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wilddesertrose
Reviews
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Pleeazzzzze!
This may be a movie, but it's definitely not Prince Caspian. If the director read the book, he must either have a huge ego or a very bad memory. Lewis' character development (and what is the Narnia series without character development?) is tossed out for invented and interminable conflicts, and the few plot aspects retained from the book are either skewed or time warped. Caspian is about 10 years too old, a romance between him and Susan is invented, and I spent a large part of the movie (and it did seem to go on and on) trying to remember if any of it was in Lewis' book. For me this movie was a bore and a chore. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader may be in production, but I doubt if the remaining four films will be made if it proves to be as disappointing as this one.
North & South (2004)
I had to see this to believe it
When a friend recommended this mini-series to me, I wondered that she could speak of it in the same breath as the BBC's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice," my all-time favorite. I was half way through the four hours of North and South before I began to see what she meant.
Although I initially found the story a bit too dark for my taste (and Richard Armitage's character even more so), I was literally staggered by the denouement. The cast was outstanding, particularly the two leads. As their characters were revealed, as their attitudes changed, I found myself fervently hoping that they would somehow be able to bridge the chasms of class, prejudice, and misunderstanding. As for the finale at the train station, I don't think a more beautiful love scene has ever been depicted on screen (despite the inappropriateness of kissing in public in a Victorian setting!). But by that point, I was so involved with the characters that I simply didn't mind.
And the cinematography! I cannot get out of my mind that shot at the end of the first hour showing the mill with Thornton striding through it,looking very like Satan himself, while in a voice-over Margaret writes in her letter, "I believe I have seen hell and it is white, snow white."
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
A good movie, but not the quintessential P&P
I went to this movie (presently in limited release here in Los Angeles) with what I hope was an open mind, even though I'm a big fan of the 1995 BBC production. I did enjoy it on the whole, but I do have some reservations. For instance, I can understand why many things had to be compressed because of the shorter length of the movie, but why did they decide to set it in an earlier period than Austen intended? I love the elegance of the BBC production--elegant homes, elegant clothing, elegant dancing. This production featured a lot of noise and a lot of bouncing around (intentional because of the period, I understand).
I thought Keira Knightley made an excellent Lizzie, though. She has that rare luminescent quality that makes the screen hers alone whenever she's in a scene. But I didn't care for Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy. He seemed mostly sad, rather than mysterious and brooding, and wasn't in my opinion handsome enough for Darcy (although he does have beautiful eyes).
Oh, for Colin Firth and that impromptu dive into the lake!
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
three times and counting!
I loved this movie and think it gets even better with repeated viewings. The sets are astonishing--as sumptuous as the music. I personally had no problem with Gerard Butler's voice. In my opinion, what might be lacking in training and polish is more than compensated for in sheer pathos. His singing made me believe in the Phantom and his feelings (and kept me wishing that Christine could find it in her heart to choose him). The rest of the cast did an excellent job, although I thought Patrick Wilson's role somewhat constraining.
I've already bought the CD and can't wait to get the DVD when it comes out. It will never be quite the same as on the big screen, though, which is why I will probably go a fourth time while I still have the chance.
Go see it and judge for yourself. Don't let the critics spoil such a pleasure.