I watched two very good movies this past week, and while I'm quite late in getting my reviews out (they both came out some time ago), I couldn't resist. The first was Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton. Touted as a Wizard of Oz sort of movie, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I really, really enjoyed it. The story was told in a series of flashbacks, which I thought was handled beautifully. I'm not familiar with Billy Crudup, the son in the movie, but I loved his voice and freckles. Recommended.
Number two was the 1999 version of Mansfield Park with Francis O' Connor. I thought she made for an absolutely lovely (if somewhat lacking in frailty) Fanny Price. Much of the story was left out, but it would have to be to keep the movie at a suitable length. All of the characters (Jane Austen wrote so very many into her novels) were well-cast, and the whole movie was very enjoyable indeed. Also recommended.
In books, I'm sad to say, I haven't done much lately. Not since Silent in the Sanctuary. Right now I'm reading Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches and enjoying the sheer creativity of it--it's a novel about how things really work in Heaven. Hopefully I can finish it this week as I have The Secret of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig on hold at the library.
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8 comments:
I'm so glad to hear that about Earthly Pleasures. I bought it a while ago on another blogger's recommendation, and it is probably next on my list. I just finished a heavier book and it left me a little depressed, so I needed something a little lighter this time around. Oh, wait. Just today the library called to let me know that Kristen Hannah's Firefly Summer is in, so that one's next. It sounds amazing, too. I love to have a never-ending stack of amazing books to read. It's my idea of paradise.
I love that adaptation of Mansfield Park! Did you see Becoming Jane, by the way? If not, put it in your queue!
Big Fish is one of my favorite movies although I had to watch it three times to get the storyline because I was so distracted by how pretty everything is.
it took me a bit to figure things out in big fish, but once i did it was really good!
Alyssa
i really enjoyed Fraces O Connor as Fanny price. I agree, she's probably the character we'd like her to be rather than true to the novel.
I really enjoyed Earthly Pleasures...it was so creative, and a perfect book to read when you need to know that things will turn out okay. Great stuff.
I LOVED Big Fish, but really, really hated Mansfield Park. I wish someone WOULD do a movie with a fragile Fanny price, don't you?
I love to hear of movie recommendations (books too)! Thank you!
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