Period Drama Week Tag Post 3

Welcome to this third part of my tag for Period Drama Week! Make sure you check out all the fun stuff going on at Elegance of Fashion, as Miss Elizabeth hosts this awesome week! As I write this, I'm not sure whether I'll fit the remaining 10 questions into one post or not...so it'll be a surprise until you reach the end. :) If you're just joining me, you can find the first part here and the second part here! Also, the Period Drama Advice Column, another wonderful aspect of this week, can be read here.

11. Which period drama which you haven't seen yet do you most want to watch? Ooo, there are quite a few I haven't seen, so this is hard...in fact, it's a three-way tie. They are:

Cranford

Larkrise to Candleford

and Little Dorrit.



12. Which period drama has the prettiest soundtrack or background music? Oh, that's hard! I have a number of favorites. The first is Emma (2009). I am putting in the beautiful dance scene below...I love the music and the dance.

Then I enjoy the music for both the 1995 and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. Then the music in Little Women is sweet, and I do enjoy the Sense and Sensibility 1995 music as well.
13. Which period drama has your favorite screenplay/script? Why? Probably either Emma 2009 or Pride and Prejudice 1995. :) Both of them follow the original book quite closely, always a plus in my book.

14. Do you like having multiple version of some period dramas? Do some period dramas need a newer version? Or are the older version better? It goes both ways. I like the older version of Pride and Prejudice much better than the newest one. However, the new version of Emma is by far the best yet. Mansfield Park, in my opinon, does not have a good version and could use a new one.

15. What is the longest period drama you've seen? Pride and Prejudice. :) It's also the one I've seen most.

16. What are your favorite actors/actresses from period dramas? Oooo, fun question. I like Colin Firth, who was in both Pride and Prejudice and The Importance of Being Earnest. The latter I hadn't mentioned yet, but it's a fun one. He was also in The King's Speech.

Then I enjoy Romola Garai. I admit, I've only seen her in Emma, but I love the way she looks in the yet-unseen-by-me movie, Amazing Grace. 

Michael Gambon is a fun older actor. He was in Emma, The King's Speech for a bit, and Wives and Daughters.

 

17. Do you prefer watching a regular-length movie or a more indepth mini series? Why? Generally, the longer, the better. ;) I love all the detail in the long ones, but then, it's easier to convince Mom to watch a short one. lol!

18. What period dramas has one of your favorite actors/actresses in it? Singular? Only one? I hate to mention it again...but Pride and Prejudice. :)

19. Which heroine from which movie was your least favorite? Why? I've never liked Fanny from Mansfield Park. She's not nearly as fun as Emma or Elizabeth, and she exasperates me. Why? I'm afraid I don't know!

20. Which three period dramas are your least favorite? Goodness, I don't know that I have three! I'm going to pick on Mansfield Park again. It had the misfortune to cast Mr. Elton (who wasn't Mr. Elton yet, but was still disgusting [IMHO]) as Edmund, the main character.

Then, well, I'm going to confess...I don't really like North and South. Now, I have only seen it once, but it was too gray and sad for me. I don't like gray movies.

Finally...hmmm. Oh, the 1981 Sense and Sensibility. It was gray, but only because of terrible lighting. The sound... *winces.* It wasn't worth the three or so hours I spent on it.

Well, I got all my questions into one final post! Hope you enjoyed them. :) Miss Elizabeth, thanks SO much for hosting this tons-of-fun event! I had an awesome time. :)

Period Drama Week Tag Post 2

 

Well, I was originally planning only two posts. But on finishing the first one, I decided it needed to be split into at least three posts total. So, here we go, from question #6!

6. Which author do you like the adaptions of their work best? I can't stay away from Jane Austen anymore. It's her. Totally.

7. Which period drama characters are the funniest to you (keep it under three)? Ha, good question. Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice. He always makes me laugh.

Ummm...Mrs. Jennings from Sense and Sensiblity. Her bumbling ways can be hilarious!

And then...I'm struggling...I'm at a total loss. Maybe I will think of another when I see other people's answers!

8. Which period drama characters are the most annoying (keep it under three)? Chauvelin from Scarlet Pimpernel is not only annoying, but also wicked.

Then Willoughby from Sense and Sensiblity is annoying. And self-centered.

Finally, Estella from Great Expectations. I have never seen a movie adaption of this (though I know there's at least one I want to watch), but in the book (sorry, I know this was supposed to be all movies!) she's really annoying.

9. Which period drama characters are in your top three? I wish it specified male or female. AH! I guess I have to do both!!!! We'll start with the girls. Naturally, Elizabeth Bennet. I admire her humor and wit, and she's also very pretty.

Then I admire Jo March, from Little Women. She's another one of those strong and independent women, yet kind and friendly and loving too.

Finally, Emma from Emma. She's also funny, witty, and a fully lovable character!

As to males, this may be harder than it looks! Naturally, Mr. Darcy. He's handsome, and proud, but learns to change.

Then Gilbert Blythe. You didn't expect that, did you? He becomes better as the books go on. Though I still abhor that name. Oh, and I'm doing my best not to do Jane Austen characters.

And since I'm avoiding Jane Austen, Percy Blakeney from Scarlet Pimpernel. Yes, he appears a hopeless fop. But underneath... *smile*

10. When you watch period dramas, what is it that you pay closest attention to? Hmmm. Everything? I don't concentrate on the dresses...or the music...or the scenery...or the story, well, maybe the story. It all kinda blends together for me, as it were.

