As You Like It by William Shakespeare

We have watched three videos at school about the act 3, scene 2 from As You Like It, adaptations of the pastoral comedy written by Shakespeare, the famous english poet, playwright and actor.

I’ve selected two videos and I want to compare them.

In my opinion, this play is my favourite because the play of the actors is good.

The second play is good too but it’s more in a modern life – for example, she smokes.

Even if the costume – we clearly see that it is artificial (the mustache for example) in the first play while the woman who is disguised hasn’t a costume : it is natural in the second play – and the landscape is better in the second play – there are many colors and it’s realistic, I prefer the first one for its adaptation.

And you, what play do you prefer?

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

 

In class, we watched the movie Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and I want to talk about this movie. The movie directed by Kenneth Branagh and released in 1994. The Main actors are Robert De Niro (Dr Frankenstein) and Kenneth Branagh (the creature).

I think that this movie is a great interpretation of the book. Because we feel  the dramatic side and the despair of Dr Frankenstein. Admittedly the direction and the special effects are of low quality and certain parts of the story aren’t respected but the version was produced in 1994 and the director communicated the morality of the story.

Bilbo The Hobbit

Althought we did’nt see this movie in class,I really like this film.

I saw it at the cinema and I have read the book. It’s one of my favourite film because I found the sets very beautiful as well as the creature and all the spectacular special effects. Another the stories are always differents as The Lord of the Rings, which I also recommend.

So, if you don’t know what to see, or if you want to watch a film, why don’t you see Bilbo?

Frankenstein: A Popular Myth

Frankenstein is a character invented  by Marry Shelley in her novel « Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus » published in 1818. Frankenstein is not only a fantastic tale, it also represents the birth of science fiction. For the first time, there is a myth that is based on scientific speculation and not only supernatural elements, contrary to other monsters, like vampires or werewolves, the monster is made by a scientist called Victor Frankenstein, in a laboratory . The author refers  to scientific experiments of her time on electricity. Mary Shelley’s novel, has achieved success quickly. This led other artists and writers working for the entertainment industry to adapt the novel with more or less fidelity. Hundreds of plays, dozens of movies, comics, cartoons, video games, novels, etc.. continues to the perpetuation of the myth of Frankenstein in the common imagination.

Here we have a video which shows, some scenes of the Frankenstein play.

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApxzTChNWr0[/youtube]

Carrie Horror or Drama

It is the third film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel of the same name. The movie contrary to the novel is not circled around the religious aspect but it circles around what can happen if you push someone to an extreme. And that’s what happens at the end of the movie when everyone is laughting at her at the ball, she cannot control her power anymore because she has accumulated too much hatred and is consumed by it so that she can’t control herself anymore.

 

The Hobbit Magic Effects

The Hobbit, is a film co written fantasy saga, produced and directed by Peter Jackson, inspired by the british novel The Hobbit written by J.R.R Tolkien. This project is the continuation of the adaptation from the trilogy « The Lord of the Ring » also produced by Peter Jackson.

The video bellow the scene shows how the animation supervisors worked on the animation of the fantastic characters in this case we are talking about the troll’s, the system used is the motion capture stage. So that when they are framing the shot they can see each other because their motions are translated into the camera. This shows us that the team has experience, because they work with each other for a long time now. I think that this saga will dazzle us in the years to come.

 

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQcgX108xw[/youtube]

 

 

 

The Help

The Help is a novel by Kathryn Stockett and was published on 2009. The story takes place in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. The story is about Abileen and Minny who are both African-American maids in houses of white families and Skeeter who is the daughter of a prominent white family. When Sketter comes back to university she talks with Abileen to know were Constantine – the maid of his house – is gone. After that, she talks with Abileen and she wants to write a book about the story of different maids in Jackson. With the help of Abileen, Minny and many other maids Sketter wrote his book, but is not without danger because there are conflicts between black and white, it’s why they write this book in secret.

The film adapted by Tate Taylor on 2011 is not a very good adaptation to my part because in the book we know about what Skeeter, Abileen and Minny thinking, but in the movie the actors played very well and it’s why I like this movie.

If you have the opportunity to read the book or watch the movie, do it, it’s very interesting.

Weep No More, My Lady by Mary Higgins Clark

I’ve read Weep No More, My Lady published in 1988 and written by Mary Higgins Clark who was born in 1927. She is an American author of suspense novels.

Psychological thrillers incorporate mystery, drama and horror with often death and themes which identity, reality, mind, perception, existence,…

To sum up, Leila was a beautiful actress who was found dead a few days before is first one of her play. Elizabeth will have to discover who is the murderer, friends’s real faces and  their feelings.

This book is difficult to read because of difficult and special words. Moreover, this genre of novel isn’t my favourite genre. But I’ve like suspense and Mary Higgins Clark is a good author. To my mind, she is one of the best author of suspense genre because she includes love, betrayal, murder, jealousy and especially suspense!

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XWUbQN32vQ[/youtube]

 » Shakespeare in Love « 

 » Shakespeare in love  » is a movie realised by John Madden in 1998. The scenario of Tom Stoppard, is inspired of an episode in the life of Shakespeare dating in 1593.

