Two years after the final installment in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings
trilogy came out, the first of Walden Media's adaptations of the
Chronicles of Narnia hit theaters. I'd been looking forward to it for
months, and it capped off a year in which the movies allowed me to
revisit pleasantly familiar territory time and again.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- I'd seen the BBC version of this C. S. Lewis classic several times.
As much as I enjoyed it, I was anxious to see how it would fare with the
big-budget treatment. I saw it opening night, and while the BBC version
is inarguably the more faithful adaptation, there was a lot I loved
about this edition, starting with the adorable Georgie Henley as Lucy
and the thoroughly endearing James McAvoy as the faun Mr. Tumnus. The
special effects are gorgeous, as is the cinematography, and some of the
key moments from the book leap to life on the big screen. Plus, this
movie is responsible for Lazy Sunday, one of my all-time favorite Saturday Night Live sketches.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I read the book, and of course I saw Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,
so again I was interested in seeing how this update would compare. Tim
Burton struck me as being an ideal director for a film taking place in
such a skewered world, and he delivered a techni-color treat emphasizing
the importance of family. While I missed Veruca's bumbling dad and
Charlie's ludicrous teacher, in some ways, I preferred Johnny Depp's
vulnerable, Michael Jackson-like Willy to Gene Wilder's manipulative
version, and I definitely preferred irresistible Freddie Highmore as
Charlie.
Dear Frankie
- This little gem of a Scottish film stars Gerard Butler as a
mysterious stranger who poses as the father who has walked out of young
Frankie's life. It's the only way his mother, played by Emily Mortimer,
can think of to painlessly deal with the ruse she's kept going; she's
been writing to Frankie for years, posing as his father. The seeds of
romance that blossom between her and the pseudo-dad are sweet, but it's
the man's growing fondness for the open-hearted deaf child that really
makes the film endearing.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Another great installment in the Harry Potter series. Though Michael
Gambon is harder to take as Dumbledore in this film than the others,
Brendan Gleeson's outstanding performance as Mad-Eye Moody makes up for
it. Meanwhile, the visual spectacle of the Quidditch World Cup and the
Tri-Wizard Tournament is dazzling, and there's lots of humor to be found
as Harry and his friends begin to navigate those dangerous waters of
teenage romance.
Hitch
- Will Smith and Kevin James are a winning team in this film about a
man who makes a living secretly helping schlubs win over the women of
their dreams. Each has his own romance to pursue throughout the film,
but it's their buddy movie chemistry with each other that's really
endearing. They are hilarious together, and James is one of the most
lovable losers ever to hit the big screen.
March of the Penguins
- Documentaries rarely go far in the theater, and it's pretty unusual
for me to go see one there. But this one had been getting so much good
buzz that I, like so many others, couldn't resist. The cinematography of
those penguins making their perilous journey is breathtaking, and
Morgan Freeman narrates with all the warmth of a grandfather telling a
bedtime story.
Pooh's Heffalump Movie
- My appreciation for Winnie-the-Pooh is one of the first things most
people learn about me. I'm a huge fan of the Silly Old Bear, so I was
determined to catch this film in the theater. My friend Libbie and I
ended up with the theater all to ourselves, so I was able to combine the
big-screen experience with the privacy of a home viewing. I loved the
quietness of the movie, the lovely animation and the introduction of the
adorable Lumpy to help teach the Hundred-Acre Wood gang that different
doesn't have to mean scary.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
- I hadn't read the novel on which this film is based, but Libbie had,
and she was the one who recommended the movie to me. All four of its
young leading ladies have starred in television shows, though two hadn't
yet at the time this movie came out. I was especially interested in
Amber Tamblyn, who starred in the sadly short-lived Joan of Arcadia,
and her storyline ended up being my favorite. Meanwhile, America
Ferrera, who would go on to star as the plucky heroine in ABC's Ugly Betty, won me over in her storyline, which came in a close second.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - At long last, this film made Star Wars
a pair of trilogies - though of course, the original trilogy is the far
superior one. Still, I think this third installment was probably the
best of the three, albeit not as much fun as The Phantom Menace.
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- This pair of claymated buddies finally got a full-length adventure.
Though the chatty, addled inventor and his silent, brainy pooch might be
better suited to shorter outings, this is a very fun adventure,
especially for Anglophiles. And as a big fan of Art Garfunkel, the
inclusion of a clip from the song Bright Eyes was a nice bonus for me.
A
good year for fantasy and adaptations. Not too many surprises in 2005,
but much of this year's crop felt pleasantly nostalgic.
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