~ Kommentary by Kritter ~

Catching up on a few movies...

Rented Millions for the fam. I wrote about it already, but still recommend it as a solid and enjoyable film. It's a basic moral story with a twist - like the intervention of a few saints. Good though. I like the characters. And their attention to detail.

Went and saw Pride and Prejudice with my mom. Sometimes Keira Knightley bothers me. But she didn't. Maybe just because I love the book so much - love the story. And she did a good job with the character I think. And I liked this Matthew MacFadyen fellow well enough. Which is saying a lot since he has big shoes to fill.

I was amazed at how well they condensed the book into a very respectful two hours. Of course, I was trying to compare it to the eight-hour BBC version that I remember liking so much. The one that made Colin Firth the perpetual Mr. Darcy. But not this time. Certainly too old for Ms. Knightly. Really, it's been a while since I have seen the BBC one though. Still, eight hours was much more time to pay attention to detail. And really fall in love with the characters.

In all, I was entertained, impressed and pleased. Yet, not thrilled. I dunno...

Last night, my dad and I watched Assault on Precinct 13 on cable. I guess I had a passing interest in it when it came out because of some of the people in it, but I never took the time to rent it. I didn't want to see it that bad. But there it was - already on cable. Anyway, it sucked. Just too many huge holes in the story. And everyone had to get shot on the head or stabbed in the head or something. Yuck.

Tonight, I went to Rent with my sister. It was pretty good. Not great. Filmed a lot like the play is staged. It's just... filled out. Your imagination is filled out. They skipped some things and added some things. I liked some of that better than others. The music was great, of course. Though the guitar was too loud on Roger's part of No Day But Today.

Anyway, I was mostly distracted by acting. I thought the cast members who have done more TV and film were much better. They are used to the camera in your face. It's just a different type of acting. So basically, I thought Anthony Rapp, Rosario Dawson and Jesse Martin did the best. Taye Diggs was good, but doesn't have a huge part. Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Idina Menzell were pretty good too. The character Joanne had a great voice, but her acting was just so so. Basically, I was horribly distracted by Adam Pascal's acting. But then he wasn't even originally a broadway actor. He was the lead singer in a band, I think.

But I just love the show anyway, so I still enjoyed it. I hate to admit to those that don't already know, that I have seen the stage version five times. Of course, I know people who have seen it many more times. But even five times isn't completely normal. First time in Minnesota, second and third time in St. Louis. Fourth in KC I think. And fifth in London, where I actually got to see Jesse, Anthony, Adam and Wilson. I met Jesse Martin in the alley before the show. And then since we'd lined and were in second row center, he actually smiled at me during Seasons of Love. I swear. I fell in love with him. And then I made a fool out of myself by attempting to speak to Anthony Rapp afterward, but we won't talk about that.

I just tried not to have any expectations of the movie, so... I still liked it. But some of it was corny. That tends to happen with movie musicals. It doesn't have the same style that the recent movie Chicago had. But that's the script. Chicago could work with the vaudeville. Does anyone know anything about "La Boheme"?

Ooo, just read my friend Christian's very good review.

Posted by kristen at December 6, 2005 11:01 PM