Screen Tales

As I'm sure you've noticed, fairytales are "in" just now. Not only in the realm of books but in a rush of films and television shows.

One of the things Bonnie Dee and I do in our adult fairytales is to "empower" the heroines of the story. I know other authors do the same in their takes. Passively waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince just isn't acceptable to most writers or readers any more! So I was quite surprised to come across some criticism on the web of the new films and tv shows as insulting to women. The argument seemed to be that the heroines had to "turn themselves into men" - ie warriors - in order to succeed. Or that women weren't represented at all, as in the series Grimm.

Now, I haven't actually seen the new films, like Miror, Mirror or Snow White and the Huntsman, or Grimm or Once Upon a Time, so I can't really comment! I would like to know your views though :).

So what are your favourites among the current screen versions, and why? Is there an older one that captures your attention more? Perhaps a classic, like Cocteau's 1946 Beauty and the Beast? Personally, I loved Company of Wolves (a highly imaginative and atmospheric take on Little Red Riding Hood) when it came out. And I thoroughly enjoyed the 10th Kingdom. What about you?

Marie

Demonic Movies

Having had a look at angel movies a couple of days ago, I thought to be fair I should check out the demon ones too. Interestingly, these are on the whole less quirky than the angel films and seem to concentrate largely on demonic possession and straight horror films.

I came across some old favourites like The Exorcist (which I remember seeing at a late night cinema showing when I was a student - we'd been to the pub first so at least the alcohol took the edge of the terror :)) and The Omen. Others, like Hellraiser and Rosemary's Baby that I didn't like at the time for whatever reason!

One I did really like when I saw it for the first time a few months ago was The Devil's Advocate with Al Pacino, about a lawyer who's tempted to make a wrong decision and get a guilty man released just to further his own career. It's a fascinating tale that unfolds as his successful new life becomes gradually stranger and his boss is revealed to be Satan himself.

Others that I came across that I might like to see are: Constantine, with Keanu Reeves; Possession with Isabel Adjani; and Paranormal Activity. 

But one thing that seems to be largely missing from these film is romance. The demons are quite definitely evil with no redeeming or even remotely lovable qualities whatsoever. So maybe for romance, we should stick to the angels :)

Marie

Angelic Movies

Just as they make great subjects for books, angels have also been major characters in many wonderful films over the years. From It's a Wonderful Life in 1946 to Legion in 2010, from guardian angels to fallen angels, there's no shortage of angelic movies to suit most tastes.

Here are a few of my favourites, plus a couple I've missed and would like to track down.

Well, everyone loves James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, and I'm no exception :). It's the feel good movie extraordinaire, with James Srewart's guardian angel preventing his Chirstmas Eve suicide by reminding him of the good things in his life and the wonderful things he's done.

Of the older films, I also have a soft spot for David Niven and Cary Grant in The Bishop's Wife. Cary Grant is the suave, charming angel sent to help the work-obsessed Bishop, his flock and his unhappy, neglected wife. It's a fun film with just a hint of bitter-sweet in the ending.

City of Angels with Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan is one I really enjoyed - an atmospheric tale of an angel in Los Angeles, who collects the spirits of the dead. He falls in love with the doctor who saved the life of the soul he'd come to collect and decides to "fall" in order to live a mortal life with her. However, I HATED the ending :).


And on a completely different note, Dogma, with Ben Afleck and Matt Damon, managed to capture my attention one night when I stumbled across it by accident half way through. I didn't even know what it was called, but I finally managed to track it down and watch the whole thing. It's a fascinating, darkly funny and moving story of two fallen angels who find a loophole to get back into heaven. I loved their encounters along the way with all the other legendary/biblical entities.

And the ones that have somehow escaped me that I still want to see - Meet Joe Black. I suppose he counts as the angel of death :). I'm not normally a fan of Brad Pitt, but I always liked the sound of this film and have never managed to watch it!. I'd also quite like to see Legion, although I believe the critics hated it...


What about you? I'd love to hear your favourite angel movies - recommendations always gratefully received!

Marie

Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies

What are your favourites?

Here are some of mine. Dark City, which I've talked about before on this blog! So atmospheric and brilliant - and Rufus Sewell doesn't do it any harm either :).

The first Matrix I really liked - very stylish!

Gattica's another thant made a big impression among a sea of largely average and terrible sci films borrowed from the local video shop some years ago! I found it very moving.

Blade Runner is another classic in my book. Serenity, which I already mentioend in connection with Firefly.

  

Alien has to be the ultimate in SciFi horror.

And on the Fantasy side of things, the Lord of the Rings trilogy has to stand out for sheer scale, beauty, adventure, romance - it has everything, and all done brilliantly too!

Which makes me think of The Princess Bride, one of my favourite films of all time, whatever genre. It has everything too, with added humour :).

Over to you :)

Marie

News, plus Steampunk Film and TV

First up, the good news! Meljean Brook has found me! She's well, but was so focused on writing deadlines that she lost track of everything else - know the feeling! Anyway, she's hoping to join us at the end of the week instead - more precise information to follow :).

Now, I know we talked a bit about steampunk movies and television with Beth yesterday, but I thought I'd add in a few more thoughts, along with some pictures :).

So, I've heard talk of the upcoming new Three Musketeers movie, and apparently it's a steampunk version featuring airship battles and associated steampunk mayhem. I've got to see that!

I must admit, I did enjoy the chaotic, steampunk overtones of Robert Downey Jnr's Sherlock Holmes, so with that and the new Musketeers in mind, I went trawling on the internet for more steampunk films, and found plenty, some reminders of movies that jogged my memory, and others that I haven't seen; but what most surprsied me on the steampunk movie lists were old films that I had never associated with steampunk, most notably Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! But when you think about it, it IS steampunk - all that impossible technology, fantasy, off-the-wall, misfit characters and all.

A few random films that stuck in my mind: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (and even Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein!), Sleepy Hollow, The League of Extraordianry Gentlemen, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Hellboy, Lemony Snicket, The Prestige, The Golden Compass...

Any more loves (or hates!) to share? Any you're depserate to see but haven't?

And then there's steampunk television. The shows that spring to my mind are Firefly and some episodes of Dr. Who (particularly one of the Christmas specials). And most recently, I discovered Warehouse 13, which is vaguely steampunky in some of its artifacts and technology.

Even before yesterday's discussion, I'd heard of Wild Wild West, but I've never seen it or another one that was getting a big puff from steampunk fans -  Legend with Richard Dean Anderson. Any more thoughts or additions?

Marie