The movie’s story takes place in London. Shakespeare is still a young playwright collapsing under debt. Harassed by his patron, Shakespeare promises to give him a new play entitled   » Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate Girl « . But he has no inspiration to write this play. However Lady Viola, a young noble woman, worshiping Shakespeare for his sonnets, dream to meet him and become an actress, but the theater is forbidden to women at this time. So, she disguises as a boy and wins the role of Romeo. But W.Shakespeare will quickly discover the indentity of this young girl and falls in love with her. Thanks to this love, the inspiration of Shakespeare will return, and he will finally find the plot and the new title of the play  » Romeo and Juliet « .

The story has many characters who really existed, but it is largely fictitious. In fact, we‘re not really sure of the reality of the fact evoked in this movie, because the story of William Shakespeare still has this day not totally full for the historians.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

          Under the Dome is a science fiction short story written by Stephen King in 2009. This story is set in Chester’s Mill Maine, in the Extreme North East of the United States. At 11:44 AM on Saturday October 21, Chester’s Mill is suddenly cut off from the outside world by an impassable, invisible barrier, a Dome of an unknown origin. The Story is tell by a multi-characters point-of-view. The main character is a traps former Army Captain Dale « Barbie » Barbara, who is trying to leave Chester’s Mill because of a local dispute. As far as the story goes, we follow the adventures of the citizen and how the react at the fact to being separate of the world. Under the Dome is a partial rewrite of a novel King attempted to write first in 1972 under the same title and then a second time in 1982 as The Cannibals.

Shortly after the release of the book, it was announced that Steven Spielberg’s and DreamWorks would be developing a cable miniseries based on the novel on CBS and M6. 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk[/youtube]

Invictus by Clint Eatswood

In English class, we saw Invictus by Clint Eastwood realised in 2009. The story happened in 1995, South Africa organised the World Cup Rugby. At this period Mandela began to be president of country. He staid 27 years in jail and he spent his life to struggle against apartheid. He thinks that thank to sport black and white people could be a national union. There is a team called Springboks, it’s a symbol for a long time of white people of South Africa ; “one team, one country”. White people govern apartheid. Mandela would change mentalities to make live the Rainbow nation.

As you like it

We saw in class 3 versions of the play As you like it by Shakespeare. The first version was filmed by somebody in the andience so it was very « natural » and we could hear the laughter of people. The second version seems to be more recent and it was filmed differently. Besides, it was like if the actors played to nobody, the audience was silent. The last version was very modern, and it looked like a movie. The play of the actors was very different from the other and it shocked me because I found it wasn’t faithful to the original play. Consequently I prefer the first and the second version than the third, but it was interesting to see the differences between them.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by W. Shakespeare

We studied in class an extract from Romeo and Juliet and As you like it by William Shakespeare. But I would like to talk about an other famous tragedy by W. Shakespeare : Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. This tragedy dating back to an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602.

The Denmark’s King, father of Hamlet, is assassinated by his brother Claudius. He take his place on the throne and he marry with Gertrude, widow of his brother. The ghost of the King appears to Hamlet, and reveals his murderer, he must avenge his father. Hamlet feigns madness to expose his uncle. We put this insanity on account of his love for Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, the king’s counselor.

If you want to know the rest of the story I suggest you either read the play or watch the theatrical adaptation of Patrice Chéreau (link with « La Fausse suivante » studied in French) or the movies Hamlet (1948) by Laurence Olivier.

Three meters above the sky

I’d like to introduce a film that I love, called « Three meters above the sky » given it is a Spanish film here his title in Spanish « Tres metros sobre el cielo » its French title is « Twilight Love ». The film was directed by Fernando Gonzalez Molina in 2010 with major players Mario Casas and Maria Valverde.
This is the story of an impossible love between Babi, a girl of 17 years, from the high society and Hugo (nicknamed « H »), a rebellious young man, carefree, ill at ease, Which used to date only girls who not respect themselves and participate in illegal races … So are complete opposites, they fall in love. And follows a story like no other.
I found the movie very sad and at the same time so exciting.

As you like it, Shakespeare

In class, we read an extract of Shakespeare’s play As you like it. It’s a comedy written around 1598-1600, during the last years of Elizabeth’s reign. In our extract, there are two characters : Rosalind and Orlando. Rosalind is the daughter of Duke Senior, she disguises herself as a young man named Ganimede. As to Orlando, he is a younger brother of Oliver and we know that he falls in love with Rosalind. Into the passage, they are alone together in the forest.
Last Monday, we saw three video clips of this play. These three clips were totally different. The first extract was the oldest, the setting was very simple as the character’s costume. Moreover, the actors were away from each other during all the extract. Personally, I found that this adaptation theatrical was nothing special! Concerning to the second extract, the staging was better as the setting, the actors played well and their costume were really not bad! And to finish, the third extract was the most modern, the characters smock on stage and their costume are both well, the setting is more realistic. Among these three different representations, I preferred the second.

Romeo and Juliet by William.S

Having start a course on Shakespeare, the urge came to me to read the play Romeo and Juliet in English and it turns out that it is quite difficult to read Shakespeare. I’ve also watched Romeo + Juliet Baz Luhrmann film released in 1996, even if it is a modern even very modern, it traces well the play by William Shakespeare. Whether in the book or the film, I still have the same expectation of the famous replica of Juliette who is: « O Romeo, Romeo! Why art thou Romeo!
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if you do not want, let me simply vow of love
I cease to be a Capulet.  »
Rare are those who do not know the balcony scene.

