Weddings...

[fajrdrako]

From the fannish5: List the five best fictional weddings.

First of all, I don't much like wedding stories. It's not something that pushes any of my buttons on any level, least of all my sense of romance. But it wasn't hard to think of five wedding stories that I loved:

1. Fantastic Four Annual #3: The Wedding of Sue and Reed, back in 1965. That's from back when superheroes in comics just didn't get married (unless it was a hoax to fool Lois Lane). I loved the story - Doctor Doom attacked, and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby even turned up, and there were lots of good jokes - or at least, jokes that seemed good to me as a kid. And if I recall correctly, that is also the comic that had a cross-section diagram of the Baxter Building, so we could see where all the rooms were. Very cool.
   
   
2. Four Weddings and a Funeral. Funny, it's the funeral I remember best.
   
   
3. A much more recent movie, Mamma Mia!, which I loved. A movie in which I could thoroughly enjoy the wedding - not a lot of pomp and circumstance, but people dancing and having fun.
   
   
4. The wedding in The Sound of Music. Not my favourite scene in that movie, by any means; in fact, I recall thinking of it when I was a kid as 'the boring bit', along with "Climb Every Mountain", my least favourite song in that show. (Then as now.) But the movie is one of my favourites ever, and the wedding scene itself is love.
   
   
5. The wedding of Gwen and Rhys in the Torchwood episode "Something Borrowed". It isn't my favourite Torchwood episode by any means, but it's fun, and has a few surprises, and I like the relationship stuff in it. I'd give it extra points for having a nice sexy alien villain, but Torchwood in general has had some very attractive villains, so it doesn't even stand out for that - just an enjoyable episode about a wedding.

I might add a special tip of the hat to Charlotte Bronte, who described the wedding of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester with the famous simple line, "Reader, I married him." Come to think of it, their previous aborted wedding is probably my favourite wedding in literature!

"The marriage can not go on; I declare the existence of an impediment." ...Mr. Rochester moved slightly, as if an earthquake had rolled under his feet: taking a firmer footing, and not turning his head or eyes, he said, "Proceed."

Comments

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

Christopher Plummer was so handsome in that scene that I've always wanted them to hold the camera on him longer!

-- Oh, and I remember being pleased that I recognized St. Bartholomew the Great in Four Weddings and a Funeral. (I think it's the one where the deaf brother interrupts the ceremony)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Christopher Plummer was so handsome in that scene

Wasn't he just. That would justify the scene's existence even if it had no other purposes.

St. Bartholemew? Should I recognize him? I don't remember that.

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

It's a very cool medieval church in London. Look he's got a home page!

http://www.greatstbarts.com/

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I didn't know. That is so very, very cool!

[lunacy-gal.livejournal.com]

I always thought it odd that the choir sings 'How do you solve a problem like Maria' at her own wedding. Seems kind of mean, to me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I saw it as question and answer in one blow - how do you solve the problem? Marry it off to the Captain! The nuns now don't have to worry about the Maria problem any more.

Presumably Maria was too dazzled by Von Trapp to actually hear the lyrics.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

What? No Vorkosiverse weddings???

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A Vorkosigan wedding? ...Which one would you suggest? I would have liked to have seen Miles' from his point of view, or Ekaterin's. We didn't see Aral's and Cordelia's. Is there one you particularly liked?

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I liked all of them [g].

Drou and Kou's, Gregor and Laisa's, Miles and Ekaterin's.

I suppose if I had to, I'd probably choose Gregor's and Laisa's, just because of Miles's description of it, especially the bit about Aral crying (and Miles wiping tears away himself [g]).

But I love Roic's point of view of Miles and Ekaterin's wedding, too. Especially the humping rabbits and "The bride looked not so much radiant as incandescent. The groom looked gobsmacked." I don't think it would have worked as well from the POV of one of the principals, who would have been way too distracted to do it justice [g].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gregor's and Laisa's, just because of Miles's description of it, especially the bit about Aral crying (and Miles wiping tears away himself [g]).

