Dream Cast Thursday! An Affair to Remember

This week's dream cast Thursday is An Affair to Remember. When I started looking up information about it, I was really surprised to find out the it was actually a remake. The films that I looked at were Love Affair (1939), An Affair to Remember (1957), and Love Affair (1994).

The first character that I recast was Terry Mckay. She has been played by Irene Dunne, Deborah Kerr, and Annette Bening. For my remake, I chose Cate Blanchett.

The second character that I recast was Nickie Ferrante/Mike Gambril. He has been played by Charles Boyer, Cary Grant, and Warren Beatty. For my remake, I cast George Clooney.

So what do you all think? Which adaptations have you seen? Who would you cast in your remake?

The Princess and the Frog

I just finished watching the Princess and the Frog and LOVED it! I had pretty high expectations for this movie. Those of you that know me know that I have been waiting quite a while for Disney to come out with a new animated, musical, princess film. Those of you that know me also probably know how much I love New Orleans accents. The film had a full spectrum of characters and accents. I loved it. My favorite character was probably Ray, the firefly.

There is not much more that I can say about this film. If you are a Disney fan, you are sure to love it. You can expect all of the snappy songs, animal side-kicks, and wonderful animation of the classic Disney films, but with a new kick. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. It is definitely a must-see!

Dorian Gray

I just saw Dorian Gray. It was a very interesting film. I have never read the story that it is based on, but I am familiar with it. I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. I had seen the trailer, and was not too interested in it. The cast wasn't remarkable, but several actors did stand out. Colin Firth played Lord Henry Wotton and Ben Chaplin played Basil Hallward. I was extremely impressed with Ben Barnes portrayal of Dorian Gray. I had seen Barnes in several roles before this one, but was never very impressed. He really surprised me.

I am not sure when this film will be available to American audiences on a wide-scale. Many may just have to wait for it to come out on dvd, but I would definitely recommend it. It is definitely a must-see

Dream Cast Thursday! Anastasia

For this week's Dream Cast Thursday, I will be recasting Anastasia. The first film that I looked at was Anatole Litvak's Anastasia (1956). The second film that I looked at was the animated film, Anastasia (1997). The animated film has always been one of my favorites. I saw the 1956 film for the first time this summer. I would like to do a film that blends the two together. It would be live action, have some of the magic and romance of the animated film, and have some of the darker aspects of the live-action film.

The first character that I cast is Anastasia. In the 1956 version, Anastasia/Anna Koreff was played by Ingrid Bergman. In the 1997 version Anastasia's voice was dubbed by Meg Ryan. For my remake, I cast a French actress named Melanie Laurent.

I felt that there were two different characters in the films that were very similar. In the 1956 version Yul Brynner plays General Sergei Pavlovich Bounine. In the 1997 version, the voice of Dimitri was dubbed by John Cusack. For my remake, I cast a German actor named Thomas Kretschmann.

The third character that I cast was the Dowager Empress Marie. In the 1956 version, she is played by Helen Hayes. In the 1997 version, her voice was dubbed by Angela Lansbury. For my remake, I cast an English actress named Julie Christie. 

The last character that I cast was Grigori Rasputin. He did not make an appearance in the 1956 version. I looked at the 1996 film, Rasputin. In this film, he was played by Alan Rickman. In the 1997 version, his voice was dubbed by Christopher Lloyd. For my remake I cast a Croatian actor named Rade Serbedzija.

So what do you all think? What films have you seen that have depicted the life of Anastasia? Who would be in your remake?

The Abduction Club

I just finished watching the Abduction Club. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The film came out in 2002 and stars Alice Evans, Daniel Lapaine, Sophia Myles, Matthew Rhys, and Liam Cunningham. The film gets its title from a club that is formed by a group of second sons. These Irish noblemen hope to avoid becoming priests, soldiers, etc. by marrying wealthy girls. They abduct these women, and have twelve hours to convince these women to marry them. There was nothing too surprising about this film. It is your average swashbuckling romance with a little comedy thrown in. That said, I would definitely recommend it.

Pirate Radio / The Boat that Rocked

I just finished watching The Boat that Rocked (Pirate Radio -US title), and it was AWESOME! It came out a while ago in the UK and was recently released in America. It takes place in 1966. As the beginning of the film states, it was a period of time when some of the best Rock and Roll was being made, but only about 45 minutes was played every day on BBC radio. The film focuses on one radio station that chose to defy the government...Rock Radio!

The film itself was very simple. What makes it awesome is the wonderful soundtrack and the amazing ensemble cast. Philip Seymour Hoffman played the Count, Bill Nighy played Quentin, Kenneth Branagh played Sir Alistair Dormandy, Gemma Arterton played Desiree, Jack Davenport played Dominic Twatt, Rhys Ifans played Gavin Cavanagh, Talulah Riley played Marianne, and Emma Thompson played Charlotte. I was really pleased to see a lot of actors that are relatively unknown in the States. Tom Sturridge played Little Carl, Rhys Darby played Angus Nutsford, and Tom Wisdom played Mark. Some of my favorite actors from British television also made appearances. Nick Frost played Doctor Dave, Katherine Parkinson played Felicity, and Chris O'Dowd played Simple Simon.

