The Mystery of Edwin Drood: A Review

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The North Carolina Ice Storm—which I’ve heard called Icetastophy—came through the South this week. And I can tell you this California girl was FREEZING! Thank goodness I didn’t have to leave the house. It gave me the chance to catch up on things like housework, schoolwork and, oh yeah, writing. I also had a chance to finally finish the BBC miniseries The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).

My older son and I sat down and watched part one months ago. Maybe even six months ago. For some reason, we never took the time to finish it. Can you tell we were riveted? So yesterday I remedied that problem.

For those of you who don’t know, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is adapted from the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. The thing about this novel is that it was unfinished at the time of Dickens’ death so there have been speculations ever since that time as to how the master would have concluded the story. Imagine reading this story in installments and in 1870 it just stops after twenty-something chapters due to the author’s death. And no ending?! Can you imagine the fan-fiction we’d have today?

A summary of the plot: An opium-addicted man, John Jasper, envisions murdering his nephew (Edwin Drood) who is engaged to Rosa whom Jasper is secretly in love with.  Edwin disappears and the rest of the story concerns discovering his whereabouts or his body.

You can see how an unfinished story of this kind would baffle readers for generations. In fact, it has been nearly 150 years and academics are still trying to figure out this mystery. The University of Buckingham has launched a project to have the average reader help solve the mystery. Here is a recent article on the project.

Even though the book lacked a denouement that didn’t mean it didn’t excite the imaginations of readers and movie watchers everywhere. Authors have been trying to conclude it since 1870. And film adaptations began as early as 1935. Even Doctor Who included an episode in which Dickens made an appearance and at the end he had come up with a finale to his book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, giving a supernatural explanation to Edwin’s death.

The most obvious conclusion is that Jasper killed him and hid him in the family crypt. It’s the conclusion that has been drawn most frequently. There is evidence to support this conclusion. But I wonder even if Dickens began his story by telling a friend, “The story ... was to be that of the murder of a nephew by his uncle,” perhaps he changed his mind and came up with an ending that would surprise us all. He wouldn’t be the first author to do such a thing.

So, what of this latest adaptation (2012)? I liked the way they ended it because it gave it more of a happy ending. And I do love an HEA. I don’t want to spoil you, but it was a cleverly devised  plot that worked for the character of all concerned. It’s hard to say how Dickens would have concluded his final work. It was only half finished. And if you have any experience with a Dickens novel, the middle of the book is only the beginning of the ride on which he intends to take you.

Watch the 2-part miniseries. I enjoyed it. It’s free on Amazon Prime. 

Simply Irresistible – a favorite forgotten movie

Friday night, I had the living room to myself. The sons and hubby were busy playing their video game together--one of their Friday night activities. So, I thought I'd watch a movie. The DVD I pulled off the shelf was Simply Irresistible starring Sarah Michelle Geller and Sean Patrick Flannery.

It's really a simple story in many ways. Boy meets Girl so on and so forth. It's about food, romance and opposites attracting. Added into the mix is the magical component of falling in love over food. Yes, a seriously magical element.

Sarah plays a young woman named Amanda who has inherited a small family restaurant after her mother's death. The restaurant isn't doing well and might go under. Through the direction of some kind of guardian angel, she meets Tom, a department store executive. She's not his type but after he tries her food he can't get her out of his head...or his appetite.

The story gets even better after that and silly too. Oh and did I forget romantic. This is a movie that makes you hungry. It's sweetly sensual in the delectable sense of the word. And just like the savory, luscious deserts Amanda makes in the film, you will be completely satisfied by the end.

Superman Returns: Film Review

My five-year-old son is a superhero fanatic. He watches the cartoons and movies. He plays with the action figures and even picture reads the child version books. And who is his favorite superhero? Why Superman, of course. Is there a better one out there? Okay, I suppose that is a matter of opinion. You see I too love the supes and the Man of Steel is my ultimate fav.

