My Top 5 Fantasy Recommendations

Let’s talk about fantasy movies and T.V. Shows today.

“Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.”

Dr Seuss

Fantasy as a genre is so fundamental to storytelling, whether it be through the screen or through books that you simply cannot imagine stories without it. It is probably one of the first story genres most of us are exposed to. ( Remember Cinderella? Snow White? Peter Pan?) Fairy Tales, myths, legends and whatnot; they’re all fantasies at their core. If you think about it, every single book or movie fulfils some specific fantasy; provides some escape. That is why we love stories in the first place, humans adore escapism! (Stop all research, I’ve figured it out! )

Fantasy is officially defined as a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, especially in a setting other than the real world. Imagination, magic, adventure AND a different world? Kid me is already losing her mind(and not gonna lie, adult me is not much different, just better at hiding it.) It’s not hard to see why fantasy as a genre has not only, persisted but thrived through the ages. It may be escapism, but for most of us, it is like coming back home.

So, instead of going on and on about the obvious things we all get, I will jump right into my current top 5 fantasy recommendations, in no particular order, across movies and TV Shows. As always if you do end up giving any of them a shot please do tell me. (You can comment on my blog, email me or contact me @musingsofwhimsicalsoul on Instagram) I would love to hear from you!

Also, a disclaimer, before we jump into the list: Though, for many of these stories the problematic aspects of both the stories and the creators are now widely recognised, just for today we live in a ‘fantasy’ world where all the people are wonderful and unproblematic, to be on theme.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA SERIES

The Narnia movies are a childhood favourite, for me as well as a lot of people who grew up in the 2000s. For the unaware, they are a series of movies based on C.S Lewis’ novels by the same name. Three movies came out over 2005-2010 with the story being primarily about the four Pevensie children and their adventures in the magical, mystical world of Narnia. With a pretty stellar cast, it is the perfect fantasy series for children as well as fantasy novices; it is simple enough to understand yet magical enough to escape into.

THE HARRY POTTER SERIES

Who doesn’t know about the massive cultural phenomenon that was and is the Harry Potter series? The 8 movies based on the 7 novels by J.K. Rowling, were a defining era for not only fantasy as a genre but for movies and fiction as a whole. It was the first fantasy series I invested completely into and I also grew up with Harry Potter and his adventures at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It also has an exceptional cast and remains the most beloved and popular fantasy movie series.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS SERIES

The Lord of The Rings trilogy is probably the one that shows the grandeur of the fantasy genre the best in this list. It is an epic adventure saga, based on the eponymous novels by J. R.R Tolkein, considered the father of modern fantasy. It features an ensemble cast and is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, following the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and the Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the all-powerful One Ring. I love Lord of The Rings but I’d recommend giving it a watch after the simpler fantasies just because it is a bit complicated but SO intelligent and worth it. It is an adaptation made with love, and for someone who couldn’t even finish the books(Sorry, I was so little and there were so many nature descriptions, there is only so much about trees a 10-year-old can take) everything fantasy should aspire towards.

THE GAME OF THRONES 

A cultural phenomenon and television’s answer to high fantasy, the eight season drama was based on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” books by George R.R Martin. Featuring a huge ensemble cast, it marries together politics and magic in a near-perfect result. It was a very defining series in television and for many years had people on the edge of their seats. I would be remiss to not mention that yes, the conclusion is uh, disappointing, for lack of a better word, but the first few seasons are truly the best of fantasy TV and make the show a worthwhile watch.

SHADOW AND BONE 

The latest offering on this list, Shadow and Bone came out on Netflix in 2021 and is based on Leigh Bardugo’s two series of books in the Grishaverse: the Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology. It is very classic young adult fiction; a young soldier discovers she has mysterious powers that can change the world, a country in turmoil, a group of people who can do “magic” and the chaos all that brings. I loved the series and already look forward to the next season. If you’re into teen/YA fiction, its the perfect fantasy series for you, I highly recommend it. (Also it has Ben Barnes in it, in case you need the push!)

THIS POST’S QUESTION: What is your Top 5 list of fantasy recommendations? Comment below with what you think about it, I’d love to hear from you!

My Top 5 Chick-Flick Recommendations

Let’s talk about chick flicks today.

