Movie Monday

I am slowly and steadily working through my list of to watch movies. And The Martian was such a pleasant surprise.

To be honest I was a bit hesitant to watch this movie but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Apart from the fact that Matt Damon is an amazing actor who has always been fun to watch this movie was actually really really good. It was fun and entertaining, yet had a good amount of drama and wasn't too science fiction if you know what I mean. I loved the soundtrack of the movie. It was just perfectly contradictory.
So if you're looking for a great Sunday night movie. This is it.

xoxo
Ramona



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Movie Monday

Today's movie is not going to be an easy one, a comfortable one or a pretty one. Today's movie is called Sicario.

I believe film as all art should not always be pretty and entertaining but it should also interrupt us in our day to day routine to teach us something or open our eyes to circumstances going on in the world.
For me personally that is what this movie did. It interrupted. I had to keep thinking about it. It is a movie full of tension, of the question about good and evil, right and wrong and it is not a movie of solutions or letting go of the tension. You are basically left wondering.
The cinematography is beautiful and perfectly lines up with the feel of the movie. I loved seeing Emily Blunt in this role. I first saw her in The Jane Austen Book Club and then later in Queen Victoria. Both movies I loved but seeing her diversity and range of acting is really great.
I do recommend this movie but with hesitation. It's not pretty.

xoxo
Ramona






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Movie Monday

Here I am with another movie recommendation for you. I have just watched some really great movies lately and have to share with you.
Queen of the Desert is what I want you to watch asap!

This movie is based on the true story of Gertrude Bell who traveled the Arabian desert at the turn of the century. That in itself is amazing but being a woman in that position is mindblowing!
Apart from the fact that Nicole Kidman is an amazing actor, great at whatever she does this movie is done so wonderfully. The light, the quietness, the way the desert is portrayed, the way the cultures are presented, the costume design. Everything fits together.

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

We got back from Nice, France this morning (more on that soon) and it was so great to just get away for a weekend, breathe in the salty air and watch the sea.
As I am already missing the Mediterranean I wanted to recommend this movie to you: The Intern

I really don't know why it took me so long to watch it but am I happy I finally did. Apart from the amazing cast who have such great chemistry in the movie I loved the messages that were sent by the movie. Messages about cherishing experience, honoring older people, forgiving, relationships, work etc.
It was such a beautiful movie, funny, thoughtful, well done.

xoxo

Ramona

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Movie Monday

Happy Monday everyone. Hope your week started off well?!

Yesterday I went to see Brooklyn

It was such a beautiful movie. The hair, make-up and costume design was amazing and I honestly wanted to change my wardrobe afterwards.
The movie has a peaceful, quiet beauty about it which just pulls you right in so you feel everything that's going on.
I don't want to say much more about it but you should go and watch it yourself.

xoxo
Ramona
 

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Movie Monday

Another Monday another Movie or well it is the movie my flatmate and I watched on Valentine's Day. Ever since I decided to let Valentine's Day be a fun #treatyoself kind of a day where I celebrate family and friends it's just become a pretty great day which this year was finished off with cheese and popcorn and chocolate cake and Leap Year.

It is just one of those rare and really sweet romantic comedies which make you laugh, swoon, cry and happy. Let's call it a fell good movie and we all need those every once in a while, right?

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

We just finished our 21 Days of prayer at my church and what better way to end it than with the movie War Room.

 This is such an amazing movie about prayer and how it changes your perspective, your priorities and your life!
It's such a great combination of being funny, sad, heart breaking and it has some amazing teaching in it. I don't want to say much else about it but really recommend you watch it!

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

Aloha and Happy New Year. May 2016 be the year of fulfillment and harvest and the best year yet.
You might have already guessed the movie I am recommending today: Aloha.

I know this movie received tons and tons of criticism and I get where it is coming from, but I have to say I enjoyed this movie. I find if extremely difficult these days to find a romantic comedy which is fun, clean, entertaining and not full of curse words. So this movie actually was quite refreshing and entertaining and quirky and weird but in a good way.

xoxo

Ramona





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Movie Monday

I wish I had the words to describe how absolutely beautiful today's movie was. Far from the Maddening crowd is an adaption of Thomas Hardy's famous book and definitely one of those movies which I will remember for a long time.

