Filed under: Literature, Preview | Tags: childrens book, fantasy, Preview, spike jonze, where the wild thing are
Max is the King
I’m sure lots of kids have read the wonderful book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. It’s a classic story of imagination and fantasy that has just been waiting to be made into a great film. Soon hopefully that great film will be hitting a theater nearby since it is now in post-production after filming started in 2005. Spike Jonze is directing this live action feature the screenplay of which he co-wrote with David Eggers. The basic storyline is as follows:
“One night Max dresses up in his wolf suit and does all kinds of things he shouldn’t, like chasing the dog with a fork. His mother scolds him and calls him a “WILD THING!” Max is so mad he shouts back, “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” As a result, his mother sends him to his bedroom without any supper. Max’s imagination transforms his bedroom into an extraordinary setting, with a forest and an ocean and a little boat that Max sails in until he comes to a land full of “wild things.” Although they look and sound very fierce, Max is able to tame them with a single glance. They all realize Max is “…The most wild thing of all” and make him their king. Max and the wild things have a fine time creating a rumpus until Max begins to want to be “…where someone loved him best of all.” Max’s fantasy ends when he smells his dinner. Despite the wild things’ protests, Max sails back to his own room where he finds his supper waiting for him. ” Via about.com
The images that have emerged of the film’s characters (some being up to 8 feet tall) are amazing and bring back warm memories of The Labyrinth and my love for Jim Henson. The Jim Henson Company who was also responsible for the Labyrinth’s creatures are responsible for the Wild Things and I cannot wait to see how the film turns out. I have a feeling it will be great, even without David Bowie in tight pants.
Beautiful Sunset
Through the Wall
Movie Review: Coraline 3D
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David and many more
Rating: PG (Not for Sensitive Kids)
Release Date: February 6, 2009
Original Novel: By Neil Gaiman
I went to see this last night since this past weekend I was a total lazy bum and pretty much did nothing but sleep and watch episodes of The Tudors. I had been kind of following it through rumor to release since I am a huge fan of anything and everything that Neil Gaiman does. Not to mention the fact that Henry Selick (director) is a freaking genius. I mean, have you seen The Nightmare Before Christmas? Anyways, so obviously I was very excited to see Coraline and the 3D part of it made it even more appealing.
I hadn’t read the book even though I had bought it when I heard the movie was going into pre-production. I will most likely read it now just to compare the two. The beginning of the film is a bit bleak and even the color scheme is very monotone to emphasize the ordinary attributes of Coraline’s new home that her Mom and Dad move to. Both her parents are writers and seem to have very little time for her which is unfortuante for Coraline who obviously wishes they were more involved with her life. She appears to feel neglected especially by her mother who isn’t exactly the nurturing type.
The Wormhole
She begins to explore the new house which is actually an apartment type building with the attic rented to an eccentric Russian gentleman who trains mice for a circus. The basement is rented to two older british ladies who seem just as strange and who appear to have at one time been actresses or performers. Coraline meets all of these characters along with her nearby neighbor Wybe (short for Why Born) who visually reminded me of the trick-or-treat kids from TNBC. He becomes what you might consider her friend mostly because he is the only one around that’s her age. Wybe also introduces her to his cat who is played by Keith David.
After the first day of exploring in the new home, Coraline resigns to bed and is quickly awakened by a tiny mouse who like Alice & the Rabbit leads her to the tiny door in the living room which is now open to a whole new world. This is where the 3D effects get really cool in the film. Coraline discovers on the other side of this wormhole a different life that mimicks her own but instead of being boring and ordinary it’s beautiful and exciting. Her “other” parents seem to adore her and make her the center of attention.
Mouse Circus
She wakes up the next morning back in her own real world with her real parents and this nightly escape into the “other” world continues until she discovers that what may seem to be the perfect life isn’t at all. It’s a classic lesson of the grass isn’t always greener on the other side (of the wall) and teaches kids to be happy with what they have even if it isn’t perfect. Once Coraline discovers the truth about the “other” world and the “other” mother she must play to win back her life and the souls of those that came before her.
Now, you might be saying to yourself “souls of other children?”. I have to say that some of the themes and images are definitely a bit grown up for a PG movie. Even the sowing of the buttons on a child’s eyes is a bit of a scary scenario for a little kid, but I think that the audience for this kind of film is not necessarily for young children. Sure it’s something that a 12 year old could handle but not kids much younger than that. The “other” mother eventually turns into a very freaky looking spider like creature that might give the little ones nightmares. Not to mention the scene of the “other” downstairs actress neighbors who lets just say have a very adult look.
In the end I really enjoyed this movie and can’t wait for it to come out on DVD so I can see the special features on how it was made. The credits showed that there were stop-motion and CGI techniques used so I’d love to see how they merged the two. I highly recommend it for anyone who loved either The Nightmare Before Christmas or James and the Giant Peach. It’s a great movie even if the audience for it is a little different than one might think from the commercials.
Bottom Line: EXCELLENT FANTASY FILM
Filed under: movie review | Tags: fantasy, horror, movie review, prequel, underworld, vampires
Underworld 3 Prequel
Starring: Michael Sheen/ Bill Nighy/ Rhona Mitra
Rating: R (Violence etc.)
Release Date: January 23, 2009
When I found out they were making this movie I couldn’t wait to see it. I was a big fan of the previous two Underworld films and since this one had a lot of the same cast I was even more excited. The earlier films revolved around the feud between the vampires and werewolves (lycans) but you didn’t really understand why it began except for a brief explanation in I think the second film by the leader of the lycans “Lucian”. This was one of those rare occasions where a prequel was actually a great idea and done well whereas prequels like Star Wars sucked.
The set design was amazing, even more so than the previous two films and the plot was great too even though most people new the basics of the story going in if they had seen the earlier films. Michael Sheen did a great job as Lucian and as an actor I think deserves more credit since he also recently played Frost in Frost/Nixon. I have recently found out that he will play the Cheshire Cat in the new Alice in Wonderland film by Tim Burton. And I was impressed with the rest of the cast’s performance as well.
My only criticism was with Lucians second in command Raze played by Kevin Grevioux. Although I can see why he was cast in the film I couldn’t help but to laugh a little whenever he would speak because his voice was a bit comical and unlike all the other characters he had no British accent. But still that didn’t take that much away from the experience of the film.
I am not really sure about the rumors I have heard of Underworld becoming a TV series. I think that would really be a bad idea due to the fact that although the films have done well on the small screen you are dealing with a different audience. I mean, where would it even air? Somewhere between one of the 15 different CSI shows and E.R.? TV audiences are very fickle (i.e. the cancellation of Pushing Daises and all my other favorite shows). In the end a TV series would most likely get canceled and probably not even get the same characters to star.
Bottom Line: GREAT PREQUEL