Chick flicks, for the uninitiated, are a slang term for the film genre that is considered especially catered to women,i.e., literally ‘flicks’ for ‘chicks’. Though they can be enjoyed by everyone, they are usually marketed to younger women (Think teens and young adults). In simple terms, these are great women-centric movies with a lot of heart, meant to entertain and not to be looked at from a critical lens, at least not in a typical way. These movies are great for a chill movie night, sleepovers or even for when you just need a good laugh. They are also popular culture staples, and many references you might not even realise are born from these highly iconic films.

Chick flicks are one of the most successful kinds of movies out there but the genre itself is still hugely underrated, being thought of as not “serious” cinema. They are also often severely judged, underestimated, considered foolish and even the term “chick flick” is used in a derogatory manner, all because the target audience is women. This is one of the many ways society’s internalised misogyny seems to shine; putting down things because the majority of their fans are ‘stupid’ young girls. So what if these movies are not “serious”? Every movie does not have to be. They may seem frivolous but are usually great learning experiences for young girls(and everyone else), speaking from personal experience. Whatever is wrong with making and enjoying light-hearted cinema?

With that, I come to my point that while these movies may be called “chick” flicks they aren’t just for “chicks”. Men can, and in my opinion, should give the genre and these movies a try. They can be educational and that kind of education is hard to get from regular life. They are also just super hilarious and fun, so you would be entertained for the hour or so you sacrifice if nothing else. This list would be a great place to start if you need one to begin or just find one suited to your taste from the many such lists online. With that, I think its time to get into my current top 5 recommendations, in no particular order (Okay, this is not entirely true. I do have favourites but I will disclose them, I promise). As always if you do end up giving any of them a shot please do tell me. (You can comment on my blog, email me or contact me @musingsofwhimsicalsoul on Instagram) I swear, I can even take the hate, I’d just really love to hear from you.

MEAN GIRLS

Mean Girls is the queen of all chick flicks, the OG and my unabashed favourite. It came out in 2004 and was hilariously written by the uber-talented Tina Fey. It had quite the stellar cast including the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams and of course, Ms. Fey herself. It stars Lindsay Lohan at her peak, as a homeschooled girl who has just moved back to the USA from Africa for high school and is suddenly thrust into the “girl” world full of cliques and unexplainable rules. My favourite thing about the movie is how grounded it remains, despite having some totally outlandish moments; it toes the line between humorous and ‘too much’ so well. It also is ridiculously quotable, has an iconic wardrobe and soundtrack, and remains fresh in pop culture to this day. 

CLUELESS

The 1995 movie, considered a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma is the “Mean Girls” of the previous decade. Ridiculously quotable with excellent outfits to the boot, this is the story of Alicia Silverstone’s Cher, a popular, rich, beautiful and totally self-centred high school girl who befriends the ‘hopeless’ new kid Tai Frazier played by Britanny Murphy and decides to help her be less ‘clueless’. It has it all: a makeover montage, great music, hilarious moments, excellent fashion choices, famous pop culture quotes, a young Paul Rudd, what more do you need?

LEGALLY BLONDE

Legally Blonde is the best example of chick flicks being empowering for young girls. In this 2001 movie, the typical ‘girly’ girl Elle Woods played by Reese Witherspoon, when dumped by her Harvard bound boyfriend for not being ‘serious’ enough, takes admission in Harvard Law school to win him back but ends up proving herself a successful lawyer, all while staying true to who she was. This movie is another pop culture icon, with many famous quotes and moments, both fashion and otherwise. I particularly love the fact that Elle is proud of who she is, never changes to fit in and doesn’t have to; she can stand out for all the best reasons instead.

10 things I hate about you

The 1999 modernization of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” gave us the most badass female protagonist Kat, played by Julia Stiles, who basically defied every stereotype there was and was happy to do it. (Another character to learn from!) The movie was about a new student Cameron, played by a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is totally smitten with Kat’s younger sister and decides to set Kat up with the school’s bad boy, Patrick Verona, a.k.a young Heath Ledger to get around the sisters’ father’s strict rules on dating. The movie is also up there on the quotability quotient, has a strong female lead, hilarious moments and remains a pop-culture staple. (It’s also as old as me, which will always be a way of measuring time in these posts!)

Easy A

The most recent one on this list and in my opinion the best chick flick to come out in recent years, Easy A came out in 2010 with a screenplay partially inspired by ” The Scarlet Letter” and is still fresh as ever. Emma Stone plays Olive Penderghast a “clean-cut” high school student whose one lie is blown out of proportion by the school’s rumour mill and gives her a ‘reputation’, one that she embraces and owns, at least till she can. Olive might be one of my personal favourite teen movie protagonists and is definitely the most relatable. I love this movie and believe it is quite underrated, at least when compared to its more popular peers on this list. Definitely give it a watch, for the witty writing, Emma Stone’s brilliant acting and Amanda Bynes in her most recent movie role, if nothing else.

