A Very Long Engagment is the story of Mathilde, who's fiance, Manech, died in World War I. Two years after the fact, she is informed that he was executed for self mutilation, along with four other men (each of them having destroyed one of his hands in order to be invalidated out of the army), by being thrown into the no-mans land between a French and a German trench.
I don't usually like war films. I have a weak stomach, and seeing people blown up isn't my idea of fun. Despite all this, 'A Very Long Engagement' is an amazing film. The opening scenes of the war and the self mutilations committed by the various soldiers are horrendous (I have to look away every time), but deftly handled. They are especially effective, in that at least one of the soldiers loses his mind completely in the violence of the war, and the others do not nurture fond memories. The violence is not meant to be enjoyed for what it is, as in some gory horror films; it is meant to shock and dismay, to bring a sense of real despair to the film.
The emotional parts of the film are handled just as well. The actors all give stunning performances, and the expressions and vocal intonations are spot on. The tension as Mathilde searches for Manech, and for the soldier who may or may not have survived the execution is heartrending. I cry at the ending every single time.
Another good thing about this film is its loyalty to the book. I'm very fussy about that (the written word being my first love) and out of all books->film conversions I've seen, this one beats the lot.
The only thing I can find wrong with this film is that some people may find it too emotional, while others find it too violent. The fact that it's in French could be a problem for those who dislike reading subtitles. And the fact that it's French means you wouldn't want to watch it in front of your parents. Still, definitely worth a look.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
America's Sweethearts
Eddie Thomson and Gwen Harrison are America's Sweethearts. The world's best loved couple, on-screen and off-screen, every film they make is an automatic sell out. Except, maybe, for this one.
The film shows what happens at the press junket for Eddie and Gwen's latest film. Unfortunately, it was on the set of said film that Gwen met her new partner, Hector, and she and Eddie split up.
Although the film is ostensibly about Eddie and Gwen, the camera spends more time on their publicist, Lee, played by Billy Crystal, and Gwen's PA and sister, Kiki, played by Julia Roberts. The director of the film has refused to deliver it, insisting that it is first seen by the press, and Lee needs to make sure the press remain distracted until the movie turns up. The best way to do this, is to put the focus on Gwen and Eddie's relationship, for which he enlists Kiki's help. However, Kiki has her own problems.
The relationship between the two sisters is interesting. It's not immediately clear that the two are sisters, mainly due to the fact that Gwen treats Kiki like a skivvy. Gwen is used to getting her own way, and is not above using manipulation to get it. Even though Kiki can see straight through her, she usually lets Gwen push her around, as she always has, since high school, when Kiki was the one who broke up with Gwen's boyfriends, ending the school year as "the most hated girl in school". This may have been due to the fact that Kiki, as many characters observed, used to be fat, thereby leading to low self esteem. She has, however, dropped sixty pounds before the movie starts, and is looking better than ever, something that is soon noticed by Eddie. Although he is still too hung up on Gwen (almost obsessed, as he observed later) to realise how his feelings for Kiki are developing.
The film, to be honest is hilarious. While Gwen is doing her best to get the media back onto her side at the junket, Eddie no longer cares what anyone thinks. With Lee's machinations ensuring that every small event or comment is misconstrued, and Gwen's out of control lover challenging Eddie at every possible opportunity, the film soon descends into chaos. All the actors are amazing, and am I the only one to see the resemblance between John Cusack and a young Billy Crystal? This is the only film I've seen John Cusack in, and I must admit, I adore him. Cusack, Roberts, Crystal and Zita-Jones all work really well together.
In summary, there are lots of emotions on screen, lots of jabs at Hollywood, a few plates smashing, a rather surprising dog, and someone falling off a roof. It's not the deepest or most thought provoking film, but nor is it pure fluff. It's lighthearted and funny, and, frankly, I love it. The soundtrack's great too - I actually watched the credits two or three times in a row, just to listen to the songs played over them.
The film shows what happens at the press junket for Eddie and Gwen's latest film. Unfortunately, it was on the set of said film that Gwen met her new partner, Hector, and she and Eddie split up.
Although the film is ostensibly about Eddie and Gwen, the camera spends more time on their publicist, Lee, played by Billy Crystal, and Gwen's PA and sister, Kiki, played by Julia Roberts. The director of the film has refused to deliver it, insisting that it is first seen by the press, and Lee needs to make sure the press remain distracted until the movie turns up. The best way to do this, is to put the focus on Gwen and Eddie's relationship, for which he enlists Kiki's help. However, Kiki has her own problems.
The relationship between the two sisters is interesting. It's not immediately clear that the two are sisters, mainly due to the fact that Gwen treats Kiki like a skivvy. Gwen is used to getting her own way, and is not above using manipulation to get it. Even though Kiki can see straight through her, she usually lets Gwen push her around, as she always has, since high school, when Kiki was the one who broke up with Gwen's boyfriends, ending the school year as "the most hated girl in school". This may have been due to the fact that Kiki, as many characters observed, used to be fat, thereby leading to low self esteem. She has, however, dropped sixty pounds before the movie starts, and is looking better than ever, something that is soon noticed by Eddie. Although he is still too hung up on Gwen (almost obsessed, as he observed later) to realise how his feelings for Kiki are developing.