« I hold this world for what it is: a theater where everyone has to play its role. « William Shakespeare.

Birdy

Birdy is an american movie made by Alan Parker in 1984.

The main characters are Birdy played by Matthew Modine, and his friend, Al, played by the famous Nicolas Cage.

In fact, I watched this movie one hour ago and I want to write an article about it because it was a real slap for me.

It’s the story of two young friends, Al and Birdy. Birdy is mad about birds and he dreams of the possibility of flying : it’s the only thing he likes. However, the two men have to go to the Vietnam war and they come back totally differents : Al is disfigured and Birdy stays in a hospital, alone, looking at the window without speaking and dreaming, he wants to run away and fly. Al is very sad when he sees his friend like that, and he wants to help him.

This movie is very touching, we can see the relationship of these two characters who are very close. It is also tortured and destabilizing, I think it’s a real masterpiece.

You should watch it, I know it’s not an easy movie, and it’s not the kind of movie we can watch during an evening with our family but it is a very good film.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is a movie of Bad Luhrmann made in 1996.

Romeo is played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Juliet by Claire Danes. In fact, it’s the story of Romeo and Juliet but it takes place in the 90’s…

It’s exactly the same story written by Shakespeare : the Capulet and the Montaigu can’t stand each other, Romeo and Juliet can’t live their passionate love etc. I think the original story is very good, very romantic and interesting, but the movie totally destroys this universe and the film director made something so boring and bad !

I can’t bear this movie ! Do you ever watched it ? What is your opinion ?

Yeats

It’s obvious that the one name of English poets is William, isn’t it? William Shakespeare, William Blake…William Butler Yeats is especially an Irish poet and dramatist ( like Shakespeare ). He was born in the end of the nineteenth century (1865) and died in the wake of the Second World War (in 1939).He’s the founder of the Abbey Theatre.
At the beggining of his works, he wrote quite a romantic poetry. In 1893, he wrote « The Celtic Twilight ». It’s a blend of mysticism and romantical subjects.
This is an extract from this book: a poem who is entitled « The clothes of Heaven »

« He wishes for the cloths of heaven
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. »

It’s really a famous poem of Yeats that we can translate in modern language

« (He would have) the clothes of heaven (clothes can be a synonym of voile, sail or curtain)
(If I had) the embroidered clothes (of heaven)
(With their) golden and silver light
The blue, and the (white) and the dark clothes
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would (put) the clothes under your feet
(But I am poor and I have only my dreams)
I (put) my dreams under your feet
(Walk with sweetness because you walk on my dreams) »

It was the poem we all should know, I think.

Jane Austen and the BBC

Jane Austen is always a literary phenomenon and her work cannot be overlooked thanks to the themes she talks about in her novels (criticism of the 19th century english society) .

However, she also found spectators at television thanks to very close adaptations of her novels by the BBC. We can note: Pride and Prejudice in 1995 which played a big role in Colin Firth‘s career, Emma in 1996 with Kate Beckinsale, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Persuasion in 2007, and Sense and Sensibility in 2008.

The creation of these adaptations relaunched the interest for Austen’s novels in United Kingdom like in other countries. A new form of tourism was created thanks to them: the Austenian tourism, which consists in visiting locations to follow in heroes’ footsteps.

Andrew Davis is the scriptwriter who adapted the largest number of novels for the BBC.

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Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in Pride and Prejudice (Simon Langton, 1995)

John Lennon and nonsense !

If you love literature and John Lennon I advise you, his first book « In His Own Wright » which you can read in French and English. In this small paperback, there are poems, short stories and drawings by Lennon. It contains a lot of humor and some nonsense, (that’s why I’m talking about this book). The title is a pun on the English expression « in his own right » and « in his own write ».

http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/da/In_His_Own_Write.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_His_Own_Write&h=240&w=240&tbnid=Yl8OQLFlbiayXM:&zoom=1&tbnh=98&tbnw=98&usg=__X4A38R6PIuMkH87cbo0ZVdOV_KY=&docid=68cEZ9mkD_c48M&sa=X&ei=-7drU92vL8Kc0AWptYGgDw&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAA&dur=325

Impossible love…

Impossible love… It speaks to everyone and, if love is a recurring theme, the impossible love is equally. That’s why a lot of writers use this Gimick in their books, here is a few examples:

  • how not to speak about Shakespeare and his too  famous Romeo and Juliet. It’s a classic for good, an incontestable reference. i think it’s impossible to find more universal than Romeo and Juliet.
  • A great novel which gave a place to one of the most amazing film ever directed, Gone with the Wind ( written by Margaret Mitchell and published in 1936) tells the impossible loves between Scarlett and Ashley then between Scarlett and Reth ,who will never be happy together even if they were madly in love with each other.
  • It’s one of my favorite short stories. Brokeback Mountain (written by Annie Proulx in 1997) tels the love between two cowboys who will separeted during their entire lifes. It’s gorgeous but also totally devastating.

