Elizabeth: The Golden Age **
Dramatic cuts, Queen Elizabeth I's frequent change of costumes and AR Rehman's stirring score can't save Shekar Kapur's sequel from ending up as a shallow, plodding thriller. The problem is the script, which never quite brings together the film's disparate concerns - Philip of Spain's impending invasion of the Protestant queen, Sir Walter Raleigh's (Clive Owen in a wasted role) romantic angle and Elizabeth's personal turmoil in how far she will go to protect her crown.
The highlight is Cate Blanchett's bravura performance in the title role (and Kapur obliges her with ample opportunity to show off her talent - extreme close-ups, angry outbursts, and even a Henry V-like speech on horseback in full body armour !), again proving why she is one of the finest actresses of our generation.
Alvin and the Chipmunks *
Once you get used to the novelty of three talking chipmunks (which takes about five minutes), its all downhill from there. Based on the animated series of the "real-life" singing act, this film relies on viewer's familiarity with the original, and the cuteness factor of the three chipmunks (called Alvin, Simon and Theodore). Neither factor applied to me, and I found Alvin more irritating than endearing. A maudlin plot and indifferent music complete the picture.
The Golden Compass **^
The next franchise in the Lord of the Rings and Narnia tradition starts promisingly enough, introducing the main characters but not really closing any of the sub-plots. In a parallel world, humans have their souls manifested as animals (called daemons) which always walk beside them - just this idea alone is fodder enough for a fantasy movie, but there are many others (though none of them as powerful). Anyway the animals (in spirit form and otherwise) are responsible for the movie's best moments, as young Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards in an impressive debut, clearly meant for a career as promising as her famous namesake) and Mrs Coulter(Nicole Kidman, flawless as the cold, calculating but very stylish villain) battle for the golden compass, an all-knowing device that only Lyra can read.
While fans of the original Phillip Pullman story will justifiably complain that its edge and controversy have been diluted, there are enough characters and special effects here to keep you interested. My favourite: The magnificent, fearsome Iorek the bear (voiced by Ian McKellen) who befriends Lyra and provides the redemptive, noble element so essential to a story of this kind.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
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