Interstellar (2014)

So, as you probably saw from my Ask Me Anything post back in June, I have been raving over this movie, Interstellar, for a while now, and I figured that I should probably do a review of it. Here it is! First things first, I linked to the IMDb page, and here are a couple of the trailers. (There are like 4 out there, but these are pretty good, I think. And plus the others should show up on your recommended YouTube if you watch it on YouTube...)

Now, on to the actual review. 

Content:

There was quite a bit of language in this movie, but when I watched it, we watched with my cousins and my uncle had it bleeped for us. So that was nice. There is some strong language, so I would recommend watching it on Clearplay or something like that if you want to filter that out. I wasn't counting or anything, but definitely enough language to warn about, especially if you've got younger people.  Other than that, though, there wasn't really too much content that I would warn against.  There is some violence:  a few explosions, a sort of fist-fight between two astronauts on a planet where the air contains ammonia, and so a crack in a helmet is very dangerous, as well as a man punching someone else in the face.  However, it doesn't get super graphic.  I think most of the warning is that the movie is very suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat, like you think something just terrible is going to happen, but nothing graphic happens. It's a very suspenseful and dramatic movie--I would almost describe it as tense; definitely too tense for younger folks. 

Plot:

I was absolutely mindblown.  I usually don't like sci-fi movies, or at least I am very "eh" about them, but this movie's plot was just...so great.  There was, of course, the whole "world is at peril" thing, but it didn't feel cliched or overused.  It kept me guessing until the very end, and everything just tied together perfectly.  It was actually very sad, but not a hopeless kind of sad--a very real, lifelike sadness.  I think the whole reason that I liked this movie better than most sci-fi movies is that it was about saving humanity, etc, but was also, at its core, a movie about a family.  A father and his children (focus on his daughter), where he sets out to save them, knowing that even if he never returns, at least he will have done his best to secure them a future and a life.  It was touching, covered a grand scale and a small scale, and, the first time I saw it, I just couldn't really say anything, I was so mindblown.  There is one plot point that I would have liked to be different, but I understand exactly why that couldn't happen. It is more realistic the way it is, even though what I wish would have made for a happier, more Disney-like ending. Superbly (is that a word?) well written, and extremely intriguing. 

Characters:

GAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! They were all so great! Of course, Matthew McConaughey was just amazing as Cooper, the main character.  While being a hero, he was also a dad, and I just really liked his character. His acting was amazing, and Cooper was a very strong, compelling character; a main character that you can really root for. His daughter, Murphy (or Murph) was great, too, portrayed by different actresses as she grows older. The crew of the spaceship (space station? I think it was a ship) Endurance were great, too. Honestly, there were no ill-portrayed characters, and nobody that was non-likeable except for (*cough cough* no more because spoilers, but a bad person). There were also these two adorable robots named TARS and CASE who were great.  They look a little scary, but are what robots are supposed to be: they follow orders and do what they are programmed to do, without minds of their own. Plus, TARS had a "humor setting," which made him a sarcastic, fun robot. I just like the robots. They were fun.

Film Quality/Aesthetic:

ABSO-STINKIN-LUTELY FABULOUS, here are a couple pictures just to show it. Nothing was done badly. 

The music was really great, too. Hans Zimmer did it, and it's surprisingly minimalistic, I thought. But it totally fit the movie's feel, and gave it a huge, atmospheric, universe-sized feeling.  I loved the use of the organ at some points--it gave me chills, especially the first time, watching the movie and hearing that music just at the right time. 

Overall Impressions:

If it isn't evident by now, I really loved this film. I haven't covered the most mind-blowing part of the movie, which involves a bookshelf and the fifth dimension, because that would give the plot away, sorry. I know, it's, well, hard to wrap your head around. It made me cry, and not every movie can do that (though it seems that the older I get, the more movies make me cry...). It was just a really well-done movie. Yes, it was sci-fi, hard to understand, and left me with an almost desperate feeling after I watched it--a feeling of "what happens next?"  But I still loved it. I think that the best word to describe it would be Haunting. Not in a frightening or bad way.  It just left me amazed. Mindblown. And Haunted. 

