Back to the Future Book Tag

I saw this tag over on Spoonful of Happy Endings and had to steal it. :)

Name a book/movie/show that makes you want to go back in time when you were younger and enjoy it all over again? 

Book- Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. Those are all some of my favorites and I would love to go back and experience the wonder of entering those worlds again. 

Movie- LOTR for sure. My siblings and I are rewatching the films right now and that was just something I mentioned the other day. Experiencing the world of LOTR on screen for the first time must have been incredible but I can scarcely remember the first time I watching the movies the first item and I grew up watching them! 

Show- Since I never really watched TV shows growing up I'm not sure. I guess I'll go with Doctor Who. It would be interesting to watch it for the first time again and see if my opinions of characters were different. 

What's your favorite sci-fi and/or fantasy book/show/movie?

Book- Well LOTR again for fantasy. I don't read much science fiction so I'm not sure I feel qualified to speak to that. Maybe Ender's Game? 

Show- I think the only fantasy show I've watched is The Adventures of Merlin, which is excellent. For sci-fi definitely Doctor Who! I also love Stargate: Atlantis.

Movie- LOTR and Star Wars! 

What's a moment in a book that takes place in the past or future that you'd like to revisit?

I would love to sit in on the trial in To Kill a Mockingbird. 

What's a fictional store, cafe, ect. in a book/movie/show that you'd like to visit?

Book- I'd love to visit the shops from Harry Potter. The Leaky Cauldron, The Three Broomsticks and all of those! I also think it would be cool to visit The Prancing Pony from LOTR. 

Movie-The cantina from Star Wars. ;) 

Show- The postoffice from Lark Rise to Candleford. 

Name an automobile or way of a travel in a book/movie/show that you'd like to take for a ride.

Book- A carriage from Jane Austen's books. Classic. :)

Movie- The Millennium Falcon! 

Show- The T.A.R.D.I.S. obviously! 

Favorite Fiction Sicentist

Rodney McKay from Stargate: Atlantis. 

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It's Monday! A New Year

Welcome to 2016! I'm absolutely thrilled to be in a new year and perhaps a little bit giddy thinking about all of the new books I'll get to experience in it. :) New Years eve, after staying up until New Year's day playing games with the family, I started reading a book just so I could start the year off right. It felt so satisfying. :)
As I mentioned last week, one side of the family got together this past week and we celebrated Christmas together. My aunt got me tea and a mug.... it's like she reads my blog. ;)
My dear cousins got me a Doctor Who T-shirt that says "Cross my hearts and hope to regenerate" and has two anatomically correct hearts on it. Very Lois approved. :) We spent lots of time playing games together, quizzing each other randomly on movie trivia and laughing. :) I even introduced my cousin to Leverage. :) To top it off we all (all 19 of us!) went to go see (the 2nd time for my immediate family) Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
All in all it was a delightful conclusion to the Christmas season.
But on to reading...

Currently Reading

• The Complete Stories of Flannery O Conner by Flannery O Conner 
• Othello by William Shakespeare (audiobook)
• Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin 

Finished this week

• none

Coming Soon

• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
• Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

Reviews Posted this Week

• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens 
• Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 

What are you excited about for this new year?

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Fair warning... this review will contain spoilers. SPOILERS!!!!! Read forward only if you've seen the film or don't car about spoilers.... though if you don't care about spoilers what kind of human being are you???

Synopsis from IMDB: Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a rag-tag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.

How can I even begin to write this review? My emotions are so mixed! I might feel differently about this movie after a second viewing but here's my thoughts for now.
First off.... I did like it. The main complaint I've heard about The Force Awakens is that it is basically a remake of A New Hope. Now I'll agree that it is very reminiscent of the originals but as a big fan of the originals I'm not sure I mind that too much... though I do mind it some.
I like the new characters that the movie introduce, especially Rey and Finn. Finn makes me laugh a lot. :) Of course BB8 was cute.
The inclusion of Han Solo and Chewbacca was maybe my favorite part. I'm a huge fan of Han Solo and obviously he was and still is the best part of Star Wars. That first look at the Millennium Flacon and it being called "junk" made me squeal so hard! Then when Han and Chewy step into the Millennium Falcon and Han says "Chewy, we're home" I wanted to cheer!
One of my disappointments was there was minimal hilarious bantering between Han Solo and Princess Leia. I kind of get it because it was a very sobering time for them both and they were kind of separated but still! There were some touching moments with them though. Kylo Ren being their son was well done and mystery of his identity solved there.
This of course brings me to the MAJOR SPOILER.... Han dies! I mean I get it.... him dying made the most sense for the story. I complained that I'd rather Leia would have died but then admitted that no one would have really been sorry then. His death had the most emotional impact. I've got to say here how much I enjoyed Harrison Ford's acting and bringing back to life Han Solo. He may be several years older but he WAS Han Solo once again. It was beautiful. Did I mention how much I love Han Solo?
Overall I enjoyed this return to the Star Wars universe and I'm excited to see what the future movies will bring.

