Friday Flix: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

   I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm something of a vampire geek.  This extends to other things of a semi-gothic nature as well, a prime example being the book Frankenstein.  It was 100x better than I could have anticipated and nothing like I expected.  I wont go into a rant on how terrible most film addaptations are, but let it suffice to say there is only one I've seen that I feel is faithful to the spirit of the book. Yes, this film is "old" (1994) but seriously who cares?  It's awesome and that is that.
   The film, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is direct by and stars Kenneth Branagh, as well as Sir Ian Holm, Robert De Nero and Helena Bonham Carter.  While that is really all you should need to know to make you run out and see it immediately I will give you a little background.   Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein, a kind, funny and highly intelligent medical student.  Helena Bonham Carter is simply lovely as Elizabeth, Victor's best friend and love. Robert De Nero plays Dr. Frankenstein's creation, known simply as The Creature.   Contrary to the greenish hued Boris Karloff version, The Creature is actually highly intelligent, sensitive, fast and incredibly strong.  Angry at his maker for being abandoned to fend for himself in a very harsh world, The Creature sets out to find him and seek his revenge.
   With a few select exceptions, I'm not much of a horror movie fan, but this is not at all what I would consider a horror film.  More like an epic period drama/romance/adventure film.  If you like any of those, see it.  Or if you like to plan ahead and you are just looking for a respectable pseudo-creature-horror film to put on your October movie list, see it.  Or if you just fancy the idea of a gratuitously shirtless Kenneth Branagh and a "Frankenstein Monster" without bolts in his neck, see it.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text (Oxford World's Classics)

Friday Flix - Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

   This film was originally a book published in 1938 and was very popular at the time.  It was scheduled to become a film however with the start of WWII it was put on hold.
   When people ask what my favorite film is, it's pretty much impossible to say.  However, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is probably a front runner for the title-I could seriously watch this film on a weekly basis. Along with Whip It! it is one of my never fail "cheererupper" movies.
   To me, this film has everything.  I grew up watching a lot of films from Hollywood's golden age and I think that has a strong influence on my perspective on movies.  Miss Pettigrew takes place in pre WWII London.  What I love about this film is that it is at once completely modern and flawlessly vintage. The cast is wonderful-Amy Adams as Delysia Lafosse simply shines and Frances McDormand's Miss Pettigrew is both funny and profoundly insightful.
   Miss Pettigrew is an out of work nanny who happens into her job as a social secretary for Delysia LaFosse quite by accident.  Delysia is a lovely and talented singer, hopelessly with a hopelessly flawed love life.  She lives with the owner of the nightclub where she sings, she's having a fling with a Broadway producer in hope that he casts her in his next show, and her accompanist Michael tells her he loves her-and all in one day.  What's a girl to do?  Enter Miss Pettigrew.  While at first glance it may sound petty, but there is much much more than what meets the eye.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Persephone Classics)
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Widescreen & Full Screen Edition)

Friday Flix-Fiction Edition

NaBloPoMo's theme for the month is Fiction and since I'm not much of a fiction writer I thought I would give the  theme my own treatment.  Each Friday this month I'll focus on my favorite films based on works of fiction. I'd love to hear your thoughts on both the films and the books.  What are some of your favorites?

Friday Flix-What are your favorites?

I thought I would switch things up a little bit this week...Rather than me telling you about my favorites, I thought I'd open it up to discuss what yours are.  What makes a good film to you?  Is it the plot, cast, cinematography or script?  Perhaps it is the music or special effects, or maybe a combination of many of these things.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Friday Flix - Featuring Brent from Random Dude Eats Random Food

   As you may know, for the past few months I have been kicking off the weekend with Friday Flix-a weekly blurb about a movie I think is awesome and therefore believe everyone should see.  Well, we are mixing things up a bit this week as I have my first guest blogger!  Yes, it's true!  Brent from Random Dude Eats Random Food will be providing this weeks Flix.  In addition to blogging about awesome food finds, Brent is also quite the movie buff.  As we see eye to eye on the matter of super hero films, I feel the Flix are in good hands. 

