Stream of the Week- Death Comes to Pemberley

Instilled at a young age with a love for all things BBC, it was only a matter of time before I found a film that continued the story of Elizabeth and Darcy. I didn't expect it to be a murder mystery, but I'll take what I can get.

After six years of marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have settled well into the life that an estate such as Pemberley dictates. When preparing for a ball, Darcy and Elizabeth are again confronted by a scandal revolving around Mr. Wickham. Lydia and Wickham were on their way to the Darcy's ball, uninvited of course, when along the way Wickham and his good friend Captain Denny take a stop in the woods and two gunshots are heard by Lydia in the carriage. Convinced that her husband is dead, Lydia flees the Pemberley in hopes having her sister and brother-in-law help. Darcy organizes a search which leads a party of men out into the woods to discover Wickham dragging Denny across the forest floor screaming "I've killed him! I've killed my best friend!". In an attempt to avoid any sort of talk or gossip, Darcy immediately seeks counsel with the local magistrate who begins to look into the case. While investigating, Elizabeth is attempting to hold everyone together. She tries to calm Lydia and her mother, who are both in her house at this point. Elizabeth also takes it upon herself to help a local girl who has recently had a child out of wedlock and who claims her beau is in the army, though no army has heard of him. Meanwhile, Darcy grows distant from Elizabeth tired of her families habits to cause trouble and his own fears that Elizabeth married him for money and instead loved Wickham. Without the support of her husband, Elizabeth struggles to find ways to clear Wickham for a crime she knows he did not commit. Everything is wildly tangled and connected leaving no end to the tale that can be easily foreseen.

I, along with any other human being who has seen the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice, associate the character of Mr. Darcy with none other the Colin Firth (preferably after a light swim in the pond on his estate in riding trousers and an untucked shirt). The trouble with such associations is that it becomes difficult to see any other person as Darcy himself. The series (3 episodes) has to include flashbacks within the film in order to draw a full story and to keep anyone appraised of the history associated with the Pride and Prejudice story. Though well done, this is film is not the same type of story that I would expect from these characters. Lizzie, however, remains entirely herself as she is consistently outspoken and caring always knowing what to do in a crisis. I always love a good old fashioned Jane Austen tale, and though this is not of her original design it will keep you entertained on any Friday night (with the prerequisite of loving a British accent of course).

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

"The quest is about the monkey."

Larry Daley is back as the manager of the night exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The magic tablet that brings everything to life at night is beginning to corrode causing all the exhibits to lose control of themselves and turn back into the figures they are in the museum whether that be wax Teddy or mummified Ahkmenrah. The secret to the tablet lies with Ahkmenrah's father who is one display in London. In order to save the exhibits, Larry plans a trip to London with Ahkmenrah, the tablet, and his son Nick. However, some of the classic exhibits have a different idea. Teddy, Sacajawea, Dexter, Jed, Octavius,  Attila, and one of the cavemen known as Laaa all tag along in hopes of helping with the quest. As the English museum comes to life, the crew immediately runs into danger facing a dinosaur who is not nearly as well trained or friendly as Rex back home. They run from the triceratops until they are cornered. Facing death, the group is saved by none other than Sir Lancelot of the British Museum. Lancelot saves them and offers to help find the Egyptian display in hopes of helping save the tablet which is keeping him alive as well. Due to the dinosaur disaster, Jed and Octavius get separated from the group landing themselves in peril in the Pompeii miniature. Dexter is sent to look for the little guys while the rest of the crew heads to Egypt. Reunited with his parents, Ahkmenrah learns the secret of the tablet and how he can rejuvenate it's powers, but before Larry can properly recharge the tablet, an unlikely villain steps in to take it.


As a fan of the first two, I can promise that this movie does not disappoint when it comes to bringing to life the museum, however there is a serious lack of bad guys and adventurous charm. Most of the film is dedicated to half explained stories, like the relationship between Larry and his son Nick. A present villain does not exist until the last twenty minutes of the film. Even then the basic plot is perhaps too simple: go to England to recharge the magic tablet. That's it. With a cast full of comedians, this movie was poised to be a fun holiday timed film. Unfortunately, the humor was short lived and did not leave the lasting impression that it needed as a send off to the series.

