Family Movie Night
I was looking at the movie rental rack the other night in our little store and noticed that two of the newest movies were based on fairy tales.
Beastly is based on the Beauty and the Beast fairly tale with a bit of high school bullying angst thrown in. Amanda Seyfried stars in Red Riding Hood which is based on the darker aspect of the familiar tale.
If you have ever read the original tales that the Grimm’s brothers recorded, you know that this is dark territory. The punishments are harsh with their bloodletting. Gothic and gruesome, some of these tales are simply amazing.
The stories we tell children have been incredibly cleaned up from the originals.
What these two movies do with their fairly tales is not meant for children.
Red Riding Hood takes us to a small village that has made a deal with a werewolf by feeding him farm animals. However, one month a villager is killed and revenge is exacted. But doubt remains and a werewolf hunter is called in.
Around this is the love triangle with Valerie, her true love Peter and her promised husband Max. Valerie also discovers she has a connection to the werewolf. There is more to the plot but it gets a little crazy and then you have Gary Oldman as the werewolf hunter.
Now there is violence and some sensuality in this PG-13 movie that is aim squarely at those teens who also like Twilight.
Beastly is also rated PG-13 and focuses on a young man at a high school who is rich and handsome. Kyle’s heart is cold and cruelty lies beneath those good looks. His latest victim is goth girl Kendra, rumored to be a witch. When his latest prank hurts her – as planned – Kendra turns the tables on Kyle. She casts a spell making his appearance as ugly as his soul.
Now Kyle has a year to find so
meone to love him or stay in his ugly state forever. And his hope rests in the quiet Lindy, a classmate he has never talked to in the past. The rating reflects crude comments and some violence.
What these two movies represent to me is popcorn watching. They were both rated terrible by critics and movie goers gave both movies a 50% enjoyment rating, according to Rotten Tomatoes movie review website.
I have a few fairy tale movies that I love.
My family pick is the Shrek series. Mixing all sorts of characters from fairy tales across Europe, Shrek weaves a tale of freedom from repressive rulers and true love and magical transformations in the first movie. As the series moves along we are transfixed by great musical selections and simply good storytelling.
My second pick is great for a girls’ night or a couple date night at home stars Drew Barrymore. Everafter is a retelling of Cinderella that takes my breath away every time, even though Barrymore does a terrible accent. The movie is filled with little moments of discovery about the story we never thought about.
Lastly, my favorite fairytale movie – and perhaps one of the best movies ever – is The Princess Bride starring Cary Elwes and Robin Wright. The tale of a woman about to marry a prince after her true love was killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts never fails to fascinate me with incredible sword play, amazing dialogue and the deepest essence of true love.
Until next week, see you in the rental aisle.
The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites! Think I’ll have to dig it out and watch it yet again! Thanks for your reviews.
My son just saw Shrek for the first time. He’s in love, and if I have to watch a movie over and over and over again, I’m pretty happy it’s that one!
The joy about re-watching movies is sometimes the kids pick a good one to love.
I was thinking about Everafter whe I was reading your post and wa-la! You mentioned it. Loved that movie and Princess Bride can’t be beat. Another one I love is A Knight’s Tale. Chaucer as fairytale.
Knight’s Tale is Great!
Not really a movie goer/seer. I usually wait til it comes out on DVD. Just like “Pirates of the Caribbean”. I’ll wait til #4 comes out. I heard it flopped at the box office.
You mentioned an awesome sword fight. That reminds of the Star Wars scene with the Sith and I think Obie Wan. The guy who played the Sith was poetry in motion! Smooth, gracefully, precise. The music just made it more dramatic! It’s one of the best scenes from that series!
I have never seen it but I believe you.
Love Princess bride..wicked humor. Yes the action scenes are great. Watched Beastly and I feel the name does no justice to the film. Did you think it fit the movie? It was OK! Nothing like what I expected. Not my usual type. Have not seen Red Riding Hood, but Amanda Seyfried seems born for that role with those huge blue eyes. My daughter said I would not like it. OK then!
My favorite is Everafter. So enjoyable. Even at my age. 🙂 All girls love a great Cinderella story.