My Picks: The Most Beautiful Brides in Movies

June, named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, is the most popular month of the year for frilly white dresses, romantic motifs and traditional and non-traditional unions.

Products for your special day from Vogue's 2013 Wedding Guide

Yeah, yeah. I'm a day late but the internet connection was horrible last night so I'm posting it today. It may not be June anymore but couples get married all year long, right? Anyway, I seriously don't have any plans of getting hitched any time soon but like any other warm-blooded girl, I'm a sucker for gorgeous wedding gowns featured in Vogue and tear-jerking wedding videos captured by Jason Magbanua. Whether it's grand or simple, there's always something magical about the concept of weddings. Movies seem to magnify that concept and you can get an inspiration or two from some of the most beautiful brides I've seen in films. 

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex & the City (2008)

Before Carrie finally tied the knot wearing a labelless dress in city hall, she had to wear the most gorgeous samples for her Vogue photoshoot including this memorable Vera Wang dress. I thought her foundation was a tad cakey but the red lip was a lovely stand out.

Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre (2011)

Jane Eyre might have not gotten the perfect wedding day with Edward Fairfax Rochester wearing this old-fashioned lacey number but she did get her happily ever after in the end.

Liv & Emma, Bride Wars (2009)

With Liv's (Kate Hudson) purple smokey shadow and Emma's (Anne Hathaway) full brows and glossy lip, this film is bound to give blushing brides some ideas on planning weddings and picking out the perfect dress.

Georgiana Cavendish, The Duchess (2008)

If it isn't apparent yet, I'm a big Keira fan so I'm sorry for including her again. To be fair, she makes one aspirational movie bride (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean) and this scene with Ralph Fiennes inspired me to recreate that 18th century makeup look on my BFF. 

Victoria, The Young Victoria (2009)

I've always known Queen Victoria to be the English queen who always wore black never knowing why she did. Now I know that after Prince Albert died, she decided to always wear black to mourn his death. If I married a dashing and loving prince like him, I would mourn him forever, too. And whoever thought proposing to men was a radical idea? Queen V would have begged to differ.

 

Jamie Sullivan, A Walk to Remember (2002) 

I read the book. I cried. I saw the film. I cried. Every time I watch this, I always cry. A Walk to Remember was the most tear-jerking romantic movie I could remember before The Notebook rightfully claimed that title. Mandy Moore made for a pretty bride but I have to ask, where's Shane West now?

In case you want to do a Kate Middleton on your own big day, i.e. do your own makeup, here's a useful makeup tutorial from Pixiwoo.

 

Do you have any favorite movie brides? Would you use any element from their "movie wedding" on your own dream wedding? ;)

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On-screen Portrayals of Lois Lane

The love interest of Superman's life - Lois Lane is beauty and spunk in a high-flying (no pun intended) reporter's suit.

I'm excited to see Supes back in the forefront and it's about damn time. Henry Cavill (The Tudors, Immortals & The Count of Monte Cristo) is donning the red cape & a slicker suit with the famous Superman sigil and Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), as director, is doing much needed damage control after Bryan Singer's (boring) Superman Returns. I have a number of reasons why I have high hopes for this film: 1) I like Snyder's style of editing films, 2) Christopher Nolan's name is attached to the movie, 3) the cast (Russel Crowe, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Costner & Diane Lane to name a few), and 4) this gorgeous teaser trailer from last year.

Amy Adams would portray the very first ginger-haired Lois Lane.

Now thoughts on the upcoming movie aside, we also have a new Lois Lane. I think Lois is one of the more modern and relatable comic book heroines. She's a strong female character and a brilliant and accomplished journalist with a Pulitzer Prize under her belt. Amy Adams has proven to be a versatile actress (Enchanted, The Fighter) so I'm looking forward to see her own portrayal of this persistent, sometimes pesky, investigative reporter. Take a look back down memory lane with me and see the "Lois Lane" actresses I've watched on the big and small screen.

Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns, 2006)

Erica Durance (Smallville, 2004-2011)

Teri Hatcher (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, 1993-1997)

During the 90's, Dean Cain made one cute Clark Kent/Superman.

Margot Kidder (Superman, 1978; Superman II, 1981; Superman III, 1983)

It's exactly a week from today before the premiere of Man of Steel (and more importantly, Philippine Independence day!) so get your movie/DC comics geek caps on and see you at the theatres. ;)

*Images courtesy of Wikia & Rotten Tomatoes

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Movie List #4

It's been a busy month for me - moving to a new home among other things - so this will be my movie list for the entire month of May. I haven't watched a lot of movies this month (so it's a short list) since a Community marathon (seasons 1-4) and a re-watch of Game of Thrones (season 1) have taken a bulk of my down time.

Intermission (2003)

There's some heavy Irish accent going on in this film and I had to watch this without subtitles. So imagine my effort in understanding what they were saying. Better yet, you could go watch this film and after your ears adjust to the thick accent, you'll realize this is well-directed with an excellent ensemble and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I sometimes enjoy Colin Farrell's performances especially when he's playing the bad boy (the first scene of him chatting up this girl was the best scene to me - proof here) and I always enjoy Cillian Murphy. This is a dark comedy, an indie film set in Dublin, with a handful of stories intertwined and chaotic with a purpose. Oh, and I'm happy to read that Roger Ebert gave this movie 3 1/2 stars.

