Soft porn for young teenage girls- that's what director Chris Weitz has to offer. Oodles of bare-chested skin show and it's all about building up to those few moments of lip-lock- be it with Bella and Edward or Bella and Jacob with lots of awkward, cheesy dialogue in between.
Bella sure does get around- from vampires to werewolves- from being a tragic Juliet to our Romeo Edward Cullen to being an adrenalin junkie Red Riding Hood for the wolf pack- from a break up in Forks to a lover's reunion in Italy-it's all about pouting and whiny BELLA whose not as awkward as she was in the original but you still want to roll your eyes and say-LADY GROW A PERSONALITY!!! But then again with our hero Robert Pattinson's Edward Cullen talking like a zombie-it's not like the hero has much of one either.
It's less Edward in the flesh- fans will have to make do with the special effects created ghostly version of him for two-thirds of the film as he comes and warns Bella repeatedly in a strange echo of a voice-" Bella don't do anything reckless" but our little petulant, dumb Bella still decides to go motor bike riding and is adamant to jump off a cliff just for kicks or maybe just for the special effects thrill. So yes with all the staring and the ogling- the romance of Edward and Bella true to tradition continues to be unconvincing and officially hollow. So if its not dashing, milky and twinkly Edward in the flesh-its Jacob who steps up- cuts his long Indian hair into a far more pleasing short crop and spends most of his time shirtless or in the process of going shirtless to show off his muscles and pecs and play werewolf.
A far more clever director would have chosen to go less literal in his adaptation and would have focussed on deconstructing the myth of the werewolf verses vampire relationship to give his characters and overall story direction some sort of fantasy fiction edge. But no no no that's asking too much- Why should it be important to know how Jacob got recruited into the wolf pack? Why would context and a more deeper understanding of the much revered and feared vampire family sitting in Italy be significant? Why would it indeed...
Having said that though the effects and overall production values have been upgraded- The CGI is seamless- particularly the werewolf transformation moments and an underwater sequence. The second half picks up its tempo, spares us with all the love longing, "I want to be a vampire" Bella ordeal but by then the exhaustion and an aching disinterest in this sappy saga has already set in. Micheal Sheen and Dakota Fanning may be all over the posters and marketing stills but they only appear in the fag end- too little too late to offer NEW MOON any redemption.
Awkward dialogue, bland characters and a prolonged, achingly boring cranky tale of vampire longing...For those who haven't read the novel, you now know (if you didn't figure it out already)without a doubt what dear little Bella's eventual fate will be. One can't believe that one has to sit through two more editions of this four part series to get to it.Darn it....
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
INVICTUS- A DOUBLE TAKE
Just saw the trailer of INVICTUS... Morgan Stanley as Mandela??? don't know how that sits with me... When stars play icons it's tricky-from the trailer atleast I'm not so convinced about this casting choice.But I'm still curious- bringing sports and politics together... Sounds interesting.
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Day Lewis does a Fellini!
ack! neha, i cant WAIT to see NINE either.. apart from the reasons you mentioned, here's why:
1. its adapted from the stage musical from 1982 which is based on FELLINI's 8 and a half- one of my all time favourite films!
2. DANIEL DAY LEWIS: the man who's most memorable performance, the one that shot him into hollywoods radar and got him his first academy award for best actor, (he received his SECOND one for THERE WILL BE BLOOD!) was his moving portrayal of CHRISTY BROWN, an irish artist who had cerebral palsy in the film MY LEFT FOOT .. a GREAT film, and worth seeing if you havent!
Day Lewi who is of english-irish descent, is one of the industries most talented actors who is known to do extremely selective films.. he's also known for his intense method style of acting, and his committment to 'getting into character' (speaking in italian to fellow cast and crew during the entire shooting schedule in this case apparently! THINK MARLOND BRANDO or LANGELLA for NIXON) the actor does films wih almost 5 year gaps between so his decision to do this one must have been a thoughtful one.
i cant wait to see him play the eccentric, fabulous role of GUIDO CONTINI
3. AND!! i cant wait to see MARION COTILLARD play his wife! this woman blew me away in LA VIE EN ROSE (one of my dream roles as an actor :) and brought class and a riveting charm to her role in PUBLIC ENEMIES, giving the film a lot of oomph and this time around i am sure she will surprise, enagage and delight again!
4. the supporting cast and MUSIC- what FUN!!
Mr MARSHALL, expectations are high!
Cheers, Ira
1. its adapted from the stage musical from 1982 which is based on FELLINI's 8 and a half- one of my all time favourite films!
2. DANIEL DAY LEWIS: the man who's most memorable performance, the one that shot him into hollywoods radar and got him his first academy award for best actor, (he received his SECOND one for THERE WILL BE BLOOD!) was his moving portrayal of CHRISTY BROWN, an irish artist who had cerebral palsy in the film MY LEFT FOOT .. a GREAT film, and worth seeing if you havent!
