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| Ice and long – it needs
to be |
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Directed by Andrew Adamson. Certificate U
WHILE most of us have read and enjoyed by CS Lewis’s childhood
classic about children who discover a new world in the back of an
old wardrobe, there hasn’t really been a satisfactory film
version of the beloved book.
After all, if you read it as a child, there’s a good chance
you hurt yourself or got into hot water pawing through every wardrobe
you encountered just in case it was all true.
Finally, Narnia has come to pass in all its lengthy glory.
A tale like this has to be long because there would be just too
many letdown expectations and hearts which could be broken if every
bit wasn’t covered.
Despite its length, the film is magical, majestic and really quite
breathtaking – and that’s just the production design.
Tilda Swinton stars as the well-wardrobed (no pun intended) White
Witch, a magical being who knows nothing but her own ambition –
and capturing the human children who have wandered into her world
and who are prophesied as the harbingers of her downfall.
During a game of hide and seek, a group of children cosseted in
the country during World War II discover a whole world where danger
lurks where you least expect it.
The youngest of the children, played by Georgie Henley, is a real
scene stealer; even when she’s near the most amazingly designed
creatures, you can’t take your eyes from her.
Wonderful if a little long, there were some teary scenes in the
ladies room from a couple of little ones halfway through so don’t
take any children who are too young.
Little heroes in dinner jackets
THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
Directed by Luc Jacquet, Certificate U
THIS award-winning documentary about emperor penguins is one
for the entire family.
Annually, the penguins leave Antarctica to find a mate with whom
they can try to hatch a single egg.
This is not your typical cutesy animal programme. There is more
tension, surprises and drama here than in many Hollywood blockbusters.
Although they seem funny at first, the emperor penguins are quite
focussed on the business of keeping up the numbers. They travel
single-file away from the water’s edge to go inland, sombre
and serious. They have specific rituals for attracting just the
right partner and they also have an unusual habit of keeping their
one egg – the only one they’ll have this season –
on their feet.
Although it is easy, if not impossible not to, anthropomorphise
these animals, they do act like little heroes.
If the words ‘French animal documentary’ sends a chill
through your entertainment bones, fear not.
This is the world’s second most popular documentary released
so far. While they may be looking as if their wearing their DJs,
these penguins earn our respect the hard way.
A terrific film that deserves to be seen.
Also showing
33X Around The Sun
A dreamlike feature about a man meandering the streets of London
at night. Visually interesting if unsettling, Lar Rudolph (Run Lola
Run) stars as the character loosely based on Orpheus.
After Midnight
A soothing independent feature about a night guard at the Museum
of Cinema in Turin who finds the woman he fancies has broken into
the museum quite inexplicably one night. Full of twists and turns
as it plays with a the notion of romantic love and love of the cinema.
Crying Fist
Two boxers – one Olympian reduced to streetfights, one ex-con
newcomer – find their sport lending them new self-esteem until
the inevitable clash where only one can win. The redeeming factor
here is Old Boy star Choi Min Sik who, as the former champion, offers
himself up as a human punching bag.
Scorched
Alicia Silverstone and Woody Harrelson star in a rather disappointing
tale of vengeance in slapstick mode. Three bank clerks are determined
to rob their employer at the same time – a setup that should
lead automatically to comedy. Instead, the laughs are few, despite
the presence of John Cleese.
The Wild Parrots of
Telegraph Hill
In San Francisco’s North Beach there’s Telegraph Hill
where a flock of green parrots have come to roost. This enjoyable
documentary takes a look at them and their unusual warden, local
hero Mark Bittner, a self-styled bird lover who, although impoverished
and relatively homeless, devotes his time to his birds.
Pick of the indies
Calvaire
Horror films don’t come much bleaker than this French number.
Calvaire is full-on and grim almost without relief. Marc Stevens
(the wonderful Laurent Lucas, who was so good in Harry, He’s
Here To Help) plays a wandering minstrel as it were, a total alien
to the country town he’s meandered into when he runs into car
trouble and has to rely on locals for help. Our hero first stumbles
upon the village’s idiot who says he is looking for his sister
(when later we find out he’s actually looking for a lost swine).
Stevens is shown hospitality by Monsieur Bartel, the owner of the
local inn which is so ramshackle it proves how far the town is from
civilisation.
This film’s dire environment gets into your bones – and
the performance of Philippe Nahon (Switchblade Romance) as Bartel
should have seasoned cinemagoers sitting up and taking note.
Look for the worthwhile moments, for example when Nahon’s character
and his posse start to dance after being threatened with a shotgun
by Bartel.
Odeon Panton Street
Call 0871 224 4007 |
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