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Reviews by Elfflame
"Pride and Prejudice" review
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 19 August 2008 12:07
(A review of "Pride and Prejudice")I finally got to watch this version all the way through this weekend. I've always seen it as the ultimate of the Jane Austen Novel-to-movie translations. I do love the 90's Sense and Sensibility translation, but this one is far and away beyond that. Both because they can take the time to do it right and draw it out, and because Firth and Ehle are such amazing actors. I think that, unlike S+S, Pride and Prejudice has a great deal more depth, and while I like the character of Colonel Brandon, nearly every other character type is represented better in P+P. The development of the love story is excellent in this piece, and Elizabeth's development from loathing to loving Darcy is wholly believable. Ehle's not only believeable as the second-eldest daughter in a family of many, but she never makes a leap that isn't totally believable for her character. I do have to say I am slightly prejudiced myself in favor of Firth. He's such an amazing actor, and he's at his height in this piece. From scowl to minute smile, I'm drawn in by him. And his eyes are practically hypnotizing. He's not a particularly gorgeous man, but I still end up falling for him every time I see him, and especially in this movie. Just an incredible actor. I would watch him in just about anything, really. Definitely the Austen movie to watch, even if you watch no other.  0 comments, Reply to this entry
I Am Legend review
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 13 August 2008 09:51
(A review of I Am Legend)Okay, so I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did, after hearing both the hype and the complaints about it. I never went to see it in the theatres because it wasn't the sort of movie I generally go see. I do think it could have been handled much better, though. And I think the real ending (granted, I've only heard about it) would have been much better than the one we ended up with. I also think my high rating may have something to do with the fact that I recently (last week) watched the Cruise War of the Worlds, and this is grand cinema by comparison. It makes it harder to see the flaws in this one. Definitely won't become one of my favorite-ever movies, but not bad for an evening or day of horror films. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Why?
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 6 August 2008 09:50
(A review of Beowulf)My major problem with this film wasn't the story--it's quite possibly the closest to the original tale I've seen, and the most interesting. They did a great job with showing the difference between the words the characters spoke, and what was actually being thought or said by them--a very different thing in this story. No, the major problem with this film was that there was no reason for it to be animated. The animation still isn't fluid enough to feel real, and it distracts you and pulls you out of the film. Moreover, they use the faces of the actors anyway, so why bother animating them? You might as well spend the money (and far less time) costuming them and letting them act out the scenes. Computer animation hasn't progressed far enough to work for this sort of thing, and the story (and effects) weren't fantasical enough to warrent the whole thing being animated. 3 comments, Reply to this entry
Could have been so much more
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 5 August 2008 11:45
(A review of Mr. & Mrs. Smith)Just watched this film, and I have to say, I was rather surprised how good it was. But the truth of the matter is, it still could have been so much more. Both Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie are tremendous actors. Why they feel they need to phone in their roles when they know they could do better, and both earn huge paychecks to do it, is beyond me. The banter was good. Most of the acting worked okay. But I just wanted to see more--from both of them as well as from the script. Overall, a disappointment. Probably a good tv movie, but not much more. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
A fresh new start to Downey's career
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 3 August 2008 09:44
