Downton Abbey Season 1

This is my second post on Downton Abbey and I wish to dedicate a whole new blog to it! The very first of the seven parts of the series sets the plot just right and you're engaged. Lady Mary, the eldest child of the Crawley family cannot inherit the estate of Grantham (being female) and two of her cousins and the ones in the line of the "throne" have died with the sinking of Titanic, one of whom was her fiance. Now, the problem is that Lord Crawley cannot fight with the entail which was written down by his father, Lady Mary cannot be heir the estate and she has lost her prospect. You see, it is such a good idea to introduce the audience with the very 'problem' and the plot of the whole series in the first episode itself.

Dowager Countess of Grantham
- in her element

I tend to make fun of the things I watch, maybe because that's my critical sense but I couldn't find a thing to make fun of, in the complete season. In fact, I loved Maggie Smith's (Dowager Countess of Grantham) one liners, they were so witty and she's such a comic relief in the serious surroundings. Perhaps, as my sister suggested, there is something funny, every episode starting with us watching Labrador's tail, he (I treat animals like they were people) must be credited for that.

Pharaoh -Lord Grantham's Dog

I am all praise about this one, for me, its about perfect. I do have this one complaint, they don't telecast the show in my country so I try hard keeping up with season 2, but I manage somehow. If you wish to watch Downton Abbey Season 2 and it is not available in your country just shoot a mail to me - moveoninlife@gmail.com and I'll give you a link, I can't post it here, it won't be a good thing ;) .

Watch this show for every thing you would like to see in a period movie and be thankful to Julian Fellowes, really, no exaggeration!  

Period Movies Box : Downton Abbey Season 1 - Reviewed

Downton Abbey (2010)
My Overall Rating : 9/10

Downton Abbey - Period Movies Box

I have been longing to write for this one for almost a week now. I don't really know where to begin from but one thing is sure THIS IS THE BEST SO FAR!

Downton Abbey is like a treat to period movie lovers, you simply can't afford to watch an episode and keep the rest for he next day. I watched all seven of them the same day, can't resist! For those of you who haven't been able to watch this one, I plead, please go to your nearest video library and grab a copy, its never too late.

I think writing just one post for this epic series won't be fair, so I'll be writing several posts dedicated to Downton Abbey. I haven't quite watched something with an equal panache. The story, characters and plot, they literally chain you to the screen, so capturing. Some of the actors have done so well you won't be able to justify that this is their debut performance.

Starting with episode 1, you'll get familiar to the household and the Crawley family, everything that is going on, its so well crafted. By the end of the episode, you have your favorites, and the villains and definitely a SMILE on your face.

I think I shouldn't spoil your fun by giving out the story just in case you haven't watched it yet. In the next post I will discuss more about the Crawley family and their household.

Do tell me about this magnificent series, share your take on this. I love comments.

IMDb Link - Downton Abbey
Wikipedia Link - Downton Abbey

Period Movies Box - Wuthering Heights (2011) - Trailer

Wuthering Heights (2011) - Trailer

The new version of the famous novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, I think its the sixth or seventh screen adaptation of the book and as I have read the reviews, its getting worse. Personally, Wuthering Heights is one of my least favorites (you see I am not Bella Swan from Twilight). Still, if you're a die hard fan of the book, you'll be able to digest this movie, in case you are looking for some really nice period movie to spend a pleasant evening with AVOID this one.

Do tell me about it if you have the guts to watch it.

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Period Movies Box - Ballet Shoes (2007) - Reviewed

Ballet Shoes (2007) - Reviewed
My Overall Rating - 6/10

Ballet Shoes - Period Movies Box

I had to choose between Bright Star and Ballet Shoes and you know by now, I chose the latter. Its TV movie directed by Sandra Goldbacher, starring Emilia Fox, Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, Lucy Boynton and Richard Griffiths among others. The movie is the second screen adaptation of the popular novel Ballet Shoes by Noel Streetfield.

I have had not-so-pleasant experiences with the movies made for TV (since Persuasion-2007) and that is why I wasn't expecting much from this one though I was keen to watch Emma Watson play a different character than Hermione. She was fine and so were the other two actors, Yasmin Paige and Lucy Boynton. Emilia Fox has done a nice work too. The bad thing is that the movie people have tried to cash in on Emma Watson's STAR status by showing more of her than was needed. Similarly, they have tried to spice up a children's tale just to win more viewers, very gross.

It was only just fine. All the actors have played their part well but there are some really annoying flaws with the screenplay I think. I haven't read the novel and I totally understand that its not possible to capture everything that is there in the book, some changes are fine to work with as far as they end up entertaining the audiences. Just in case you haven't read the book, like me, the movie would look better to you than the ones who have read it, there are some major changes and not all of them are very good.

I don't want to spill out the story but I can't stop myself from saying that the most stupid of all the scenes was the one in which Petrova Fossil (Yasmin Paige) is seen flying plane at the end of the movie with no training at all. Now what's that, some Magic perhaps!

FOR MORE PICTURES CLICK HERE

IMDb Link - Ballet Shoes (2007)
Wikipedia Link - Ballet Shoes (2007)

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Period Movies Box - Emma Thompson - Prominent Faces of Period Cinema

Emma Thompson

Period Movies Box - Emma Thompson

Born	15 April 1959 (age 52) Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom
Occupation	Actor, comedian, screenwriter
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Kenneth Branagh (1989–1995; divorced) Greg Wise (2003–present; 2 children)

(Source - Wikipedia)


If you watch movies and call yourself a movie buff, I'm sure you know about Emma Thompson. She's one of the finest living actors in the world, I think so. Her presence on the screen or her name in the casting is a good enough reason for me to watch any movie. 


Not just that, she has also won Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Sense & Sensibility! She is one of those artists who are not bothered if they're going to look beautiful on screen, rather, they must look genuine and impressive. 


Her characters are just as true as her dedication, my favorite one is Elinor Dashwood, for sure! The list of her period movies-

• Henry V (1989)
• Impromptu (1991)
• Howard's End (1992)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
• Remains of the Day (1993)
• Sense and Sensibility (1995)
• Brideshead Revisited (2008)

If only I could continue writing, I wouldn't stop counting her merits. In short, if you get a chance to see any Emma Thompson, go for it, they offer more than entertainment!

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