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Angela Lansbury

Self-Isolation Film Festival: Bedknobs and Broomsticks

March 24, 2020 by Heather Johnson Leave a Comment

Y’all. One of my all-time favorite movies growing up was Bedknobs and Broomsticks with Angela Lansbury (#legend), and David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins). Magic beds, children winning over gruff adults, an animated remote island of human-like animals, and Nazis…I mean, it has all the elements of childhood fantasy that one could ever need. And right now, a good old-fashioned fantasy film is what I need, so thank you Disney+. 

I sat down with my kids last Thursday night and introduced to them to this gem of 1970’s Disney, and was immediately transported to my grandparents’ living room, where I spent most of my childhood summer days watching this movie. Their home was the safest space in my life. It was there I learned how to paint, crochet, sew…the tasks my grandmother called “the lost arts,” with soap operas or Reba McEntire in the background. My grandfather showed me and my brother how to safely use a bandsaw for woodworking in between us jumping on the trampoline or setting up buckets and sticks and strings to try and catch squirrels or birds. When lunch rolled around, we would sit down and make mini sandwiches with crackers and cheese and pickles and cold caffeine free sodas. My happiest childhood memories are from those summers. Isn’t it amazing what a movie can inspire in our memories and hearts?

By the time siblings Paul, Carrie, and Charlie (Roy Snart, Cindy O’Callaghan, and Ian Weighill) arrive at Ms. Price’s home in rural England, she has been corresponding with Professor Emelius Brown for instructions on using magic. Her lack of organization and memory skills often mean spells going wrong, but she clearly has a gift. When the last letter comes with the closure of the college without the final spell, Ms. Price and the children travel to the city to discover the truth. But they don’t take a train or a car. No, they use Charlie’s bedknob with a traveling spell that Ms. Price has placed upon it. When he “taps it three times and turns a quarter-turn to the left,” the bed will take them wherever they want to go.

In London, they discover Mr. Brown is a bit of a fraud, had copied the spells from an old book, and didn’t have the final spell for substitutionary locomotion that Ms. Price hoped to use to help in the war with Germany. He’s amazed by her ability to actually use the spells, and she is determined to find the final spell. Their journey takes them to the mythical Island of Naboombu, where animals talk and walk and live like humans. This animated, magical world holds the key to that final spell, and the results will change the fate of our five travelers and maybe even the war itself. 

There are so many more things that I love about this movie, but what always makes me giddy is the search for something beyond ourselves that could make a difference. Of course there are things we can all do and parts we can all play, but I’m also looking for the signs that there is something out there…something powerful and miraculous…that can pick up where I leave off. And while it’s true that children are so good at believing in something that adults just can’t grasp, I love how this movie is led by a grown-up believing in that same magic. Oh, to be such an adult! 

In spite of a world that seems out of control, with fear and sickness and darkness seemingly in every corner, for me, movies like these transport me from into a world of laughter and color and magic. It may not be enough to completely block out the noise (nor should it in many cases), but for a couple of hours I am a kid again, spending summer days with those who’ve passed on, and I can look to the horizon with hope in my heart that the impossible is possible. 

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews, SIFF Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Disney

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Lost and Lonely for the Holidays

February 5, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal dog, Max, live a lonely life atop the snowy crest of Mount Crumpet. Ostracizing himself from the Whos down in Whoville (the tall and the small), his main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbors celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter this year than ever before, the Grinch hatches a scheme to steal Christmas and end the Whos’ jovial celebration once and for all.

Produced by Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me), the greatest challenge facing Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch seemed to be whether or not The House That Minions Built could tell a story that lived up the legacy of the iconic original. Thankfully, the latest incarnation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale is an engaging romp that treads enough new ground to feel fresh and—dare I say it?—even necessary. (Incidentally, what impressed me most about the film is that, despite coming from Illumination, the humor is mostly spared from going full ‘Minions’ with bathroom humor, allowing it to feel somewhat timeless and charming.) Star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular villain with snarling glee as he plots against the seemingly naïve Who’s (even if he isn’t quite as much of a ‘mean one’ as previous incarnations). What’s more, this film seems to have a lighter bounce and sense of play than in the past, making it more accessible to even younger viewers.