So over the weekend, my son and I decided to re-watch the latest Superman film, Superman Returns. Watching it again reminded me of a review I wrote back when the movie released. I thought today I'd post it to the blog.

[Written July 2006]

Let me stipulate first that I am a die hard Superman fan and that I have greatly anticipated this movie. In stating that, let me continue by saying that I liked the film…well, no I loved it. That is not to say that I thought it was flawless and loved every part of it, but taken as a whole I thought it was very good.

When it comes to these superhero movies and big summer blockbusters, movie goers and reviewers are looking for different things. Maybe you want an epic film, lots of action and special effects, or maybe you are looking for a personal journey for our oldest and most beloved hero. I think that if you are mainly looking for the latter then you won’t be disappointed in this film.

As the movie started and the all too familiar blue lettering flowed across the screen with Williams’ Superman theme music pumping through the speakers, my heart beat picked up with all the anticipation that I had been feeling. It was euphoric!

What I really enjoyed was that this wasn’t your typical action summer flick. It had depth and heart. The film was very artistic. Gorgeous cinematography. Some of the shots of the Man of Steel were absolutely beautiful. I loved the architecture of the buildings especially the Daily Planet – inside and out it had that Art Déco decor. Lovely. Having only seen the movie once, I couldn’t take it all in; but I look forward to seeing it again and enjoying all the sets and scenery.

And there was action. It is a Bryan Singer film, after all, who did the 1^st two X-men features. Look for the plane crashing sequence, and you will see our favorite supe defying physics in stopping a plummeting plane from smashing into the ground. Very well done, full of action, and terrific special effects. And the flying - I loved it. He moves through the air in a way that you’ve never seen him, flawless.

What about the characters? I love character study and I need memorable characters! I thought Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen was so-so. He didn’t stick out to me as anything special. And Frank Langella as Perry White was actually disappointing. I know he's a great actor, and so I expected more from him. His performance really was forgettable. Jackie Cooper was a great Perry, and Lane Smith from the Lois and Clark TV show is my favorite Perry of all time. James Marsden who you will recognize as Cyclops from X-men plays Richard White and Lois’ fiancé. His performance was right on. He is a nice guy, and you actually feel for him because Lois still loves Superman (well duh). So much for the supporting characters.

And what about the central players?

Kevin Spacey plays Lex Luthor, and it was foretold that he was playing the character much darker and sinister than Gene Hackman’s rendition. And yes he does play it in a more ominous light, but I had just anticipated more. Getting used to the dark character that Lex is becoming in the TV show Smallville, I just expected even more of that in the movie version. I have to applaud Michael Rosenbaum in playing a Lex Luthor who in time will become equal to the title of the greatest criminal mastermind in the world. Again the writers give Lex a weak plot in this movie. This character is worthy of so much more.

(Rosenbaum as Luthor)

Lois Lane. I love the Lois Lane character. I mean she is as important to the Superman mythos as that of Clark Kent. Her characteristics and foibles are famous. And I must admit that Teri Hatcher’s Lois is my favorite because she played the role with all the familiar Lois eccentricies, but she added to that a sensitivity that I think is key to knowing Lois. And in Superman Returns, Kate Bosworth (whose other big films include: “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton” and “Blue Crush") played this iconic character. I was very unsettled about the choice of Kate as Lois. And after watching the film, I find that she didn’t totally kill Lois. Her performance was fine. But it just wasn’t quite Lois. I hope in future Superman films that she can step up her Lois performance. It needs work, but it was ok.

So that leaves the Man of Steel himself. I love the Clark Kent character more than the Superman figure. And this movie was meant to focus on the man more than the super. Of course, in the films, they make Clark Kent in Metropolis as his disguise; and Superman is who he really is. I’ve never liked this because how can Lois really know him when he is a bumbling fool as Clark and all she can see when he is Superman is the hero? But putting that aside, I thought Brandon Routh was great. I was the most pleased with his performance more than anyone else in the film. He has been criticized as not being as good as Christopher Reeve and not doing the things that Chris did, and then he has also been criticized as just copying the past Man of Steel. But I don’t agree. Actors that don’t play characters larger than life are criticized. These same people don’t take the time to observe the subtle way that these actors portray their characters. If you take the time, you just might see greatness.

