February 14, 2013 in SCI FI / FANTASY
Beautiful Creatures Review
RYAN: I’m Hollywood lovefest with witches continues with Beautiful Creatures. This movie is cool. It has the same kind of vibe as one of my favorite witch movies, The Craft.
CAROLINE: It’s based on a series of young adult novels, not as much of a sensation as Twilight but popular.
RYAN: I’m tempted to read the book. I enjoyed the world of witches this story paints and I’d be interested in the lore and more details.
CAROLINE: Yeah witches are kind of like vampires now in the sense there are different kinds and different rules that apply to them, depending on the story. What breed of witch is this?
RYAN: They’re rich with history dating back to the time of the civil war but they’re called casters, as in spell-casters. And they don’t fly on brooms or use magic wands. They have more of an organic power. It’s cool. I wanna be one.
CAROLINE: Of course you do, honey. This cast is kinda amazing.
RYAN: Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson are both witches, or casters rather. And they both give tour de force performances. I especially loved Emma in this. She was wacky and flirty and brilliant… this just in. She has some really excellent monologues, like the rousing and provocative kind that Daniel Day-Lewis should have had in Lincoln. You won’t be bored in this movie.
CAROLINE: That’s good to know.
RYAN: And there are some really deep themes throughout the story which as first blush is just a teen romantic drama.
CAROLINE: Like what?
RYAN: Good vs. evil, destiny, free will, love, etc… it’s all there in the script if you’re paying attention.
CAROLINE: I like that.
RYAN: Viola Davis brings some intensity to the film too. I love the big name adult stars in this, plus Emmy Rossum who’s fantastic as a bad girl.
CAROLINE: Yeah she’s pretty versatile. Who are the leads?
RYAN: Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert. He was discovered by Spielberg and she’s the daughter of director Jane Campion.
CAROLINE: I wonder how they got in the biz.
RYAN: [laughs’ Right? I think he’s the next Josph Gordon Levitt. He’s got a ton of new movies coming up and we’ll all know his name soon. But he kinda reminds me of a young Christian Slater.
CAROLINE: I can kinda see that.
RYAN: I really love the effects, set design, music and makeup. I have always liked fantasy films and witches are, like, my favorite so this was cool. Plus Alice and Alden have good chemistry… the story is all there.
CAROLINE: I’m glad you enjoyed it.
RYAN: It wa left open ended so you never know… It’s the kind of movie you’ll catch on TV and think, “I wonder why I didn’t see this one in the theater?” And so I hope people get out to see it.
