Another Austen Post

If ever you have four hours of free time and an adoration for Jane Austen’s tales, I have a movie recommendation for you. I am sure you are familiar with the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth) and the 2006 version (with Keira Knightly). Yet, there is a jewel of an adaptation buried deep within the BBC archives, circa 1980.

This version stars Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth and David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy. Mr. Daaaaarcy?!

I like this version because it feels old—unlike the newer versions which are too cinematically perfect. When I watch this 80s version, I feel more like I am present for the actions and less like a viewer in a theater.

Plus, David Rintoul makes a jawsome Mr. Darcy. He portrays the type of  Darcy that I always pictured when I read the novel.

Hit the link for a scene of dancing, witty banter and backhanded comments.
Dancing with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy — Pride and Prejudice (BBC 1980)

Anxious To Get Lost In Wonderland

I used to have a reoccurring dream. A vividly colored dream. The sky was a clear, bright blue. I was floating in the blue—no wings, no arm flailing, just gliding through the air. Suddenly, I would drop downwards and land on top of a giant, violently colored mushroom. *Boing, boing, boing* I would bounce from mushroom cap to mushroom cap. Then, in an instant, I would plummet from a mushroom cap and fall towards the ground.

The dream would always end with me flailing awake, afraid that I was actually falling. Strange dream, really. I wonder what a dream analyst would have to say about it?

When I try to recreate the images from the dream with my conscious mind (that is to say, when I am awake and not asleep), I envision the mushrooms as a hybrid of Mario World’s mushrooms and Alice in Wonderland’s mushrooms: large, brightly colored, fatty mushrooms.

My crazy mushroom dream is the thought that popped into my head when I stopped to imagine what Tim Burton’s take on Wonderland will be. Who wouldn’t be excited to see what Mr. Burton is currently pulling from his sleeve? Abra Kadabra! Mr. Burton’s cinematic take on Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland is hitting theaters in 2010.

Wonderland is a world colored by the absurd. Nothing is what it appears.

“Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t.”
- Alice, Alice in Wonderland

Well said, Alice. Well said. Mr. Burton’s imagination is refreshing, even if most of his films are visually similar. So, I am excited to see this take on a classic world of imagination and curiosity.

Check out the links for some photos and info about what is happening in Wonderland:
Tim Burton Takes on ‘Alice in Wonderland’ — Yahoo!
Tim Burton Collective News

Mr. Potter Returns

“Mr. Potter, our new celebrity.”
- Snape [from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's)  Stone]

I have been so caught up with my own life that I have forgotten to dedicate a post to Mr. Harry Potter.

Now, I begin my count down to the release of movie number 6.

To prepare myself for the flick, naturally, I am re-reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I will laugh, I will cry… I will know exactly what parts of the movie are not quite accurate.

What can I say. This series has become a part of me. The world of HP has been a delight for me ever since I devoured the first book for my 2000 summer reading project [**funny thing is, I do not think my English teacher approved of my literature choice**]. I have read and re-read each book—I get swept away into the world J.K. Rowling created with every reading.

Yes, I am a fan of the movie adaptations… but I will always love the books more.

So here is to Mr. Potter!

“I would assume that you were going to offer me a refreshment,” Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon, “but the evidence so far suggests that that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness.”

A third twitch of the wand, and a dusty bottle and five glasses appeared in midair. The bottle tipped and poured a generous measure of honey-colored liquid into each of the glasses, which then floated to each person in the room…

The Dursleys, after quick, scared looks at one another, tried to ignore their glasses completely, a difficult feat, as they were nudging them gently on the sides of their heads. Harry could not suppress a suspicion that Dumbledore was rather enjoying himself.
— Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, p. 48

Literary Deja Vu

I was in the mood for a fast paced, funny, light hearted piece of fiction. Something absorbing enough to make me forget reality. A fun novel. My sister recommended Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. She guaranteed that it had nothing to do with the Shopaholic series. Perfect. Sounded just like what I needed.

I made a trip to the library. I picked up the bright pink book and instantly knew that it is the kind of humorous chick-lit I had it mind. Aces.

When I got home, I powered through the first few chapters. I was definitely satisfied with the book. The character is strong and funny, but tends to make mistakes. She is not an airhead. She is funny and quirky.

Once I reached about page 130, the plot lines started to seem familiar. Huh. I assumed that it was merely familiar because all chic-lit books tend to have similar plots.

A few chapters later, I came to a realization.

Yes, I have read this before. Really? It took me half the book to recognize it? Wow. Either I did not read it very intently or I read it so long ago that it is a bit fuzzy in my memory.

Oh well. Since I don’t remember it very well, I am going to keep reading.

Maybe I need to start keeping track of what I have and have not read…