Much Ado
Just barely got back from seeing Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing at the theater.
Personally I thought it was pretty delightful. It helps that Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite of Shakespeare's comedies (that I've read) and I was already familiar with it, so I got to enjoy the differences in this version as opposed to experiencing the story for the first time.
I thought it was fun and interesting to see the story reinterpreted into a more modern setting, and although I still have a great fondness for the Kenneth Branagh version, I very much liked this one as well. I loved the choice to shoot it in black and white because it brings out and highlights different details, especially shadows and lights, than color films do - and Whedon really played around with the summer villa he shot the movie in to create some neat shots. (I'm so jealous of that villa, it's absolutely gorgeous, if only I could live somewhere that pretty ;__;) I thought the acting was good too, with Nathan Fillion's more down-to-earth, earnest Dogberry being a highlight, as was Amy Acker's lovely Beatrice. It was great to see so many familiar faces from Whedon's other works, such as Firefly to The Avengers, play various roles as well (including a surprise cameo from Romy Rosemont, who plays Finn and Kurt's mother on Glee! =D)
I also appreciated that Whedon made it clear that Beatrice and Benedick are the true stars of this story, and subtly focused and centered it around them, despite Hero and Claudio claiming the main protagonist titles. I love their merry disdain for one another that hides their affection, and how the deceptions of their friends leads them into revealing their true feelings, not just to each other but to themselves. They'll have a biting but passionate marriage, with their sharp tongues and tender smiles. I always find it entertaining to watch (or read) their bicker-filled, flowering romance.
Every time I see Much Ado I'm seriously angry at Claudio for shaming Hero publically on their wedding day when he thought she was unfaithful, instead of trying to talk with her about it in private and give her the benefit of the doubt. But though Hero did nothing wrong, I like the idea of death being used as a rebirth of the soul. She "died" due to slander, and rose again with the restoration of her purity. Is the Self something that can be cast off? Something one can tear away, like a snake shedding old skin, and become anew, ever changing? Or are our truest Selves something permanent, that can never perish upon our first breath in this world? Maybe I'm reading too much into that plot point - Shakespeare has used death as deception in other plays, too, like Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure - but the scene makes me wonder about those questions regardless. =)
But yes, in summary I liked the film and am glad I went to see it. Unscripted!Kurt would make a fabulous Beatrice in a Blue Elephant Players production. When the movie was over I kept picturing him playing the role in that verse. ^^'
Other happinesses this week....I babysitted my nephew Tanner on Wednesday. I got to hold him some more and feed him. He's still a tiny sweet thing, but much more of a crier since I last saw him - I guess his gentle quietness that first night was exhaustion from finally entering the world, not a quiet nature. He can't get to sleep without being held, so my sister's had a lot of hard nights since then, holding him into the late hours.
More happiness....Chris Colfer is the most adorkable nerd ever and I love him (and am intensely jealous). At this rate I don't think we'll ever get him back from Britain, he seems too happy there. ;)
Another happiness....I got to eat at one of my favorite restaurants last Tuesday - MacCool's Irish Pub. I think I could eat nothing but finn skins, hot turkey sandwiches, and sweet potato fries for the rest of my life and die perfectly content if I could. <3
Random happiness....I was clumsy and dropped a vase earlier this week. I managed to only break the lid, and when the now jagged edge of the ceramic cut into my palm, despite a bit of misleading looks-worse-than-it-really-is blood I ended up okay and the injury was actually pretty small. It's already nearly healed. Hooray for small blessings!
Small happiness....I'm now halfway through the current book I'm reading, The Maze Runner, which is intriguing so far. Yay progress! =D
I'm also happy and grateful my mother still lives on this earth, for she told me this week she was contemplating suicide. It breaks my heart to hear, and to know, and to see how miserable and sad and downtrodden she is, but I'm profoundly happy that my mom didn't go through with it. That I can still hug her and kiss her on the cheek and go to movies with her and listen to her talk about work and complain about Dad and fawn over Iron Man and admire her beloved Elton John and hear her sing his songs and be obsessed with sundaes and movie theater popcorn and love Angry Birds and comfort and reassure me when I need it. Maybe that's selfish, I don't know. But I don't want to lose her. I love her, so much, and I wish I knew how to help...I'd do anything. But for now, I'm thankful she's still here, and hasn't yet given up. That I still have a mom.