 

However, as in all films, there are some redeeming qualities. Dexter is comedic relief, but as a character he has a great scene towards the end which is highly emotional. Keep in mind Dexter is a monkey. Octavius gets a little undertone to his character which is fun to pick up on if you listen well enough. DID I MENTION HUGH JACKMAN?!? Yeah, he has a great moment. Just wait.


As a film, it does not entirely fail, but I wish they just could have ended such a fun series as strongly as it began. Send off to Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney.

Stream of the Week- Hook

"You need a mother very, very badly."

Peter Pan did grow up. He moved to London and married Wendy's granddaughter. He forgot all about Neverland and Captain Hook. He had children of his own and went into business leaving behind all his memories of the lost boys. But on a visit back to Wendy's home, Peter's children are kidnapped by good ol' Captain Hook. Peter is distraught, but completely stuck in the modern world with no recollection of Neverland or understanding of such a concept. Wendy tells him of his coming back to London for her and she explains to him his origin as the Peter Pan, but it all seems a story. It isn't until Tink shows up in the dead of night in his children's room that Peter is forced to accept the existence of Neverland. Flown back to the second star straight on til morning, Peter wakes up in Pirates Cove in Neverland. He encounters Hook who has his children captive on the boat. Peter, still unaware of his Panhood, is unable to get them back with modern conventional methods. Tink offers to take three days to train him so he can have a duel with Hook for his children. Hook accepts and Pan is whisked away to be with the lost boys. The lost boys don't believe that Peter Pan could grow up to be an adult, but with some convincing, Tink is able to get them give Peter a shot. With the help of old games and familiar places, Peter starts to remember his time as Peter Pan and his adventures in Neverland. While Pan is off finding himself, Hook is trying to convince Peter's children, Maggie and Jack, that Hook is a better father figure than Peter. Maggie is unmoved, but Jack starts to have more fun with Hook losing all hope in his father. Peter rallies his troops for a final battle to win back Jack and save Maggie so that he can go back home to London.

I have always loved the story of Peter Pan and the notion that imagination can keep one young. Robin Williams plays an excellent Peter Pan so full of life and energy. His personal quest is to find within himself the stuff that makes him good, his inner lost boy to make him the man he was supposed to be without the fax machine and coffee mug. His final lines deal with life being a great adventure. Neverland was wonderful for a boy, but as a man there's no reason why life on Earth can't be as exciting or fun. It is a fantasy tale that never grows old, and one I shall always enjoy to see again and again.

Capture of Culture- Living on One Dollar

It constantly amazes me how privileged I am to live in a country like America and how I live on more than some people receive in their entire life times.

 Two friends, Chris and Zach, and two camera men head out to Guatemala to learn about living well below the poverty line on a daily basis for an entire summer. Chris and Zach both majored in economics and have been intrigued by the idea that people in rural Guatemala live on less than a dollar a day. They set aside one dollar a person for everyday they are planned to live in Guatemala and divide it unequally among the days so that they will have the same income as an inhabitant of the region who lives on the unsteady flow of income received in field work. Along the way, Chris and Zach interview locals to learn about the finical standings of rural Guatemalan life. In Guatemala almost all employment comes from field work and farming. This work is unstable and depends on the season which is why areas in rural Guatemala fall so far below the poverty line. When faced with disease or natural disaster the people have no where to turn to. Local organizations attempt to help by offering loans, but most banks require a vast amount of information at the time of application for a loan and do not accept enough to make it worth while. Those who do earn loans start their own businesses or fix their homes to bail them out of their poverty.

