i’m quite particular about what types
of movies i watch. i love action and
spy movies [mission impossible, james
bond, bourne identity] and foreign films.
if it’s got subtitles, even better!
(i’m sort of astounded by america’s
aversion to subtitles? are these people
who do not like to travel or learn about
new cultures? or are they just too lazy
to read?)
i used to avoid chick flicks like the
plague, but will occasionally catch one
now for feel good escapism.
i absolutely avoid horror and even some
of the action films are too violent for
me (like wanted, which made me cringe.
even the recent batman gave me nightmares.)
this saturday, i went to watch
brideshead revisited by myself for
a little escapism. it is a gorgeously filmed
movie, with scenes shot on location in
the english countryside of york, at oxford,
in venice, italy and morocco.
charles ryder is from a middle class
family which only consists of his rather
dry humored father. he befriends sebastian
flyte, who is from a very wealthy catholic
family, when he goes to study at
oxford. the relationship between the two
young men is rather ambiguous (and i learn
that it is so in evelyn waugh’s novel as well).
everything changes when charles falls
in love with julia, sebastian’s sister.
the major themes in the film revolve
around faith, unrequited love, and class.
(so many of the english classics revolve
around class, no?)
i see that some catholics were offended by
the movie, as emma thompson (the
mother figure) is portrayed as being
such a “saint” and so strict with her children
that they hate themselves because
they are forever sinning in the eyes
of god (or their mother).
i didn’t know this film was based on a
book. and apparently, a mini-series
starring jeremy irons was made in 1981.
when i mentioned what i saw to the love,
he cringed. and so did his english friend.
haha! i guess it’s not their cup of tea. 8)
i was surprised to find out that evelyn
waugh is actually a man? and definitely
am interested in reading this novel now.
i recommend the film, but only if it’s
something you normally would enjoy.
i found it thought-provoking and touching
with strong acting throughout.
linky love : drop by the book roast as
there is a full menu of new authors to
prod and taste this week. with prizes
to boot. yay!
10 Comments
If you haven’t seen the PBS series from many years ago based on the book, you will probably like it. It’s far more involved and very close to the original story.
AW, i can just imagine making the love suffer through it. hahaha! it was very well received, as i understand it. you never read the book then?
OH MY GOSH! I actually watched this entire series when it was rebroadcast while I was in college. I remember one of the main characters had a teddy bear he named Aloysius. I always loved that name!
this was a great series but I have always wondered how all that material could have been made into a 2 hour movie. Glad you liked it! I’ll have to check it out!
I’ve been meaning to catch that. I’m not sure I could drag Ryan to it though. He’ll endure a lot, but he isn’t too fond of British dramas.
I like Waugh’s writing.
waugh was a male, yes… i know a man named beverley, so it makes me wonder about name choices: like, WHY would anyone name their kid after a dog, like, REX??? :P lol
I think we have similar movie tastes. For my literary treat this weekend . . . I watched all the Bourne movies.
I was going to make a joke about how un-literary they are, but truthfully, they’re really excellent movies to watch for clues to writing suspense and action. I got some great ideas for increasing plot tension.
thanks for commenting, everyone! and wow, i’m so impressed by those of you who have seen or read this. i have never heard of it!! but it’s on my wishlist and my friend has it that i can borrow, too, i think!
elise, i think you increased tension by staring at damon’s sculpted physique in that series, perhaps? hmmm? haha!
Loved the BBC series, loved the novel. I think I was born in the wrong time and wrong country, but there’s something about those Brits and their manors… I heard this version was a bit more explicit in its portrayal of the sexual tensions in this fun little triangle, so it is definitely on my ‘to see’ list, ha-ha. Thanks for an excellent review.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! Peace, Linda
thanks for the bday wishes, linda! and another rec for the series, wow. too bad i never watch dvds. (we don’t even have the dvd player hooked up any longer!)