Of course, there are many other examples  in the french literature or outside the literature in general. If you see another examples, don’t hesitate to leave a com’.

Sherlock, THE adaptation!

It’s not a secret, Sherlock Holmes is the most famous private detective of the world and also the most adapted on screen. A lot of films and series refered to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels and short stories (like Guy Ritchie’s movies with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law or the series Elementary). But I would like to talk about my favorite adaptation wich is incredibly well written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat and diffused on TV since 2010.

The famous detective is incarnated by Benedict Cumberbatch and Watson by the most famous Hobbit of the world: Martin Freeman. Their performance are perfectly well done and pretty original. The screenplay is ingeniously transposed on the 21th century and we find some Holmes’ famous case (like The Study in pink or The Hounds of Baskerville)

We can see on screen a police series who seems finally be original, ambitious, and full of irony.

Absolute Shakespeare

hello !

I want to tell you about a website exclusively about Shakespeare: its name is « Absolute Shakespeare ». In addition to read Shakespeare’s biography, we can read Comedies, (17, including As you like it) , Histories, or Tragedies. Each time, there is an explanation, it’s very interesting ! there are also Shakespeare’s sonnets, Poems, Quotes (like « To be, or not to be: that is the question » Hamlet  (Act III, Scene I), « O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? ». Romeo and Juliet (Act II, Scene II) etc)

this website is also useful because you can read summary and commentary about many famous plays; Hamlet, Julius CaesarOthello, the Moor of VeniceRomeo and Juliet or The Tempest for example! And if you are reading a Shakespeare’s play, a glossary can help you to understand !

The website here -> absoluteshakespeare.com

Simba like Hamlet ?

[youtube]http://youtu.be/FYheFyrahng[/youtube]

In the Disney « The Lion King« , the viewer sees the relationship between Simba, the young lion and Mufasa, his father. So, the two stories are similar: Scar (Claudius =), the wicked uncle, trap Mufasa (= Hamlet’s father / Polonius) who dies. Scar can then reign on the lion’s earth. After the murder of his father, Simba (= Hamlet) ran away because his uncle accused him of being responsible for the death of his father. He finds refuge with Timon (= Rosencrantz ?) and Pumbaa (=Guildenstern ?), a meerkat and a warthog, which makes this story comic. The same cowardice found at Simba as in Hamlet.. Another common point : thinking about death ; very present in Shakespeare, is also found in the words of Mufasa when he explains to his son the « cycle of life » (the body that turn into grass and the ancestors watching us from the stars).

So I don’t know if we can say that « The Lion King » is a kind of addaptation Hamlet, but in any case, I think there a few similarities with the play.

Romeo + Juliette – Baz Luhrmann (1996)

[youtube]http://youtu.be/5ZqxOb2tJIo[/youtube]

The story of the most famous love of all times, transported in the 20th century in Los Angeles. The gang members Montagues and Capulets fight in the streets and there are a lot of murders. Led by his friend Mercutio and his cousins, Romeo, son Montague, went to a party given by Capulet and falls in love of their only daughter, Juliet. In the center of the war between their two families, Romeo and Juliet swear an indestructible love, which will end tragically.

You had to be very bold to transpose the story of Romeo and Juliet in the world today. The bet has been very successful. Actors, especially Leonardo DiCaprio, playing very well. Of course, Claire Danes changes a little Juliet’s personality in the play, but it still has a very charming side, and makes the film most modern. The scenes are very well filmed. The decorations are beautiful (the beach to the streets of the city). The film may appears very kitsch and tacky today because it tells the lifestyle of the 90s but it succeeds in translating the Shakespeare’s texts  in the twentieth century. And this makes a timeless story.

Masterpiece.

A play by Shakespeare : Macbeth

 » Macbeth  » is a tragedy by William Shakespeare written in 1606. The story is inspired of the famous character : Macbeth, King of Scotland. However the tragedy has many supernaturals elements, which makes the play more interresant for the spectators.

In this play, Macbeth and lady Macbeths ( is wife ) are the main characters because the essential of the tragedy shows how they gradually sink into madness. The plot take place around a battle where Macbeth, the King’s cousin and the general of the army, was noted for his courage, intelligence and loyalty. After winning the battle, he meets three witches who gives to Macbeth three differents titles, including the future king. Then they disappear. Later Macbeth is named  » Thane of Cawdor  » reward for his victory. He tells the new to his wife , but devoured by ambition and the desire to see the prophecy witches realised, she pushes him to murder Duncan, the King of Scotland . The son of Duncan (Malcolm and Donalbain) run away for fear of being murdered as their turn and they  leaving the free space to Macbeth. This is the beginning of a deadly cycle where Macbeth begins to assassinate anyone he thinks they can steal his throne. At the end of the play, Macbeth and his wife are plagued by guilty, and they become completely mad.

Macbeth is one of the many masterpiece of William Shakespeare,  it is a dark play, showing the criminal passion of an individual whose conscience is subject to evil.

 

The Valley of Fear

During the weekend, I read: « The valley of fear », by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which is an adventure of Sherlock Holmes, narrated by his friend Dr. Watson … I found the story very interesting and well written, with two stories in one. There is suspense, humor and surprises. I advice you to read this book !

William Shakespeare!