What the boys encountered while on this trip was extreme hunger and sickness, but also kindness and a sense of friendship from the locals. Living on their extremely low daily budget (sometimes averaging out to zero dollars a day), the crew learned about the lack of nutrition one could encounter on such means. The lack of vital calories and nutrients left the boys lethargic and sick. They felt unable to work the land that they had bought and planted with their local bank loan. But with the help of the locals, they were able to learn tricks in order to get the fat content back up in their meals and how to make their money stretch at local market. They were even able to grow radishes to give to everyone that helped them. I am always fascinated by the actions of people, and how the poorest seem the most giving. That is why I enjoyed this peek into another way of life. It shows that I should not take what I have been given for granted.

Stream of the Week- Cast Away

Sometimes life comes down to a crossroads, and sometimes you stand in the middle of it holding a volleyball.

Chuck Noland was the man with a plan. He had a steady job working for FedEx as the guy with the plan. It was his job to go to struggling distribution center and get it running. He was obsessed with time tables, and never missing a delivery date. He loved his girlfriend Kelly, and he made everything work out in his schedule. Until one Christmas Day when he got on a FedEx flight that would crash in the middle of the ocean leaving him the sole survivor, well, him and a few packages. Washed up on the shore of a small island after being tossed around in the terrible storm that took his plane down, Chuck woke up very much alone. He had no supplies or survival experience. He was not prepared. Packages from the flight start washing up on shore. Chuck collects them like the good post master he was and refuses to open them. When a fellow passenger washes up on the shore dead, Chuck realizes there's no point in holding on to empty boxes. He opens them finding items which he then uses over the next four years as survival tools. One of the packages holds a volleyball sent as a birthday present. When Chuck adds a face to the ball, he creates Wilson. He no longer has to be alone on his island. The thought of his girl, Kelly, back home is the driving force behind Chuck's will to live over those four years until a sail washes up on his shore giving him the final push to build a raft to get off the island. Spoiler- Chuck is saved. When returned back to society, Chuck sees that all he had thought was important like time tables or his pager or even the electricity in his room is trivial to human contact. Everything has changed. Kelly has changed. What ever it was that brought him back home is gone, and now he's a man standing at a crossroads with a volleyball.

75% of this movie is Chuck alone talking to himself, trying to survive, making a fire, being half killed in the ocean. It seems impossible to make something like that entertaining for two hours, but Chuck's character and the performance given by Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland never lose a viewers full attention. You watch as he casually talks to a volleyball holding complete conversations, though they appear one sided to the audience. Even in his darkest moments living in the oddest of environments, he remains a version of Chuck, always testing things and remaining somewhat obsessive compulsive. His progression into island native is almost incredible as you realize he's spent 4 years doing that same thing everyday.


There's also a sort of tragic truth to the love theme in this film. Kelly calls Chuck the love of her life, but it can't work out. No matter how romantic running in the rain as he's driving away seems, most days you still have to go home. But be not disappointed because there is hope in this film. The kind of hope that is left open for you to judge of its fate.

Page to Screen- East of Eden

"Timshel"- thou mayest




When ever one tries to rewrite a 600 page novel for the screen there are bound to be discrepancies. There are going to be things missing; there are going to be lines given to someone else. Rarely do movies have time to follow the book to a t. In the 1981 miniseries version of the Steinbeck classic, they get pretty close.

Based on the story of Cain and Abel, Steinbeck crafts a story which follows the growth of two brothers, Charles and Adam Trask, as they take different paths and branch out into other lives. Adam was always good and obedient, his father loved him best but was always hardest on him. When the time came, Adam and Charles's father, Cyrus, forced Adam into the Calvary. Adam was too gentle and kind in his mind to join the war, but Cyrus insisted since he himself was a member of the G.A.R. Charles was jealous that Adam would get to be part of the war when his father made him stay home. His jealously lead to anger which would forever cause him trouble. After Cyrus had died, Adam moved back to the family ranch to live with Charles. In Cyrus's will, the boys are left with a fortune which they have no clue as to its origin. With this money they are set for life, however, Charles still wants to keep the farm running. One morning they hear a noise out on their front stoop. When they open the door they find a young beautiful girl who has been badly beaten. By taking her in, Charles knows that the town will ridicule them, two bachelors taking in a young girl, it's a scandal. Adam, however, is moved by her beauty and offers her his room to stay in and recover. After some weeks, Adam falls in love with this beautiful girl who he comes to know as Cathy. Charles sees right through Cathy's weak and broken façade. He knows that Cathy is a scheming type of woman and urges Adam not to trust her. Adam does not heed his brother's warning and marries Cathy as soon as she is well. That night Cathy shows her true self to Charles by climbing into his bed, even though she is married to his brother. 

