Review: Young Frankenstein

I was going to do a review of a different film, but then I thought it is actual Halloween I watched this film again last night, and well why not.

The film is like a parody of Mary Shelley's book Frankenstein which is timeless classic. Young Frankenstein is about a man called Dr Frankenstein or should I say Fronkensteen who inherits his great-grandfather's house in Transylvania, he then meets his servant Igor, or should I say eye-gor. Its discovered that Dr Frankenstein's grandfather was doing experiments on raising the dead, Dr Frankenstein then decides to carry on his grandfathers work.

This film is such a big favourite of mine, I love the fact that its so witty and quick but at the same time its so dramatic and mental. The dialogue between Igor and Frankenstein is electric they just bounce off eachother so brilliantly, Frankenstein is played by Gene Wilder who is such a legend and eloquently spoken man. Igor is played by Marty Feldman who has done loads of work in television. Gene Wilder also wrote the screenplay along with the director Mel Brooks. 

Frankenstein also has a wife Elizabeth who is the straight one in this film, as its a comedy they did stick by the rule of funny mad one, funny nice one and as always there has to be a straight one to make it even funnier. Not only that they also stuck by the classic horror, as Frankenstein is traditionally a horror, and traditionally in many horrors theres usually a young woman who's very pretty and quite often screaming. Its traditional but also very modern the humour for me is very quick witted, totally original but also still keeping to the story and the essence of Frankenstein. 

Theres not a whole lot negative about this film, as I don't think I've met anyone who hates this film or has anything negative to say about it, its either they've seen it and loved it or never seen it. Its wonderfully written and still remaining true, and plays homage to the Mary Shelley classic. Some of the lines in the film are absolute classics and are crackers. I think it really helped that Gene Wilder co-wrote the screenplay as he does play the title role, and it makes the lines and timing of it all just much more natural. 

I strongly urge you to watch this film, as its such a timeless classic film. With Gene Wilder you should definitely own a copy of this film.

Peppermint Friday Film Review #7: The Raven

I feel like this week is all about Vincent Price, well for a good reason as he is an amazing actor and anytime someone says 'Horror!' he is the first person I think of.

This film is based of the Edgar Allen Poe poem 'The Raven' its about a doctor called Erasmus Craven who is played by Vincent Price is visited by a Raven and as it turns out the Raven is a wizard known as Dr Bedlo, then they help to make a potion to turn him back to a human again.

I first heard this story when it was retold in 'The Treehouse Of Horror' Simpsons episode, Then I loved it because it was funny, and unique then I read the poem and watched the film, I love the cast of this film even more as it's a got a young Jack Nicholson he stars as Dr Bedlo's son Rexford. Its wonderful to see him so young and play a character thats so unlike any part that we see him being so welll known for. The original text by Edgar Allen Poe is much more darker and sinister. Which is why I love the fact that with this film its told as a Dark Comedy, its such a clever concept of an idea turning it into another idea. 

The dialogue is amazing and so slapstick, theres alot of typically funny and amusing lines like 'oh whats the worst that could happen?' then *BOOM*. I love the characters, they so amusing and entertaining. Its a joy to watch, Vincent Price's character is like a mixture of Merlin and Tim Curry combined I know its totally bizarre to compare Vincent with Tim Curry but there is a similarity. But I will talk about that for another time as its such an interesting thing to deal with. I love the fact that Roger Corman who directed and produced the film, on a budget of $350,000. Its nice that its not flashy, its a good script and a group of talented actors, I've said this before. 

This film is fantastic as for me, I mentioned this in my previous post but I mentioned that I prefer Horror with another genre on to it. Horror with a twist, because I do love horror as a genre but when its got abit of Comedy to it I just like it more. It makes it much more edgier I reckon, because we can all be serious but making a situation from a tense scenario to something that can be quite witty, rather than it being a scary tense bull in a china shop is much more for me. Although with saying that I do like a good thriller and 'on the edge'  kinda film, but It does depend upon the mood I'm in, so I guess its not totally accurate. I love Dr Bedlo, when he's the Raven as its just bonkers, the dialogue when he's a bird is so funny.

I have left a link if you want to buy the film or nevermore if you don't. See what I did there? Overall its a fantastic film, and if you want something that will make you chuckle, along with some pretty dark characters then watch this film. 

Favourite Horrors

On my last post I mention as to what I'm going to do on Halloween week, as I'm not that into Horror films, It's a fairly but they're my favourites nevertheless.

