Grade: A-
In a Nutshell: Based on the classic 1874 novel by Thomas Hardy, Victorian
England presents us with a romantic setting for a proper Chick Flick
where men fall all over themselves for a beautiful, self-reliant woman.
We’ll never see Twilight
fans line up for Team
Gabriel vs. Team William or Team Frank, but Jane Austin fans and those needing a Downton Abbey fix will give an approving nod. Gabriel is a total stud-muffin. Just sayin.
We’ll never see Twilight
fans line up for Team
Gabriel vs. Team William or Team Frank, but Jane Austin fans and those needing a Downton Abbey fix will give an approving nod. Gabriel is a total stud-muffin. Just sayin.
Uplifting Theme:
·
Bathsheba says “It is my intention to astonish
you all.” And she does.
·
Bathsheba asks Gabriel, “Tell me what to do.” He answers “Do what is right.”
Things I liked:
·
Bathsheba Everdeen (no relation to Katniss) is played by the lovely British actress Carey
Mulligan. She has such a tiny waist! Her close-ups showcase just how beautiful she is.
·
The musical score was delicious.
· The talented cast includes Michael Sheen, Matthias Schoenaerts, Juno Temple, and Frank Troy.
- I've never read the novel, but I hear that Danish director Thomas Vinterberg stays true to the source material.
- Beautiful cinematography that captures the magic of the English countryside. I was just in England this month! We saw sheep everywhere as we traveled through the Cotswolds and into Wales.
Here's one of my pictures:
- Beautiful cinematography that captures the magic of the English countryside. I was just in England this month! We saw sheep everywhere as we traveled through the Cotswolds and into Wales.
Here's one of my pictures:
Things I didn’t like:
·
It was so sad to see the sheep mindlessly follow
each other jump off the cliff. People
are like that sometimes too, don’t you think?
· It’s hard to feel sympathy for a beautiful woman who has so many suitors.
- It's a little slow-moving, although time passes fairly quickly for the characters.
· It’s hard to feel sympathy for a beautiful woman who has so many suitors.
- It's a little slow-moving, although time passes fairly quickly for the characters.
Funny lines:
·
“Mr. Oak, I don’t want a husband. I’d hate to be some man’s property. I shouldn’t mind being a bride at a wedding
if I could be one without getting a husband.” – Bathsheba
- "I have some interesting pigs." - William Boldwood
Did you know?
- The author of the original book took the title from Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" dated 1751. It reads:
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
- "Madding" means "frenzied"
- "I have some interesting pigs." - William Boldwood
Did you know?
- The author of the original book took the title from Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" dated 1751. It reads:
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
- "Madding" means "frenzied"
Interesting lines:
·
“What a luxury to have a choice.” – Bathsheba’s
companion
·
“I have a piano and I have my own farm and I
have no need of a husband.” – Bathsheba
·
“It is difficult for a woman to define her
feelings in a language chiefly made by men to express theirs.” - Bathsheba
Tips for Parents:
·
Most children will be pretty bored. Teenage girls, on the other hand, will probably eat it up.- There is a bedroom scene, but you don't see much and it occurs after the couple is married.
