Elizabeth: The Golden Age was a beautiful movie (great costumes and cinematography) with fantastic acting (Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush), but sufferered from a poor script.
The story line was set during an exciting time of Elizabeth's reign, the Mary Queen of Scots fiasco, the Spanish Armada - it should have been great! Instead the movie seemed rather forced to me. I didn't like the anti-Catholic sentiments. Religion was a very important part of the politics of the day, but both Protestant and Catholics alike were causing trouble. Phillip II of Spain was Catholic, but was also a power hungry individual, being Catholic was not his full reason for sending the Armada to England.
In this movie, Elizabeth is getting older and still being shown heads of states around the world to marry. She is interested in none, but is interested in Walter Raleigh, a manly man, who has just returned from America. She of course can not marry him. He falls in love with one of her ladies-in-waiting, and meets Elizabeth's angry when they secretly marry. The "evil" Catholics are plotting Elizabeth's downfall and using her cousin Mary Queen of Scots (a Catholic) as part of their plot. (What was up with all of the died red clothes whenever they showed the plotters. I was confused). The plot is discovered after a failed assasination attempt and Mary is executed, much to Elizabeth's dismay. The Armada comes to attack England, but the English are victorious. The movie ends with Elizabeth holding Raleigh's baby with the epilogue that she may never have a child of her own, but she is the mother of all of England.
The plot sounds good, but I thought the execution of it in the movie didn't flow so well. First of all, I really like Samantha Morton, but she was miscast as Mary Queen of Scots. Mary should have been a beautiful, fiery woman with red hair of her own and a match for Elizabeth. She was not. As I noted above, the second problem with the movie was using the "evil" catholics as a plot device instead of giving the entire picture. Thirdly I think they tried to do too much. Focusing on just Mary or the Armada would have allowed for a fuller plot development.
Overall it was an okay movie, but I liked Elizabeth (the first movie) much better.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
I finished The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham earlier this week. It is my Mom's Club book club pick for the month of April (I'm ahead of the game!). I really liked the novel and read through it relatively quickly. It had nice short chapters that kept me intrigued. I watched the new movie version of this book last fall and I think the movie not only did a good job of bringing the novel to the big screen, but actually improved upon it. More of that discussion later. . .
The general plot of the novel is that a young woman named Kitty marries a shy bacterolgist, Walter Fane, even though she does not love him. She mostly marries him because she is getting old (25) and her much younger sister is about to be married. Kitty is married first and returns to Hong Kong with Walter before her sister's wedding, which makes her happy. While in Hong Kong, she meets the older Charlie Townsend and they have an affair. The novel starts with Walter discovering the affair. Walter tells her that she either has to get Charlie to agree to divorce his wife and marry her or she has to travel to the interior of China with him to help in a Cholera epidemic. Of course Charlie refuses to divorce his wife as Walter had predicted and Walter and Kitty travel to the interior of China. While there, Kitty learns a lot about her husband and herself. She works with small children at an orphanage and really comes into herself as a woman. I will say no more or the book/movie will be ruined for you!
I really liked Kitty's journey from a vane and selfish woman to someone that really started to care about other people. I didn't like some of Kitty's racist remarks about the orphans, but as the novel was written in the 1920's, you can't help but expect some of that!
I thought the movie improved on the novel as it really gave a more in depth portrayal of Walter and also showed a lot about the work he was doing to stop the Cholera epidemic, which I found fascinating. I also liked the ending of the movie better. SPOILER ALERT DON'T READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING. I liked how in the movie Walter and Kitty find love although in the novel, Kitty never loves Walter, but only grows to respect him. I also liked how in the movie we don't see Kitty again until five years after Walter's death when she meets Charlie Townsend on the street with young Walter. He tries to set up a meeting, but she rejects him. I like that much better than the torrid last bit of steamy loving they had before she abruptly leaves for England in the book. It was degrading for Kitty.
I highly recommend both novel and film. Both were excellent.