Freaks

This film is a weird one, like really weird, but I like it. Its about a circus of freaks and the love triangle between Cleopatra, Hans and Hercules, Cleopatra is a trapeze artist who's a beautiful woman she is inlove with strong man Hercules, so everyone assumes they're gonna get together which they do, Cleopatra finds out that Hans who is one of the midgets in the freakshow has a large fortune inheritance. She and Hercules make a plan to marry Hans, murder him and get the money. The freaks soon find out and turn Cleopatra I enjoyed this film, dispite it being completely freaky and just uncomfortable, I feel like its succeeded its job for me, as I felt freaked out and on edge I feel like thats what Horror films such as this one should do. 

 

House Of Wax (1953)

Now I know this version of the film is kinda forgotten from the car crash 2005 remake with Paris Hilton in but this version the 1953 version with Vincent Price is brilliant. He is practically the King of Horror, his voice is absolutely incredible. The story is about this Wax sculptor (played by Vincent Price) who owns a Wax museum that specialises in Historical figures, he adores his Marie Antoinette figure. One day his business partner says to him 'We could make allot of money on the insurance if something happens to this place'  Obviously he says no, but he sets it on fire. Years later the Wax sculptor's hands are crippled and he is left injured, and cannot make Wax figures, because of that he gets the help from Igor and Leon. Then he builds the House Of Wax Museum again, but he kills people and makes them into Wax figures. I love this film, primarily as it has Vincent Price in and his is a legend. The film has just so much more depth to it than the 2005 one. Give this film a chance and don't let the horrific 2005 colour your judgement. 

A Nightmare Before Christmas

This will probably be the only superficial film on the list, I was obsessed with this film for about a year when I was at college, because its by Tim Burton, its a dark comedy and I love dark comedies. I love the music and the fun behind it all, I also love Tim Burton's vision of it all with storytelling and the wit of his characters I just love it. I kinda just wanted to throw this in here as I love the film and its so nostalgic, and beautiful. I love the music and the relationship and chemistry with Sally and Jack.

House on Haunted Hill

Another Vincent Price film, I just love Vincent Price he's just so classy and brilliant I love that horror films back then and his era was much more about suspense, and words, rather than it being just blonde booby girls getting killed with blood everywhere. Not that there are no screaming girls in this film as there are, I love the wit behind it all. The story is about a couple who don't seem to like each other they have a ghost party invite there guests over, and if they stay the night they get paid £10,000. I love this film its wonderful, its got humour to it which I think is important for a horror as yes people dying or being chased by a ghost or demon or whatever, but its nice to have a little joke now and again, but it ties in with it. 




The Invisible Man

First black and white horror I saw, and I loved it, it was also the first film that introduced me to Claude Rains an actor who I don't think anyone really knows of. The film is about this scientist who is played by Claude Rains, who does an experiment and it goes wrong and makes him invisible, he then moves to this town to try to fix the invisibility problem. Over time the invisibility goes to his head and he soon goes crazy. Claude Rains's voice is brilliant as we hardly see him not invisible, and his laugh is just crazy. I love that everyone seems really quite stupid, the policeman is very much 'alwight alwight whats going on 'ere den?' kinda guy, but I like that as he's the comedy value to it all. The landlady just screams at everything, at whatever moves it sounds like a parrot's trapped inside her. I do love this film as it's one of the first Old Hollywood film I saw, so for me its very nostalgic because I remember the first time watching this film and loving it. I never saw a huge difference between modern films and then, but I love both theres just something so magical about older films than newer ones. 

Review: Submarine

This week is gonna be abit different, as its Halloween Week I did think 'maybe I should do a Halloween Horror Week' but I'm not that into Horror Films but I like them, just not into them, so I'm gonna do is a post on my favourite horror films, because I do have favourites and I'd like to point out that most of them will be classic horror, as thats what I'm into more, anyway thats what's gonna happen at Peppermint Friday this week. 

Anyway, we're talk about Submarine, a film that I love very much. So much so, its one of my all time favourite films. 

This film is set in Swansea, and it's about this teenager called Oliver Tate, played by Craig Roberts. He is a very awkward person, and a wallflower, he starts dating a girl in his class called Jordana Bevan played by Yasmin Paige, she's a destructive girl, and the only way I can describe her is like a young version of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, but Welsh. Its also about there families, and its a real-coming of age story. 

