Week in Review - Week 12

Life

Remember how I tend to be a bit of project undertaker? I haven't really had one in a while, so I started one this last week. I have been mentioning all my movie watching lately, right? Well, I am doing a movie project. Disney movies! I printed off a list of all of them ever made and that will be my movie watching over the next while. I am going to start with ones I have never seen before and then move on. We will see how far I make it in this project. I am not a big movie watcher typically, so this could end up fizzling, but it has been fun so far! As I write this I am watching the new Alice Through the Looking Glass and regretting that I didn't rewatch Alice in Wonderland first because I hardly remember it. I think I will have to rethink my plans a bit.

I am still not reading very much. It makes me kind of sad that I can't seem to settle in with anything lately, but at least I have found other things to do in the meantime. 

Disney Movies Watched

This list will be a bit long to catch up on what I have watched so far this year...

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Brave

Wreck-It Ralph

Monsters University

Maleficent

Big Hero 6

Inside Out

Zootopia

Finding Dory

The BFG

Queen of Katwe

Moana

Currently Reading

I don't even know. lol

Audiobook

Weekly Reading

Dreams of Gods & Monsters (audio) ~ Look, I finished a trilogy! I really enjoy the narrator of this trilogy, but I do not think I liked this book as much as I could have. It is why my audio listening slowed down after being off to such a great start this month. I did like it, but not as much as I wanted to and enough to keep me wanting to pick it up. I probably should have set it aside, but I wanted to finish a trilogy.

All-New Wolverine - Volume 1: The Four Sisters ~ Even with my comic reading, it is all over the place. I have a couple series started on Marvel Unlimited and keep starting new ones. I am enjoying how there are more and more comics centred around women. I especially like how this new run of Wolverine wears real clothes and doesn't feel the need to wear the gravity defying outfits that other superheroes tend to wear. She can just be kick ass and awesome all on her own. I enjoyed this first volume and look forward to her future adventures. Recommended!

New Additions

Giant Days - Volume 4

Weekly Posts

Week in Review - Week 11

Books, Life, & Everything Else (7)

Countdown to Christmas & #AMonthofFaves2016

Favorite Christmas songs or albums from your growing up years...

I always really enjoyed The Muppets. Still do!!

Favorite movies or Christmas specials from your growing up years...

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Muppet Christmas Carol

Mickey's Christmas Carol

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Frosty the Snowman

Favorite present(s) from your growing up years...

Books! I was always happy when I actually got some. I remember sitting off in a corner while family was visiting and reading whatever I got on the sly. My family was a bit slow understanding that was really what I wanted...

Favorite present(s) from recent years....

Okay, it is a bit materialistic, but my Canon Camera is my favourite gift over the last few years. And, books... Always books. lol

Favorite Christmas songs or albums currently...

December goes so fast! I have only really checked out the Pentatonix new album. Otherwise, it is the old favourites. For some reason I really like Amy Grant's Christmas albums and have been listening to them for years. Then, I still listen to the Muppets. lol

Favorite Christmas movies or specials currently...

I have not watched a single Christmas movie. December is going too fast. :(

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5 Books on Our Winter Reading List #AMonthofFaves2016

After really enjoying Age of Myth, I really want to read his older stuff. Thanks to audio sales, I have this trilogy and I am really excited to check it out. I have been saving it for winter listens.

I really liked this book and a couple of the sequels. I have been meaning to reread the early books and catch-up as I own all the audios. I am hoping to start this project in 2017 and it would be nice if it was a winter project of sorts.

Otherwise, 2017 is hopefully going to be a tackle the TBR pile year, so, while I have nothing set in concrete at the moment, I have hopes!

Best Changes We Made This Year

Less pressure. If I read, I read. If I blog, I blog. If my house is perfect, my house is perfect. Instead of looking at the big picture all the time, I just worry about the smaller things that make up the larger thing. And, it seems to be working out well. I read a lot this year and that included reading slumps. I blogged more than I have in a few years. My house is not perfect, but it has been cleaner to the point where there are moments where I don't feel like I should be cleaning instead of doing something fun. I still have stressful moments where I would love to accomplish more than I do, you can see it in my blog posts, but it is more relaxed than previous years and that is what matters!

