Friday, December 21, 2012

Flawed But Still Powerful: Les Misérables


"[Director Tom] Hooper and his production team decided the cast members should sing the songs live, as opposed to adding them later in a state-of-the-art recording studio. That decision certainly adds urgency to the visuals, but it very much works against [Russell] Crowe, who pales in comparison to the multi-talented [High] Jackman and seems more frustrated than evil in his screen time as the blindly brutal enforcer Javert.

"Hooper also starts the $61 million film with a digitally created dock scene with shockingly fake backgrounds.

"In a stage setting, Les Miserables quickly energizes viewers as we’re close to the action and feel part of the young rebels gathering to fight back against the monarchy. The screen version robs viewers of the thrill of watching the actors create stage magic." [phillyburbs]

~ "Les Miserables adaptation still powerful"
by Lou Gaul
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Movie: Les Misérables
Dramas and Documentaries
Classic Dramas and Documentaries

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

She


She added to See the Movie Read the Book Directory under Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

In this 1935 adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's classic adventure novel, producer Merian C. Cooper (best known for directing King Kong) changed the setting from Africa to the Arctic.

A group of explorers, led by a dashing Randolph Scott, sets out in search of the legendary "flame of life," a mysterious force that bestows immortality like the fountain of youth. Their perilous journey takes them to the heart of a remote glacier where they are taken captive by the beautiful but impossibly cruel She, played by Helen Gahagan.

A colorized version of the 1935 film was released on DVD in 2008 that includes previously unseen deleted scenes.

Movie: She
She by Henry Rider Haggard
See the Movie Read the Book Directory
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror