The Young Victoria

Like any blogger, I check my blog statistics once in a while, what surprises me is the number of people finding my blog through the keywords: The Young Victoria. I've written a review on the movie previously, click here to view it, and it is the highest viewed posts and most frequently searched keyword in this blog. Although I am not quite sure how people get to my blog by typing those keywords, I've tried myself using Google Search and Google Image, but my blog is not exactly listed at the top. If you found yourself at my blog through the above keyword, do help me fulfill my curiosity by leaving a comment below to enlighten me on how you get here. Thanks. 

In order to cater to the high number of visitors searching for this movie at my blog, I'm going to post more photo's of Victoria's lovely gowns here. I would raid her closet if I could, I believe most of you would agree too. One of the main reasons why I love watching period films is to admire the beautiful clothes the aristocrats wore, so sumptuous, so glamorous, I could just....swoon. The details are so intricate  the material so luxurious, the hair, accessories, jewelry and every bits and pieces making up the outfit are just too lovely  for words.

Working in the costume department in a period film production is one of my dreams, working in a museum cataloging antiquities is another. History is always a fascination of mine. Other than romantic period films, I do love movies involving archaeology or Egyptology, never mind if the movies are not absolutely accurate.   

Even the undergarment...so pretty

"The untold luxury of being able to breath again. "

The idea of having an Abigail to help one dress up is also fascinating, the clothes are too complicated and detailed for a lady to put on by herself. If corsets are involved as a part of dressing up, it can be even more exciting. 

"Can't I be my own mistress for a while, haven't I earned it?"

This form of gallantry is nearly extinct

"For pity's sake, smile, woman. Anyone would think we had quarreled"

"Don't talk to me. "

Fortunately those are not the last words she said to him. I do hope you would like a new post I've put together for this movie. 

xx

LadyG

Bel Ami

Bel Ami based on Guy De Maupassant's The History of a Scoundrel is basically about a womanizing, social climber who uses woman for success, power and wealth. An untalented clerk trying to rise to great heights by sleeping with wives of influential men in Paris.

Sorry to say, I was disappointed with the film, Robert Pattinson does not live up to the image of George Duroy. He was supposed to be a Cassanova of sorts but I feel his performance lack luster. It's like, "I know I'm so hot, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas will fall at my feet without me lifting a finger." So he just maintain the same cold stares and couldn't-care-less attitude, it wasn't seductive, it wasn't scandalous, it wasn't charming, it was just meh.

I love the three female leads, Uma Thurman is beautiful, Christina Ricci looked every bit like the mischievous madam out for some fun while Kristin Scott is the shy lover, although she got quite smittened with George Duroy. The costumes are beautiful, I especially love the structured dress-coat Madeline Forrestier wore.  The interior decor are lovely, I like Clotile and Goerge's love nest, the Forrestier's sitting room and bed room are very well decorated.

After Twilight, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are understandably trying to go into different types of movies. But I'm not sure if they are quite successful at that. When watching both Bel Ami and Snow White and the Huntsman, I can still see Edward and Bella in it, as if they haven't got out of that character just yet. 

It just prove it to me that Kristen and Robert are made for each other. The both of them literally have the same blank look on their faces throughout their performance. 

All the best to Rob on shrugging off the stiff-hair, sparkly vampire and start getting into character expected of him. He could do better, and I wish to see more of him on the big screen.
*Photo's from allmoviephoto.com

All eyes will be on you

Have I told you before I love period films? Now you do, here's another one.

How intricate are those details on the bodice. 

Directed by Sofia Coppola and based loosely on the life of Marie Antoinette, the Dauphine of France. 2006 film- Marie Antoinette played by Kristen Dunst is a delight to watch.

Aren't the fans just exquisite?

Marie Antoinette and her ladies in waiting

"There are a lot of people at Versailles today."
"Yes, there are." 
"Those are my last words to that woman"

Don't you just love the hand painted headboard?

Betrothed to Louis XVI at age 15 and became queen of France at 19, however both King Louis and Marie Antoinette was too young and inexperience to rule when his predecessor dies.

Ruffle details down the front, lovely. 

"Oh, you were not what was desired, but that makes you no less dear to me. A boy would have been the Son of France, but you, Marie Thérèse, shall be mine." 

Indifferent of the poverty and unrest among the people, Marie Antoinette maintains her lavish lifestyles while Louis continues his support on foreign warfare.

The film ends when the royal family was forced to uproot and make leave for Paris during the French Revolution.

"Are you admiring your lime avenue?"
"I'm just saying good-bye."

I love the bright, colorful dresses, the elaborate hair and head pieces. The beautiful gardens of Versailles and the over the top decor. The whole film is an eye candy.

 "Is your hair quite tall enough today? Maybe you can keep a pet in there or something."

Marie Antoinette was beautiful, charming and scandalous, and she has great taste.
Considered as a fashionista in her time, her style is something to look out for.
*Photos from allmoviephoto.com and sonypictures.com

xx
LadyG

The Young Victoria

Victoria and Albert is THE cutest royal couple in England, other than Will and Kate of course. 

It's a fortunate thing Victoria never let the bullies coerce her into a regency, otherwise lord knows what will become of England should the plotting Sir John Conroy get his hands on the sovereign. 

" I am young, but I am willing to learn, and I mean to devote my life to the service of my country and my people. 

I look for your help in this. I know I shall not be disappointed. Thank you."

However things are not as easy for Victoria at the start, being young and inexperienced, teamed with advisors around her with malicious intends, Victoria needs to get her wits together or doomed to fail.

Prince Albert from Germany was encouraged to court her, for political motives at first. But both of them realize their feelings for each other, which lead to marriage. They went on to reign England for 20 years together. 

 "I'm going back to England. 

There must be a reason if you wish to visit Her Majesty. 

Then find me a reason." 

Albert died from typhoid fever at age 42. In memory of him, Victoria had his clothes laid out every day until her death at the age of 81. Victoria and Albert championed reforms in education, welfare and industry. They also supported arts and sciences that were celebrated in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Victoria remains the longest reigning British monarch to date.

"Good morning, wife"

The best conversation exchange between them, no doubt belongs to this: 

"Do you ever feel like a chess piece yourself? In a game being played against your will?"  

"Then you had better master the rules of the game until you play it 

better than they can." 

"You don't recommend I find a husband to play it for me?"

 "I should find one to play it with you, not for you."

The last thing Victoria needs is someone who thinks she could not run England, lucky for her, Albert isn't like the others. Victoria and Albert seems smittened with each other, how cute. The time Albert took an assassin's (that bastard Conroy!) bullet for her also shows how devoted he is to Victoria. 

Their proposal is rather romantic as well, since Victoria is the Queen of England, Albert could not propose to her "even if I wanted to" so he said to Baron Stockmar. 

"I'm sure you're aware why I wished you to come here. 

Because it would make me happier than anything, too happy 

really, if you would agree to what I wish."

"And stay with you?"

"And stay with me." 

"And marry you?"

 "And marry me!"

" I will not have my role usurped! I wear the crown! And if there are mistakes they will be my mistakes, and no one else will make them! "

A loving marriage aside, I have to say I LOVE all the costumes in it, I like the shape of the dresses, the shoulders and sleeves are so different. The film won Best Costume Design at the British Academy Film Awards. I have to say Emily Blunt did a marvelous job as Queen Victoria, I like her in Gulliver Travel as well. Rupert Friend looks better in period costumes than in real life, regretfully. 

 *Photo from allmoviephoto.com and some from Google Images

Great movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 But I do wished I could understand the heavy British accent better. 

xx

LadyG

Adele Blanc-Sec

Just finished watching Les aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec, Rise of the Mummy) 

Photo from www.cine-covershd.fr

This is not a new movie, it was released at 2010, I'm not sure if many people has seen it before cause it wasn't well promoted in Malaysia. I do admit the kind of movies I'm interested in tends to be the less mainstream ones. I almost never watched the popular ones, but I intend to remedy that. Finally gotten my hands on 'The Young Victoria" after many desperate search, tomorrow I'll watch that. 

Adele Blanc-Sec, impossible not to love

Yalla

How do you say move or you're dead in Arabic? 

