I mean, I was fairly ambivalent about it, overall. As fantasy blockbusters go it was pretty good; I was just hoping for something a little more interesting.
Nice review. I agree with you about most of it, though I felt like Danes really had no idea what she was doing there. Part of that was the script, I think. There were several points during the movie where you could feel the narrative building up to a good line, the kind of thing that made the Princess Bride such a cult film. Every single time, the script built up to that point and then...nothing and the actors sort of looked at each other like "I got nothing. You?" Danes suffered the worst for it, but all the characters were shortchanged in terms of dialogue.
So yeah, pretty, but it's probably not going to have much longevity. I still haven't seen a good Gaiman movie, though Beowulf has some promise.
I've been seeing the Princess Bride comparisons, and this movie is so notThe Princess Bride. I'm not sure I believe that's what they were going for. It seems to me that someone involved was working from The Fantasy Blockbuster Handbook (A Work In Progress). Wizard-battle light show? Check. Sweeping vistas? Check. And so on.
I enjoyed Danes more than you did, but I agree that there were too many tongue-tied, eyes-locked moments. I thought she did what she could to make the love story believable, but in the end it was something you had to accept rather than believe.
I was happy you liked Claire. I've missed her, and thought she was (to make an awful pun, sorry) a bright spot in the film. I actually liked Michelle Pfeiffer too. She seemed to be having fun. It was just a feel good sorta fluffy movie--but I'll have to get ahold of the novel now because I'm sure it's far more interesting. And I'm woefully under-read when it comes to Neil--except for the Sandman and Good Omens.
Whoops! I'm so braindead! We do know one another! I think I thought you were Darell Schweitzer for some reason--Weird Tales guy! Then I thought about it and I'm like....no. That name is familiar for another reason. I think I'm developing a brain tumor! Weren't you at TNEO w/ me in 06? I'm a dork. Forgive me. I didn't know you did reviews for SH--but then I guess I'm not good at noticing any details that don't run me over like a Mac Truck!! Well cool! We're both SH scribes! And it's your job to be hard on a film. Gives people something to think about and argue about and we all love to argue! You should see the catty things I say when I review something. I turn into a Snark monster. It's compulsive! So glad to reconnect with you. I enjoyed the review. What are your thoughts on the upcoming Dark is Rising movie? I hear it's a travesty!
I was thinking we met at the Odfellows party at WFC in Madison two years ago; I could be wrong. I haven't been to TNEO since (I think) 2001? So it wasn't then.
I've heard some mixed things about the Dark is Rising film too. I have to confess I've not read the books, though, so I'm not sure I would know!
It's funny, I read the un-illustrated version of Stardust, and I don't think I got out of it what you got out of it -- dark and bucolic, wonder and menace. I'm starting to wonder if Gaiman just works better with pictures.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 04:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 04:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 04:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 04:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 05:20 pm (UTC)So yeah, pretty, but it's probably not going to have much longevity. I still haven't seen a good Gaiman movie, though Beowulf has some promise.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 05:31 pm (UTC)I enjoyed Danes more than you did, but I agree that there were too many tongue-tied, eyes-locked moments. I thought she did what she could to make the love story believable, but in the end it was something you had to accept rather than believe.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 11:25 pm (UTC)I review on SH too! I see I am in good company!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 11:48 pm (UTC)It's possible I came down a little too hard on the film, in the end. It was fun; it just wasn't anything more than that, if that makes sense.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-19 11:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-20 01:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-20 03:49 pm (UTC)Well cool! We're both SH scribes! And it's your job to be hard on a film. Gives people something to think about and argue about and we all love to argue! You should see the catty things I say when I review something. I turn into a Snark monster. It's compulsive!
So glad to reconnect with you. I enjoyed the review.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Dark is Rising movie? I hear it's a travesty!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-20 04:12 pm (UTC)I've heard some mixed things about the Dark is Rising film too. I have to confess I've not read the books, though, so I'm not sure I would know!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-20 04:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-20 04:07 pm (UTC)