I love this film as its not your typical teen film, its so quirky and relatable obviously this film has elements of being very indie, and depressed and 'oh its so hard my life sucks' but in some ways it is very much that, as it can be hard to communicate with your feelings, and what to say and what not to say. I do feel its a big confusion, and you have that with this film, particularly with Oliver. As with he is the most inarticulate but really thoughtful and articulate, but I really like that I like that Oliver and Jordana are so flawed, so that I can relate to them. Personally thats what you want in teen coming of age film, totally flawed characters, and the fact that for me its set in really grim town in Swansea. I'm not from Wales thats the thing, Its just really british for me.

I love the soundtrack to this film, its stunning and fits perfectly with this film. The soundtrack is by Alex Turner, I listen to the soundtrack quite alot and its wonderful to listen to. Theres a link if you want to buy the soundtrack or film, I think you should as they are incredible pieces of work. The film is directed by Richard Ayoade who is known for Maurice in IT Crowd, its unbelievable that he created this beautiful, simple atmosphere of the film, and its such a geeky aesthetically pleasing film to watch.  

The film also centrefolds around the worry of Oliver over his parents whether or not they will split up or not as they have a new neighbour Graham who Jill has taken a shine to on top of that Oliver is also worried about his father's mental health, Jill and Lloyd Tate whos played by Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor who are both fantastic. What I love is that they are both very quirky people, they are both portrayed by incredible actors. Its a very likeable film, I also love the dynamic of distinguishing between a new character to a setting and how it effects everyone but not making it totally about that new character it just shook things up abit. 

I love that the story is in first person from Oliver's perspective. As I feel teenagers are selfish, and they see things from there eyes, and its all about them. Its also a very human trait that we are all selfish in a way, but I feel very much that if a film makes you really I mean really think about life, or the decisions you're going to make or have made, or anything I feel like its a film that's done its job. If its changed you or made you think in a certain way then I personally feel its done it's job as a film, and a story. 

The costume are brilliant they fit so well with the film, I love the coat that Jordana wears. Another thing that I love about this film is that the main two actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige are both actors who were in children's shows in CBBC, when I was a kid. Craig was in Story Of Tracy Beaker which I use to watch all the time. Yasmin Paige was in Sarah Jane Adventures and again I use to watch it all the time, partly because it was made by the same people who made Doctor Who, and I was a big fan well still am. For me its a real like, throwback and its amazing because they're in this film playing such different characters, Its lovely to watch.

I also love that its a love and a coming of age story but its not, and its an amazing film. I always find myself if I don't know what mood I'm in I'll just watch this, its so aesthetically pleasing I urge you to watch this more than anything. 

Peppermint Friday Film Review #6: A Streetcar Named Desire

I've loved doing this week, and next week is gonna be abit different, but I'm excited. This is a film which stars Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter and Vivien Leigh but it was originally a play. It basically started off Marlon Brando's career, also its such a staple film. 

The story is about a woman called Blanche Dubois who comes to this town to stay with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley. Its about the story of this woman and the town and people that surround her life, its a really moving story. I loved Vivien Leigh's portrayal of Blanche as normally I'm not a huge fan of her as an actress, because personally I just don't get it, like I don't feel any excitement from her, that might be partly down to the fact that she is known for Gone With The Wind and her character which everyone knows but it just doesn't excite me and make me feel something for her.

I do love Marlon Brando in this film aswell, he just plays Stanley so effortlessly, like he had such guts, and sex appeal that was totally required in order to play this part the way he did, and when you watch it now it doesn't feel as if it's old fashioned, it just seems like a really good story with wonderful characters. Its totally timeless and thats why I like it, not because Marlon Brando is in a tight white t-shirt and his muscles are. 

I love the script it just flows and connects beautifuly, I mean its a classic American culture film. I also love the costume and attire of the film like there doesn't seem to be the huge bugdet and its not too flashy and thats what I love about it. Thats one thing that I love about older films, it just didn't feel too staged and so natural. I'm not a huge fan of some films now where they feel the need to put a special effect in or a green screen and with a gigantic budget. 

This film is an amazing piece of work, and I also think its clever to bring the majority of the original play, as for project like this you'd want it to be amazing, and the best it can be, not aiming for it to be successful but it turns out it was. I think everyone should watch this film if you haven't as its one of my favorite films.