This film let the viewer see a side of Superman that we haven’t seen before. We see him as a man, and a man who is alone. There were beautiful views of Superman up above the world listening and watching and knowing that the world needs him, but that he is all alone. And the sadness he feels in having lost Lois was very touching. The most poignant moment in the movie comes at the end. I won’t go into detail for those of you who have not watched the movie yet. But first of all Brandon’s acting was terrific and touching in that scene. It was a paramount turn of events for the Superman character as well. I know it brought a tear to my eye.

Sure there were things unanswered at the end of the film…what happened to…what about…? But I know that Singer is planning two more films, and I am supposing that there is a three film story line which I hope includes Lois Lane finding out the truth about Clark…eventually. Because as all good Superman fans know – Lois and Clark do get together in the end. I look forward to seeing to fruition this new Superman franchise of movies. It is definitely a must see at the theater. I give it an A-.

[UPDATE]

Since I wrote this review, things have change in the world of Superman films. TPTB intend to make another film or series of films but it won't be with Singer as director. It will be as if this film never took place. I'm curious what direction they'll take it. HOWEVER, I hear they intend to keep Routh on as Clark Kent. Good choice. I look forward to it.

Classic Friday: Under the Greenwood Tree

A couple Christmas ago I received a copy of the 2005 film adaptation of Hardy’s novel – Under the Greenwood Tree. It stars Keeley Hawes (well known British actress, Spooks, Ashes to Ashes, and many Period Drama roles as well as she's married to the blue-eyed Darcy, Matthew Macfadyen) as Fancy Day and James Murray (an unknown to me at the time—not any longer—watch Primeval) as Dick Dewey. I shared the enjoyment of this film with my sister who is a Period Drama Junkie like myself. What can I say? We both loved it. And we have now added ‘Dick Dewey’ into our repartee when speaking of favorite Period men. The sensual hand washing scene alone will be spoken of for quite some time. Wonderful characterization of the local people and their quire or choir. And Parson Maybold played by Ben Miles (from the British TV show Coupling) was just terrific. All in all it was a great flick and a well-loved addition to my Period Drama collection even though it was only an hour and a half long. So many of the good ones are mini-series any more.

I enjoyed the film so much I decided to read the book. Now I love reading classic literature: Dickens, Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Alcott, and on and on. But I've never been much of a Hardy fan before. This book is supposed to be the first of his Wessex novels when he returned to his family’s country roots. It is a pastoral story that rues the effects of the Industrial Revolution moving into the small country villages. It is also the love story of Fancy Day and Dick Dewey. Now as I read the book, I realized that the film version had veered quite a lot from the original text. I believe the important themes were included, but the plot was altered to what I believe was better than the original text. Sorry to all those Hardy fans but the plot was a bit dull and meandered about. I also disliked Fancy in the book. She was a bit too vain and featherheaded. She was much more likeable and interesting in the film. The one thing I wish they had captured in the film was the character of Parson Maybold. He came across quite pompous in the film but in the book he had a sweet, tender heart. I wonder why they changed this?

It really surprised me that I enjoyed the book less than the film. This was a first. I always love the depth and literary precision of these classic masters but in this instance I was a bit let down by the original. The one thing which remained consistent between the film and the book was Dick Dewy – true blue and very much in love. You gotta love that! I do heartily recommend the film especially if you love Period Drama. The book is a good read too and not overly long. A ‘light’ read for a Hardy novel in both length and content. I only wonder what Mr. Thomas Hardy was thinking when he created Fancy. What were his subtle sentiments toward Victorian womanhood??

How about you? How often has it happened that you liked the film more than the original novel?

Curious about this adaptation. Watch this fan video.