Film Studies

Here's a secret: I'm a bit of a nerd. I like looking things up, doing a bit of research, some outside reading, if you will. So this winter, I've been happy to run across several movies that make me think, mmm... I should learn more about that! So here's my list, for your reading, viewing and researching pleasure:

Pain and Gain


Didn't see that one coming, did ya? Now, to be honest, this was not an intellectual film pick. Matt likes Marky-Mark and I have a bit of a thing for Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson (who doesn't?). So this movie was a no-brainer. And no, I did not start researching steroid use and female body building (I like having breasts, thankyouverymuch). But four little words had me diving to the computer after watching this: Based. On. Actual. Events.  If you've seen this movie, you know how absurd that sounds. If not, here's a recap: 3 Miami bodybuilders decide that, given their perfect physical forms, they really deserve more than the menial lives they live. So they decide to kidnap a rich gym-goer, steal all his money and assets, and live the lives of their dreams. And they do - for a while, at least. Here's a recent interview with some of the real life victims (2 of the bodybuilders are on death row).

Saving Mr. Banks

This was a really great movie, and one I'm so glad to have seen given my childhood love for the Mary Poppins movie. I have never read the books, so knew next to nothing of the story of Mary's creator - and Walt Disney's quest to convince her to let him make the movie version. The movie tells the story of author P.L. Travers - her troubled childhood in Australia, her imaginative (and alcoholic) father, and the tenacity with which she guarded the world of Mary Poppins. Here's some shockers not included in the movie: Travers, portrayed as kind of an Old Maid in the movie, is reported to have had several bisexual affairs. She also had an adopted son, who she selected from a poor family. The boy had a twin-a fact Travers knew, but never revealed to him - and the twins met randomly in  London pub as young adults. That may explain why she tells Disney in the film she has no one who cares if she's gone. Here's some of the juicy tidbits the movie leaves out, and here's a great NPR interview with star Emma Thompson, who plays Travers.

Monuments Men

Everyone's talking about what a disappointment this movie was (if US Weekly give you a bad review, you're really in trouble). Yes, any movie with that kind of star power should really be able to do justice to this bad-ass story. Basically, a bunch of art historians and curators joined the military in WWII in order to retrieve stolen masterpieces from the Nazis. I mean, this should have been Clooney as Indiana Jones and Matt Damon as Short Round. Instead, it ... wasn't. Regardless, I loved learning more about this fascinating story - and seeing a bunch of pieces I recognized from AP Art History. Plus, this is a story that is still panning out. The NY Times published this article on the ongoing saga of finding rightful owners of art found in Nazi caches.

And if you'd rather NOT think after watching a movie, and just need some good romantic fare for V-Day, check out this infographic from misadventuresmag (a production of Davidson grads - woot!)

Much Ado...

OMG, I am so excited for this movie:



Can we all just agree that Much Ado About Nothing is the best Shakespeare play? And, um, excuse me, is that Nathan Fillion as Dogberry? Because I'm all about that. Joss Whedon, director of The Avengers, is turning type for this black and white flick, shot in just under 2 weeks at his California home.

Big question? Will it be better than this version?



Oh yes, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. Hard act to follow.
But then again, it had him in it:


So.... room for improvement.

Second big question - can I name my daughter Hero? Awesome name.

Foreign Flicks

here

So, here's how cool my friends are. Right now I have one friend in Paris doing a Fulbright study (Hi Ash!) and basically living the Parisian life of crossaints tous les jours and another old schoolmate who is taking a year to travel the world - starting in Japan and moving west (Go Jessica!). So I'm incredibly lucky to be following along on their adventures via their blogs - the next best thing to actually body snatching them and taking their fun adventures for my own!

The crazy thing is yesterday they BOTH posted about a seemingly simple experience: going to see a movie. But, of course they were both doing that in a foreign country (lucky dogs)-so naturally, their experiences weren't quite what they expected.

Ashley, in France, was disappointed that the popcorn was not accompanied by our compulsory neon yellow liquid artificial butter and that car ads displaced her favorite previews. Jessica, in India, enjoyed the assigned seating in her 1500-seat theatre - plus the crowd participation!

I love going to the movies in countries I visit - some tourists may think it's a waste of time when there are so many sights to check off the list - but if you're someplace a little longer it's a great break from the hustle and bustle. Plus, as these two bloggers experienced, it's a great way to discover nuances of a foreign culture that you might not otherwise see. In India, I remember the assigned seating (awesome!) as well as one particularly enjoyable snack - boiled corn (not popped!) with a variety of flavors. Of course, being me, I spilled mine all over the steps. I also remember seeing Avatar in a Tokyo theater where everything was super super modern and super super crowded. I got sick from the 3-d glasses and the heat of all the people in one small theatre. Anyways, just thought I'd share the coincidence of these two bloggers writing about the same kind of experience thousands of miles apart - and pass along their fun blogs to you!

