Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Man in the Iron Mask

Recommendation
Watch The Man in the Iron Mask!

Review:
The acting was nothing special to begin with, as it was slightly slow moving,
but as the characters began to take shape and the story was in full force,
lead Leonardo DiCaprio did not disappoint. The three musketeers were fabulous.

The character of King Louis actually made me yell out "GAG!" Probably why I should only watch movies at home. This also showed me how great of acting Leo did to make me hate him. 
As the twin Philip I was so delighted at his humbleness and sweet ignorance that was so believable I began to want to fight to make him king as well. 

When someone has two roles in one film I get really picky with how they differ. I cheered at Leo's depiction of a stuck up "ordained of God" selfish king, as well as a childlike kind man who wanted to serve his country with no claim of his right to do so.  

The first time you see Philip without the mask and cleaned up he asks one question. 
Why was this done to me?
With out an answer he thanked one of the men that freed him. 

The reunion of Philip and Queen mother was a moment that should not be missed. 

Philip compared the crown and being king as another prison. 
He knew with lying and deceit it really was. 
He asked the three musketeers: Why should I? (pretend to be king)
Answer from Athos: "To be in the service of something greater."

Historical accuracy: (for movies based on true stories.)
They threw in twist after twist in this fictional story. What I love about it is that there really was a Man in the Iron Mask but his identity is still a mystery today. 

Moral
Learning who we are can help us live up to our family's name or at the very least our own. 
Learning who our ancestors were or our parents character can help us discover why we are who we are. 
I love that I used family names for my son, he can live up to be the kind of man they were or he can make a name for himself. 

Symbols
Symbolism was not missed in the premonition of the mask when King Louis puts it over his face!
The thrown when Philip dressed as King Louis sits on the thrown taking his place. 
The roses from the Queen Mother's love.
Swords in a circle "All for one, one for all."

Favorite quotes:
"I fight for the belief that every man can be better."
"Something about my face had to be hidden."
"The greatest mystery of all is who we truly are."
"You have the chance to be king. If you have the heart."
"To serve a king worthy of the crown."
"Love me like your son."

New feature I wanted to start: is the hubby-love-meter, 
if my husband loves a movie or finds it interesting he will stay awake. 
If not well, I have to turn the volume up to cover his snores. 

Hubby-love-meter:
This movie got a Complete!
(He stayed awake the whole time.)

(I do not own the rights to these photos.)
Yes, I know I did two Leonardo DiCaprio movies in a row. 
What about it?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Romeo + Juliet

First 10 minutes I wanted to turn this off. Good thing I have a rule that you can't say anything about a movie if you don't watch the whole thing. People on Netflix drive me crazy cause they're all like "I had to turn this off worst movie ever." (Not about this movie.) And I just think to myself, "How do you know it was the worst if you didn't finish it?" Ok enough about my principles.

Moral:
I wanted to start on this because the Moral of Romeo and Juliet is patience. I am a lover of this story but it always gets me because I wish they had just taken a little bit of time. Now I understand, who wants to wait for their life to begin with their love? I hated being engaged because it was a delay to the start of my life! Patience is hard but waiting a little while can mean you get a greater reward. I saved myself for marriage so I know waiting is hard.

Leonardo Dicaprio surprised me to no end. His reciting of Shakespearian verse was great and I was so gladly surprised. His speech at the beginning made me want to cry! "Here's more to do with hate, but more with love: Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first create!" It's my favorite line these days. Can I just say, see this movie just for Leo's speeches and the make out scenes.

Clare Danes, she was a lot better than I remember when I was little. She may have had some rocky parts but she really did make Juliet her own. Her speech about Romeo after Tybalt was chilling.

Mercutio: Harold Perrineau had some brilliant moments in his speeches I wonder if the direction had been different he would've been a better Mercutio.

I did like that they had some visionary omens with the tomb. Loved it. I wasn't surprised when I learned that the director also directed Moulin Rouge. Baz Luhrmann went a little crazy but at least it got better through out the movie. The gang things couldn't been done differently.

2nd Moral:
The only thing I know about Suicide is that it hurts those around the person. For this story though it was to teach the families the price of HATE. Death of a loved one can make others evaluate their lives and they can learn from lives lost. Death in general is like this. The end made my heart ache.

He holds her hands she stirs. He gets the vile out of his pocket, she opens her eyes. He swallows the poison as her hand touches his cheek. He grabs her hand and his eyes bug out and his muscles convulse.
I couldn't believe it! She watched him die. If I watched my husband die I'm sure I would want to die.

Real emotion, thanks to the direction and the acting.