Brando Vs Dean

So we're gonna carry on the theme of coolness, and 50s teen. With Marlon Brando and James Dean, two huge stars of the time, but very different but at the same time the same.

Lets start from the beginning shall we, well first of all James Dean was a huge fan of Marlon Brando as I think he was the only actor that he related to in a way, as they were both the tough guy teen, and had the same views on acting and the industry as a whole, as they both were interested in realistic acting. Also both were involved with allot of big films that we still talk about them today, like Streetcar Named Desire and Rebel Without a Cause.

 

As similarities in films and acting styles go they were both in a way, as James died young at the age of 23 in a car crash and Marlon stayed alive and died fat, old at the age of 80. So in a way, James was more of a hardcore 'teen' who loved motorbikes, and whom died still in the eyes of a teenager. Wheras with Marlon he died old and fat, and wasn't as frozen in time than James.  I mean at the beginning of there lives, its quite similar as James's mother passed away when he was a boy and was extremely close with his mother, and his father was the opposite of his mother, and Marlon had a similar thing but his mother was an alcoholic but was fun, and his father was again a polar opposite. 

Without Marlon Brando, we wouldn't have James Dean as he was heavily inspired by him as there wasn't anyone else quite like them back then, there was alot of slick, hair, and a booming clear golden voice, charming men, sharp suit. Suddenly there was this guy with tousled hair, mumbly, wearing leather jackets, and its iconic. Gotta admit both are amazing actors and totally gorgeous, has to be said. They changed acting and made a brand of what they did with films, and roles.

They really made the 'Teen' Brand also the bad boy brand where you just want to cuddle them and tell them its okay, just me okay... But also they brought a new genre of film and gave a voice to teens, which changed everything. Its lovely aswell that James Dean was a huge fan of Marlon Brando and who was already a big star at the time, and Brando was like 'oh hi' and Dean was like 'oh my god!!' then when Dean died Brando was like 'oh wow he was a really good guy' because after he died Rebel Without A Cause came out and instantly made him an icon of all teens. With Brando he carried on and wasn't cool anymore, and then became this old, fat man that once was a sexy man with a tight white t-shirt.

Again like with Keaton and Chaplin post both are incredible, but I'd say James Dean wins for me, looks, talent, story just him. He is outstanding and as both are I've just liked James Dean abit longer than Marlon Brando, but they are both huge talents, and if I didn't like Marlon Brando I wouldn't be doing a post on him would I. But they are both amazingly talented men, and have impacted lots of people for generations.

Review: East Of Eden

I am a huge fan of James Dean, and I thought I'd do a post about his first film, East Of Eden. 
This is a story about a family in Salinas, and Cal (who is played by James Dean)is a ruthless individual, and his brother Aron who is a sensible guy, and its just about family, relationships. I don't wanna say too much as I don't wanna ruin a story as I do feel its a film that needs to be watch/read organically rather than being explained. 

 

Those of you who don't know, this film is a book by John Steinbeck that I haven't read yet. But the film is just amazing, and it is James Dean's first proper film, one thing that I do love about this is that I watched a screen test that James Dean was in with Lois Smith and its just so beautifully intense, theres just something about it that just makes you fall in love with it.

But this film is amazing, I love the colours and everyone does there bit so wonderfully. It just works like a successful jigsaw, I love Elia Kazan direction of the whole film it just seemed like he was so cool about it all, I mean he didn't forced anything from what I saw I mean, although he did directed A Streetcar Named Desire, which is one of the coolest films ever. I totally urge you to watch this film so I'll leave a link for an amazon buy as I do believe its a film anyone would like.

It also hits quite close to home for James Dean as this film is about a son yearning for his father's attention and acceptance. James Dean had that similar relationship with his father where he wasn't really that close to his father, and wanted to do things that he loved and his mother loved, but his father didn't show that much enthusiasm for his career as he did, and wanted for him too.

Like most people I am totally in love with James Dean he is such an amazing actor and plus he is pretty gorgeous. Anyway its funny as we always see really cool actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando as these 'cool, slick, and unpolished polished' actors and people, but in actual fact he is literally just a big baby moaning constantly, but its nice, and I feel its more James Dean as he died very young.

This whole film is just beautifully done, I love the script and everything just gels together so perfectly. Honestly this is all about James Dean as he stands out in this film, and everyone should watch this film, maybe not even just this film but just a James Dean film as he is just fantastic, and the real thing you should watch is the screentests he did for this film. With Lois Smith, and Paul Newman as its just so nice to see that he's a huge star now, but also he was just so comfortable, but also awkward at the same time.

