Showing posts with label Mary Poppins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mary Poppins. Show all posts
2/03/2014
The Review: Saving Mr Banks
It must have been about a year or so ago that the announcements of Saving Mr Banks, a film chronicling the story of PL Travers and Walt Disney during the pre-production phases of Mary Poppins was made. Suffice to say I was quite excited about this film. It combines three of my favourite things; Emma Thompson, Disney and Mary Poppins. When I got around to seeing this in the cinema I was not disappointed and to be honest I had very high expectations. This film is brilliant and the story within a story was not what I expected at all. It really changes your perspective on Mary Poppins and her humble beginnings.
Saving Mr Banks takes place in two different time periods. The first is set in Australia in the early 1900s with a young PL Travers and her family. It centres around her childhood and you see where some of her early inspirations for Mary Poppins originated and where her imagination and creativity stem from. The second takes place around 1960-61 in Los Angeles. PL Travers was flown in by Disney where she attended a series of meetings with the Mary Poppins creative team and Disney himself. It was not only an opportunity for Disney to hopefully secure the rights to the film, but also for Travers to offer creative input to the scripting, songwriting and even in some cases the casting.
Having a movie within a movie can often work against films but in this case it really works in its favour. This seems to be because the blending of the two stories is done so seamlessly. There are also subtleties you'll notice between the two time periods and the final film which are all really cleverly done. For instance, PL Travers' character arrives in Los Angeles with a floral carpet bag, Mary Poppins has a carpet bag in the Disney film and then her Aunt back in Australia arrives at their homestead with a carpet bag as well. Minor plot points are introduced in the Los Angeles scenes which are then expanded upon in the backstory set in Australia as well.
In case it wasn't obvious I think this film is brilliant on many levels. The casting is fantastic firstly. Emma Thompson is amazing as PL Travers. While she's playing such a cold woman she brings a lightness to the role which makes you really connect with the character more. Colin Farrell as PL Travers' father in the childhood story was fantastic as well. The script is really well written also. You will laugh, you will cry, and you'll definitely change the way you next watch Mary Poppins. Side note-If you're prone to getting a bit teary in films, wear waterproof mascara before seeing this and pack some tissues. You will thank me later.
Saving Mr Banks is still playing in some countries overseas but if you're in New Zealand it opens this Thursday.
10/21/2012
A Supercalifragilistic Spectacle: Mary Poppins In Review.
Winds in the East, there's a mist coming in. Like something is brewing....and 'bout to begin.
Well, Mary Poppins actually has now begun in Auckland, I just couldn't resist using that lyric. We went to the show last Sunday & loved it so I thought I'd do a post about it for you all. Instead of doing a traditional review I've decided to compile a list of 10 reasons why you must go & see Mary Poppins in Auckland. There really are more than 10 reasons though!
Read More
Well, Mary Poppins actually has now begun in Auckland, I just couldn't resist using that lyric. We went to the show last Sunday & loved it so I thought I'd do a post about it for you all. Instead of doing a traditional review I've decided to compile a list of 10 reasons why you must go & see Mary Poppins in Auckland. There really are more than 10 reasons though!
And why exactly should you see Mary Poppins?
1/04/2012
Mid-Week Music!
Somewhere back in my very first post I mentioned how I love Musical Theatre. Love's probably a bit of an understatement. Anyway....
With that in mind this week's song is one of my childhood favourites. Especially the Broadway reincarnation. It's upbeat, it's uplifting, it's nonsensical, it's wonderful, it's SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!
Images of the Australian Cast performing, 'Supercal'.
"When trying to express oneself it's frankly quite absurd, to leaf through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect word. A little spontaneity keeps conversation keen. You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Read More
With that in mind this week's song is one of my childhood favourites. Especially the Broadway reincarnation. It's upbeat, it's uplifting, it's nonsensical, it's wonderful, it's SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!
Images of the Australian Cast performing, 'Supercal'.
"When trying to express oneself it's frankly quite absurd, to leaf through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect word. A little spontaneity keeps conversation keen. You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
