Hazard of Hearts.

I'm a sucker for Historical Romance Novels. One of my favourites has got to be "Hazard of Hearts" by Dame Barbara Cartland. I have not read the novel though. :P But seen the 1987 movie. I love the casts.

The story started with Sir Giles Starveley, (Christopher Plummer) a compulsive gambler, who was challenged by a long time adversary Sir Harry Wrotham (Edward Fox) where Lord Starveley lost all his property and even his daughter (yikes!) Serena, (19 year-old Helena Bonham Carter), to Lord Wrotham. All for the game of Hazards if I'm not mistaken the game is called. Too embarrased to face his daughter, Lord Staverley shot himself.
Fortunately for Serena (if I may say fortunate), she and all her property were won over by a stunningly handsome Lord Vulcan (Marcus Gilbert).Now, Lord Vulcan didn't know what to do with the prize he won. Both he and Serena had never met. He thinking that she might be an old maid, since the father was rather old, and she already decided that he is a cold hearted, emotionless, lucky devil through his notorious reputation.
Things started to change when Justin Vulcan finally paid a visit to Serena. Suprised that she was much, much younger than he expected. Not wanting tongues to wag about she being his mistress, he decided to invite her to live as a guest with his mother at Mandrake, his family mansion. Now, Justin Vulcan, had a rather interesting character of a mother, Lady Harriet Vulcan (Diana Riggs). Also a compulsive gambler (well, this movie is mainly about gamblers :D),she despised Serena Staverley. But didn't despise the 80,000 guineas of gold that Serena will inherit from a trust after she is married. So, in order to get her hands into some of that gold, she schemed on getting Serena married as soon as possible. To anyone accept her son. :) (she'd make an adorable step mom LOL in snow white or cinderella that is)
Now, that's when the story started to become more interesting. Lord Wrotham will come into the picture again. Secrets of Mandrake will be revealed one by one. Jealousies.Justin Vulcan will reveal his interest towards Serena Staverley in most sweet subtle ways. (Which is why I love this movie, sooo romantic!)

For more, read up the novel or watch the movie. If the movie is still on Youtube. It should be at these links. Right click and open in new window if you don't want to divert from this page.

1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10

Thanks to 00SpaceLordMother00 for uploading the movie. Hope they won't be deleting the movie too soon. Enjoy!

The Sound Of Music

While I was cooking lunch today, I caught myself humming to the tune of the song "Do Re Mi" from the "Sound Of Music". I don't remember when was the last time I saw the movie. Saw the movie over 40-50 times in my lifetime. It's a real evergreen classic. Just watching at the scenic views from the movie and listening to the songs is so refreshing (at least for me) :)





It makes one long for the hills, the fresh air.... lying on the luscious green grass, listening to the birds chirping in nearby trees.... *sigh*

Scenes which has always been my favourite in the movie is the part when the children came one by one to Maria's (Julie Andrew) room during the storm and they sang "My favourite things". Makes me feel all comfy inside. Yes, I like it when it rains and being comfortable in my pajamas or nightgown and lying in bed, with a cup of warm chocolate drink on the table next to my bed and reading my favourite book. This scene always reminds me of that kind of comfortable feeling. :)

Also when the children performed a puppet show for the adults. Makes me think how nice it is to have many children, (just for 3 seconds) LOL, that they can perform theatre shows for you. Though I doubt it would be as good as in this movie. :) I can watch this over and over yet haven't found myself getting bored of it. :)




Another scene, is when the nuns were discussing about Maria through singing (well... this is a musical). Don't know why I like this one though, but I just seem to like it.

Last but not least when Captain Von Trapp started to show an interest on Maria. The part when he took over Maria from his son Kurt when they were dancing outside in the open. The way they danced was so graceful, (well through the eye of a person who barely can dance). Not to mention romantic as well... :)

In a nutshell, simply an excellent movie for the whole family to enjoy over and over and over again.

Life is like a box of chocolates

"My momma used to tell me that Life is like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you gonna get." Can you guess from where these words came from? yes, the movie "Forrest Gump".




It occured to me that somehow there are some truths in it and at times I find comfort in them whenever I catch myself worrying about the future. How many times in our lives that when we look back at the past and see where we currently are now, we would say, '5 years/10 years ago, I would have never imagined that I would end up here or end up this way'.? If not often, perhaps at least once in our lifetime.

I am a worrier by nature. But as time passes, it taught me that I don't have much control of what life brings sometimes. Do you believe in fate? I am one who refuses to believe that our lives are not in our own hands. But like it or not I think we cannot control it sometimes.Because, how we do or when we do, sometimes does depend on the circumstances that's around us.

Watching the movie, Forrest was a mentally challenged person. His I.Q was way below average yet he ended up being a war hero, and even a multi-millionare at a young age. And all he did was following advices.For example when he was throwed stones at and a friend told him to run as fast as he could and ran he did. He could run so fast that he won a scholarship to college. He ran so fast that he became a war hero. And when someone advises him to pray when he couldn't catch a single shrimp when he got into the shrimping business, pray he did, even joined the church choir. For this, his boat was the only boat that survived a big storm and he monopolized the shrimping business. I know it's just a movie, but I just can't help wondering, if all of us followed good advices that is sincerely given and with persistance to follow these advises, would we be able to be like Forrest Gump? A successful person?Or was it plain lucky on his part??

Once I read an article on being succesful, the author wrote that sounded something like this, "if you want to be successful, take one example of a successful person and copy what he does in everyday life". It sounded true doesn't it? But then, just how many of us willing to be persistent enough?

This is just a thought that I'd like to share after watching the movie for , I don't know how many, times. You see, the point is, just do the best for everyday and pray and see what results we will end up with. And not to spend our time and energy to dwell upon worries that might not happen. :)


P/s: Watch "Forrest Gump" if you haven't done so.An old movie, 1994 production but I heartily recommend it. A good movie for the entire family!