Some movie reviews

I LOVE my Netflix subscription. It's totally worth it. I've been able to watch some great (and not so great movies). Here are my recent reviews.

Watership Down- I absolutely love this book. So, so, so much. I read it a very long time ago and have reread it may times since. I love Fiver and Hazel and Bigwig and Pipkin and Hyzenthaly and all the rest. And apparently, there is a movie. I discovered it because of my John Hurt kick (more on that later). I don't remember when the movie was made but the animation was incredible. The movie follows the story of several rabbits, led by Hazel and his brother Fiver (who is a "seer") who leave their warren to find a new home. There are a lot of obstacles and of course, some die along the way but the end up victorious and are able to create a new warren at Watership Down. Again, as I said, the animation was amazing, especially at the end when Bigwig fights General Woundwort. And even though it's a story about bunny rabbits, it can be quite dark. I love that Richard Adams created a whole world for these rabbits, with their own myths and religion and stories to tell.

Highly recommended.

Iris- Pretty much just wanted to watch this movie because of the Oxford scenes (hello St. Giles, hello Magdelene Bridge, hello Bodley and Rad Cam, hello lovely Oxford!) but I ended up being blown away by both Judy Dench (oh Dame, you are marvelous) and Jim Broadbent. Kate Winslet played a young Iris Murdoch and honestly, she didn't do much for me, despite being Oscar nominated, I believe. But Dame Judy had to play a women slowly hit by Alzheimer's. She was amazing at portraying the slow loss of memory and Jim Broadbent played her husband, trying to continue to support her even when she becomes like a child who cannot remember anything. He was spot on with the old British man with high pants, a beer belly, a cute hat and vest in most of the scenes. I thought I was on a John Hurt kick but I think I may be on a Jim Broadbent kick. He made me want to cry with his patience and likewise frustration at the situation that he had to experience with his wife who was slowly becoming someone else as she forgot. On the plus side, the movie co-starred Penelope Wilton, aka. Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North.

Also highly recommended but also very sad.

The Elephant Man- I expected by be horrified by the makeup job on John Hurt but I was mostly horrified at the treatment of the Elephant Man. You can do your own research on the true man but let's just say top of my list this summer is the London hospital to see the remains of the Elephant Man. John Hurt stars as a man who was horribly disfigured, so much so now that he cannot lie back flat or he would asphyxiate himself. He is horribly treated at several different freakshows, both in England and the continent and his saving grace was Dr. Anthony Hopkins and these other circus freaks in Europe who released him from a cage and sent him back to England. I was bawling when the Elephant Man was attacked at the train station and shouted "I am not an Elephant Man. I am a human being!" There was one scene that was honest-to-goodness emotional and bordering on physical rape of the Elephant Man. It was absolutely wretched. Especially because the Elephant Man was such a sweet man who loved his mother, musical theatre and building models of cathedrals.

Highly recommended if you can handle it- it is very emotionally draining to watch.

The Damned United- well, I'm in the middle of this write now as I write but man, does Michael Sheen/Brian Clough have a sexy accent and man, does he have balls! And the guy who plays Wormtail in Harry Potter is in it! And, oh my gosh, Jim Broadbent! You're in this too! That's it, this movie rocks no matte what happens in the next hour and ten minutes! I'll update you on this one later but honestly, let's just say it's going to be good because the cast is excellent, everyone loves a good footie movie and no one cares that much about Leeds now anyway.

And I just realized that all the movies I've been watching lately have been pretty depressing.

I guess I need a bit more humour in my life. Well, that's what I watch Glee and Modern Family for. Leave the comedy to my TV shows and the depression for my movies.