Still, The Grinch sets itself apart from previous versions through its sense of grace and support towards others. While we’ve seen the Grinch as either traumatized by lost love (live-action) or simply… well… mean (animated), this vision shows him as a lonely curmudgeon. Alone in the orphanage as a child, Cumberbatch’s Grinch has deliberately tried to pull himself away from others, not out of hatred but out of jealousy. Having never been invited to be a part of any sort of community, the Grinch simply doesn’t understand the blessing of being surrounded by people that care about you. (Or, he’s at least oblivious to it, as his friendship with Max and Fred would indicate.)

Conversely, however, the Grinch’s isolation is held in contrast to the Who’s desire to come together and, more specifically, Cindy Lou Who’s quest to help her mother. Out of love and respect for what she sees her mom sacrifice for their family, Cindy Lou sets out on a quest to [literally] wrestle Santa to the ground in order to ensure that her request gets through to the North Pole. Rather than give Santa a list of gifts, all she cares about is seeing her mother get the help she needs. Like Cindy Lou, this film has a much firmer grasp on the meaning of the holidays and, as a result, the film’s climactic reunion with the Grinch seems far more significant. This vision of The Grinch understands what it means for a community to lovingly support those in need—and the importance of grace that breaks through in its midst.

On video, the film transfers beautifully (especially in 4K which really allows the color to pop onscreen). Special features include 3 mini-movies (yes, two of them feature the Minions), Cindy Lou’s Yule Log and a sing-a-long version of “You’re a Mean One (Mr. Grinch)”. However, one of the most interesting pieces is also the most simple. A short video entitled “Any Who Can Draw” allows viewers to put their artistic skills to work to draw characters from the film, an activity that my whole family enjoyed.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is available on 4K, BluRay, DVD or Digital Download.

To hear our podcast on The Grinch, click here.

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) warns his dog Max and reindeer Fred about the seductive power of the Santa cookie as he trains them to help him steal Christmas in “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” from Illumination.

Filed Under: DVD, Film Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Meledandri, Christmas, Illumination, Kenan Thompson, Minions, Pharrell Williams, Rashida Jones, The Grinch, Universal

5.09 Is MARY POPPINS RETURNS Practically Perfect?

January 20, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/5.09-Mary-Poppins-Returns.mp3

After 60 years, Mary Poppins Returns! With Emily Blunt stepping into the legacy (and Oscar-winning) legacy of Julie Andrews, Poppins automatically has massive expectations to live up to the charm of the original Disney classic. But, is the result practically perfect? Or does the sequel ‘go fly a kite’? In a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious conversation, I’m joined by Seeing and Believing co-host, Kevin McLenithan to discuss whether or not this film ’steps in time’ to the original, power of perspective, and—in a special segment—our Top 3 Movie Moments of 2018.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

5.09 Mary Poppins Returns

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Kevin for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Avengers: Infinity War, Ben Whishaw, Best of, Bohemian Rhapsody, Colin Firth, Dick Van Dyke, Disney, Eighth Grade, Emily Blunt, Emily Mortimer, Infinity War, Into the Spiderverse, Julie Andrews, Julie Walters, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns, Meryl Streep, Miles Morales, musical, Oscars, Rami Malek, remake, spider-man, Thanos, Top Ten, Widows, Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Beauty and the Beast: A Mixed Transformation

March 20, 2017 by J. Alan Sharrer 4 Comments

Unless you’ve been on a remote island for the last year or so, you know Disney has been working on a live-action version of its beloved, animated hit Beauty and the Beast.  After much teasing and considerable hype, the finished product has finally been released to theaters around the world.  People are flocking to theaters in droves, along with their kids (at least two girls were dressed in Belle’s signature yellow dress at the screening I attended). What they will see on the screen is a good film that doesn’t quite reach the bar set by its predecessor.