THIS POST’S QUESTION: What is your Top 5 list of chick-flick recommendations? Comment below with what you think about it, I’d love to hear from you!

 

My Top 5 Rom-Com Recommendations

Lets talk about romantic comedies today.

Romantic Comedies. Rom-Coms. Considered a sub-genre of comedy that focuses more on romance, but in my opinion, deserves way more credit than that. Rom-Coms remain one of the most universally likeable films and are as a genre, quite open and accepting. Yes, it has its tropes and cliche’s but which genre doesn’t? The important thing to remember is that we all like ’em. That’s how they became a cliche, in the first place, is it not?

Any and all scoff of romantic comedies, originates from a disdain for ‘romance’, rather than the comic aspect of it all. Yes, people are allowed their opinions but I think most romance hating is a trait adapted to look socially ‘cooler’ rather than actually being innate. (Believe me, I’ve been on both sides of this argument) Rom-Com hater or lover, either way, I think the most important aspect to remember going into watching a romantic comedy is to put that dire need for realism aside and just let fantasies fly for the next hour or two. It will help you and those with you actually enjoy the movie and you’ll all be happier for it.

Obviously, as with all things, not all romantic comedies are built equally. Some are wholly bizarre and frankly, leave you wondering why you ever chose to watch them. Others are so, so. Not too amazing, not too ridiculous; a great one time watch. However, there are a few select others, that are so special and take you on an emotional journey; the best kind of movies. Today, we will be focusing on that kind. So, without any more fuss, let’s get into my current top 5 rom-com recommendations, in no particular order. If you do end up giving any of them a shot, please do tell me. (You can comment on my blog, email me or contact me @musingsofwhimsicalsoul on Instagram) Even if you hated the film, I’d be too stoked about having managed to sell someone on trying out a movie to care. I swear.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is a classic romantic comedy that’s as old as me! (What a completely normal way to measure time!) It came out way back in 1999, and stars *wait for it* Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It takes on a very relatable fantasy of what you would do if a famous actor/actress suddenly bumped into you. Hugh is, well, his usual character of an affable, adorable British man who lives with a quirky roommate and owns a bookstore, which the famous actress Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts, walks into. A very genuinely sweet movie and the one behind the mega-famous, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” monologue.

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is another even older classic rom-com with Julia Roberts! Julia, in my opinion, absolutely ruled the rom-com market in the 90s and deservedly so. In Pretty Woman, she plays a down- on-her-luck prostitute, who is hired by a wealthy businessman, played by Richard Gere, to be his escort for business and social events for a week. The movie is about the relationship(Wink-wink, nudge-nudge) they develop in this week and also, how cute they both are. (I’m not kidding, this is the official summary of the movie, ask Wikipedia) In other highlights, it has an excellent shopping/makeover montage and an adorable ‘happy ending’.

About Time

About Time is more about-our-time. (Did you laugh?) It’s a 2013 romantic comedy featuring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams in one of the sweetest romantic comedies of the last decade. About Time is what you get when you combine time travel, a very sci-fi trope with a rom-com. I think its most winning quality and what makes it stand out is the focus it gives to the other relationships apart from just the movie’s romance. The romance gets its time and rightfully so, but the familial relationships really set the movie apart. As a bonus, Rachel McAdams is playing yet another time traveller’s romantic interest (That brings the count to 3, right?) and the soundtrack is wonderful.

Dirty Dancing

Going way back to 1987 brings us the ultimate classic that is Dirty Dancing. Supposed to be set in the ’60s but really just people dressed in 80’s clothes doing 60’s things, like going to the Catskills. It is the OG dance movie with Jennifer Grey playing ‘Baby’, who is visiting the resort and Patrick Swayze as the dance instructor she falls in love with. The movie is super iconic and surprisingly modern, despite its flaws. It has spawned many pop-culture references, think ” No one puts Baby in the corner” or the very oft-referenced “Time of My Life” lift. Watch it for the dancing and the soundtrack, if nothing else. (And Patrick Swayze, did I mention him?)

