Vanity Fair

Having recently seen the BBC version of it, I have a lot to say about both the book and the impending movie.

I read the book a few years back and now, I can barely remember what happened to poor Becky. Which just goes to show how much I had grown wearisome of the book or how un-retentive I was.
Indeed it was neither. Thackery is an excellent writer and thus Vanity, despite its length (which closely resembled Anna Karenina's), was still a dream to read.
Of and about Becky, the daughter of a blind tutor (I think!) works...no, claws her way up through society, indifferent to the people she leaves dead and bloodied along the way. And once again, like Anna Karenina, parallels Beck's social mountaineering with the descent of once-rich-now-poor Amelia, Beck's friend from school. I have no fear in giving away that as deserving as either girl was that one ends up unhappy but somewhat satisfied while the other has an uncharming Jane Austen ending. Featuring an excellent English cast, with the exception of Ms. Witherspoon, which includes the likes of Romola Garai (personal fave), Jonathan Rhys Myers, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Elieen Atkins, Rhys Ifans (Ah! He plays Dobbins! What? Who did this casting?), James Purefoy and of course, Gabriel Byrne, who could say no? Well certainly some could but not me. I've always had a softie for period dramas. The trailer proves thus wise with enough wealth and richness of period style, detail and production to rival the Phantom of the Opera. With a dash of that exotic, Indian allure which of course, is the facet and focus of Miss Becky's personality. In truth, I'd love to see this all squashed into one fat movie but I also fear it. Let's hope my fear is squashed itself as I loved Ms. Witherspoon in her debut English accent in The Importance of Being Earnest and consquently, I await this in earnest derived just from the trailer. 9/10 from me.
I deducted a point because Gabriel Byrne does not come off to me as the lavicious type. No, no. That bald guy from the BBC series did. Perhaps switch him with Hoskins. Yes, that's better. *nods* Download away.

~ M.M.W ~

Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Loved the first one. My sister didn't but my friends did. It was awesome, fast paced and had twists and scares, which is enough for me. Not too gorey or shocking either, so I was easily pleased.
The trailer is another matter.

First off, I was tentative when I first watched this trailer, avoiding the beginning because having watched the teaser completely scared my socks off. The teaser looked like an ad, a beauty, cosmetic ad. But knowing the movie was about zombies, I had a pretty good idea where it was going to go. And it did.
The trailer begins off the same. A man sitting at home, watching the ad. And then she turns suddenly into this dead creature (which by the way, none of them did). It probably scared me more because she resembled the girl from the Ring.
Anyway, it goes on to show what happened while Alice (Milla Jovovich) was out and the city was taken over. Umbrella it seemed, re-opened the hive and the city caught the contagion. Sealing off the area was a bad idea, leaving main-characters that worked for them inside.
Fortunately at the same time, someone else (not sure if it was Umbrella) had taken Alice and subjected her to things (not sexual) that enhanced her. Think Ripley in Aliens Four. So she's faster, meaner, tougher and ready to take on those dudes, memory completely restored. Anyway, she goes in to save them.
Unfortunately Eric Mabius who was the only other survivor (should I call him survivor?) has been turned into the Nemesis, a vastly, mutated thing that's after their team and by the name, Alice, his match.
The trailer offers this whole story, all packed into one, as long as you knew what happened in the first film. Its a great trailer, explaining yet also tempting you to watch more. There's this cool bit where Alice is running down the side of the building as it explodes above her. The CGI characters which my sister laughed at in the beginning also look better too, more real, more life-like and a lot more ready to fucking kill you. As for the other characters, most of them are reminiscent of the previous movie. Except for the new 'kick-ass' girl who lashes off cliched lines like: "I'm good but I'm not that good,". I can't blame her, but soon enough I'll find her annoying. I like Milla, but I don't know, her voice and character are just an emulation of our heroine.
While watching the trailer, I couldn't help picking up things from other movies. The 'survivor' they pick up from the lost city, a little girl. (Aliens Two) The way Milla holds her guns and puts them into her belt (Tombraider). Yet, for an action movie in this day and age, it looks realistic. It doesn't look like too much CGI has been used, the sets, the characters, the ass-kicking looks real and well done. I can't say what to expect but since those helming the first one are back, with a bigger budget and more characters and a bigger danger I prophesise the best. 8/10 for me. But who knows? I deducted two because of the annoying girl and the cliched lines. WE need Whedon here.

~ M.M.W ~

Movie News: One

Yes I know this is trailers. But this is movie-trailers, hence I can post up movie-related-things. Yeah. There really should be a technical name for that. And the word 'stuff'. I'm just too colloquial, dude.

