The 6 Reasons Why I Fell in Love With Alan Rickman RIP (1946-2016)

DISCLAIMER: There will be some spoilers, so just a head's up.

Harry Potter Films (2001-2011) Prof. Severus Snape -

The first time I saw Alan Rickman onscreen was in the first Harry Potter film. Mind you, I had read books 1-3 multiple times before I saw the trailer. The first time he walks onto the screen in his classroom, I felt the anxiety with the rest of the students. He was a formidable antagonist, regardless of the outcome of his character.

I was really impressed both with Rowling's confidence in him with the twist ending, as well as his input with the wardrobe. Alan Rickman was the reason for Snape's long sleeves. He also looked great in Neville's grandmother's clothes. That hat, man!

And of course, the finale. We could not forget the Pensive flashback. His initial falling in love with little Lily Evans, his bravery in switching sides and being Dumbledore's double agent, and (heartbreakingly) his anguish when he saw the dead corpse of his beloved. Even beneath the makeup to make him look young at the time. (was it makeup or CGI?) He made Snape lovable in the end.


Sense and Sensibility (1995) Colonel Brandon -

A hero! This movie was the reason I got hooked on the Jane Austen novels. The scene that made me love this character was the piano scene. Just the adoration Colonel Brandon showed Marianne as she played the piano and sang like an angel. You felt him fall in love with her. He was a hero, unexpected, but everyone rooted for nonetheless.


Dogma (1999) The Metatron -

Who would forget the anatomically incorrect scene, or even the "wax-on-wax-off" climax? He was just too good as "the voice of God." Yes, it was a ridiculous movie, but there was also some underlying truths as well. Who knew Alan Rickman could be funny?


Galazy Quest (1999) Alexander Dane/ Dr. Lazarus -

Oh, Alexander! Another funny character he played. I loved him and his mirroring Spock from "Star Trek." He gave depth to Dr. Lazarus, even at the end when his "fan" died in his arms. I felt his character shift right then.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) Judge Turpin -

I loved this musical! I think it was so dark and beautiful, maybe that's what drew me in. However, I had to confess that I blocked him out, resulting in my biased perception as a flat character. I could not bare a man like him to be so creepy. Still, I loved him in this musical.


The Butler (2013) Ronald Reagan -

Who knew that Alan Rickman could play an American president? I think he made this president lovable and you understood some of his decisions as president, even though none of us agreed with them. Rickman made this character well-rounded, which in turn made Whitaker's performance unforgettable.

Alan Rickman was one of the many reasons I began reading certain books. He was a great man and a great actor. The world will be short one more talent. He will be missed. "Always."

Shorty Favorites January 2016: Horrible Characters and Funny Circumstance

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell 
* First Impressions: I fell in love with Sanger!
* The Horrible Character: General Zaroff, of course. I'd like to compare him to Jumanji's Van Pelt.
* The Funny Circumstance: The end.
* What Makes This a Reread: I laughed at the funny circumstance towards the end. I love how Connell was able to show what came of Sanger without actually stating it. It was clever writing.

2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut
* First Impressions: I initially downloaded this for free on my Kindle. I was drawn to it from its odd title, but I trapped myself into this world so hard, I took a minute to collect my wits before I went about my day.
* The Horrible Character: Dr. Benjamin Hitz. The chirpy ones always scare me.
* The Funny Circumstance: Leora Duncan and her mustache!
* What Makes This a Reread: The ending to this story was so powerful, yet simple. It opens your mind to the concepts of life and death and their relation to society and population.

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
* First Impressions: I actually enjoyed 'watching' Montresor lure Fortunato to his doom.
* The Horrible Character: Fortunato.
* The Funny Circumstance: Just how easy it was to lure someone into their own grave. And Montresor was so courteous about it too.
* What Makes This a Reread: Just recalling my initial feelings for the narrator/ main character, and reviewing the reason behind this choice of POV, makes me rethink my sanity. But it is still funny.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway
* First Impressions: I wanted to slap the young waiter. Effin' prick!
* The Horrible Character: The effin' prick.
* The Funny Circumstance: The deaf man knew he was being a prick.
* What Makes This a Reread: After I read this, I held a deep respect for the old waiter. Hemingway usually earns my respect for at least one of his characters in every one of his stories.

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
* First Impressions: I laughed so hard! I was 15, in my room, and my parents thought I was insane.
* The Horrible Character: Mathilde Losiel.
* The Funny Circumstance: The real worth of the borrowed necklace, and Mathilde's reaction.
* What Makes This a Reread: Just how horrible Mathilde is, how loving her husband is, and the horrible consequences for one night of pretending to be something you're not.

These stories were so short, I reread each one of them while writing this post. It was a very nostalgic experience, because these stories opened the world of literature for me during high school. Please leave me suggestions for more shorties. Stay Sane, folks!

Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I left my house one afternoon. I just had a small, but infuriating argument with my husband. I left with nothing but the last ten dollars in my wallet and a dampened spirit. Without knowing where I was going, I ended up at GPO (Guam Premier Outlets: shout out to my islanders!)

I managed to walk into a Bestseller bookstore, with the shelf of Top Bestseller List staring right at me. I already forgotten what number "The Alchemist" was, but I immediately grabbed myself a copy. It was the smallest paperback on the shelf.

I took it home, deeply satisfied. I finished that book within the evening.

I daresay, it was one of those stories that is both short, yet powerful. The last time I remembered feeling like this, I had just finished "The Old Man and the Sea." And I was in high school!

Needless to say, despite the argument, my husband spotted the small paperback that was seemingly glued to my hands and was delighted. He had been meaning to buy that same book. Of course, I finished it before I surrendered it over.

Life altering. That is what this book was to me. I have branded this title into my mental bookshelf that also houses: The Giver, The Outsiders, The Old Man and the Sea, and 2 B R 0 2 B.

I read up on his past and his experience during publication and I'm sitting here thinking, "Why did this take so long to surface and become popular? Like the way it is right now?"

As my first book review on my channel, "The Alchemist" gets 5 stars. Just for giving me a new perspective on life and love.