Warm Bodies (2012)

Remember that little boy from "About a Boy"? (This was the time when Hugh Grant was still making decent movies that I cherished. Anyway...) That young boy Hugh starred with was Nicholas Hoult and in Warm Bodies he's the teen zombie R who does lengthy but witty voice overs and happens to be the love interest of Aussie Teresa Palmer. The story's a no-brainer (by the way, zombies in this story are like the zombies from Plants vs. Zombies - they eat brains) and the turns are predictable but this is a better love story than Twilight and with a much agreeable ending.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Ms. Kathryn Bigelow - I'm a fan. The Hurt Locker was a fine piece of work and so is Zero Dark Thirty. Even if I (and the rest of the world) knew how the story would end, I still found myself holding my breath during the last minutes of the film, which is the same feeling I got from Argo. Jessica Chastain makes one fierce CIA officer.

The Eagle (2011)

Whose idea was it to make this two hours long? I think Channing Tatum is an OK actor (you can even say a great one if you just can't look past that body) and I seriously thought he could pull off  playing a Roman soldier in a period movie. He's put on an accent (I think) but it's not believable. His character, Marcus Aquila, can't hold a candle next to Russel Crowe's Maximus. Jamie Bell should have been the soldier and not the slave. As for the plot, again, why does a story about looking for a small eagle statue have to be two hours long? 

If I could take Channing out of the equation and leave Mark Strong and Jamie Bell, could this film suck even less?

21 Jumpstreet (2012)

This Channing Tatum movie I like way better than The Eagle. Who would've thought there would be so much comedic chemistry between him and Jonah Hill? They were so cute together and the jokes got funnier and funnier until the end. There's a surprise cameo at the latter part of the movie from an original cast member of the 21 Jumpstreet TV show which I'm sure you'll be delighted with. And if you've already seen 21 Jumpstreet, I hope to be the bearer of good news that a sequel is in the works and is scheduled for release next year.

Mama (2013) 

This is a fantasy-horror film presented by Guillermo del Toro and stars Jessica Chastain and Jaime Lannister, also known as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. There are elements in this movie that reminded me of del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth which is why I liked it even more and there's also a couple of cute kids here who definitely upped the creepiness level of the story. I thought this was a good, stylish horror flick that's my type of scary.

*Images via Rotten Tomatoes & Wikipedia

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Winona Forever

The 90's may be over but Winona Ryder's career and beauty isn't.

Winona looking gorgeous in goth and glam

The first movie I've seen with her in it was Edward Scissorhands (1990) where she revealed her true hair color (yes, she's blonde but being and staying brunette does wonders for her skin and features, don't you think?) and my favorite movie that she's been in is Little Women (1994). I LOVE Little Women - both the book & the film - and I'm a big Jo-Laurie tandem fan. When a young Christian Bale proposes, you do not turn it down. I'm also a fan of her other works onscreen: Reality Bites (1994), Girl, Interrupted (1994) and A Scanner Darkly (2006). And before there was Christina Ricci, Winona did the pale, goth girl character first as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice (1988).

Winona and Christian in my favorite scene from Little Women

Yes, that is Angelina Jolie on the other side of the door.

Some Winona-Keanu rotoscope goodness in A Scanner Darkly

"Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!"

Anyway I stumbled upon her photos for Interview magazine and I think she is the bomb diggity, for lack of a better term. Look at her photos - who says men are the only ones looking better as they age? ;) She's still that raven haired and doe-eyed beauty we fell in love back in the 90's and with perfect makeup done by NARS makeup artist, Francelle Daly.

Photos by Craig McDean

Winona is still getting some awesome roles throughout the 2010's, too - Black Swan, The Iceman and the upcoming action film with Jason Statham, Homefront. 

And even if it isn't "throwback Thursday" today, I'm still throwing you one, Winona.

Are you loving Winona's vamped up look for Interview? Do you have any favorite Winona Ryder films?

*Images courtesy of Interview & Winona-Ryder

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Beauty Onscreen: Natalie Portman (part deux)

Mathilda, Evey Hammond and Alice Ayres - these are some of the beautiful characters Natalie Portman brought to life.

Looking cool and romantic in her Miss Dior “La Vie En Rose” ad campaign

I did mention in an earlier post that I'll be showing off Natalie Portman's most memorable movie looks to me. If you're not yet acquainted with these characters, better look up the titles and I suggest you do a proper Natalie movie marathon. ;)

Alice Ayres/Jane Jones in Closer (2004)
That short hair. That red hair. That pink wig. And the best opening and ending scenes of a movie.

"Lying is the most fun a girl can have, without taking her clothes off, but it's better if you do."

