Before you say anymore i know I'm on a bit of a Leonardo DiCaprio marathon and, although it is intentional to watch a whole list of his films, it isn't intentional that they're the only movies i have done blogs on so far, so sorry if you aren't a fan!
But yes, i have just watched The Beach. I first heard about the film when my 28 year old cousin informed me that, on her travels to Thailand, she actually visited the exact beach that it is filmed on which, after seeing it, has smouldered me with envy... she has quite literally been to paradise.
The film itself was a very strange one. I am very critical when it comes to the inclusion of surreal and unrealistic special effects in a film that is supposed to be realistic. Now, obviously although ideal, the concept behind this film is rather unrealistic, i believe, in terms of the ability of so many humans being able to keep such a secret. Given contemporary society and how we are taught to live by that infamous saying 'you can't trust anyone' i think my scepticism over a secret paradise actually ever existing is rather valid.
So, special effects. For example when Richard enters the phase of losing his mind and believes himself to be a forest warrior, Danny Boyle decides to add a gameboy effect to his predator-like activities. Understandably, this is a reference to the, if you like, real part of the film wherein one of the technological luxuries that still exists on the island is gameboys. However, as soon as it came on screen, although very inventive and quite original, personally it is just an anticlimax for what was becoming one of the most climatic points in the film. It captured and demolished the mundane realism that was existing up to this point and i simply just wished the use of special effects had been avoided.
However, to contradict myself completely, i was a sucker for the slow-shutter-speed shots of DiCaprio and Ledoyen through her telescope camera, which is obviously done by special effects and i still do wish it wasn't used, yet it was momentarily fun viewing.
The most impressive element of the whole film was the prosthetics of the shark wounds, which was, i believe, carried out by Duncan Jarman and Mark Coulier. I'm still baffled as to how they did it but it truly was admirable... warning, gruesome pictures coming up. Blood often turns out to look like water mixed with red food dye but this had substance and colour...i wont go into a lot of detail as blood, guts and gore is not a popular topic but i did just want to mention how impressed i was with it.
I also liked the international cast, although it was rather a coincidence that all members of the camp were, or at least spoke, impeccable English. It made the island community more adverse and the range of available talent or workforces available more believable.
Overall it was a film i liked, it wasn't one that has me astounded but did keep me captivated at many different moments and was a very intriguing and unique concept.
Here is the imdb link for The Beach
Love and hugs... George x
No comments:
Post a Comment