Pondering on movies
Just finished watching HBO's mini series The Pacific. This was produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg as something of a sequel to Band of Brothers. I've only heard from one other person who has watched them both, and Tom liked Band of Brothers, but not so much The Pacific. Pacific just didn't hold up to it for Tom. I'm persuaded the difference was on purpose. There is a subtle note or two at the end pointing out that the marines in the Pacific didn't see the pretty places, they saw jungle, unbearable heat and far fewer pretty girls. Neither Band nor Pacific romanticize the war, in fact, as you would expect from the two behind Saving Private Ryan, they were hard pressed to not go overboard with the blood and guts. Stark realities of WWII, right here.
Two other movies interspersed time with the miniseries. That Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson. I found Eric Bana to be quiet an excellent Henry. It's very hard not to compare this movie to showtime's series The Tudors. As a matter of fact, I suspect it did not do as well at the box office because there was much more sex in the showtime version. If The Tudors were the perfect take on Henry the 8th, I'm surprised his penis didn't fall off from overuse. I prefer That Other Boleyn Girl myself. Sorry, I was so caught up in plot that I didn't pay enough attention to scenery and props.
Elizabeth The Golden Age however, is all about cinematography. It is absolutely beautiful. And of course, what's not to like with a swarthy Clive Owen as Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth is full armor is a sight you don't see in just every other old picture.
I was confused for a moment when I heard there were two recent Elizabeth movies. Sure enough, The Golden Age (2007) is meant to be a sequel to Elizabeth the movie in 1998. Cate Blanchett plays Elizabeth in both, and is directed by the same fellow who's name I cannot keep in my head. I recall she was up for an oscar for the first movie, and critics have panned the second one as being muddy. I loved it. Now I need to see the first one, though it won't have Clive Owen. In this one, I found Phillip of Spain to be utterly delightful as a prissy walking bat-shit crazy king. It amused me greatly that he constantly told his daughter Isabelle, (who never speaks in the movie) that Elizabeth is a bastard, whore. Isabelle is never seen without her doll. A replica of Elizabeth.
Would love to hear anyone else's take on these flicks.
Two other movies interspersed time with the miniseries. That Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson. I found Eric Bana to be quiet an excellent Henry. It's very hard not to compare this movie to showtime's series The Tudors. As a matter of fact, I suspect it did not do as well at the box office because there was much more sex in the showtime version. If The Tudors were the perfect take on Henry the 8th, I'm surprised his penis didn't fall off from overuse. I prefer That Other Boleyn Girl myself. Sorry, I was so caught up in plot that I didn't pay enough attention to scenery and props.
Elizabeth The Golden Age however, is all about cinematography. It is absolutely beautiful. And of course, what's not to like with a swarthy Clive Owen as Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth is full armor is a sight you don't see in just every other old picture.
I was confused for a moment when I heard there were two recent Elizabeth movies. Sure enough, The Golden Age (2007) is meant to be a sequel to Elizabeth the movie in 1998. Cate Blanchett plays Elizabeth in both, and is directed by the same fellow who's name I cannot keep in my head. I recall she was up for an oscar for the first movie, and critics have panned the second one as being muddy. I loved it. Now I need to see the first one, though it won't have Clive Owen. In this one, I found Phillip of Spain to be utterly delightful as a prissy walking bat-shit crazy king. It amused me greatly that he constantly told his daughter Isabelle, (who never speaks in the movie) that Elizabeth is a bastard, whore. Isabelle is never seen without her doll. A replica of Elizabeth.
Would love to hear anyone else's take on these flicks.