I had the opportunity to review another addition to the ever growing, faith-based films, The Woodcarver.
ABOUT THE MOVIE:
Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest (John Ratzenberger), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church's beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life.
MY THOUGHTS:
Obviously, the family problems are important to the movie's
Are you tired of Persuasion posts?! :-) Well, this should be the last! I have watched both movie versions recommended to me...and, here's what I thought:
A friend kindly lent me the 2007 BBC version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, I felt the movie stayed fairly true to the book. EXCEPT near the end. In reality, the end is the climax of the book and the movie portrayal was a bit disappointing - ok, a LOT disappointing. "Invalid" Mrs. Smith is running to catch Anne...Anne is running around Bath "like a chicken with her head cut off" (according to some other reviewers I read! lol!)...and, well...it just wasn't quite the same as the written book. I can never understand why movies do this! If they'd strayed so far with the entire movie, I would perhaps be more understanding. But, since the rest of the movie was done quite well, I don't know why they messed with the best part!
When I looked at the clock, saw that the movie only had about 15-20 minutes remaining, and I knew that they hadn't yet exposed Mr. Elliot's true character or Wentworth's letter, I had a sinking feeling that I was going to be dissatisfied. Overall, it was a lovely depiction of the book. As with most books that have been made into movies, I would persuade you to READ THE BOOK FIRST! In the case of Persuasion, if I had not first read the book, I believe I would have been a bit lost and perhaps not been able to "get into" the movie. The cast was enjoyable, although I felt that Mary was more "silly" in the movie, rather than nervous, naggy, and sickly. I thought Sally Hawkins represented Anne Elliot wonderfully. She must have read the book... :-)
You can watch the first 10 minutes of the 2007 version below or here (again, though...I think you should read the book FIRST!!):
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I then watched the BBC's 1995 version of Persuasion. Having watched the 2007 version only days before, I, initially, disliked the casting of the characters. However, as the movie progressed, I found myself liking them a bit more. Amanda Root plays Anne Elliot flawlessly, and although Ciaran Hinds is not quite as dashing as Rupert Penry-Jones in the '07 version, he portrays Captain Wentworth quite well. Mary seems much more as I imagined her in the book and, well, I could go on and on to compare the characters of each movie. Honestly, I found most of them more likeable in the 2007 version.
About 20 minutes longer than the latter version, 1995's Persuasion has sufficient time to unfold more details of the book. Those who were disappointed in the 2007's ending, will be much happier with the handling of the infamous letter in this version! I also preferred the final ending in the 2007 movie! Neither endings are found in the book...but this one was a bit more romantic to me.
My only complaint: profanity. True, I only counted 3 outbursts, but in our home, 2 usually means: OFF! I am always disappointed when profanity is used - especially when it did not occur in the book. Never needed....! And, it certainly did not add to the movie, nor would it have taken away from it if it had not been used!
Other than the unnecessary language, the 1995 version is very true to the book and I enjoyed it. Because this movie reveals a bit more of the book, you may be able to watch it independent of reading and still enjoy it. However, I know you'd understand and appreciate the portrayal much more if you attempt to read the book first!
You can also watch the beginning of the 1995 version below or here (must I mention again how much better it is to read the novel beforehand?!):
Surprisingly, my 2 ½ year old sat and watched the entire movie with me. I did not think it would hold her attention, but she seemed to enjoy it. Obviously, at 2 ½, I’m sure she did not understand the main lesson – uniqueness.
Skeeter, a mosquito with a crooked stinger, has always felt badly that his stinger gives him a bad sense of direction and gets him lost. While Skeeter has a crooked stinger, his brother has a perfectly straight one and has been on all kinds of exciting adventures. Skeeter has always believed that his dad liked his brother better… Skeeter’s brother, Sinclair M. Skeeto, arrives in the garden to the awe and adoration of all the other insects. Sinclair is on a treasure hunt…and needs help! Much to Sinclair’s dismay, the only one who can help him is Skeeter.
Working together, the two brothers realize that God made each of them special…and that their dad loved each of them for his own uniqueness.
My only real complaint of the DVD is trivial to most, I’m sure. John O'Hurley, who I cannot stand, is the voice of Sinclair M. Skeeto. Drove me crazy and I wished to hurry through the story! However, Tim Conway fits his “Hermie” character quite perfectly. The DVD also contains bonus features, like a trivia game, silly nursery rhyme song, and a look into how sound gets into a movie.
In a day and age where appropriate television is hard, if not impossible at times, to find, Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure is fairly safe. Our family is quite strict with what we allow ourselves to watch. Being a “Christian” based movie does not always mean that it is appropriate, either. I am not sure that the voice actors are “Christians” and it always bothers me when they are cast in such movies. Each family must use discernment in their viewing habits – whether for the child or adult!