Soon after Cathy and Adam move to California. Since they can afford to, Adam buys a ranch and attempts to turn it into the Garden of Eden. While renovating the ranch, Cathy learns that she is pregnant. She is unsure if the child is Adam's or Charles's so she tries to get rid of it unsuccessfully. She becomes increasing angry over the fact that she is trapped in a place and situation that makes her unhappy, even though Adam is beyond in love with her. When it comes time for Cathy to have her child, the house servant, Lee, and Adam's new friend in California, Sam Hamilton, take charge and help deliver twins for Cathy. Sam and Lee are Adam's main sources of wisdom through his delirious love for Cathy. Sam is a wise man who dreams and invents new things, whereas Lee is a smart man who does as he is told, but is not afraid of putting things right when Adam gets out of line. With the twins born, Cathy feels free. She tries to leave, but Adam blocks her way. To get him to move, Cathy shoots Adam in the shoulder and leaves for the nearest city where she becomes a prostitute.




Faced with the grief of losing Cathy, Adam loses all interest in life. He refuses to name his twins or take care of his land. Without Lee and Sam, the two boys would not have survived.  After the death of Sam Hamilton, a major blow in the novel, Adam decides to move the boys and Lee into Salinas California for a better education. The two boys grow up, Cal and Aron, and show similar personality traits to that of Adam and Charles. Cal is quick to anger, and a bit ruthless in his pestering of Aron, whereas Aron is soft spoken and wants to go into the church. Aron also gets the girl, Abra, which makes Cal rather jealous, but nonetheless, Cal always looks out for Aron like it's his job. Cal and Aron were raised with the knowledge that their mother had died and was buried back east, but Cal learns of his mother's new life in Salinas as a cat house owner with the name of Kate. He goes to visit her and learn where he gets his negative traits. Upon meeting Kate, he sees that old age and time have not been kind to pretty Cathy. He carries around this information until in a burst of anger he tells Aron the truth about their mother. This prompts Aron to join the army in hopes of repenting for the sin of having a prostitute as a mother. This is the beginning of the end for the Trask family.




In the complexity of the plot, many side stories were cut down for film production. For example, in the novel, Samuel Hamilton has a very large part. In truth, Samuel Hamilton was John Steinbeck's grandfather, and it is his wisdom which is spread throughout the novel. The entire novel begins with the Hamilton family because East of Eden was Steinbeck's call to family history. His death becomes a major blow to the rest of his family and to Lee especially. The rest of his family has side plots within the novel that did not translate to the screen. For example, Sam's daughter Una dies which causes Sam to become depressed, and Will Hamilton has a much larger part to play in the entirety of the plot. Tom Hamilton, who is mentioned briefly in the film, has an entire different plot line in the novel which involves the death of his beloved sister Dessie. Tom is what Sam would have been if he hadn't been as optimistic. In conjunction to Sam's reduced part, Cathy plays a much smaller role in the film. Cathy is the main source of evil in the novel. It is her influence that is Adam's stolen fruit from the tree of knowledge that causes the downfall. Cathy's story is important towards the beginning of the film when her past is explained, but once she runs off to Salinas, Cathy's story becomes less relevant to the rearing of Cal and Aron which means her screen time is reduced.


As far as character's go, older Adam is right on the money. He is stupid in a loveable way which makes you want to shake him when he's done something even though you think he's a good guy. Charles is played smarter in the novel than in the film, and Cyrus is meaner. Cathy is also perfect (why wouldn't she be, she's played by Jane Seymour for goodness sakes). Her scene towards the end of part three is spectacular. The character of Cal Trask is played by the real-life brother of the actor who plays Adam Trask which makes it easy to believe family relations. His performance is also spot on considering that Cal is the battle of good and bad.