Crazy Rich Asians

And finally, Crazy Rich Asians! The most recent of the bunch, this 2018 rom-com stars Constance Wu as a Chinese-American professor who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend a.k.a Henry Golding to visit his family in Singapore and discovers that they are *spoiler alert* ‘crazy rich’. It’s a very entertaining movie, great PR for Singapore and one of the best rom-coms to come out in recent years. For me though, this movie is special because it represents the future of romantic comedies that I stand by; more inclusive stories about all kinds of people and cultures. It was a milestone in the genre and I’m so excited about the wind of change it brings!

THIS POST’S QUESTION: What is your Top 5 list of rom-com recommendations? Comment below with what you think about it, I’d love to hear from you!

Why Were We Obsessed With Dystopias in the 2010s?

Let’s talk about the wave of dystopian fiction in the 2010s today.

“Dystopia /dɪsˈtəʊpɪə/
An imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.”

When I was a teenager, which is basically, the majority of the 2010s, I and everyone around me was obsessed with consuming books, movies and tv shows set in dystopias. Think Panem from The Hunger Games, the post-World War 3 Illéa in the Selection, the alternate universe ‘Chicago’ in Divergent, the post solar flare world of The Maze Runner, or the setting of countless Zombie movies. What was with that? Why was everyone in the 2010s into reading about a world that was ending? Why was every girl I know having a zombie apocalypse phase? Why were we, as a generation so interested in consuming fiction set in a world in chaos?

Cut to 2020, where we have pretty much been living in the plot of a poorly written dystopia ourselves, and it has not been half as fun or exciting or as high stakes as the movies or the books made it seem. That was how I started thinking about this particular interest of mine in the first place and how my genre of interest as a teenager was Dystopia or Young Adult, which also indirectly meant dystopia in the 2010s. It wasn’t even just me. It was a hugely successful trope; hence the mass production in it, right? That explains the wide variety in it. But, the question still remains: why would we ever buy into all this apocalyptic tragedy, pain and suffering?

Some of it definitely had to do with the “escape” factor associated with reading or even watching movies. Most people, myself included, enjoying consuming fiction that is set in a different world altogether so that you can escape into it. This is the entire allure of the fantasy genre, and I might even argue, period genre if you go back far enough. Maybe, dystopia can be thought of as a chaotic, apocalyptic sub-genre of fantasy with vestiges of its escapism, and hence people like me, who had grown up on Harry Potter and other fantasy books were only happy to get an escape again, even if it was to a world that was absolutely messed up.

fictionchick.deviantart.com

There is also the fact that while Dystopia as a genre might appear to be very superficial and simple, many of its classic examples are quite deep. I recently reread The Hunger Games, and I was quite surprised by the fact that the book is a great commentary on society, on politics, on war and on trauma as a whole. I was quite young when I first read it and thus, those subtleties were lost on me. As an adult, however, the more I read into it, the more I realise, that many of these were actually brilliantly written tales of caution, of what could happen and thinly veiled depictions of what already is happening in the world. Looking back, reading these books and watching these movies, intentionally or unintentionally made me more open-minded, brought to the fore the importance of equality and ended up making me quite sensitive to prejudice and discrimination. Helping me develop a strong moral compass was also, due in some part, to the fiction I consumed and for that, I am extremely thankful.

As far as the fascination for zombie apocalypses is concerned, I don’t think that its just a 2010’s exclusive thing. Since time immemorial, humans believe in the idea that we as a race are our own worst enemy and that humankind would be the one to end humankind, and zombies seem to be one of the ways we externalise that idea. Even books like A Song of Ice and Fire, or as it was popularly known, The Game of Thrones toyed with the zombie idea. This can be a separate post altogether and I can go on for ages so I’ll try to keep it short. I too had a zombie apocalypse phase, and as someone who has been through it, I can tell you how I think this surge in the popularity of the undead happened. The late 2000s brought us the cultural phenomenon that was Twilight with all its vampires, werewolves and whatnot. This increased interest in young adult fiction set around similar mythical creatures and I think the zombie fiction just rode in on the heels of that Twilight wave until it became a phenomenon itself.

