Ask Me Anything Answers!

Well...

 *coughs in apology* 

 Wait, it's still before the end of July! Don't judge me so harshly! :P 

 Here are all the answers to all the questions y'all asked in my previous post! Happy delayed blogiversary to Bookends and Bwopper-Eels, and thank you all for being such lovely humans, and for all the fun questions! Now, let's get right down to business...

MovieCritic asks: 

Favorite TV show?

This is tricky. You see, the thing is, I have watched VERY few TV shows, as I prefer the general format of a feature length film better. However, the BBC Sherlock series is exceedingly good, and I think that is definitely a favorite! Even though I've not quite finished it, *cough cough*

 

Favorite STAR WARS movie?

The Empire Strikes Back! For me, Episode V has just the best story, the best assortment of characters, and is probably the most nostalgic. 

Last book you read?

Uhhhhhhhhh....

I should keep better track of these things. Since I'm working on my senior thesis for school, I have been reading collections of YA fantasy short stories (which is what I'm "studying"), so I think the latest would be The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo. It was okay. But only just okay. 

The first novel that you remember reading?

I have a vague but strong memory of reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's On the Banks of Plum Creek as quite a small youngling. Our library had two copies, and my favorite copy was the older, more battered one - I remember that it smelled amazing (I was a weird child). 

This is the exact cover I remember

Last movie that you saw in a theater (when they were open)?

 Frozen II, I think. Either that or The Rise of Skywalker. 

 A super underrated movie that you love?

 This is a really weird answer, but Hoodwinked! from 2005 is HILARIOUS and I love watching it. I think it was a formative part of my developing sense of humor, and even though the animation is rather ghastly by today's standards (and the standards of 2005, for that matter), I still always enjoy it...I always have a good laugh! (But for goodness' sake, DO NOT watch the sequel...it was awful.) 

Rakayle asks: 

 Do you like scrapbooking?

 I think I WOULD like scrapbooking, given an opportunity to try it! I have never actually made a physical scrapbook before (except when I was maybe 8 years old so that doesn’t really count), but it sounds like fun! I do Pinterest though…does that count?

Favorite outfit style?

 Ooooh, this is a good one. I think I’ll have to say that it depends on the occasion, but in general, I opt for classic, comfortable outfits—I love earth tones, cardigans, and soft tshirts for casual, and anything classic and elegant for more formal occasions. I also usually accessorize with either earrings or a necklace, depending on the day!

 Paperback or hardcover?

 Hardcover, all the way! After working in a library for two years, I have come to appreciate the durability and strength of hardcover books way more than I ever did before!

(Not mine, but pretty cool-looking!)

 MiddleEarthMusician asks:

Dark, milk, or white chocolate?

Definitely dark chocolate! I love it!!!

Current favorite fictional ship?

 Oh no…

 WhY would you aSk that QuEStIoN? I have SO MANY…but the one that comes to mind currently is Samwise Gamgee and Rosie Cotton…I have always loved the simplicity and honest love of their relationship; how Sam is always talking about her, even when he is on the brink of death—I recently listened to the “Scouring of the Shire” chapter in ROTK and boy oh boy they should not have left that out of the movie.

What was the last book that you bought?

 The same collection of short stories I talked about above…The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo.

Favorite fictional villain?

 Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello! I wrote an entire post about why I find him so fascinating, maybe a year ago…

Current favorite song?

 Ooooh dear. I can’t say that I have *one* favorite song in particular, but I’ve been listening to the Frozen II soundtrack on and off since the movie came out (guilty secret: I love singing along), even though I may be ashamed to admit it.

 Ivy asks:

 What's your favorite time period?

Hmmm…usually either the Regency of Medieval era, depending on my mood! I also like the clothing of the Edwardian era…but I think I prefer the first two.

How old were you when you started writing?

When I started writing the first novel I finished, I think I was between ten and eleven…or maybe eleven and twelve???? So, at least nine years ago!

What's your favorite thing about blogging?

I love being able to just have a free space that I can put my thoughts into; something that’s not a journal, but as I look back, I can see what was happening in my life and remember writing the posts…it’s almost like a public journal, actually! :) 

 Homeburger asks:

Out of all of the Star Wars movies, who is your all-time favorite Jedi?