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. It is definitely a must-see!

The Lost Prince

I just finished watching the Lost Prince by Stephen Poliakoff (click here to see my past Stephen Poliakoff posts).  It came out in 2003 and originally aired in England. The film centers on the true story of Prince John (son of King George V and Queen Mary). Many forget about Prince John. He suffered from epilepsy and autism. He was locked away and isolated starting at a young age and kept out of the sight of the general public.

The film takes place during a very important time in history. It intertwines several stories that all take place at the very start of the first World War. At the time, most of the European houses were connected in some way. Below is a family tree (click to enlarge) that I created. It shows the connections between some of the very powerful figures of the time.

This film was very interesting to watch. These real stories were truly compelling, but it was the ensemble cast that truly made it worth watching. Miranda Richardson did a wonderful job as Queen Mary (it is funny since as just saw her in the Young Victoria as this character's Great-Grandmother-In-Law). Michael Gambon played Edward VII. Tom Hollander played King George V. Two of my favorite characters in the film were also played by two of my favorite actors. Bill Nighy played Stamfordham and Gina McKee played Lalla. They were both wonderful in the film.

I was probably most impresses by the young actors in the film. Daniel Williams and Matthew James Thomas both played Prince John. Brock Everitt-Elwick and Rollo Weeks both played Prince George. I was very impressed by Rollo Weeks. I have seen him in several roles (my favorite is Berkeley Square), but this was the first time when he was really able to grow as an actor and to show this to the audience.






I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! A Room With a View

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is A Room With a View. The novel by E. M. Forster came out in 1908. The first film adaptation came outi n 1985. The second came out in 2007. The second adaptation took was much more different from the original novel than the first. I really enjoyed the novel and really love the original adaptation. I didn't really care for the 2007 adaptation, so now, it is my turn.

Lucy Honeychurch is the heroine of the story. In the 1985 adaptation, she was played by Helena Bonham Carter. In the 2007 adaptation, she was played by Elaine Cassidy. In my adaptation, I would cast Keira Knightley. I know that she is sometimes over-used (especially in British films), but I think that she is really good at being naive, sensual, innocent and intelligent all at the same time.

In the 1985 adaptation, George Emerson was played by Julian Sands. In the 2007 adaptation, he was played by Rafe Spall. In my adaptation, I cast Joseph Beattie.

In the 1985 adaptation, Charlotte Bartlett was played by Maggie Smith. In the 2007 adaptation, she was played by Sophie Thompson. In my adaptation, I cast Emma Thompson. At first, I wasn't sure if she was old enough, but I really think that she could pull it off.

In the 1985 adaptation, Cecil Vyse was played by Daniel Day-Lewis. In the 2007 adaptation, he was played by Laurence Fox. This was really hard, because Daniel Day-Lewis did such a wonderful job. In my adaptation, I cast Simon Woods.

So what do you all think? Have you seen either of the adaptations? Have you read the novel? Who would be in your adaptation?

Black is for Beginnings

I just finished Black is for Beginings. It is the final book in the Blue is for Nightmares series by Laurie Faria Stolarz. I started this series a while back, and had been putting off reading the last book, because I did not want the series to end. Upon reading it, I am actually very pleased with the way the author tied everything up. The final installment is different from the first four. It deals with all of the same characters, but unlike the first four, is a graphic novel.

The novel takes place a few months after Red is for Remembrance. It also have other sections. The first takes place several years before Blue is for Beginings. It goes back to when Stacey is first learning about magic and her powers of premonition. The second part takes place from Jacob's point of view. It deals with events from the last two novels.

This book was the perfect ending to the series and is definitely a must-read!

The Handmaid's Tale

I recently watched the Handmaid's Tale. I knew a little of the story prior to seeing the film. The novel by Margaret Atwood was brought up several times in a class that I took this past semester while we were discussing the Edible Woman. I found the film to be very interesting and a little scary in the way that only truly good films can be. This film is a dystopian look at the possible future of the human race. Very few women are able to bear children. Those that can are enslaved. They are forced to become handmaids to the wealthy and powerful.

There was nothing hugely wonderful about the cast (although I do love seeing new films with Natasha Richardson). After her death, I love finding new roles of her that I have not had the chance to see before. As always, she did a wonderful job. The content and storyline make this an interesting film. It is definitely a must-see!