Part three coming soon!

Period Drama Week Advice Column

I am participating Period Drama Week at Elegance of Fashion you no doubt all know. :)


 
One of the things we could do was a Period Drama Advice Column, similar to the Jane Austen one I did here (to wet your interest...it's John Brooke asking, responded to by Mr. Collins and Lydia Wickham :). Read all about this "assignment" here. Oh, and stop by here to play an awesome trivia game! I enjoyed it, and I think you will too. :) Anyway, here we go on the Period Drama Advice Column!

Dear Period Drama Advice Column,
Oh, I am crying a vale of tears! How am I to survive? It was like this, you see. I, not so very long ago, borrowed Marilla's brooch. Marilla is sometimes hard to be friends with, and she's almost like a mother. And the brooch! Oh my dear reader, it was beautiful! Marilla says it's amethyst and worth a great deal. Purple and sparkling and so beautiful. I did nothing with it but hold it up to myself, just to see how it would look. It was simply dazzling. Then I laid it back, as I though, on Marilla's dresser. Unfortunately, when she next went to look for it, she could not find it, and knew it was my fault. There was a picnic at the end of the week, and oh, what a beautiful picnic it was to have been! Ice cream, which I have never tasted!! But now, Marilla has locked me in my room, and I am not to be allowed to go! I have wept, and tried to explain why I must go (for when else is a girl to taste ice-cream?) but she is certain I may not go. What am I to do? Have you an idea of how I might convince Marilla that I did not harm her brooch, and that I absolutely must go? Please help me before I die of grief!
With much hope,
~Cordelia (except everybody calls me Anne, with an "e"...Marilla says Cordelia is a terrible name, but I have always wished to be called that)

Response 1:

Anne,
You must go to Marilla with solemnity and explain it all to her. You know that truthfulness is always the best way, and it most certainly is in this instance. Tell her that you put it back, and help her search for it. But if you are still not allowed to go to the picnic, know that I think it entirely your own fault. Had you not played with what was not yours, this sorrow would not now happen. Ice cream is frivolous, and not to be endured. All great writers have written that being truthful is a great virtue. Go now, and explain to Marilla.
Sincerely,
Miss Mary Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Response 2:

Dear Anne,
I do not know what to say! It is obviously most important that you go to the picnic. I love having picnics with each of my friends! And ice-cream is an essential. Perhaps you may tell Marilla a made-up story so that she will let you out? Only make sure you make it seem real to her. Do write and tell me what you do!
Before I go, I must ask, have you a nice nose? Mine is dreadful and flat. Quite the bane of my life. It is a great disappointment to me.
Hoping you get ice-cream,
Miss Amy March (isn't that elegant?) (Little Women)

Period Drama Week Tag Post 1

 

Yay! Period Drama Week is finally here! Make sure you go to Elegance of Fashion to see all the festivities! Naturally, when I saw there was a tag, I knew I'd have to participate. :) And since there are a total of 20 questions, I'm splitting it into two posts.

1. How did you get into period dramas? Well, let's see here. I suppose it was when I first watched (and totally fell in love with) Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 version. Next came Sense and Sensibility, also the 1995 version. Between those two, I became a true period drama addict!

2. What is it that you like about period dramas? Just about everything. The dresses are generally pretty cool, don't you think? Not necessarily very modest, but overall, I think they look quite comfortable.

Then, often, their hair is so pretty!

{{yes, you remembered right...I dislike that version. HOWEVER, I'm trying to be impartial...and isn't her hair cool? Definitely not his though...}}

Generally, the story is good and sometimes a classic. And then the music is sometimes breath-taking, especially the soundtrack for Emma 2009 and, yes, I admit it, Pride and Prejudice 2005.

3. Do you usually read a book and then watch the adaption or do you watch the adaption and then read the book? Usually, adaption first. Many of the books they're adapted from were too hard for me to read, but I still greatly enjoyed the movie. The books are then easier to read. However, I recommend that you read the book a lot, so that you know when a movie strays from it.

4. What are your top three period dramas and why? I KNEW this question was coming. It's hard, because I haven't seen a lot of period dramas other than Jane Austen's, so you already kinda know my answers here. For a change, I'm going to say three that aren't Jane Austen. (FYI, with JA, it would include P&P 95, and Emma 09) I think all of these are, since some are included on the buttons for this wonderful event. :) First: Wives and Daughters, because the story is fun, Cynthia's hair is quite amazing, and the dresses are cool. :)

Then, Scarlet Pimpernel, the 1985 version. The story is one of my favorites, a beautiful mix of romance and high adventure. I recommend it! Oh, and? Marguerite's hair and costumes are a.m.a.z.i.n.g. And really neat. :)

Finally, Little Women. I believe this version came out in 1994, though the 1949 version is also fun. :) I like it because...it's mostly true to the book. The characters acting the girls are perfect, IMHO. I don't really like Laurie or Mr. Bhaer in this version, though.

5. From those three period dramas that you picked, who are your favorite characters in each one? Oooo, awesome. They are, firstly, Molly. She's really the only girl to like in Wives and Daughters.

Next, Marguerite. I like her because she's loving, strong, brave. And her hair's awesome. :)

Finally, Jo. Or Beth. I'm most like Jo, and I've always loved Beth.

Well, I was planning to do the whole thing in two posts, but my plans have been changed for me. :) I had the whole first 10 questions written up here...but it was so long, I moved them to yet another post. Don't worry, you'll see them soon!