As You Like It (2006)

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Watched Kenneth Branagh’s As You Like It (2006), or at least most of it.   It was a set in 19th Century Japan. The movie wasn’t good.  I am most disappointed with him.

Short list of reasons for which I disliked it:

Why was there such a shortage of people of Japanese heritage in the cast?

What was the point of the violent beginning?

Why did Orlando fight a Sumo wrestler?

Why was Duke Frederick psychotic?

Why couldn’t Branagh think of a different finale?

A shorter list of reasons for which I liked it:

The costumes were very pretty.

Getting back to Branagh and my disappointment with him…

Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000) with Alicia Silverstone was abysmal too.

He is a good actor, and I particularly liked him in Rabbit Proof Fence (2002).  His directing tends to be uneven though. Although I liked his too-long Hamlet (1996), a lot of his later efforts failed to please me. To be fair, I haven’t seen his take on The Magic Flute (2006) or seen Sleuth (2007).

I loved his Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993) but he did those when Emma was with him.  I wonder if there’s any correlation.

Maybe it’s just that I’m a bigger fan of hers than his.  I’ve followed Thompson’s career with unabated appreciation.  I really liked her in Stranger Than Fiction (2006).

Lost in Austen (2008)

There are tons of reviews finding the TV series Lost in Austen witty and light and fun.  I wish I’d seen the same show.  I championed the revisionist 1999 Mansfield Park to my friends but now I feel like a waspish Austen purist.

The story is this: Amanda Price, 21st Century devotee of Pride and Prejudice is offered the chance to enter the world of her favorite book. Chaos ensues.

SPOILERS
Proceed at your own risk.

Jane Austen links 2

Jane Austen’s books:

Renaissance Guy evaluates Austen’s characters – fun categories.

Thorough responses to some questions about Persuasion from Nexus Archives.

Excitement over Sense & Sensiblity from 1actressinoregon.

Less than enthusiastic reaction to Emma from Bookologists.

Jane Austen movies:

A guide from Suite 101 for the BBC miniseries of Pride & Prejudice.

Foster on Film: a assessment of Pride & Prejudice adaptations.

Pride & Prejudice (1980) review with a comparison to the BBC version from Sophie’s Perspective.

Jane’s World:

The blog, Adventure in Reading, discusses The War of Ideas by Marilyn Butler.  The post mentions, “Elizabeth Bennet is consistently viewed as Austen’s revolutionary heroine.“

A review of Austenland by Shannon Hale — a novel about a woman goes to a sort of Pride & Prejudice resort.  The blog is Confessions of a Real Librarian.

From the Daily Mail: a disturbing report of people scattering human ashes at the Austen museum.

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Jane Austen scavenger hunt 1

Romeo’s Ex and Drama!

Nightingale by Jerry Pinkney (2002). This was a beautiful picture book version of the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale but set in Morocco. There is a little girl with more than her share of common sense in the story. The symbol of death is a little creepy but otherwise a lovely, lovely book.

Drama! the Four Dorothys by Paul Ruditis (2007). This is a cute mystery with a teenage detective Bryan Stark. He attends the elite Orion High School filled with Hollywood’s progeny. The egos are so big that the school’s musical production features four leading ladies. The mystery is so-so as the Dorothys are incapacitated one by one but Bryan’s amusing observations more than make up for it. It’s the first in a series.

Romeo’s Ex by Lisa Fiedler (2006). This is Rosalind’s story in which we find out that she was much smarter and more mature than Romeo. She finds a worthy man but not without death, revenge and a painful amount of self-destructive behavior by everyone involved. Not for the fan of the romantic Romeo & Juliet.

Improper English by Katie Macalister (2003). A young American woman Alexandra goes to London to write a romance novel. She regales everyone from her cabdriver to her landlady with her progress. The problem is, the stuff is awful. It’s abysmal. In fact, Macalister could have eased up on us a little.

Alexandra does meet a handsome man there, named Alexander. He, understandably enough, shudders whenever she approaches him with her manuscript in hand. Not bad but I like Macalister’s vampires better.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever

Written by Julia Quinn.

Miranda has been keeping a diary ever since she was ten. A boy she then hero-worshiped suggested it. Now they are both grown up and he’s become a widower. He’s changed from a considerate youth to an embittered man.

Miranda still loves him but she isn’t sure if he is capable of loving after his wretched marriage.

This was a solid Regency. Although many of the situations were typical,  Quinn made them seem fresh an satisfying.

Hannah Howell’s Beauty & the Beast

A beautiful young woman Gytha is betrothed to one of three heirs – whichever one survives to claim his title and property also gets her.