The film, to be honest is hilarious. While Gwen is doing her best to get the media back onto her side at the junket, Eddie no longer cares what anyone thinks. With Lee's machinations ensuring that every small event or comment is misconstrued, and Gwen's out of control lover challenging Eddie at every possible opportunity, the film soon descends into chaos. All the actors are amazing, and am I the only one to see the resemblance between John Cusack and a young Billy Crystal? This is the only film I've seen John Cusack in, and I must admit, I adore him. Cusack, Roberts, Crystal and Zita-Jones all work really well together.
In summary, there are lots of emotions on screen, lots of jabs at Hollywood, a few plates smashing, a rather surprising dog, and someone falling off a roof. It's not the deepest or most thought provoking film, but nor is it pure fluff. It's lighthearted and funny, and, frankly, I love it. The soundtrack's great too - I actually watched the credits two or three times in a row, just to listen to the songs played over them.
Treasure Planet
James Pleiades Hawkins has always been fascinated by the stories of Captain Flint, and his legendary treasure. As a child, the spirit of adventure kept him awake at nights, reading about pirates.
As a teenage, Jim is somewhat disappointed. Nothing in his life seems to have much purpose. His father having abandoned them, he and his mother run an inn, the Benbow, and Jim spends his spare time sky-surfing – like windsurfing or skateboarding, with a rocket engine attached to the board. This search for excitement and bigger thrills often gets him into trouble, especially when he begins breaking into closed and dangerous areas. It's after one such occasion, when the police have brought him home, that Jim is sitting outside, feeling upset for letting his mother down, but still unable to see a way out of his troubles. He's there when Billy Bones, an old sailor, crashes nearby. Dragging him into the warm, Jim, his mother and Dr Doppler, a family friend, are just in time to hear Bones last words ("beware the cyborg") and receive the inheritance of a treasure sphere before pirates desperately searching for said sphere break in and ransack the place. Jim and the others escape to Doppler's home, where, after fiddling with the treasure sphere, Jim discovers that it's actually a projector that shows the way to Treasure Planet, and Flint's hidden trove.
Excited by this discovery, Dr Doppler commissions a ship and a crew, and he, Jim and the audience are soon introduced to the other main characters of the film; Captain Amelia, first mate Arrow, and, of course, ship's cook, the cyborg Long John Silver.
The relationship between Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins, one of the best parts of the book is kept completely intact here, although slightly more is put in about Jim's absent father, and how much this affects him. A slight romance element is added, with Doppler and Captain Amelia, although it doesn't detract from the main plot, and somehow, manages not to be tacked on, or forced, and Morph, the being used instead of the traditional parrot (think Pokemon's 'Ditto') is an adorable little bundle of goo, and a welcome addition to the plot. B.E.N., the robotic equivalent to Ben Gunn can be a tad annoying, but the kids will like him. Captain Amelia's quick-witted British human is genuinely funny, in a Blackadder kind of way, although it gets very little focus within the film.
Treasure Planet was filmed using 2D characters on 3D, computer animated backgrounds. Although many aspects of the film look very traditional and old fashioned, certain key elements and slight changes update the look. As mentioned in the extra features, the animators were going for a seventy percent modern, thirty percent traditional feel, and I'd say they achieved it.
Treasure Planet has a great soundtrack, the two key songs, Always Know Where You Are, and I'm Still Here being performed by the GooGoo Dolls' John Rzeznik. Seriously, they rock. I listen to them for fun. The incidental music in the film deserves a mention, too. It starts of with a kind of traditional sea-faring sound, then the electric guitars and synthesizers join in, adding a modern feel.
The film contains dozens of little jokes and references, and it works on many levels. The Flatulan language spoken by one of the characters will make the younger children giggle, while the name of the ship – RLS Legacy – will make the literary fans smile.
The film is funny, in a smiling rather than a laugh out loud kind of way. It manages to keep the relationship between Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins, one of the most important parts of the film, completely intact. As it's more a cover version of the story, than a true copy, the slight changes to the script shouldn't annoy people as much as they would in a supposedly more faithful adaptation.
In summary, I loved this film. It wasn't well received at the box office, although, later, it was liked by many critics. Treasure Planet is a great film. It doesn't have the mature content of films aimed at older age groups, but that doesn't have to be a problem. It's a film I can watch with my six-year-old cousin, and neither of us will be bored.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Unlimited October
October
| Number | Name of Film | Rating | Date Watched | Directed by; | Price |
| 1 | Made in Dagenham | R | 17/10/2010 | Nigel Cole | £6.60 |
| 2 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 4 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Okay. I haven't seen any movies in a while.
Due to various issues with Cineworld and their direct debit collection, I ended up paying for the entire year, after which my card will be cancelled (I may or may not reconsider this). They also gave me a month free.
So, as things stand at the moment, I've paid £148.50 for my card, instead of £162. I've seen £71.40 worth of movies with it.
