on the subject of costume flicks

[jennylafleur]

I feel bad - I've been so on the go this week I have not been commenting on your posts lately. Do forgive me, I'll try to play catch up soon...

I just finished watching the BBC North & South - oh wow! I totally should not have spent my evening watching tv but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in one of England's cotton mill cities of the 1850s it was

Comments

[girliegirl32786]

North and South is one one of my most favorite costume flicks ever!!! That and Jane Eyre are what pulled me into mid 19th century clothing. (I said I would never make it either.)
And yay for your sister! That is very good news indeed!

[jennylafleur]

Well I can understand the pull. I felt it myself. Luckly I have 50 more projects than I can finish this year already. I think I'm safe... for now! :>

Thanks! We are all so proud! (and relived)

[gilded_garb]

Man I love North and South so much! It's one of my favorite costume movies ever.

I totally agree with you on Buccaneers! I didn't even watch the second half because I disliked the storyline so much. Edith Wharton really knew how to address subjects that make me squirm...

[jennylafleur]

I'm almost ashamed to admit I did watch the whole thing. It was a bit of a trian wreck at the end. *sigh* N&S has made me hope again for better in 19th century plots though!

[lahoo88]

I have heard so many rave reviews about North and South I just don't know why I haven't watched it yet, I will be definately putting it on the top of the list.

And I agree with you about the Buccaneers, the ABC here showed it not long after P&P and I watched it with enthusiasm (plus I also love Age of Innocence), but it was shorted lived. Loved the costuming (so georgous) but the story line I didn't like esp towards the end. I have read the book, Edith Wharton died before it was finished however it was completed by Marion Mainwaring and very differently from the miniseries (from what I can remember as it was quite a while ago). I guess the script writers wanted their own ending - quite '20th C' I thought.

[jennylafleur]

Yes do watch it - it's well worth the effort. Yes that is my understanding of the screenplay vs. book as well. Makes me want to read the orginial now...

[koshka_the_cat]

I seem to be the opposite of everyone on The Buccaneers. I liked the story, but think it's possibly the worst costumed movie ever made. If I ever feel the need to feel good about my costuming because it's not going well, it's definitely the movie to watch! What can I say though, I like depressing Victorian stuff :)

North and South though? All around excellence :)

[jennylafleur]

Well no one ever said you weren't weird dear Katherine. *hee hee* To be honest I thought the majority of the costuming was so-so but what I liked, I REALLY liked. The hair was fun too but I have a soft spot for long ringlets. :>

As a bustle/Victorian newbie, what specifically did you not like or think not well done?

[koshka_the_cat]

I wrote a post about how much it annoyed me. I wonder if I could find it?

Anyway, one thing is in general I'm not a square neckline fan, and every dress seemed to have one. Also, nothing fit. And weird fabrics. And no chemises (although not unique to this movie, I felt a lot of the dresses suffered for it). Corset covers would've improved a lot too. Overall, there were just a lot of things that were for some reason off.

I appear to have two posts, not that I say as much as I remember saying. But since I found them :)

http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/435159.html

http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/435511.html

So yeah, basically an "offness" :)

[jennylafleur]

Dittos. I adored Lizzie's black and white stripe (or was it navy blue). Stripes and bustles are such a wonderful combination! :>