 

                                      

   I'm not the type of person that goes to a lot of movies.  Don't get me wrong.  I love a good flick, but ticket prices these days are borderline outrageous.  However, there are exceptions to every rule, and being that I am a male between the ages of 18-35 there isn't much I wouldn't endure to see an awesome superhero movie.  I got the chance last weekend with Marvel Studios' Thor. 
   Out of all the heroes in the popular Marvel Comic lineup Thor may not be one that everyone is the most familiar with.  Sure he is a member of the superhero team The Avengers, but nowhere near as well known as his counterparts such as Iron Man, Captain America or The Incredible Hulk.    Going in I knew that Thor was based on the god of thunder in Norse mythology, and I knew his weapon of choice was his magical warhammer, Mjolnir, but other than that I was somewhat clueless.  But sometimes with comic book movies not knowing the years of backstory can be a really good thing.  I was really able to let the movie present to me the origin story and characters with finding it boring or unable to live up to preconceptions.  Overall, I think the film is incredibly well done.  The material is written and acted in such a way as to bring in newcomers or those who might be weirded out by superheroes or stories involving myth and magic.  There's action, humor, and yes even a wee bit of love story.  All in all a good way to kick of the Summer movie season.  Oh and Captain America and Green Lantern are coming out later this year so if you dig guys in costumes kicking ass...get ya popcorn ready.

 

Friday Flix - My Neighbor Totoro

As long as I can remember I have loved animals and pretty much all things cute.  I also have quite an active imagination.  Knowing this, many years back Hubs introduced me to the wondrous world of Hayao Miyazaki.  All of his films have a certain wonder about them, but My Neighbor Totoro is my favorite.  The story is about two girls and their father who move to the country to prepare a new home while their mother is overcoming an illness in the hospital. Shortly after they move in to their home, they discover they are not alone and that there are Soot Gremlins in their attic.  They also come to find that there are Totoros in the near by forest.  Now a totoro is a wonderful woodland animal full of magic.  The two girls become friends with the totoros and have some amazing adventures together.
   The animation in this film is so beautiful and the characters are so charming you will be drawn in from the very beginning.  As you can see by the picture, this film features the voice talents of Dakota and Elle Fanning as the sisters Mei and Satsuki.  As you may be able to tell, I am not an Anime purist or I would have linked to the original Japanese version and told you that the only acceptable way to view this film is with subtitles.  I have done both, and I honestly prefer the English voice track with Elle and Dakota.
   This film is just enchanting all around, no matter what your age.  I have watched it many times and it never fails to bring a smile to my face, I hope it will do the same for you.

"Friday Flix" - Say Anything

   So do to another unexpected Friday Fail, the Flix are a bit late.  However, I am pleased to announce that your Friday Flix selection is Say Anything.  If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may already know of my affection for Lloyd Dobler.  Say Anything is one of the best movie romances ever.  The "pretty girl falls for the underdog" story has been done many many times, but in this film you actually believe it.
   The film begins right after high school graduation.  Lloyd (played by John Cusack) is seen as painfully average by pretty much everyone, save his three best friends.  He is an aspiring kick boxer and lives with his sister (played by Joan Cusack) and her son.  Lloyd is also hopelessly in love with the lovely valedictorian Diane Cort...even if he's only talked to her once.  Diane agrees to go to a party with Lloyd and through out the course of the evening (and the summer) they both learn more than either anticipated.
   I am a big fan of Cameron Crowe and this film is his directorial debut.  He has since made many other films that you will no doubt hear me talking about at another time, but this is still one of my favorites.  Crowe's use of music in his films is flawless.  Lloyd holding up his boombox outside Diane's window and playing Peter Gabrial's "In Your Eyes" is one of the most iconic scenes of the 80's.  Keep an eye out for cameos from Jeremy Piven and Don "The Dragon" Wilson.  This film has honesty, feeling and heart without the melodrama so often imbued in high school films.  It also happens to be one of the most quotable movies ever.  Watch it.  I'm not going to guarantee you'll love it, just that you should.