Hey people! We’re actually work on William shakespeare! Is this part of the theme pleases you? Personally, I think that he is a pillar of the English literature, as well as in poetry, even if we often know more him for his books, especially in theater (Romeo and Juliette for example) than about his poems! So successful in the art of the comedy and the tragedy, his talent is undeniable! But, in spite of this recognized talent, do you like his works? I have only read a little of his works but I didn’t have been passionate! But perhaps could you have some other Shakespeare’s works to propose?

A lesson before dying – Ernest J. Gaines

File:A Lesson Before Dying novel.jpg

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« A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that they’re better than anyone else on earth – and that’s a myth. The last thing they ever want is to see a black man stand, and think and show that common humanity that is in us all. It would destroy their myth. » quotation of Grant, the teacher.

I would like to introduce you the book A lesson before dying written by Ernest J. Gaines in 1993 because I really enjoyed to read it. Moreover, I think it could be intersting for you because I found that it’s easy-reading even if you don’t have the habit of reading in english and so gripping.

The story takes place at the time of the racial segregation, in the US. It’s the story of a black man who has been sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. This man is completely dehumanized. However, a teacher is going to try to restore his esteem and teach him that he is not a « hog » as people want him to believe but a human.

It’s a really good lesson of life. And it’s really philosophical because we can see the reaction of a man who is obbligated to cope with the death. It’s an interesting book, beacause in addition to this gripping story we can discover the condition at this time. It makes us question ourselves.

And you have you already read this book ? If you have not, I hope I make you feel like reading it.

 

« This is a fine and decent book that lives in memory for its elegance and sadness… like the best country songs, straight and true, unafraid of sentiment and written for people it depicts, not simply about them. » The Independent.

Invictus

      INVICTUS

 « I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul »
 (extract from William Ernest Henley’s poem « Invictus », 1888)

The film Invictus was directed by Clint Eastwood, in 2009. We can find two well-known actors who play the main characters : Matt Damon (the Springbok’s captain called François Pienaar), and Morgan Freeman (the South African President, Nelson Mandela).

South Africa host the Rugby World Cup, in 1995. At the beginning of his term as president, Nelson Mandela see in this sporting event, the opportunity to unite his contry. In fact, the Springbok’s team (the national rugby team) was a symbol of the white rule in South Africa and also a symbol of the apartheid regime (that is the segregation between the Whites and the Blacks in South Africa). The two leaders, Mandela and Pienaar, aim to unite the « rainbow nation » (with racial groups) behind a common goal : the championship.

I think the project of unite this country behind the Rugby World Cup was one of the biggest challenges for South Africa. This film is very interesting and the two main actors have a lot of talent. They are credible and very moving. I think that Morgan Freeman is admirable in the part of Nelson Mandela and this film is very realistic because of the amazing ressemblance Morgan Freeman with Nelson Mandela.

I really like this film and I would advise you to see it !

The Little Prince : the film adaptation

It’s official ! Paramount Pictures advertised the release on the big screen « The Little Prince« , adapted from the novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The director Mark Osborne (who directed also « Kung Fu Panda », « Spongebob ») provided the release in France, in late 2015. This film adaptation of the book by Saint-Exupéry is the first, seventy years after his publication. The Little Prince will be the voices of James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams and Jeff Bridges.

In my opinion, I have some doubts about the result but I think it’s a very interesting project. This film, like the book, will probably rich and full of fantastic adventures !

Much Ado About Nothing by Josh Whedon

Much Ado About Nothing is an American film directed by Josh Whedon in 2012. It’s a new adaptation of the play written by William Shakespeare after Kenneth Brannagh in 1993. In Messina, Leonato, the Governor, learns that Don Pedro intends to visit his house. The Duke’s party arrives with Count Claudio, who had before the war been attracted by Leonato’s only daughter, Hero. Another of the visitors is Benedick, a bachelor, who enjoys speaking his mind in witty argument with Hero’s cousin and companion, the Lady Beatrice.

In this adaptation, the plot is the same but many modern elements are added. It’s a black and white film but there are, from time to time, a few strokes of colour. If the trailer is very rythmic, the film is a little tedious in parts because there are many cues, and sometimes any movement. However, all the cast is excellent, the music is just wonderful, and the situations are very interesting.

A vampire story very different from the others!

Only Lovers Left Alive is a recent film directed by Jim Jarmusch. The director revisits the myth of Adam and Eve and also the story of Dracula.

The scene takes place between Detroit and Tanger. Here, the two main characters are vampires. Adam is an underground musician who is depressed by humans activities. He meets again Eve, his wife, who is an enigmatic woman. Their love story been going on for many centuries. But their existence will be disturbed by the arrival of Eve’s sister, an undisciplined teenager.
Adam and Eve don’t know if they can survive in this modern world that fall around them…

This film is romantic and also gothic. In fact the story is a review of our society.
The main actors play very good and the sound track is very lively. More over, films techniques and the atmosphere are very interesting.
Only Lovers Left Alive is a real success!

Pride and prejudice, the movie

Hi ! I would like to talk about the movie Pride and Prejudice directed by Joe Wright and starring by Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen and Talulah Riley.