Two heirs die in battle. She is left with the least inspiring of the the lot. However, one of the heirs, known as the “Red Devil” arrives just before her wedding. He has red hair and is heavily scarred from battle. She falls for him instantly despite everyone’s instance that he is too ugly to love. The Red Devil himself believes that the only way he can win a woman’s favor is by paying for it. He fatalistically believes the beautiful Gytha will cuckold him eventually.

It was entertaining enough. I liked Gytha. Despite having bridegrooms switched willy-nilly on her, she’s determined to make the best of it.

300 (2006)

I thought, while watching this movie, the director must love Hero. Later I found out that cinematographer on this movie, Larry Fong, was also most wonderfully responsible for Hero. It also reminded me of Gladiator except that it was shorter. And because of Queen Gorgo (Lena Hedley).

The storyline is concentrated on one event, 300 hundred Spartans versus a horde of D&D monsters. Everything was spelled out so I wasn’t distracted from the content of the film. Guys hacking and slashing in not much clothes.

The Persian ‘god’ king sends his envoy to King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) of Sparta demanding submission. Spartans believe in strength and freedom above all else, and King Leo will not capitulate. Unfortunately, he’s caught within the strictures of custom from mustering the Spartan army.

He calls for volunteers.

SPOILERS

costume dramas

The inability to analyze is still with me. So, I rented a few movies, locally and online. I felt in the need of something pleasant.

I watched this one for an assignment last week actually:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986) – it’s a bad movie but it was still an interesting look back at how Goldberg, computers and women were portrayed.

Pride & Prejudice (2003) – Modern P+P set in Utah. I have thoroughly disliked this movie for the first hour and a half. But things have picked up a bit in the last half hour. The actors are all good.

Sapphire and Steel (1979) a SF TV show from the U.K. Some kind of time-traveling detectives? People have raved about this, so I’m giving it a try.

Satya (1998) Indian musical about a gangster. I picked it it up because I recognized the name but I’m fairly sure it’s not a feel good movie. A few of the songs I sampled looked like fun.

Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) I’ve not seen this version. The costumes look great. I thought I’d try though my heart belongs to the 1982 one with Ian McKellen.

The Moonstone (1996) Based on Wilkie Collins’ mystery. The beginning seems promising.

Oh, and, well, I was embarrassed to admit it but I got High School Musical too. I think it has dancing in it.

Red River: Yuri is a Big Damn Hero*

So, I got two new Red River manga (no. 8 & 9) (image anime pavilion)

I like a story in which heroes question their motives or overcome their fears to fight for justice. I like it when they act compassionately regardless of the personal cost.

In these two books, Yuri becomes this kind of hero.

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Book 8: After the attack on her company, Yuri feels compelled to return to Hattusa and report what really happened. She meets a mysterious Egyptian soldier who helps her travel back. But, aside from Prince Kail, no one believes her message.

___________________________

Book 9: Yuri has gone to defend her Prince Kail’s reputation from an upstart who claims to be Ishtar. Yuri does not convince anyone that she is Prince Kail’s concubine, and gets thrown into a camp of people suffering from the 7-day fever.

___________________________

Prince Kail has gotten past lust or infatuation for Yuri. Now he loves and understands her. This doesn’t mean that he feels compassion for anybody besides her yet. Compassion is probably not a helpful trait for a would-be world conqueror. Still, this is a fantasy, so I have hope.

I found a shrink wrapped copy of volume 16 in the bookstore. When I showed it to my sister, she didn’t even have to read the warning label on the cover. She said, “Ooooh! That means Yuri and Kail get some sexin’ time.”

He only has 6 books to become worthy of Yuri. I wonder if he will manage that in time.

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*Big Damn Hero(s). Reckon you’re not a Browncoat. Text Explanation.

note: books 35 & 36

book 28: My Fair Temptress

My Fair Temtress by Christina Dodd

Caroline, a woman whose only skill is flirtation, is hired to makeover Jude who has zero appeal. He acts dumb, waves a handkerchief a lot, and insults women whenever he comes into their vicinity. His reason is that he is a Spy.

I didn’t like it at all.

-The tone was uneven.

-His “disguise” was pathetic: he is young, healthy, titled, rich and handsome. Most women would have forgiven his handkerchief then. Most would now, for that matter.

-She was oddly knowledgeable and aggressive in the bedroom arts considering that she was a middle class Victorian virgin.

-And, at one point, he threatened her with a knife. Under fairly unforgivable circumstances.

It was just not for me.

All About Romance has a more positive review.