The general plot of the novel is that a young woman named Kitty marries a shy bacterolgist, Walter Fane, even though she does not love him. She mostly marries him because she is getting old (25) and her much younger sister is about to be married. Kitty is married first and returns to Hong Kong with Walter before her sister's wedding, which makes her happy. While in Hong Kong, she meets the older Charlie Townsend and they have an affair. The novel starts with Walter discovering the affair. Walter tells her that she either has to get Charlie to agree to divorce his wife and marry her or she has to travel to the interior of China with him to help in a Cholera epidemic. Of course Charlie refuses to divorce his wife as Walter had predicted and Walter and Kitty travel to the interior of China. While there, Kitty learns a lot about her husband and herself. She works with small children at an orphanage and really comes into herself as a woman. I will say no more or the book/movie will be ruined for you!
I really liked Kitty's journey from a vane and selfish woman to someone that really started to care about other people. I didn't like some of Kitty's racist remarks about the orphans, but as the novel was written in the 1920's, you can't help but expect some of that!
I thought the movie improved on the novel as it really gave a more in depth portrayal of Walter and also showed a lot about the work he was doing to stop the Cholera epidemic, which I found fascinating. I also liked the ending of the movie better. SPOILER ALERT DON'T READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING. I liked how in the movie Walter and Kitty find love although in the novel, Kitty never loves Walter, but only grows to respect him. I also liked how in the movie we don't see Kitty again until five years after Walter's death when she meets Charlie Townsend on the street with young Walter. He tries to set up a meeting, but she rejects him. I like that much better than the torrid last bit of steamy loving they had before she abruptly leaves for England in the book. It was degrading for Kitty.
I highly recommend both novel and film. Both were excellent.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Simpsons Movie
Ben and I watched the Simpsons Movie last night and I must admit, nether one of us was that overly impressed. It was basically like a giant TV episode, but without the clarity and focus of a half an hour show. It was entertaining, but I actually have seen many episodes that are better than the movie!
The overall plot of the movie is that Homer and his rescued pig "Spider-Pig" has caused an environmental disaster by dumping pig poo into Lake Springfield. The poo was the last pollutant to tip it all over the edge. The EPA takes over and puts the city under a dome. The Simpsons manage to escape the city and movie to Alaska, but they are moved to save the day and the town of Springfield.
There were several laugh out loud moments and it was worth seeing once. But as I said above, the episodes you see on TV are actually more entertaining.
The overall plot of the movie is that Homer and his rescued pig "Spider-Pig" has caused an environmental disaster by dumping pig poo into Lake Springfield. The poo was the last pollutant to tip it all over the edge. The EPA takes over and puts the city under a dome. The Simpsons manage to escape the city and movie to Alaska, but they are moved to save the day and the town of Springfield.
There were several laugh out loud moments and it was worth seeing once. But as I said above, the episodes you see on TV are actually more entertaining.
Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
Queen of Babble in the Big City was a light chick lit read by Meg Cabot. It was an entertaining, fast read. It is the sequel of Queen of Babble, which I read last summer.
In this novel, Lizzie is moving to New York City with her best friend Shari, Shari's boyfriend Chaz, and Lizzie's boyfriend Luke. Lizzie and Shari look for an apartment together, but ultimately end up living with their boyfriends when they can't find anything and Luke asks Lizzie to live with him. Lizzie also has problems finding a job in fashion. She ends up finding her dream job working as a wedding gown restoration specialist - but unfortunately it is an unpaid job. She has to take another job as a receptionist at Chaz's father's law firm to make ends meet. Will Lizzie be able to succeed at her dream job and actually get paid for it? Will her relationship with Luke advance to the next level? What is wrong with Shari? You have to read it to find out.
It's a typical chick lit novel with a midwestern every girl moving to New York City, but I found it to be a good entertaining read.
In this novel, Lizzie is moving to New York City with her best friend Shari, Shari's boyfriend Chaz, and Lizzie's boyfriend Luke. Lizzie and Shari look for an apartment together, but ultimately end up living with their boyfriends when they can't find anything and Luke asks Lizzie to live with him. Lizzie also has problems finding a job in fashion. She ends up finding her dream job working as a wedding gown restoration specialist - but unfortunately it is an unpaid job. She has to take another job as a receptionist at Chaz's father's law firm to make ends meet. Will Lizzie be able to succeed at her dream job and actually get paid for it? Will her relationship with Luke advance to the next level? What is wrong with Shari? You have to read it to find out.
It's a typical chick lit novel with a midwestern every girl moving to New York City, but I found it to be a good entertaining read.