(A review of Iron Man)To make a long story short: if you like Comic Book movies, this one is a must-see. Funny and fascinating in turns, and features Robert Downy Jr at his best. It's a great action film and never gets too horribly preachy. Just great fun to watch. And now for the spoilery bits. I will admit, the amount of stuff I know about Tony Stark/Iron Man would fit on the head of a pin, but this movie played up the few bits I knew exceptionally well. The fact that he's a playboy who would put Bruce Wayne to shame. The fact that he drinks like a fish. The fact that he's permanently attached to part of his suit. All of it explained exceptionally well. And, too, they grounded him not just in the real world (he's in a convoy in Afghanistan when he's attacked and captured), but also in the Marvel world (the repeated joke about S.H.I.E.L.D.), which was great to see, knowing how many more Marvel films we're likely to see in the next 5 to 10 years. Robert Downy Jr took this role and ran with it. Not only is he believable as the millionaire arsehole who just wants to make his weapons, bigger, faster, better; but also as the playboy who can't be arsed to care about anyone, and the captive who realizes just what he's done to the world, and the man who would be Superman (okay, Iron Man, but you get the gist, right?). He's also the creator of the suit, rather than having it made for him. And each stage of the process, his delight as each new part works is just incredible to see. If he has any chance of regaining some of the stature he once had, this film has definitely managed that. The comedy aspects keep from making the movie too depressing and too dark. My particular favorite was one of the robots Tony has helping him work on and test the suit as he rebuilds it once he gets home. The timing in those scenes... Especially the comments about not wanting to hurt his precious cars, his first "flight" and the arm's "help" in fire suppression. The plot is a bit obvious in points, particularly when it comes to Stark's right-hand-man. He's set up almost from the get-go as the badguy, though he doesn't show his spots till about the middle of the movie, and the pacing of the plot kept that from being too annoying. All in all, I loved it, and I highly recommend it. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
A new take on fairy tales
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 3 August 2008 09:38
(A review of Stardust)I'm a huge fairy tale nut, and Stardust is the sort of story that manages to catch every bit of that love and throw it back to me. Gaiman is a genius. The plot is light and silly, but at the same time, manages to catch every bit of the wonder that makes the Grimm tales so enticing. In a way that movies like Ladyhawke and The Brothers Grimm do not. I highly recommend it. Now, for the detail. Overall, I loved this film. It's sweet, and uplifting, and the few flaws are mild enough not to annoy me, and I'm the sort who can easily find that some flaws keep me from enjoying movies, so that says a lot, I think. The story is simple enough. Tristran is sweet and rather innocuous. The girl-next-door that he wants at the beginning of the film is vain and spoiled enough that you know she isn't the one for him. The set up about the royal family of Stronghold, and their succession is humorous, if a bit obvious. The star in the form of Claire Danes is lovely. She occasionally overreacts, but as a non-earthly creature, it works quite well, really. And Michelle is incredibly perfect as the evil witch. All in all, excellent casting. Two things I'm incredibly pleased by in this story: the magic and fact that those little threads that most writers would let dangle were actually pulled back into the main thread of the story. The magic feels real, like it actually has rules behind it. Like someone's given it thought. Hubby tells me this is just Gaiman's usual magic, but I'm still pleased to see it. He did a lovely job of it. As for the storyline threads, there were so many that I wouldn't have been surprised to see dropped, but most of them were still wound back into the story. The story about Tristran's parents: not only her "story" that she tells to his father about being a princess, or the chain he cuts to try to free her then gives their son later, but also the name she gives her son: Tristran is a version of a name that means "sad." What better name for a girl to give her son when she's been held captive who knew how long, and she was going to have to give him up, and possibly never see him again? And as for the chain that his father chops off, it is not only used by Tristran on Yvaine, but later another version is used to bind her and Una together. And the idea that only powerful magic -- including a unicorn horn (a nice touch) -- can remove the chain is very nice. There's more, of course. These are just the ones that immediately come to mind. Actors: Peter O'Toole's cameo was fun. As was Rupert Everett's. Michelle was utterly lovely. At the moment she started sobbing about loosing her sisters, I was utterly disappointed, so when we found out it was entirely put on...I couldn't help but grin. And she did not only a lovely acting job, but she did it through a ton of makeup. Claire did an okay job. I've seen her do better, but she held up well. As for Deniro? He was a slasher's dream. I think he may well have stolen the movie. I just loved him. In fact, I will say that the point the movie