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Reviews
Princess of Mars (2009)
Not a very good movie
This ultra low budget science fiction flick turned up for rental in the wilds of northern New Hampshire. Traci Lords as Dejah Thoris showed her age in her complexion. Her scanty costume wasn't flattering and her figure has seen better days. Antonio Sabato as John Carter was better looking, sufficiently hunky for the part, and hampered by an ugly costume. The rest of the cast were green martians, played by wearing cheesy looking masks, which makes any sort of acting pretty much impossible. The original Burrough's plot was heavily modified and not for the better. Dramatic scenes from the book, such as John Carter slaying a green martian for hitting Dejah Thoris, riding double as they flee captivity, standing off the hordes of Warhoon with a radium rifle and 200 rounds, are omitted. John Carter doesn't woo and win Dejah Thoris, the beautiful and gutsy martian princess, which was the strongest part of the book.
The low budget showed up in clunky looking weapons and props, mediocre costumes, and special effects that made the old Dr Who seem sophisticated.
The best I can say is it was a movie, I did watch it to the end, but that's about it.
Ivanhoe (1952)
Excellent medieval costume drama. Fine sets and costumes. Lots of action.
I first saw this movie as a child and have loved it ever since. The sets, the costumes, the action, the jousting, the good guys, the bad guys,the score, the Technicolor are just perfect. I obtained a VHS tape some time ago, and despite the annoying buzz that has crept into the sound track, I played it again last night and enjoyed it yet again. For acting, the young Elizabeth Taylor plays a good Rebecca, beautiful and loving, a strong enough act to bring real sorrow when we learn that that Ivanhoe cannot marry her in the last reel. He has to settle for Rowena (Joan Fountaine) who plays a good role, but Elizabeth Taylor's Rebecca is better. Robert Taylor (Ivanhoe) is good looking, noble, brave, and buckles a good swash. His best line, delivered to evil Prince John, "That would be an even meaner death Sire" has his face hidden inside a jousting helm. His love scenes could be stronger. Brian de Bois Gilbert is well played, good enough to make us feel sorry for him when Ivanhoe kills him in the trial by combat in the end of the flick.
Ivanhoe's search for King Richard that opens the movie is actually historical. Only in real history it was the famous minstrel Blondel who searched all of Europe, rather than Wilfred of Ivanhoe. Locksley (Robin Hood) as a Saxon rebel helping to raise King Richard's ransom is an addition to the Robin Hood legend by Sir Walter Scott, which has become part of the now accepted Robin Hood canon. Robin Hood is a medieval legend still popular, and still evolving. For instance Kevin Costner's Robin Hood becomes a Third Crusade (Viet Nam) veteran, yet another addition to the legend.
For medieval costume drama, Ivanhoe is about as good as it gets.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Excellent movie
A very satisfying movie. I read the book as a child, read it aloud to my children, and finally went to see it. The movie is a wonderful rendition of the book. The casting is right, the scenery is right, the costumes and dialog are right. The Talking Animals look right and sound right. Nearly all the scenes from the book are there with most of the C.S. Lewis dialog.
There has been some talk about the Christian messages buried in the original text. They are still there in the movie, at the same level of intensity as in the original book. The intensity is so low that as a child I never even noticed the messages as I read the book. Rereading it as an adult, the message is plain to see, but not obtrusive. Neither Lewis nor the movie become preachy, it is a good, exciting, and well told action adventure movie. It comes out right in the end. If you liked the book go see it. If you never heard of the book, go see it anyhow.