Friday Caption Contest

Congrats to my sister Naomi, for winning this week's caption contest!

Albert: "Well if you want my advice on marriage, marry someone very handsome, possibly a man with a slight moustache, someone who dresses very well, oh - blue coats definitely, someone who wears blue, and someone who's very smart indeed. Come to think of it that sounds just like me. Just a suggestion."

~~~~~

The new picture. . . 

Unknown Woman (can't remember her character's name! Help!?!) Morgan Harris (Frank Converse) and Anne Shirley (Megan Follows), Anne of Green Gables - The Sequel

Caption contest: voting now open

This week's entries:

1. "I just don't understand why you allow the dog to court you, and not me?" 

2. "Would you like me to take the ball so you can hold my hand? ...Well, it was just a suggestion." 

3. "If you don't want holes in your flower bed, maybe you should put your dog on a leash."

4. Albert: "Well I was thinking, if we brought in coffee everyone would think it more modern." Victoria: "Nope, tea or nothing."

5. "My dog likes top hats just as much as balls..." 

6. Victoria: *sighing* "What is it it Albert?"
Albert: "Well we could make this play..." *mumbles* "Called the play of Prince Albert and co." 
Victoria: *gasps* "And who am I!?"

7. Albert: "You might not know that I'm the tallest in my family..."

8. Victoria says knowingly/semi quiet: "I wouldn't hold my hand out like that if I were you."
Albert still rambling on: "I also am good at...What? Why?"
Victoria: "Me precious pup is staring at it and is ready to pounce."

9. Albert: "I have to keep my head perfectly tilted or my hat will fall off!"

10. Albert: "Throw that ball, so your darling dog would go away. I mean that in a respectable way of course. I'm sure she must be longing to chase after it!"

11. Albert: "I say, old girl, perhaps you could throw that ball for the dear dog and then you could concentrate on what I'm trying to explain..."
Victoria: *to herself* "I'm the old girl and the dog is the dear . . . . I should have known."

12. Victoria: *to herself* "If I throw this ball on his hat, maybe he'll stop talking . . . ."

13. Albert: "You know, the problem with carrying a ball around is that you might drop it into a pond. And then you might meet a frog...who asks you to kiss him...who's actually a handsome prince..."
Victoria: "And what's wrong with that?"

14. Albert: "If you do decide to throw that ball, you might want to take care not to throw towards the petunias. They are, somewhat, delicate little things."

15. Victoria whispers: "I'd like to shove this ball right down his throat!"

16. Albert: "Well if you want my advice on marriage, marry someone very handsome, possibly a man with a slight moustache, someone who dresses very well, oh - blue coats definitely, someone who wears blue, and someone who's very smart indeed. Come to think of it that sounds just like me. Just a suggestion."

~~~~~

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Now, vote, vote, vote! Poll is on the sidebar. >>>

Friday Caption Contest

"I don't know about you, but I'm finding this place very spooky. I don't suppose you could hold my hand?"

Congratulations to my darling little sister, Grace, for winning last week's contest! (Sorry if I embarrassed you there, Grace. . . I love you! :-) 

This week's picture, thanks to Ana's suggestion (thanks, Ana!). BTW, if at anytime any of you have an idea for a picture that you think would work well for this weekly contest, please let me know. I'm open to suggestions!

Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) and Princess (Queen-to-be) Victoria (Emily Blunt), The Young Victoria

I have seen The Young Victoria!

At last! LOL! I bought I copy from the UK - it hasn't yet been released on DVD here.

A few pictures for you to drool over. Yes, the costumes really are to die for!!

Some of my first impressions:

I liked, but I didn't love it. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think it may have something to do with the portrayal of Victoria herself. Perhaps in an effort to overturn the stereotype of Queen Victoria as being a small, mousy little woman, here she is portrayed as confident, headstrong, and vivacious.

Which is great, but. . . I couldn't really warm to her at first. I suppose it's natural to prefer heroines with whom one can truly identify! And I sometimes had trouble identifying with Emily Blunt's Victoria. The "Young Victoria" here is confident and, at times hot-tempered. Yes, she is clever and delightful but. . . I thought she seemed a bit spoilt at times! Which is forgiveable, I suppose, in a princess/queen. :-/

Rupert Friend (Mr. Wickham from P&P05. . .) was very good as Prince Albert. The production values are impeccable. . . the film is a dazzling feast for the eyes, as I knew it would be. Hmm. . . the cast were all good. The script was okay.

One of the things I found fascinating about the film was the picture it gave of growing up as a member of the Royal Family, and the quirks and challenges of being groomed as the next monarch! Some aspects of being part of a royal family may have changed, but I imagine others are still the same - to some extent. Going slightly off-topic. . . did you know that Sarah Fergusen co-produced The Young Victoria? And that her daughter, Princess Beatrice of York, makes a cameo in the film, during the coronation scene? I thought that was so neat, having a real-life descendant of Queen Victoria in that scene. :-)

I also appreciated the historical background of the film - whilst it was first and foremost a romance, there was still plenty of political intrigue and info about the various characters and events surrounding Victoria's early life. I don't know how much of it was historically accurate. Guess I'll have to get my hands on a good biography or two! Aargh! Another bunch of books to add to my overwhelmingly long to-read list. . . 

So - overall, I liked it, and highly recommend it for any romantic - or any costume drama fan (usually there's not much difference. :P). Like I said above - it's not one of my all-time favourites, but I did enjoy it. No doubt it will continue to grow on me after a couple of re-watches. 

4 out of 5 stars. . .

Charity's Place review

Another "Young Victoria" article

Another someone raving about The Young Victoria! 

None of the cinemas near us are playing The Young Victoria. I can only hope they'll start showing it soon. . . if I don't see this movie soon I think I'm going to go a little bit crazy. :P

Click here to read Cleo magazine's review.