science fiction double feature

[oiran]

Today I have subjected myself to one of the most wrongheaded double-features ever: the remake of Freaky Friday (Lindsey Lohan, perkiness and Hot-Topic) and Monster (a scary Charlize Theron, crudity, rape and sadness). Actually, I left Monster paused at the halfway point. I don't know if I want to even finish watching it. It's just so. Fucking. Depressing.

Also, I have people just like those characters living at the end of my street should I wish to see that lifecycle in action.

I should probably watch Cowboy Bebop instead.

ETA: And, you know, I'm interested in seeing Vanity Fair, but I'm kind of perplexed by the way it's being marketed, i.e., as if the Becky Sharp character is some sort of feminist heroine. It's been a dozen years or so since I read the book, and I did love Miss Sharp, but it was technically loving to hate her, as she was so utterly vile, heinous and grasping in her social ambition. I suppose that's a form of plucky girl power if one considers the social milieu of the era, but I'm not convinced. Also, I don't remember a romance, per se. I remember romantic conniving--but overall it never really seemed like a romantic story to me.

So. Vanity Fair. Am I remembering it entirely wrong?

Comments

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

Vanity Fair... it did have a sick-making romance between Becky's friend and That Bland Guy, that all went horribly wrong or something. But it wasn't romance in the sense we know it, no.

I always rather liked Becky because she was such a cow, but she kind of had to be - she was using what she had to get by. I mean, she would have been a governess at best, hooker at worst. She's not unlike Scarlett O'Hara, I feel, except less naive and much less privileged. The kind of woman who, today, might put her energies and her maths brain into a business. But the clincher that makes Becky a love-to-hate girl is that she deliberately sets out to make her friend's man fall for her, just out of spite; and the friend, while dull and a bit dim, commits no crime against Becky other than being born richer.

I haven't seen "Monster" yet, but my film studies lecturer did and found it very upsetting.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I finished Monster, with much depressed crying and a horrible feeling of loss and loathing. So, you know, when you're in the mood for that kind of thing, this would definitely be the movie to watch.

and, YES! That's the Becky I vaguely remember ;) She was nasty and sneaky and mean and not even remotely a sparkly charmer. I was worried I was remembering things all wrong, as I hated Pride & Prejudice the first time I tried to read it (about a dozen years ago, also), and when I did finally finish it I loved it and discovered that the problems I'd had with the story initially were pretty much entirely in my head, and therefore I was concerned that my recollection of Vanity Fair might be all wrong, too.

[raelan.livejournal.com]

So. Vanity Fair. Am I remembering it entirely wrong?

I haven't read the book but from what I've seen of the trailer it's obvious that we are supposed to be on her side as she goes after her dream and embarks on a love affair. She doesn't seem to be as reprenhensible as her book counterpart.

The film looks good, and I like Reese Witherspoon, so I'm looking forward to it.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I really like Reese Witherspoon, too, but I take issue with films that use the title of a book but really have only the vaguest relationship to the plot of that book. I'll have to wait to see some reviews, I guess...

My Reese Witherspoon love is based entirely on her roles in Freeway and Election, so maybe I'm not really her current target market anymore.

[meret.livejournal.com]

So. Vanity Fair. Am I remembering it entirely wrong?

Oh, good. It's not just me. I thought I must have remembered it wrong too. Sounds like they did a disneyvied version of it, at least in the trailers anyway.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I've only read little bits and pieces about the film, but it almost seems like they're trying to sell it as a sort of "take" on the 19th century in the vein of Moulin Rouge (except, of course, without singing). And there's another piece about the costumes in EW with a bit of blather about reinterpreting the look of things, repositioning, and reconsidering. Or, maybe they just fucked it all up and now they have to explain it somehow.

Despite liking Reese Witherspoon, I'm of the opinion that someone thought it was Vanity Fair the magazine and not Vanity Fair the book.

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

No you aren't remembering it wrong. The whole thing was mildly mean spirited and seriously vapid. There's plenty of untapped Jane Austen, Anthony Trollope abd others out there. If someone needed to make a period movie it's beyond me why they would pick that story.

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

Also despite my loathing of Lindsey Lohan, I kind of liked that Freaky Friday. Don't tell anyone though. And it definitely wasn't as good as What a Girl Wants or the Lizzie McGuire Movie.