What the film lacks, however, is the Steinbeck charm that is brought to life by the description of unrelated to the plot information. For example, all the descriptions of landscapes are greatly detailed, but that can't be read on screen. Side plots like that of Tom and Dessie or Abra's home life cannot be fully explored within the time constraints of a miniseries. So in this case, I say go for the book.

Stream of the Week- The Road to El Dorado

Anyone born in the 90s could not have grown up without this classic kids animation film full of unidentifiable songs, sexual innuendo, and greedy message.

Tulio and Miguel have been partners in their petty crimes for ages in the likes of Spain, but one of their scams gets a little heated forcing them to stow away on the boat to the new world. Once discovered, Tulio and Miguel are threatened with flogging and death for their disobedience so the two escape one night and take the team leader's horse with them. After countless days on the open water, Tulio, Miguel, and the ever trusty steed wash up on a beach. On the beach, they find a statue that matches a landmark on the map they had won in their previous scam. By following the rest of the pathways and landmarks on the map, Tulio and Miguel stumble upon a large gateway rock. At this rock, they run into a group of soldiers who take them into the city of El Dorado, the city of gold. Upon entrance, the people and spiritual leaders of El Dorado believe Tulio and Miguel to be gods sent to Earth. Playing the part, Tulio and Miguel fall nicely into the routine of the gods on Earth as they are pampered and worshiped. Tulio's primary interest in El Dorado is the gold, but Miguel finds himself at peace in the culture of El Dorado. Unfortunately, they know they can't keep up the ruse so they ask for a boat to be built to carry them and their acquired gold out of the city. The spiritual leader is on to them; he believes that the gods should be full of wrath, but all Miguel and Tulio do is have fun and lounge with the people of El Dorado. To kill the liars, the spiritual leader raises a beast to kill Tulio and Miguel, and from the other side, the greedy expedition is drawing closer which forces them to chose between saving the city and saving their gold.

I'm not always a fan of animation, but this one makes me feel sentimental; it's one I watched many times as a kid. Watching again as an adult (geeze I guess I am an adult now) gives a new perspective to this film. For example, there are so many little comments and gestures that I missed as a kid that now seem wildly inappropriate for young kids (I mean there's a whole makeout scene and then some). But I am told that is how many films seem now. Either way, it's a blast from the past that is definitely worth a try.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

"With great power comes great responsibility." Yes, I am in fact aware that that quote is from Spiderman, but just go with it. It makes sense with this, trust me.

After the destruction of the quarterquell arena, Katniss was rescued by the rebel forces of District 13. Plutarch, the previous game-maker, aligned himself with the rebel cause and suggested to the president of District 13 that Katniss be used as the face of rebel propaganda. They want to use Katniss's face and voice as the symbol of the Mockingjay to incite the people to stand up and fight against the Capitol. Still mourning her separation from Peeta, Katniss refuses. But then she is shipped out to District 12 or rather what remains of District 12. It is there she finds her strength to be the face of the revolution. In her demands, Katniss asks for the retrieval of the three hidden tributes in the Capitol and for a pardon on all their crimes. With these terms agreed upon, Katniss begins her work. Outside of District 13, Peeta is being used by the Capitol as a weapon. He broadcasts messages to the people almost daily asking them to stop their fights. In retaliation, District 13 releases their footage. Katniss (ironically) has no talent for acting. No matter the scenario they set up, Katniss can not deliver her lines convincingly. But it's then that they realize, Katniss is at her best when she is natural, when there are no forces trying to make her do anything. Katniss is brave and courageous, and yes powerful when she is herself in the face of danger. In hopes of eliciting better footage, a team is assembled by District 13 leaders. This team takes Katniss out to the front where she is forced to see the battles and destruction first hand. It is there where her message comes through to the people watching. So much so that citizens surround the Capitol and take out their power source in the name of the revolution. With all this activity, the Capitol is able to find the District 13 headquarters. They immediately send bombers which they use in an attempt to take down the source of all their troubles. However, being a military district, District 13 is prepared and survives the attack with no causalities. With the strength of the revolution growing, Peeta's political propaganda is becoming an issue on the undecided, so according to their promise District 13 sends in a volunteer team to extract the surviving tributes. When returned to their loved ones, they appear fine. Peeta, however, is not fine. For months, he was fear trained into being terrified and hateful towards Katniss. This is Snow's weapon. This is how he plans to win.