I love the way she wore the lace shirt underneath her sturdy vest.

Even her exploring outfit is chic, paired with lace shirt underneath and the pretty hat with long scarf

Transporting the mummy back to France

Surprisingly they have phones in cabs

Well, I like anything that has to do with Mummies or Egyptology, I thought this would be an interesting movie, although mummies are not exactly the main point of this movie, but yet it does not disappoint. It was adapted by a comic book of the same name by Jacques Tardi, the movie was in french but I was able to get through with the English subtitles. 

I want this coat so badly! 

Set in the 20th Century, a young, dashing reporter Adele Blanc-Sec, set out to Egypt to find the mummy of Rameses II's physician. She thought with the help of Professor Espérandieu who practice telepathic techniques, can revive the physician so he could use his knowledge to heal her comatose sister. 

This is Professor Esperandieu, a genius

Adele brought the mummy back to her home but discovered Professor Espérandieu was captured and sentenced to a death row because of his experiments in reviving a 136 million year old Pterosaur from its egg at the museum (Galerie de paléontologie et d'anatomie comparée) The Pterosaur sighting had caused the death of 3 people, therefore Professor Espérandieu was held responsible. 

The President of France considered the Pterosaur case to be held at upmost importance, but was pushed down the power chain to Inspector Caponi. At first the President only said 'to keep him updated on the case." but somehow while the message was passed down, the message became "the case need to be resolved within 72 hours", and then to the next person, "48 hours", and when the message reached Caponi, he was expected to solve the case within "24 hours". How reliable, this grapevine. 

Not too fond on the ostrich plumes, but the dress underneath is da bomb

Unwilling to give up the tiniest shred of hope to save her sister, Adele had tried various disguise to sneak into  the prison where the Professor was held, in order to free him. But to no avail, to be more specific, she was busted and was tossed out. The funny part is when she finally gotten a chance to free the Professor, he told her to come back later as he needed to rest for a bit. 

Agathe and Adele's tennis outfit are lovely

Oh, the lace details on the dresses

Alas, the Professor was dragged off to the guillotine but fortunately Adele came swooping down on the Pterosaur and saved him from being beheaded at the nick of time. However, when hunter  Justin de Saint-Huber who was engaged by Inspector Caponi took down the Pterosaur, Professor Espérandieu also feels the pinch, I mean, gun wound, cause they are somewhat connected when the Pterosaur was revived. Difficult to explain, go watch the movie. 

Before the Professor breath his last, he manage to help Adele revived the mummy, but he wasn't who she expected to be. Instead of the Pharaoh's physician, he got his nuclear physicists- Patmosis. No help for Adele there, but Patmosis was willing to help out by reviving the mummies at the  Musée du Louvre, including the Pharaoh and his physician. 

Look at the details on the coat

Oh the disguises she's willing to put on to get Professor Esperandieu out of lock-up

Wolves in sheep's clothing, literally

With the physician's advanced medical technique, the mummies are able to bring Adele's sister, Agathe from her comatose. While the two sisters reunite, the Pharaoh and his court went out to the streets for some air, and marvel at the architecture there. No doubt the sighting of the mummies caused another stir similar to the Pterosaur incident earlier. Inspector Caponi was once again embroiled in a tough situation. 

The end saw Adele boarding a ship for a much needed vacation, unbeknownst to her, her arch nemesis Professor Dieuleveut had sent his men to get rid of her. The scene later showed that she had boarded upon the HMS Titanic. Sooo, that is why the Titanic hit an iceberg at full speed and sunk? It all made sense now. 

Other than the humor in the movie, I love the costumes that Adele wore throughout. I don't quite fancy the hats, but the dresses are breathtakingly gorgeous. I love the lace shirts, the sleek vest and skirt ensemble, the wonderful details on her coats. What wouldn't I give to have her wardrobe? 

I especially love this dress

*I couldn't help humming Adele's Someone Like You while writing this post, for some reasons.

**All photo's from Cineplex.com unless stated otherwise 

*** I also find Adele reminds me of Molly from Still Alive to Eat More Cakes

xx

LadyG