Either Obi-Wan Kenobi or Luke Skywalker! Luke has just the right amount of skill and dorkiness to make him very likeable, not to mention that he is, dare I say, the more “classic” Jedi. However, how can I not love Obi-Wan? He has such class! And, as I’m watching The Clone Wars, his character is getting a bit more developed than it was before…but I still can’t decide!! 

What is a book that you would recommend to basically anyone?

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. It is a beautifully, expertly crafted story.

What is your favorite style of music?

Hmm…I like a lot of different styles of music, just in moderation! I really do enjoy light pop, I guess I would call it—stuff like U2 and Coldplay. I also like folksy music and soundtracks…if that helps!

Would the world even function if ice cream went extinct?

Definitely not.

 

And that is it! Thank you all so much for your lovely questions, I had a lot of fun with them! 

:) 

Blogiversary - Ask Me Anything!

Y'all. 

I missed it. 

The nineteenth of June was my third blogiversary!

AND in honor of that, I shall be doing an "Ask Me Anything" post!! Any questions you list in the comments below shall be answered in a follow-up post probably sometime in July (so precise, I'm very good at scheduling, cough cough). So, ask away! 

(I know I don't HAVE to say this, but of course, as always, I won't answer any inappropriate, rude, or extremely personal questions, so don't ask me what my social security number is...you know the drill. :D :D ) 

Merlin (2008-2012)

So, my husband and I have just recently finished watching BBC's The Adventures of Merlin, and, as promised, here is my review of the series! I usually review (and watch, come to think of it) movies as opposed to TV series, so we shall see how this fits into my review template! (I'm assuming nobody cares about spoilers, but...there are spoilers below.)

Quality/Aesthetic/First Impressions:

Alright, here we go. I thoroughly enjoyed this show, and it is even on my (mental) list of things to re-watch. Although it is a bit dated as far as the sets, effects, etc., the medieval, fantasy/fairy-tale aesthetic is appealing to me, and I think that there is a bit of a Narnia-like feel to the show? If you have seen the Disney Prince Caspian and enjoyed the stylistic elements of that as far as the setting and magical-ness, then I think you would enjoy Merlin. In fact, I would even dare to say that this show is executed better than Prince Caspian in terms of where the original material and inspiration came from. Showing Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time, as a gangly, dorky young man is a great change, although I will forever love old, white-bearded Merlin. I really appreciated the different perspective on Prince/King Arthur and how he and Merlin were such good friends, even though it is quite different from the original lore, if you care about that sort of thing. But anyway, I felt like this was a fresh take on worn, overused characters.


Characters:

Speaking of characters, I absolutely LOVED most of them. I like how the writers managed to fit so many different types and characters into one show, and make them all work perfectly together. While some of the acting was not quite up to a feature film standard, most of the main characters' acting and portrayal was excellent. Colin Morgan did a fabulous job in the title role, managing to keep a consistent character throughout all five seasons. Arthur and Guinevere were great, too (my husband doesn't know what an OTP is, but they are his OTP). I found Morgana good at first, but I felt that her descent to the show's main villain got a little bit overplayed and predictable near the end. She started to seem like a broken record in her futile attempts to overtake Camelot, and was only refreshed once we had Mordred on her side. Overall, however, the characters were fun, had plenty of variation, and the writers managed to give us enough backstory without overdoing it. The knights of Camelot are the prime example of this -- each one has specific traits and a specific personality, and although they are still side characters, they have enough personality to seem like real people. 

King Arthur and the Camelot Knights, a.k.a. "Me and the Boys"

Also I just found this character quiz and I thought I should share....let me know your results in the comments!! 

https://www.playbuzz.com/gueenorio10/which-bbc-merlin-character-are-you?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=ff&utm_campaign=ff&pb_traffic_source=pinterest

Content:
 

This show, in my opinion, falls somewhere right between PG and PG-13. There is barely any language, and no vulgar profanity. There are quite a few shirtless men, so if that bothers you, I would stay away, but that is where Netflix gets its "nudity" rating from -- there is no actual nudity shown at any point. There is one scene where Arthur has no clothes, but it is played as a humorous scene, and nothing is shown. A lot of the women wear rather low-cut dresses, but nothing worse than Pride and Prejudice or BBC's other period dramas. Violence-wise, this is very close to the Narnia movies, although it is more suspenseful in certain episodes. There is also a lot of witchcraft and sorcery, with potions, spells, and, in a couple episodes, mandrake roots, which are something like voodoo dolls -- there are some weird moments with connections between the living and dead (ghosts or visions), so if you are sensitive to the portrayal of medieval witchcraft, I would stray away from this show. 