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Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

In preparation for THE FORCE AWAKENS (geek moment here!) my siblings and I watched The Empire Strikes Back.

Synopsis from IMDB: After the rebels have been brutally overpowered by the Empire on their newly established base, Luke Skywalker takes advanced Jedi training with Master Yoda, while his friends are pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.

I live for Han and Leia moments and while this one doesn't have as many laugh out loud ones as A New Hope does it has a lot of "Awwww" moments so it works. ;)
With this one you learn a lot more about the Force and of course there's the big reveal about Darth Vader being Luke's father. If you don't know that yet then you live under a rock. ;)
Now some great quotes. :)

"Do or do not, there is no try"

Leia- "I love you."
Han- "I know."

C3PO- "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1."
Han- "Never tell me the odds."

Leia- "Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder."
Han Solo- "Who's scruffy looking."

Han Solo: Hey, Your Worship, I'm only trying to help.
Princess Leia: Would you please stop calling me that?
Han Solo: Sure, Leia.
Princess Leia: You make it so difficult sometimes.
Han Solo: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all right.
Princess Leia: Occasionally, maybe... when you aren't acting like a scoundrel.
Han Solo: Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.
[Han starts to massage Leia's hand]
Princess Leia: Stop that.
Han Solo: Stop what?
Princess Leia: [timidly] Stop that. My hands are dirty.
Han Solo: My hands are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?
Princess Leia: Afraid?
Han Solo: You're trembling.
Princess Leia: I'm not trembling.
Han Solo: You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough scoundrels in your life.
Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm nice men.
Princess Leia: No, you're not. You're...
[they kiss] (And Lois cheers)

Han Solo- Well Princess, it looks like you managed to keep me here a while longer.

Leia- I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for anyone to leave the system until they've activated the energy shield.

Han Solo- That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.

Leia- I don't know where you get your delusions laser brain.

Chewbacca laughs.

Han Solo- Laugh it up fuzzball! (Lois quotes this line daily)

Han Solo- Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

Leia- I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie.

Han Solo- I can arrange that! You need a good kiss! 

Darth Vader- I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.

Leia- Well I guess you don't know everything about women yet. 

Han goes into asteroid field

Leia- You don't have to do this to impress me. 

Overall I do like A New Hope better but The Emperor Strikes back is definitely my second favorite. 

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Movie Review- Star Wars: A New Hope

The greatest science fiction movie ever.... Star Wars!!!!! Well maybe that's a bold claim but in my humble opinion that's the truth. I actually watched this twice this year... once earlier in the year and then again just this week in preparation for STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!! Not that I'm excited for it or anything. ;) Hopefully I have time to watch Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi too before Saturday (which is when I'm going to go see it!).

Synopsis from IMDB: Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the universe from the Empire's world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader.

I just love this synopsis. So simple but so true. :) My absolute favorite part of the Star Wars movies is Han Solo's and Leia's bantering. It's what makes the movies for me. Luke annoys me most of the time. I also like R2D2 and C3PO though C3PO can get annoying sometimes as well. And Chewy! Chewy makes me laugh too. :) I love how this movie introduces the Force and the whole world of Star Wars. The opening credits and introduction with the epic music are amazing!!!! John Williams' music may be the second best part of the movies. ;)
I just have to include a few (and by few I mean a ton) of my favorite quotes... which may or may not largely involve Han and Leia. ;)

Obi-Wan-Kenobi- These aren't the droids you're looking for.

Han- Sometimes I amaze even myself.

Leia- That can't be very hard. 

Han- Wonderful girl. Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to like her. 

Luke (trying to convince Han to rescue Leia)- She's rich

Han- Rich?

Luke- Rich, powerful. Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be...

Han- What?

Luke- Well, more wealth than you could imagine!

Han- I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit. 

Darth Vader- I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner, now I am the master. 

Obi-Wan-Kenobi- Only a master of evil Darth. 

C3PO- We're doomed!

C3PO (to R2D2)- This is all your fault. 