Don't Judge a Book By Its....Movie

here

Are you as excited about The Hunger Games movie as I am? I'm pretty stoked. And not in a Twilight I'm-excited-but-won't-admit-to-anyone-because-it's-so-lame way. I'm standing up on the (online) roof shouting about it.

Everyone I know who has read the book is super excited too see it on the big screen, partially, I think, just to see how they can possibly make the raw violence of the book into a PG-13 movie. I mean, we're talking about a book that has little children gruesomely hunting and murdering other little children....on TV. (For those of you who haven't read the trilogy, if that description hasn't scared you away, read them. READ THEM NOW.)

I have a friend who won't read anything on the bestseller list, on point of principle. I'm the opposite - I enjoy reading books that "everyone" is reading because it's one of the few opportunities to engage in those high school English class discussions: "What do you think about the ending" "What's this character's motivation,""Are you Team Gale or Team Peeta" ... well, ok maybe not that last one. Reading the book also gives you free leave to dissect the movie, line by line and shot by shot, until you inevitably conclude that the books is "like, way better."

While, in general, I agree that you shouldn't judge a book by its movie (I saw that on Pinterest) there are some great movies that do real justice to their books:

via Pinterest

 I'm a big Tolkien fan, but I have to say that in some ways, the LOTR movies improve upon the books. It's comparing apples and oranges, really - the books are an amazing work of world-building and imagination while the movie improves upon that framework in story telling and characterization. I love them both.

via Pinterest

 The Help was one of my favorite book/movie combos of the last few years. The movie definitely stayed true to the nature of the book, but added a really important element by elevating Aibileen to the role of narrator. In that way, I think the movie and book complement each other - one showing the young white writer's perspective, and one the black maid's.

here

I had an English teacher in high school who always let us watch the movie versions of the books we were reading. Oftentimes, it was a good way to get past the tricky language or plots of a book and really get into the story. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays - and it's been adapted into a wonderful movie, with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson (Keanu Reeves makes an appearance, as well.. in a Shakespeare.. I know.) 

here

The Host is Stephanie Meyer's lesser-known, infinitely more interesting and better written adult sci-fi novel. Yes it's about aliens inhabiting human bodies, but the real theme, as usual, is love. I'm excited to see that Saorise Ronan, the badass girl from Hana, is taking the helm. Too bad we have to wait until 2013...

So those are some good one. But then there are those movies that so heinously deface their literary inspirations  that you just want to scream. Take for example, these ...

don't look it up, it sucks

This movie made me want to barf. I loved this book so so much as a kid, and after her breakout in Princess Diaries, I really thought Ann H could handle representing  such a great main character -- but, no. It's a total train wreck of cosmic proportions.

 

Ok, this is starting to reveal a trend in my literary tastes - I don't just read teen and pre-teen fantasy novels, ok? When I watched this with my bestie, she literally could not sit still she was so busy angry-whispering all the things the movie was getting wrong. Too bad - these books could have been made into really good movies .. but at least that'll keep too-young-to-have-chest-hair author Christopher Paolini in the millionaire range instead of the billionaire range - it's less depressing for me that way.

I know there's more I hated ... can you remember any?

PS See you at the Hunger Games, y'all. I know you're coming. But don't eat your popcorn too loud - I mean it!

Movie Review: Anna and the King

Here's another little Netflix review for ya' -

From here.

This is a movie that I've loved for a long time, but just recently re-watched on Netflix. Most people are aware of the story of Anna Leonowens - tutor to the over 50 children of the King of Siam (now Thailand) during the late 1800s. Her story - which she published in her own memoirs - has been adapted into the musical "The King and I" and other movies.

She was a pretty gutsy woman - widowed, she took a job as the only white woman in the Siamese court and moved her family with her. And, at least according to this account, she challenge the King to modernize his government and helped him curry favor with British imperialists.

At the same time, the movie highlights the efforts of King Mongkut I (played by the dreamy Chow Yun Fat) to modernize Siam, all while retaining cultural traditions and warding off aggressive imperial powers. Thai historians hold that King Mongkut, and his son (who was tutored by Anna) are responsible for the fact that Thailand was one of the only Southeast Asian countries that avoided colonization and remained independent. Don't you love a movie that makes you research world history? I guess I do. :)

A girl and her king, from here.

 Sure, I love a good romance - especially one involving a feisty woman. But I also really love that this movie is so transporting -- the scenery is so lush, you feel like you could almost step through the screen into Thailand. Ironic, though - the Thai government refused the filmmakers requests to shoot in Thailand. They claimed the movie was disrespectful to the King.

As an added bonus, the movie features young Tom Felton, better known as Draco Malfoy, as Anna's son ...

There really are just so many British actors, huh?

Reel in the Holidays!

I may have mentioned before that I love traditions. So naturally, I love Christmas - a time devoted to doing things exactly they way you did them the year before and the year before that.

Of course, my family has traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - that's a given - but I also have a list of things I love to do during the build up to the holiday. And chief among them is wrapping up on the coach, grabbing a warm drink, and basking in the warm glow of my favorite holiday flicks.

