adaptation – Page 5 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Easy A (2010)

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged 1980s, adaptation, Amanda Bynes, Comedy, Dan Byrd, Emma Stone, John Hughes, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Patricia Clarkson, Penn Badgley, Romance, Scarlett Letter, Stanley TucciLeave a comment

More than your average teen Rom Com.

Olive (Emma Stone) is a clean-cut student who, in an attempt to save her gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) from endless bullying, fakes losing her virginity at a party. But no-one can manipulate the High School rumour mill for ever and get away with it.

There are some seriously sized head-nods to classic John Hughes movies and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter (Easy “A”, get it?) plays its part. If Emma Stone wasn’t enough, the supporting cast’s fantastic; Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell.

Funny, romantic and empowering.

100 Word Review – Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

April 27, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, adventure, Age of Ultron, Avengers, Avengers Assemble, Black Widow, Captain America, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Comic, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, James Spader, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sci Fi, Stan Lee, Thor2 Comments

Everything that Joss Whedon makes is beautiful, and this is no exception.

Following on from The Avengers (2012), we catch up with the gang still coping with the fallout from Loki. Stark (Robert Downey Jr) more than most.

I won’t give away any more plot. The script is as full of humour, emotion, action and fully formed characters. There’s action, romance, family ties and a whole lot more besides.

The cast is wonderful, as always. Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are all superb. James Spader is in his element as the ultimate artificial intelligence, Ultron.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

April 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

You’ve seen the first one and the second one.

You are ready to follow Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) into District 13, the heart of the resistance. What will Snow (Donald Sutherland) do to punish her betrayal? Does she really have the moral high ground? Is she fit to be Mockingjay?

Heavily built on the sturdy foundations of the previous films, don’t start with this one. However, it takes a good hard look at the intricacies of rebellion and the power of propaganda which is covered so well in the book (Read. The. Books.).

It’s the things we love most that destroy us.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jena Malone, Jennifer Lawrence, Panem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

Sequel to The Hunger Games (2012), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has survived her first Hunger Games, but will she survive the scrutinising gaze of The Capitol and Panem’s terrifying leader, President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

With all the drama and almost as much of the politics as the books (read the books!), this opens up Panem in a way the first film couldn’t.

The cast is fantastic (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Jenna Malone) and the visuals are just as breath-taking. Prepare yourself for media spin, duplicity and rebellion.

Nobody ever wins the games. Period. There are survivors. There’s no winners.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games (2012)

April 22, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Battle Royale, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Jennifer Lawrence, Sci Fi, The Hunger Games, Woody Harrelson4 Comments

Read the books.

But, also, watch the film. It’s not as good, but still brilliant.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers her life in place of her sister’s when she is chosen to participate in The Hunger Games, a barbaric event designed to keep the masses in line in this dystopian future.

Yes, there are similarities, but it is more than an Americanised Battle Royale. Children are killing children to survive, but for the sport of the Capital. Battle Royale may be gruesome, but this is emotionally brutal.

Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson are both stunning in their supporting roles. It’s magnificent.

100 Word Review – Insurgent (2015)

April 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, divergent, dystopian, future, insurgent, Kate Winslet, Sci Fi, Shailene Woodley, teen, Theo James1 Comment

So, I probably should have seen Divergent (2014) first, but this film definitely holds up as a stand alone film as well as part of a trilogy (albeit in four parts).

In a dystopian future, a community is split in to groups based on personality types. But Tris (Shailene Woodley) is different. Together with Four (Theo James) and co., they must fight against the tyranny of Jeanine’s (Kate Winslet) regime.

Although this does sound like every other teen Sci Fi, it stands out for its 3D characters, emotional gravitas (they have sex and it’s not a big deal!) and genuine suspense.

100 Word Review – Animal Farm (1954)

April 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words...Tagged 1950s, adaptation, animals, animation, Batchelor and Halas, CIA, communism, George Orwell1 Comment

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

Based on the communist fable from George Orwell in which farmyard animals overthrow their human oppressors and attempt to forge their own path.

Not suitable for children. This isn’t Disney. The animation from Batchelor and Halas is simultaneously dated and timeless, creating an eerie sense of a warning being shouted across the ages.

It was funded to a large extent by the CIA as anti-communist propaganda. This film is so steeped in history it’s impossible to ignore, and is probably best enjoyed with a generous side of Wiki.

100 Word Review – Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

April 6, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., FantasyTagged adaptation, animals, animation, Bill Murray, Darjeeling Limited, Fantasy, George Clooney, Grand Budapest Hotel, Jason Schwartzman, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Roald Dahl, Stop Motion, Wes Anderson3 Comments

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story, with an all-star cast (George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray), Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Darjeeling Limited) chose stop-motion animation to adapt this to the big screen.

And he made the right choice. The combination of quirky animation, eccentric characters and utterly delightful use of language make you feel as though you are living the book.

There are some unfortunate Hollywood stereotypes that sneak into it. All the evil farmers are British and the animals are all American. However, it still captures the charm of the original story.