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christopherborne
Reviews
Animal Farm (1954)
Great adaptation, sans the ending
I love the animation style. It's so early Loony Toons. This film, unlike the 1999 film, realizes that the novel is an allegory. That is, one story is being told on the surface (Snowball and Neopolean), but another is being told below the surface (Trotsky and Stalin). As such, all of the film can be interpreted in those two ways. The ending, although not the same one from the back, is very near what happened to the actual Soviet Union. Considering this film was made in 1954, that's damn good. Of the two film versions of Animal Farm, this is the best, by far. The voice acting is good (and anonymous, unlike in the 1999 film). The book was a story of rebellion, revolt, and revolution betrayed but told in the manner of a children's novel. THe film is a story of rebellion, revolt, and revolution betrayed, shown in the manner of a children's cartoon. That alone makes this a good version. Fans of the novel should be pleased with this version, despite the ending change.
The Wall: Live in Berlin (1990)
Has its good and bad parts.
In 1979, Roger Waters (with some help from David Gilmour and Bob Ezrin) wrote _The Wall_, a rock opera album about a rock star's descent into madness. In 1980-1981, Pink Floyd toured the show.
In 1989, The Berlin Wall fell. Waters, who had left the band some years before, decided to stage the concert on the ruins of the Wall.
The fact that this isn't PINK FLOYD becomes glaringly obvious. Key Gilmour moments, such as Pink's part in "Comfortably Numb" or "Young Lust" have been handed off to "guest" stars, such as Van Morrison and Bryan Adams. Some Waters moments, such as "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II", are also handed off. Cyndi Lauper should die for her butchering of "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II." Other than the performances of Lauper, Morrison, and Jerry Hall, who performed the groupie's part in "One of My Turns", the guest performers fit well with their songs.
Fans of the album will notice some differences, such as the absence of "Outside the Wall" and "The Show Must Go On". The "Empty Spaces" that appears in the DVD menu is not the "Empty Spaces" of the album, but rather the "What Shall We Do Now?" of the film _Pink Floyd The Wall_.
The song "The Trial" is done as a Broadway performance by Tim Curry, Al Finney, Ute Lemper, Thomas Dolby, and Marrianne Faithful. Although good, it doesn't quite match up to the Gerald Scarfe animation, which luckily plays in the background.
Any fan of the album ought to watch this DVD at least once. All in All, not a bad concert de rock.
Wuthering Heights (1939)
For a classic, this film sure does suck!
When I first checked this film out from my local library, I had high hopes. I had such hopes for this film for three reasons.
The first reason: The film starred Laurence Olivier, whom I had seen in such films as Rebecca and Jesus of Nazareth.
The second reason: The film was based on Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights, which is one of the most original attempt at a romantic novel in the history of English literature.
The third reason: This film is regarded as a classic amongst film goers.
To say the least, I was disappointed. The film only covers about half of the book, beginning from Heathcliff's adoption by Mr. Earnshaw to Catherine Earnshaw Linton's death. The second part of the novel, dealing with the Heathcliff retaliation against the Lintons in the form of forced disinheritance of Catherine Linton (Cathy Earnshaw's daughter) and the blossoming relationship between Hareton Earnshaw (Cathy Earnshaw's nephew) and Catherine. Sir Laurence Olivier's performance of Heathcliff also lack that malice I had read in the novel.
If you want a good adaptation of the novel, watch Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (1992) with Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Burtonesque through and through
Tim Burton is a genius in film making. With _Edward Scissorhands_ and _Nightmare Before Christmas_, Burton has proved himself a man with vision, and _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ is no different.
Many people spoke out against this film, as I did when I first heard of its release. Gene Wilder has said that the Burton film is nothing more than a money-making scheme. Ironic, as Wilder's Wonka film was nothing more than a 100 minute ad for Quaker Oat's Wonka Bar. I though that nothing could possibly top the 1971 Mel Stuart film _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_.
I was wrong.
First of all, the sets. The Burton sets are amazing and wacky, on par with previous Burton films and the Dahl novel of the same name. The squirrel room and the Chocolate Room are tres fantastique.
Second of all, the story. The biggest problem, I thought, with the original Stuart film was that it was too regular. It took what may be the weirdest children's novel in history into just another Disneyesque film. The Burton film is truly wacky, with Johnny Depp doing a complete reworking of Gene Wilder's famous Wonka performance. The plot is also completely weird and Dahly, even where the plots differ, as in the presence of Wonka's dentist father. This brings up another point. There are some interesting parallels between Charlie and Wonka. Both of their fathers work in the tooth-care field (as Charlie's father works as a cap-screwer-oner). Both Wonka and Charlie had little exposure to chocolate, as Charlie is extremely poor, and Wonka's father is overprotective of his son's teeth. And throughout the film, certain comments made by Charlie perfectly reflect those of Wonka. Fans of the novel will cringe a little, but will, in the end, rejoice.
Third of all, les acteurs. Freddie Highmore's performance of Charlie in the 2005 film is light-years ahead of Peter Ostrum's portrayal of him in the 1971 film. The other child stars are also more talented than their predecessors, with the possible exception of Julia Winter in the role of Veruca Salt. One might be compelled to compare the performances of Depp and Wilder, but this would be akin to comparing Vermicious Knids to Himalayan cats. This film also bouts the presence of Charlie's father (played by Noah Taylor), not present in the Stuart film but present in the novel. And Christopher Lee, known as Count Duku to _Star Wars_ fans, is excellent as Wilbur Wonka, D.D.S, Willy's father. Deep Roy, the oompaloompa (all oompaloompas in the film are digital copies of Mr.Roy), is excellent as the little people.
My verdict: Even though _Charlie_ is better, _Wonka_ still has a place in my heart.
Adieu. Auf Wiedersehen. Gesundheit. Farewell.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Great Talent and Music!
I have seen this film and the Universal recording of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and I honestly prefer this film. This film has better actors, and with the exception of Mary Magaline, better singers. This film looks beautiful, filmed on Israeli deserts. Judas is especially good. If you can, buy the album. It's superb. One of the best Webber musicals. The costumes for this film are great!
SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALE
The end sequence is great too. It puts Jesus on an even playing field with other religious figures, something noticeably lacking in other Christian films, made by people who seem to believe they are better than Muslims, Jews, and Buddists.
Animal Farm (1999)
If you are an Orwell fan, STAY AWAY!
Fans of the Orwell novel will be greatly disappointed. I saw this film at my local library and I thought "what the hell, i'm not paying for it". I watched it, and knew within five minutes that I hated it! However, I gave it a fair chance. And, in fact, it came really close to redeeming itself, and then it screwed that up too.
Near the end, Napolean and Squealer start making propaganda films, and they make one that sums up the end of the novel well, with a great shot of Napolean standing and wearing a suit. They then go on and have a storm destroy Napolean and the farm, which is entirely contrary to the point of the novel. All in All, Stay Away.
Needful Things (1993)
Stay Away
** May contain spoilers ** Horrible. Just horrible. I loved Stephen King's novel, and this is just a horrible adaptation of it. They change the ending. They change the plot. They changed Alan Pangborne's character from a grieving husband to a happy fiancé. If you are a fan of Stephen King's novel, stay away. Even if You are not, stay away.
The book was awesomely dark, even for Steve King. An 11 year old kills himself in the novel. A middle school principal is found with child pornography in the novel. THis is nowhere near as good as the novel.
This movie is my least favorite film of all time. I hate this film with a vengeance.