At the end, where it came from, where it went, we can only guess. All that I am sure of is that for the greater part of a decade, young adult fiction was ruled by stories of the world ending, and it developed values and moral systems in the adults of today. I don’t see it coming back soon, you know, what with all of us pretty much living through our own apocalypse plot in 2020(I’m pretty sure anyone who has ever wished to be able to live in one of these books, no judgment, has some regrets now) but I think we should prepare ourselves for there being future apocalypse fiction inspired from 2020. I’ve always wondered, and I’m sure more people have, what I’d do if there was an apocalypse and the answer is unsurprising as well as humbling: nothing, just sit at home and live life as normally as I possibly could. Oh well. Not all of us can be 16-year-olds navigating romance and saving the world from doom at the same time.

THIS POST’S QUESTION: What was your favorite Dystopian fiction from the 2010s? Comment below with what you think about it,I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

 

 

The Thing with Book to Movie Adaptations

Let’s talk about Book to Movie(and TV show) adaptations today.

Imagine this. You read a great book and it is now one of your favourites. Once you’re done with it, you looked it up. You find that there’s a movie(or TV show, just assume I said TV show even if I don’t say it explicitly here on out) based on it and excitedly you clear your schedule and decide to watch it. Things can only go two ways from here.

The first scenario is this: You watch the movie, it rocks your world and it was the best thing ever to see what was, till now, in your imagination come alive. It was exactly as you imagined and you were crying-laughing after. You recommend it to everyone you know and thank whoever you believe in for its existence.

The second scenario is this: You watch the movie and it is such a travesty to watch what you love and cherish so much be tarnished this badly. It is devastating and you swear off the movie and let everyone who will hear you know that the movie does not count.

And in case you’re wondering, there is no middle ground. If you’re passionate enough about a book, you’re either obsessed with the movie or hate it, there is no in-between. The polarizing nature of the subject that is Book to Movie/TV adaptations is what makes them a bit of a controversial topic. It is also why we’ll discuss both the case for and the case against Book to Movie adaptations today and maybe if all goes well, you’ll at least have an understanding of the other point of view. Let’s begin with the case for Book to Movie adaptations and talk about why they such are a great thing.

The case for them is easy to get. You have a story, which is already written, already loved, already structured and broken down and already has a fanbase. All you have to do is adapt it to your medium. Not everyone likes to read or can read in the language of the original book, but movies and TV shows are a universal medium and subtitles can solve all those problems. If done well, it brings new fans to the books and brings a resurgence and major growth to the fanbase of the series. It allows for sequels and if you put in the effort, the people making it can earn a lot of money and fame and the fans can find a lot of gratification and joy, so everyone’s happy. If you make a great adaptation, the fans will keep the movies alive, elevate them to ‘cult’ status and make them a part of the ‘pop culture.’

I think the best example of a book to movie adaptation that has achieved this is the Harry Potter movies, which are not perfect but made people realise how lucrative this could be and paved the way for many future book adaptations. Other great movie adaptations are The Hunger Games movies, the Maze Runner movies, The Chronicles of Narnia and in a bit of an unpopular opinion, the Twilight movies. (I think they were great adaptations, I just don’t think they were that great books, Sorry Stephenie) The best TV adaptation that I have to mention is of the Song of Ice and Fire books,i.e Game of Thrones. (but only the initial seasons when they were actually adapting from the books, not what happened after)

The case against might either be very obvious to you or not obvious at all. (Depending on what adaptation you have watched, oops.) Adapting a story for celluloid or for a TV show is hard. You might have to modify structuring, add scenes or delete scenes and it is effort. There is also quite a lot of pressure because the books already have fans and those fans have certain expectations. If you do it wrong, those fans will let you know. it will be rejected, will tank and will earn hate and notoriety. It might even drive away fans; the movie might be so bad that people develop the wrong opinion that the books too, are not good and might end up missing out on what was a perfectly good book. Also as a reader, you develop a very personal relationship with a book and sometimes there’s a bit of possessiveness in that. You don’t want the book to become a ‘mainstream’ fanbase because it is yours and almost too sacred to be touched so you don’t want it to be adapted.

I think the prime example of a book to movie adaptation that has proved this is the movie adaptation of the Percy Jackson books, which was an utter and complete tragedy and only ever gave us Logan Lerman. (Thank god, they’re making a new TV show for the books now because the movies were just disrespectful) Other such movie adaptations are the Divergent books and the Mortal Instruments books. (I’ve heard the show is better but I’ve outgrown the series honestly, so haven’t watched it myself) The best (or rather actually worst) TV adaptation that I can think of is Thirteen Reasons Why. It was a thought-provoking, decent book which spoke of mental health and it ended up as a very dramatic social issue exposé which was just traumatising and attention-seeking.