 

I, like many of my peers, feel obligated to see the remaining Hunger Games films because I saw the first two in theaters. I have yet to be disappointed. This film in particular appeared to be more of a character development piece. There were dozens of shots of just Katniss alone with her thoughts showing her progression through the process of losing and regaining Peeta. It also explains a little bit why Katniss doesn't just go running into Gale's gorgeous arms and make out with him immediately. Gale says it best that the only time he gets her attention is when he's hurt. Peeta is always hurt, the poor little lost puppy he is, and that means he needs Katniss more. Gale is strong enough not to need her all the time. Poor Gale.


Mockingjay Part 1 also deals with the tricky subject of propaganda. Most of the film is dedicated to the production of the Mockingjay propaganda used to promote the revolution. Both sides of the fight release their own takes on the issue through their ads highlighting the different kinds of advertisements for a cause. This made the political undertones of the film interesting in a new way.

Katniss struggles with being strong enough to lead the people. Her human needs and desires for the safety of Peeta often cloud her judgment allowing the only time for her to think clearly to be when she is overcome with hate and rage for the Capitol. Every word Katniss says has an affect on the people watching her. This is her great power. Her responsibility will come in the next installment when she has to lead that growing army to their final acts of rebellion.

Stream of the Week- Almost Famous

"The only true currency is what you share with someone when you're uncool."

Rock and Roll enthusiast, William Miller, thinks it's time to leave the nest and go on his big adventure. When he meets one of his favorite critics, Will is given the chance to interview a band, not just any band, a rock and roll band. Unfortunately, Will isn't on the "in" list to get back stage to talk to them, so he tries to get his way in by talking to the opening band, Stillwater. Will fits in with the rag-tag group of rockers on the brink of success and interviews them instead. His work gets forwarded to Rolling Stone magazine, and they immediately hire him to do a piece on the band. In order to write the piece, Will has to travel with the band on tour for a few weeks and learn everything he can about their music and who they are as people. While on tour, Will meets the lovely Penny Lane, a "Band-Aid" who stays with the band as a huge fan girl. Penny is involved in one way or another with lead guitarist, Russell, but he doesn't always treat her right and it isn't long before Will falls for her. Will's piece, which was supposed to be about the music, quickly turns into a long story of his time with the band- their crazy adventures (tour bus to plane), their not so great moments (like screaming "I'm a golden god" from a roof), and their triumphs (like making the cover of Rolling Stone). Everything seems smooth sailing until Penny and the girls are forced to leave the band entourage because Russell's girlfriend is coming to join them on tour. Russell acts like it doesn't affect him at all, but Penny is devastated. She believed it was love. So one night, alone in her hotel room, Penny drugs herself in hopes of taking care of her depression. William holds her in his arms while he waits for the doctors to come and tells her that he loves her. It is in that moment when he realizes Stillwater is just people. And not very good people at that. He struggles with the fact that he wants to write the truth, but he wants to love his rockers.

This movie was so very easy to get into. The characters were fun exaggerations of people and the rock and roll vibe was present throughout. It was easy to see why rock and roll was so massive as a genre in the time period William grew up in. The music was loud, and the musicians were real, not perfect, real. Penny Lane is a fantastic example of what the reals fans would have been. She knew them as people not rockers and it gave her an insight which William would need to discover in order to understand the truth. There's just something exciting about the interaction of large personalities. But mostly, this is a story of a boy figuring out what life is like. And that is always applicable.