Quaggy's Year of Movies Part 2

[quaggy]

So here we go with our next installment of my year of movies, which is now hopelessly out of date. You can find Part 1 over here.


The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I know the people on my f-list, so I can say without exception: GO SEE THIS FILM!!! Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. That should be enough reason right there. It also has Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton (from Downton Abbey) and Dev Patel. It's supposed to be adapted from a book... but really it seems like they just took the basic premise and some of the character names and used it as an excuse to watch our fabulous cast be magnificent in India. And truthfully that's really all you need!

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

This was very very enjoyable. It was filled with quirky British humor, just the way I like it. Ewan McGregor was absolutely fantastic. The idea of a romantic lead with Asperger syndrome works surprisingly well, simply because Ewan McGregor makes him so... lovable? You can tell what his character Fred is thinking/feeling with just a crinkled brow or a sigh... even if his own social skills don't really convey those thoughts. The ending was a little rushed, a little too Hollywood-y. But I figured that it was probably thanks to some adaptation problems. Sure enough, the original book sort of danced the line between political comedy and political satire, only to fall heavy into the satire category for a pretty downer ending. I think they did as well as they could with what they had, but if they really were going to have to craft an ending out of whole cloth, I wish they had tried to make it a little smoother. That said, good film and definitely worth seeing.

Being Elmo

I have to admit Elmo was never my favorite Muppet, but I always found his puppeteer Kevin Clash to be very warm and interesting. The movie itself is more about Kevin Clash's journey than anything else. Fascinating and inspiring story, told in a dynamic, interesting way. (The part when they covered Jim Henson's death was emotionally wrenching and visually how they handled talking about an experience or situation for which they didn't have footage was totally a cut above. It makes you want to be a puppeteer and get to work on Sesame Street. In fact, in one part, Kevin Clash is teaching a whole bunch of new Sesame Street puppeteers how to make their Muppets come alive... and caught myself mimicking their hand motions. I just hope the friends I was with didn't notice.


Labrynth
The nice thing about seeing Labrynth after Being Elmo is that I knew that this was the first time Kevin Clash worked for Jim Henson and was able to grin knowingly when we got to his character's big scene. Now normally, I don't talk about a rewatch of a movie, but there's something totally different when it's rewatching an old favorite in an actual movie theater. Labrynth has always been a favorite of mine, but I think I love it even more as an adult. (Well, everything about it except Jennifer Connelly's early attempt at acting.) As a kid, I was a little sorry that there was no handsome prince. Yes, there was a Goblin King, but David Bowie may be utterly cool, he always seemed far too old for a 15 year old girl. But as an adult, I can appreciate what wonderful and enlightened decision it was not to have even a hint of romance. It was just a young woman learning to rely on herself and take the hero's journey on her own. It's a rare occurrence when that happens, even today.  But then Jim Henson is a legend for a reason.

Comments

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

I don't know which version of Labyrinth you were watching, but there is so much sexual tension between Bowie and Connelly, it was hard to stand!

[quaggy]

Heh. Well, yes, from Bowie's end of things. The man exudes sex. Jennifer Connelly's acting skills, on the other hand... Well, let's just say I'm impressed with how far she's come since then. Bowie's doing the heavy lifting for both of them. (But I still say he's too old for her.)

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

I have had difficulty writing a response to this because I was overwhelmed with thoughts of Bowie! :-)

But yeah, he's too old... For her, and for us, too!

[quaggy]

Yeah, Bowie does that. It's totally understandable.

[tuesday-suit.livejournal.com]

The movie itself is more about Kevin Clash's journey than anything else. Fascinating and inspiring story, told in a dynamic, interesting way.

YES. I love Kevin, and his is an amazing story that they did an excellent job of telling. I want to go watch it again right now.....

I saw Marigold Hotel with my parents and really liked it - so did they. So much talent in that movie.

[quaggy]

So much talent in that movie.

Yes! Brilliant, brilliant cast and the plot was able to highlight that rather than getting in the way.

[gatsbyfan.livejournal.com]

I know the people on my f-list, so I can say without exception: GO SEE THIS FILM!!!
I actually wanted to see it. Now I'll definitely have to add it to the list. :)

And you're mentioning Being Elmo reminds me that I have it on my laptop because my coworker obtained a copy and gave it to a bunch of us. I really ought to watch it soon.

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen seemed to disappear immediately after it was released. I wanted to see it. I think the DVD comes out soon. I'll add it to the list.

The last movie I saw... Katy Perry Part of Me. The things we do to maintain "Cool Aunt" status.

[quaggy]

I actually wanted to see it. Now I'll definitely have to add it to the list.

You are going to absolutely love it! I like that all the movies I mention you were already interested in seeing. Wish I could say the same for Part of Me. Oh, wait. No I don't. :-P