From: Coming-soon.net

One. Fantastic Four news. Ioan Gruffud, also known for his over-acting, over-emoting, campness (his words!) as Lancelot in King Arthur has been cast as Mr Fantastic. Right-o. Oh and Jessical Alba is up as the Invisible Woman. Oh dear god.

Two. Anyone ever see Basic Instinct? One of the best, most-copied, thrillers ever, ever. I was bit turned off by its rampant, and then suddenly gorey beginning but it was excellent (after that! ugh!). Sharon Stone was awesone. HOWEVER, headline: 'Sharon Stone ready to film Basic Instinct Two'. What? No. No sequels. Ruination! And she may appear nude again in the follow-up. "I'm like, 'Does anybody want to pay $12 to see me naked?"' the 46-year-old said. "I'm like, 'I guess it's OK.". Nope, sorry. I'd pay 12 not to see her naked. Trying to pick up the scraps of her lost acting career, milking for all its work. In the words of Vince Vaughn: "I think there's some left. *suck* *suck*" Sad.

Three. With the exception of 'Gojirrou'(Godzilla, for you non-movie speak ppl) and 'Bond', nothing good is to come out of an 8th sequel. Believe me. So, what hack in hollywood decided to ressurect the Police Academy series? Idiots.

Four. Um...as a kid, I loved the game 'Doom'. But it is too ciche to say that a a movie-from-game (or game-turned-movie) of this world-famous shoot it up Game is Doomed to failure? We think so. (Me, Ames and co.) The Rock doesn't though? Hm, well look at the Scorpion King. Thumbs down for me. Here's the basic plotline though, for you interested fans: "The story is set at a Mars space station, where an aerospace conglom is conducting secret experiments when something unleashes a demonic force that threatens to overtake the facility."

Five Comingsoon is reiterating what I allready know. If anyone watched RoveLive on Tuesday night, you would have been surprised at three things. 1) The length of Ioan Gruffud's tongue 2) How many more female fans he will have after that. And yes, this comment is sexually-oriented. Yow. 3) And...Joss Whedon's (who I love, along with Matt Reilly) baby idea to do four telly-movies out of his 'Buffy/Angel'-verse. One of which will be Spike. And as James Marster's confirmed this, one of them will be Spike. Yes! *pumps* Thumbs up, all the way baby.

Six Pink Panther stills up. Steve Martin to play Inspector Clouseau (who else?). Also to star, Kline, Jean Reno (fav French actor along with Depardeau) and Beyonce Knowles. Wha? Oh c'mon. Ruin a perfect cast, won't you?

Seven Casting call for Memoirs of a Geisha. Asian girls between 8-18. I've been waiting for this, or another 'Joy-Luck-Red-Latern' type movie. What I was surprised by was that it was being produced by Steven Spielburg? Wha? No thumb. I'm too stunned to scrutinise this carefully. Check with me later.

Eight God, isn't Gardenstate a boring title? Yes, untill you hear that Zach Braff is starring in it. Directing, Producing etc. I think I've said this before, check my blog. Anyway, apparently he will be voicing Chicken Little in Disney's first ever CGI adaption without Pixar. Woo. And he will directing an upcoming episode of Scrubs. Yayness.

Nine Melissa George, former star (former???) of Alias is set to work on the Amityville Horror. In my opinion, bad move. Horror movies? Really? Usually, its a step down from there. Sorry.

Ten A bit of tv-news now. Heather Graham to be regular on tv show Scrubs. Good move. Scrubs is a good comedy. Though step-down, its not too far especially with its rising stars. Go Graham. To be playing therapist who creates havoc among the other staffers.

Eleven Tim Burton. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp as Wonka. Kid from Mists of Avalon and J.M. Barrie's Neverland as Charlie. Also Helena Bonham Carter (Burton's wife) and Christopher Lee. Right-o. Now who are the Oompa-Loompas? Ah, Gene Wilder. You are still the best.

Twelve To keep going on this thread. Johnny Depp along with the same members (cancel the kid), will be starring in Corpse Bride, yes with Tim Burton helming it. He's a guy who travels to the underworld to marry this corpse bride (Carter) while his wife pines for him (Watson). Also starring, Albert Finney (Big Fish) and Joanna Lumley.

Thirteen Presidential comedy, anonymous as of yet. But written by Billy Crystal, Crystal stars as 'Death's repo man who comes to claim the President. The president has till midnight to set his affairs, etc. Hmmm...still helmed by Crystal, it should be a treat.

I think that's enough. Oh, but our all favourite Jasons Issacs will have a cameo in Elektra. Yes that J.Garner film. Yes. *nods* I know. *sigh* He'll be back for the next HP too.

Tooties,

Mel