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

Oh, so you rec the Lizzie movie? I'll be sure to check it out.

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

I have a soft spot for the TV show, but I thought the movie was cute and fun, and since I can't imagine what else anyone would expect of it I give it an A+ based on cute funness!

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

My favorite kind of movie!

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

I thought I was the only one who loved What a Girl Wants. *g* I have to watch it whenever I see it on cable. I also watch the Lizzie movie as well.

I don't know what it is lately with me and cute teen girl movies.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Okay, so two votes for What A Girl Wants... I saw the very end of it by accident, but maybe now I have to actively seek it out.

I love that there's an entire girl-specific genre of films. I can't imagine girls going with boys to see these things. You go with your friends or your sister or your mom, maybe, but they certainly aren't date films. Sparkly clothing and outlandish fantasies! Yet it all somehow comes down to earth in the end, and something really basic ends up being what matters.

Okay, yeah. I really do have to go watch What A Girl Wants ;)

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I can't remember what else Lindsey Lohan has been in, but I did like Freaky Friday. I wanted to see it because I am old enough that I saw the Jodie Foster version in the theater (twice!) and I felt nostalgic. I think this one was better, actually.

I saw the very, very end of What A Girl Wants and now I'm tempted to see if I can watch it on that on-demand thing with the cable. If it would stop crashing every time I try to access it, that is.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

And especially since they might not even be making the actual story, but some pointless, unrelated version.

[shattered.livejournal.com]

You know what I find odd about the Vanity Fair film is the sudden 180-switch in marketing. I haven't read the novel, but the first trailer, with its swelling music and emphasis on drah-ma seemed to indicate it would be a melodramatic period piece.

Contrast that, if you will, with the current trailers promoting it as a charming, light-hearted piece of period fluff.

I believe there's another primary character in the novel (and film), Amelia Sedley, who is supposed to be Becky's best friend, and quite the opposite of her--- rather naive, trusting, idealistic, etc. as a contrast to the Sharp character.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Well, my memories of the novel are somewhat distant, but I was pretty sure that Becky was supposed to be an example of all that was wrong with the world, not a plucky little go-getter, and all of the trailers I've seen have implied that the film will be Legally Blonde with bustles. So, I'm dubious, but I'll wait for some reviews before I denounce it utterly.

I do remember that in the novel she had a friend who was too stupid to understand that Becky would sell her for scrap if it would help her achieve any of her nasty little goals.

I'd really rather see the actual Becky Sharp character from the book than a cleaned-up, inspirational version. And Reese Witherspoon is great playing mean characters, so it's not as though she couldn't pull it off. Feh. We'll see...

[shattered.livejournal.com]

I'm really curious to see the Indian influences the director incorporated in the film. There are some really sumptious scenes in the previews, especially the
original trailer.

At the very least, I'm anticipating a gorgeous looking film.

[alejandradd.livejournal.com]

Heh. My dad totally spoiled Monster for me. Like, 20 minutes into the movie he goes "and then she starts killing guys," and I'm like "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" and he goes "but it's a real story, I'm not telling you anything new." Seriously, I just knew "Monster - Charlize Theron on makeup - Oscar."

I only managed to watch until Lee Tergesen (*points at icon*) shows up and my sister, my mom, and I, all walked out of the room because the movie was SO DAMN BORING! And depressing! My dad finished watching it because he has that kind of personality. Seriously, what's up with that? If you don't want to watch it, then you don't watch it.

On the other hand... I loved Freaky Friday. OK, not "loooooooved," but I didn't dislike it

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I didn't know Lee Tergesen was in it, and I was excited to see him, until I realized what an absolute fucktard he was playing. That was a horrible scene. It was one of the scariest and most depressing scenes I've seen in some time.

Of course, then there was the entire rest of the movie. I did watch the whole thing, and the acting was great, but obviously it never got any cheerier.

re: your dad blowing the story: Hee! I've gotten into the habit of asking people if they know the story when watching anything based on "truth" so that I can know whether or not I'm going to ruin any surprise for them. Yeah, I'm really kind of weird about spoilers in every aspect of my life ;)

Charlize Theron looks so bad in that movie.

Freaky Friday, though...that was fun. I liked it better than the Jodie Foster version.