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grrgoylThere will always be snobby bibliophiles who eternally cry, "The book was better! The book was better!" I have been that snob in the past and will be again. I am sure this movie is no exception, but since I haven't read the book yet, I have avoided the inevitable disappointment. I will most likely read the book(s) eventually, and then there will be nowhere to go but up. Clever, no? So, with no further ado, I give you:
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: What is most surprising about this movie is that it took me as long as it did to finally watch it. From the moment I saw the DVD menu screen it seemed custom-made for me: dark, sinister plot; children in jeopardy; gothic, bleak settings; first-person narration, which all my favorite movies seem to have; directed by Brad Silberling, who made City of Angels so I would fall in love with Nicolas Cage; Edward Gorey-esque credits; and don't forget Catherine O'Hara, who has so much good film karma accumulated from roles in Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas that I would watch "101 ways to cook parsnips" if she made an appearance.
I suppose a discussion of the film would be incomplete without a token mention of Jim Carrey, she said looking at the DVD case where his name is larger than even the movie title. I could go either way on him. I can't stand him when he plays the self-pummeling for a laugh. Classic examples of this would be Me, Myself and Irene and Liar, Liar (oooh, I hated that movie with the white hot hate of a thousand suns). However, when he's not punching himself in the face he can create some very amusing characters --- for instance Ace Ventura (a guilty pleasure) and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Having not read the book Lemony Snicket, I will say that the role of Count Olaf seems perfect for him (the review on the DVD case agreed). Like the Grinch, he was equal parts darkly funny and despicably monstrous. And his lines (most of which I suspect were improvisations) and wicked characterizations are among the top three reasons I instantly wanted to own the movie.
Not to say the rest of the cast were playing second fiddle. The children were, in the words of Snicket himself, indeed "reasonably attractive" and looked convincingly related to boot. Billy Connelly was adorable (but sadly shortlived) as the kind, herpetological Uncle Monty. Meryl Streep was fabulous as the panphobic Aunt Josephine...although given her precarious living quarters I was confused by her a bit before realizing the humor in her worrying about things like doorknobs exploding and decapitating oneself by tripping on the doorstep, when a more valid concern would be the whole house crashing into "Lake Lachrymose." And of course, Jude, Jude, Hey Jude (Law)...as Tery pointed out, he had a lot of W-2's to fill out this year. It seems like he has been in every film that came out lately.
The most impressive thing about the film is what a visual treat it is. It has obviously been digitally colorized with a muted palette of almost exclusively gray, charcoal and sepia tones, resulting in every stark, crisp frame being a Burtonesque work of art. The last time I remember a film being painstakingly crafted like this digitally was LOTR: TTT I think. The background is often full of fun little clues to find. Apart from all the eyes in Olaf's house (and sometimes in the outdoor scenery), my most exciting discovery was on my second time through, in a shot looking out of Curdled Cave when I noticed the cave opening was actually in the shape of Count Olaf's full-length silhouette. Things like this demand repeat viewings.
The movie wasn't exactly perfect, though. I really could have done without Sunny's (the infant's) subtitles, I don't care how integral to the book they are. I didn't really get the spyglass subplot until the second time through, and still don't entirely understand it. But there have to be unanswered questions for the next film. And the happy ending seemed rather forced and tacked on, especially considering there are still 8 more books of unfortunate events to cover.
In summary, I daresay I enjoyed this more than any of the Harry Potter films, sacrilege I know. I think maybe it wasn't handicapped by having to try to please 95% of the known world. So until I read the books and possibly am convinced otherwise, I'd have to say this is a 4+/5. Indubitably.
But did you really think this wouldn't also include a saga? It pains me to correct you, gentle reader, but this is about me and, I'm sorry to say, that always, always means a saga.
Like I said, I almost instantly knew I had to own this DVD. But having not once but twice recently been burned by online sellers not sending me what I believed I was buying, it was clear I had to get this the old-fashioned way, i.e. drive to the store and pay full price. I knew two versions had been released; The "plain old" disc had a fair selection of features, two commentaries, featurettes on building the basic characters, and deleted scenes and outtakes. Not bad. But the 2-disc "special collector's edition" came with this PLUS a second disc containing a video production diary and pieces on sound and special effects. Is there any doubt which version I had my heart set on?