I loved that - such a good detail, and I'm a sucker for any reference to Aral.

I too liked Roic's point of view but I longed for Miles. Of course his point of view would have been very different (gobsmacked, for example), but I was curious about his feelings and thoughts. I wanted to share their distraction.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what the deal is, but I'm not nearly so much all Miles as I am all Vorkosiverse. I actually kind of wish the new book wasn't about Miles, but from another point of view, just because we'd stand a better chance of seeing more of everyone that way.

I just want to know what's going on with the gang back on Barrayar, and how the Dendarii Mercenaries are doing, actually. It's been too long since we've heard from them!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I actually kind of wish the new book wasn't about Miles, but from another point of view, just because we'd stand a better chance of seeing more of everyone that way.

Yes. I have mixed feelings. I get so stuck on a hero that I am impatient about all the scenes he isn't in. So I want Miles, and keeping to Miles' point of view is a way of getting that. It would be okay if it were another character I love - but on the whole in the Vorkosiverse I've been less happy with other points of view, except Cordelia's and Ekaterin's. We haven't had Aral's point of view, and I would love that, or Gregor's. But on the whole I haven't liked the other points of view we've got so far, so I'm wary of wanting change.

I definitely want more about Barrayar. Can hardly wait for whatever we get!

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I get so stuck on a hero that I am impatient about all the scenes he isn't in.

The only time I did that was when Lois killed him off and lost the corpse [g]. It was about the fourth time I read Mirror Dance before I was able to slow down enough to appreciate what came after "Wait, I haven't--".

I haven't liked the other points of view we've got so far,

Yes, well, you're not a Mark fan, so we won't get into that. I've liked all the POVs we've gotten, although the one I found most amusing was Ivan's.

I definitely want more about Barrayar. Can hardly wait for whatever we get!

I always have this feeling that Stuff is Happening there, and I don't know about it! And I don't like it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. Too bad she can't cover all the angles: all of Barrayar, all at once! There are so many details I'd like to know, like what the other principal cities are, and how the school system works, and, well, everything.

I'd love a picture book, with illustrations of Vorkosigan House and a map of the Imperial Palace.

Yeah, I want to know everything.

Yes, Ivan's point of view was amusing, and I enjoyed it. And of course I loved getting Cordelia's point of view. So I can say I only like Miles', just that... some have been more successful for me than others.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on, admit it. You want a copy of the Encyclopedia Barrayarnica, just like the rest of us [g].

I do admit to especially wanting to know what Ivan's reward for that job well done was, but not necessarily to have him fall in love. I think he'd make a great anti-hero...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

admit it. You want a copy of the Encyclopedia Barrayarnica, just like the rest of us [g].

I certainly do! Along with the Complete Wikipedia of Barrayar and the Secret Diaries of Aral Vorkosigan.

I do admit to especially wanting to know what Ivan's reward for that job well done was, but not necessarily to have him fall in love.

Cool.

I think he'd make a great anti-hero...

And I agree.

I'm not sure what I want for Ivan, but it isn't something easy and it isn't necessarily a happy ending.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

the Secret Diaries of Aral Vorkosigan

Somehow I have a really hard time imagining Aral keeping diaries, secret or otherwise [g].

I'm not sure what I want for Ivan, but it isn't something easy and it isn't necessarily a happy ending.

Oh, I want him to have a happy ending, or at least a hopeful one. Not a bad one. Not necessarily a romantic one. But I really don't like unhappy endings.

And with Lois as his author, he stands about as much chance of "easy" as any of her other characters, thank goodness.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I want the Complete Wikipedia of the Nexus, not just Barrayar [g].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Me too.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

>>>Fantastic Four Annual #3: The Wedding of Sue and Reed, back in 1965. That's from back when superheroes in comics just didn't get married (unless it was a hoax to fool Lois Lane). I loved the story - Doctor Doom attacked, and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby even turned up...

