Rating: 3 out of 5 stars When I first heard that this film was going to be directed by Tim Burton, I was really excited because I had a feeling that he wouldn’t shy away from the darker elements of this story given his track record. This film is fine as a movie for teens and kids, but as an adaptation…eh, not so much. It’s unfaithful to elements of the plot and characterization and it makes changes that I think are unnecessary. Someone unfamiliar with the story could definitely enjoy it –my dad and brother, who have never read the book, saw it with me and they both liked it—but a hardcore fan of the trilogy will likely not be pleased. For the most part the acting and effects were pretty good, but I’ve got some problems with a few of the casting decisions, characterization choices, and major changes to the plot. I don’t think it’s a bad movie as a whole but someone who loves the books could easily live without seeing it and would probably be better off relying on their own imagination to create the visuals. The general reception was pretty mediocre too, so hopefully Hollywood decides just to leave the rest of the trilogy alone. I would have loved to have seen a great version of this story onscreen, but I’m afraid this adaptation leaves a lot to be desired.
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Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Fantastic Beasts when I first heard about it. I was definitely excited to see a protagonist that is a Hufflepuff (badgers for the win!), but as a fangirl there’s always the fear that a sequel or spin-off isn’t going to be as good as the original. I know many other fans feel that Fantastic Beasts is unnecessary and that J.K. Rowling should just leave the story alone instead of adding to it in this format. However, I am thrilled to see as much of the wizarding world as Rowling is willing to reveal if every story is going to be as amazing as Fantastic Beasts. It’s a beautiful film with a great balance of drama, humor, action, and heart. In addition to wonderful characters and intriguing new magical creatures, Fantastic Beasts introduces a completely different aspect of the wizarding world. Fantastic Beasts follows British wizard Newt Scamander as he navigates 1920s New York with his briefcase full of incredible (and illegal) magical creatures. He runs into some trouble with the law, No-Majs, and even dark wizards; entertaining hijinks and adventure ensue. Fantastic Beasts is a ton of fun for long-time fans and first time viewers alike, but be warned: if you’re going into this movie expecting Harry Potter, don’t. The themes, tone, and overall “vibe” are very different from J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece, and there are few references to the original series. Fantastic Beasts isn’t perfect and although Rowling herself wrote the screenplay, it isn’t quite on the level of the saga of the Boy Who Lived. However, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t get the chance to stand on its own, and I definitely think that Fantastic Beasts is worth the watch! Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars I was really surprised when I saw director Thea Sharrock's name come up in the opening credits. I've actually encountered a couple of her projects while perusing my love of British theater, and although I'm not overly familiar with her work I think she did a fantastic job with this film. I would have to say overall that Me Before You is one of the most faithful book-to-movie adaptations that I have ever seen. This isn't really surprising since Jojo Moyes herself did the screenplay, but so much of the movie felt as if it was lifted straight off of the book's pages. Because of these similarities, my feelings towards the movie are pretty much identical to my feelings towards the book in terms of plot, characters, themes, etc., and my rating for the movie is based primarily on its loyalty to the book and quality as a film. That being said, Me Before You is a beautiful movie. The cinematography is gorgeous, the acting is phenomenal, and the cast has perfect chemistry. The humor and tragedy are both done very well, and so many of the scenes are exactly the way I imagined them. Fans of the book will most likely be pleased with the movie, and I think this adaptation definitely brought the novel to life. Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars Okay, I promise I'll shut up about Macbeth for a while after this. Although, I do think I deserve a Procrastinator's Award for how long I managed to put off this review. I saw the movie back in February at my family's favorite old one-screen movie theater, and I'm only just now getting around to writing about it. Based on the trailer and the star-studded cast, I was expecting an epic, dramatic rendition of the classic play with huge battles and castles. The look of the movie certainly lived up to my expectations; the settings were beautiful and realistic, the costumes were very intricate, and the lighting and coloring definitely set the mood. However, the acting seemed oddly stiff and forced, and some of the character choices made very little sense in the context of the original play. My other problem with the movie was the gratuitous amounts of gore; I know Macbeth is a violent story, but sometimes this adaptation went way overboard with the blood. The movie certainly wasn't bad, but it was a little bit dull and even confusing at some parts. It had a beautiful and spooky aesthetic, but some elements definitely strayed from the play in a way that really didn't make a whole lot of sense. It's pretty average; it isn't the best rendition of Macbeth that I've ever seen (I think the Regent production will always hold that position), but it definitely could have been a lot worse.
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I happen to be a big fan of theatre as well, so here I might post reviews or information about plays or movies that are based off of books. Archives
March 2017
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Turn The Next Page - a YA book blog | play and movie Reviews |