and the two heroes' come into their own is the entire sequence on the air boat. The movie is especially fun during that whole part of the film. Captain Shakespeare's reasoning for his name, his closet, "cutting" Tristran's hair longer, the fighting and dancing lessons... I loved it all. Particularly Septimus's attack once they've left the ship. Absolutely priceless. I do have to say that the story surrounding Tristran's parentage and the "secret" about his mother was a bit anticlimactic. Meaning that the moment the King asked where "Una" was, I knew that Tristran would end up the king, with Yvaine as his queen. I would have liked something more subtle, at least. But I am glad it wasn't the only storyline. Some of the acting was a bit stiff, and a few accents were dropped. But overall, I thought it wasn't enough to really upset the balance of the film. My overall impression? Excellent movie. I highly recommend it. 1 comments, Reply to this entry
A worthy translation
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 3 August 2008 09:30
(A review of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)When I heard this was being filmed, I had a little checklist of things in my head. Things that the movie absolutely had to do right for me to be happy coming out of the theatre. They had to show the interaction between Lucy and Tumnus well. I didn't want Tumnus to come across creepy and squicky, especially. I wanted to see the scene between the Queen and Edmund. I wanted to see the presents from Santa, even if we didn't see Santa. And they absolutely HAD to have grown-up Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy on a hunt at the end. I was not disappointed by any of those scenes. They were all there, and they were all wonderful. Tumnus--what can I say? He was perfect and timid and just wonderful to watch, and the costume and effects for his hooves were perfect. Even his scarf was lovely. :D The scene with him lulling Lucy to sleep by playing his pipe, and Aslan breaking the spell is absolutely gorgeous. And his horror at what he's been forced to do was well-played. Tilda was lovely, if extremely understated. I'm still trying to decide if I would have wanted someone more over-the-top for the Queen. I love Tilda, but I was expecting more histrionics, I guess. On the other hand, she was gorgeous, and definitely coldly cruel. And the scene where she made a hot drink and Turkish Delight for Edmund was perfect. The scene with Santa was almost exactly word-for-word from the book at the beginning, though I did miss him giving them the presents for Edmund as well, and apparently the beavers deserved nothing... I do understand why they cut that part of the scene, but still. But my favorite scene was the Hunt. I was so worried they'd sell it short and keep them kids, but I desperately wanted to see the older versions of them, and the return to the "real world" as it were. It was so perfect, and the falling out of the wardrobe kids again was just the way I imagined it. Now, I'm a long-time fan of the Narnia books. Read them several times over the years. And though I didn't see the Christian imagery when I was a kid, it's blatant to me now. While I'm stridently anti-religion, and those sorts of things usually annoy the heck out of me, I can honestly say that the scriptwriter did an excellent job on transferring it all across. There was no new imagery to "suggest" further religious stuff, and I don't particularly think they toned down what CS Lewis actually had in the story itself. I thought it was actually quite well-handled, considering the subject-matter. Other bits and pieces: * Jim Broadbent as the Professor. Such an excellent casting choice. He really does the childlike surprise and interest well. * Aslan. I would have liked a stronger voice, actually. I love Liam Neeson, but I don't think he was strong enough for the part when it came right down to it. I guess it felt to me like Aslan was holding back a bit. * The Beavers were fabulous. The animation was perfect, and the interplay between the two of them was wonderful. And Dawn French was terrific, as usual. :D * I have heard others say that Edmund steals the movie, but really, aside from one scene at the beginning of the movie, really, everything I saw in the movie with him was stuff that was straight from the book. And the boy they got to play him did an excellent job. * Peter--the young man they got to play him was excellent. He is how I have always seen Cedric Diggory in my head, if a touch younger than Cedric in GOF. * I quite liked how they illustrated the realities of the children's situation before they got on the train, and also how much the kids really felt like siblings. Whoever was responsible for that did an excellent job. * My husband was thrilled at "Aslan's on the move." Rather important line, and nicely done. Sent a thrill through me when I heard it. And another wonderful