What I've Watched In Quarentine (TV & Movies)

What I've Watched In Quarentine (TV & Movies)

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

"Quarentine Confession"..I've watched a lot of shows while stuck at home (as I am sure many of you have). While I am usually a pretty active show watcher, I have definitely been knocking them out these last 7 weeks. Now, before you think that all I do is sit around and watch shows every day, let me just say a lot of these were viewed while working on sewing projects (I love to have something on in the background) because when I am focused on a project I will spend ALL DAY working on it....now aside from that I will admit there have been a couple of days where I did binge a show or a good number of episodes. 

Since our whole family was at home together for a majority of Quarantine, we watched a lot of movies together, so most of the movies I share are ones we watched as a family. 

There are a lot of British Mini Series that I have re-watched over Quarantine (because they are worth re-watching) but I have also watched a number of new shows....I recently got into KDramas and I am kind of obsessed, so I have watched a lot of those.  

I will say, my taste in shows and movies might not be your cup of tea for a story line, content, or premise, but I am always interested in what others watch, so I thought I would share. 

For each show or movie I will talk a bit about why I liked it or what it is about and also what it is rated. 

Netflix: 
TV Shows -

Crash Landing To You - (TV - 14) This was the first KDrama that I watched after seeing someone recommend it on Instagram and it got be HOOKED on KDramas, plus it is literally sooooo good! It is about a girl from South Korea who crashes into North Korea and meets a Captain in the special forces...the show follows their story (and romance) along with having many notable characters and sub plots along the way. The ending is so perfect and their is a twist in the story which makes it what it is. Also the MUSIC in this show is amazing!!

Something In The Rain - (TVMA) This is another KDrama that I watched, and while it was good, it wasn't my favorite. It had a lot of frustrating drama and some of the characters got on my nerves. The plot is about a woman in her 30's who starts dating her best friends younger brother (and let's just say drama ensues). While it is rated TVMA, it's not like an american TVMA, it's more or a very weak PG-13.

My Secret Romance - (TV - 14) Surprise, another KDrama. I really loved the characters in this one and also there is a lot about food because one of the main characters is a nutritionist. If you want a cheesy and slightly drama free romance this one was good. It focuses on the chance encounter between two characters who's paths cross later on & they end up working together. 

Married at First Sight - (TV - 14) If there is one reality TV show that I am obsessed with...THIS IS IT! I don't know why, but I am always intrigued by the science of the show and how the experts match people together. I actually show episodes of this show in my Interpersonal Studies class when we talk about relationships. Netflix has season 9 right now and its is a roller coaster. 

Movies:

Failure to Launch - (PG - 13) If you are a fan of Matthew McConaughey this movie is a great chick flick! I had already watched it before, but watched it again during Quarantine with my parents and my mom enjoyed it. It has a lot of funny parts because it centers around parents who hire a relationship consultant (Sarah Jessica Parker) to help push their 30 year old son out of the house. 

The Duchess - (PG -13) I am always down for a good period drama for the story line and the costumes. I had always heard about the Duchess, but never had watched it. It was a great movie, definitely an interesting story and also really heartbreaking as it shows the unique perspective of marriage in the 18th century. Stars Keira Knightly & Haley Atwell. The costumes are fabulous! 

The Kissing Booth - (TV - 14) I am a sucker for a good cheesy teen romance movie & this is one of Netflix's movies based off of a YA book. I'm pretty sure I have seen this movie like 5 times. The plot is about a girl named Elle who falls for her best friends brother after working the kissing booth at their schools carnival. 

Outbreak - (R) Yes, we watched a movie about an Epidemic, during a Pandemic! This movie is actually really interesting if you are into science type movies. We watched this at the start of Quarentine & my family actually watched it 2 times because they like it so much. It is rated R for the gruesomeness of the virus and language. 

Roped - (PG) This is one of the new movies to Netflix in May and is only worth watching is you want a really cringy romance you can make fun of. There's a lot of things that don't make since. It's like the Longest Ride mixed with Footloose, but the dad doesn't like the rodeo because its animal cruelty, but then he changes his mind...the daughter falls for the cowboy after like 2 days even though they barely talked and then he leaves at the end. 