Deadly Little Lies

I just finished Deadly Little Lies and LOVED it! It is the second book in the Touch series by Laurie Faria Stolarz (the first book is Deadly Little Lies). Reading this book was a really wonderful experience. It has been about a year since I read the first book in the series, but I was immediately drawn into the story. Stolarz does a really good job of describing exactly how Camelia is feeling. One cannot help but to be drawn in. I would definitely recommend this book. It is definitely a must-read!

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gife - psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben's past - and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who - before it's too late.

Dream Cast Thursday! Blue Bloods

Today's Dream Cast Thursday will be the Blue Blood's novels. The Blue Bloods Series is by Melissa De La Cruz. The series so far consists of Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, and The Van Alen Legacy. So far, there are no films in the works, but this is a really good series, and with pop culture's sudden obsession with vampires, it is only a matter of time.

Schuyler or Sky Van Alen is originally from Manhattan. She has blue, black hair, bangs and bright blue eyes. Schuyler was startingly pretty, with a sweet heart-shaped face; perfectly upturned nose; and a soft milky skin--but there was something almost insubstantial about her beauty." She is a student, a model, and a committee member. For my adaptation, I would cast Alexis Bledel.

Oliver or Ollie Hazard-Perry is originally from Manhattan. He has chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes. "Oliver was tall and slim, with a fair, elfin face that was framed by a shag of brilliant chestnut hair. He had sharp cheekbones and a sympathetic hazel eyes." She is a student and a conduit. For my adaptation, I would cast Dominic Cooper.

Madeleine or Mimi Force is originally from Manhattan. She has platinum blond hair and green eyes. "Mimi was popularity personified. She had golden girl good looks and tanned, Pilates-toned limbs that came with the Queen Bee position..." She is a student and a Committee member. For my adaptation, I cast Amanda Seyfried.

Benjamin or Jack Force is originally from Manhattan. He is Mimi's twin brother. He has platinum Blond hair and green eyes. "The two of them [Mimi and Jack] shared the same pale, platinum blond hair, the same creamy, translucent skin, the same hooded green eyes, and the same long, slender limbs." He is a student and a committee member. For my adaptation, I cast Hunter Parrish.

Bliss Llewellyn was born in Houston, Texas. She has big, red hair, green eyes and "equine good looks." She is a student, a committee member, and works as a model. For my adaptation, I cast Anna Lutoskin.

Dylan Ward is originally from Connecticut. He has black, shaggy hair. He is a "sad faced boy with long lashes, smoldering eyes, and a tarnished reputation." He is a student and a committee member. For my adaptation, I cast Nicholas Hoult.

Kingsley Martin has dark features. He is a venator and a committee member. For my adaptation, I cast Steven Strait.

So what do you all think? Have you read the novels? Who would be in your perfect adaptation?

Currently Reading for Pleasure:
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Currently Watching:
Berkeley Square

Currently Listening to:
Amanda Palmer

Update

Currently Reading for Pleasure:
The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz

Currently Watching:
Kiss Me Kate

Currently Listening to:

Battlestar Galactica: Season Two Soundtrack

Young Victoria

I saw Young Victoria yesterday and really loved it. I was a little worried, because I have been looking forward to seeing it for so long, but it definitely lived up to all of the hype and anticipation. The film begins a year before Queen Victoria's coronation and follows her first few years on the throne. It was a beautiful film. The costumes and the settings were absolutely magnificent. Aside from the obvious aesthetic value, the film was also really interesting to watch. I have only every really seen the later years of Queen Victoria's life depicted. This was a really interesting period of time, that I never really knew about.

The cast was wonderful and included performances by Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, and Mark Strong. I had seen all of these actors in past performances, but the performance that I was most impressed with came from Rupert Friend. I had seen him before in the Libertine (2004), Pride and Prejudice (2005), the Last Legion (2007), and Cheri (2009). Upon watching this film, I found myself forgetting about all of the other characters that he has played. He completely transformed for this role and did a marvelous job.

In case you hadn't guessed yet, I would definitely recommend this film. If is DEFINITELY a must-see!

Quartet

I just finished watching Quartet. I have always really liked Merchant Ivory films, so I was really eager to see this one. It came out in 1981. It was directed by James Ivory and stars Alan Bates, Maggie Smith, Isabelle Adjani, Anthony Higgins, and Sheila Gish. Adjani was especially good. I loved her in Queen Margot, but this film was definitely a change. I had never seen her in an English-speaking role before. She became the complete focus of nearly every scene that she was in (aside from the scenes she shared with Maggie Smith, which would be a difficult task to accomplish). She really made the film.

As with all of James Ivory's films, it was beautifully directed. The costumes and the makeup were magnificent. It was adapted from an autobiographical novel by Jean Rhys (it is interesting that I did not find this out until after the fact...click here for my review of Wide Sargasso Sea). The film shows a quadrangle between a young West Indian woman, her husband, a manipulative older man, and and his wife.

I would definitely recommend this film to any Merchant Ivory fans. It is definitely a must-see.