5 Fave “New to Me” Author Discoveries or Audiobook Narrations This Year

Okay, so this was a recent Top Ten Tuesday topic and you can see my 10 picks on my post.

If I had to narrow the 10 to 5, it would be hard... Let's see...

Helen Sedgwick

Mira Grant

Michael J. Sullivan

V.E. Schwab

Jay Kristoff

Movie Month - Day 30

30. Who is your favorite composer? What is your favorite soundtrack?

hm. James Horner and John Williams are the two that pop to mind.

My favourite soundtrack is Rent. It is probably the one I have listened to the most. The soundtrack to Garden State was really good, too. And, have to admit The Hunger Games soundtracks were pretty good.

Movie Month - Day 29

29. What is your favorite movie released from BEFORE you were born?

There are probably many...

The Muppet Movie

Gone with the Wind

The Philadelphia Story

Miracle on 34th Street

Movie Month - Day 28

28. Your top three movie characters...

1. Dr. Frank N. Furter

2. Kermit the Frog

3. Gandalf

Movie Month - Day 27

27. What is your favorite science fiction or fantasy film?

- The Princess Bride
- Big Fish
- Star Trek: Generations
- New Star Trek franchise movies
- Lord of the Rings
- Serenity
- Star Wars Episodes 4,5,6, and 7


...Probably others...

Movie Month - Day 26

26. What is your favorite period drama?

Gone with the Wind.

Movie Month - Day 25

25. What is your favorite musical?

I am not even sure. Some favourites are Moulin Rouge, Rent, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Across the Universe, Les Miserables, and many more. I also really enjoy John Carney's movies: Once and Sing Street. Not musicals exactly, but they include music and are worth checking out.

Movie Month - Days 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24

My net died on the weekend, so we were out for 3 days and now I am just very behind on internet stuff. So, catch-up day!

20. What is your favorite action and/or thriller movie?

Man, I am really not sure. I don't know if I have one? I don't really watch a lot of movies in this genre, and when I do I guess I consider them a one time watch type thing? There could be things I am just blanking on right now, though!

21. What is your favorite animated movie?

Either Beauty and the Beast or Up. The recent movie Big Hero 6 was really good, too. I also liked some other Disney movies like Bambi and The Fox & the Hound. 

22. What is your favorite comedy or romantic comedy?

When Harry Met Sally. Love this movie!!

23. What is your favorite drama?

Oh, man. I have no idea. lol The Shawshank Redemption is a drama, right? That one. There are others, but I feel like I draw a blank so often trying to think of things. lol

24. What is your favorite holiday film?

Muppet Christmas Carol! I love this movie for some reason. I watch it every year. There are others, of course, but it is the one I enjoy above all others! (I know holiday likely means Christmas, but my favourite Halloween movies are The Dark Crystal and Rocky Horror Picture Show). I am not sure what my favourites are for other holidays... Christmas and Halloween are the only times I have movies I watch regularly. lol

Movie Month - Day 19

19. What is your favorite stand-alone movie?

I know I have mentioned this movie before, but if I had to come up with an answer, this is usually the movie I say is my favourite. Are there others that I love? Yep. But, I am going to limit myself to my typical answer for this time around.

Movie Month - Day 18

18. What is your favorite movie series?

One I actually have several answers to!! I love Star Wars (the original movies), Star Trek (The Next Generation movies and the new franchise), Lord of the Rings, and probably others... Those are the ones that pop into my head and I make sure to see in theatres.

Movie Month - Days 15, 16, & 17

15. A movie that disappointed you...

Well, the first that comes to mind is the Star Wars prequels. I was so excited and I was left basically thinking what were you thinking! Thankfully this new franchise is much better so far. Hopefully that continues! Becky mentioned Into the Woods for her post, and I agree, too! I had high hopes for that one and it was terrible!

16. A soundtrack that you love more than the actual movie...

Guardians of the Galaxy is my answer. I didn't mind the movie over all, of course, but I loved the soundtrack more!

