The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)

If you're looking for a tale filled with danger, romance and daring rescues all lead by a swashbuckling hero in disguise, keep reading, for the movie I gush about in this post has all these qualities and more!

If you for some reason haven't read the title, I can reveal that the movie I'm talking about is The Scarlet Pimpernel.

                        

My father really loves the 1934 movie so I've always been familiar with the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but it was not until a few years ago I discovered there was a whole series of books.
I read them all in a few months so I considered myself quite the Leaguette, and it was at that time that I just happened to stumble upon the 1982 version on Youtube.

In most movies that I love, there is a specific time/scene that has me convinced that this movie is absolutely wonderful. When was that moment in The Scarlet Pimpernel?
It was when the opening credits wrote "based on the books The Scarlet Pimpernel and Eldorado" - as those were my two favourite books from the series, I was convinced that next to nothing could ruin this film - and I was right!

But I have already rambled too much, let's get on with the actual review!

                     

If you are unfamiliar with the story here's a short(ish) summary:

During the Reign Of Terror a mysterious hero known as The Scarlet Pimpernel is saving many French aristocrats from the guillotine. In reality he is Sir Percy, a rich English nobleman who has everyone believing he is a complete fop. Together with a few of his trusted friends he is planning their most daring project yet: to rescue the French Dauphin.
But everything gets more complicated when he meets and falls in love with the French actress Marguerite St Just, who is also closely connected to Chauvelin - a man who has made it his personal mission to discover the identity of The Scarlet Pimpernel. 

Have I convinced you to watch it yet? If not, keep reading (and even if I have, keep reading anyway)

                     

There's so many things I love about this movie that I barely know where to start...

The acting, for once, is just stellar!!

Anthony Andrews completely catches the character of Sir Percy, and plays both his personalities splendidly. One of my favourite moments is a scene where he initially is in his Sir Percy persona, but suddenly reveals he is The Scarlet Pimpernel - the way his facial expression changes and in only a split second he is transformed into a completely different person. It's brilliant I tell you!
Oh, and all his one-liners...I will try not to spoil them for you, but sink me one or two of them will slip in.

                        

I also adore Jane Seymour's portrayal of Marguerite. She plays her with a passion, and the viewers really feel her happiness and pain.

                      

I was very surprised when Chauvelin enters the scene and turns out to be a young Ian McKellen. I don't even think it necessary to say that I love him as well.
Yes, I know I'm supposed to dislike him, and I do most of the time, but the acting is just so good! Haven't you ever loved scenes with the villain just because the actor was doing a wonderful job?

                     

Another thing I have to praise about the acting in general is this: This movie manages to take every romantic cliche that I dislike, and throw it all together in one movie - and I bought it all, and was not bothered in the slightest!! (A rarity indeed)

That's how good the acting is!!

From the Love at First Sight scene between Percy and Marguerite, where you can see the surprise and love in his eyes that makes his facade slip for a moment, to the concealed conversation in the library where he realises the motives behind Marguerite's actions and you can feel just how relieved he is... ( that scene made me crack up a bit, though, but it was soo over the top)

                    

As a true book purist I am also very pleased with the way they adapted the story and weaved the 2 plot lines together. You don't even notice it's 2 books compressed into one movie.

Another thing I just love, is the way the movie pays a lot of homage to the 1934 version. I count no less than 5 scenes taken directly from that movie. (If you want to know exactly which scenes, I will gladly elaborate in a comment.)

                  

And what more can I say about the action, the suspense, the all together brilliantness of it all that hasn't already been said?

The answer is: lots and lots! One can never say too much about this movie!

But to not turn this review into a complete novel, I will restrain myself;)

Before we finish I should briefly mention the content: there are a few execution scenes, and though nothing is shown those scenes are very intense. There is also one or 2 scenes of a couple lying half dressed in bed, but apart from that and some low necklines I don't remember anything else worth mentioning.

                  

As a way to conclude this very long post: The Scarlet Pimpernel is a brilliant movie, and if you haven't seen it you should!! (You can watch it here)

Now, I'm eager to hear if any of you have seen this movie, and if you liked it!

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World

                       

Summary: In 1805 aboard the H.M.S Surprise, the brash Captain Jack Aubrey is ordered to hunt down and capture a French vessel off the South American coast. The hunt is long and takes its toll on everyone in the crew.

I know, it's quite a short summary, but the main plot is that simple. However, it is all the little stories that unfold on the ship that truly makes up the movie.

