Two brief film reviews

[keilexandra]

Stardust (film)

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, obviously. I enjoyed but wasn't enthused with Gaiman's work, so I only just got around to watching this at SHP. Conclusion: good humor, sappy romance. It also requires a certain suspension of disbelief regarding the plot; I don't recall Gaiman being so silly, but he may or may not have been. Moving on...

The Reduced Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged

I get the feeling that this would be a lot funnier if I was more familiar with Shakespeare canon. I know Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, and Taming of the Shrew--that's barely a fraction. Also, the actors talk really fast. This would be a good film to show to non-native speakers as a fluency test; I'm native and I can only follow half of the dialogue.

Comments

[beteio.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adore the RSC's version of Shakespeare, although they do talk abnormally fast. On the bright side, it usually makes sense the second time around (which is what I ended up doing one Thursday afternoon when I had nothing to do...)

Have you read American Gods? I'm trying to, but I'm maybe 30 or so pages in and it's surprisingly /boring/. Maybe my expectations are too high or something, but I haven't actually read one single funny thing yet. I'm also working on Monstrous Regiment (because the Brandywine Hundred library almost never has The Color of Magic) and I'm seriously fighting through it :(

[keilexandra]

Haven't read AMERICAN GODS yet--I tend to bounce gently but consistently off Gaiman, he's never funny for me--but I liked MONSTROUS REGIMENT. Not my favorite Pratchett--that's still SMALL GODS--but a decent one. Keep fighting, the twists get interesting near the end.

[talkstowolves.livejournal.com]

American Gods isn't comedy or satire, it's a mixture of urban fantasy and American mythology. I just say this because I'm confused by the two comments that it should, for some reason, be default: funny.

Would you elaborate on what you found silly or disliked about Stardust? I'm curious.

[keilexandra]

Well, I think beteio expected it to be funny because her previous Gaiman experience consists of GOOD OMENS. And I haven't read it at all.

I liked Stardust; my main complaint was the suspension-of-disbelief part. For instance, what are the odds that Vivaine and Tristan would fall onto a lightning airship with a gruff captain who just happens to be kindly? There were certain points in the movie where I had to consciously remind myself to suspend disbelief.

[beteio.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's pretty much me right there.

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

I don't remember American Gods being funny at all. Anansi Boys, yes, some, but American Gods was exactly like the cover: gray and grim.