Plot:

Like I said earlier, the take on Merlin and Arthur as young men is a refreshing change. I know that the show had different writers in different episodes, so it is not completely consistent, but overall, the general arc of the story is well-done and cohesive, which is impressive for a five-season TV show. I was also impressed by the amount of detail and attention to the plot was present from even the first few episodes -- everything was very obviously planned in a meticulous manner. The villains can get a little bit lame and predictable, I will admit...but the plot itself was intriguing and coherent. 

Overall Impressions: 

When people start talking about their coherent, well-plotted nightmares

I would definitely watch this again. It was something that was fun, easy to follow, and engaging, with lots of fun characters, hilarious shenanigans to outweigh the dramatic and serious moments, and even decent acting! The good definitely outweighs the sometimes laughable special effects and less impressive moments. But can we all agree that the Great Dragon was THE WORST character, ever, in the history of mentor characters???? 

So...You Haven't Posted In Over A Month....

*coughs* 

I have been pretty absent from the world of blogging lately, and it seems as if I begin every post saying something to that extent. I have a tag on my list of posts to write, I have movies that need to be reviewed, and the world is so much in turmoil that I could potentially write a "serious" post about how I view current events and such living in Michigan, where so many things are going on. 

But instead, I just binge The Clone Wars...

Oh well, there are worse things. I have never watched the series before, so it's nice to see something new, I suppose! I wasn't totally sold watching the first few episodes, but they are growing on me! And I'm already a quarter of the way through the second season! My husband and I are also watching The Adventures of Merlin, which is thoroughly fun. As a blogger, I've heard TONS about the show, but never actually sat down and watched it, and, well, quarantine is full of opportunities! It's quite fun--I could criticize its faults, but I prefer to enjoy the escapades, silliness, and melodrama, rather than dismiss it. Also, it's a great source of memes and hilarity. 

Anyway. 

What else have I been up to that has distracted me from blogging so much?? Well...since the public libraries are closed, I haven't been working, but I did finish a rewrite of my novel and I am starting to send out query letters to literary agents! It's exciting, scary, and a bit nerve-wracking...but I'm trying to be calm and positive about it. I have a tendency to plummet to the depths of despair at rejection, but as I was researching traditional publishing/agents, I have learned that rejection is normal and if an agent sends you packing, it's probably for your own good; it wasn't meant to be. I probably won't make any progress for months, but it doesn't hurt to try! 

As far as writing goes, that's about all that I've been doing. I'm planning to work on my Honors College senior thesis in June, so you'll probably hear about that, but most novels are paused except for jotting down ideas/notes, and for working on agents/queries. 

With that being said, I would love to hear any ideas for further posts this summer! I PROMISE I will get around to finishing up the last post I was tagged for, and I would really like to review The Rise of Skywalker or maybe Merlin once I've finished it. I'm also thinking of doing an "Ask Me Anything" post next month, but I am eagerly seeking out new ideas! I hope you are well...and I shall leave you now to tag yourself as a Pride and Prejudice character in quarantine: 

The Seven Questions Book Tag!

Hello all!

Well...I said before that I was behind, so prepare to see two tags within, if all goes as planned, a couple weeks! I hope everyone is doing well in this crazy world we live in...and since I'm suck inside, I figured that I'd better stop procrastinating and doing some blog work!

I'm also doing a group NaNoWriMo with my university writing class this month, and I'm about 20,000 words in to re-writing my novel! Woop woop!

Anyway, on to the tag. Natalie tagged me for the Seven Questions Book Tag quite a while back, and I'm just now getting to it! So here we go!

Preference: male or female main character?

Honestly, it depends on the story. Often, I find books with male protagonists to be better written for some reason??? I'm not sure why...but as long as the story is gripping and well done, I have no preference. If the MC is female, she needs to not be obnoxious....ya know what I mean? I love the protagonist Penelope from the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series; she's a great example of a good female MC. As far as male MCs go, I really like John Flanagan's style of male MC narration...(Ranger's Apprentice series) for some reason. 

Do you prefer colorful, attention grabbing book covers or simple, understated ones?

I usually prefer the more colorful ones?? Like, I have a great appreciation for antique, simple book covers, but I like those covers more on classics, like Dickens or Austen. For modern books, I like to see some color and excitement!

A character you'd like to have as your boss at work?

