Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Negative Review
Persuasion. Well where to begin... Over all this film lacked. It lacked in good characters, in decent music, and the whole quality of it was very poor. When watching this film I was greatly disappointed at how they took the story and totally botched it. None of the actors fit in with the characters and ruined the amazing world that Jane Austen created through this story. It looked like the camera man gave up his job and let a four year old take over. Bad job with cinematography. I would highly suggest saving your dollars and an hour and a half of your life by not watching this terrible film I will be generous and give this two out of five stars.
Positive Review
Persuasion was a film of lost love, debts, jealousy, betrayal, and meddling friends with bad advice. (A typical Jane Austen story) Anne is a woman who's voice is yet to be heard, but her heart says it all. She gives everything she has, although there are greedy people around her that expect more out of her. All the actors did a superb job at portraying all of the characters Austen cooked up. A vain father who only things about looks and names. An equally vain older sister that can't live without the most expensive luxuries of life. Mary Musgrove's part was played exactly to a T. I don't think I have ever felt more embarrassed than for that attention seeking hypochondriac. And lastly, the best for last - Captain Wentworth, the only one who can understand Anne and love her for who she truly is. They took a beautiful book and turned it into a magnificent picture for all to see and appreciate. The film stays true to the novel but also has its own little flares here and there - all good. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this love story and will probably see it again some time in the future. How can anyone pass on a love story, especially one by Jane Austen, which always has a happy ending!! This film receives four and a half out of five stars.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Makeup/Costumes/Props
The clothing looked very authentic and real for the time period. Although I was greatly disappointed by how much they tried to make Anne look old and frumpy. During the film she had two different hairstyles and both were very unattractive. The clothes she wore were not very flattering for her figure either. Or maybe that is how it was meant to be and I just disparately want her to look pretty. They did an amazing job with Sir Walter Elliot, showing how immaculately kept he was and also how vain. For him they used mirrors as props and always had him looking inside, and greatly satisfied with what he saw. They used clothing by showing the difference in class system. IN their time they did not have or wear makeup so they used as little as needed making it look very authentic. In this section I feel they did a great job showing what the characters were like through their clothes, makeup, and props.
Cinematography
In this film I felt that the cinematography was excellent considering how low of a budget they had. They used light extremely well because it showed how things really would have been during that time. In night scenes they used light only from candles which is the only source of lighting that they would have had. During the day they used as much natural light as possible. And for all that, it made the whole film feel like a real experience. In one scene, Anne is running down a street and instead of using a track for the camera, someone followed behind and you could see everything as if you were following her- dodging and ducking, tripping and skidding. Although some parts looked a bit cheesy, overall I was greatly please by the cinematography in this film.
Soundtrack: The Secret Life of Daydreams Music by Dario Marianelli and Piano Performed by Yves Thibaudet
The main character's song for Anne is The Secret Life of Daydreams from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film. The title alone fits the character so well because she is vastly excluded from everyone else that all that is left is to lose yourself and daydream. I can just imagine Anne on one of her walks through the country or by the sea and this song playing in the background. It sounds almost slightly breezy the way he plays the piano, making it a good score to play on a day that is windy with the breeze blowing through her hair. Yes, I believe this is perfect.
Soundtrack: Braveheart Theme Song by James Hornet
I chose the theme song from the film Braveheart to also be the main song throughout this film. This song offers strength to persevere and it helps one reach out and accept life as it is and not for anything less. It truly is a love song that will last throughout the ages.
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