Category: Fantasy

THE FALL (2006)

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For film lovers. For art lovers. For those of you who have ever fallen in love with a story and its teller.

The Fall speaks in color and beauty – transcending traditional filmmaking. This is an art film. Each scene a painting in itself, this film is a Salvador Dali come to life. The director, Tarsem, offers a magnificent opening sequence (as featured: http://www.artofthetitle.com/2009/01/09/the-fall/). Genius. The rest of the film is shot in over twenty beautiful countries.


The motif of “falling” is the resplendent repetitive notion of lives in motion, making mistakes, sinning, falling from our pedistals of chance and fate and grace. It’s a question. It’s a fear. It’s a risk that, once taken, affects the entire rest of your life. It’s about life and living it. It’s about family and fathers. It’s about loving someone enough to stick around for the rest of the story. It’s the retelling of a silent picture as seen in the mind of a little girl. The teller (Lee Pace) becomes her hero and her friend. The percieved quest is one of external healing; the actual is internal as the listener becomes the unexpected hero to save her dear friend.

This film IS found in the horror genre for some disturbing violence. But as I promised Andrew that I would, I’m letting you know now that it ends well.

PIRATES 4: On Stranger Tides

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A fresh start on the old tides. A new director, (Gore Verbinski directed the last 3) Rob Marshall offers a likable new storyline under fast action starring our classic hero. Jack Sparrow is as likable as ever – perhaps more so. No despicable rabbit trails in this one – sure this one has zombies, but even they are likable. And the three or so longer moments of “background story” dialogue are fashionably delivered when a lull is allowable. Pirates 4 tasteful with only the expected amount of double entendre, surprising with Penelope Cruz on set. She plays the perfect pirate, perhaps her most fitting role yet. But, the favorite character was the prayerful one. Reverence, and the fight for a soul despite his past sins – this is a rare theme in popular cinema. We’ll now be on the watch for the up and coming Sam Claflin. This precious boy fights for even the worst of characters, stands up for the helpless, and sacrifices to save others. He is not overtaken by lust. He is the true hero of this story. Pirates, we well know, are not men of their words, do not stand for truth, and serve only selfish ends. This character, Philip, redeems the soiled name of the clergy by remaining righteous to the end.
At last, a new Pirates movie that did not make me stand up at the end and scream, “I want my life back! 3 hours of my life!”
I’d see it again. Absolutely.

THOR

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Thor. Norse God of Thunder. I’ve never been prouder to be Norwegian. I know now more than ever that I come from a people of stoic grit, of muscle and beauty, of intensely sexy loyalty, and of refreshing strength… of character.

Thank you Kenneth Branagh. I thought you couldn’t top your King Henry the V speech, but I am once again happy to be wrong. You are a monarch of the Shakespearean genre, and now a director hero in my heart. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM

I was shocked by the pleasant blend of decent, believable characters in this smashing story of legend.

Great Mother’s day event for my 100% Norse mama.

STAR TREK

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J.J. Abrams revives the tribute of my lifetime. I had no idea that years of choosing to spend time with my dad in front of what he just affectionately categorized as “Sci-Fi” would turn me into a Trekkie. Sure, I’ve heard of Tribbles, Jean-Luc Picard is my personal Gandalf-esque mentor, and Janeway reminded me of my more feminist professors in my more mind-shaping classes. What of it? It was about the phasers set to stun and the Vulcan mind meld and the hyccup phrasing of Captain Kirk.
Now, however, the crew members of the Starship Enterprise are my age, Starfleet Academy is accepting applications, Bones is attractive, Romulans have a nasty streak, and I want Chris Pine to father my children.

GNOMEO AND JULIET

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Lawn Gnomes in love.
+ Elton John music
+ a phenomenal cast that no one could afford to cast in anything but an animated feature (including James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, and Hulk Hogan)
= an animated masterpiece? … not so much.
I went in with very low expectations, which were met. I just finished teaching the book Romeo & Juliet, which I love teaching. Some of my students wanted to see it. Joy! They were the highlight; I absolutely loved watching them interact and make connections with the book (the few that existed…). There were sadly more connections to other films than to the actual Romeo & Juliet tale. They dropped movie lines like kids drop cash for candy. Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Brokeback Mt. Yup. They did.

Don’t see this. Really. And don’t take your children. And don’t make it a cult classic when it comes to DVD. Just read it. Perhaps I’m biased. Perhaps I’m jaded. Perhaps they took a funny idea like,  “Hey, let’s make an animated movie about lawn gnomes that fall in love.” Shakespeare is funny enough without froggy flirtation.

“I’m not a smart bird, but I know what love is.”