The Nanny Diaries
Ben's Mom and I watched the Nanny Diaries last Friday night while Ben and Ben's Dad took a nap. Yep, it's a chick flick and not one that appears to be very entertaining for guys. I went into watching this movie with very high expectations due to a few friends telling me how excellent it was. I thought it was a good movie, but not the best. In other words, it was good to watch once, but not a chick flick I would enjoy over and over again!!
The Nanny Diaries is about a young woman named Annie who is at a crux in life and isn't quite sure what she wants to be doing. She accidently is mistaken for a nanny and gets a job with a rich couple (Mr. and Mrs. X) caring for their young son, Grayer. Poor Grayer acts out because he just wants his parents to pay attention to him. Annie finds herself lost in this 24/7 job especially because of Grayer's love and need for her. She also finds love with "Harvard Hottie," a cute guy that lives in the same apartment building as the X's.
I really like Scarlett Johansson as Annie and Laura Linney at Mrs. X. The rest of the characters were never really fully developed and likeable, which was a flaw with the movie. Also it was kind of a downer of a movie. I was near tears for young Grayer and the lack of love in his life. It was sad.
I have the book from the library so hopefully I'll be able to read that in the next few weeks and compare!
The Nanny Diaries is about a young woman named Annie who is at a crux in life and isn't quite sure what she wants to be doing. She accidently is mistaken for a nanny and gets a job with a rich couple (Mr. and Mrs. X) caring for their young son, Grayer. Poor Grayer acts out because he just wants his parents to pay attention to him. Annie finds herself lost in this 24/7 job especially because of Grayer's love and need for her. She also finds love with "Harvard Hottie," a cute guy that lives in the same apartment building as the X's.
I really like Scarlett Johansson as Annie and Laura Linney at Mrs. X. The rest of the characters were never really fully developed and likeable, which was a flaw with the movie. Also it was kind of a downer of a movie. I was near tears for young Grayer and the lack of love in his life. It was sad.
I have the book from the library so hopefully I'll be able to read that in the next few weeks and compare!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The older I get, the more like my mother I become. It's scary to discover such things about yourself! When I got to the end of this novel, I cried. And when I tried to tell Ben about the book, I found myself choked up again. Is there something about getting older or becoming a mother that makes one more emotional?
Atonement is one of the best novels I have read in awhile. The first section starts off rather slow, but it sets up the last three excellent sections. Section 1 tells the story of young thirteen year old Briony Tallis. She is starting to become a writer by writing a play for her young cousins to perform for her brother and his friend Paul Marshall. Meanwhile, she witnesses several scenes between her elder sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner that she misinterprets. Cecilia and Robbie went to Cambridge together, but Robbie (the son of the housekeeper) is back working as a gardener for the summer. The flames of love have ignited through these events, but tragedy strikes as Briony accuses Robbie of a terrible crime.
Part 2 is during WWII and the Battle of Dunkirk. I knew nothing about this retreat. It was very realistically written, and I couldn't put it down. Part 3 is also a realistic portrayal of Briony as a young nurse in London during WWII. As an 18-year old, Briony realizes that she had made a mistake as a child and tries to atone for it. Part 4 is in 1999 when Briony is an old lady. This is the part that brought me to tears, but I can't really discuss it without ruining the novel for those who haven't read it yet.
I liked the novels approach to the story of a Briony as a young writer with a vivid imagination. It only took a twist of this imagination for Briony to ruin two other lives, but it also only takes a twist of her imagination to bring the lovers back together again. That's probably saying too much, but I really liked this prospective.
I can't wait to see the movie. I'm on the library list - but it will probably be a few months!
Atonement is one of the best novels I have read in awhile. The first section starts off rather slow, but it sets up the last three excellent sections. Section 1 tells the story of young thirteen year old Briony Tallis. She is starting to become a writer by writing a play for her young cousins to perform for her brother and his friend Paul Marshall. Meanwhile, she witnesses several scenes between her elder sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner that she misinterprets. Cecilia and Robbie went to Cambridge together, but Robbie (the son of the housekeeper) is back working as a gardener for the summer. The flames of love have ignited through these events, but tragedy strikes as Briony accuses Robbie of a terrible crime.
