blogs (optional)

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  Now on to my favorite movies!

  1. Ever After

  Starring: Drew Barrymore, Angelica Houstan and Dougray Scott
Rated PG-13

     My absolute favorite movie! I first saw "Ever After" when I was eight and I've been in love with it since then. It's beautiful, romantic, funny and adventurous. Drew Barrymore was incredible as Danielle de Barbarac and an exceptional Cinderella and Angelica Houstan as the evil stepmother Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent was extraordinary in her role. Of course Dougray Scott as Prince Henry was lovable, charming and a very fitting prince and his parents were absolutely hysterical! The best part of the movie was how they were able to combine history with fiction, such as incorporating Leonardo De Vinci into the storyline. In many ways when you watch it, you begin to wonder, "Could this really have happened?" It was done so well that history wasn't boring and the romance wasn't sappy. Danielle was a women ahead of her time and her rise from a servant in her own home to crown princess of France (and eventually Queen) makes it all the more worthwhile.  A great movie for any romantic at heart, history geek or both. - Move Review

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2. Legends of The Fall

Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn and Julia Ormond

Rated R

     This movie is an either you hate it or you love it mentality. My parents absolutely despise it because it had no happy ending, but not all movies end happily. The story, in its most basic form, is about three brother and their father living in the wild Montana territory at the beginning of WWI and how one woman almost destroyed everything they had, all because of love, lust and the inability to say goodbye to the past. All of the acting was exceptional, but it was Brad Pitt (who was a complete unknown at the time) who took my breath away as the wild and reckless Tristan Ludlow. This isn't what one would call a family movie, due to one sex scene and graphic violence. The ending may not be happy, but there is a sense of hope for the family and what the future held for them.

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3. The Young Victoria

Starring: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson and Paul Bettany

Rated PG

     As an avid royalist for almost ten years, I was very excited to see this film. Often times when Hollywood releases a film based on the British Royalty, some people tend to get nervous. It's not just the British Royal Family you're dealing with, but history that changed the world, so they better get it right. And in this case, they really got it right. Rich in romance and history, The Young Victoria is beautiful and masterful in its storytelling of one young women, the country she led and the man she loved. Victoria's life was far from happy in the beginning, she was lonely, used and  abandoned by her own mother. After she became Queen, life only became harder; there were sides to choose and decisions to make, but her greatest decision was her marriage to her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg who became her rock and fortress for twenty years. Romantic, heartbreaking and an all around extraordinary retelling on one of the greatest monarchs in history - Movie Review.

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4. Amazing Grace 

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Romala Garai and Benedict Cumberbatch

Rated PG

     I feel somewhat ashamed to admit that I had never heard of William Wilberforce before this movie came out. I only thought the movie would be about the John Newton and the creation of the song, but instead it was about the influence of John Newton and his beloved song. At the end of the 18th century in England, the English are still reeling from their defeat against the Colonists during the Revolutionary War. The last thing they want is revolution in England, but that is exactly what they receive when a young Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce starts to rally for the the ending of the European slave trade. The once young and reckless Wilberforce feels God's calling to free the enslaved people from the African and Caribbean nations, but even he knows that battle will be stressful and laborious. Through faith, courage, friendship and overwhelming love, William does the impossible and ends European slave trade (without war). This is without a doubt the most inspiring movie I have ever seen! - Movie Review

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5. Invictus

Starring: Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon

Rated PG-13

     "When the world needed a hero, he gave them a champion," is one of the taglines to this incredible true story of Nelson Mandela's unlikely attempt to end apartheid in South Africa and unite its divided people. After being released from thirty years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela is now president of South Africa. The African's themselves are overjoyed and hope for a better way of life, but the Afrikaners (the Caucasian population of South Africa) feel that it's the end for them. Understanding both sides of the equation, Mandela turns to rugby captain Francois Pienaar to assist him in bringing their war torn country together. What does Mandela want? For Francois's team to win the 1995 World Cup, except Francois has the worst team in South Africa's rugby history. Yet, Francois's iron will, determination and desire to see change strengthens his team, unites the people and eventually gains the victory that Mandela had been dreaming of. Beautifully done with wonderful acting from both Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, Invictus (based on William Ernest Henely's poem of the same name) is more than a sports movie, but a film that gives a look into the fortitude of two men who loved their country, their people and their desire to make them one.