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

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Adventures with Max are phenomenal, well-written, well-played, well-dreamed, and well-filmed. Ordinarily, book-to-film adaptations lack depth and intrigue. This film, having no more than 10 pages to work with, however surpassed my every reading of this book before. Little Max gave an astounding performance. I could feel his pain, understand his loneliness, sense his sorrow, and at the same time, he made me more resilient with his every battle cry!
Henson’s monsters ala Sendak spoke candidly, played violently, felt intensely. Each highlighting and honing in on an aspect of the boy’s internal sensibility, became a kalidescope of kid-sized reactions and thoughts. The new “family” made him their king and asked if he in his power could take away the sadness and loneliness. His response became the backbone of the film, “I have a sadness shield and I take loneliness and do this…kapkooo!” King Max grew up over his short season as king of the Wild Things, learning how to deal with his inner termoil and how to love his family again. Saying goodbye, Max sailed back across the sea to the perfect sound track by Karen O and the Kids.
So, let the wild rumpus begin!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

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Twas Alice at the midnight Lowes
Did friends and film class students vade
to see Tim Burton’s modern show,
the Alice cavalcade.
Undaunted sat we glaring up
at marvels never seen,
But it was young Miss Wasikowska
who lit up every screen
Anne and Johnny play their roles
as children with new stacking blocks
gallumphing through the mystic woods
and quoting Carroll’s Jabberwock
I believe Jane Austen would approve
this glam-fest period piece 3-D,
she’d thrill and push for women’s rights
discussing creatures over tea.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

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Today, the epic clash ensued between titans! Greek Gods, demigods, and men battled for the power over and worship of mankind. Liam Neeson (the one I deemed my 2nd Dad after Taken) plays an ever-powerful Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes (an excellent Voldemort and beautifully fascinating creature indeed) is again the antagonist as Hades. Both typecast? Not likely…but commonly cast certainly. Aslan most definately released the kraken today.
Much like the sense of familiarity when smells evoke memory, so somehow my childhood was laced with these adventures and 80’s wonders. Perseus must defeat Medusa, ride the pegasus, and destroy the kraken. I’ve always known this somehow.
It seemed somehow appropriate that this film would come out right before Easter – the day of the resurrection of THE hero – the salvation of the world. The one sent by His Father to save us all. It was interesting that Zeus said in the film, “I will not sacrifice my son for the sake of humanity.” When that is exactly what God did. The legendary superman lives on in echo through characters like Perseus, but we must never equate these to Jesus. The Greek gods were selfish, angry, too like humans.
Yet the Greeks of old constructed temples and made sacrifices to appease these gods. We see the fanatic followers on the screen and laugh because we have forgotten that so much of creation is re-creation – this was religion for so many not so long ago.
I like an epic action flick, so I again donned the 3D’s today to spend a few hours vicariously saving the world. There was no nudity or language, and only black blood. Don’t take little kids, cause they’ll pee the $14 seats. It’s fun, though. Dangerous and fun. Hmm. Two words I associate with God. Call me unique, but I do. Happy Easter, all! Blessings.

HE is risen indeed!

AUSTRALIA (2008) movie review

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On a sick day, one needs a movie movie to snuggle in to.
Australia is just such a film. It was a 3 hour commitment in theaters. Call me crazy, but I’m a sucker for a good story. I cared about the characters. I wanted the best for each one.
In this film, I’m transported, and I imagine myself in the midst of such dire entanglements.
I carry aspects of this film in my pocket – the inner-connective Wizard of Oz story, the Aboriginal heritage, the journey, the war, the struggle. But mostly, I carry the vivid color and surging life of this film. It is a survival story. It is a love story. It is my favorite of Baz Luhrmann’s colorful collection, despite my utmost respect for his Romeo + Juliet, which I couldn’t teach English without. For you and for me, on our Meg Ryan-esque (You’ve Got Mail) sick days. Enjoy.

NARNIA…VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER..2010

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Long for adventure.

Battle evil.

Resist temptation.

Be of good courage.

To Lucy – Believe that you are loved, desirable, and a world changer.

To Edmond – Trust that you have what it takes to succeed and that the you have already defeated the evil one.

To Caspian – Know that you can and must be King. To whom much is given, much is required.

To Eustace Scrubb – Trust that even a dragon can be made new.

Joy waits beyond in Aslan’s  country. Lewis loads his children’s fiction with applicable life lessons, and the films do not fall short. This 3rd installment in the series beautifully captures the crux of a most beautiful story. Head full sail into the unknown to rescue the lost Lords of old. It stirs my heart to dream, along with Reepicheap, of tasting the sweet water and moving “further up and further in!”

Get to know His face. Learn to hear His voice.

Long. Battle. Resist. Be.

Merry Christmas.

P.S. See more of Will Poulter, the actor who played Eustace, in the odd-duck indie Son of Rambow, (2007)