For this month’s next review for Genre Grandeur – Boston Films, here’s a review of Legally Blonde (2001) by Ghezal of Ghezal Plus Movies
Thanks again to Ryan of Ten Stars or Less for choosing this month’s genre.
Next month’s Genre has been chosen by Vern of the Video Vortex. We will be reviewing our favorite Graphic Novels that have been adapted for the screen.
The one caveat is that it has to be based on a book that has been published.
Example The Killing Joke would be acceptable because it’s based on an actual graphic novel. The Dark Knight would not because it’s based on characters and there was no book before the movie.
Here is what appears to be the official/unofficial list of film adaptations of Graphic Novels
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5201.Best_Graphic_Novels_Made_Into_Movies
Please get me your submissions by the 25th of May by sending them to Vernsworld@movierob.net
Try to think out of the box! Great choice Vern!
Let’s see what Ghezal thought of this movie:
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For MovieRob’s April 2017 Grand Grandeur, ghezalplusmovies presents:
Legally Blonde (2001) Review
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Luke Wilson, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber and Jennifer Coolidge
Director: Robert Luketic (Monster-In-Law, The Ugly Truth, Killers)
I was more than delighted when MovieRob brought up the prospect of reviewing a film for this month’s Grand Grandeur set against the backdrop of the lovely city of Boston. For those that know even the bare bones about me they know of my healthy obsession with the beautimous Matt Damon and as he was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I thought there would be no better film to review than one of my favourite romantic comedies of all time, Legally Blonde. As the film is set primarily in Cambridge, Mass., I will provide various reasons why I thoroughly enjoy every single second of this remarkably enjoyable picture.
On the surface, 2001’s Legally Blonde could be explained as a superficial story about a silly blonde who gets into Harvard Law in order to win a boyfriend back. Underneath all that, however, lies an incredibly smart and hysterical journey of a well-meaning woman who goes from sorority sister to – spoiler – a fucking lawyer!
Directed by the upcoming ExpendaBelles helmer, Robert Luketic, and starring Reese Witherspoon in the performance that skyrocketed her to super stardom following her amazing performances in Election (1999) and Cruel Intentions (1999), the film takes those “dumb blonde/protagonist” tropes and flips them on its head. It is easy to take a character like Elle Woods and shape her into a terrible shrew that makes everyone around her feel bad about themselves. She may place emphasis to perfect the exterior appearance as that is how she was raised, however the last thing she would do is not be friends with someone because they don’t own a Gucci whatever. On the contrary to this idea, many judge her because of her physical appearances while all she’s trying to do is bond with the people in her study group, damn it!
In a room filled with seasoned professionals in a court case that held a woman’s life in the balance, Elle Woods was the only one that knew how the cardinal rule of a perm was the smoking gun in this court case. A seemingly silly anecdote about a sorority sister filled in all the blanks and it is nothing short of glorious to watch.
(Spoiler clip if you’d like to include it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrHS7KdZ64)
Virtually every secondary character is fleshed out immensely which is a next-to-impossible feat to accomplish in many comedies. The members of Elle’s sorority all share similar traits yet are distinct enough to feel like exaggerated sisters. The respective crew over at Harvard Law features fantastic characters that I would’ve loved to spend an afternoon studying with… Not with everyone but a few. And the tightly written script is easily one of Legally Blonde’s greatest strengths. The law-centric sequences are some of the most enjoyable (and informative!) moments of the film because every character possesses their respective strengths so when challenges arise between them, you are engaged entirely and want to hear what their points are. Legally Blonde ultimately manages to have a perfect amalgamation of the following aspects – phenomenal characters, an incredible script, a wicked soundtrack, atmospheric setting and a ridiculously enjoyable feel overall – I mean what, like it’s hard?
Thanks again to MovieRob!
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Reblogged this on ghezalplusmovies and commented:
Boston films was the topic for MovieRob’s Grand Grandeur this month so of course, I had to give my thoughts on the brilliantly stupendous 2001 classic, Legally Blonde 🙂
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