1. A Christmas Story

This 1983 classic is actually set in Indiana, which makes it extra special. Sometimes, I find myself talking about Ralphie and his adventures like memories in my own life. Remember the time we had Chinese on Christmas Day -and the waiters tried to sing Deck the Halls? But they kept saying Fa Ra Ra instead of Fa La La?

Yeah, it's kind of embarrassing when you realize your funniest stories are actually scenes from a movie. Regardless, this Christmas epic is a part of my very being and I will love it faithfully until the day I die.

Important Note: You can now visit the actual house where the movie was filmed!! Road Trip, now!

And look what a fox Ralphie is these days! Shoot!

Wow.

2. Home Alone



Don't you love that scream? From here.



Maybe I have a thing for movies with cute little blond boys. Or maybe these are just two of the best families in movie history, and I just love visiting with them for a few hours. Either way, Home Alone (and none of the sequels) is a must-see.

3. White Christmas



All I want is a crushed red velvet gown for Christmas.... from here.



I love the clothes. I love the singing and the sexual tension. I skip over the dance numbers ('cause Vera Ellen's legs freak me out). It's a lovely fun movie that you can totally watch while reading your favorite holiday magazine or wrappin' up some gifts.

4. Love Actually

From here.

When this movie came out, I saw it in theatres at least three times. And bawled every time. Hugh Grant rips my heart out. So do Laura Linney and Emma Thompson. And oh man, Colin Firth at his best! I could do without the little chipmunk boy (Liam Nieson's son) but I get his appeal. Overall, an extraordinarily fine romantic comedy. The Boy and I watched it last night. Tears were shed. I'll let you guess whose...

5.  Bridget Jones' Diary 

Lucky girl, from here.

I don't know if this is really a Christmas movie (it didn't make this list) but it ends at Christmas so I think that counts. If you're noticing another trend here, I admit - I believe almost any movie with Colin Firth is a gift in itself and thus more than appropriate for holiday viewing. We watched this one recently too (I promise, I only get away with this amount of romcom viewing on my birthday) and, as usual, I nearly died when Hugh Grant and Colin battled it out pansy-man style in the street.

Comic gold. 

Alright, I realize this is a topic that breeds huge debate. What are your must-see holiday movies??

Come on, don't be shy...

Watch It: Three Idiots

Ok, so like many Bollywood movies, the poster doesn't do this film any favors. I wouldn't see this on Netflix and think, "Now, that's a movie worth watching for almost three hours with subtitles!" But it really is. It's based on a book I read and loved while in India; Chetan Bhagat's "Five Point Someone." The book gives an unflinching look at life for young, educated Indians and the pressures they face: go to a good college, get a good job, marry a good Hindu/Muslim/Sikh, and make lots of money! While the movie strays from the original, infusing typical Bollywood flair and flamboyance, it's a great introduction into the culture of India's burgeoning middle class Gen Y.

By the way, Bollywood, for those who don't know, is the Indian movie industry based in Mumbai. The name derives from a combination of "Bombay" (Mumbai's anglicized name) and "Hollywood." Bollywood movies are known for their musical numbers, often sappy emotional story lines, and huge stars. Yet more and more, Bollywood movies are being recognized worldwide for their quality and depth. Most Bollywood movies are shot in Hindi or English, but films are produced all over India in local state and regional dialects. Given the sheer quantitiy of Indian films produced and the different languages they are produced in, it's easier to become a movie star in India than in anywhere else in the world. FYI that.

The movie tells the story of three friends from ICE, an exclusive and rule-driven Engineering College based on IIT- the Indian Institute of Technology. In India, it always seemed to me that young kids wanted to be either a doctor or an engineer - and IIT is the top school for Engineering in the country (surprisingly, I also met quite a few students who wanted to come over here to study at Purdue - Go Boilermakers!) Farhan, Raju and Rancho become best friends in the high-pressure environment of ICE and stick together through comedic escapades (tormenting the school's Director), romance (Rancho falls for the Director's daughter, played by Kareena Kapoor) and heartache (threatened with expulsion, Raju attempts suicide). Yet, after graduation, Rancho mysteriously disappears and 10 years later, Raju and Farhan reunite to find their long-lost friend.

'Singing in the Rain' via The Guardian

In true Bollywood style, this film is full of goofy laughs, drawn-out musical numbers (don't feel bad if you have to fast-forward) and lots of heart. It's really the perfect movie for a lazy weekend afternoon when you just want to smile and not think too hard. I watched it with The Boy and by the end of the movie, both of us had a few tears in our eyes. I had some major India-home-sickness and I think he felt more than a little nostalgic for his bromance days in the fraternity.

"Three Idiots" broke every Bollywood record and is now the highest-grossing Indian film in history, not in small part due to it's super-star cast. It is also the highest grossing Bollywood film in oversees markets, finding success in the U.S., Australia and Europe. It's available for rent on Netflix and on Redbox. For more info, check out it's Wiki page or IMDB.

See any good movies this weekend? Or sing outside in the rain? Anyone?