(no subject)

[green_queen]

Movies I've seen so far in 2010:

January 1st

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

What a way to start the year! (Shut up, it was on and I was really exhausted.) Sonya Walger is just always fantastic, we know this, but this was just your average predictable TV movie rubbish. Noah Wyle does a cute but less-than-believable Indiana Jones wannabe, every plot point is telegraphed up the wazoo, and there's a religious throughline that's way more irritating than those in the Indy movies. Having said that, there's some cute moments, and an odd but amusing turn from Bob Newhart.

2 out of 5

The Young Victoria

This movie is stunning. I mean, wow. It's gorgeous. The people in it are gorgeous, too. Emily Blunt does a lovely job as the titular queen, by turns impetuous and petulant, regal and tough. I just love Paul Bettany, and his Lord Melbourne was fascinating. The romance between Victoria and Albert is lovely and convincing (although, not being a romantic, it didn't sweep me off my feet like it did my mother and sister). Mostly I couldn't stop noticing how incredibly beautifully this movie is shot. There are some lags in the story and it's a bit of a Period Drama, with all that that entails, but whenever my attention started to wander I would concentrate on the detail in the costuming, or the gorgeous shot composition and lighting, and I'd be sold. Beautiful movie.

They were first cousins, though. Ew.

4 out of 5

The King's Speech

Just to get this out of the way early: Helena Bonham Carter, I love you. She was so great in this. I mean, Colin Firth's a shoo-in for Best Actor this year (I think he deserves it for last year's A Single Man more) and Geoffrey Rush could well be a nominee for Best Supporting, but I will be very disappointed if HBC doesn't get a nod here. She's so different to what we're used to, and she's amazing. She gets all the Queen Mother's mannerisms down, and she's so sweet and slightly snobby and heart-wrenching and utterly charming in this movie.

Those three provide the central performances on which this film hangs its story, and they do an admirable job. Firth is all anger, frustration and perseverance as Bertie, and the moment when he turns around to see Rush's Lionel Logue (awesome name alert) draped over a throne almost makes the movie in itself. The relationships are beautifully realised, and the film moves at a great pace. It's an interesting story told very well. The challenges and restrictions royalty were facing at the time are depicted without too much fanfare, and the film is really enjoyable despite what could have been, in lesser hands, somewhat dry subject matter. I feel like it wasn't quite as pretty as it could have been, though.

4.5 out of 5

Tangled

I could feel Disney trying really hard to make this a female-driven narrative with a strong central woman who just happened to be a princess. I have to say, they were pretty successful. While I have a soft spot for Tiana, Rapunzel is a pretty kick-ass princess: she's resourceful, adventurous and charming, and she doesn't ever make herself the victim even though she so easily could be. She doesn't need rescuing, which is good, because Flynn Rider is pretty bloody hopeless at it. The movie is cute and enjoyable. I liked the conflicted villain, although I'm not too sure that the message was portrayed all that well. There are a few leaps in logic, but hey, all's fair in a world with magic, right? The horse is awesome, and the rivalry between him and Flynn is hugely enjoyable. The kids in the cinema with us seemed to really dig it, which is always a plus.

In spite of all this, moral of the story: women are only relevant when young and beautiful.

4 out of 5

Green Queen

Comments

[grrliz.livejournal.com]

I feel like it wasn't quite as pretty as it could have been, though.

I saw a clip of a Colin Firth interview where they were talking about how it's deliberately not like All Those Other Monarchy Movies (like The Young Victoria) because of the period of austerity that the film is set in, so I think the lack of prettiness is quite deliberate (I quite like that, though).

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I just meant in terms of shot composition and things. I like the grainier, less colourful look of the film, but some of the direction felt a bit pedestrian.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

LOOOOOOOOL, the second Librarian was my first movie of the year. If you thought the first one was bad....

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

Dammit, now I have to see it!

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

Instead of Sonya Walger (who, TBH, I hated in FlashForward -- which could've been the character, I suppose), it has the actress you don't like (that I love) from Burn Notice.

However, Stana Katic is in the 3rd, and she sings, so I intend to press on whenever my parents have a spare evening to watch it with me. (No way could I watch these by myself.)

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I hate Flash Forward in general (I couldn't even watch it for Dominic Monaghan) so I'm not holding that against anyone. Sonya is SO good as Penelope in Lost.

Oh, I really don't like Stana Katic.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

:O

How can you not like Stana Katic?!

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I just don't. I have no idea why not, but she's like 75% of the reason I can't watch Castle.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Castle is the reason I can't watch Castle. And because Beckett (and all the female characters) are so poorly written.

[trishpip.livejournal.com]

The King's Speech would have been a little prettier if they had given us a full body shot of Colin Firth in a kilt. Just sayin'! I did quite enjoy the story as well.

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

The "story"? Is that what they're calling it these days? ;)