Mr. Holmes (2015)

Since I have seen this movie twice now, I thought it would be best to review it. I have talked to lots of people about the movie, and most of them have never seen it/heard of it, so, here you are, this is a movie called Mr. Holmes, starring Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes, in his years of retirement, after closing his last case.  

My movie reflections are usually very disjointed and unorganized, so I have decided to, starting with this one, organize them into five categories, to cover all the bases separately and maybe a little less confusingly! I am also going to provide you with a movie trailer for each movie I review, or at least, try to! Here is the link to this one's trailer. It should also take you to the IMDb page for the movie, if you're interested! All right, here we go. 

Content: 

I personally didn't see much to warn against in this category. It is a rather depressing, very sad film, and leaves the viewer with a heavy feeling, so that is one thing to keep in mind. There was no improperly used language, no inappropriate content. The little boy was rude to his mother, but Mr. Holmes tells him to go and apologize, and everything is righted in the end. Someone is attacked by wasps--we don't see the actual attack, but the results, the person (can't say who, because of spoilers) looks pretty bad and is unconscious afterwards, so if that makes you squeamish then it's pretty easy to see coming. A woman is hit by a train, but we don't actually see it. Other than that, there is a bit of Japanese sort of almost religious stuff going on. A few characters put stones in circles around themselves, each stone representing a dead person, and bow to the sky or whatever, paying homage to their lost friends, but it doesn't get too weird. It actually didn't feel too spirit-y or strange and almost felt fitting, for that particular film, which takes place right after Hiroshima. Not saying I agree with the idea behind the homage to the dead, but it didn't bother me as much as it could have in a different setting. 

Plot: 

Although it is a great story, it made me a little sad, because a great portion of the story focuses on *slight spoilers* Sherlock losing some of his memory. He can't remember how his last case ended, and is trying to write it down, to correct Watson's glamorized version before he dies. The film is pretty much centered on Holmes trying to remember (and eventually succeeding) to figure out what went wrong with his very last case, what caused him to stop being a detective. The movie switches back and forth between the current time, where Holmes lives in his house by the sea, taking care of his bees and writing the chronicle of his last case, while the housekeeper and her son take care of the home, and the past, the memories of his last case and such. It's a rather melancholy story, but the ending, although serious, is hopeful as well. The plot is well-woven, beautifully executed, and everything makes perfect sense. I think that a lot of it is about remembering the past, even though things have changed. It is simply a beautifully told story, and even I, the pickiest of pickers, can't find any plot holes or things that I would have wanted to be done differently. 

Characters: 

Even though Sir Ian McKellen is and always will be Gandalf in my opinion, he did a really fantastic job at portraying an old Sherlock Holmes. He was funny, clever, and just a very likeable character, very well portrayed. The little boy, Roger, was fun, and the boy who played him did a very good job. Of course, I don't like the way that he spoke to his mother and his attitude toward her at some times, but I am glad that they were eventually reconciled.  And his friendship with Holmes, sort of replacing Watson's helping hands, was very sweet. 

Roger's mother was a great character as well, and her actress did a great job of seeming like a very real mother, a real person. There were several other characters, mainly during the flashbacks of Holmes' last case as he chronicles it. They were sort of the usual characters that one would find in a Sherlock Holmes story: good, well portrayed, easy to sympathize with, but not the kind that you get super attached to. Don't get me wrong, they were great! But they weren't the main point of the film. I really missed Watson, though--to me, it seems that Sherlock isn't Sherlock without Watson. At the time of this film, Holmes is 92 years old, and Watson is dead, though he appears (without dialogue) in some of the flashbacks. I have always liked Watson...I guess that might just be my preference, though. 

Film Quality/Aesthetic: 

10/10. It is beautifully done, aesthetically pleasing, and the cinematography is wonderful. Also, the music is perfect, I love it so much! It's very unique, and fits the movie perfectly. 

