Announcing the Unexpected Blogathon!

Posted on by rebeccadeniston

Did you ever watch a film or a TV show that you knew nothing about, wasn’t expecting to see, and ended up really liking? Or, were you ever disappointed in something you were expecting to love? I know I have.

Now’s your chance to tell the blogging world about it! Your picks can be from any era and of any genre. In fact, it can be about a whole genre of films or TV that you just happened upon. Maybe you discovered silent film, or got addicted to a kitschy classic show such as CHiPs or I Dream of Jeannie. Or maybe there’s a star or group of stars (like the Rat Pack, maybe?) that you just happened upon. Directors work, too. Or maybe you have strong opinions about the new Star Wars films. As long as you had expectations that were met, or not, it works.

Here are the rules, and they’re pretty simple:

  1. The Unexpected Blogathon will take place December 7-9, 2018, and posts can be sent to me anytime on or around these days. Entries are limited to three, and to new material only.
  2. Posts can be in list form or straight reviews. Again, any era or genre, star or stars, or directors. Whatever. Just work in what made your subject unexpected or surprising for you and why.
  3. You can also pick a new film or show you’ve been wanting to see and tell how it disappointed you or met your expectations.
  4. Since this topic is so subjective, duplicates won’t be verboten. If certain works turn out to be popular, it’s fine–everyone will have a different point of view, anyway.
  5. Entries can be sent via my Contact page, to my comment section, via Twitter (@TakingUpRoom), or to rebeccadeniston@gmail.com.
  6. Grab a banner and advertise the blogathon!

The Roster

Taking Up Room: The Illusionist (2006)

Realweegiemidget Reviews: The Greatest Showman (2017)

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood: Audrey Hepburn

The Wonderful World of Cinema: Adam Had Four Sons (1941)

dbmoviesblog: The Shining (1980)

The Midnite Drive In: Ray Dennis Steckler

Thoughtsallsorts: My Unexpected Favorites

Champagne For Lunch: The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin and Point Blank (both 1967)

Pure Entertainment Preservation Society: Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Pop Culture Reverie: Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

Silver Screenings: Gentleman Prefer Blondes (1953)

Movierob: A Night At the Opera (1935), Meet Me In St. Louis (1944), and The Day of the Locust (1975)

Silver Screen Classics: Singin’ In the Rain (1952)

Critica Retro: The Public Enemy (1931)

The Story Enthusiast: Nurse On Wheels (1963)

Pale Writer: Sextette (1978) and Random Hearts (1999)

top10filmlists.com: The German silent films of Ernst Lubitsch

The Banners

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My Post

99 thoughts on “Announcing the Unexpected Blogathon!”

    1. Hi, Crystal! Yeah, actually, that would be great. In fact, I think I’m going to amend th rules to include unexpected stars. Even a group like the Rat Pack would be OK. Very good idea–thanks for joining!

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    1. That’s all right–let me know what you decide. I can put you down as TBD if you want. It’s all good. As for the other thing, I can’t confirm or deny liking “The Illusionist” at this point, if you get my drift. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. It’s hard to get a handle on the concept of this blogathon. For one thing, most every movie I ever watched I knew nothing about before watching it. (I watch a heck of a lot of low-budget drive-in movies, although I have been slow to write about them on my blog; despite the fact that I named the blog “The Midnite Drive-In”…) The thing is I never expect to entirely DISLIKE any of these trashy flicks, because my tastes are pretty lowbrow. After all, I love Ed Wood, Jr….

    Which brings me to a point. I recently acquired a four DVD set of movies by Ray Dennis Steckler, who may or may not be the second worst director of all time (assuming you count Ed Wood as the worst) Two movies so far are worth a blog entry. “The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies” and ” (Rat Phink a Boo-Boo.” (and that’s not a typo. That was the actual screen name).

    This will be a loving tribute to a bad director whose movies I actually get a kick out of (much like those of the aforementioned Wood.) Feel free to list my entry as just Ray Dennis Steckler, although I must admit I’d get a subversive kick out of thinking how people would react if you listed the movies themselves…

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    1. Derp, I don’t know why WordPress doesn’t accept your comments right away. Argh. Anyway, don’t worry–you got the concept of this just right! So I can put you down for Ray Dennis Steckler if you want, or if you want to do something different, let me know. Thanks for joining, Quiggy! 🙂

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      1. Definitely going to stick with my choice. Just the thought of people going googie eyed over those titles makes it worth the price of entry. Anything to further enhance people’s perception I must be some kind of nut. Of course I am, but some people just aren’t aware of it yet…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yeah, I’m liking the titles myself, LOL. It reminds me of Double Dare, when they would give the kids crazy movie titles and ask them to pick the legit one. So it’s all good. It’ll be fun. 🙂

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      5. Rebecca, you’re probably tired of all these comments from me by now! i really was looking forward to the blogathon, and thought I could get my post up today, but it’s just not to be. 😦 I’m sorry about that.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Dear Rebecca,

    This is a really interesting and unusual choice for a blogathon. Congratulations! I would love to participate. I plan to write about my first experience watching a Frank Capra film from the Shurlock Era, “Pocketful of Miracles.” I will describe my surprise at seeing ways in which Mr. Capra was changing with the times. I’m looking forward to it!

    By the way, I would like to invite you to join “The Second Annual Great Breening Blogathon.” This blogathon, which will be taking place on October 12-17, is a celebration of the Code, its Era, and its enforcer, Joseph I. Breen. We are using this blogathon to honor Joseph Breen on his 130th birthday, which would have been on October 14. However, we are extending the blogathon to October 17 to celebrate the second anniversary of PEPS, which was founded on October 17, 2016. You can participate by breening a film that is not from the Breen Era (1934-1954) or by analyzing a Code films. You can also discuss an aspect of the Code, its influence on Hollywood, or Mr. Breen itself. You can find out more and join here: https://pureentertainmentpreservationsociety.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/announcing-the-second-annual-great-breening-blogathon/.

    I hope that you’ll be able to join! We could really use your talents.

    Yours Hopefully,

    Tiffany Brannan

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi, Tiffany,

      Thanks very much–I’m glad you like it. Great topic, too. I will definitely put you down for that! Thanks for joining.

      And thanks for telling me about your blogathon. I’m so glad you brought it back. I was thinking I could write about “Greenwich Village,” if that’s OK. Thanks for thinking of me, and have a great day! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. I’d like to do Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I’m a teen film researcher. I’ve taught courses in teen films. I’m supposed to like this movie. I really, really don’t.

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  13. This looks really interesting and I would love to take part. Recently travelling back from Europe and ended up watching Singin In The Rain, which I had avoided as I am not a fan of musicals. I’ll save what I thought for the blogathon! Hope that’s ok! Best regards, Paul

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  14. The best discovery in my film-watching life has been The Public Enemy (1931). It’s time to tell this story to the world!
    Great idea for a blogathon!
    Kisses!
    Le from Critica Retro

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    Reply
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  19. Is it possible to join the blogathon at this late date? I”d like to write about a selection of Ernst Lubitsch’s German silent films that i’ve recently watched & enjoyed! my blog is top10filmlists.com

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  25. Hi Rebecca. Would I be able to change my topic and write about a film instead? Also, I would like to do two entries, because I’ve now submitted all my assignments for my studies and because I haven’t been able to update my blog, so I want to make up for it, though my last entry will likely be late. Will it be okay to write two entries? I just have to decide on the films I’m going to choose.

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