Part 2 is during WWII and the Battle of Dunkirk. I knew nothing about this retreat. It was very realistically written, and I couldn't put it down. Part 3 is also a realistic portrayal of Briony as a young nurse in London during WWII. As an 18-year old, Briony realizes that she had made a mistake as a child and tries to atone for it. Part 4 is in 1999 when Briony is an old lady. This is the part that brought me to tears, but I can't really discuss it without ruining the novel for those who haven't read it yet.
I liked the novels approach to the story of a Briony as a young writer with a vivid imagination. It only took a twist of this imagination for Briony to ruin two other lives, but it also only takes a twist of her imagination to bring the lovers back together again. That's probably saying too much, but I really liked this prospective.
I can't wait to see the movie. I'm on the library list - but it will probably be a few months!
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Ben and I watched the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford over the weekend. Or rather we watched half of it and I finished it up on Tuesday while I was dusting. It seems by all of the reviews that I've read of the movie that most people love it, but others absolutely hated it. I found myself in between and consider it a mediocre movie that could have been great with better editing.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tells the story of the end of Jesse James' life. From his introduction to Bob Ford, to his last train robbery, to his paranoia, it is a great portrait of Jesse James and Brad Pitt did a fantastic job. Casey Affleck also did a great job playing Robert Ford as a very young man who has hero worship for Jesse James, but yet fears for his own life through Jesse's paranoia.
The acting was fantastic, the cinematography was beautiful, and I loved the voice over story telling. What I didn't like was that the movie seemed to drag on endlessly. I found myself just wanting Jesse to be shot! The movie was 2.5 hours long and really should have been two hours or less. I think they really should have taken out a lot of the material from the first half of the movie. There were a lot of pointless scenes that didn't help much with character development or scenes that went too long.
If you only have time for one of the westerns that came out last fall, I recommend 3:10 to Yuma rather than this movie.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tells the story of the end of Jesse James' life. From his introduction to Bob Ford, to his last train robbery, to his paranoia, it is a great portrait of Jesse James and Brad Pitt did a fantastic job. Casey Affleck also did a great job playing Robert Ford as a very young man who has hero worship for Jesse James, but yet fears for his own life through Jesse's paranoia.
The acting was fantastic, the cinematography was beautiful, and I loved the voice over story telling. What I didn't like was that the movie seemed to drag on endlessly. I found myself just wanting Jesse to be shot! The movie was 2.5 hours long and really should have been two hours or less. I think they really should have taken out a lot of the material from the first half of the movie. There were a lot of pointless scenes that didn't help much with character development or scenes that went too long.
If you only have time for one of the westerns that came out last fall, I recommend 3:10 to Yuma rather than this movie.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Hot Fuzz
Ben and I watched Hot Fuzz this past weekend. Hot Fuzz is a British comedy from the same people who put together Shaun of the Dead. As with Shaun of the Dead, Ben seemed to enjoy the movie much more than I did. I'm not sure if it's a guy thing or if Ben just gets the British humor better than I do!
Hot Fuzz is a parady of buddy cop movies. Nicholas Angel is a cop that is just too good at his job in London so he is promoted to a Sargent and transferred to the sleepy English village of Sanford. Sanford appears to be a sleep village with no crime, but when "accidents" start to appear at a greater frequency, Sgt. Angel starts to suspect that there is more to the village than meets the eye. He is partnered with the police chief's son Danny much to his dismay as Danny is not a very good cop. Together with Danny he investigates the "accidents" and learns that there is a horror in the village that only a giant gun battle can contain.
The movie took a rather strange twist in the middle and made it become a much different kind of movie. I was entertained, but didn't think of it as a fantastic film. I read a lot of good reviews of it so maybe my expectations were too high - or maybe I don't find British humor that funny. I'm not sure!
There are some rather gruesome deaths in the movie so it's not appropriate for young ones. Kile was innocently playing would always happen to look at the screen during those moments. If he is tramatised later in life, I know why.
Has anyone else seen this movie? Did you love it/hate it? I'd be interested in your opinion of it.
Hot Fuzz is a parady of buddy cop movies. Nicholas Angel is a cop that is just too good at his job in London so he is promoted to a Sargent and transferred to the sleepy English village of Sanford. Sanford appears to be a sleep village with no crime, but when "accidents" start to appear at a greater frequency, Sgt. Angel starts to suspect that there is more to the village than meets the eye. He is partnered with the police chief's son Danny much to his dismay as Danny is not a very good cop. Together with Danny he investigates the "accidents" and learns that there is a horror in the village that only a giant gun battle can contain.