Minerva McGonagall!!! I have been re-reading (well, listening to the audiobooks) of the Harry Potter series and discovered that she is honestly one of the only respectable adult characters in the series. (I could go on a long tangent about the writing/plotting/and all issues of that series, but I still like it cause nostalgia and besides that's another post for another day.) 

Books-a-Million or Barnes & Noble?

I've never been to Books-a-Million, so...Barnes & Noble. Especially when I have gift cards! XD

Would you rather be gifted random "surprise" books from a friend, or a bookstore giftcard?

Ooooooh....I like both. But I think "surprise" books are better, usually. Because that means that someone put thought into the gift, thinking "oh, she'll like this book," and that makes me happy. :) 

What age range of characters do you generally like to read about? (For instance, would you rather read a book about a 17 year old or a 87 year old?)

I like any age as long as they are written well. Usually I read more stories about late teens/early adult characters, but I also appreciate stories about older adults as long as they aren't boring. 

What would you tell someone who defiantly proclaims: "I don't like reading! Why should I?"

I would look at them in disappointment and quietly end the conversation before walking away and never talking to them again. 

See...I've finally caught up! (Well somewhat that is.) I'm not going to tag anyone else, simply because I think this post is way too late to "get on the tag train," but feel free to steal it if you wish! 

Thank you once again to Natalie! :) 

And with that, I wish you a good day! 

Confusing Times

Me now that my classes are all online

As much as I hate to contribute to the general panic about *whispers* coronavirus, it's kind of a historic

moment in our lives right now, and I want to have some record of it for all posterity. 

Plus, I'm behind on blog posts. 

I have a couple tags that I am planning to get to SOON, so I apologize to those who have tagged me...but the posts are in the works, I promise! 

So, what have I been up to lately? Well, mostly school and work, which is why my posts are few and far between these days. Now, however, my classes have converted to fully online, so I'm still doing homework, etc., but I have a lot more time to just sit around and work on things I want to do -- such as blogging. I also work at a public library, so they have closed down until further notice, which means I am out of a job. 

My husband and I have also been researching blog platforms and such, and he just found out yesterday that any content one posts on the Blogger platform is not actually the blogger's property anymore; it now belongs to Google should they decide that they want it. In light of that, I have gone ahead and removed any of my own writings (short stories and poems) from this platform, not because I'm paranoid, but just because I don't like the thought that Google could steal them. (Not that they would...but you know.) I'm super sorry about this if you wanted to read any, but...you know. 

In the same vein, I recently started re-writing (and by re-writing, I mean that I opened a NEW WORD DOCUMENT and started RE-WRITING) my previously self-published book.....and I'm planning to start seeking a literary agent to pursue traditional publishing. (Perhaps.) So, because of this, I have taken down the information (or most of it) under my "Writing" tab on this blog, as well as discontinued the sale of my Amazon self-published book. 

But! 

Things are not so bleak as they seem. Even with the threat of enforced quarantine (ironically in America, land of the free and home of the brave, though I'm not going to get political here), we should not panic, we should not go into chaos mode, we should not, in other words, go buy all the food and toilet paper that we can. Sharing and helping each other is important, as is common sense. But I don't want to talk about this anymore, and I'm sure you're just as sick of hearing about it as I am. 

Personally, I'm just hoping that more time at home gives me more time to write! :D And possibly do some blog work. I also had time to peruse an antique store, where I found this amazing action figure still in the packaging! (Totally not a waste of money...) 

As a final note, any thoughts about my new blog design? It's still in process, but I thought it was about time for a change. :) 

Why Can't We Have A Decent Treasure Island Movie?? Thoughts On Casting, Etc.

So, this evening, I just watched Disney's Treasure Planet for the very first time. Yes I know it was released in 2002...don't judge me. While I was watching it, I started wondering: is there a "good" movie version of the actual book? I have seen the Muppet version, but I have always felt that R.L.Stevenson's Treasure Island deserves a movie that is not Muppet-ized or Disney cartoon-ized.

Naturally, I hopped on IMDb to see what was up. It looks like there have been plenty of adaptations of the book: 1990, 1998, and most recently, a TV movie made in 2012, but none of these look exactly wonderful (correct me if I'm wrong, I mean, I haven't actually seen any of them). They either look old or badly produced. The 1990 one could be interesting, looks like the best bet for a decent film, but it is 30 years old (nothing wrong with that but I feel like an updated version is in order).

