After that weekend post on my peaceful coexistence with clutter, on a bit of a rebound, I decided to clear up our CD collection. Did I tell you we got rid of cable/Tata Sky a few months back? Yeah well, so over the weekend, the kids watch their DVDs, and I thought it would be a good idea to get them in order.
However, I stumbled upon some long forgotten films – a treasure, really. As a result the cleaning was quite forgotten and I sat down for a film-festival of my own.
First it was You’ve Got Mail
I could do an entire post on that one. Kathleen (Meg Ryan) owns a tiny bookshop while Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) heads a giant bookstore (that drives her out of business). The two bump into each other in a chatroom and a love story unfolds. Films on books and book lovers are a complete treat. Wasn’t Kathleen’s Shop Around the Corner just the cutest? I loved how cosy her storytelling sessions were and how she knew just the right book for every child.
I felt her heartbreak when she could not meet the competition from Joe Fox. And yet I couldn’t hate him for he’s sweet too. Their interactions are absolutely heartwarming.
Some of the dialogues really spoke to me. Consider this one:
Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life – well valuable, but small – and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave?
and this:
When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life ever does.
My favourite however, is this one:
Kathleen: ….What happens to me when I’m provoked is that I get tongue-tied and my mind goes blank. Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should have said.
Kathleen Kelly was definitely the hero of this film for me.
Then I watched Mary Reilly
This one was hidden away with a bunch of more famous Julia Roberts starrers and I had completely missed watching it. Roberts plays Mary Reilly, a maid to Dr Jekyll, with a dark past and an abusive father. She gets embroiled in Dr Jekyll’s experiments as he changes each night to Mr Hyde. He’s a little in love with her but can’t tell her and she’s a bit in love with him too. Mr Hyde however has no such compunctions. He scares her and yet she feels an unexplained attraction. It’s a bit of a dark film but very engrossing. Do catch it if you can.
And finally Sense and Sensibility….
for the hundredth time.
**Gush Alert**
Jane Austen’s story is of course a favourite (and I won’t even go into that. If you haven’t read it you just should, rightaway) but I also love everything else about this 1995 film. The setting is lovely, the English countryside is breathtaking and the two characters of Elinor and Marianne contrast beautifully. Each of the supporting characters are just right for their parts.
But the bestest part of all was that I completely forgotten it starred Alan Rickman (Snape) as Colonel Brandon. As the strong silent Colonel, he was …. perfect. I could have whacked Marianne on the head for ignoring him so but then he does get her in the end so it was all forgiven.
Then there was Hugh Grant being Hugh Grant – the perfectly awkward gentleman – quite his forte. The two ladies Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet were a treat too. Lovely lovely film.
All in all a weekend well spent. As for the cleaning – that’ll have to wait yet another day.
How was your weekend? Do you like to re-watch old films?
Linking up with Mackenzie at Reflections from Me
