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Reviews
The Band Wagon (1953)
Its Popularity Truly Mystifies Me
Well, after all these years, I finally saw The Band Wagon. Unfortunately, as much as I adore Fred Astaire, I could barely stand to watch it through to the end! The first 25 minute-or-so section was not bad and seemed like it might be building to something better, but it for the most part it went downhill from there.
The last third of the film was particularly excruciating. How on earth are we to believe that disjointed mess, with such awful--I mean, truly cringe-worthy--numbers as "Louisiana Hayride" and "Triplets" thrown together with the much better, but incompatible, 'Girl Hunt Ballet' comprised a cohesive plotline, much less added up to a massive hit?
Nanette Fabray was a spark plug, and Astaire, while not at his best, can never be bad. But, Cyd Charisse, despite her expert dance training, just isn't my cuppa. I don't find her particularly attractive or a good actress. And, unlike in Romance on the High Seas or An American in Paris, Oscar Levant was a drag.
Clearly, I'm in the minority in my opinion of The Band Wagon, and that doesn't surprise me. However, I am truly mystified at so many people rating this movie as highly as they do. Even Yolanda & the Thief, which I also just saw for the first time and wasn't crazy about (mostly thanks to the tedious, insipid Lucille Bremer), was far more entertaining.
A Wrinkle in Time (2003)
Worst Adaption of a Well-loved Book EVER!
I have loved this book since my 5th grade teacher read it to our class many years ago. And I have read it to every one of my 3rd and 5th grade classes over my past 18 years of teaching. Supposedly a movie had been made in the past, but I'd never been able to locate it. Well, my students and I were all so excited when we heard that Disney had brought Madeline L'Engle's excellent book to the screen.
As I watched the movie, I had the highest of hopes. As the film went on, I became more and more despondent. They had botched it badly! Never had I been so let down by a favorite book-to-film adaption. I understand that films can't stick strictly to a book, but they don't need to change things for the sake of it! Most, if not all, of departures from the book were totally unnecessary!
I kept my opinion to myself at first and just listened to my students discuss the movie. Well, it wasn't just me. Nearly every single one felt the same way--cheated out of the great story that Madeline L'Engle had so skillfully created!
Why, they wondered, did Aunt Beast look like Chewbacca from the star wars movie? Why couldn't Calvin's hair have been red? Why did Mrs. Which not have the proper "witch-like" outfit that was such a clever play on her name? Basically, we all wondered--why did nearly every single detail have to be changed?
I have always dreamed of how wonderful a movie this book would make. I am still waiting for that movie. This one was A Wrinkle in Time in only the broadest of senses. I'm going to write to Peter Jackson and try to convince him to take on the task!