In a small English village in the reign of George III, Mrs.. Bennet wants to marry her daughters to provide them with a peaceful future. The arrival of new neighbours, Mr. Bingley and his friend Mr. Darcy will result Jane and Elizabeth in tumultuous love affairs. Elizabeth will discover love by meeting the beautiful and aristocratic man, M Darcy.

However, both will ignore their pride that ensue before falling into the arms of the other.

I have seen this movie and I enjoy it ! I could see it numerous times and I particularly enjoy Keira Knightley in the role of Elizabeth !

And you, have you ever seen this movie ?

« Pride and Prejudice », the movie

I’ve seen Pride and Prejudice, the 2005 movie. This romance film is directed by Joe Wright and is based on Jane Austen‘s novel which has the same name (published in 1813).

This movie is very pleasant. The actor play very well and moreover the landscape and the costums are what I especially liked. It is realistic, romantic and it is about familly.

I recommend you this film.

Have you ever watch this film? And the 1995 movie? Which one do you prefer?

Trailer : [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJA27Jujzq4[/youtube]

Divergente by Neil Burger

Yesterday I went to the cinema and I watched Divergente directed by Neil Burger. It’s an adaptation from the teen’s saga Divergent written by Veronica Roth.

The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic Chicago. After a devastating war, the Government divided the society in five factions: Abnegation (Altruistes) for the selfless; Amity (Fraternels) for the peaceful; Candor (Sincères) for the honest; Dauntless (Audacieux) for the brave and Erudites (Érudits) for the intelligent. Each years, all the teenagers who’s got sixteen have an aptitude test which determined the faction which they are best suited. After that, they decide to stay in their family’s faction or to transfer to anoter faction. This choice is definitive.

Beatrice Prior, a sixteen-year-old Abnegation has her test, it reveals that Beatrice is indicated for three factions: Abnegation, Erudites and Dauntless. In fact, she is a rare person called Divergent. Unfortunatelly this kind of people are pursued by the Government because they are uncontrollables. Beatrice chose Dauntless and changed her name for Tris. How will she do to hide her secret and moreover, to stay in life ?

The movie is amazing. It fits greatly with the novel, every characters are respected and every actors plays perfectly. There are a lots of enlighted shots and a beautiful atmosphere based on lights and shadows. Moreover, it is a good critic of the tomorrow society.

I advise you to watch it realy fast !!

« Pride and Prejudice »

I watched the film of « Pride and Prejudice » by Joe Wright and it’s a good adaptaption of the book. I haven’t read the novel who revolve about the importance for young women of find a husband. This story deals with five girls who should be married and around the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
I find that Jane Austen portrayed with humor the behaviour of middle-class and upper-middle families and we can see that in the film this humor is present. So, the film a good adaptation of the novel. Moreover, the actors plays very well and they are in their character. Keira Knightley in the role of Elizabeth is good actress ! Also, the musics in this film are beautilful  as « Dawn ».

 

Trailer : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dYv5u6v55Y
« Dawn » by Dario Marianelli : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wGzDFbjFko

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, a famous poet, writer and playwright, is born in April 1563 at Stratford Upon Avon and dead the April 1616 in the same town.                                           He was one of the few playwrights who praticed comedy than tragedy as well.                   He is mainly famed for writing the most famous works like Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet.

During my school trip in England 2 years ago, I visited the Globe Theatre and the Shakespeare’s house, it was a great experience for me because it’s like to live like Shakespeare, it’s a good memory.                                                                                       During the visit, I saw his bedroom, dining room and his kitchen, this is a different house compared to our also I can imagine how he live a that time.

Politically Correct

I want to speak about the « politically correct » because I think it’s very interesting to show you new special tales.

The Politically Correct avoids language that offences on social minorities. In the 70’s, there were feminist movements in the US. The terms « politically correct » and « politically correctness » became part of the language.

But the previous meaning was « in line with prevailing political thought or policy » : the politically correct is used for the political language it doesn’t refer to illiberal or discrimination.

Toni Cade, a writer, had helped to understand the politically correct. In 1970, he said in Black Woman : « A man cannot be politically correct and a chauvinist too. »

That means that politically correct is used by someone who whants to give another political point of view.

Towards 1980, the politically correct is used to speak about common opinions.

Now, it is an acceptable expression. The language control is used by this new concept.

James Finn Garner is an American xriter and a satirist based in Chicago. He is the author of Politically Correct Holiday stories, Apocalypse wow, and Politically Correct Bedtimes Stories – I’ll speak about it – published in 1994.

The author was inspired by Charles Perrault and the Grimm brothers that is why he rewrites these tales like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White.

He imposes his points of out to his readers and implicit prejudice and discrimination found in children’s tales.

Magic and wonder don’t appear in these rewritings. Original tales are written for children and are about wonder unlike James Finn Garner’s tales which are modern rewritings. Indeed, the first title was Fairy Stories for a Modern world but it was abandonned.

To sum up, politically correct is a realistic language which allows to be aware of the present world.

To compare with the original tales of Charles Perrault, here is an extract of Little Red Riding Hood written by James Finn Garner in Politically Correct Bedtime Stories :

« On the way to Grandma’s house, Red Riding Hood was accosted by a wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. She replied, ‘Some healthful snacks for my grandmother, who is certainly capable of taking care of herself as a mature adult.’