Oh yes! Wow, this brought back to me how much I loved that issue! I loved the cameos by Stan and Jack, Dr. Doom's attack - everything!

>>>Four Weddings and a Funeral. Funny, it's the funeral I remember best.

Fun movie, but yes, I remember the funeral best.

>>>A much more recent movie, Mamma Mia!, which I loved. A movie in which I could thoroughly enjoy the wedding - not a lot of pomp and circumstance, but people dancing and having fun.

That movie was so much fun!

>>>The wedding in The Sound of Music.

I remember being in a foul mood all the way through this movie as I was attending a convent boarding school at the time, and I hated hated hated it! And thus I intensely disliked this movie. I saw it on a rare "outing" outside the school property - the nuns decided this would be appropriate viewing for the students. I really should give it another chance one of these days.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

this brought back to me how much I loved that issue! I loved the cameos by Stan and Jack, Dr. Doom's attack - everything!

Wasn't that wonderful? I think (hope) I still have that issue somewhere. I keep planning to go through all my comics and pick out the best that I want to look at again, favourite series and stories and things like that, that stick in my memory. Thing is, going through all the comics is a big job... but it would be fun, too.

I was attending a convent boarding school at the time, and I hated hated hated it!

LOL! Seeing that movie is probably the closest I've ever been to a convent boarding school - the whole thing seemed exotic and beautiful. Well, mostly Captain Von Trapp seemed exotic and beautiful, and, clearly, I have a thing for men who are Captains. The movie has a reputation for being treacly and sweet, but I always find it sexy and snarky and edged. It's all in the eye of the beholder!

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I really do have to watch this movie again some time. I know I've never given it a "fair shake". I have a friend who loves it so much she is planning on one of these days going on the SOM Austria tour. LOL, there's a hotel in Salzburg called Hotel Resch - think if I go with her they might give me a discount? My grandfather was from Salzburg, so maybe they're distant cousins... ;-)

Christopher Plummer *is* drop dead gorgeous!

Thing is, going through all the comics is a big job... but it would be fun, too.

That happens when I organize my zines - I stop to read my favorites over again...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who loves it so much she is planning on one of these days going on the SOM Austria tour.

I've done that, and it was wonderful! I didn't go to Europe for that purpose, but we went to Salzburg, and I was excited and delighted. Even without that connection, it's a beautiful and fascinating city.

Hotel Resch

I love it! They should give you a room for free! With flowers in it.

Christopher Plummer *is* drop dead gorgeous!

Even now. Saw him as Caesar in August: Yup, still gorgeous, in a senior sort of way.

That happens when I organize my zines - I stop to read my favorites over again...

Me too! How can a person resist? I have fewer zines than comics, but the principle is exactly the same.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I would love to see Salzburg! For the family connection, of course, but also from what you say and everything I've heard it's gorgeous! My father managed to make the trip once before he passed away - it was one of his lifetime dreams and I'm so happy he achieved it.

>>Hotel Resch
>>>I love it! They should give you a room for free! With flowers in it.

I like the way you think! ;-)

Christopher Plummer *is* drop dead gorgeous!
Even now. Saw him as Caesar in August: Yup, still gorgeous, in a senior sort of way.

Did you ever see him in The Royal Hunt of the Sun? Besides being a fascinating movie, he is nearly naked all the way through...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Salzburg really is lovely: picturesque old city in the Alps. It looks as if it would be a nice place to live (rather like Ottawa or Seattle or other medium-sized cities in nice settings). It's certainly a good place to be a tourist.

I loved The Royal Hunt of the Sun - not just a gorgeous Plummer, but an interesting script from one of my favourite playwrights. Peter Shaffer. I love his scripts.

Hmm: I don't have that movie, and haven't seen it in decades. Must do something about that.