I'm down £77.10, but my card is good till January fifth, and I take the final exam of my course tomorrow (so a ton of free time after that). Let's see how fast we can make that gap shrink.
Due to various issues with Cineworld and their direct debit collection, I ended up paying for the entire year, after which my card will be cancelled (I may or may not reconsider this). They also gave me a month free.
So, as things stand at the moment, I've paid £148.50 for my card, instead of £162. I've seen £71.40 worth of movies with it.
I'm down £77.10, but my card is good till January fifth, and I take the final exam of my course tomorrow (so a ton of free time after that). Let's see how fast we can make that gap shrink.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
10 Things I Hate About You
A reprint of an old review. I wrote it before Ledger's death, so it's quite weird re-reading it.
This film is hilarious. Loosely based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", 10 Things I Hate About You tells the story of two sisters, Bianca and Kat. Their overbearing father, who works in a maternity ward, and therefore has an immense fear of getting pregnant does not allow them to date. This does not bother Kat, who tends to keep herself aloof from her peers. It does, however, bother Bianca. After much pleading, her father changes the rules; Bianca can date when Kat does. This opens the doors for Bianca's many admirers, one of whom comes up with the plan of paying someone (Patrick Verona) to date Kat.
At times, this film almost comes across as a parody of itself. It's not believable, in the sense that you can see it actually happening - it's a little too out there, for that. However, the acting is good (with an extraordinarily young Heath Ledger, and an equally youthful Julia Stiles), and the characters are endearing. There are so many great lines in the film, i had trouble choosing just one for the title of this review. The music is amazing (the first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to this film), and although the film does come across as slightly dated, it has some of the more classic moments of romantic teen comedy (ie, Patrick serenading Kat in front of their classmates, a scene which was parodied in 'Not Another Teen Movie'). To be quite honest, the film's worth seeing just for the guidance counsellor and her trashy novel.
In summary, this film is a must for anyone who likes romantic comedy. Or Heath Ledger, the little cutie.
This film is hilarious. Loosely based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", 10 Things I Hate About You tells the story of two sisters, Bianca and Kat. Their overbearing father, who works in a maternity ward, and therefore has an immense fear of getting pregnant does not allow them to date. This does not bother Kat, who tends to keep herself aloof from her peers. It does, however, bother Bianca. After much pleading, her father changes the rules; Bianca can date when Kat does. This opens the doors for Bianca's many admirers, one of whom comes up with the plan of paying someone (Patrick Verona) to date Kat.
At times, this film almost comes across as a parody of itself. It's not believable, in the sense that you can see it actually happening - it's a little too out there, for that. However, the acting is good (with an extraordinarily young Heath Ledger, and an equally youthful Julia Stiles), and the characters are endearing. There are so many great lines in the film, i had trouble choosing just one for the title of this review. The music is amazing (the first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to this film), and although the film does come across as slightly dated, it has some of the more classic moments of romantic teen comedy (ie, Patrick serenading Kat in front of their classmates, a scene which was parodied in 'Not Another Teen Movie'). To be quite honest, the film's worth seeing just for the guidance counsellor and her trashy novel.
In summary, this film is a must for anyone who likes romantic comedy. Or Heath Ledger, the little cutie.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Unlimited July
July
...yep, I didn't see anything throughout June. I've been busy. We'll see how it goes to the end of the year.
| Number | Name of Film | Rating | Date Watched | Directed by; | Price |
| 1 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 4 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
...yep, I didn't see anything throughout June. I've been busy. We'll see how it goes to the end of the year.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Peckham Finishing School for Girls
Peckham Finishing School for Girls is a three-episode show for BBC3, in which four home counties "posh girls" are dropped into Peckham. They are mentored by four Peckham girls, and given the odd job or task to do, while, hopefully, seeing the other side of things. All three episodes are currently up on the BBC's iPlayer. There's also a rather good overview of the general idea of the series in the Metro.
There are clashes from the start. One girl compares her routine of getting up at 5am, ice-skating and modelling to that of being a cleaner. They all, when given £30 to spend on Peckham clothing, decide to waste the money and arse about, something that greatly angers the Peckham girls who rarely get new things. One of them, on hearing about a Peckham girl's experiences in care, starts crying. I paraphrase; "Oh-em-gee, your experiences have upset ME so much, everyone crowd around and comfort ME, because it's just so hard for ME hearing about how tough your life is!".
And so on.
I love train wreck TV. I also rather like Serena, although she's not really getting as much screen time as that irritating Cat.
There are clashes from the start. One girl compares her routine of getting up at 5am, ice-skating and modelling to that of being a cleaner. They all, when given £30 to spend on Peckham clothing, decide to waste the money and arse about, something that greatly angers the Peckham girls who rarely get new things. One of them, on hearing about a Peckham girl's experiences in care, starts crying. I paraphrase; "Oh-em-gee, your experiences have upset ME so much, everyone crowd around and comfort ME, because it's just so hard for ME hearing about how tough your life is!".
And so on.
I love train wreck TV. I also rather like Serena, although she's not really getting as much screen time as that irritating Cat.
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