line that I'd totally forgotten about until it was said: "Ward Robe in the land of Spare Oom..." Which makes me think of Rock and Rule now, but it's an adorable line. :D * The wardrobe itself was an absolutely gorgeous thing. WETA outdid themselves, and not just on that, either. The costumes after they arrive at Aslan's camp, and the weapons and crowns were all gorgeous. * Tumnus's punishment. I was practically biting my nails waiting for Edmund to stumble across Tumnus in the Queen's courtyard, but when they showed him it was utterly perfect and so miserable. Poor Edmund... * And OMG, the swordfighting. I kept snickering at Peter using his sword like a gun, keeping it trained on whoever he was fighting, but I love that in the final battle sequences they were actually swordfighting--meaning that they weren't fencing with the ruddy things or using them like clubs. Tilda especially shone in the battle sequences. So, overall? Good movie. I highly recommend it. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Not Burton's best
Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 3 August 2008 09:18
(A review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)The first thing I must say is that I read this or was read this book when I was very small, so I can't recall the differences between the Musical and the book. Despite that, I could tell that there were a lot of places in the movie that went back to the original source material, just from what I remembered. I also think Tim had a huge impact on the changes from the original storyline, and anyone who knows his work will see it. I did enjoy it, but could have done without his special addition, to be honest. Johnny- I love Johnny. I'm a fan from way back in the teen idol days. I watched 21 Jump Street as consistently as my parents would allow (in other words, not regularly). And when he moved to movies, I made sure to watch as many as I could. I love how his career has grown, and how careful he is with the characters he chooses to play. They're always different, and he never plays the same guy twice. Even if it feels like the same role at first. I liked him in this. But... when I first saw the original commercial for the movie, I was a little freaked out. And I couldn't figure out why he creeped me out for a long time. Until something made me compare him to Gary Oldman. His Willy Wonka reminds me of Zorg from the Fifth Element. Not that he was evil in that way, but in the horribly plasticky look they gave him. And I do understand they were trying to stylize him, but even so, it left me cold. And after seeing the movie, I also have to say that he just kind of floated through the part. He was good, he was believable, but he didn't always feel all there during some scenes, and I mean that in the not acting way, not in the "he's insane" way. As far as I'm concerned, he didn't claim Willy Wonka as well as Gene Wilder did in the Musical. The kids- Charlie was lovely. I think the kid they got to play him did an excellent job, though there were moments in the movie where Tim (or possibly Roald, I'm not sure if the scenes were straight from the book) got a bit too preachy about how good and wholesome Charlie was. Luckily, there weren't too many. Agustus Gloop almost felt like he was a computer animated character before they ever got to the factory. But I was pleased that his mother got a bit more screen-time in this one. It wasn't just her shrieking about Augustus. Varuca Salt was perfect. Evil and conniving and petty. Violet had an interesting twist to her character: her mother was the one pushing her to be competitive. I also liked that she and Mike TV ended up with reversed parents. Instead of Violet's father going along, it was her mother, and instead of Mike's mother, it was his father. Mike was the one I had the most trouble with, to be honest. Instead of being a simple TV junkie, which I agree doesn't happen so much any more, he was turned not only into a video-game-shooter kid, but he was also rather a genius when it came to technical stuff. Now, the technical stuff worked as far as his wanting to use the Wonka-vision, but I kind of wanted to see this violent streak, which they alluded to a few times in the movie, used in his punishment in some form. Well, now that I think on it, it was a bit, with the way the Oompa Loompas smack him around while they're singing, but it didn't seem enough, really. Tim's addition- now, anyone who knows about Tim Burton knows one of his themes is fathers. Which is fine. But did he have to add it to this movie? It had themes enough of it's own. I wanted to see the bubble room--though the way the Charlie acted in this one, he'd probably be too perfect to try it. And my husband said he missed seeing the office and the signing of the contract. The father stuff worked okay, but I would have rather seen the original story, and not a story that was chopped in half