Through the Looking Glass

Nine movies/shows to binge on if you are a fan of Bridgerton, time travel, and oldies but a goody!

Before Bridgerton, it was called 'The Duke and I" (okay fine, I know it still falls under the Bridgerton family series but that is not the point). Moving on, months before the official announcement of the Netflix adaptation of "Bridgertons series book #1:The Duke and I", I read or rather listened to the book after I saw on the cover that it was going to be adapted into a Netflix Original Series. It felt especially thrilling when I also discovered that it was going to be written for screenplay by Shonda Rhimes and Chris Van Dusen. Ahhh. As you can see, I am not only a sucker for everything Shondaland, but an enthusiast of historical drama (period drama), and/or Classic drama. Moreover, there is something enthralling about seeing the past through the eyes of those that have lived it or otherwise. Obviously, this obsession has earned me numerous carefully crafted nicknames from family/friends, and yes, my personal favorites will always be: fossil, and Smithy as in Smithsonian. History teaches lessons to those that wish to learn them, and what best way to do that than with visual simulations? Directors, Producers, Screenwriters, cast, and many other crew members have assembled pieces of history together to present them in the most delectable manner possible for the entertainment, and intellectual appreciation of the audiences. Cool, right? No? Okay.

If you are a fan of Bridgerton (Period Pieces), classic films, and/or time travel, the following suggestions may very well soothe or marinate your appetite.

Alias Grace

Canadians, am I right? Alias Grace is a 2017 Canadian Television Miniseries based on Margaret Artwood’s 1996 novel of identical title, directed by Mary Heron, and written by Sarah Polley. Alias Grace premiered on CBC on Sept. 25, 2017, and appeared on Netflix on Nov. 3, 2017, centering around Grace Marks who is portrayed by the ever-talented Sarah Gadon. In 19th Century Canada, a psychiatrist, Dr. Simon Jordan (Edward Holcroft) weighs whether a murderess should be pardoned due to insanity or not. You know, a regular game of “why should you be released?” but with a twist. Alias Grace is a thought-provoking miniseries with only Six episodes which means she is a perfect binge-worthy advocate. If you are still doubting the exceptionality of Alias Grace or how tremendous of an addition she would be to your arsenal as a self-proclaimed film critique, here is a bribe—Shazam!

Stream Now On: Netflix

Outlander

Are you a fan of the combination; "Back To The Future" and Period Pieces? No? Thank you one person from the back! Outlander is a 2014 and still currently streaming fantasy historical drama Television series, based on the novel series of similar titles by Diana Gabaldon and developed for Television by Ronald D. Moore. Outlander is focused on a World War II nurse, Claire Beauchamp Randal/Fraser who is embodied by the captivating Caitriona Balfe, and set in 1945 England and 1743 Scotland. Claire is transported 202 years into the past leaving behind her husband Frank Randal (Tobias Menzies)—whose relative she encounters immediately. She marries Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) of Clan MacKenzie due to a certain unforeseen circumstance. Together, Claire and Jamie take Paris, passion, duplicities, adversity, time travel, the British Colony of North Carolina, and red gowns.

Stream Now On: Starz, Netflix, and Amazon Prime

Belle

Cheerio!...sorry. Belle is a 2014 British Period drama based on a true story and inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay and her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Godon) directed by Amma Asante, produced by Damian Jones, and written by Misan Sagay. Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is an illegitimate biracial daughter of Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) a British Royal Navy officer, with an enslaved woman in the West Indies. Belle is discovered by her father living in poverty so, after several objections from his family, she is taken to the home of his uncle First Earl of Mansfield (Tommy Wilkinson), and wife Countess of Mansfield (Emily Watson). Before Sir. Lindsay died, he left Belle a yearly allowance of £2,000 which was enough to make her an heiress. But little did he know that money doesn't buy your child a seat at the table, even if your uncle owned said table. Furthermore, Belle features a prominent legal part of British history: the Zong massacre.

Stream Now On: Disney+, Amazon Prime

The Age of Adaline

How would you feel if you outlived all your loved ones? Age of Adaline is a 2015 romantic fantasy drama film capturing the life and times of Adaline Bowman from New Year’s Day of 1908 to Present-day San Francisco, directed by Lee Toland Krieger, written by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz, and narrated by Hugh Ross. Age of Adaline is a perfect consolidation of timeless classics, romance, fantasy, comedy, and most imperatively, Blake Lively (Adaline Bowman). Adaline remained ageless for 107 years (which she received a strand of grey hair for her troubles). Skincare 101. Also, there is this phenomenal piano performance by the unparalleled Regan (Lynda Boyd). Adaline meets and falls in love with a charismatic man named Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) at a New Years' party. Time to meet the parents!

