About a month ago I re-watched two of my favorite movies, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, and they were even better the second time around. For some reason it doesn’t matter how many times this happens whether it’s rereading a book or watching a movie again, it always catches me by surprise. But honestly since I had my son and joined the book blog community I rarely watch movies anymore. There are many reasons why I’ve cut back on my movie-watching but the main one is obvious: I just prefer reading so much more. Reading seems like it will nearly always win as a better use of a 2-hour time block than watching what will probably be a ho-hum movie. There are too many good and excellent books out there and a plethora of trusted recommendations and glowing reviews from other book bloggers to be wasting my time on films I often won’t know if I’ll actually enjoy until it’s too late. Even of the few books a year I really don’t like I can usually find something redeeming about the time I spent reading. Reasons like impressive writing or well-researched material to name a few.
Anyway after that tangent I think the reason I like the Before Sunrise/Sunset films so much is because they are mostly dialogue-based. Very well-written dialogue of the smart, informed, and witty kind yet that still manages to feel unscripted. Not surprisingly this is the kind of dialogue present in some of favorite books. I also adore the two main characters: Jessie, played by Ethan Hawke and Celine, played by Julie Delpy. Combine the natural dialogue (which they themselves helped write) with their superb performances and Jessie and Celine are the only non-book characters that I’ve ever thought of as real people or with whom I’ve formed an attachment similar to their book counterparts.
Besides being more blunt in my recommendation of these two films, Jessie and Celine got me thinking about my favorite book couples and which character pairs are so dear and real to me that I’ve already re-read their books, some multiple times or know I will reread them in the future. A few that come to mind are
-Sorcha and Red from Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier and Liadan and Bran from Son of the Shadows also by Marillier
-Kate and Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
-Rachel and Gabriel from Archangel by Sharon Shinn
-Julia Gray and Nicholas Brisbane from the Lady Julia Gray series by Deanna Raybourn
-Anne Eliot and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen
-Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
What about you? What are your film-viewing habits and what book couples do you enjoy over and over again?
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever watched Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. I think we even have copies of at least one of those at home. Now that you’ve recommended them, I should watch them soon. But the thing is, I’m like you – I’m more into reading books that watching movies.
As for favorite couples, you mentioned so many of my favorites already! But other favorites that you didn’t mention are Gen and Irene, Meliara and Vidanric, Harry and Corlath, Howl and Sophie, Fire and Brigan and so many more!
Chachic, DO watch them soon. They are smart and romantic. I thought about listing Gen and Irene and Mel and Vidranic! There are too many good ones fortunately.
Um, yes to all of the above??
Except that I’ve never seen the two movies you talk about. Heard of them, but never actually seen.
If we’re talking feeling really real, Rebecca and Michael are never far from my mind. Nor are Amy and . . . a certain boy (who shall remain nameless because you must read these at some point because they are smart and good) from the Secret Society Girl books.
Oh, and Dorothea and Will from MIDDLEMARCH.
Angie, thank you for concurring. Though I realize you’re responsible for me even reading a lot of those books. I almost added Rebecca and Michael. Not sure why I didn’t.
I haven’t seen those two movies either. Anne Eliot and Captain Wentworth are definitely one of my favorite couples, recently I read a beautiful novel called The Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz … it’s loosely based on Persuasion, I highly recommend it