The 2012 version basically relies on the fact that Elijah Wood plays Ben Gunn, which is horribly miscast (again, don't get me wrong, Elijah Wood is a great actor, but Ben Gunn is NOT his character). 2012 also looks much less family-friendly than any other adaptation, which I don't think was Stevenson's intent: I think he was intending his story to be read by adults and children, though of course I'm no expert. And, of course, there is fighting, it's a pirate movie--there's going to be a little violence, but can we keep it at a Pirates of the Carribean style of violence, please? (Plus, it's a TV movie...not a feature film.)

So hear me out: a new, feature-length production of Treasure Island that is accurate to the book, well done, and has good acting. Is that too much to ask? Probably, since I'm not a Hollywood producer....

Of course I have to share my ideas on casting, etc...because what would be a movie idea without casting ideas????? What would be the point????

Let's start off with the protagonist, Jim Hawkins. He's about 15, a good kid, works hard, needs a father figure in his life, and of course he has to be a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected. He seems like a really sweet kid who gains courage and agency throughout the story. I know a lot of you are thinking "Tom Holland, Tom Holland!!!"

To that, I say:

Mr. Tom Holland is not correct for Jim Hawkins, I'm sorry. My idea is actually someone around his age, but not quite as famous. You remember Bard's son from The Hobbit? 

Remember???? This guy??? 

That's who I think of as Jim Hawkins: John Bell. He's grown a bit since The Hobbit, but still has a very young face, and I think he could pull of a 15-year-old pretty well. He's a blond in real life, which is a no from me, Jim is a brunette OBVIOUSLY, but ya know...that sort of thing is easily changed in the movie industry. 

On to the next characters, Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. You'll have to forgive me because I haven't read the book in a While, but I'm remembering him being a kind, logical, serious, and competent fellow...of course, I'm going to cast someone who I think could fill that role very well. He isn't too young or too old, and I think he's played enough heroic main characters (or villains...). It's time for Tom Hiddleston to step into a logical, gentle mentor role as the kind doctor. 

As for Squire Trelawney, I feel like he's kind of the rich sponsor of their adventure, the one who is all excited about setting out but really doesn't know how to go about the mission...he gives them money and decides to tag along, basically. So, I'm thinking that Dan Stevens could perform a somewhat clueless, cheerful sponsor. 

I know this is from Sense and Sensibility, but still...

All right, on to Captain Smollet! He is a competent, shrewd sailor who is hired (by Trelawney and Livesey) to captain the hired crew and the ship. He recognizes most of the crew as the pirates that they are and is uncomfortable from day one, but still faithfully does his duty. I'm thinking Martin Freeman for this role. 

This leads us to the exceedingly tricky task of trying to pin down an actor for Long John Silver. He is a pirate in every way. HOWEVER, he also becomes a sort of father figure to Jim, at least for a while. He's a Bad Guy, but he's not totally evil. He is also brilliant in a pirate-y way, and people listen to him. I think that Matthew McConaughey would do a great job capturing both Long John's villainous side and his soft side. In addition, he also has the kind of molasses-drawling voice that I imagine Long John would use to cajole people into joining his side. 

From the 2012 film Mud, which I have not seen

Billy Bones is one of the trickiest to cast, I think. He's an old, washed-up pirate who ends up spending his last days alive in Jim's mother's inn, hiding from the black spot. He's gruff, refuses to pay bills for his excessive drinking, and eventually dies in the inn, leaving behind the treasure map that spurs the whole adventure. I'm almost tempted to cast Liam Neeson, but I am really unsure about this one. Also, using Sean Bean as the "haunted guy who dies" is just cliche and I could never live with that...

AH-HA! Andy Serkis as Billy Bones!

Before the only female character in the film (Mrs. Hawkins), I think that the role of Ben Gunn, a marooned sailor/ex-pirate who is able to start a new life, belongs to Mark Ruffalo. I'm not totally sure why, but the role seems to fit him.

And lastly, Mrs. Hawkins, Jim's mother. This is actually not a huge part, but it is central to Jim's character, and so she is important. I would like to see Emily Watson as Jim's mother. She has a motherly face, but can pull of the matter-of-fact, shrewd personality required by a woman running an inn with only her son's help. 

Also here's a quick collage putting all of the pictures together...I literally threw this post together so I apologize for how haphazard it is! 

So there we have it, folks! These are just my ideas for a new Treasure Island  movie...any thoughts?