I want to try and say a few words about this movie:
The actors are perfectly chosen with Carey Muligan and Matthias Schoenaerts. Chemistry is everything.
The lighting in the movie is stunning.
I loved the many detailed shots and closeups and intricate looks. It was exactly what the story needed.

The movie is intense and there were moments when I almost couldn't handle it anymore but there is so much truth to take from this movie about life and relationships and love and marriage.

xoxo

Ramona

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Movie Monday

Since I haven't been watching too many movies lately or at least not ones to share (read: Pitch Perfect 2) here it has been a while. But today I am going to share a wonderful piece, a true story of World War 2 and art: Woman in Gold

I think most people actually know the famous painting by Gustav Klimt called "Frau in Gold". The movie is centered around the story of how this picture was returned to its lawful owner.
Helen Mirren is exceptional per usual and overall this movie takes snapshots out of history just the right way. Also really well done is the way language is portrayed.
I strongly suggest you go ahead and watch it.


xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

I cannot believe I never shared this movie with you. And yes again I am sharing a sort of sports movie, but you should not miss out on it.

I'm not going to say much about Invictus other than I wanted to jump up in my seat shouting, "Amen and Hallelujah". There is so much we can learn from this movie.
Clint Eastwood put together a great cast, amazing music and a well balanced story between sports and politics.

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

I am very picky when it comes to romantic comedies and it takes a lot for me to like them mostly because they have become so bad over the years containing too much bad language and losing a lot of humor.
Having said that The Proposal is nothing like that.

It is one of my favorite romantic comedies and I have watched it many times already and still laugh at every single scene. It is funny, good with the romance, witty and not too typical. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have great chemistry.

So anyways, go watch it again and again and again. Best line: "Margret, stop talking!" This line gets me every time!

xoxo

Ramona

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Movie Monday

Films in which the Indian culture collides with our western culture are always a pleasure to watch and a good study of culture and society. In fact during my semester abroad in Santa Barbara I wrote a paper about it and compared different movies like Monsoon Wedding and Bend it like Beckham with each other explaning diasporas.
So wathcing The Hundred Foot Journey yesterday was not only pleasure and entertainment but a reminder of cultures within cultures.

The movie was directed by Lasse Hallström and you can sense it because there is always a certain feeling to his movies and he has a way of using light. The movie was enjoyable, entertaining, captivating and I loved the feeling it kept for the senses when it comes to food. Cooking and preparing food was portrayed culturely but also as something magical, something that evokes the senses and takes you to other places. Food is memory.

xoxo

Ramona




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Movie Monday

I am very picky when it comes to romantic drama or romantic comedy and this may come as a shock for you but I cannot watch romantic movies too often because they tend to mess with you and build up false expectation and I have chosen to not allow that. But ever so often a beautiful romance movie comes my way and I just know it is a keeper.
The Age of Adaline is a beautiful piece of a movie. It has this peace and calm about it which I really loved. It is very well done in how it captures different times. The wardrobe in the movie is exceptional and the acting beautiful. This movie just leaves you in your seat for a couple of moments to gasp for air because you were so captured by it. It just has this stunning ambiance about it I cannot quite describe it but I suggest you go and watch it and get your own picture of it.

xoxo

Ramona


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Movie Monday

There are movies and then there are movies - the one's which only come along ever so often and last week was one of those times when you sit in the theater and it is late but you just don't want the movie to stop because it is so good.

Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E  has that very rare combination of being very well done and developed, having a great story and being authentic, having great cinematography, the perfect amount of suspense combined with a good balance of humor, satire and seriousness. Add to that the brilliant acting and chemistry between the cast. So although we all probably have to wait until December to watch it again I suggest you put it on your movies to watch list because you won't regret it.

xoxo

Ramona

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Movie Monday

Growing up my sister and I weren't allowed to watch a whole lot of TV so the very few things we were allowed to watch were cherished. We often would watch movies on Sunday afternoons as a family. These films would include German post war happy movies, pirate movies, movies like the 10 commandments, Ben Hur, Robin Hood, Rocky etc. but we also grew up watching Lois & Clarke, the new adventures of Superman and I loved it very much. Needless to say to this day I am a big Superhero fan/nerd whatever you want to call it. Funny enough though I have not posted one single Superhero movie on here. But I consider this a good thing because I watch a lot more than Superhero movies.