Nina Sayers in Black Swan (2010)

I knew in my heart that she'd win an Oscar for a Best Actress role someday and she did (yay!). I'm not a fan of her transformation into this deathly skinny ballerina but the black swan make up is now an iconic movie look all thanks to Makeup designer Judy Chin.

Leslie in My Blueberry Nights (2007)
She was a curly blonde-haired poker player & I wished there was more of her in this movie.

If you're wondering, that is Norah Jones in the blurry foreground.

Mathilda in Léon: The Professional (1994)

This is Natalie's breakout performance as the lolita-esque and troubled teen Mathilda with veteran actors Jean Reno and Gary Oldman also starring in the film. 

Anne Boleyn in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

She makes a lovely queen and it's nice seeing her do a period piece for a change. Although Natalie Dormer of The Tudors is still my favorite Anne Boleyn.

Evey Hammond in V for Vendetta (2006)
With such interesting and complex set of characters, this is one of my favorite movies to watch on repeat. Natalie looks gorgeous with or without hair apparently.

Inés Bilbatúa in Goya's Ghosts (2006)

I hated the film (maybe that's why this is so memorable) but this is the first time onscreen that Natalie "bares it all" for a scene and then regrets having done it. This is a memorable look from her but it's the least beautiful and most tragic one.

Francine in Paris, je t'aime (2006)

This is an anthology movie featuring different shorts filmed in the arrondissements of Paris. She wears this wig briefly (too briefly, in fact) but I do love seeing her try something new onscreen

Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Eighteen-year-old Natalie wore the most elaborate and extravagant wardrobe and makeup as royal leader Padmé. The makeup does remind me of a geisha but with a regal twist.

What's your favorite Natalie Portman movie look? 

*Images courtesy of N-Portman.org

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Movie List #3

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Buying tickets for this movie was a déjà vu of the-waiting-in-a-long-line-for-The-Avengers-tickets-at-Greenbelt scene I had last year. Let it be said that I still liked Iron Man 2 more than 3 due to the presence of  Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell in the previous film and I never cared much for Guy Pearce (except in Memento of course). Nevertheless, it's still an enjoyable movie. It was great seeing RDJ reprise the role of Tony Stark and witnessing the smug and funny quips his character is famous for. Now the plot picks up after the The Avengers' battle in New York and fixes Tony Stark in a darker phase of his life. It's a slick movie with some interesting visuals and gorgeous Iron Man suits (and even a nice sky diving action sequence) to keep us hooked but plot-wise, I thought it was too much smoke and not enough wood to make a bigger fire.

On a side note: Fellow movie goers, please don't get angry at the ticket sellers if the movie's already sold out. It's not their fault that you haven't bought/reserved tickets in advance. You only make an ass of yourself if you keep doing that in every Marvel/DC ticket line. Please don't do that when Man of Steel comes out. Just don't.

The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

What sucks about remakes is the fact that you've already seen the original and and the remake leaves little room for unpredictability and suspense. I do respect a remake though if it's decently made and when I say decent, I mean it can still entertain you. This one did but only in the last few scenes. The original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo starring Noomi Rapace outshines this leaps and bounds. But Rooney Mara does make an effective and covincing Lisbeth Salander and her transformation was a tad shocking when you compare to what she was like in The Social Network. You can't fault her here and she does the accent so believably. As for Daniel Craig... well, he's still Daniel Craig.

Gangster Squad (2012) 

The attraction to seeing this film was, first and foremost, see Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone pair up again and second, get a glimpse of Sean Penn clad in heavy makeup and prosthetics as the notorious Mickey Cohen. It won't get on my list of best mafia/gangster movies but it was still an OK version of a mafia story despite having some borderline boring scenes. There could have been more depth and grit in the story but in the end, I only wished there was more Sean Penn in it.

Three Idiots (2009) 

If you see someone post "All is well" on their Facebook or Twitter account, it's because of this film. It's a little over 2 hours long and I thought it was going to be a bit of a drag but the story was just so colorful and unpredictable and I was hooked. I thought this would be like a Three Stooges-type of film (I'm blaming the title) but it was far from it. It's a rare quality for any movie to have a handful of characters and make them all important and central to the story. Three Idiots is a rare gem.

Take Me Home Tonight (2011)

A comedy set in the 80's with Topher Grace taking the reins on this one. There were funny moments but this wasn't much of a comedy film. I was excited when I saw Anna Farris in it but unfortunately her presence still couldn't save this from tanking. What was the highlight for me? Teresa Palmer's bronzed up look. 

It's sad that your makeup was the only thing I found worthwhile here. :-/

Man on a Ledge (2010)

When you watch the trailer, you think there would be such a big mystery as to why Sam  "The Avatar guy" Worthington is on a ledge. I imagined there would be an intricate plot and an interesting twist to his predicament. Sadly there's none and for a moment, I thought it would follow suit to Colin Farrell's Phonebooth since there were some similar elements but Phonebooth fares WAY better in suspense than this. Best thing that could have happened here was Sam Worthington's character actually falling off the edge. 

*April 14-April 28, 2013

*Images via Rotten Tomatoes

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