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CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY-2005-Director Tim Burton used much more of the darker aspects of Roald Dahl's novel which of course was first filmed as WILLYWONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. The sets and music are aweswom and Johnny Depp's very strange performance as Willy is a highlight. Christopher Lee (in his 3rd Burton film) is Willy's father. 4 foot 4 Deep Roy (also in his 3rd Burton film) plays all the Oopa Loopas! I was never a fan of the original si I guess I liked this more than some folks. Both Lee & Roy did voices for Burton's next project THE CORPSE BRIDE.
LAND OF THE DEAD-2005-This was the first movie I saw in a theater in 2005! I think it might be the last movie I saw in a theater! Guess I’m not much of a “moviegoer”. Happy to say it's great! Maybe I’m prejudice being a big fan of Romero’s (especially his “Dead” series). I only had one problem with the whole thing. That was with the zombie (Big Daddy) who was sort of leading the rest of the un-dead to revolt. What was up with his dude? I mean he wasn’t really a zombie. He screamed several times and displayed a lot of emotion. Added to that he never ate anybody! Was he a vegetarian? Some kind of mutant? Anyway the story, direction and SFX were all on the money and Dennis Hooper as the major bad guy was a plus. Tom Savini appears briefly as the now un-dead Blade from DAWN OF THE DEAD. Lead actor Simon Baker was in LA CONFIDENTIAL and the TV series THE GUARDIAN. Also with Asia Argento and Robert Joy.
FRANKENSTEIN-1910-This ancient artifact from Thomas Edison was once thought lost and usually considered the first version of Mary Shelly’s famous novel. However it’s now believed there was an earlier version. It’s quite crude and the film is damaged but it’s great to see such an early production. The acting is much like most silent films, very theatrical. In this story Dr. Frankenstein creates life in the form of a very strange skinny creature (Charles Ogle) with a big nose and wild hair. His creation scene is the best special effect. The creature rants at the doctor and terrorizes his fiancée Elizabeth (Mary Fuller). Eventually (the running time is only 16 mins.) the creature sees itself in a mirror and disappears!
The only existing copy of Edison’s production was found in the 1950’s by a film historian who sat on for decades before allowing it to be released to the general public. The dvd version I have also features a restored copy of NOSFERATU.
Screenwriter-director J. Searle Dawley was famous in his time and made versions of TREASURE ISLAND, THE PRINCE & THE PAUPER and THE FOUR FEATHERS. He made his last film in 1917 and died in 1949. Monster portrayer Ogle was a prolific actor from 1908 through 1923. It’s said he did his own make-up for the role. Mary Fuller made over 200 acting appearances (and wrote a few movies too). Her last film was in 1923 and her post-acting life was a mystery until it was discovered she died in a mental hospital in 1973. No one really knows what she did or what happened to her in those ensuing 56 years!
“The monster was the best friend I ever had.” -Boris Karloff
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!
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Posted by CavedogRob on 2007-11-09 23:10:54 | Rating: | Views: 67
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Wow! Very interesting!
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Posted by SubTomato
on 2007-11-12 11:03:18
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