The King's Speech

I'd been itching to see this film for a while. The cast was impressive and it was a subject and era I wanted to know more about.

Within the first scene I was torn up for the Duke of York.  Firth had dragged me in immediately.  Between him and the direction I felt so much for the poor man.  It was painful to watch.  The setting of the scenes was very well done.  Maybe as it's not that far in the past that's easier to do.  After the Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs hype recently we're in not unfamiliar surroundings.

This has a fantastic cast.  I'd heard all the award buzz about Firth's performance and wanted to see if it was worthy.  Well I was totally convinced a few scenes in that all the buzz was worth it.  That isn't to say that Bonham-Carter and Rush don't deserve much credit too.  They were both wonderful but didn't have half as much to do, especially physically, as Firth.  Special mention has to go to Derek Jacobi, he may not be on screen an awful lot but he's brilliant. Without ever overplaying the role. The only casting choice I was unsure about was Spall as Churchill. The fact that Churchill was necessary to play the part of others is also dubious but I can understand why he was inserted.  There's a short article here on the accuracy of the film.

I loved seeing a younger Queen Mother on screen.  I'm no royalist but I did admire her sense of duty after undertaking the  unwanted role of Queen Consort.  Especially so during WWII.  The story of Edward and Mrs Simpson is seen as a great love story.  I think not.  To me the great love story was that of Elizabeth and Bertie.

Guy Pearce is excellently pathetic as the Prince of Wales and the short reigning Monarch with no sense of the  duty his great privilege required.  I think it's pretty obvious what I think of the man.  However much I think I would have disliked Wallis Simpson, the woman did our country a huge favour.

The film really pulls on the emotions.  Something I'm against when it's done badly.  However I loved this film.  I thought it was wonderful.  I'm glad it pulled at my heartstrings.

To see an old London landmark in the opening scene brought a warm glow.  Maybe the first time I've been glad of CGI.

4.5 Pawprints.  I can;t give a film that tampers with historical fact 5.

Alice in Wonderland - Review

The decision was made to see this in 3D purely because it isn't showing on the IMAX in 2D.  I was dubious about the 3D version before I went in and seeing it didn't cure me of this.  I can't see how the 3D added to the film at all.  It took me out of the film in parts, where it was slightly disconcerting.  I'd also rather not have to wear a pair of huge glasses that dozens of other people have had on.  I know nothing about the differences between filming in 3D and 'retro-fitting'.  All I know is that if I saw this film again I would make for a 2D screen.

Rant over, I actually quite enjoyed the rest of the film.  I was disappointed by the lack of Burton's usual style of title sequence.  These were hardly noticeable.  I was looking forward to something much more inspiring.

The cast did a great job.  Both the physical actors and the voice actors.  I was glad they had cast someone I hadn't come across before as Alice.  She was instantly Alice, not someone from another role.  Helena Bonham-Carter was far too Queenie-like for my liking.  It probably worked very well for an audience too young to have seen Miranda Richardson's original in Blackadder.  It felt too much like theft to me though.  Especially as HBC is a highly competent actress who is capable of crafting her own character.  I can see how the role worked in the story though.  Matt Lucas being included in the cast didn't fill me with glee.  He did his usual kinda thing.  Which surprisingly worked very well.  Tweedledum and Tweedledee will never be my favourite characters but then again they are supposed to be a little annoying.  The Dormouse was bloody irritating.  It got on my nerves for most of it's screen time.  I would describe it's depiction in this film as 'a poor man's Reepicheep'.  Depp was great as the Hatter.  He had a much larger role in the film than I expected.  I was worried we were going to get a re-run of Captain Jack.  Thankfully I was very wrong.  Stephen Fry was as good as I'd expected as the Chesire Cat.  Which let's face it is the character I most wanted to see.  Unfortunately I hated the look of the cat.  His lines were great.  The effects they used for him were great.  Even his expressions were great.  Why oh why did they have to give him green stripes?

I liked the update on the original story.  Although nothing can improve on the book I really enjoyed this film.  It's not my favourite Burton film and will never be at the top of any of my lists but it was good fun.  One of the final scenes didn't really work for me.  It just didn't sit right at all but as it was such a small part of it I can get over it.

3.5 pawprints.  It lost one for the annoying 3D but it gained half back due to it containing monkeys :-)