Now, first of all let me state: I really like this movie!
But if asked the reasons why, I must shamefully admit that it has been so long since I watched it that I've forgotten most of the things that happened.
(Note to self: Procrastinating reviews doesn't make them easier to write)

But let me talk about the things I DO remember.

The casting, for instance. I loved all the actors in it. I firmly believe that some actors should never be in anything but period dramas, for they wear the apparel so well.
And let me tell you, this is a movie that firmly cement that belief!

                         

                                         

I rest my case!

Other things I enjoyed about the movie was the way the plot was executed. Everything progressed very slowly but still with an incredible amount of tension and excitement, so there was not a boring moment.

And I simply loved the fact that they actually filmed on the Galapagos Islands - something that apparently is very rare for a feature film to do.

Content wise I don't remember there being any, but a little gore and fight scenes, though, that is to be expected in a movie about war.

            

So as a conclusion, I can say: this is a really enjoyable movie, with lots of adventures and if you enjoy movies taking place in the British navy *cough*Hornblower*cough*, you will like this one too.

An Eventful Couple Of Months

Hello to all my lovely readers!

Before I even start on this post I just have to say: Happy Star Wars Day and May The Fourth Be With You!!!

There, now I've had my daily geeky outburst, I can continue (rather) coherently.

You know how some months nearly nothing happens and you just spend it going about your everyday life, and then other months everything happens at once?

Safe to say, March and April has fallen in the latter category for me. And as I have egregiously neglected my blogging for such a long time, I thought I would tell you a bit about all the things that has kept me away from you!

                    

The first and biggest thing that's happened is that I got a lot more work at my job, so now I'm working 2 and a half day a week instead of one, as I did before.
 It's just the ideal amount of hours for me to fit into my schedule, and I love my job (I work in the kitchen of a rehabilitation home if anyone is curious).

Nevertheless my new schedule is taking some getting used to, and let me tell you it is not easy to balance work, chores, hobbies and a social life without it cutting significantly into my treasured "alone time". In practise that means that when I finally have some time alone I need to spend it recharging, which usually results in a lot of Netflix and not a lot of writing.

                         

Another very exciting thing that happened back in March, was that I got the privilege of playing the piano at the local library. It was part of a "show and tell" day from the evening school where I take my piano lessons, and I was one of the lucky students who were asked to perform a piece.
Although I was really nervous it actually went really well, and as it is very rare for me to be satisfied when I play for others and my mom just happened to record it all, I thought I would share the performance with you guys:

                                

March was quite the eventful month - seldom have I had reason to attend so many public events in such a short time. One weekend I attended a vintage fair, which was basically a house filled to the brim with lot of stalls presenting vintage clothing and hats. Though the real attraction wasn't the clothes but rather all the vintage dressed people mulling about - never have I fitted so well into a crowd:)
And already the next week I was at a 40's theme night at a museum, but that is something that requires a blog post of its own (whenever I find the time to write it).

                     

If March's theme was vintage, April's was parties! I went to three parties in one month! That's more parties than the last two years combined! It was wonderful to have occasion to dress up in my big swing dresses, but it left me quite worn out. No wonder though - for an entire month I have tried to have what some people consider a "normal" schedule of work and social life. Well, I'm glad I can now retreat back into the semi-hermit lifestyle I'm used to;)

Lots of other things have surely happened but I find that they have completely slipped my mind at the time (as is always the case when I have to tell people what I've been up to lately).

Don't we all feel like Dory once in a while?

           
This month I'm planning to write a lot - there will be a lot of catching up on all the posts I had planned to write in the past months and a lot of reviews of period dramas, so stay tuned!

Now to end this post allow me to ramble a bit about the weather.

It is SPRING AT LAST!!!!!

For you that may not be news, but in Denmark we just started getting true spring weather on May 1st. Just a little over a week ago it snowed!! I couldn't believe it (and neither could anyone else, people just stared up at the sky in wonder).
It's not because April wasn't occasionally very nice, but the weather was like this:

But now the sun has come, the tulips bloom and I can wear my summer jacket!

Now, all I can do is hope that it lasts all summer. (We Danes are very optimistic when it comes to summer - every year we hope it will be warm and sunny, though we know statistics say it will probably be cold and rainy)

And with that final remark, I hope you have lovely spring weather where you live, and if the sun shines go out and enjoy it (or at least sit by the window and look out at it).