and changed into a Tim Burton story... They just didn't feel like they were part of the overall story to me. But since I knew the story beforehand, that might just be me. Other bits- I loved that the grandparents (grandpa Jo and grandma Josephine and grandpa George and grandma Georgina) all had extremely distinct personalities that came out onscreen. And particularly enjoyed Liz Smith (who played Letitia Cropley in the Vicar of Dibley series) as grandma Georgina. I loved the Disney-esque entrance to the factory, which then proceeded to blow up and catch on fire. I know this sounds like I hated it, but I really didn't. It was a lot of fun to watch, even if there were several wincable things. It's worth going, just be prepared, because it's definitely not the same. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Batman Begins review
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 26 July 2008 10:07
(A review of Batman Begins)An enjoyable film. I think it's a great restart to an excellent story that was sold a bit short with the last round. The thing that sold me the most was Gary Oldman and their choice of villains. I love Gary Oldman. He made this movie worth watching for me. And you could tell he was having fun, too. Particularly when he got to use the Batmobile. And I love that they showed his family. Also, Ra's Al Ghul's part in the story was perfect. I had my doubts when I saw that the person playing him wasn't well-known, but trust me...he's PERFECT. Also, I loved that they used Crane/Scarecrow in this very first story. It ends up setting up everything to come. Things that I particularly enjoyed: the training sequences, particularly the final training fight between Christian and Liam, which was excellently choreographed. I also enjoyed how they played up the Wayne corporation in the movie. The idea that Wayne Enterprises was being run by a board worked well with the idea that his father was a doctor in canon, so it was a nice nod to why there was a corporation. And Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. And he was excellent. And the fact that he knows about where all the bat-toys come from. "Mister Wayne...Don't think of me as an idiot." The slow development of Bruce Wayne, depressed and guilty millionaire's son to Batman was just about perfect. The final scene with Gordon and Batman on the rooftop (another great line... "I couldn't find a mob boss"), and his clue for this Arkham criminal Batman's going to have to capture (no, I won't say which. It's obvious when you see the clue, but it's a biggie. ;D ) were excellent. Gives me hope for good movies in the future. The not-so-great stuff: I felt rather beat over the head with the "Fear" mallet, specifically at the beginning. And they didn't follow through on it nearly enough. They were obviously having too much fun with the car-chases, blowing things up, and other action scenes. Also, I don't hate Katie Holmes, but does she have any other acting style? I swear she was just being Joey from Dawson's Creek. Not what I wanted to see. I would much have preferred to see Talia (Ra's daughter) as a love interest. Seeing as how she really didn't do much for the plot, and their "romance" was nonexistent. Michael Cane was nice, but felt mostly unused. I would have liked something more for him to do than snark sweetly at still-evolving Bruce. Overall, I enjoyed the film, but there is definitely some growing room that they took great advantage of in the sequel. Definitely worth a watch. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Lucas finally ends it all
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 26 July 2008 06:41
(A review of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith)Episode 3 wasn't as bad as 1 or 2. But it was in no way as good as Empire. No matter what some reviews said. After thirty-odd years, you would think that he could at least come up for a worthy end for his series, but apparently he just couldn't. There are some good bits to this film, but mostly, it's just more of the same, and quite painful to watch. The Tie-fighter-like ships at the beginning bugged me, but the scenes on the ship were good until Duku appeared. I really expected more from that sequence, but it was so flat. I did like the end of the fight, with Palpatine egging Ani to kill Duku, and Duku's shocked look. You could almost see him saying "but master..." Very Luke/Vader in Jedi, really. I liked the ship plunging towards the planet, and the fact that General Grievous escaped. Sliding down the elevator chute when the ship righted itself was good...different. :) The Padme/Ani stuff didn't bug me as much this time round. Still wasn't great, though this time it was her that bugged me more than him. Like the second she decided she loved him, she turned into this whiny, clingy, boring person who had no other life beyond him. yeesh. Oh, and she was so not big enough to be