Overall Impressions: 

When I first saw this in the theater three years ago, I immediately loved it. Now that I have re-watched it, I still love it.  Even though it is not based off of an official Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, it is, I think, a worthy addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon. It is a sobering watch, with almost depressing realism added to some of the plot--even Sherlock Holmes can't save everyone; he can't redeem every person he solves a case about--but I think that it was beautifully done. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves Sherlock Holmes, or anyone who has heard of Sherlock Holmes, or really anyone at all.  It is a gripping story, and a very excellent film.

Liebster Award!

Hello there! It appears that I have been tagged by Miss Woodhouse for the Liebster Award! How exciting! So, without further ado, here it is! 

Acknowledge the blog that gave it to you and display the award.

Thank you so very much, Miss Woodhouse! :) 

Answer the 11 questions that the blogger gives you.

1.) Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?

Oh, definitely an introvert. Apparently I am an INFJ...I'm not sure exactly what all that means, but that's what the thing said I was.  And even without the quiz thingy, I'm definitely more of an introvert in almost every setting.

2.) Describe your fashion sense in three words

Practical, modest, and--for formal occasions--refined! 

That's not me, by the way. 

3.) Who is your current, or most recent, celebrity crush? (Mwahahaha)

Oh boy. So, I'm sure I'm gonna have lots of people mad at me for this one (even though it is a VERY intriguing question), but I do not have a celebrity crush and I never have had one. I'm sure that I could make one up in about ten minutes if I wanted to, but there's just something about the whole idea that I'm not super--well super "in to", if you know what I mean. 

Now don't get me wrong here! There are plenty of male celebrities (actors etc) out there who I have great respect for! I respect their talents, their characters, and even their personalities off-screen--many are very good-looking, at least passably nice, and seem like interesting, fun sorts of people, but I just don't think it's worth my time to be pining away over a person that I've never met and probably will never meet, and who, even if I DID meet, well...you know.  No matter who it is or what they claim about themselves, I'm always disappointed by celebrities in the end, and it saves me a great deal of heartbreak to remain emotionally unattached, even if I do admire a person's talent and work, even if I admire the person themselves! Just because I have preferences on favorite actors/celebrities does not mean that I am smitten by them. 

I'm sorry, I didn't intend to ramble off like that!  Please don't be offended...this is just my opinion on the subject and you're totally free to have your own opinion.  :) 

4.) Do you like social media, or is it a waste of time in your opinion?

Ooooohhhhhh... I think it really depends on what you're doing with your social media! I know that I tend to waste lots of time on the internet, even though I'm not on Facebook, Instagram, or whatever-else-it-is-that-everyone's-using. I have a hard enough time keeping up with email, Blogger, and Pinterest! I do think that social media is nice in that it lets you communicate more easily with people, even if they're far away, and it can make planning events a lot easier! However, sometimes it can be a huge waste of time.  It all depends on context! 

5.) Are you a Planner, or a Pantser, (or mayber a Plantser) when it comes to writing?

I'm usually more of a pantser! For most of my stories so far, I have written down a couple of notes, maybe sketched a (horrible, terribly drawn) picture, scribbled some bullet points, and then just started right on in to the first draft! There are some times when I need to sit down and really think about what I'm writing, but usually I'm a pantser. 

6.) Do you prefer milk chocolate, or dark chocolate (And if you say you don't like chocolate, I shall think you very odd indeed)

Dark chocolate all the way!!! Oh, that stuff is so delicious! Though I like all kinds of chocolate in pretty much any way, shape, or form, dark chocolate takes the cake by far. (Takes the cake...ha ha...)

7.) If you could do anything you wanted for a career, without having to worry about money or anything like that, what would you do?

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

I would like to write my books...just be able to stay at home with my family, and write my stories, without having to worry about making money off of them.  I think that would be fantastic. 

8.) What's the most recent book you read and what was your opinion of it?