I feel this week is a very cool 50s week, so look forward to the next couple of days of cool teen 50s films this week.

Peppermint Friday Review #5: The Lion King

This week has been abit of a Leonardo D'caprio/Shakespeare week, so I thought I'd do a review of the Lion King which is lighthearted but also not, and is basically Hamlet. 

I'm assuming like with my Titanic Review you know what the Lion King is about. It combines my two favorite things: Musicals, and Disney. But I bloody love this film, fun fact for you but The Lion King and Pocahontas were both made in the same year, but Disney decided to put more money towards Pocahontas than The Lion King as they thought Pocahontas would be the better film, but it wasn't The Lion King made a larger profit. 

First of all the music is stunning, I mean you can't hate Elton John just beautiful music, that fits so beautifully with the story. My favorite songs are probably, Hakuna Maktata, I Just Can't Wait To Be King, Be Prepared, and well just all of them! The story is amazing aswell, It was heartwrenching when Simba thinks his dad is still alive is the worst. I think the graphics, and colors are amazing and I love Pumba, Timeon and Zazu, I also love the Hyenas.

 I love the fact that its a musical on stage in London and New York. As it will be a story told for thousands of generations, which is performed by schools, and in different languages. I do love this film, and there really isn't much I can say but Its a good film obviously, but I'm assuming you already knew that.

Overall its an amazing Musical film, and Rowan Attkinson is just the best as Zazu, just brilliant how they bought in a comedian which is such genius to do, as they're always fun. I can't believe that they're re-making the film, its killing the Classic Disney Family its got, I think they should not recreate good, solid films, make something original. Theres nothing I can say about it except that its an amazing film and musical, and if you haven't watched it then and its crazy you haven't. 

Shakespeare For Dummies

I usually do a post about my favorite films of that genre, but I thought I'll do something abit different. Where I talk about something that I love, but its not necessarily connected to films or the making of films, buts its connected to storytelling, which is something I love. 

People have have different reasons to like or hate Shakespeare, so we're gonna explore it. I feel with Shakespeare a real reason whether people like it or hate it, is learning about it in School now I was very fortunate to have a teacher who taught it to me in a nice way. This is where films come in, when I was about 15 in GCSE English we did a play called Romeo and Juliet. Which everybody knows, and my teacher introduced it more as a film and a story rather than being all "SHAKESPEARE IS THE SINGLE MOST INSPIRING WRITER IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HIM AND LOVE HIM".  But we watched Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Baz Lurhman. That really helped as I saw Shakespearean work as plays, stories and films, rather than it being an amazing piece of literature. 

I also love films that aren't necessarily the greatest, and most eloquent of films. But they're good for Shakespeare Dummies, films such as '10 things I hate about you' or 'She's The Man' which is a retelling or Taming Of The Shrew and Twelfth Night although it doesn't have the original Shakespeare language but its good. For dummies, as one of the main reasons people say they hate Shakespeare is that they don't understand the language. So I guess changing it to real modern day is always good, I say 'real modern day' as Romeo + Juliet is a modern retelling but its the same language.

When you think about it, Shakespeare is a very teenage thing, like the whole 'she doesn't like him thing' or having a really bad breakup they're all teen related stuff. Also Adult related, I mean its all life, and you get alot of Drama that happen in them which I firmly believe we use still use now. You watch Coronation Street and you see the storyline of 'I'm cheating on my sister's boyfriend' kinda style, well Shakespeare introduced that sort of thing, of plots and twists and things we cal relate to. Also we still use quotations and certain phases, that were in some of his work that he invented.

Another thing that I love and what I want bought back is the BBC Plays during the 70s and 80s, (I think thats what they were called) because I love watching those during English, and I still watch them now occasionally on YouTube. They were done so beautifully, but I now that it wouldn't happen as its about quality. Its nice aswell watching them now as they're are actors in the plays that went on to do really well, and they also did Shakespeare previously. But I mean its just nice and funny to watch a young actor who is now a massive star.

I mean this is just a appreciation post for Shakespeare and why you should love Shakespeare, obviously I can't force people into liking something, but even if you don't like him, you should appreciate him. I'm gonna end this post with a quote from Hamlet.

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

—Hamlet in Hamlet