ZoeKaroub

The Princess Diaries

To begin, most people have probably seen this movie, but I just needed to share my thoughts on this childhood classic! For anyone who lives under a rock, the movie follows an awkward teenage girl, Mia, who is told by her grandmother that she is royalty. Mia is overwhelmed in choosing to live a normal life or become a princess for a small country, Genovia.

The Princess Diaries has the best characters. I love Mia Thermopolis so much I think she is hilarious. I could never forget to mention the best part of the movie when Anne Hathaway falls on the bleachers and continues with the scene!! Anne Hathaway was still beautiful with bushy eyebrows, glasses, and poofy hair, they could not fool me.

Although, I have to discuss Lily. Lily has some funny moments, but I could never ignore how awful she was as a friend to Mia. Lily would get so mad at Mia, when she never even knew Mia’s side of the story. Besides, who gets mad at someone for STRAIGHTENING THEIR HAIR!! Dare I get started on the scene when Lily criticizes Mia for still being upset about her father dying two months ago… who says that?! The only thing I like about Lily is when her and Mia would go scootering across town. That is just so iconic.

I really liked Michael and I am still upset that he was not included in the sequel 😦 Him and Mia were perfect for each other, but his sideburns needed to go. The best character of the movie, with no doubt, is Mia’s cat Fat Louie. He is so precious and is totally fit to rule. Fat Louie was born to be a king and I hope he enjoys his time in Genovia with Princess Mia. Overall, this is such a comfort movie, I can watch it any time. The Princess Diaries is such a hilarious and iconic movie, everyone needs to watch it.

★★★★

Georgia

Framing Britney Spears

Framing Britney Spears is a full-length documentary from The New York Times Presents series, which focuses on today’s biggest stories. Using interviews with close friends, lawyers, and bystanders and clips from Britney’s personal and public life, the documentary depicts the rise and downfall of Britney Spears and the emergence of the #FreeBritney movement. If you’re not familiar with the movement, fans are seeking to free Britney from a conservatorship run by her father; it was implemented shortly after her public breakdown in 2007. The type of conservatorship that Britney has allows her father to control almost all aspects of her life, including her finances and medical decisions. Britney is currently involved in a court battle to remove her father as conservator and refuses to work until he is no longer in charge of her career.

What I realized while watching this documentary: this conversation around Britney Spears’ conservatorship is really a conversation about women in the public eye. I watched in horror at some of the blatantly sexist and inappropriate questions Britney has been asked in interviews over the years. She was constantly sexualized and criticized by the media, starting when she was only 17. Then, she was blamed for the end of her relationship with Justin Timberlake. Then, she was accused of being a bad mother. Then, she was relentlessly followed by paparazzi and the media while dealing with a painful divorce and custody battle. Then, she finally snapped and was shamed by the industry that caused her breakdown in the first place. The director Samantha Stark does a fantastic job of building to that moment, making viewers feel increasingly anxious as the paparazzi attention and nasty headlines increase.

It occurred to me that I grew up with post-breakdown-Womanizer-Vegas Britney. I had no idea that this was a shell of the person Britney used to be. I remember being aware of the breakdown from a young age, even though it happened when I was only four years old. She was always painted as a crazy person; there were no discussions about mental health that accompanied the photos of a bald, umbrella-wielding Britney Spears. However, I didn’t hear about the conservatorship until last year. Why is that?

This is just one question that Framing Britney asks of its audience. There are so many more themes, thoughts, and questions that can’t fit in one review. Stark successfully sparked a discussion about mental health, fame, sexism, and so much more. I know she was successful because I’ve already seen people having these conversations after watching the documentary. People involved in Britney’s public shaming (Justin Timberlake, journalists, magazines, etc.) are even issuing apologies. I hope Britney can see how her story is impacting everyone and feel the support from her many fans.

I really believe Stark did Britney justice, but, of course, Britney herself can only comment through cryptic Instagram captions at the moment (note: Can we talk about those by the way? I want to analyze them all…). This documentary is genuinely eye-opening, and I truly hope that Britney will enjoy her freedom again soon.

#FreeBritney!!!!!

-Zoe

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

“One little soldier boy left all alone;

He went and hanged himself

And then there were None.”

Agatha Christie follows this poem throughout the novel. A nursery rhyme gone wrong. In a clever way, Christie uses a silly poem to determine the fate of each character.

The well detailed mystery novel by the “Queen of Mystery” did not let me down. In the book, ten strangers are lured onto a mysterious island by a mysterious host. Once the guests arrive, they realize that matters are quite strange when nobody knows who invited them there. The once relaxing vacation turns into a stressful stay. Each person on the island is accused of murdering someone, making the situation interesting. Later that night, the killer strikes for the first time. More and more guests continue to die, leaving the strangers to understand that a murderer is among them. Leaving the island is impossible due to an oncoming storm. The guests must figure out who the killer is before they all end up dead.

This novel has a great twist in the end, I am sure it is almost impractical to guess who did it. This is a great book to keep you entertained. I read this book in a matter of days and could not put it down.

