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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

DISNEY'S BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS

Here's a film that many would call a some what sequel to the Disney classic "Mary Poppins". It's directed by the same director of "Mary Poppins"; it has the same song writing team who did "Mary Poppins; it has great special effects like "Mary Poppins"; it's a story filled with magical adventures like "Mary Poppins"; and it even stars David Tomlinson, who played George Banks in "Mary Poppins". This is...




The film takes place in England (Like in "Mary Poppins") during "The Blitz", and three children are forced to live with a woman named Miss Price (Angela Lansbury) who's secretly a Witch in training trying to the help the War effort. The children find out her secret, and they go on many magical adventures with her, with a magic Bedknob that can make the bed fly, and take them to anywhere they wish to go. Along the way, Miss Price meets the man who's been sending her the spells named Professor Browne (David Tomlinson) who is really a con-artist, who doesn't believe in magic, and only sent the spells to make a quick buck. Much like in "Mary Poppins" where a magic Nanny helps a workaholic Father spend time with his kids like a Father should; this film basically takes the same route, only it’s the person with the magical powers who comes to like the children. Although, David Tomlinson also slowly changes from a money grabbin' con-man, to a hero and Father figure for the children and becomes a love interest for Miss Price. So yeah, the film and plot is very Mary Poppinsish , however, while being a "Mary Poppins" knockoff, is the film good or bad? ON WITH THE REVIEW...





The performances from our two leads are great! Lansbury and Tomlinson really have great chemistry together whenever they're together on screen! I love how their relationship with each other and the kids develops throughout the film. I love how Tomlinson is a con-artist, but still remains both fun and likable, as well changing his ways as the film proceeds. The best part of their performance is they really make you feel the magical stuff happening around them is actually real, then just rolling their eyes at how ridiculous and unreal it is. In fact, they actually have fun with it, as well as the film itself. If there was one thing that I didn't like about these characters, it has to be when they try to steal the star away from a Lion King that rules an Island full of anthropomorphic animals. I know they're doing it to help the war effort, but could they have asked the King if they could see it and write down the words on the star, after doing him a big favor. He seems like a jolly fellow despite his bad temper, and really treats his guests well despite that he doesn't like people on his Island. Of course this may have to do with the history of the animals killing the wizard who had the star, therefore it would it be a risky to thing to ask especially when knowing about people being unwelcome to the Island. So I guess it justifies their attempts, I just wish the film didn't make the King so likable or made the stakes of being in his presence a little higher so it wouldn't feel like a dick move. That aside, they still remain as likable and fun characters.




The supporting characters are ok, but not as great as our two leads. The kids in the film, while likable, and getting into the fun of the film like our two leads, they're really not great actors. If you think I'm noticing it now; I actually noticed it as a kid. I mean, the girl is decent, but the two boys are poor at delivering most of their lines (In fact, I can't understand what they're saying half of the time), and how they scream in those cockney accents gets really annoying at times. Again, I don't hate them; they're just not that good of actors. There's also the pet cat, and despite not talking (Which having a talking black cat is a common thing in kids films about friendly Witches) he's still a fun mischievous character.  The rest of the characters, I remember them, I enjoy them, but they really don't show up that much in the film to become great characters. Granted, the film's focus is on the leads and the children, but I question some of the characters presence and motivation. For example, Roddy McDowell is listed on top of the supporting cast credits, but he only shows up in two scenes, which are both funny, but they're extremely short. I know, he shows up more in the extended cut, but in the original cut that I own and that I'm reviewing, his presence seems pointless. Another character I question about is the Bookman played greatly by Sam Jaffe, and while we can assume that he's a criminal of some sorts, the film never ever addresses why he's so obsessed with the spell that Miss Price is after. Again, I don't hate the supporting characters or performances, but I'd like to see more, or at least learn a little more about them, than what the film has given us.




The songs in this film are wonderful, I mean, I haven't seen the film in years, and I still remember them! Lansbury's song "The Age Of Not Believing" is a very touching and beautiful song, that it really touches you on a emotional level, since she sings about people growing up and doubting yourself, once you put everything you loved and believed as a child aside. There's the underwater song sequence called "Beautiful Briny Sea" sung by our two leads, which is so enchanting, so fun, and so beautiful, that you're so sucked into the scene, that you don't care about the logical stuff, like how are they able to breath underwater; how can the fish talk; how can they come out of the water, and be as dry as dry clothes coming out of a dryer. Of course, even questioning it when it’s over; I always assumed that they traveled into the world of the book, which would explain a lot of things. The "Substitutiary Locomotion" song, where they use the spell to make objects move is so catchy and so much fun, that its one of the funniest scenes in the movie. Yeah, I do question why only some objects move, as opposed to all objects; and why McDowell's hat just randomly flies off and flies back on, when she stopped casting the spell, but I'm over analyzing and shouldn't really look for too much logic in the mysteries of magic. Besides it’s still a really fun scene. There's the whole "Portobello Road" song and dance sequence, which bored me as a kid, but now seeing it as an adult, I love it. I love the song; I love the energy and choreography; and the different cultures and music coming together for such a huge dance sequence is so much fun and brilliant that you don't want it to end, and when it does end, you're sad, but are ready to move on with the film, and see the many more magical things that this film offers. It's basically the "Step-In-Time" of the movie. The other two songs "Eglantine" and "The Old Home Guard"; while short, they're still fun and catchy songs. As for the film's score; it’s great. It's magical, it brings the film such great atmosphere, and it sucks me into the film by each viewing.



Finally, we go to the special effects, and after all these years, I still think they hold up really, really, well! Nowadays, it would be all done in CGI, but here, they take different approaches like green screen; mixing animation with live action; using strings to make things move by themselves; train animals to move around and perform certain stunts; and they all work great. The animated and live action sequences are done just as incredible as previous Disney films like "Song Of The South" and "Mary Poppins", and while some people may find the sequence to be pointless to the films plot, its still in my opinion one of the highlights of the movie. The actors interacting with the animated world is done so convincingly that you actually think they're there; the slapstick with the animals playing  "Football" or "Soccer" (I really don't know which! In England "Soccer" is called "Football"; while the animals who have British accents call it "Soccer", when in many respects should call their version of the sport a different name do to how they play it) is so fun and entertaining that you don't care if it’s pointless or not; and the animals themselves are really fun characters! For me, the highlight of the movie is when Miss Price casts a spell on suits of armor to fight off a Nazi army. Yeah, some people maybe sensitive towards the idea of Nazi's being in a kids film (Especially being a Disney film), but I personally don't mind it, since they are treated as bad guys. The effects for the floating drums, horns, costumes, and Armour is done so well and convincingly that it’s nearly flawless. The scene itself, while played out for laughs and slapstick comedy, it still has a huge epic feel to it, with the atmosphere, music, visual effects, cinematography, and sound effects. The special effects won the Oscar for Best Visual effects, and in my opinion, it defiantly earned it.

While the film is flawed, and does fall under the shadow of "Mary Poppins", I still think it's a great classic Disney film. The performances from our two leads are wonderful; the songs are memorable; the effects are still magical; and it's a really fun, magical, and entertaining kids film that still holds up despite its flaws. At times you do question some of the logic in this film, but you overlook it and suspend your disbelief to enjoy it for all the great things it has to offer.

RATING 4/5

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