Laura Seabrook's Ramblings

I had waited for this film for some time but in Australia its release was delayed until recently. Then I discovered last week that the only sessions showing locally of Captain America: The First Avenger were on at 9pm. Not a problem if you have a car but I don't and the last bus to get home leaves the nearest cinema before that time. Well, without going into specifics I found a way to see the film anyway, although in a less than perfect condition. I don't think it mattered, in fact it probably added to the film!

I'm highly impressed with this film. Like Thor, the writers have done their research and I think the film captures the character of WWII Cap almost perfectly. Of course some changes have been made to the origin story, but it is essentially intact. The point of a film like this is not to mimic the original comics exactly, but to get across the basic idea and flavour of the stories. What I quite liked about this film was how deftly it wove several Marvel characters and groups together. Not only do we have the Captain fighting the Red Skull (Weaving is perfectly cast) but with the appearance of the Howling Commandos, Agent Carter, and HYDRA. (and their uniform now actually makes sense in a WWII setting).

The look of the film seems just right, and the Nazi hi-tech kit is either based on real designs (in the case of the aircraft) or has the feel of the period. I also liked how we see the Kirby-Simon costume (including patriotic poses which could have been lifted straight off the covers of the comics of the period), and later the Ultimates costume versions. Not only that that but there's at least one scene featuring tricks and hi-jinx on a motorcycle, which is a tip to the otherwise terrible TV show!

I loved it, especially a storyline involving The Cosmic Cube! Can't wait to see the Avengers film. They're doing these right, so far.

I don't think I've cried so much, or been so pleased with a film like this for a long long time.

RED DOG is the story about a real dog that was given the same name. He was adopted by the Dampier community and became famous locally when he travellied the North West of the State. As this excert from the wikipedia shows...

...he was much loved as well.

Short version - the trailers on before it!

Why, well they were advertising THOR and GREEN LANTERN, and it looks like they got both of those right - at least they based them on the source material (Thor has Loki, Sif and Eternals; GL has Carol Ferris, Abin Sur, and Oa). Both films I will probably watch, and even if they turn into camp, might enjoy.

Still, this is fantasy all the way through - just not good fantasy. It made me think of Heavy Metal magazine, like Fifth Element had. Only, instead of being drawn by Moebius, this film seemed like it was drawn by Pepe Moreno!

Saw True Grit on Wednesday. I was surprised with just how good the film was.

Haven't read the book that both this film and the 1969 version were based on, but this film version seems to be a fuller, more believable account. I absolutely did not recognise Matt Damon as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf! Of course many scenes are shared with the 1969 version and the film includes the classic "Fill your hands you son of a bitch!" line from Rooster Cogburn.

I read somewhere, and I think it's true, that a big difference between this and the earlier version is that the focus on the story is firmly on Matty Ross, not Cogburn, who though a major character, is a supporting one. Some elements are entirely different. For example, in the 1969 version, after threatening everyone and sundry with her lawyer, we finally get to see him and discover him to be a short weedy man with a high pitched voice!

There's a good reason that never happens in this version, but I won't spoil this for you. Suffice it to say that scenes towards the end of the film reminded me of certain French films, and are better for that. More like Dead Man and The Grey Fox than the previous film, which is a GOOD THING.