The film, for the most part, tells the story known the world over—a prince isn’t very nice to an old lady stopping by his opulent castle for shelter.  She puts a spell on him and his servants, transforming him into a horned beast (Dan Stevens) and them into various household objects.  The castle becomes frozen in a perpetual winter to boot. If the Beast finds true love before the magical rose in his room loses its petals, he can become human again. If not, he remains a beast forever and his servants become permanently inanimate.

In a nearby village, Belle (Emma Watson) is groaning about wanting more from life, all while helping her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) and avoiding the romantic passes of certifiable egomaniac and Narcissus wannabe Gaston (Luke Evans). When Maurice takes a wrong turn one day and lands at the castle, he picks a rose for Belle and is imprisoned by the Beast for it. Belle eventually comes to take her father’s punishment, but the Beast’s gaggle of talking appliances, led by Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) and Lumière (Ewan McGregor), keep her around—for a while.  When she escapes, wolves surround her, but the Beast saves the day, suffering injury in the process. That’s when Stockholm Syndrome befalls Belle.  Gaston learns of this and eventually leads a charge to kill the Beast (but fails), and the ending is all fairytale happiness.

In this adaptation, Beauty and the Beast succeeds in many areas–yet falls short in a few.  The sets and costumes are exquisitely designed—there could be an Oscar nomination coming Disney’s way next year. There were some issues with the CGI—especially with the wolves and a few of the backgrounds. As for the cast, Stevens’ Beast doesn’t seem quite as angry as his animated counterpart, coming across as more of a tortured soul (he also has a solo that is fantastic). Watson does admirably as Belle, but you can tell from the first song that she can’t quite hit the high notes. To her credit, she does get stronger in her singing as the film progresses. McKellen, McGregor, and Emma Thompson (as Mrs. Potts) are fabulous; Thompson is probably the only person that could give Angela Lansbury a run with her rendition of the theme song. I didn’t quite find Evans’ Gaston to be as convincing–his change from vain leader to exactor of vengeance was too abrupt. There are a few new additions to the film, including the rose Maurice picks at the Beast’s castle, a magic book that acts as a corollary to the magic mirror, a look at Belle’s childhood, and Agathe (I won’t say any more about her).  This adds almost forty-five minutes to director Bill Congdon’s film (it runs 2:09), but I didn’t find myself checking the time as a result.

There’s been a ton of discussion on the Internet and in real life about Josh Gad’s portrayal of LeFou as gay.  As with many other things, speculation is just that—speculation.  In the film, LeFou wants to be on Gaston’s good side, but does act a bit odd at times.  It’s only at the ending battle where anything resembling gay comes into play, thanks to Madame Garderobe (Audra McDonald).  This comes into play (if you want to call it that) as LeFou, in the final dance, spins off from his female partner to a guy.  It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it sequence and really has nothing to do with the overall story.

The themes of sacrifice, love, and restoration come into play quite prominently. However, one early sequence is worth mentioning. Belle asks Maurice about her mom, who describes her as “fearless.” To a large extent, that’s exactly what Belle becomes—both in her determination to protect her father and her belief that something good exists in a hideous horned creature.  In our lives, fear is an attribute that can render the strongest person powerless.  But true love can vanquish fear—the Bible notes this when it says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18 NIV).”  Obviously, Belle grew up a lot by the time the credits rolled.

Beauty and the Beast has its ups and downs and is definitely worth a visit to the theater with kids in tow. Just don’t expect to have it replace the animated version sitting on your shelf at home.

Filed Under: Current Events, Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Beast, Beauty and the Beast, Belle, Bill Congdon, Cogsworth, Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Fear, Fearless, gay, Ian McKellen, Josh Gad, LeFou, Love, Lumière, Madame Garderobe, Mrs. Potts, Rose, sacrifice

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