Blog Post 11- Bean

Today is quickly developing into one of those "I've got a big pile of work to do but it's not gonna get done" kinda days. Who am I kidding, I've been having a whole month's worth of these... Maybe a lifetime's if I'm being brutally honest. I think a feel-good film is just what the movie doctor ordered.

I'm thinking something sweet, light and energetic... I got it! Maybe I'll pull out a Mr Bean flick! Haha I swear I spend so much time gushing over these deep, sophisticated, powerful films when sometimes it takes nothing more than a family favourite to liven up your afternoon and leave you on a high note.

My personal favourite is Bean. This is a classic in its own right. Everyone will remember the drawn-on Whistler's Mother face that had everyone laughing one good hearty guffaw. It takes films like these to sometimes slap us round the face with a whirl of humour and go "stop taking life so seriously and just live a little!"

Routine living can get you down for sure with all those daily stresses and chores. They can suck out all the fun of your day which is why sometimes you need to press pause and watch a man sneeze on a priceless work of art. It'll do ya a world of good!

Someone did once say that it's hard for a film to get you to cry but even harder to make you laugh! I happen to agree with that. Rowan Atkinson has given us this wacky character that delivers on this difficult task for sure. Mr Bean is the original funny-man! I love how no matter how much trouble he gets into, he always finds the most hilarious way out. Take the operation scene for example; only Mr Bean could wind up leading the surgery and manages to get the bullet (and his M&M) out with his bare hands and save the day.

If by any chance you've been living under a rock and haven't seen the movie:

Mr Bean is a gallery security guard who is thrown into Los Angeles, under false pretenses in order to unveil a very precious painting... *Cue ultimate opportunities for mischief*

It's just one of those films that never fails to get you in a good mood, so put all of your troubles out of your head, leave the impending work for another time and belt out some of your best cackles.

Blog Post 10- The Magic of Miyazaki

The other day I caught 'The Wind Rises' on TV- Hayao Miyazaki's latest animation. It was a good one and worth a watch but admittedly it won't beat some of my old Studio Ghibli favourites that I find myself re-watching over and over again. So I dug out an old review I jotted down about these films, and seeing as I've got the will to blog today here goes nothing!

I have feasted my eyes on a lot of Mr Hayao Miyazaki's stunning animes. Mystical, colourful Japanese wonders- a cross between a movie and a symphony.

This vibrant combination of touching story lines and magical artworks that really transport you to a whole other world- like an eccentric dream or whimsical adventure. 
Sitting on your couch revelling in these movies is truly blissful. 

What really makes these films are the political elements and the profound ideas that are at the very core.
Hayao Miyazaki has great views of the world. One that uses his art to express these ideas is one to admire. 
I can't really summarise the stories with much ease because they are so magical and abstract that you kinda have to let yourself go with them and just enjoy the ride.

The ones that stand out the most are 'Spirited Away' and 'Howl's Moving Castle' personally but I've seen almost all of them and have not been disappointed. Film4 dedicated a whole week of them so I got to catch up with some of these such as 'Kiki's Delivery Service' and 'Ponyo'. 

Here is an attempt at a short introduction to the first Miyazaki film I ever saw so many years ago...

Don't forget to listen out for the star-studded cast of voices! Shihiro is a little girl moving to a new home with her parents. Suddenly as if by fate, they take a different route and end up at an enigmatic abandoned theme park. Shihiro's family invite themselves in and greedily start devouring a deserted prepared buffet while Shihiro, sensing the ominous, vibe wonders off discovering an old bath house. What she is about to embark upon is that they have entered the plane of the spirits and there doesn't seem to be a way out especially when her parents have been turned into pigs ...

Blog Post 9: I love the 'Count of Monte Cristo' (2002)

There are three major protagonists in this film; Edmond, the Count & hybrid Count Edmond. 

I like the third one the best. 

My favourite parts in this film have to be every scene with the good old all-knowing Priest building up rock-bottom, broken Edmond as well as that grand and lavish entrance as the Count; our naive hero reborn into a powerful supremo. That part was rather cool. 

We sympathise with him, we laugh with him and we back him against the injustices thrown at him by the imposing forces corrupting his innocence. I mean, it’s exhausting really just watching this.

I think we can all relate to this movie in a million and one ways. Alright, we won’t exactly be noting down tips on how to survive the Chateau D’If but if this film doesn’t inspire or even affect you in some way I don’t know what will. 

Life is gonna chew you up spit you out and then it’s down to you- turn bitter or take it in your stride, gain strength and wisdom. 

Above all, never lose hope. 

I have to acknowledge the fact that this is a Dumas masterpiece but I also gotta say, they made a hell of a movie and I happen to like the adjustments to the story very much. 

Technically speaking, the direction is great and the acting is spot-on. Will continue to re-watch this film over and over as I have done for years. 

Bravo!

Blog Post 8: "Which is better, the book or the film?"

Why is it that we feel the need to appraise these two art forms? Call ourselves refined and pick a side… I was always too much of a film buff to class myself as a book worm but nevertheless appreciated the wonder of the written world. There’s nothing like being totally immersed in a great film or indeed escaping into a good book. Popcorn or cocoa; Hitchcock or Shakespeare can’t we just love both?

Art can be in music, in a painting, in a dish, in a photograph, film, book or even a memory. Whatever your ‘thing’ is, treasure it. A passion is a flame we can fuel and revel in throughout life. Never let it die out. 

So let’s talk about movies. 

The other day I found myself sinking into a pile of work aching to be completed. So, I figured, maybe I’ll just float on the surface for a little while until I find my feet. Naturally I headed to the cinema. There was one film on my mind for a long time that I had missed out on.

Here’s a clue: “Here’s looking at you, kid.” 

Yep, the 40’s classic ‘Casablanca’. It’s a classic for a reason. I found it magical watching this movie on the big screen so if you ever get the chance, save it for the cinema. Bogart and Bergman are a mighty pair dominating the camera with their powerful presence. These are two fine actors that once reigned the box office, true Hollywood royalty. 

It was clearly a different world back then. One we can experience through superb films like these that preserve time for us to travel through. It sure is nice to crossover into that world. Isn’t that the great thing about Art? Cheapest form of travel after all and you get all the culture you need.

So if you have time this week, visit the Art world. If not, make time. Devote at least part of your life to the things you love and you won't regret it. 

Ilsa: Thank you for the coffee, monsieur. I shall miss that when I leave Casablanca.

Senor Ferrari: It was gracious of you to share it with me.