So, by now, either you’ve picked a side or found more material to fuel your already set opinion, or hopefully, just understood both sides better. The bottom line with adaptations is this; if you do it well, a Book to Movie adaptation is a great, amazing thing but if you do it badly, it is disrespectful and sad. It’s all about finding the balance and bringing great stories to more people because stories are important and wonderful and in the words of Joan Didion, “We tell ourselves stories in order to live”.

THIS POST’S QUESTION: Are you for or against Book to Movie/TV show adaptations? Comment below with what you think about it,I’d love to hear from you!

Up In La La Land.

Let’s talk about La La Land today.

” So bring on the rebels
The ripples from pebbles
The painters, and poets, and plays

And here’s to the fools who dream
Crazy as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that break
Here’s to the mess we make.” 

-Audition, La La Land.

Today we are discussing a cinematic marvel, a masterpiece of the celluloid and my favourite movie of all time, La La Land. I’ll talk about how and why I love the movie so much and am dedicating this post to this brilliant movie and the affection I have for it.

I’ll discuss the movie in depth so if you haven’t seen it already, go change your life and watch it now! (A minor hyperbole, but no really.) Go, watch and then come back and we will discuss it and you can marvel about the movie better. In any case, be warned. Some spoilers ahead.

La La Land is a 2016 Academy Award Winner gem of a movie. It is a burst of colour on an otherwise usually bleak landscape(A.K.A. Hollywood), literally, as the movie is as colourful as it is picturesque. It is a work of genius and Damien Chazelle has absolutely outdone himself. The elements of genius shine everywhere, even the title is a play on both the moniker for the city of dreams, Los Angeles where the movie is set and the musical as well as the dream-like aspect of the movie.

I first watched La La Land while I was on a 6-hour flight from Rome to Dubai, in the summer of 2017. It was love at first watch and I was impacted so greatly, it took me time to snap out of it. I last watched it yesterday to refresh for this post. It still takes me time to get out of the frame of mind the movie puts me in.

It feels like and is, a modern blast from the past and that’s one of the things I really love about it. Filmed on Cinemascope, it has the old-timey feel, with the bright colours, the inspirations from old iconic movies, the old Hollywood vibe of the entire movie and of course, the many parallels such as the one from Rebel Without A Cause and Griffith Observatory.

La La land is a treat for the eyes. Right from the superbly colourful opening sequence on the highway, the beautiful popping colours, the stunning visuals, and the creative cinematography make you feel like you’re within a dream and yet, it is just a different view on ordinary, real, everyday things. The colours vary with the season and the mood of the film and symbolism has been used well throughout. All in all, this makes La La Land a beautiful piece of art to behold.

 

I have a special fondness for musicals and this is an exceptional one. Music is, in my opinion, the third lead character in this movie and possibly the strongest one. The power the music holds, with Mia and Sebastian’s theme or the music setting the mood for the season in which the scene is set, the dancing, the songs and their placement makes the movie a visual as well as an auditory delight. I am also very fond of jazz and this movie is quite literally, a homage to it. This movie brings old, pure jazz to the spotlight and thus, the music in La La Land is a work of genius in itself.

The acting and the direction only raised the pedestal the movie was already on higher. The raw, poignant emotions of the characters amazingly executed by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in line with Damien Chazelle’s vision, of course, made this movie extraordinary and makes me more invested in the characters, the story and the movie itself, each time I watch it.

I can’t, of course, appreciate the movie without appreciating the wonderful story that it brought to life. The story was one beautifully written, with many many gorgeously written songs and quotes throughout, that I, as a lover of words, have to appreciate. It is an extremely quoteworthy movie(Like the quote I started this post with, for instance) and words have been honoured throughout the movie. The story was unique, dreamy yet real, hard-hitting and honest. The juxtaposition of reality and fantasy, of dreams and the truth, of the way life is magical yet not perfect, is what makes this movie special and is probably my favourite aspect of the movie. The heartbreaking ending sequence, the what-if, really drives the idea home and as much as I hate it, I love it more.

In conclusion, La La Land is my favourite movie because I feel fortunate to have seen it come out in my lifetime and honoured to have witnessed the beauty, the genius and the magic that is La La Land.

THIS POST’S QUESTION: Have you seen La La Land? How did you like it? Comment below with what you think about it,I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons I’ve Learnt From Disney.

Let’s talk about the things I’ve learnt from Disney today.