Day Lewi who is of english-irish descent, is one of the industries most talented actors who is known to do extremely selective films.. he's also known for his intense method style of acting, and his committment to 'getting into character' (speaking in italian to fellow cast and crew during the entire shooting schedule in this case apparently! THINK MARLOND BRANDO or LANGELLA for NIXON) the actor does films wih almost 5 year gaps between so his decision to do this one must have been a thoughtful one.
i cant wait to see him play the eccentric, fabulous role of GUIDO CONTINI
3. AND!! i cant wait to see MARION COTILLARD play his wife! this woman blew me away in LA VIE EN ROSE (one of my dream roles as an actor :) and brought class and a riveting charm to her role in PUBLIC ENEMIES, giving the film a lot of oomph and this time around i am sure she will surprise, enagage and delight again!
4. the supporting cast and MUSIC- what FUN!!
Mr MARSHALL, expectations are high!
Cheers, Ira
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INVICTUS!
Congratulations and happy birthday CHICKS ON FLICKS- to a fantastic year 1! Neha, i second you- thanks to the entire team at PIX and MULTIMEDIA for their support and hard work- its been a good year at the movies and we look forward to yet another! :)
As 2010 comes creeping up upon us, there are movies waiting to burst out on our screens. as we close a chapter, start afresh, make resolutions, there is inevitably a feeling of palpable exhileration... that feeling of uncertainty mixed with excitement and the time is ripe for films that foster that feeling of upliftment.
the prolific, 5 time oscar and golden globe winning director, CLINT EASTWOOD's latest offering, INVICTUS, (its title borrowed from a famous poem and meaning the "unconquered"), promises to be one such movie and i am delighted to find two of hollywoods strongest male actors take centre stage here in this story about NELSON MANDELA, and an unlikely comrade, the captain of the SOUTH AFRICAN rugby team, FRANCOIS PEINAAR! MORGAN FREEMAN, (SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, BUCKET LIST) and MATT DAMON (who has really been proving his mettle in the past few yars with diverse roles from a TALENTED MR RIPLEY, to the BOURNE series to the quirky INFORMANT in which he was fantastic, and proving to be an actor to reckon with plays the captain, which reminds me, where is LEONARDO DE CAPRIO meanwhile?? another one of my favourite from the new hollywood crop... hmm).
insipired by a true story- that line itself leaves you with mild goosebumps doesnt it and somehow lends an aura of reverance and pleasure to a moviegoing experience.. while mandela is one of the most respected, controversial, admired figures of the century, its interesting to see this blend of sports into his political ambitions and plans...
from the trailer the film looks strng, bold, inspiring and i like that the focus seems to be on these two men, as leasders and human beings, pitting them, their professions against each other even as they travel hand in hand towards a much larger cause...
refreshing to see the premise and the great cast.. and if we know MR EASTWOOD we can be assured that, like all his films, this one will be filld with heart and passion.. i really hope we get some insight into this powerful figure- man and icon whom as we know is close to home for us in many ways because of his relationship wih Gandhiji... WOW, now that would make a great film! :)
but i digress, back to INVICTUS, check out the trailer and write in your thoughts!
cheers,
Ira
As 2010 comes creeping up upon us, there are movies waiting to burst out on our screens. as we close a chapter, start afresh, make resolutions, there is inevitably a feeling of palpable exhileration... that feeling of uncertainty mixed with excitement and the time is ripe for films that foster that feeling of upliftment.
the prolific, 5 time oscar and golden globe winning director, CLINT EASTWOOD's latest offering, INVICTUS, (its title borrowed from a famous poem and meaning the "unconquered"), promises to be one such movie and i am delighted to find two of hollywoods strongest male actors take centre stage here in this story about NELSON MANDELA, and an unlikely comrade, the captain of the SOUTH AFRICAN rugby team, FRANCOIS PEINAAR! MORGAN FREEMAN, (SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, BUCKET LIST) and MATT DAMON (who has really been proving his mettle in the past few yars with diverse roles from a TALENTED MR RIPLEY, to the BOURNE series to the quirky INFORMANT in which he was fantastic, and proving to be an actor to reckon with plays the captain, which reminds me, where is LEONARDO DE CAPRIO meanwhile?? another one of my favourite from the new hollywood crop... hmm).
insipired by a true story- that line itself leaves you with mild goosebumps doesnt it and somehow lends an aura of reverance and pleasure to a moviegoing experience.. while mandela is one of the most respected, controversial, admired figures of the century, its interesting to see this blend of sports into his political ambitions and plans...
from the trailer the film looks strng, bold, inspiring and i like that the focus seems to be on these two men, as leasders and human beings, pitting them, their professions against each other even as they travel hand in hand towards a much larger cause...
refreshing to see the premise and the great cast.. and if we know MR EASTWOOD we can be assured that, like all his films, this one will be filld with heart and passion.. i really hope we get some insight into this powerful figure- man and icon whom as we know is close to home for us in many ways because of his relationship wih Gandhiji... WOW, now that would make a great film! :)
but i digress, back to INVICTUS, check out the trailer and write in your thoughts!
cheers,
Ira
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