Thursday Movie Picks: Period Dramas: Wandering through the Shelves hosts a weekly movie challenge in which you choose 3-5 movies based on that Thursday’s theme and explain why you chose those movies. Today’s theme is Period Dramas so here are my choices!
emma. (2019)
Emma was one of the last movies I saw in the theaters before COVID hit. It was so delightful and romantic, and I realized I have truly adored every movie based on Austen’s novels (so far!). Anya Taylor-Joy was fantastic as Emma, and her chemistry with Johnny Flynn was off the charts. You can read my review for Emma here!
titanic (1997)
I am not ashamed to say that I saw this movie more times in the theater than any other movie – 13 times. 13!! I was 17 when this movie came out and I just fell in love with it. Now that I’m older, I don’t necessarily think Titanic is the masterpiece I believed it was back then, but you have to admit James Cameron did something amazing with this movie. Even now I think the movie holds up really well, and I just adore watching Kate and Leo together.
Moulin Rouge (2001)
I know that Moulin Rouge is a musical, but I think it fits in the period drama category as well. I adore Baz Luhrmann and his style of film. It’s always so colorful and vibrant. I loved Moulin Rouge when it was released. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman falling in love… swoon. It’s a movie I can’t watch often, mostly because the ending always makes me depressed, but I do listen to the soundtrack quite often (sort of like Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet!). I’ll review this movie for the site someday, but for now, it’s my third choice for this week’s TMP.
Katy Cacolice
May 13, 2021Great picks! I haven’t seen Emma yet, so I’ll have to check it out. I almost picked Titanic but I used it last week. I’ve seen it in theaters too many times to count. lol Moulin Rouge is wonderful too. I love Ewan and Nicole together. It’d be amazing if it was re-released into theaters some day.
Sara
May 13, 2021Thanks! I’m glad I’m not the only person who watched Titanic in the theaters a bunch of times. But given how much money it made, I suppose it would be silly think there weren’t TONS of us out there 😀 I love absolutely love to see MR on the big screen again.
Brittani
May 13, 2021Great picks! I love all 3. Emma was a nice surprise. Titanic and Moulin Rouge are classics.
Sara
May 14, 2021Thanks!! Emma was definitely a nice surprise for me too. It’s one I would definitely watch again.
Joel
May 13, 2021I haven’t seen this version of Emma, only the Paltrow one-it’s the only one of her films that I thought she gave a decent performance in, but it is on my too see list.
I’m not a Kidman fan but Moulin Rouge is certainly a feast for the eyes, sometimes that’s enough.
This version of Titanic has many problems but technically its an awesome achievement. I don’t think the performances of Kate and Leo are bad but their relationship would never have happened on a British ship in 1912 so that always takes me out of the film but once the ship hits the berg it’s a gripping film. I also love Gloria Stuart as old Rose.
I’m a fan of most period films and since the choices are so vast I felt the best way to go was by choosing a specific period, the Revolutionary War, and finding three films set during that time.
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)- Attempting to forge a life and livelihood out of the central New York wilderness as the nation is born Lana and Gil Martin (Claudette Colbert & Henry Fonda) are besieged by Tory, Indian and British forces but they persevere. A depiction of the dangerous rigors faced by settlers on the frontier during the Revolutionary War.
The Scarlet Coat (1955)-Benedict Arnold (Robert Douglas), Commander of the Continental Army at West Point conspires with Redcoat Major John Andre (Michael Wilding) to surrender defense of the fort to the British for a large sum of cash as the Revolutionary War rages. Sensing trouble American Major John Boulton (Cornel Wilde) undertakes a counter-intelligence operation to stop the deal from going through.
1776 (1972)-The events and personages involved in the lead up to and signing of The Declaration of Independence all set to music. Though there is some artistic license taken this adaptation of the Broadway hit, which is scheduled for a revival later this year, captures the essence of the story.
Sara
May 14, 2021I haven’t seen the Paltrow Emma but it’s on my list. I know that the love story in Titanic is unrealistic but I still enjoyed it. Hollywood always takes liberties with history. And I agree that the movie hits a different pace/tone when the ship starts to sink. I like that you chose the Revolutionary War time period! The Scarlet Coat sounds intriguing.
Sonia
May 14, 2021I wasn’t a fan of Emma and haven’t seen Titanic in forever, but I really enjoyed Moulin Rouge. Sure, the story is predictable, but they made it so engaging and entertaining, and Nicole and Ewan are just wonderful together.
Sara
May 14, 2021Agreed! I love the music and the spectacle of it, but Nicole and Ewan really brought it all together.
Birgit
May 15, 2021I have not seen this version of Emma but I would like to. I have seen Paltrow’s version and she’s ok in because I done want to smack her. 😁. The effects and art direction of Titanic is great and the acting is good with the leads but I am not a fan of this flick. I have a really good knowledge of Titanic and read many bios on the people on the boat. Cameron didn’t care too much about the script or reality and made the Love Boat Sinking. I should rewatch Moulin Rouge which is Camille(my pick this week) updated. The colours, the scenery and the cinematography are all so vibrant and alive which makes this a good film plus they can all sing.
Ruth
May 17, 2021I love MOULIN ROUGE and in fact I just rewatched it recently and I found it to be even more hilarious! The songs are so wonderful to listen to, esp. Come What May. Initially I wasn’t fond of Kidman’s casting but she won me over eventually. I think she’s a good singer though it’s Ewan’s voice that blew me away.
Sara
May 20, 2021I love Come What May! I used to belt it out in my car lol. I remember wondering why it didn’t get an original song nomination then read it had originally been meant for Romeo and Juliet, so it wasn’t eligible. Ewan’s voice is amazing. I could listen to him sing all day!
Wandering through the Shelves
May 20, 2021I haven’t seen this Emma movie. But I have seen three other adaptations of Emma and my favorite adaptation is the 2009 mini-series.
I didn’t watch Titanic in the theaters. I think I saw it like on HBO or something a few years later. But I do remember it being in the news back when it was released that a lot of people saw it in the theaters a lot of times.
I love Moulin Rouge too and I used to listen the soundtrack a lot.
Sara
May 21, 2021I can’t remember the last movie that created as much of a craze as Titanic! It was huge. I’ll have to check out the 2009 miniseries of Emma! I love the story.
ThePunkTheory
May 30, 2021Great picks!
I still need to see Emma, though. I meant to see it in theatres but then COVID happened.
Sara
June 10, 2021Yeah Emma was one of the last movies I saw in the theaters before Covid shut everything down. It was really enjoyable though.