For me, a major part of my childhood was Disney movies. I grew up watching them, getting attached to them, loving them and learning from them. I’ve learnt many life lessons from these animated, seemingly children’s movies that I, as an almost adult, still love a lot. So, without further ado, here are lessons I’ve learnt from 7 of Disney’s animated movies. I hope, it goes without saying that if you haven’t watched the movie, you may find the below to be full of spoilers.  Here, I’m excluding the Pixar movies as they can quite easily comprise a post of their own. Here we go.

1. Alice In Wonderland

   Alice In Wonderland, a movie I watched as a 5-6-year old and absolutely loved due to the fact that it shows you, quite literally ,a wonderland. At that young age, seeing Alice interact with everyone from the White Rabbit to the Mad Hatter I learnt that everyone was equal and you didn’t need to see or talk to anyone differently just because they were not what most people would call ‘usual’ or ‘normal’. It was a great lesson in equality and not discriminating that has always stuck with me.                                                                      

2. Beauty And The Beast

   Beauty And The Beast, my favourite musical and most awaited live action Disney movie currently was also my absolute favourite Disney animated movie for the longest time. I loved Belle, different from other girls in her village, a reader like me,(I talked about this in my previous post, click here to read that) and the fact that in the Beast and Belle’s love story, looks never mattered. It was a great message in loving the person and going beyond how they look to understand who they really are to learn as a child. This movie also holds a special place in my heart for it has one of my most favourite Disney soundtracks probably ever.                         

3. The Lion King

   The Lion King is a movie associated with so much nostalgia and so many memories as I first saw it with a group of my childhood best friends, when we were children, all huddled around a laptop. The movie,which shows Simba’s journey to being king of the jungle is, in my opinion, really a journey for everyone who watches it. It taught me to believe in myself and my beliefs and to hold on to them no matter what. Simba learns it the hard way and  I learnt it with him.                                 

4. Mulan

   Mulan was a movie way ahead of its times. It was a movie set in Ancient China, with an exceptionally headstrong girl who was ready to go to any costs to defend her family and country and fight in the war, even though girls aren’t really allowed to. She becomes a boy and takes her father’s place in the war as he is quite elderly without batting an eyelid. It taught girls everywhere, like it taught me, to be strong and independent and never consider themselves weak. It truly is one of the most underappreciated Disney movies.            

5. Tangled

   Tangled was the movie that crashed Beauty And The Beast’s favourite animation movie spot and took it instead. A rather morose original tale brightened up with lanterns, literally, and the most believable teenager princess. She wants to see the world, she hits guys in the face with a frying pan and she simply yearns to understand who she is and what she’s destined for. Rapunzel was a lesson in optimism as in spite of being trapped in a tower all her life, she has hobbies , passions and dreams and is as lively as you can get. Her inner goodness is not influenced by Mother Gothel’s negative influence either. Add to that Flynn Rider’s transformation and it makes for an almost admirably inspiring movie.                             

6. Frozen

   Frozen took Mulan’s feminist message and conveyed it its own way. It showed me that you don’t need a man to rescue you and that true love can exist between sisters just as much as it can exist between lovers. It also taught me to not take anybody at face value, to not be so naïve, as Anna takes Hans and that true love doesn’t always happen in a day. It’s important to get to know a person before you simply consider them as your soul mate, get engaged and decide to marry them all in the matter of a day. Oh, Anna.

   

7. Zootopia

   Zootopia, Disney’s most recent animation venture was a wonderfully adorable movie. It taught me to believe in my dreams no matter what anyone says, to not conform to stereotypes,to never let who I was born as define me, to never consider anyone inferior as Judy, Nick and Ms. Bellwether (being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, amazingly) taught me. It’s a heart-warming movie and a must watch if you haven’t. (Take this a little request/ task.Let me know how you find it later.)

   THIS POST’S QUESTION: What is your favourite Disney movie? Comment below with what you think about it, I’d love to hear from you!

The Best Universal Studios Ever!

Lets talk about Universal Studios,Singapore and my day there,today.

I visited Singapore and Malaysia with my family this summer and can officially state how much I’m in love with these beautifully amazing places.The next few posts will be about my vacation and things I saw during the vacation that were unique and something I’d never seen before. This one,I dedicate to my favorite part of the vacation,the day we spent at Universal Studios,Sentosa Gateway,Singapore.

I’ve talked about my love for new experiences,adventure and movies before and Universal Studios,being the coming together of all three,was something I was anticipating going to with unmasked excitement.And,it ended up living up to the anticipation,expectations and was much more than I could have imagined.

