Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Some of the classic musicals never grow old, especially if you haven't see one for a while. That's the way we feel about Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The dialogue is hilarious, the dancing superb, and the singing swell. One of my favorite parts is the literal "shotgun" wedding scene.

North and South

Do you catch a theme here? I've been watching Persuasion, Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility, and most recently, North and South. We have got English/Jane Austen-type movies on the brain around here! If you enjoy this genre, you will certainly enjoy this newer flick!

The story is about a young woman who moves from the South of England to the North, from gorgeous, peaceable countryside, to dark, cold, poor, smoky, industrialized city. She encounters a young entrepreneur, the master of a cotton factory, whom she soon despises. We watch their relationship change as they confront and discuss poverty, Christian motives, work unions, disease, master/employer relationships, etc. The plot is not so predictable and had some very interesting twists. Not slow at all.

One fun aspect of this movie is that is was made in four parts, so Lane and I watched them on two separate dates.

Another good aspect of this film would be the topic of discussion about how you cannot judge people, even sometimes by their actions.

Loved it!

Though None Go With Me

I watched this movie with my children one Sunday evening and when it was over, felt like the time had been well-spent. A young woman falls in love with a Protestant (I think!) pastor, who goes off to war before they get married. She decides to commit her life to God no matter what happens. The trials and surprises that take her breath away as she walks the path of life challenge her commitment, but she discovers that as she turns her life over to God, that her service to others brings a joy she didn't anticipate. She shares her discoveries with a rebellious granddaughter.

Our whole family loved this movie. We heartily recommend it. Grab the kleenex!

Cinderella

Have you or your children ever watched a black-and-white movie before, not to mention a musical? Cinderella was a Rogers and Hammerstein musical that aired once on TV back in 1957 and then somehow was lost, just recently to be discovered in some archives somewhere! We were delighted to see it out on DVD since we already knew the music.

Julie Andrews looks as young and sounds as lovely as ever in this comical, staged production. We enjoyed the early TV production techniques since movies and musicals have changed so much in the last 50+ years. The bonus is that isn't too long (76 minutes) and watching it costs far less than a live production (although we love going to see those, too!).

Facing the Giants

Facing the Giants is an inspirational movie that our whole family enjoyed recently. It's more than just a "feel good" movie, it shares the truth that God can work through his children to accomplish what appears to be impossible. I really like this film because the main characters aren't your typical "movie star" types, but they look like normal people and have everyday problems. A father, who coaches high school football, is about to lose his job. He struggles to provide for his childless family and discovers that he and his wife may never be able to have children. 

Thanks to his faith in Christ and the encouragement of others in his life, including his wife, the coach triumphs over those obstacles. Although the plot is fictitious, it is believable and encouraging. 

This film provides a lot of fodder for family discussion. Go team! 

Persuasion

Oh, this one was fun! Do you love Jane Austen? If so, I think you'll love this movie, which, if true to the period of history from which she writes, makes us grateful to live when we can speak more openly with each other. (On the other hand, I guess the pendulum has swung so far to this way that we could learn something about holding our tongues from them!)  There is so much tension in this movie in those moments when everyone is silent but has so much to say to each other! Gratefully, all's well that ends well in this movie. Sarah and I watched this together first during our spring break, and then Lane and I truly enjoyed this film on our date last week. Here was one bonus: unlike some other Jane Austen films, the main character's dress isn't so low that you feel like averting your eyes the whole time! Refreshing! Thank YOU to the costumer!