Zack & Miri Make An Awesome Poster!

See? Told You.

Review for “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”

There’s something particularly peculiar about the adaptation of this particular novel. A children’s book with very adult themes, the story is told from the perspective of the narrator, an 8 year old boy who moves to Auschwitz with his family including his Nazi superior officer father, but without understanding the reasons behind the move, nor exactly what it is that his father does there. The story is revealed to the reader at the same pace as the lead character, and therein lies the problem. Not only has The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas been translated into 34 languages around the world, and remained in the Irish Bestseller’s List for over a year, the film has to take a different slant towards the story. Telling a story from a perspective is one thing, but showing it is something else entirely.

The film does take a fair amount of time to get going, especially considering its rather meagre running time of 94 minutes, but once it arrives at its destination, the sense of foreboding ratchets up constantly. As Bruno, the inquisitive boy always looking for adventune, Asa Butterfield delivers a performance that can be placed among the ranks of the Fanning’s and the Joel Osmand’s of the world; kids with scarily too much talent for their age. But even surpassing him is Jack Scanlon as Schmuel, aka The Boy, who’s expressions rarely fail to be set to either confused depression and rampant fear. The image of Bruno, son of the Soldier in charge of one of the Auschwitz concentration camps, trying to play a game with Schmuel, who doesn’t understand why he’s being treated so badly beyond knowing that its because he’s Jewish, across a barb-wired electrified fence is striking, and just one of the many images that will remain in your memory long after the film is over.

Outside of the children, the adults all step their game up. David Thewlis plays the German soldier/father with suiting subtlety, being impossibly creepy as a loving father all the while knowing exactly what his happening in his back garden. Vera Farmiga outdoes herself as the mother of the family, trying to keep a loving household together in the midst of such a violent atmosphere. And Rupert Friend is absolutely terrifying as a rage-fuelled soldier with a possible murky past of his own.

Director Mark Herman knows how to play down a situation and let the story speak for itself, and has proven himself fully capable of such in the past with small hits like Little Voice and Brassed Off, but here he seems overtly aware of the story’s power and where it is all inevitably heading, and underplays the entire thing to such a degree that for the most part it seems like nothing is ever going to happen. But lurking beneath all the scenes of emotional ambiguity and personality revolutions, there is a constant sense of dread, and while we may not know for sure, but we all know that this can not end well. The climax still retains the same power that the book had, perhaps even more so thanks to a fantastic score by James Horner.

But in the end, the movie will leave with the feeling that while very competently made and well acted, it was a 5 minute climax that merely required a 90 minute build up. Everything that had gone before was secondary to how it was going to end. In this case, where we got was the most important part, not how we got there.

Seven Out Of Ten

Harry Potter And The Need For Common Decency

If we really wanted to, we could’ve put a much more disturbing picture of Mr. Radcliffe, so be grateful for small gifts like this:

Anyway, off the back of news that Half Blood Prince has been delayed to July ’09, and the new rumour that the reasoning behind it is due to Radcliffe getting all nekkid and beastial for the Broadway release of Equus, which was due to bow around the same time as The Half Blood Prince‘s original November release, is something even more disturbing:

“At first I thought I’d have pants (underwear) on for the scene, but apparently not. But I’ve sorta done that before on stage, so it’s all old hat now, really.”

Daniel Radcliffe talking there. About what, you ask? Possible an Equus movie adaptation? No. That would be for a scene in the first of the two Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows movies. We knew it was getting dark, but now Harry’s getting nekkid? Dear God, won’t somebody please think of the children?!

The Dark Knight Returns Poster

Yes, its fake, but yes, its awesome as shit.

Should this guy play The Riddler?

Brian Austin Green might’ve rocked our collective worlds in Beverely Hills 90210, and he might be making something of a “comeback”, if you can call it that, in The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but is that enough for Master Nolan to consider him? According to a recent interview with MTV, he believes so. We can but dream.

“Sex Drive” Trailer

Despite James “Cyclops and then the boring guy from Superman Returns” Marsden trying to act all tuff and stuff, this trailer actually made Correct Opinion laugh more times than the entire of Step Brothers.

Take from that what you want.

“Dance Of The Dead” Trailer

We’ve had Nights, Dawns, Days, Lands, Diarys, Dawns again….. other things….. And now, we have Dances. Straight to DVD, yes. Worth checking out, probably not.

Young Voldemort played by chocolate bar!

New pictures from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince are online today, courtesy of USA Today (here). They show Tom Riddle aka the young Voldemort, and Dumbledore in full fiery action mode.

The young he-who-must-not-be-named is played by (see if you can guess which famous fellow cast member he’s related to!) 10 year old Hero Fiennnes-Tiffin.

Let me say that again: Hero Fiennes-Tiffin.

Who. The. Fuck. Names their kid that?! He has not one, but TWO chocolate bars in his name! Voldemort is meant to inspire fear and dread – not make me peckish for a cup of tea and chocolate treat!

Although he does now become our new favourite “child actor with hilarious name”. The previous title holder was Mackintosh Muggleton, the kid from 28 Weeks Later. His always sounded like a makey-uppy Harry Potter name anyway, so now our new favourite is actually in a Harry Potter film – brilliant!

Picture: Dumbledore couldn’t quite remember if he turned off the gas before leaving Hogwarts.

The film’s trailer will be online later today. We’ll have it up later. But only if it’s better than the shit teaser trailer (here).

10 things we’ve learned from Comic Con 2008

1) Fat people should not wear spandex. Or any tight-fitting costumes.

Ironman does like Burger King

2) Kids in costumes are very cute, as are whole families dressing up.

The family that dresses up together, stays together.

Although some are just creepy.

I know a doctor who might be able to help you.

But either way, there will probably be therapy issues later in life.

3) Terminator Salvation may be okay.

The tragic results of excessive exposure to Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Read how McG wowed the Comic Con crowds here. News that Jonathon (brother of Chris) Nolan is the “lead” scriptwriter is encouraging.

4) Hugh Jackman knows how to work a crowd. And is still hot even with shaggy hair and beard.

Hugh Jackman shakes hands with Len Wein, creator of the character Wolverine

5) Comic Con girls dress slutty. But we like it.

Evil cheerleaders

6) Twilight fans are INSANE. And scream too much and too loud. And Robert Pattinson’s hair is ridiculous.

Robert Pattinson's silly hair

You can watch the video below, but Correct Opinion are not responsible for any loss of hearing incurred. You have been warned.

7) Turns out San Diego doesn’t actually mean “whale’s vagina”.

We want to believe...

8 ) There is a very good feeling about Watchmen.

Malin Akerman (Silk Spectre II), Zack Snyder (director) and Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach) presented well-received new footage

9) Ray Stevenson looks great in a suit. But that still doesn’t mean the new Punisher will be any good.

Titus Pullo scrubs up pretty well

10) Some people get way into their costume. But it’s all cool. Geek cool.

You'll believe a man can wear baby blue

Go on...admit it...it looks fun...right?

For more photos, blogs and videos direct from the event, check out Empire’s Comic Con coverage here.

“Bitch Slap” Trailer

So long, and thanks for the mammaries.