★★★★★

Georgia

Parasite – Director Bong Joon-Ho, 2019

Pressing play to watch this Oscar sweeping movie, I had no idea what to anticipate. Parasite is funny, thrilling, intriguing, but eye opening. The story presents a symbiotic relationship between two families living completely different lifestyles: A rich family who only has to worry about when their meals will be cooked for them opposed to a poor family that gets caught up in a string of lies to get jobs. Deeper into the story, more fascinating plots unfold. Every minute of the movie is captivating, I did not want to miss any parts. The ending is crazy, and something I would not have imagined. Furthermore, the movie leaves a metaphor open to the audience of who the real parasite is. Overall, Parasite is a very creative concept which reveals the complicated relationship between social class and greed. I would recommend this movie to thrill seekers.

-Georgia

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

My biggest fear is that I will look back on my life with unhappiness and regret, wishing I had done more, seen more, made different choices. Essentially, my biggest fear is becoming Nora Seed.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig introduces Nora Seed, a woman nearing the age where she should have her life figured out, yet everything is going wrong. She finds herself overwhelmingly depressed, grieving the lives she could have lived. She sees no hope for her future. So, Nora decides to die. But before dying, she finds herself in a strange in-between world: the Midnight Library. With the help of a childhood mentor, Nora has the ability to see what could have happened if she chose different paths. She receives the gift of a second chance at life. As she bounces between lives, Nora must learn what makes her truly happy before it’s too late.

I was so excited when I came across this book because it has SUCH an interesting concept, unlike anything I’ve read so far. What first came to mind was a quote by Sylvia Plath, and I was surprised to see it written in the beginning of the book:

“I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life.”

Now, normally, I don’t enjoy books with aspects of fantasy, but I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. Yes, the idea of the Midnight Library is dreamy and unrealistic, but there is a lot of truth to Nora’s story. I think so many people can relate to Nora’s feelings of regret and inadequacy. And younger people, like myself, may feel the pressure to make all the right choices in order to have a happy future.

I found it exciting to watch Nora jump from one life to the next and experience alternate versions of herself. In each life, it was also interesting to see how her choices impacted the lives of those around her. Haig’s storytelling made me think about all the choices we make and how even the smallest ones have a huge impact. A certain appreciation for everyday life also shines through in his writing. Without giving away too much of the story, I finished the book with a new sense of purpose and hope.

-Zoe

Georgia

Hey, it’s Georgia. Having movie nights with my family every Friday is something I really look forward to. It has really shown me what a tv screen can do. I find myself attaching to the characters and in awe of the cinematography choices. Movies can bring people into a new world and give the viewers the chance to connect through a story. A dream job of mine is to be a cinematographer, so looking at different themes and moods onscreen is very inspiring and brings me to a happy place. I enjoy many different genres such as comedy, mystery, musical, horror, and action movies. Some of my favorite movies/ tv shows are:

Little Women (dir. Greta Gerwig)
Knives Out (dir. Rian Johnson)
Spiderman: Homecoming (dir. Jon Watts)
Spiderman: Far From Home (dir. Jon Watts)
Lady Bird (dir. Greta Gerwig)
Lemonade Mouth (dir. Patricia Riggen)
The Shining (dir. Stanley Kubrick)
Queen’s Gambit (dir. Scott Frank)
Hamilton (dir. Thomas Kail)

You can also see other movies I like on my Letterboxd account – georgiadoh

On my free time, books also provide a chance for me to detach from my life. I have to admit that I do prefer movies over books, but I still try to read as much as I can. This year I have found that I really enjoy mystery books, especially ones written by Agatha Christie. Mysteries keep me on edge waiting for something new to happen. I really enjoy trying to figure out who did it along with the characters. Some of my favorite books include:

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee
Prisoner B- 3087 by Alan Gratz
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Inside Out & Back Again by. Thanhha Lai

Zoe

Hi I’m Zoe! I’ve always loved to read and write. In the future, I hope to make writing a part of my career. I enjoy most book genres, particularly literary fiction, poetry, classics, and books with a psychological aspect. However, I still don’t know why I’m drawn to certain books; I think I simply like stories with good writing that make me feel something for the characters. If a book makes me cry, that’s usually a sign that it’s good. Over the years, I’ve also become more interested in movies, especially with the rise of streaming services that allow me to watch more movies from the comfort of my home. I find myself enjoying dramas, comedies, and coming-of-age films the most, but I’m really not picky when it comes to movies. I’m looking forward to writing about the books and movies I enjoy (or don’t enjoy) for the blog!

(Some of) My Favorite Books:

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay

My Goodreads Account: @zoekar10

(Some of) My Favorite Movies:

Lady Bird (dir. by Greta Gerwig)
Little Women (dir. by Greta Gerwig)
Booksmart (dir. by Olivia Wilde)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (dir. by Céline Sciamma)
10 Things I Hate About You (dir. by Gil Junger)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (dir. by Stephen Chbosky)
Billy Elliot (dir. by Stephen Daldry)
Good Will Hunting (dir. by Gus Van Sant)

My Letterboxd Account: @zoekaroub