S04, Episode 02

Beauty Of The Beast

Just when I thought 'I'm only going to watch this movie because of Emma Watson', here I was sitting two hours later in a massive movie theatre, among a bunch of 8 year olds, feeling, possibly more moved than any one of them. 

What a movie! I have been a fan of Emma's for 15 years, hashtag girl crush. I always liked Beauty and The Beast, it has been one of my favourites Disney cartoons of my childhood, along with Hercules and The Lion King. I had been apprehensive about re-creating the cartoons into live action films for years now, which is why I refused to go see the live action remake of Cinderella. But this one, I had to, it all added up, Emma, one of my faves..

It was a beautiful adaptation of the original, and the reason I call it an adaptation is because the only thing different was a couple of details were added to the story-which I won't spoil for you if you haven't seen it. Other than this, the film pretty much was an exact copy of the cartoon, and WHY NOT, there's a reason we fell in love with the 1991 release anyway. 

Re-watching it as an adult made me shake my head, nod along with many historical references, since it is taking place in provincial France of the 1700, which I now am educated about contrary to the 4 year old me who watched this film back in the 90s. I found it super interesting that the writers took a good opportunity to emphasise some of the messages in this film by adding lines or extra small scenes in order to convey them to the young girls, such as 'it's okay to be different', 'girls have the right to chose their destiny', 'they have the right to education', 'you should stay true to who you are'. And I didn't even find it cheesy. My favourite moment, regarding messages, was when Gaston claimed that 'it's the girls who play hard to get and stay classy that are the ones worth chasing'. I could hear the writer screaming in his mind 'you hear this ladies???' when he was typing this line. 

Emma's performance had a lot to do with making sure the movie stayed witty and timeless. Her modern-yet faithful to the script performance was the cherry on top of that magnificent production of a pie. I don't really need to praise the ultra-talented famous cast that was in the film, the names speak for themselves. Sir Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Kline and boy did I have no idea that Audra McDonald could sing like that. Okay, before you interrupt your reading of the post to go google who she is quickly, she is Naomi in Private Practice. So, yeap, hats off to the Casting Director.

And now a mention to what everyone is talking about, the incorporation of gay characters, references and a 'gay moment' in the film. Um, get over it? (I quote Sir Ian McKellen). Maybe we were too naive to realise that Le Fou was gay in the cartoon, I don't know, I cannot remember, and I don't have time to go back and watch it again, I have to get back to my research on family happiness in the 1800s according to Tolstoy's Anna Karenina because I have an assignment, yawn for you, but very interesting to this nerd here. But yes, there is a massive innuendo that Le Fou is either bisexual or homosexual and that this is great! There is a fraction of a second at the end of the film-SKIP a few lines, this is a SPOILER-where everyone is happy, dancing at the palace, and he is dancing with another bloke who had previously in the film, seemingly enjoyed it when he is forced to wear a dress while being attacked by Madame Garderobe. A possible crossdressing reference here as well, but once again, this is the writer's and the director's way of saying, hey it's OALL good. Hashat, be you. 

Beautiful costumes, design, special effects and montage. Emma's fresh performance would not be complete without Dan Stevens' adorable performance as the Beast. 

Who wouldn't have fallen in love with an educated, kind-hearted (in the end), blue eyed, tall, dark, and cute monster? Lads who shave chests and backs because they feel like 'they have to' but they don't really want to, hey be a cute beast. 

#HeForShe

PS: THIS MOMENT. I now want a mustard frock again.

Season 03, Ep. 06

#LeaveTaylorAlone

I have to say, human race never stops to amaze me. And I don't mean this necessarily in a good way.

First, I would like to begin by outlining some facts. We have, well what pretty much feels like World War III at the moment, I guess this is what WWIII looks like in the 21st Century. I don't need to elaborate on that whatsoever, do I? We are all aware of what is happening in Europe at the moment and the situation in the US. Any gaps, just log on to any social media platform or if you're more traditional, turn on BBC. War is a huge business. 

And in the world of entertainment, which is a world we all bury our thoughts into in order to escape from reality, we have the Taylor-Calvin war that has just broken out ever since Taylor Swift admitted to have written the new hit Calvin Harris has released with Rihanna 'This Is What You Came For'. Calvin claims she has not much to do with it and it is rude to come out now saying something like this. And suddenly she is not the sweet, funny and talented Tay Tay we all know and love, she is Taylor, the man-eater, the heart crusher, the 'let's all post snake emojis on her photos on Instagram for comments to express how much of a snake we think she is'. 

I'm sorry, how is this of an inconvenience to you? No, not war, this SHOULD be of a very big inconvenience to you, the Taylor thing. People are going crazy over it. Just check the poor girl's Instagram page. "Poor". Sorry, wrongfully used term. 

Seems to me, people have no clue how to export their anger, despair, frustration so they log on to their social media, hit the pages of famous people and begin with the hate. Brutal, bullying, disgusting hate. Towards celebrities who seem to have it all like Kim K, Kylie Jenner, Tay Tay etc etc, and produce envy. Fair enough on some level, but why SO much hate. They haven't killed anyone, they don't do drugs, they don't bash anyone in return. I read the comments that get typed and I honestly want to cry. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Or rather, would you actually be saying any of these things out loud to somebody's face? Is the convenience of the keyboard and the fact that no one can see you behind your sad little screen, bringing out the incredible Hulk in you? 

And most importantly, if you gon' hate, hate for the right reasons bro. Is Taylor Swift the vicious truck driver that mowed 80 lives in France last night? Is Kim K the cop that shot the innocent black lives? Are Kylie Jenner's lips causing bombings in Ankara at this very moment killing somebody's mother, wife, sister? 

Get your tiny heads out of your big bums and educate your logic please. There is real tragedy out there, and it ain't Taylor Swift swapping men within the same month. We need to get our priorities in check, our principles and role models right. The snake emoji you keep posting all day ain't making you any happier and you know it. So dear hater, I am asking you from the bottom of heart. Think before you hate. Or, hang on a minute, don't hate at all. Self reflect, and work towards your own happiness. A wise friend once said "you won't make your fire burn any brighter by blowing out someone's else's". Mic drop. 

PS: I'm not even a big fan of TayTay, I'm all about Pink.