17. What is your favorite genre? What is your favorite movie in your favorite genre?

Okay, let's face facts. In reading, my favourite genre is fantasy most of the time. And, I do enjoy a good fantasy movie. But, if you have been reading my posts for Movie Month, you will quickly pick up on how much I enjoy musicals. My two favourites are probably Rent and Moulin Rouge, but there are so many others that I can list!! 

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite Films

1. If I picked a favourite movie, it would have to be this one... Not even sure why, but I have always enjoyed it!

2. After number 1, it gets to be in no particular order. The Princess Bride is one of my favourite movies and books.

3. This movie has always been a favourite. The singing is wonderful!

4. Another of my favourite movies is a musical, of course! 

5. One of my favourite movies pretty much ever!

6. The stage performance is awesome, but I think they did a great job with this movie.

7. I love the Beatles and this movie based on their music was wonderful.

8. One of the funniest movies ever!

9. An oldie, but a goodie!

And then... There are so many others... Donnie Darko... Star Trek: Generation... Star Wars: Return of the Jedi... Finding Neverland... Pulp Fiction... So, this list could be a lot longer, but I also actually do not own that many movies. I only buy the ones that I will watch again.

But, my favourite Christmas movie that I watch every year?

I can't help it, I love this movie. lol

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish

Movie Month - Day 14

14. A movie that you can't stop quoting....

I am not so sure there is a certain movie that I quote over and over again. There are just lines that I like from movies. And then there is always the songs like from Rent and Moulin Rouge that get stuck in my head randomly. I think one of my favourite quotes that sticks in my mind is "Life is like a box of chocolates" from Forest Gump. And, there are definitely moments where Star Wars or Star Trek movies are quoted in humour.

Movie Month - Day 13

13. A movie that makes you think about the world differently....

As a child, Chronicles of Narnia is one of the reasons why I love fantasy as much as I do now. I was pretty excited about the movie remakes because they always made me view the world differently growing up through the books, and it was fun to recapture the magic in movie form. Even though I never walked through a wardrobe and went to another world, it did teach me that there is more to the world than we can always see. It is a lesson I forget sometimes, but it is important to remember that never everything is as it seems.

Movie Month - Day 12

12. If you could change one thing about any movie, it would be....

I disagree with Lord of the Rings, a big epic series, being only 3 movies... And, The Hobbit, a very short book, being 3 movies all on its own. I think The Hobbit should have been shorter and Lord of the Rings include some of the great stuff that was left out. I also hate how they make the big teen franchises 4 movies instead of the 3 they were originally to try and make as much money as possible.

Movie Month - Day 11

11. A movie ending you HATE...

I am sure there are many, but I have a hard time thinking about stuff after the fact. I wish Moulin Rouge had ended differently. I understood why it ended the way it did, but it was such a hopeless ending for everyone after such a hopeful relationship. And, I am not sure if it would have done as well if the ending was a happy one... If she hadn't died, would he have been compelled to write their story?

Movie Month - Days 9 and 10

9. Favorite "hidden" sequence after the credits...

I had to really think about this one, but I think it would be The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Lucy finds out that she will be going back to Narnia, but just not through the Wardrobe. I also like School of Rock when they do one last song and it turns out to be the credits. I am sure there are others, but these are the only two that came to mind! I am going to include Rent in this, too, actually. I was going to use it for question 10, but it isn't so much the ending. I just like the last song when all the cast is together again singing about how fleeting life is after everything that has happened.

10. A movie ending you LOVE...

I always found the end of Grease fun when they do the big song number and then Sandy and Danny drive off together. Oh, and I like the ending of When Harry Met Sally when they are talking about how they met with all these other great couples. There are probably others... I need to watch more movies. 

Movie Month - Day 8

8. Favorite opening sequence or opening credits....

Moulin Rouge and Rent start really well if memory serves me. I like movies that start with songs and Moulin Rouge is just fun in the images they use as well. Two of my favourite movies!

Movie Monday - Day 7

7. If you could live in any movie-world it would be...

I will struggled with this question. I am sure there are other places that I would prefer, but the first that popped into my head was The Princess Bride. I think it would be a fun world. Another contender would be Lord of the Rings and other fantasy landscapes that I have enjoyed over the years.