The movie took a rather strange twist in the middle and made it become a much different kind of movie. I was entertained, but didn't think of it as a fantastic film. I read a lot of good reviews of it so maybe my expectations were too high - or maybe I don't find British humor that funny. I'm not sure!
There are some rather gruesome deaths in the movie so it's not appropriate for young ones. Kile was innocently playing would always happen to look at the screen during those moments. If he is tramatised later in life, I know why.
Has anyone else seen this movie? Did you love it/hate it? I'd be interested in your opinion of it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Earth Song by Catherine Coulter
Life has been pretty stressful lately so I thought it was high time for some escapism reading. I picked up this novel that Ben's Mom loaned me on my nightstand and read it rather quickly this week.
Earth Song is part of a "Song" series of books by Coulter, but I haven't read any of the other novels in the series. This novel is a pretty typical romance, headstrong heroine, manly hero, misunderstandings, raw passion, etc. There is also a bit of humor in it, which is nice. The novel is set in 13th century England. Phillipa de Beauchamp accidently is so beautiful that her sister's suitors inevitably fall for her instead of her poor sister. One day Phillipa accidently hears her father tell one of these wayward suitors that she is intended for a "fat old man with no teeth." She decides to run away from home by hiding in a wool wagon. The wool wagon is captured by a a poor nobleman that considers himself a rogue, Dienwald de Fortenberry. Phillipa becomes his prisoner, but is able to use her skills as her father's steward and in weaving to help Dienwald manage his manor better. The fiery pair have many misunderstandings, but find love.
It was a good, quick, and fun romance. Not heavy reading, but it was something fun to read.
Earth Song is part of a "Song" series of books by Coulter, but I haven't read any of the other novels in the series. This novel is a pretty typical romance, headstrong heroine, manly hero, misunderstandings, raw passion, etc. There is also a bit of humor in it, which is nice. The novel is set in 13th century England. Phillipa de Beauchamp accidently is so beautiful that her sister's suitors inevitably fall for her instead of her poor sister. One day Phillipa accidently hears her father tell one of these wayward suitors that she is intended for a "fat old man with no teeth." She decides to run away from home by hiding in a wool wagon. The wool wagon is captured by a a poor nobleman that considers himself a rogue, Dienwald de Fortenberry. Phillipa becomes his prisoner, but is able to use her skills as her father's steward and in weaving to help Dienwald manage his manor better. The fiery pair have many misunderstandings, but find love.
It was a good, quick, and fun romance. Not heavy reading, but it was something fun to read.
I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) by Cara Lockwood
I read this light-hearted sequel to I Do (But I Don't) last week and enjoyed it. While not as good as it's predecessor, I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) was still an enjoyable light hearted read.
I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) tells the story of Lily, the younger sister from I Do (But I Don't). It's now a few years down the road and Lily has found herself just separated from her rock star husband. It's bad enough to find out that your husband cheated on you with a movie star, but even more humilating when the entire world knows about it! Lily flies off to London to visit her friend (and ex-boyfriend) Carter and escape from her ex-husband. My hilarity and romance ensues.
I didn't think this book was as good as the first as it is hard to relate to being a rock star's wife! Also the new romance between Carter and Lily was strange with Carter sleeping with his psycho ex-girlfriend at the budding of Carter and Lily's rediscovering their feelings for each other. It seemed awkward and not as romantic as it could be.
If you liked I Do (But I Don't), this book is a good follow-up, but don't expect it to be as strong of a novel.
I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) tells the story of Lily, the younger sister from I Do (But I Don't). It's now a few years down the road and Lily has found herself just separated from her rock star husband. It's bad enough to find out that your husband cheated on you with a movie star, but even more humilating when the entire world knows about it! Lily flies off to London to visit her friend (and ex-boyfriend) Carter and escape from her ex-husband. My hilarity and romance ensues.
I didn't think this book was as good as the first as it is hard to relate to being a rock star's wife! Also the new romance between Carter and Lily was strange with Carter sleeping with his psycho ex-girlfriend at the budding of Carter and Lily's rediscovering their feelings for each other. It seemed awkward and not as romantic as it could be.
If you liked I Do (But I Don't), this book is a good follow-up, but don't expect it to be as strong of a novel.
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