Thus I learned the drawback to waiting to rent a film and missing it in the theater. Because by the time you get around to watching it, the rest of America has seen it and swooped in to pick up the DVD the first day it comes out. Target: Nothing but two empty spots on the shelf (but, bless their soul, no less than 30 copies of National Treasure, guaranteeing I will never see that movie out of bitter spite). Walmart, who just three days before had one of those Volkswagen-sized displays full of them (I saw them during an inventory), was now reduced to a handful of full-screen copies on a lonely endcap. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit. And I had already returned my rented copy, so sure was I it would be readily available. I dejectedly went back home and halfheartedly looked online. Sure, Amazon had it, and at a reasonable price, but wouldn't ship it until the middle of May. I really really wanted to watch it again that night. *insert despairing wail here*
Fear not, children. There is a happy ending. I patiently waited for Best Buy to drag its ass out of bed at 10 and went in. On the shelves were a smattering of "plain old" copies (but at least widescreen) but I persevered and asked one of the clerks for what had now become the Holy Grail of DVDs for me. She looked in the computer, vanished into the backroom, and reappeared holding about three copies aloft. *cue joyous choirs of angels*
Believe me, it's worth every (full-priced) penny. Even the extras on the "plain old" version are more than worth it. Jim Carrey's outtakes and throwaways (even his screen tests) are funnier than some actors' best stuff. So far the funniest moment on the bonus disc is Billy Connelly going on and on about the sexiness of the albino boa he wears around his neck, how she moans in his ear and tangles herself in his hair. "It's like a scarf that likes ye!" he enthuses. Then a subtitle appears explaining that it wasn't until much later that Billy was told it was actually a male snake. Hee! I haven't even heard the commentaries yet, but trust me that I can't wait.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: What is most surprising about this movie is that it took me as long as it did to finally watch it. From the moment I saw the DVD menu screen it seemed custom-made for me: dark, sinister plot; children in jeopardy; gothic, bleak settings; first-person narration, which all my favorite movies seem to have; directed by Brad Silberling, who made City of Angels so I would fall in love with Nicolas Cage; Edward Gorey-esque credits; and don't forget Catherine O'Hara, who has so much good film karma accumulated from roles in Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas that I would watch "101 ways to cook parsnips" if she made an appearance.
I suppose a discussion of the film would be incomplete without a token mention of Jim Carrey, she said looking at the DVD case where his name is larger than even the movie title. I could go either way on him. I can't stand him when he plays the self-pummeling for a laugh. Classic examples of this would be Me, Myself and Irene and Liar, Liar (oooh, I hated that movie with the white hot hate of a thousand suns). However, when he's not punching himself in the face he can create some very amusing characters --- for instance Ace Ventura (a guilty pleasure) and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Having not read the book Lemony Snicket, I will say that the role of Count Olaf seems perfect for him (the review on the DVD case agreed). Like the Grinch, he was equal parts darkly funny and despicably monstrous. And his lines (most of which I suspect were improvisations) and wicked characterizations are among the top three reasons I instantly wanted to own the movie.
Not to say the rest of the cast were playing second fiddle. The children were, in the words of Snicket himself, indeed "reasonably attractive" and looked convincingly related to boot. Billy Connelly was adorable (but sadly shortlived) as the kind, herpetological Uncle Monty. Meryl Streep was fabulous as the panphobic Aunt Josephine...although given her precarious living quarters I was confused by her a bit before realizing the humor in her worrying about things like doorknobs exploding and decapitating oneself by tripping on the doorstep, when a more valid concern would be the whole house crashing into "Lake Lachrymose." And of course, Jude, Jude, Hey Jude (Law)...as Tery pointed out, he had a lot of W-2's to fill out this year. It seems like he has been in every film that came out lately.
The most impressive thing about the film is what a visual treat it is. It has obviously been digitally colorized with a muted palette of almost exclusively gray, charcoal and sepia tones, resulting in every stark, crisp frame being a Burtonesque work of art. The last time I remember a film being painstakingly crafted like this digitally was LOTR: TTT I think. The background is often full of fun little clues to find. Apart from all the eyes in Olaf's house (and sometimes in the outdoor scenery), my most exciting discovery was on my second time through, in a shot looking out of Curdled Cave when I noticed the cave opening was actually in the shape of Count Olaf's full-length silhouette. Things like this demand repeat viewings.