Anyways this one deserves a spotlight on here because let's face it IT IS SUPERMAN and although all of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies and all of the Marvel Universe are awesome and I watch them on a regular basis (not The Dark Knight because Clowns and me are not friends) I really think this one should be mentioned on here for you to watch.
I love the costumes, I love the atmosphere and the general feeling of the movie. I like that it really goes deep into the story taking as much as possible from the actual comics. I find the actors a great choice and since it's Monday and Movies and Man of Steel should we actually call this a #mcm? What do you think?

That's all. Go watch Man of Steel.

xoxo

Ramona

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Movie Monday

I know this place has been a bit quiet lately and I don't like that but honestly I was just simply enjoying my summer having many guests, throwing many a BBQ and just spent a good amount of time with friends.

But as the fall is slowly approaching I have every intention to be more present with this blog and share movies and music and stories and inspiration with you throughout the next couple of months.

So lets's start us off with this movie I watched on the plane to Birmingham: McFarland, USA.

When I was a teenager I was the biggest Kevin Costner fan and I've watched Robin Hood so many times I cannot even recount.
And still today I really like him a lot as an actor. This is your "typical" sports movie but I thought it was pretty special and I will admit to crying on the plane when I watched it.
What I really like about it was the intercultural communication, the subject of family and the understanding between cultures and languages.
I also think it is a great family movie so go watch it!

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday: The TV Show edition

I have been wanting to do a "movie Monday" like this for a very long time and so I am super excited to share some of my favorite TV shows with you.
I personally love TV shows because they have ongoing story lines and you don't have to commit to a full on movie. I will be honest with you and tell you that I totally get attached to the characters and often times in busy season I like to put on a show and forget about all the things that are going on. During the last couple of months Sunday Night movie night became Sunday Night show time with my flat mate and it was one of those rather ordinary things which totally still felt like home.
So here's a list of my favorite TV shows and can I just add that I am quite picky and you will realize that there are more action based shows which it due to the fact that I cannot constantly fill myself with drama and wrong decision making.

1. One Tree Hill

Although this might be a guilty pleasure show it is to this day my favorite show. I admit though that I never finished the last season. I still have a few episodes to watch but that's ok. I might never. Who knows. This is definitely drama it the most dramatic sense and at some point I had to stop watching it because it got too intense for me but nonetheless I loved it.

2. Arrow

Oh yeah and this is how we dive into the superhero world of shows. I've heard many people say how they don't like the acting and story and find it boring. I never agreed. I thought it had everything without being too dark. And it has only gotten better and gained more depth.

3. The Flash

This is the spin off show of Arrow and haven't we all just fallen in love with Barry Allen/The Flash over the last 9 months? What I love about this show is that it is action filled and yet very human. It is about a guy really trying to do good and save the world. I love how positive it always is.

4. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Yes I love my superhero shows and comic adaptations. It is just so far from anything going on in my own life that it makes it really easy to unwind. What I love about this show is how parallel it runs to all the Marvel cinematic universe movies like Captain America The Winter Soldier and also the newest Avengers: Age of Ultron.

5. Hart of Dixie

I loved that show because it was light and funny and witty and full of southern charm and definitely taught me to understand the accents. I watched every episode from start to finish.

So here they are: 5 of my favorite shows. There is other shows that I watch and love too but these really are on top of the list.

What are your favorite shows to watch and why?

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

Today I want to share another movie of recent with you. The Judge is a movie which deeply touches the subject of a father son relationship without being too foreseeable and cliche.

I thought the movie was very well done, very modern with rather dark filter and little use of color, some exceptional musical choices and a slightly different Robert Downey Jr. The movie definitely falls under the Drama genre and yet is intense enough for a thriller.

xoxo
Ramona

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Movie Monday

I just realized that I never shared this movie with you. If you've known me long enough you will know not only my love for movies but also my love for Christopher Nolan movies. I believe him to be an extraordinary director and producer with the ability to always surprise you.
No wonder I highly anticipated Interstellar. The trailer of course unlike other trailers didn't give away anything of the movie (it of course only showed pieces of the first third of the movie).

I remember sitting in the theater in shock and excitement and was blown away by everything I saw. I remember how I kept thinking of the time and space concept for days after I had watched the film because it really messed with that concept in any way possible. And yet again time and space are something created by God with day and night and the passing of seasons but I believe when one day we will leave this earth it will be different.

xoxo

Ramona

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