Blogathon: Life, Love and the Movies

I've seen a lot of bloggers taking part in a really cool 16 question Blogathon being hosted by MyFilmViews and KaramelKinema, so I thought I'd take part too.

Life

1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit?

My earliest memory of the cinema is seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame and really needing to pee from quite early on. I spent the rest of the film holding it in because I was scared that I would miss something important or amazing. Even at 5 I refused to have a film ruined for me.

2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie?

In August of 2012 I went to New York for two weeks. One of the absolute highlights of this trip was going to watch All About Eve in Bryant Park for the HBO Film Festival. As much as I have fond memories of seeing that film for the first time there, my strongest memories are of the experience as a whole. Sat in a park in my dream city watching an amazing film surrounded by beautiful illuminated skyscrapers and in great company.

3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life?

127 Hours, The Elephant Man and United 93 all had a huge impact on me. Films based on actual events can be some of the most powerful and these three are all great examples that have affected me on a deeper level.

4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood?

Breakfast at Tiffany's and Easy A are probably my two biggest go-to comfort movies. I could watch either of them on a weekly basis and never get bored. If I'm feeling really crappy though, I've found that I usually want to watch The Fall because of its stunning escapism but also because it features two heartbreaking performances from Lee Pace and Cantinca Untaru and a good cry always helps when I'm  already down.

5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you?

I'd like to think that it would be something as stylish and flawless as Xavier Dolan's films, particularly Heartbeats, and I'd probably be as unhinged as Dolan's character in that film as well. If anybody could find me the male equivalent of Olive from Easy A then that's who I'd want to play me, otherwise Emma Stone is going to have to pull a Hilary Swank in Boy's Don't Cry.

6. Which existing movie best represents you?

Frances Ha seems to be a popular answer for this question and I'm going to use it too. It's probably because it's still fresh in my mind but it also seems to conform to my current state of 'where is my life going right now-ness'.

7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see?

One of my comfort films most likely. So Breakfast at Tiffany's, Easy A, The Fall, Peter Pan or Brief Encounter. They are all perfect and I'd want to see each of them at least one more time if I knew I was going to die.

8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why?

Like most people who spend most of their time appreciating films I'd love to be able to make them myself. But if I was to choose a specific area of the film industry that I think I'd enjoy more than any other, it would have to be costume design. Time and time again I find myself warming to films purely because of their production values and I have such a strong appreciation of the costume designers work that to be able to do that job would be a dream.

Love

1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing?

Nope.

2. What is your favourite movie relationship and why?

Harry and Sally, although there were many contenders for this. I love that theirs isn't a simple, straight-forward romance that starts with love at first sight. It's messy, complicated and feels like a natural progression from their great, but equally messy, friendship. A close second would be Zach and Shaun from Shelter, if only for the great optimism that theirs holds.

3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown?

I've loved films for as long as I can remember. Studying film for two years at Sixth Form and for another 3 at Uni has brought countless films to my attention that I never would have acknowledged beforehand and heightened my appreciation of cinema to no end. I'm now pretty much open to any and every film that comes my way.

4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why?

Brief Encounter. It's incredibly depressing but I love it and it's my favourite romance film.

5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why?

Romeo Montague, Jack Dawson, Jay Gatsby… anybody played by Leo basically. Or Brando as Stanley Kowalski who is just perfection.

6. What was the first movie that made you fall in love with film and cinema?

While I'm sure growing up on Disney was a huge factor in my love of film it was probably the combination of watching Brief Encounter and Amelie in my first year of studying film at Sixth Form. I was already a big film lover but these two certainly went a long way to making me appreciate film as much more than just entertainment.

7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger?

From when I was in my mid-teens I've loved finding new films and introducing them to people who I knew would love them. It seemed like a natural progression to start actually reviewing the films that I watched and putting my opinions out there to help or influence more people. It took me a long time to actually start blogging, but I've loved every bit of it.

8. What is your favourite date from a movie?

The IKEA date from (500) Days of Summer, which I loved. Either that or Holly and Paul's day of doing things they never have before from Breakfast at Tiffany's which just seems like probably the most fun way of getting to know somebody.