Captain Corelli Movie out in London - and the reviews are AWFUL!
May 4th, 2001, 11:08 AM
#1
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Captain Corelli Movie out in London - and the reviews are AWFUL!
I was dying to see it but they are saying it is awful - right down to Cages accent! <BR> <BR>Please see this link for details:http://www.thetimes.co.uk/section/0,,699,00.html <BR> <BR>Does anyone know someone who has seen it? <BR> <BR>
<BR> <BR>not to be discouraging but - it does not open stateside until <BR>AUGUST <BR> <BR>AUGH-ust. <BR> <BR>yikes...
May 5th, 2001, 06:35 AM
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The reviews have been dire! I quote from the Guardian <BR> <BR>"Nicolas Cage is disastrously miscast in a dreary, drooping adaptation of the Louis de Bernieres novel .....What a droopy, disappointing film this is. It has some of the unhappiest casting to be seen and dodgiest accents to be heard in the cinema, the worst offender being the barrel-chested, horse-faced Nicolas Cage as a captain in the Italian army (the comically incompetent innocents of fascism, apparently) who charms the socks, and indeed the pants, off the gorgeous Pelagia (Penelope Cruz). This he achieves with his sensitive love of music and that famous mandolin, which he has nestling pertly in his knapsack in lieu of a field marshal's baton. He and his adorable comrades want nothing more than to hang out on the beach, running in and out of the surf like the Monkees, singing and snogging their imported ladies of ill repute. "We are-a Italian-a!" explains Mr Cage, with a twinkle in his eye, "famous-a for-a singing-a! Eating-a! And making-a leeeeeeeurrrve....Frankly, no one could look more ill-at-ease or unconvincing with a musical instrument, and with so much broad comedy in his performance it would not be very surprising if Cage tried blowing into it. ....David Morrissey (a generally excellent actor here forced into the role of uptight German officer) appears to be history's only recorded Scouse Nazi. The only actor really at home seems to be John Hurt as Dr Iannis, Pelagia's father - his face lizardly, impassive and sunburned, the corners of his mouth turned uncompromisingly down. He has the film's one really disturbing and powerful moment, when, as war is declared, he gives Pelagia a revolver - an oddly new-looking and well-maintained weapon - and tells her that she must not hesitate to use it on herself if necessary." <BR> <BR>I get the distinct impression that the critic Peter Bradshaw didn't like it. <BR>
May 5th, 2001, 01:10 PM
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The same thing happened w/ Angela's Ashes...great book, Hollywood messed it up. <BR>Same thing with every John Grisham novel Hollywood got there hands on. <BR>In an interview Frank McCourt was asked if it bothered him to see the moviemakers altering his story. He said cooly, "No. My book is my story and they can't change any of it." <BR>j. <BR>Judy-if you use expletives people will think you're being snippy!
May 5th, 2001, 01:50 PM
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I haven't read Corellis Mandolin, but I want to, much more then I want to see the movie. Why? Becuase, I've noticed that good books are usually made inti crummy movies and crummy books sometimes turn into pretty good flicks. Perfect example is The Horse Whisperer and Prince of tides. Great books- so so movies. Any book that is an Oprah pick usually is just a fair book, but they've been made into great movies, like Where the Heart is and Ellen Foster. I think the main reason is with really good writing you can imagine the characters in your head and a movie just can't live up to what you can imagine.
May 7th, 2001, 01:56 AM
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While in London last week I noticed the posters were out and was going to ask if anyone had seen CCM yet. How disappointing if the early reviews are true!! <BR> <BR>I did have my doubts about casting Cage (too old?). I think the real problem with most film versions of books is that they generally cut too much out in order to make it less then 2 hours. Gone with the Wind was nearly 4 hours as I recall. The Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice was as long. Then you look at recent Hollywood adaptations of books (Sense and Sensibility comes to mind) and you can just tell things are rushed along... perhaps that is what has happened with CCM. <BR> <BR>Maybe we should all take up a collection and have BBC do the full length version
May 7th, 2001, 05:04 AM
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I loved the book but I must admit that as soon as I heard about Cage being cast as Corelli I was disappointed. <BR> <BR>Cage just isnt Corelli to me. Perhaps if he was a better actor he could be but he always plays one character - Nicholas Cage. <BR> <BR>So I dont know if I even want to go and see it. <BR> <BR>I am looking forward to Harry Potter, though I have to say Robbie Coltrane isnt Hagrid for me. Brian Blessed, now he would have made a perfect Hagrid. Having said that the rest of the casting looks solid, and Robie Coltrane is at least a good enough actor that he should make a good stab at Hagrid...
May 7th, 2001, 06:26 AM
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you know Judy, I was going to say Joseph Fiennes. I was almost going to say Ralph cuz he is the first one who comes to mind for ANYTHING, but I cannot see him as a happy go lucky, quirky mandolin player. no matter how hard I try. He is meant to be brooding and mysterious.. <BR> <BR>how about David Morrissey?
May 7th, 2001, 06:59 AM
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JUDY! <BR> <BR>How could I forget. <BR> <BR>yes yes yes yes. <BR> <BR>Corelli doesn't have to be a stereotypical hunk - Roberto is such a cute little guy... and yes, I can completely see him as Corelli - at least the 'lighter' side of Corelli. Not sure about the more somber side.