Currently Watching:

English Game - (TV - 14) Julian Fellows directs this show so you know it will be good. 

My First First Love - (TV -14) Another KDrama, but this one doesn't have hours long episodes and the characters are university students and not 30 year old adults. It also is English "dubed" which makes it easy to play in the background, but weird because the voices don't fit...lol

Gilmore Girls (for the 3rd time) - ( TV - 14) I am a huge fan of Gilmore girls and have watched it multiple times. Hands down this is one of my favorite shows 

100 Humans - (TV -14) This is a super interesting show centered on hypotheses about humans and actual experiments to prove them right or wrong. They focus on different topics in each episode and it is very interesting if you like psychology and sociology. 

Amazon:
TV Shows-

Poldark - (TV -14) I started watching Poldark back in college with the earlier seasons, but for some reason I got frustrated with it for awhile and stopped watching. However, I picked it back up in April and got hooked...you kind of have to stick with it and get past season 3. It really is a great show, even though there is frustrating drama and I was honestly sad when it ended. It is also centered during a time that not many period dramas are and shows great 1790's fashions. Never has anything overly inappropriate, but there are a handful of implied scenes. 

Dr. Thorne - Another Julian Fellows show. This one is actually a mini series so there are only like 5 episodes, but it is so good. It's a comical and romantic look at the struggle of class and marriage in a society that looked on social standing. It has so many great parts to the story and wonderful cast. 

Making The Cut - (TV-14) What kind of Fashion Design teacher would I be if I didn't watch the design shows? Making The Cut came out at the start of Social Distancing and is hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (from Project Runway) and it is honestly soooo good! I truly think it is better than Project runway and the designs are on a whole other level. 

Vanity Fair: (13+) This is a fabulouly dramatic period drama focused on a set of characters in the early 1800's that are all striving for what is not worth having. This is the newest adaption of the show and I really love how they tell the story. (also Johnny Flynn who plays Mr. Knightly in the 2020 Emma plays a great character in this show)

Movies:

47 Meters Down Uncaged - (PG-13) I don't like horror or scary movies, but I think the whole "shark" thing is why I like these movies. If you saw the first 47 meters down, this one is way better...like it has way more surprising moments and more sharks!

Murder on the Orient Express 2017 (rented) - (PG-13) I saw this in Theaters when it came out, but we watched it as again as a family and its a great movie if you like solving mysteries (plus it counts as a period drama) and has a stellar cast! 

Knives Out (rented)- (PG-13) Super interesting "Clue" like mystery that has you guessing the entire movie and never seeing the ending. It's quite an interesting plot. 

Emma (2020 - Rented) - (PG) I will watch anything Jane Austen ANY TIME, so you can only imagine how excited I was for the new Emma movie this year. I actually went to see this movie in theaters before social distancing (treated myself and it was great), but then rented it at home to show my mom. I could seriously watch this movie over and over. I know there are mixed reviews of this version, but honestly I think they did a really great job and infused Jane Austen's humor into the characters and story. Also the costumes were to die for and I loved Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightly. Note: At the beginning there is a scene that has a brief moment of partial nudity as Mr. Knightly dresses...it was the directors take to show a man dressing in the 1800's over the scenes that typically show a women getting dressed. 

Unknown - (PG-13) If you love a good Liam Neeson movie this is a great one on Amazon. The story line is about an assassin who gets amnesia and starts to think his cover is his real life...it is quite an interesting story line. 

Morning Glory - (PG-13) (also on Hulu) Great Rom Com that had me and my parents laughing. Centers around a girl wanting to be a famous TV producer and ends up working to revive a failing TV show for a company. Stars Harrison Ford

Kingsman (rent) - (R) I LOVE the Kingsman movies so much, from the suits, to the accents, to the action! If you don't like gore, killing, or British language, than this is probably not for you.

Current War - (PG-13) This was a great movie we watched as a family and I learned so much about the history of electricity! It is a movie about the competition between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. It is packed with a stellar cast like Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Nicholas Hoult, and Matthew Macfadyen. 