Well, I'll go with the most recent book that I have FINISHED reading.  I actually re-read Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan, which is the first in the series.  I remember really loving the Ranger's Apprentice series when I was maybe 13-14 years old, and so I happened to pick it up and read it again to see if I still like it. I do. It's a very fun, lighthearted read, and though it's not the greatest literature, it is extremely fun. 

9.) Do you prefer skirts/dresses, or jeans?

Well, I've never been a huge fan of jeans...I do like to wear pants/shorts, but I prefer a more athletic or more flexible material than denim. So, between jeans and skirts/dresses, I'd say skirts or a dress, but most often I wear more sport-like pants. They're very comfortable, and very practical as well. Of course everything depends on context. 

10.) Current favorite singer?

Oh wow. I listen to a lot of different music, and I like different singers for different reasons and in different music styles. I think that Billy Boyd (who has a band, by the way) has a really amazing, beautiful voice, but their band's stuff isn't my favorite. Most of it is okay, but it could be much better. I really like Steven Delopoulos right now, even though I wouldn't classify his voice as "nice" or "pretty" exactly.  He is the singer for the band Burlap to Cashmere, but has also released some solo stuff, which I recently discovered.  He is just a great musician and songwriter who adds a lot of soul to his music, which I like (plus it's all GOOD, if you know what I mean). So right now, let's go with one of the two...here are a couple samples:

11.) If you could trade places with a fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?

Why, Miss Woodhouse? Why would you ask me to make such a hard decision?? *sobs*

Well, since it's only for a day, and not for life...that makes it a little easier. I would like to see what it's like to fly. But there aren't a lot of characters that I really like who can fly, so let's think of something else.  I think I'm gonna have to say either Rey from Star Wars, just...because that would be fun to play with lightsabers and fly spaceships, but I wouldn't have to be diplomatic like Leia or Padme sort of are, or maybe Bilbo Baggins. Yeah, let's go with that. Every time I read/watch anything Middle-Earth related it makes me want to go there, to BE there. And Bilbo and I have similar skills...of cooking, reading, and sitting comfortably at home! Yes, I think I would like that very much.

Nominate 11 blogs.

If you don't want to do this, or if you've already been tagged by someone else, no pressure...but here you go!

1. MiddleEarthMusician at Music, Mystery, Middle Earth, and Mitochondria
2. RM Lutz at The Book Hound
3. Rachel at A Girl's Place
4. Miss March at Sunshiny Corner
5. Gray Marie at Writing is Life
6. Natalie at Ramblings of a Readhead Girl (yes, yes, I know you've been tagged already) 
7. Andrew at The Great Andrew
8. MovieCritic at Movies Meet Their Match
9. Sadie Sofia at A Day in the Life
10. Lois Tinuviel at You, Me, and a Cup of Tea
11. And (why not) I'll tag my brother: Josiah at The Eclectic Presby

Give them 11 questions to answer.

1. Star Trek or Star Wars? (or neither...;) )
2. If you had to lose either a hand or a foot, which would you rather? 
3. Pick one character from absolutely anything to train you in whatever their skills are, whether physical/real or magical/imaginary. 
4. When you're with a friend, are you more of a John Watson or Sherlock Holmes?
5. What song(s) have provided you with the most inspiration for writing, if you write? (If not, what song(s) are the most inspiring to you in general?)
6. What is the most difficult to pronounce name you have ever made up or have heard that was made up by someone else? 
7. If you put your entire music playlist on shuffle, what is the first song you hear right now? 
8. If you had to fight a battle in long-ago times, would you prefer to be armed with a sword or a bow? 
9. When you get home from a trip, do you clean out your bags immediately or wait until tomorrow? 
10. Are you a coffee person, a tea person, or do you prefer neither?
11. What is your opinion on bagpipes? 

And that's it! Thank you again, Miss Woodhouse! :) So much fun! 

Just letting you know, if I don't reply to comments for a few days, it's because I'm getting my wisdom teeth extracted this afternoon and, well, I'm not sure how long it'll take for me to function like a normal human being afterwards! 

But, anyhoo, I shall return!