The wolf said, ‘You know, my dear, it isn’t safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone.’

Red Riding Hood said, ‘I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop your own, entirely valid, worldview. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must be on my way’. »

 

Hope you will like it! In my opinion, it’s tales on different way with modern stories and comic.

 

Work by Sarahl1 and MathildeC.

The Place Beyond The Pines

I have seen this film few weeks ago but I have to admit that it really affected me. The Place beyond the pines is different in the way that it was realized. The plot is devided is 3 parts.

 

The story’s beginning is about Luke, a gifted motorcycle stunt who work in a funfair and who decided to find his ex girlfriend, Romina, that he left few months ago. They finally meet but he discovers that Romina has remade her life with another man and that he have a son but Romina never wanted to tell him. Beyond the fact that Luke still loving her, he decides to change his life to earn money, to bring a brighter future to his family, especially his son. One day he meets Robin, a garage owner, who tells him how to find the money that Lukes needs : he has to rob banks. Robin explains him that seeing that he his a really gifted moto rider, he can succeed and help his son. Luke accepts and starts to become a robber. He understands that he can become rich and he starts to looking for more. But one day, after an umpteenth rob, things go wrong. Avery Cross, a novice policeman, is determinated to find Luke and stop him. After a long chase, Avery get hurt but kill Luke.

In the second part, we can follow Avery’s recover. The town consider him as a hero by killing a criminal. But in fact, the policeman feels guilty : he knows that he could have avoid this murder and learns that Luke had a son who was the same age as his son. We starts to follow him in his daily life and he perceives that the whole police station is corrupted. Disgusted, he tries to restore the truth in vain. The time passes and Avery feels more and more oppressed by his relatives and people that he thought they were his friends.

In the last part, that takes place years later, we meet Jason, Luke’s son, and AJ, Avery’s son. Both go at the same school and finally starts to being friends. But one day, Jason and AJ are caught smoking drugs and Avery learns that Jason is Luke’s son. Few months later, Jason discovers his father’s past and how is father get killed…

 

 

This film is really interessant because the 3 parts are perfectly linked and the plot is really well done :  The fact that the murder’s consequences are moved on their sons is really subtle and interesting : it renforces all the feelings toward the characters. I loved the whay that the director has chosen to follow Avery during his mental breakdown, we can feel the regrets, the bitterness in Avery’s mind and his guiltiness. I also liked the corrupted policemen concept ; it improves dramatic tension and in a way, it bring a kind of realtistic feeling. The riding scales are really impressive too ;

By the way, if I have to talk the cast… How can I hate it when I saw that Ryan Gosling played Luke ? How ? I mean this man must be my favourite american actor : he is mysterious and absolutely touching. This role was perfect for him, a man who just wanted to bring the best to his family and who was determined to do everything for that. Ryan (Or Luke I don’t know anymore haha) is a kind of ideal man to me.

Bradley Cooper is also an excellent actor, I think that he was really made for this role ; someone who dreamed of becoming a symbol of truth and peace in the Police but realized that this world was not that nice.

Oh and a word about Dan DeeHan (Jason).. We have to follow this guy, he is really talented. Even now I don’t understand how he can be so fragile and so strong in the same character. I will have to see his other films.

Samuel Beckett

Hello !

Last week we read an extract of a Samuel Beckett’s play, untitled Waiting for Godot.
It’s an absurdist play.

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) was an Irish novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. Today, he is considered one of the last modernists, and he is also sometimes considered one of the first postmodernists. He wrote in English and French.

In 1956, the BBC asked him to broadcast a radio play: it will be All That Fall (« Tous ceux qui tombent »). He continues to write occasionally for radio, but also for an experimental silent film, Film in 1965 (with Buster Keaton) and television. He started writing in English, without abandoning the French.

During the World War II, he participated to the Resistance.
After the war, he published Molloy (1951); Malone Dies (1958); and The Unnamable, (1960).

It is in French that Beckett wrote his most famous works. In fifteen years, three plays are a great success: Waiting for Godot (1948-1949), Endgame (1955-1957) and Happy Days (1960). The extract of Waiting for Godot in your book is p.125 !

Then he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969, but he sees that as a « disaster » ; His confusion to receive the Nobel Prize is explained by his dislike of socializing and duties.

He dies in 1989 and is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery.

Samuel Beckett, Pic, 1.jpg

(Beckett in 1977; (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samuel_Beckett,_Pic,_1.jpg)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shutter Island de Martin Scorsese

Yesterday, I saw Shutter Island, even if it doesn’t correspond to a unit of our lessons, I want to talk about it.

First the story: In 1954, Teddy Daniels, a marshall of Boston, and his new partner, Chuck Aule, travel to Ashecliff Hospital for the criminally insane. They were investigated for the disapearance of a patien, Rachel Solando who had drowning her three children. Teddy and Chuck will be dragged in a strange plot and they will break the law of Ashecliff Hospital. But all along the story, Teddy turns into insane and he loses his partner… I don’t want to tell you the end, it’s so incredible !

