Boys who are better in books... and movies... and TV

There is a YouTube video called Boys in Books Are Better by Carrie Hope Flecther.

It got me to thinking I should do that. Not sing, but write about my favorite leading guys in books, movies and television.

Who are these guys you might ask. In no particular order (and of course in jumbled, short thoughts) we have Maurice Moss, Wade Owen Watts aka Parzival, Johnny Martin aka Max Champion, Peeta Mellark, Jordan Catalano, and Tim from About Time.

Moss. Need I say more? One word, Moss! What girl would not like a guy who is the Countdown winner? For those of who are familiar with The IT Crowd know how funny, awkward, and nice Moss is. I know that show is way over, but I still enjoy it. I know most people would say girls would not like a “dork” in real life. Well I like dorks, I did marry one after all. It’s okay he knows that is probably the main reason I married him.

Can we just talk about Parzival for a moment? He is the unintentional hero of the book. It’s just my humble opinion I say unintentional hero because he starts off in the OASIS playing for himself, then he begins to use his powers for good. I apologize where are my manners? For those of you who are unfamiliar with Wade Owen Watts he is Parzival in Ready Player One. Well, his avatar’s name is Parzival. Ten words can sum up my feelings for Parzival, falls in love with a girl he has never met.

Johnny Martin aka Max Champion aka James McAvoy. Okay yes I love me some James McAvoy. Again, it’s okay my husband knows that. Seriously *she says in her best Scottish accent, like McAvoy, which did not work* I like him in the movie Penelope. That is a favorite movie of mine because it is sweet and different. I have never seen a movie where you did not know where it takes place, but it still works. That broke my heart when Johnny has to say no to Penelope’s proposal because he is not Max. He loves her that much he wants her to be happy even if it means letting her go. Love that movie. Go see it … its okay I’ll wait.

Peeta Mellark in the books and the movies. All I am going to say is when I picture Peeta when I read The Hunger Games I could not think of a better actor than Josh Hutcherson. I am not sure if people have a differing opinion but that is just my humble opinion. Anywho. He is a strong, caring, and loving person. I know a lot of people would say he loves Katniss so much he just wants to protect her, which is true but he also respects her independence. I like a guy who know when to listen, and when you need support. That’s why I married a guy like that.

Okay, I know, I know I am here talking about my love for dorky guys and Jordan Catalano is on my list of favorite leading guys. In my defense My So Called Life, Daria, and …. I am going to date myself even more here ….The Wonder Years are shows that I watched when I was growing up. It’s really the nostalgic part of me that has him on the list. I think when we are all younger we have a Catalano or know one in our lives, and that’s okay that’s why they are called crushes.

Tim from About Time is accidentally charming. In case you are wondering that is his name, he has not last name in the credits. If you have read my blog before you know that I have written about this movie. It is the loveliest, beautifully written movie I have ever seen. If you have ever seen Vincent and the Doctor you know what I mean. Richard Curtis is a brilliant screen writer.

So in conclusion, nice guys don’t finish last. I know some people might think hey of course these guys are awesome because they are fictional. Well … okay so it’s a little true. But the way I see is in fiction they are awesome so you know when to recognize it in real life.

Favorite Fictional Couples

I have written about my favorite bromances, so today I thought I would write about or maybe in this case ramble about my favorite couples in fiction. They are my favorite couples not necessarily because of the love story but just the stories itself. These are from both movies and books. I apologize in advance for any spoilers. However, knowing me most of my information will be short because I don’t want to go on, or do I?

Beth Fremont and Lincoln O’Neil from Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

For those of you who have not gotten around to reaching Attachments. First off, why not? Rainbow Rowell is a talented, witty, and honest writer. Go get you one Attachments, or any of her books, because they should be on your TBR list. Attachments is a love story in which boy meets girl, well sort of. Lincoln works in the System Securities department at The Courier. As he is reading their emails, which in his defense is his job, he begins to fall in love with Beth. Without giving too much away Beth does notice Lincoln but when she first does there is another person in the picture. I like that it’s a love story, but Rainbow Rowell does an excellent job building Beth and Lincoln characters that you don’t just fall in love with them together but as individual people.

Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers from the comic series and the movie.

Fours words … Scott and Romona, eh?

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games trilogy.

I read The Hunger Games trilogy before the movie came out. I do have to say the movies do hold up, and brings the story out of the page. (In my humble opinion.) I won’t go into the summary to much because I can imagine by now everyone has read the books or seen the movies. Which I can imagine is not easy to make the reader of the books happy, which trying to find a balance of making a movie that can stand alone for people who have not read the books. Katniss and Peeta are another great example of how we fall in love with two people both individually and together. I enjoy that Suzanne Collins makes Katniss her own person. Although she is going through being a teenager phase, Suzanne Collins does not let Katniss’s love life define her. And without sounding bias, I am in love with Peeta. Not like that, I know he is fictional, but I can’t help it I actually like the nice guy. (I did marry one after all. Nice guy … not fictional character.)

Amanda Price and Darcy from Lost in Austen.

I know for some people Jane Austen might be one of those either you like her or you don’t. If you don’t that’s okay. What I like about Lost in Austen, it’s for everyone. Okay that sounds kind of vague. Lost in Austen reminds me of when I was a kid there were chose your own adventure stories. It’s been so long I am not sure what if that is what they are called anymore. Anywho, you read the story and at the end of the chapter it says to go into the room, turn to page 22 or if you want to continue walking keep reading. (Man I wish I could remember a name of a book like that, that I read.) Lost in Austen is also funny because it reminds me of me or anyone else I know who gets so absorbed by the story that you can’t help but laugh or cry with your favorite characters. Amanda Price works at a bank and to escape the everyday life she reads Pride and Prejudice over and over and over. She reads this book so much, somehow her and Elizabeth Bennet end up in each other’s lives. Hopefully this doesn’t spoil it too much. The story ends with Amanda and Darcy falling in love and it rewrites Pride and Prejudice in a manner of speaking.

Olivia Dunham and Peter Bishop from Fringe

Dunham is played by Anna Torv and Bishop by Joshua Jackson. He’s her lobster. Oh and if the internet can hear my small voice … yes I would love for Anna Torv to play Ms. Marvel. Let’s make it happen internet. I can so picture it. And I am biased about Joshua Jackson because I always preferred Pacey to Dawson. There I said okay? Anyway. Olivia and Peter are meant to be. I don’t mean in a cheesy way. Just they have the kind of love where when you know, you know kind of love. One thing I love about the Fringe series is that Peter respects Olivia as a woman and her career. He does not try and flirt with her because he knows it will not work, and when they do end up together it will be real. If you have watched the series you know that it’s not a boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl and timing is not right. It’s more like a boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl and timeline is not right because of another Fringe event. Darn you Folivia and your vagenda! (If you want to know what a vagenda is, watch Fringe you won’t be sorry.)

Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life

Ah, if ever there were a picture of teenage angst in regards to teenage love, Angela’s picture would be in the dictionary. But who can blame her? Have you ever seen Catalano lean? Angela and Catalano are not the only reason I like My So-Called Life I enjoy the series because it was ahead of its time. It was fictional but discussed real issues such as teenage drinking and sex, and discussed a number of issues in a honest, relatable way.

Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori from Pacific Rim

Okay this one is not a love story in the traditional sense. Which is why I wanted to end the blog this way. I can best describe way I like their story by quoting Guillermo del Toro, which is still my favorite quote of all time.  “I wanted to show that men and women can be friends without having a relationship. Theirs is a story about partnership, equality and a strong bond between partners. It’s important for little girls to know not every story has to be a love story and for boys to know that soldiers aren’t the only ones to triumph in war.”