The movie wasn't exactly perfect, though. I really could have done without Sunny's (the infant's) subtitles, I don't care how integral to the book they are. I didn't really get the spyglass subplot until the second time through, and still don't entirely understand it. But there have to be unanswered questions for the next film. And the happy ending seemed rather forced and tacked on, especially considering there are still 8 more books of unfortunate events to cover.
In summary, I daresay I enjoyed this more than any of the Harry Potter films, sacrilege I know. I think maybe it wasn't handicapped by having to try to please 95% of the known world. So until I read the books and possibly am convinced otherwise, I'd have to say this is a 4+/5. Indubitably.
But did you really think this wouldn't also include a saga? It pains me to correct you, gentle reader, but this is about me and, I'm sorry to say, that always, always means a saga.
Like I said, I almost instantly knew I had to own this DVD. But having not once but twice recently been burned by online sellers not sending me what I believed I was buying, it was clear I had to get this the old-fashioned way, i.e. drive to the store and pay full price. I knew two versions had been released; The "plain old" disc had a fair selection of features, two commentaries, featurettes on building the basic characters, and deleted scenes and outtakes. Not bad. But the 2-disc "special collector's edition" came with this PLUS a second disc containing a video production diary and pieces on sound and special effects. Is there any doubt which version I had my heart set on?
Thus I learned the drawback to waiting to rent a film and missing it in the theater. Because by the time you get around to watching it, the rest of America has seen it and swooped in to pick up the DVD the first day it comes out. Target: Nothing but two empty spots on the shelf (but, bless their soul, no less than 30 copies of National Treasure, guaranteeing I will never see that movie out of bitter spite). Walmart, who just three days before had one of those Volkswagen-sized displays full of them (I saw them during an inventory), was now reduced to a handful of full-screen copies on a lonely endcap. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit. And I had already returned my rented copy, so sure was I it would be readily available. I dejectedly went back home and halfheartedly looked online. Sure, Amazon had it, and at a reasonable price, but wouldn't ship it until the middle of May. I really really wanted to watch it again that night. *insert despairing wail here*
Fear not, children. There is a happy ending. I patiently waited for Best Buy to drag its ass out of bed at 10 and went in. On the shelves were a smattering of "plain old" copies (but at least widescreen) but I persevered and asked one of the clerks for what had now become the Holy Grail of DVDs for me. She looked in the computer, vanished into the backroom, and reappeared holding about three copies aloft. *cue joyous choirs of angels*
Believe me, it's worth every (full-priced) penny. Even the extras on the "plain old" version are more than worth it. Jim Carrey's outtakes and throwaways (even his screen tests) are funnier than some actors' best stuff. So far the funniest moment on the bonus disc is Billy Connelly going on and on about the sexiness of the albino boa he wears around his neck, how she moans in his ear and tangles herself in his hair. "It's like a scarf that likes ye!" he enthuses. Then a subtitle appears explaining that it wasn't until much later that Billy was told it was actually a male snake. Hee! I haven't even heard the commentaries yet, but trust me that I can't wait.
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-06 07:00 pm (UTC)The kids were swell, and Jim Carrey was surprisingly good and not too over the top, but the supporting characters ran away with the film!
I thought you would like this movie. : )
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 09:12 pm (UTC)But my main reason for this comment is to show off my new icon! What do you think? I like it, but I've been working on it so long now it looks funny.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 09:24 pm (UTC)Now you understand one element of my Spike icon. You'll get the other element soon (it's from a S7 ep).
And I never expected you to have a saga, you not being me and all.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 09:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 09:49 pm (UTC)<: (
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 10:09 pm (UTC)Thanks. : ) It is nice, I really like the burning ice picture, but it needs some va-va-voom.
Your Buffy icons are awfully good. Bring me to life is a perfect quote for that animation, and your Spike icon's rising smoke/steam effect is very subtle and well done.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 10:14 pm (UTC)Like, an example I'm thinking of (just because it's a Lemony weekend) would be your quote but over a shot of the Baudelaires examining the smoking ruins of their house. That's a little obvious but you know? Something unexpected. But if you like yours, go with it. All that matters is that you like it.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-07 10:23 pm (UTC)I wouldn't change it just because one person thought it was a little meh. Unless that person was me! ; ) The lyric is just too good to use it somewhere ordinary.