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Wit: Play turned Film

8:42 AM |


Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize winning play Wit was turned into an HBO movie in 2001.  Wit is a play about one woman's battle with cancer.  The Day That Changed My Life is a play comprised of 14 different battles and connections to cancer.  Did I mention that I wrote The Day That Changed My Life? I didn't? Well there you go. (Shameless plug, I know) But check it out... thedaythatchangedmylife.com.

My initial reason for ordering Wit from Netflix was to do some research.  Seeing as this play was about cancer and started Off-Broadway like The Day That Changed My Life, I thought it would behoove me to watch it. And I was so right!  Wit became the success as I can only hope The Day That Changed My Life will become. 

I thought this movie, although tough to watch, was great! And I must emphasize that it is VERY tough to watch, especially if you have lost anyone to cancer, as I have, but it is well worth your time and energy.  
As you follow Vivienne Barring's story you will be blown away by Emma Thompson's portrayal. 

Vivienne is a professor who has relied on her craft, her whole life, and it seems has never developed relationships outside of it.  Vivienne talks to you as though you are in the room with her.  She recounts her life with you and pulls you into her current struggle. She has stage four ovarian cancer and as she says, "there is no stage five".  Emma Thompson delivers an impeccable performance!  You will hang onto her every word and you will feel for her like she is your very best friend, wishing that this wasn't happening to her, and that there was something you could do, if only to just be there with her.

I suggested to the actors to get their hands on a copy because it will definitely be beneficial for them, as it was for me, to watch.  This film was nominated for and won many awards-well deserved.  Get it off of netflix.com or order it from amazon.com for $5.99.  Just watch it, you won't be sorry you did, and let me know what you think.

If you've seen it already, what did you think?

Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoNDpg8IquA&feature=related

*WARNING* this montage of scenes gives you more to watch, but GIVES A LOT AWAY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bROGmi93prk&feature=related

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Eat Pray Love-From Elizabeth to Julia

9:34 PM |





Just got back from seeing Eat Pray Love! After reading the reviews for the movie, I was a little worried as to what to expect.  There was so much buzz surrounding the movie up until the release on August 13th. Since then I haven't heard much news about people actually going to see it.  I remember watching The George Lopez Show one night as he made jokes about the movie, insinuating that, with a running time of 133 minutes, it was both boring and long.  E! Online's Dezhda Gaubert is quoted saying "most of what made the book connect with so many is entirely missing here."
 
Despite the comments, I still went in with high hopes, having read the book, the lead actress being Julia Roberts and the director being Ryan Murphy (co-creator of GLEE) and I was not disappointed.  I'm sorry Ms. Gaubert but I have to disagree with you.  I think the movie stayed true to the book. What was left out of the film was not missed and is completely understood.  Remember, the movie is taking viewers to Italy, India, and Bali, some things are bound to be left out for the sake of time and some things simply do not translate on the big screen.

The movie highlights Elizabeth Gilbert’s travels and illuminates the friendships she made and the relationships that were built and broken.  I have to say, the movie really makes you feel for her husband Stephen, much more than the book did. That’s great acting Billy Crudup!

Julia Roberts does a fine job as Elizabeth Gilbert. She pulls us in with her emotion and her like-ability.  Julia Roberts is still Julia Roberts! She's amazing and I think she did Elizabeth Gilbert proud. 

Books turned into movies are wonderful! I love to see if the way I envisioned things while reading, are actually how they will appear onscreen.  That’s the way a lot of screenwriters feel too I bet, thinking “Hey! That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. That living room is not supposed to look like that.”

Eat Pray Love will make you want to travel the world! It’s a trip to Italy, India, and Bali for $11.50, I’d say that’s money well spent.  If you’ve read the book definitely see it!

Have you seen the movie yet? Read the book? What did you think? Do you agree or disagree with the critics?

Elizabeth Gilbert and Ketut Liyer

Check out the trailer: 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/161006/movie-trailers-eat-pray-love---trailer-2

***Also, check out an update on Eat Pray Love from Elizabeth Gilbert's website.  Richard from Texas has passed away.  Elizabeth writes about him here:

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm


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Step Up 3-D & 3-D Movies

11:46 AM |


Dance!?!  In 3-D!?!  Even better!  Hip-hop and dance go together like peanut butter and jelly, and when you add in a 3 dimensional twist...well let's just say, you have what I would call a recipe for success.  Not to mention, you've just reached entertainment bliss.  There is a little bias here though, being that I love any and all things hip-hop, and aside from the fact that I have seen Step Up and Step Up 2: The Streets when both of those came out.  Naturally, going to see Step Up 3D on the day it was released, was a given.  Although I've seen them all, I hated the first one, loved the second one, and felt the third one was just...okay.  However, the 3D aspect of it all made up for the story itself being just...okay. You have to hand it to those dancers that defy the laws of gravity and move effortlessly from tabletop to blacktop in a blink of an eye. And for all those who want a seat way up in the front, this movie is it!

The dance sequences were literally in-your-face and jaw-dropping! My favorite? When Moose wets the stage and they dance in the water...Amazing! 





So I would say see it for yourself and tell me what you think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQeaAg62_xY


On another note, I have to say I am not a big fan of the recent surge in 3-D movies. To me, it is more of a distraction where you’re fighting the urge to pull the glasses off of your face and just watch the movie without them, unable to completely focus on the movie.  I can’t help but wonder if it is a distraction put in place to keep us from noticing the lack of content by impressing us with special effects. Take Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and Toy Story 3.  
I’m guessing that Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, having seen it in 3-D on IMAX, probably would not have done as well without the food falling down in your face because there was less of a story to be found there.  On the other hand, I think Toy Story 3, having seen it in 2-D, held up on its own without the need of 3-D 
technology.  What happened to the days when seeing a movie on a 50
foot screen was enough?  These days, it seems to take so much more to entertain us.  Not only that, but with a 2-D movie costing $11.50, where I’m from, you can imagine my surprise when I got to the window and paid $15.50 to see Step Up 3-D.  $15.50!?! Is it worth it?  Or, is this the movie industry's way of continuously trying to rob us of what little money we have, knowing we will continue to pay?  In this economy, one industry that continues to thrive is the movie industry. Don’t get me wrong; it is a fun experience, depending on the type of film, (see above concerning Step Up 3D).  I think it’s getting a little out of hand (there is news buzzing about upcoming 3D movies).  I guess it's to each his own.

What are your thoughts on 3-D movies? Do you love them or hate them?

Who am I to talk though, I hope to see my movie on the big screen one day and hope you will pay the money to see it.  Will it be in 3-D?  Probably not. : ) 

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