Rocky - Okay, really My sister has been watching all the Rockies with my parents, but I have sat in for snippets of each movie and they are really good. If you like classic movies with inspiring themes these are for you! 

Hulu:
TV Shows-

Pride & Prejudice (1995) - This was a re-warch for me while sewing, but I will re-watch Pride and Prejudice any day. I like this version because it is a mini series and follows the book more closely. 

War & Peace - (TV-14) I actually own this on DVD, but watched it for a 3rd time on Hulu while sewing. I have never read the book, but I LOVE the show. There is so much that goes on and you really connect to the characters in many ways. I always cry at the ending. Note: there are 2 scenes throughout the show that you might want to skip. 

Emma (2009) - (no longer on Hulu) This is the BBC mini series of Emma and again, this was a rewatch for me. This version plays to a lot more of the story because it is longer, and also shows more between Emma and Mr. Knightly's history. I love the cast, plus Johnny Lee Miller plays a fantastic Mr. Knightly. 

 

Oh My Venus - (TV-14) This was a KDrama on Hulu and I really liked it. It tells the story of a girl who was popular in high school, but who grows up to be a lawyer struggling with her weight...she then meets a celebrity trainer who helps her become healthy & you can imagine the rest. The characters for this show reminded me a lot of Crash Landing to You. 

Descendants of The Sun - (TV-14) This is probably my favorite KDrama I have watched. It has the perfect mix of romance, action, drama, and medical. It follows a special forces captain who falls for a doctor, who ends up being stationed at his base. There a a lot of sub plots that I loved. 

Currently Watching:

Company X - (TV-14) This is a Canadian show that follows a group of spies that work for Canada during the beginning of WWII. It has a very interesting plot, plus I love anything WWII. 

Have you seen any of these shows?

What are you currently watching? 

Are you a fan of KDramas?

- Madison

Movie Night: My Favorite Sports Films

Movie Night: My Favorite Sports Films

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Fun fact about me I love sports movies! Okay, so I don't love them more than "chick flicks" and period dramas, but I still love watching them and have seen so many in the course of my life:) I think my love for sports movies started when I was young and we would always watch movies as a family, most often than not the movies we would watch would have something to do with sports. However, that's not all that much of a surprise considering my dad is a coach, and my brother and sister were and still are involved in sports, so I basically grew up in a sports family as a "coaches kid" (which honestly was awesome). 

With all of that I have quite the list of my favorite sports movies! I love the storyline of sports movies because they generally make you feel something, often intensely whether it is overcoming the odds, healing after an injury, staying positive, being the pride of town, or inspiring a community to come together they teach us lessons, make us cry, and give us a reason to love sports (at least that has been my experience):

