I've Got A Golden Ticket!
I just returned home from seeing the new movie "Lemony Snicketts: A Series of Unfortunate Events" starring Jim Carrey and was a little unimpressed. That's beside the point though, as I wish to center this blog on something else. There were three trailers before the movie though that made me really excited, one of which I am bursting at the seams to see the film of.
They're turning the classic Orson Wells novel War of the Worlds into a movie. It look s rather decent, at least from the previews. Although I have no word on cast or creative, it looks promising just from the idea that someone is daring enough to bring back such a classic book into movie form. I only hope that they don't downplay Mr. Well's wonderful example of thirties sci-fi writing in turn for new, instantly gratifying special effects (even though we all know that's what Hollywood has become). I believe Ray Bradbury summed it up best in an interview I once read of him when he spoke of how many millisecond clips there are out there in the cinema. All of these shorter-than-a-second frames are visually stunning and instantly pleasing to our minds. Bradbury used The Moulin Rouge (one of my favorite films) as an example. Moulin Rouge contained thousands and thousands of half second clips that resulted in nothing but an instant, semi-second sense of thrill. You don't think anymore. We don't think anymore. Whereas in a book, or, as I must add, in the theatre, these short snipids are not possible and you have to realize, think, and conclude over a series of pages or actions that lead to an intelligible ending. These outlets are far more gratifying overall in the end, moreso than a movie of quick thrills that will leave you feeling dumb and unfulfilled in the end (and not to mention eight to ten dollars poorer!). Anyway, that's all I'll comment on with my philosophies of a mindless society, because film does have the potential for good, just not the demand. I do buy recorded Broadway productions on DVD though....
The next trailer that drew my attention was for Bewitched, a new movie based on the 1960's sitcom of the same name. I hope it's a nice little retro romp, but only time will tell. It stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell as Samantha and Darren, respectively. I like Nicole Kidman in some thinks, and not at all in other. The Moulin Rouge, as I've mentioned before is one of my favorite movies, was a nice little role for her. I did feel she performed wonderfully and I enjoyed her voice, though many would contradict me. Although I may have liked the movie with anyone in her role just due to the fact that Baz Luhrman's a genius. One thing that does make me nervous with Nicole Kidman is the "retro" theme of the movie previously mentioned. If anyone has seen The Stepford Wives they know what I mean when I say that Kidman should steer clear of anymore period pieces. The problem with Stepford was that it wasn't period enough. In the remake, there time period was set to present day like the original was set to it present day. In the sixties, the idea the movie portrayed was relevant and made sense, it is not really an issue anymore, and when you bring it into the new millennium, it kind of clashes with the progress already made. The movie time setting should have been left where it was, an dthe little additions should have never happened. But back to Bewitched, I only hope that the directors don't mess up the once wholesome and pure idea of the sitcom by placing it in modern society with Kidman as an awkward Samantha. My next concern for this movie comes over the decision to case Will Ferrell as Darren. I am just not sure yet as to how this will go. Mr. Ferrell will either be genius or horrible. But I am cautious not to prejudge and "typecast" him in my mind after seeing such renowned actors as Jim Carrey leave the safe comic realm for something serious as he did for The Majestic and The Truman Show, both excellent films. Then again, his role in Bewitched will be a comic one, as it is a funny show. The sitcom was funny, and to preserve this the movie will be. But Darren needs a bit of serious stuffiness that Mr. Ferrell may lack. We'll see.
The last preview, the one I'm MOST excited about was that of the remake of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!!! I cannot WAIT until this movie hits screens! I really don't think this movie can go wrong, unless they make it too childish, which I don't believe they will just from the look of the trailer. It seem like it will be weird, freaky, odd, and a bit scary: all of the things I love and look for in a movie or piece of theatre. By the looks of cast and creative, I would almost nominate this movie for best film just by the preview. Johnny Depp, fresh back from Neverland will deliver, what I am sure will be, a wonderfully creepy and odd, yet real Willie Wonka. His performance is Finding Neverland was astounding, and I feel that film was one of the best of the year. Then, behind the camera, there is Tim Burton who will deliver, as always, without fail, a sense of magic thanks to his wonderful ability to blend the strange an unreal to the normal and real. This can easily be illustrated through his two films The Nightmare Before Christmas and his wonderful fairytale Big Fish. I am certain that with these two, you'll get a movie well worth seeing and cherishing throughout life.It will be weird, but "real" weird. I do not know if they'll be keeping the music from the original film version or not though, but a part of me wants them not to have it. From the looks of the preview, they left it in the sixties/seventies when the film was first made or at least left plenty of elements of it there. This makes for many fun costumes and sets, as well as music. The time era of the first filming was one of craziness and decadence, where drugs and music often mixed to make wonderful colors and visions. Not to say that this movie is based on marijuana or anything, but that feeling I'm sure has bled through. This movie will be very fun!
Now that I'm done with my movie mania/critiquing, I'll make another comment: Happy New Year! As I write this, it's after twelve. I missed the ball drop on the television, but not in my heart. I felt no urge or want to watch it this year. When my mother commented "Time's Square's on T.V." I replied that it wasn't anything we won't be seeing in a few weeks. This is true, as I'll be there for my audition soon....I guess New Years Eve wasn't as "rockin'" this year with the absence of Dick Clark. I kind of wanted to tune in and see how Regis was doing filling in, but got too lazy and decided to write on my blog instead and treat all of my devoted readers, if there are any. So feel special, and Happy New Years.
They're turning the classic Orson Wells novel War of the Worlds into a movie. It look s rather decent, at least from the previews. Although I have no word on cast or creative, it looks promising just from the idea that someone is daring enough to bring back such a classic book into movie form. I only hope that they don't downplay Mr. Well's wonderful example of thirties sci-fi writing in turn for new, instantly gratifying special effects (even though we all know that's what Hollywood has become). I believe Ray Bradbury summed it up best in an interview I once read of him when he spoke of how many millisecond clips there are out there in the cinema. All of these shorter-than-a-second frames are visually stunning and instantly pleasing to our minds. Bradbury used The Moulin Rouge (one of my favorite films) as an example. Moulin Rouge contained thousands and thousands of half second clips that resulted in nothing but an instant, semi-second sense of thrill. You don't think anymore. We don't think anymore. Whereas in a book, or, as I must add, in the theatre, these short snipids are not possible and you have to realize, think, and conclude over a series of pages or actions that lead to an intelligible ending. These outlets are far more gratifying overall in the end, moreso than a movie of quick thrills that will leave you feeling dumb and unfulfilled in the end (and not to mention eight to ten dollars poorer!). Anyway, that's all I'll comment on with my philosophies of a mindless society, because film does have the potential for good, just not the demand. I do buy recorded Broadway productions on DVD though....
The next trailer that drew my attention was for Bewitched, a new movie based on the 1960's sitcom of the same name. I hope it's a nice little retro romp, but only time will tell. It stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell as Samantha and Darren, respectively. I like Nicole Kidman in some thinks, and not at all in other. The Moulin Rouge, as I've mentioned before is one of my favorite movies, was a nice little role for her. I did feel she performed wonderfully and I enjoyed her voice, though many would contradict me. Although I may have liked the movie with anyone in her role just due to the fact that Baz Luhrman's a genius. One thing that does make me nervous with Nicole Kidman is the "retro" theme of the movie previously mentioned. If anyone has seen The Stepford Wives they know what I mean when I say that Kidman should steer clear of anymore period pieces. The problem with Stepford was that it wasn't period enough. In the remake, there time period was set to present day like the original was set to it present day. In the sixties, the idea the movie portrayed was relevant and made sense, it is not really an issue anymore, and when you bring it into the new millennium, it kind of clashes with the progress already made. The movie time setting should have been left where it was, an dthe little additions should have never happened. But back to Bewitched, I only hope that the directors don't mess up the once wholesome and pure idea of the sitcom by placing it in modern society with Kidman as an awkward Samantha. My next concern for this movie comes over the decision to case Will Ferrell as Darren. I am just not sure yet as to how this will go. Mr. Ferrell will either be genius or horrible. But I am cautious not to prejudge and "typecast" him in my mind after seeing such renowned actors as Jim Carrey leave the safe comic realm for something serious as he did for The Majestic and The Truman Show, both excellent films. Then again, his role in Bewitched will be a comic one, as it is a funny show. The sitcom was funny, and to preserve this the movie will be. But Darren needs a bit of serious stuffiness that Mr. Ferrell may lack. We'll see.
The last preview, the one I'm MOST excited about was that of the remake of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!!! I cannot WAIT until this movie hits screens! I really don't think this movie can go wrong, unless they make it too childish, which I don't believe they will just from the look of the trailer. It seem like it will be weird, freaky, odd, and a bit scary: all of the things I love and look for in a movie or piece of theatre. By the looks of cast and creative, I would almost nominate this movie for best film just by the preview. Johnny Depp, fresh back from Neverland will deliver, what I am sure will be, a wonderfully creepy and odd, yet real Willie Wonka. His performance is Finding Neverland was astounding, and I feel that film was one of the best of the year. Then, behind the camera, there is Tim Burton who will deliver, as always, without fail, a sense of magic thanks to his wonderful ability to blend the strange an unreal to the normal and real. This can easily be illustrated through his two films The Nightmare Before Christmas and his wonderful fairytale Big Fish. I am certain that with these two, you'll get a movie well worth seeing and cherishing throughout life.It will be weird, but "real" weird. I do not know if they'll be keeping the music from the original film version or not though, but a part of me wants them not to have it. From the looks of the preview, they left it in the sixties/seventies when the film was first made or at least left plenty of elements of it there. This makes for many fun costumes and sets, as well as music. The time era of the first filming was one of craziness and decadence, where drugs and music often mixed to make wonderful colors and visions. Not to say that this movie is based on marijuana or anything, but that feeling I'm sure has bled through. This movie will be very fun!
Now that I'm done with my movie mania/critiquing, I'll make another comment: Happy New Year! As I write this, it's after twelve. I missed the ball drop on the television, but not in my heart. I felt no urge or want to watch it this year. When my mother commented "Time's Square's on T.V." I replied that it wasn't anything we won't be seeing in a few weeks. This is true, as I'll be there for my audition soon....I guess New Years Eve wasn't as "rockin'" this year with the absence of Dick Clark. I kind of wanted to tune in and see how Regis was doing filling in, but got too lazy and decided to write on my blog instead and treat all of my devoted readers, if there are any. So feel special, and Happy New Years.
posted by ~chase at 1:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home