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6. First Knight

Starring: Sean Connery, Richard Gere and Julia Ormond

Rated PG-13

     I love Arthurian legends, whatever the storyline may be. King Arthur is a part of our culture, a king who fought for the heart of his country and lived a life of courage and honor. Anyone can find admiration in such a leader. Many wars Arthur has fought and won, but his greatest would be for the heart of beloved Lady Guinevere who finds herself compromised between the great king and his first knight, the handsome and bold Lancelot. Love can literally be a two edged sword and in this case, Guinevere knows that one decision will wound the heart of both men. A family favorite that has been watched repeatedly in my household (my whole family loves Arthurian legends as much as I do), First Knight has every single element one may want in a film, history, drama, adventure and romance. Beautiful music and exquisite costumes complete the wonderful film. A movie that is irresistibly romantic and the stuff of any Arthurian story. - Movie Review

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7. A Knight's Tale

Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell and Paul Bettany

Rated PG-13

     When my family decided to watch this movie for the first time, we asked my older sister (who had previously seen it in theaters) if it was a drama or a comedy. She simply replied "It has some funny parts in it." We were satisfied with that, but as soon as we heard Queen's We Will Rock You, we realized, this is no ordinary movie! Based on Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales A Knight's Tale tells the story of a young squire who defies the law and fulfills his dream of becoming a knight. A historical movie with a clever modern twist that is the ultimate favorite in my family (although we constantly get it mixed up with First Knight). The best part about this movie (beside Heath Ledger for two hours) is that there was some surprising historical accuracy regarding the jousting competition and festival. Funny and loud that has a hero worth rooting for, makes for a a feel good movie watch.

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8. The Nanny Diaries 

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Laura Linney, Alicia Keys and Paul Giamatti

Rated PG-13

     As a former daycare worker and a nanny/babysitter, this movie intrigued me; especially when I found out that the book (of the same name) was written by two former nannies. Annie Braddock is a 21 year old undergrad who is trying to find herself, but seems stuck in finding any path that might lead her to self discovery. When fate intervenes in the form of a full time, live-in nanny, Annie takes a leap of faith and becomes Nanny for the Upper East Side. What she thought might be fun, becomes a literal nightmare, which isn't from her charming 5 1/2 year old charge, Grayer, but rather from his physically and emotionally absent socialite mother and workaholic father. Annie begins to see that life on the top makes for a hellish living of shallowness and self absorbency. Determined to stay and take care of Grayer, Annie has only her wits and the practical support of her best friend, Lynette and love interest, Harvard Hottie. I love, love, love this movie! A interesting portrayal inside the life of childcare providers who are more often than not treated as second class citizens and only stay for the love of the children they provide care for. Seriously funny, hopelessly romantic and a hard look at the not so perfect life of the wealthy - Movie Review.

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9. Julie & Julia

Starring: Meryl Streep , Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci

Rated PG-13

     For someone who hates cooking and baking, I love this movie! The story of an aspiring author who is stuck in her life and the woman she looks up to, the renowned cook Julia Child. in 2002, Julie Powell is almost thirty and feels like an unaccomplished loser, even with a wonderful and supportive husband who tells her otherwise. In 1948, Julia Child is a vibrant and outgoing woman who travels with her loving diplomat husband to Paris, France. Both women feel lost, but find themselves through the love of cooking. As Julia attempts to write a cook book for American housewives to prepare French food, Julie attempts an online blog project labeled Julie/Julia which consists of her spending an entire year preparing food from Julia's famous cookbook. A funny, feel good movie (which you shouldn't watch on an empty stomach) that makes you laugh, cry and maybe even buy a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and attempt an insane cooking project of your own.

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10. A Little Princess

Starring: Liesel Matthews, Eleanor Brom and Liam Cunningham 

Rated G

     The movie of my childhood and a constant favorite of mine. This exquisite film has so much imagination and intrigue that even I still find myself mesmerized by it. Based on the beloved novel by Francis Hodgsen Burnett, A Little Princess takes you from the jungles of India to the streets of New York as Sara Crewe and her beloved father are separated by war. Before he leaves, Captain Crewe tells Sara that she will always be his little princess. With those words in her heart, Sara begins her new life at the strict boarding school that was once attended by her own mother. Sara becomes popular with most of the girls, through her kindness towards others, even the servant girl, Becky, and wins her the affections of her friends. When she receives the news that her father has been killed in war and the British government has seized control of his finances leaving her penniless, she is made to become a servant in the school. Frightened and alone, Sara must rely on her father's words that she will always be a princess. And a princess she remains through courage and determination to build a different life for herself. Even after almost 20 years, this movie is still a classic and remains a wonderful part if my childhood.

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     Wow! That was harder than I thought it would be, but it was worthwhile. Here are my tags:

Meghan

Hamlette

Bella Rose

Miss Jane Bennett