• The Rookie - This movie was one of the first sports movies I remember watching and still to this day remains one of my favorites and definitely one of my favorite movies in general (plus Dennis Quaid always reminds me of my dad). Fun Fact: Parts of this movie were actually filmed in both of my parents home towns (which are 15 minutes apart) so I have literally been to the places scenes from this movie happened...sooo cool! Okay, but seriously I LOVE the story line of this movie in following your dreams, never letting others tell you that you cannot do something, inspiring others, and all around bringing people together for the love of baseball. 
• My All American - Ugh.....LOVE this movie! This movie will make you cry like a baby but it is soooooo good! There are so many reasons to love this movie, it is set in the 60's, it is a true story, the actors are amazing, and the story is inspiring! 
• We Are Marshall - This movie starts out with a dreadful tragedy when the entire football team is killed in a plane crash....thus the movie focuses on the School, athlete's, and town's ability to rebuild the football program along with the new coach (played by Matthew Mconehe)
• Remember the Titans - This is a classic! I have probably seen this movie close to five times and it's still so good! The movie starts out with the two high schools integrating their students and the players of both football teams have to deal with the changes as well as learn to accept each other and play as a team. This movie deals with prejudice, race, learning to accept and love others, and form bonds of not only teammates but brothers. 
• League of Our Own - I love this movie because it is not your typical sports movie. This story focuses on an all women professional baseball team that was started during WWII as all the men leave for war. Tom Hanks plays their coach and it is quite entertaining to watch him try and rally a group of women to win games while inspiring everyone at home. 
• Angels In The Outfield - Definitely the perfect family night sports movie! When a boy in foster care prays for a chance to have a family if the California Angels win the pennant, angels are assigned to make that possible.
• Field of Dreams - The classic quote "If you build, he they will come" originated in this movie as a farmer hears voices talking in the cornfield one night. Even though everyone thinks he is crazy he builds a baseball field in his backyard, after which the ghosts of some of the greatest baseball players start emerging from the cornfield and start to play ball.
• Rudy - Love this movie because it reminds me that our dreams are never to big and that they can always come true! Rudy doesn't want the life of everyone else, stuck in his town, working in the steal mill. He eventually gets into his dream college and works harder than any football player to reach his dreams as everyone around him takes notice and is inspired. 
• Facing The Giants - This movie is an inspiring story of faith and overcoming giants both on and off the football field. Every scene leaves you inspired as a sports enthusiast and as a Christian as you watch the characters in the movie question God and rededicate their Faith. 
• Blind Side - A truly great football movie, inspired by a true story, about the power of love and family to help you recognize your potential and passion for something bigger than yourself. 
• Miracle - If you are a hockey fan than this movie is for you! Okay, so you don't actually have to like hockey to LOVE this movie as it is inspired by a true story of the 1980's men's hockey team. As America is at odds with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the men's hockey team is set to face the Soviet men's hockey team for the Olympic Gold. What they accomplish is nothing short of a miracle and inspires patriotism throughout America. 

Do you like sports movies?

Have you ever seen any of these?

-Madison

Girls Movie Night Vol. 1

Girls Movie Night Vol. 1

Saturday, June 2, 2018

I asked, you answered, and now I am delivering! Today's post is the first in a biweekly Saturday blog series sharing my favorite movies in all genres......and trust me, there's a LOT! For today's installment I decided to go for a theme that all of us girls could use, a "Girls Movie Night" selection. However, when it comes to girls movie nights there is a LONG list that I can choose from so this is simply Volume 1 of the series:) However, in all actuality this selection encompasses a lot of my favorites (really I have a lot of favorites) because we get a little bit of everything, we have humor, friendship, summer memories, royalty, fairytale, even two about being the presidents daughter, and all with a bit of "chick flick" romance.....so lets get started! 

• Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants - If you are looking for a feel good, friend focused movie about magic jeans then this is the film for you. I love this movie because it is perfect to watch with your friends (or sisters) as it follows 4 friends throughout a crazy summer as they all go in different directions, grow up, face life, take on challenges, learn about themselves, and grow together as friends (Movie Tailer).
• Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 2 - We meet up with the 4 friends again in this movie as they are now working their way through college, making big decisions, working through relationships, finding out more about who they are, taking risks, trying new things, and dealing with more adult problems. This second movie is probably a bit more mature than the first, but they are all still fairly clean. (Movie Trailer)
• The Princess Bride - This is a classic and it is "Inconceivable" if you haven't watched it! Full of adventure, humor, intrigue, sword fights, and romance this is a film your entire family would love and perfect for a girls night (Movie Trailer) 
• Mirror Mirror - If you are looking for a movie with a fairy tale theme, amazing cast, fabulous costumes and a perfectly happy ending this is what you should watch! I seriously LOVE this movie, not only because I love Lily Collins, but the costumes are incredible and it follows the story line of Snow White (Movie Trailer). 
• Chasing Liberty - One of the favorite go to movies for me and my friends is this film! Why? Well it could be because it stars Matthew Goode and Mandy Moore, or because it centers along a story line in which the presidents daughter decides to defy her dad and ends up going on an adventure with an undercover agent (who she things is a regular guy) and yeah......you get where it is going:) (Movie Trailer)
• First Daughter - Very similar to Chasing Liberty only this time Katie Holmes is the presidents daughter and she is going off to college with the hope of having a normal life as a normal college student, but that dream is short lived as being the presidents daughter makes her anything but normal. The perfect romantic comedy for a girls night (Movie Trailer).