Leia- Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?

Luke- So what do you think of her Han?

Han- I'm trying not to kid. 

Luke- Good.

Han (Baiting Luke)- Still she's got a lot of spirit. I don't know. What do you think? You think a princess like her and a guy like me...

Luke (quickly)- No! 

Luke (about Leia)- They're going to execute her! Look a few minutes ago you said you didn't want to just wait there to be captured. Now all you want to do is stay?

Han- Walking into a detention area was not what I had in mind. 

Luke- But they're going to kill her!

Han- Better her than me! 

C3PO- I suggest a new strategy R2; let the Wookie win. 

Leia- This is some rescue! You came in here, but didn't you have a plan for getting out?

Han Solo (indicating Luke)- He's the brains sweetheart! 

Leia (indicating the Millennium Falcon)- You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought. 

Han- Nice! Come on! 

Leia- Put that thing away (Han's gun) away, you're going to get us all killed!

Han- Absolutely your worship! Look, I had everything under control until you led us down here. 

Han (indicating Obi-Wan-Kenobi)- Where did you dig up that old fossil? 

Luke- Ben is a great man.

Han- Yeah, great at getting us into trouble. 

Leia- Looks like you've managed to cut off our only escape route. 

Han- Maybe you'd like it back in your cell, your highness. 

Han (about Leia)- No reward is worth this! 

And one final though... Han shot first. ;)

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5 Male Characters Tag and 5 Female Characters Tag

I've been meaning to do these for awhile and then Olivia from Meanwhile in Rivendell tagged me in the 5 Male Characters Tag and I figured I might as well go ahead and do both. I'm not sure why they have different categories but they do.
AND, before you go any further, make sure to check out my two giveaways going on HERE and HERE!

5 Male Characters

Hero- Mr. Knightley... I just re-read Emma and then re-watched all of the movies so I'm on a huge kick Mr. Knightley kick right now! For me he embodies so much of what I would want in a husband. A man of moral integrity, someone willing to tell me when I am wrong, kind, generous and loving. He's also got a sense of humor. :) My second favorite would be Austen's Henry Tilney. He is similar to Mr. Knightley but is far lighter and so funny!!!  

Villain- Gollum. I like what Peter Jackson did with him in the movies actually, making him an even more complex character then he already was.

Anti-hero- I don't read a lot of books or watch a lot of movies with anti-heroes so this was hard for me to come up with. I think though I'd go with Han Solo from Star Wars and Malcom Reynolds from Firefly. They're actually fairly similar characters. I'd say they are the more hero like of anti heroes but it's what I could come up with.

Best book-to-screen adaptation- After much thought I have decided on Sir Percy Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernel and the screen adaptation is OBVIOUSLY the 1982 version.... aka the only version. ;) I think Anthony Andrews perfectly take the character from the books and dazzlingly brings him onto the screen much to my endless laughter! 

Best character perception- This one and the previous seem kind of similar but whatever! I'd go with Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is a very reserved character so taking him and acting him out would must have been hard but I think Colin Firth did it with so much perception. He just was Mr. Darcy because I think he understood the character. He will always be Mr. Darcy to me.

5 Female Characters

Heroine- I'm torn between Elizabeth Bennett and Molly Gipson so.... both

Villain- I tend to say I love to hate Professor Umbridge from Harry Potter. She irks me so much! Sure she's not the main villain in the series but that does not matter! I hate her so much more than Voldemort! 

Superhero- Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow! Basically she's awesome! 

That I would want to be friend with- I think I would have to chose Anne Shirley! So much imagination and fun! 

That I wish had better development- I'd have to agree with Olivia here and go with Buttercup from The Princess Bride. In the movie she's a bit better developed but in the book she's really just kind of there. :(

These are such fun tags! If you want to participate just steal them away! 

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10 of my Favorite Film Characters

The sweet Heidi from Along the Brandywine (cool name for a blog right?) tagged me to name my 10 favorite film characters. :) Needless to say this will be hard list to make! To make it easier for myself I'm excluding characters from movies based on books and I'm not including characters from TV shows.

1. Han Solo from Star Wars 
2. Cosmo Brown from Singing in the Rain 
3. Millie from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4. Bryan Crookshanks from Charade
5. Martin Vanderhof from You Can't Take it With You 
6. Longfellow Deeds from Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
7. George Washington McLintock from McLintock 
8. Nick and Nora from The Thin Man movies
9. The Incredibles family from The Incredibles
10. Detective Lieutenant Mark McPherson from Laura

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