Stream Now On: Netflix

Anne with an E

O Canada! Anne with an E is a Canadian Television series adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 children’s classic literature: Anne of Green Gables, premiering on March 19, 2017, on CBC, and on May 12 internationally on Netflix. Just like the book, Anne with an E is a coming-of-age story centered around an intrepid 13-year-old orphan (Amybeth McNulty) who has endured childhood abuses from the orphanage to the many homes she was placed in. Her fortune changed (well, sort of) when she was mistakenly sent to the Cuthberts: Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James), and her brother, Matthew Cuthbert (R. H. Thomson) in late 19th Century Prince Edwards Island Canada. Anne with an E is a bible of diverse representation, entertainment, and education bundled up in one. So, if you are someone who’s interested in Canadian history but too "busy" to pick up a book like yours truly, then this is perfect for you because Anne will delightfully introduce you to a world of friendship, love, community, family, and most essentially Her Majesty, Princess Cordelia.

Favorite Quote: "In my maturity, I've come to the happy, evolutionary opinion that I'm unusual, and I embrace it."

-Anne-

Stream On: Netflix

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

"Diamonds Are a girl’s Best Friend!" Who else can render a song-dance performance in a contoured pink bow-tied dress so effortlessly other than Miss Monroe? Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1953 American musical comedy film based on the 1949 stage musical of the same title, directed by Howard Hawks, Produced by Sol C. Siegel, and written by Charles Lederer. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes focuses on the suite life of two American showgirls and best friends, Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe), and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russel) on their European voyage. As Lorelei and Dorothy head for Europe, they encounter a much-needed adventure and mishap, explored greener pastures, and mingled with trouble. All this, of course, is accompanied by a cascade of musical numbers written by Jule Styne, Leo Robin, and Hoagy Carmichael, and choreography by the incredible Jack Cole.

Favorite Quote: "Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn't marry a girl just because she's pretty, but my goodness, doesn't it help?"

-Lorelei-

Stream Now On: Amazon Prime

Dirty Dancing

If you like money as much as I do, here's a number for you, $214.6 million. Dirty dancing (the ORIGINAL) grossed $214.6 million in the Box office with a budget of $5 million. Receipts. Dirty dancing is a 1987 romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, directed by Emile Ardolino, and produced by Linda Gottlieb. Dirty Dancing centers around Frances “baby” Houseman’s (Jennifer Grey) summer at an upscale Catskills resort with her family. She falls in love with the resort's dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Together, they discover and perform the phenomenal yet tactical art form: dance.

Stream Now On: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Forrest Gump

Thomas Jeffery Hanks. That’s it. That should be all you need to know. But there you are, stubbornly requiring further enticing details, well, here you go. Forrest Gump is a 1994 American romantic comedy-drama based on the 1986 novel of the identical title by Winston Groom. Forrest Gump was achieved under the umbrella of immaculate talents such as Robert Zemeckis as director, Eric Roth as the writer, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. Forrest (Tom Hanks) is a dense but compassionate man from Alabama who: witnesses and inadvertently influences numerous defining historical events in the 20th Century United States, falls in love with a damsel in distress named Jenny (Robin Wright), owns part of a shrimp boat company, and invests in a fruit.

Favorite Quote: "You have to do the best with what God gave you."

-Mrs Gump-

Stream Now On: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Timeless.

A historian, a soldier, and an engineer time travel I mean walk into a bar. Timeless. Timeless is a 2016 American science fiction television series created by Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke premiering on NBC. Timeless centers around a team of professionals including Professor Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), her bodyguard Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), and engineer Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett) as they journey through time in something they call a lifeboat to capture their ex-employee Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic ) after he steals a time machine to change American history. Yikes! Wait, doesn't this feel deja vu-ish to you? For me, Timeless reminds me of the 2004 Disney channel sitcom "Phil of the Future". I know, I felt that way too! Timeless will grant you the opportunity to experience American history in HD. Yay!

Stream Now On: Netflix

From a fellow self-proclaimed film critique, thank you so much for coming this far!! Please give it a heart or several...yeah, right, once is enough.