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cheyenne_mascall
Reviews
Burlesque (2010)
Clichéd, Feel Good, Chick Flick with Fantastic Music
Now this is obviously, not a film with a plot to keep you guessing until the end. It is, in essence, exactly what it says on the tin. In this film you'll see clichés, cringe-worthy enthusiasm, romantic moments, beautiful outfits and fantastic dance numbers. The plot, in a nutshell, is small town girl makes it big in L.A...helping more than just herself along the way using mildly unexpected methods. And I loved it. Every clichéd, unrealistically happy, relatively predictable minute of it.
Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet and Stanley Tucci make for a fantastic leading cast. There is chemistry between every last one of them. So much so in fact that you believe that they all work together and watch each others backs for real. Christina Aguilera is full of wide eyed, occasionally annoying enthusiasm, as her character demands. Cam Gingandet manages to shine as a slightly campy - but oh-so-straight bartender. Now, I'm slightly biased in the sense that he is fantastic eye candy throughout the entire film - but his character (despite sometimes being a little underdeveloped) is extremely likable. In fact, even the supposed 'bad guy' Marcus is not totally hopeless. He is a believably human and non-evil cloud in the blue Burlesque sky.
It probably doesn't live up to Chicago, or Caberet - but I sincerely doubt it was ever meant to compete with these. I mean, just watch a trailer and you'll understand!
If you aren't up for a chick flick musical...or even a sweet romcom with music (yes, it is funny) then you shouldn't watch this film. But I really enjoyed it for what it was the first time. And I definitely intend to watch it again and again.
Ben Hur: Episode #1.1 (2010)
On it's own merit, a good film.
Now, I will not claim to have seen the originals. In fact, I had never heard of them beyond this film. (In England it is shown as a 3 hour film). This, on its own merits, is a very good film. The acting is visceral, emotional and believable. The setting for the film very convincing - at least to me, and the dialogue accessible.
Joseph Morgan is most convincing as Ben Hur. Especially as his character develops. By the time he is a galley slave, then a Roman, you are totally invested in his plight. Similarly, you feel dislike and pity for Messala all at once. I was especially surprised how much Joseph Morgan in Ben Hur did not remind me overly of Klaus from Vampire Diaries (where I knew him from). Athene is also convincing as the unwilling but good willed prostitute, and the nearly-father-son relationship between Ben Hur and Arrius is extremely convincing and moving.
Overall, the storyline does contain a few holes and a few weak points. You could even say that certain characters were not explored enough. But this is definitely a very humanized, very watchable version of Ben Hur. It brings it to a wider audience and is not overly religious - which would put off many nowadays.
You will certainly not regret the time spent watching it. A drama, with, thankfully, a fantastic ending - whether or not it is better than the earlier ones.