A New Blog…Sort Of

So, say you had an opportunity to apply for a high-paying job which involves writing stuff online and they’re especially open to people who have great blogging experience. Sounds great, right?

But then you look at your blog and wonder, “Do I really want to show my near-constant swearing and goofy companions to a professional in the business?” I’d love to display my sense of fun and whatever film expertise I have to anyone interested in my writings, but I don’t want to jeopardize my chances for a well-paying job.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you  The Movie Shelf Reviews. There you’ll find condensed versions of several of my pre-existing reviews with more focus on a certain theme, character, plot point and general analysis with a few more on the way. If I can get as many followers and views over there as I do over here, it would help my chances. So please head over there if you have the time, like, follow, and add a nice comment or two (just don’t say you came from here). Thanks, and have a nice day!

Meet MovieBabble’s Newest Contributor!

About a month or two ago I submitted an excerpt from my Beauty and the Beast review – to be specific, the part where I go into detail about Belle’s often overlooked character arc – to the film review site MovieBabble after learning they were looking for more writers on their staff. Imagine my shock yesterday when I not only received a reply, but a glowing response and an offer to join them!

October Movie Review Voting!

Yes! Got two reviews in a row out in two weeks! And now, back to your regularly scheduled voting.

Well, soon it’s going to be everyone’s favorite spooky time of year, so let’s kick things off with a little trick or treat:

Your movies up for review this October are:

• The Black Cauldron
• Hocus Pocus
• Coraline
• The Thing (1982)
• Bran Stoker’s Dracula (the one with Gary Oldman)

Leave your choice of the movie you want to see reviewed this October either in the comments or by emailing me at upontheshelfshow@gmail.com. Remember, you can vote once.

If you’re one of my Patreon supporters, you receive perks such as voting twice, getting an early peek at the winning movie, and more! Being a patron is optional, but much appreciated. If I reach the goal of making $100 per month, I can go back to doing weekly tv series reviews! As of writing this I’m exactly halfway there! Thanks, and happy voting!

September Review: The Music Man (1962)

Tags

1960's, 76 trombones, band, being in love, broadway musical, buddy hackett, classic musical, eulalie shinn, gary indiana, golden age of musicals, good night my some one, good night my someone, goodnight ladies, goodnight my someone, harold hill, hermione gingold, Hollywood musical, if you don't mind my saying so, iowa, iowa stubborn, ireland, lida rose, marcellus, marcellus washburn, marching band, marian, marian paroo, marian the librarian, mayor shinn, meredith wilson, movie, movie review, mrs. shinn, musical, musical number, musical review, original, paul ford, pert kelton, pick a little, pick a little talk a little, prof. harold hill, robert preston, rock island, Romance, romantic cliche, romantic comedy, ron howard, sadder but wiser girl, seventy six trombones, seventy-six trambones, shirley jones, small town america, the buffalo bills, the music man, the sadder but wiser girl, til there was you, tommy jeelis, travelling salesman, travelling salesmen, trouble, trouble with a capital t, turn of the century, wells fargo wagon, winthrop, ya got trouble, you got trouble, zaneeta

“Please observe me if you will, I’m Professor Harold Hill,
And I’m here to organize the River City’s Boy’s Band!”

Let’s close out the summer with what I consider a must-watch summer musical. Doesn’t hurt that the main action kicks off on the Fourth of July.

“Missing another appropriate holiday-themed movie by several months. Ah, it’s good to be back.”

Based on the stories and childhood of Meredith Wilson, The Music Man weaves a tale of small town turn-of-the-century America, marching bands, charming charlatans, and the power of music that brings them all together. The original stage production notoriously beat West Side Story for Best Musical at the Tony Awards, though Tony and Maria got the last laugh when it came to the Oscars. I contend however that 1962’s The Music Man is a prime example of how to do a stage-to-screen adaptation. Through a combination of top-notch talent, music, staging, and witty witticisms it’s one of the crowning jewels of the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals that lasted through the 60’s. Fifty years later its impact is still felt, at least musically. Chances are if you ambled down Main Street USA in any of the Disney parks you’ve heard the melodies of “Iowa Stubborn”, “Lida Rose”, “The Wells Fargo Wagon”, and “76 Trombones” playing in the background. It’s a staple for community theaters across the country. And like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Sound of Music, it’s one of Seth MacFarlane’s most beloved and referenced musicals.