Universal Studios is a theme adventure park in many places across the world that takes you to the world of movies, fantasy  and things beyond real life. Contrary to popular belief, Universal Studios is not only a place where children or teenagers can enjoy. Moreover, I felt like everyone, whatever age they may be will find something at Universal catering to their interests and enjoyment. We also found people from all parts of the world and of all ages there, enjoying themselves, only concreting this belief.

The entrance :Hollywood.

 

Here is my list of the top 10 rides and attractions that I feel everyone can enjoy and shouldn’t miss if they go to Universal Studios :-

1. Transformers:The Ride at Sci-fi City.(This is the best.Repeat it,if you can afford to.)

   

   The Transformers characters we met right ousdie the ride.

2. Rapids Adventure at Jurassic Park.
3. Puss In Boots Giant Journey at Far Far Away.

   

   Welcome to Far Far Away.

4. Waterworld,the water show at Waterworld.
5. Revenge Of The Mummy at Ancient Egypt.(This is a high-speed indoor rollercoaster with many sudden drops,twists and turns.Just a disclaimer.)

   

   Entrance to Ancient Egypt.

6. Lights!Camera!Action! at New York.(Hosted by Steven Spielberg.)
7. A Crate Adventure at Madagascar.
8. Canopy Flyer at the Lost World.
9. Battlestar Galactica:Human(This and the next are a pair of high-speed outdoor dueling rollercoasters with drops,turns that turn you upside down at many instances.Again,a disclaimer.)
10. Battlestar Galactica:Cylon at Sci-Fi City.

    

    The rollercoasters at war.

Apart from these,there are many live shows,character meet and greets and themed food services to avail from.The atmosphere at Universal Studies is electric and it feels like a completely different world where you forget all your worries and only enjoy yourself to the fullest.For me,the amount of fun I had at Universal is hard to put in words but the adrenaline rush,the sheer amount of joy and happiness you feel there,the constant ever helping smiles on the faces  of the ride operators and other staff and  just the amount of love I felt for the place are forever treasured and stowed away somewhere in my heart.

The Live Show outside Mel’s Drive In.

 

Far Far Away:An accurate representation of what I felt like at Universal Studios.

 

To make my adoration of the place obvious, in conclusion,I will say only two things. I felt so sad while leaving because it felt like stepping out of the best dream I’ve ever had. I also feel like my version of heaven is probably a Universal Studios. You get the idea.

All pictures have been clicked by me.

The Beginner’s Guide To Understanding Fangirls.(1)

Lets talk about fangirls(and fanboys)today.

We all know them. That one friend of ours who doesn’t believe in the concept of ‘liking’ things and is a perpetual ‘obsesser’. They speak a queer tongue, go from happy to sad in a nanosecond, let out screams and shrieks without warning, spend unhealthy amounts of time on the internet and completely befuddle the rest of us, the ‘normal’ human beings.I, as a representative of the aforementioned ‘species’ am happy to introduce this series aimed at understanding your friendly(They are, if you do it right)neighbourhood fangirl.

Fangirl,noun

[fan-gurl]

A rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character, book series, movie, band, singer or an actor or even, food. They are similar to the breed of fanboys. Fangirls congregate on the internet, in concerts, at conventions and at book stores.

How to identify a fangirl?

Now that you know what a fangirl is, it’s time to apply that knowledge. The following are a few indicative factors to identify a fangirl :-

1. Speaking in incomplete sentences(I can’t even) and using absurd words.(Ship.)
2. Shrieking, screaming or crying incessantly, without warning and for no huge reason.
3. Heavy and unhealthy usage of the internet.
4. Them being too ‘busy ‘to go out while they are home doing seemingly nothing.
5. Being slightly(varying amounts of slightly, that is) excited about most things.
6. Staying up late at night to finish books.
7. Their rooms being a shrine to their object of affection.(It’s a whole new world there.)
8. Them being very attached to said shrines.
9. Them owning clothing and accessories to do with their affections and obsessions.

Now that you know that the girl you thought was weird is a fangirl, your question obviously is, how do I understand her, get to know her and be social with her?

This is exactly what I aim to help you achieve through this series. Upcoming will be sections on understanding their language, how to deal with their erratic emotions and more.

Stay tuned and embrace your inner fangirl ( or fanboy)!

For the next post in the series click here.