Then my opinion: It’s amazing the way Martin Scorsese shake you. Since the begening until the end you are attrated by the atmosphere and above all, the play of Leonardo DiCaprio. All seems to be a secret or a clue. You are trapped into a vicious circle where everything appear as a lie but also as the truth. The end lets you in a feeling of incomprehension, you don’t realy know if the story is real or not.

It’s definitly one of the best thriller I have seen, I advise you to watch it !

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf8XLSYN42g[/youtube]

Animal farm

Animal farm is a novel by George Orwell published in 1945.

It deals with animals who live in a farm and who decided to make a revolution and fight against men who neglect them.

In fact at the beginning, I thought it was a novel for children because I didn’t understand the real meaning of it, but after some chapter, I understood that it’s a fable about Stalinism.

I found this novel very good and interesting. Moreover, it helps me to understand the history lesson about Stalinism.

You should read it !

Snow White and the Huntsman

Yesterday evening, I’ve watched Snow White and the Huntsman and I think is a good idea to speak us about it.

So, it’s an American fantastic movie based on the fairy tale Snow White by the brothers Grimm. The film is directed by Rupert Sanders and it’s written by Evan Daugherty, Martin Solibakke, John Lee Hancock and Hossein Amini. This movie has two Oscar nominations : for Best Visual Effets and Best Costume Design at the 85th Academy Awards. 

I recommend you this movie for his special effect, his modernity and moreover the play of the actors. Snow White, plays by Kristen Stewart and the Hutsman, plays by Chris Hemsworth, are the two means characters who play very well. We can see the fury of the Snow White’s evil stepmother, the Queen Ravenna plays by Charlize Theron, the humor of the dwarves, and the love, too.The landscape is magnificent and the adaptation is trusted.

Trailer : [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UMNSVX7_I[/youtube]

Behind the scene : [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UMNSVX7_I[/youtube] (I think it is interesting to see the play of the actors and it show us interesting things.)

Enjoy!

YOU WILL KNOW HER NAME : CARRIE

Carrie is an American horror and supernatural movie. It’s an adaptation of the Stephen King’s novel which has the same name. This film is directed by Kimberly Peirce.

Trailer : [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdoVioPv0fs[/youtube]

I recommend you this movie! It’s very interesting. The horror scene is an extra to show nastiness, prejudices, mockery and violence of some people.

Pan’s Labyrinth

The Magic world of Alice in Wonderland reminds me the world of « Pan‘s Labyrinth » wich is a very good fim.

I’m going to tell you the story… Spain , 1944. Under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, a pregnant woman , Carmen, accompanied by his young daughter , Ofelia , left to join her new husband in the mountains. This man , Captain Vidal, is a cruel man acting on behalf of General Franco . Its sole purpose is to rid the mountains last guerrillas eliminating them one after the other . One night , the little Ofelia is guided by a mysterious bug that causes outside his residence. She then discovers a strange labyrinth where she meets a faun named Pan. It reveals the existence of a lost world of which it is the princess and tells her she must overcome three tests in order to gain access. Through these tests , Ofelia must be bold and courageous to protect his little brother and his successful mission. Pan’s Labyrinth was released in 2006 . It was written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film was first made ??its appearance at Cannes where he immediately received very positive reviews. He was subsequently awarded the Hugo Award as best feature film , as well as several film Oscars.

http://www.google.fr/imgres?q=Le%20labyrinthe%20de%20pan&um=1&safe=vss&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla%3Afr%3Aofficial&channel=sb&hl=fr&tbm=isch&tbnid=CGCm5cMwqavFHM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stephenking999.com%2FLe-Labyrinthe-de-Pan.html&docid=oCiyzQH0eR1rDM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stephenking999.com%2FIMG%2Fjpg%2F3700301013224.jpg&w=400&h=619&ei=g1gpU-3TI9KV0QX07YGgDg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=718&page=1&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=0CGwQrQMwBw

Tell me if you like this film or not!

The Maltese Falcon

We have too talked about The Maltese Falcon.
I have loved the main character and the story which is a quite mysterious and suspensfull. The main character is a detective whose name is Sam Spade. He is desagreable, brooding, scornfull and has a cold character contrary to Iva who is in love affair with him and is sobing all time and want’s him to confort her. Indeed she left her husband but the killer may be Sam.
This novel is a quite suspensfull and today the excesive characterof the two characters are quite funny today and make us laught.

Southern Gothic Genre and Beautiful Creatures

I have read a saga, during 4 years entitled Beautiful Creatures (16 Lunes in french).

This saga belongs to the southern gothic genre. This genre was born in United States of America, more exactly in the south. It’s another genre of fantasy but with some elements of gothic genre. In fact there is a plot all along the novel, punctated by supernatural, oniric or unusual events. Grotesque situations, places or characters are present a lots.

Beautiful Creatures written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and published in 2010, tell the story of Ethan, a teenager who lives in Gatlin, a little village of South Carolina. One day a new young girl, called Lena, settles in this village and Ethan falls in love with her. But Lena hides a terrible secrets, and her family too, there are Casters (Enchanteresse) and they have special powers. Ethan, Lena and lots of other characters are dragged in a war between Light Casters and Dark Casters, but humans can be hurt too !

I adore this saga and I read all the four books, I advise you to read it if you like fantasy !

But don’t watch the adaptation, there is very bad and doesn’t look like the novel !