Prince Caspian - mini-review

I took my two oldest boys to see the latest Narnia installment: Prince Caspian the other night. I don't remember the book much, but my older son who had read it the most recently said they had key moments from the book like the duel, but he certainly didn't remember any ROMANCE. Well, my dear son, that kiss they put in for all the young girls, and their Moms! The movie is decent with great special effects, but what I loved by far was the prince himself, Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian. Hubba, hubba. The four kids who play the main characters of the Narnia books really don't have much personality to me. Nothing like the kids of the Harry Potter films. But Ben Barnes was worth the price of admission.

The film is chock full of battle scenes, that in the book get a brief mention. You have to have action in a film so they've fleshed them out nicely. There isn't a lot of anything else really there, aside from Prince Caspian's journey to overcome his feelings of revenge towards his uncle. I did thoroughly enjoy Peter Dinklage as Lucy's sour "dear little friend" and the voice of Eddie Izzard as a sword-fighting mouse.

I give this film three stars. Worth seeing on the big screen to beat the summer heat. Best thing about the next film in the Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader? More Prince, now KING Caspian played by Ben Barnes! It will be directed by Michael Apted and is due out in May of 2010. Hopefully with a director like Apted, this series can get better in the same way the Potter films have.

Amazing Grace - mini-review

I took the recommendation of my friend Kai, and finally watched the film Amazing Grace
starring Ioan Gruffudd as abolitionist William Wilberforce. Kai was fortunate enough to meet Ioan and compliment him on this film, and she said he was so pleased she had mentioned it. He is right to be proud as this is one of his very best performances and a fine film. Ioan is probably most well known from the Fantastic Four movies, and this uplifting biopic movie must have felt like a clean shower after that schlock.

I never knew the story behind the song Amazing Grace and the long abolitionist struggle in England. We know about the Civil War and the struggles in this country with slavery, but much earlier William Wilberforce managed to stop the slave trade with a bill he fought for years to pass in parliament, and finally had success in 1807.

Ioan Gruffudd does well here avoiding portraying Wilberforce as a complete saint. I especially enjoyed all the supporting players which are English actors you've seen in so many other films. Ciaran Hinds plays Wilberforce's main opponent in parliament and the great Michael Gabon plays an important ally. Albert Finney is, as always, excellent playing John Newton, the slave trader turned minister who wrote the song Amazing Grace. Benedict Cumberbatch (Starter for 10) plays Prime Minister William Pitt, and as I've usually seen him playing a prissy or evil character in previous films, it was nice to see him have a robust part as Wilberforce's good friend. Rufus Sewell from Couplings was almost unrecognizable as Thomas Clarkson, a fellow abolitionst.

I can't recommend this excellent film enough. Three and a half stars. Last night I watched the mini-series Andromeda Strain and it was such a slow paced mess, surprising since it was produced by Ridley Scott and his brother Tony. What a contrast to how fine a movie Amazing Grace is. In looking up the film, I was pleased to see that Michael Apted, the director, is currently working on the next sequel in the Narnia movies due out in 2010. I'm sure he'll bring some quality and strong direction to that franchise! Here's the trailer for Amazing Grace: