Pride and Prejudice

What a prefect movie. I really mean it. Of all the film adaptions I have seen, having read the source book, this is the most accurate and the best cross-over. Despite all reason or probability, Kiera Knightly is fantastic, she brings Elizabeth Bennet to life without attributing to her feminism or any other modern ideas not found within the original pages. She is both sweet and bitter, she is heartfelt, she is arrogant, and she is a perfect representation of Jane Austen's glorious heroine. The supporting cast is sensational, especially Dame Judi Dench as Lady Catherine De Bourg, and the entire Bennet family. Mr. Darcy was as key as Elizabeth in terms of getting it all right, fortunately Matthew MacFadyen does as great a job as Kinghtly, if not better. He portrays exactly what Austen wrote Darcy as, aloof and cold at first, but struggling with the fact that he is in love with someone who does not at first love him back, and cannot understand things from his point of view. The whole film looks and feels as if it was just lifted off the pages of the novel and run through the projector. The settings are superb, as the costumes and color palate, I kind of wished, while I was watching, that people still had the chance to wear such smashing clothing as often as they did back then. This is director Joe Wright's first film and I must say spot on Joe, and a standing ovation. If he does not continue his career with great success it will be a crime against entertainment. His skill for presenting such elaborate scenes as well as such intimate ones is so evident that you'd actually have to be blind, as in unable to view things with your eyes, to deny his grand talent for his art. As well as being anything else, this is the greatest romance to hit the silverscreen in years, and easily the best big-screen Jane Austin to ever be made. It is about two people who both have faults, but they change each other, and better each other, so that in the end they are in love but not just for money, good looks, or juvenile infatuation. This is a movie that can only be disliked by people who succumb to its titled faults. You would have to be prejudiced against romances, or to prideful to allow yourself to admit you liked it, to actually not enjoy Pride and Prejudice. I can say no more except to tell you to see it, take your wife, your husband, your boyfriend, your girlfriend (Guys if you know what's good for you), or just take your self, it is worth it in every way. Whether you've read it or not, just go, You won't have a chance like this in a long time, I can almost guarantee it.

A

The Emperor's New Groove

In honor of Chicken Little, Mark Dindal's newest feature, I thought I'd write a quickie about his previous, and better film, The Emperor's New Groove. This upbeat story about a selfish young ruler who learns the values of friendship and loyalty is one of the best Disney has ever produced. It is so often ridiculous that eventually you stop hoping for it to make logical sense and just follow along happy to see such contrived, but hysterical scenes play out. David Spade and John Goodman are perfect for their roles, as is the ancient vileness Yzma, voiced by Ertha Kitt. The Movie clips along at a steady pace and doesn't drag on to the point that you grow tired of the characters. Repeat value is tremendous, indeed you could watch it Multiple times in one day, every time enjoying it more than the last. This is as I said before one of Disney's greatest movies, and one of the most fun movies ever made. I recommend it with no hesitations if you haven't seen it, do.

A-

Chicken Little

OK, I haven't made a post in a while, so the next few will be short and to the point. Chicken Little, from director Mark Dindal of The Emperor's New Groove is decent family entertainment. Zach Braff, Joan Cusack, and Steve Zahn, all three give life and character to their animated counter-parts, and as an over all production it delivers at least an hour and a half of light hearted fun. While no where near the depth (in detail or character) seen in the Disney/Pixar movies, Chicken Little is no where near the worst we've seen from Disney, it is rather some of their finer recent work, smartly written, short and sweet, and with a number of good songs to carry it along.

B-