This week, that's my greatest happiness.
Personally I thought it was pretty delightful. It helps that Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite of Shakespeare's comedies (that I've read) and I was already familiar with it, so I got to enjoy the differences in this version as opposed to experiencing the story for the first time.
I thought it was fun and interesting to see the story reinterpreted into a more modern setting, and although I still have a great fondness for the Kenneth Branagh version, I very much liked this one as well. I loved the choice to shoot it in black and white because it brings out and highlights different details, especially shadows and lights, than color films do - and Whedon really played around with the summer villa he shot the movie in to create some neat shots. (I'm so jealous of that villa, it's absolutely gorgeous, if only I could live somewhere that pretty ;__;) I thought the acting was good too, with Nathan Fillion's more down-to-earth, earnest Dogberry being a highlight, as was Amy Acker's lovely Beatrice. It was great to see so many familiar faces from Whedon's other works, such as Firefly to The Avengers, play various roles as well (including a surprise cameo from Romy Rosemont, who plays Finn and Kurt's mother on Glee! =D)
I also appreciated that Whedon made it clear that Beatrice and Benedick are the true stars of this story, and subtly focused and centered it around them, despite Hero and Claudio claiming the main protagonist titles. I love their merry disdain for one another that hides their affection, and how the deceptions of their friends leads them into revealing their true feelings, not just to each other but to themselves. They'll have a biting but passionate marriage, with their sharp tongues and tender smiles. I always find it entertaining to watch (or read) their bicker-filled, flowering romance.
Every time I see Much Ado I'm seriously angry at Claudio for shaming Hero publically on their wedding day when he thought she was unfaithful, instead of trying to talk with her about it in private and give her the benefit of the doubt. But though Hero did nothing wrong, I like the idea of death being used as a rebirth of the soul. She "died" due to slander, and rose again with the restoration of her purity. Is the Self something that can be cast off? Something one can tear away, like a snake shedding old skin, and become anew, ever changing? Or are our truest Selves something permanent, that can never perish upon our first breath in this world? Maybe I'm reading too much into that plot point - Shakespeare has used death as deception in other plays, too, like Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure - but the scene makes me wonder about those questions regardless. =)
But yes, in summary I liked the film and am glad I went to see it. Unscripted!Kurt would make a fabulous Beatrice in a Blue Elephant Players production. When the movie was over I kept picturing him playing the role in that verse. ^^'
Other happinesses this week....I babysitted my nephew Tanner on Wednesday. I got to hold him some more and feed him. He's still a tiny sweet thing, but much more of a crier since I last saw him - I guess his gentle quietness that first night was exhaustion from finally entering the world, not a quiet nature. He can't get to sleep without being held, so my sister's had a lot of hard nights since then, holding him into the late hours.
More happiness....Chris Colfer is the most adorkable nerd ever and I love him (and am intensely jealous). At this rate I don't think we'll ever get him back from Britain, he seems too happy there. ;)
Another happiness....I got to eat at one of my favorite restaurants last Tuesday - MacCool's Irish Pub. I think I could eat nothing but finn skins, hot turkey sandwiches, and sweet potato fries for the rest of my life and die perfectly content if I could. <3
Random happiness....I was clumsy and dropped a vase earlier this week. I managed to only break the lid, and when the now jagged edge of the ceramic cut into my palm, despite a bit of misleading looks-worse-than-it-really-is blood I ended up okay and the injury was actually pretty small. It's already nearly healed. Hooray for small blessings!
Small happiness....I'm now halfway through the current book I'm reading, The Maze Runner, which is intriguing so far. Yay progress! =D
I'm also happy and grateful my mother still lives on this earth, for she told me this week she was contemplating suicide. It breaks my heart to hear, and to know, and to see how miserable and sad and downtrodden she is, but I'm profoundly happy that my mom didn't go through with it. That I can still hug her and kiss her on the cheek and go to movies with her and listen to her talk about work and complain about Dad and fawn over Iron Man and admire her beloved Elton John and hear her sing his songs and be obsessed with sundaes and movie theater popcorn and love Angry Birds and comfort and reassure me when I need it. Maybe that's selfish, I don't know. But I don't want to lose her. I love her, so much, and I wish I knew how to help...I'd do anything. But for now, I'm thankful she's still here, and hasn't yet given up. That I still have a mom.
This week, that's my greatest happiness.