pregnant with full-term twins (and both of those babies were definitely full-term). They should have been tiny. I did think that Ani's journey was a lot less whiny this time round. He actually seemed confused, and it felt to me like he was trying to work it out, at least. The scene with him thanking Ben before he left to get rid of Grievous was excellent, particularly since the next time they saw each other, they were on opposite sides. And his turning was near-perfect, actually. Sam Jackson did a great job of playing both sides of what was going on. Both that he was honestly trying to get rid of a threat to their way of life, and someone who had gone a bit too far over the edge and was trying to kill a community leader. I could see Ani struggling with the ideas he'd been fed from both sides, and trying to come to a decision. Well done, really. Still a bit wooden, but better than most Ani scenes in Clones. You can almost feel the sorrow of the realization that if they'd just trusted Ani a bit more, things would have gone the other direction. There was real horror in his face when he realized Palpatine was Sideous. He would have helped them if they had arrested the man. But Windu and the rest of the council are so blinded by what "must be done" that they just don't get it. The scenes in the temple were the only thing that was touching enough to make me cry in this film. I cried at the end, but that was because it was over, and I was feeling emotional from realizing the future Luke and Leia had to look forward to. Ani activating his lightsaber after the kid asks him what they should do... So dark. The confrontation between Ani, Amidala and Ben was perfect. Shows the true problem with "just doing it for the knowledge." You might be, but the knowledge isn't positive or pure, and it changes you. As does killing. It becomes a habit, and you forget your true intentions. I liked him choking the life out of Padme, very fitting. And the scenes between he and Ben were perfect. They played off each other well. The fight left a bit to be desired, but the finale was perfect. No big, "oops, I left my padawan in a lake of boiling lava...oh, well..." His warning to Ani not to do it, and that flash of lightsaber when he jumped were perfect. Gruesome, but perfect. And the best touch? Ben taking his lightsaber as he left. The rescue and resurrection of Ani was perfect. And Palpatine telling him he'd killed Padme was excellent. I liked the idea that he couldn't even recall what he'd done. Him having a fit about it and pulling free of the restraints was good, though it was hard to get much emotion from that suit. Only to be expected, but I had to say it. The Padme dying scenes were stupid. I hated them. She should have been in a coma for the entire thing, and hence unable to name the children. She was certainly far too coherent at the end there when she did. And she said the names like they meant something. What was that about? I wanted more from her side of the story. I felt ripped-off. I wanted to see her interacting with Bail, and a lot more interaction with Ben. Emotional connections. Plans. Something. I liked the Wookie planet, and the fact that we saw Chewbacca (I knew it had to be him, but I wasn't sure until Yoda called him by name), and I'm quite glad there was no little Han, thankyouverymuch. Yoda really kicked ass this time. He was perfect. And Order 66? Eerily perfect. Though I did get a bit sick of Yoda's reactions each and every time... The dialogue? Who did he hire to write this? A six-year-old? Just made me want to tear my hair out. Not like he couldn't have afforded a good writer by now. However, I was pleased that Jar Jar had no lines, at least. As I said in the section about Ani's downfall, the point where I got all emotional was the moment they showed Alderaan. I've been waiting to see it for thirty years. And it was beautiful. I really would have preferred a very different story here, as I seem to recall reading in the Jedi novelization that Leia knew her mother (but I could be imagining things...), and I would have liked to see Bail/Padme, even if one-sided. I think she was a strong enough character before they were married. And it wouldn't have been that difficult to save her, but let Ani think she was dead... Watching Leia and Luke with their respective adopted parents just made me bawl. By the last shot, I had tears streaming down my face, knowing what they had waiting for them in the future. Just so sad. Oh, and the "training" Yoda sets for Ben? That seemed a bit too contrived to me. I mean, I get that Lucas was trying to connect that to the "Jedi ghost" thing in the original three, but come on... Anyway, ultimate feeling on this? I needed to see it in the theatre, but just the once. Maybe I'll get lucky, and it'll age well. Not that I really believe that. 0 comments, Reply to this entry
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