Movie Squad - Movie News, Dear John

Show

Breakfast with Barr,

Presenter

Peter Barr

Published

Friday 5th March

I’m mad, you’re mad, we’re all mad here on Movie Squad.

Paul ‘The Mad Hatter’ Grace and Pete ‘The March Hare’ Barr are wondering where Patrick ‘The White Rabbit’ has got to down in Wonderland. He’s a bit late you know…

Meanwhile the pair discuss Movie News over high tea.

There’s controversy surrounding Oscar contender ‘The Hurt Locker’. These sorts of stories always come up in the last week of voting. What’s even more controversial, says Mr Grace, is the news outlets reporting on the controversy are owned by the same people that own the studio producing another major Oscar contender. The first story is a producer of ‘The Hurt Locker’ sent a snarky email about ‘Avatar’ to friends and told them to vote for ‘The Hurt Locker’. The second story is that a real life bomb disposal soldier who was embedded with the writer has sued the film makers claiming that the movie is a carbon copy of the story of his life – he says he even coined the term ‘the hurt locker’.

New films in the works include a big screen treatment of The Smurfs. The film will be a mix of live action and animation and the lead smurf has been named as Neil Patrick Harris of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ fame. Another film in the works is a new ‘Conan The Barbarian’ film – no Arnie but Mickey Rourke is set to appear as Conan’s dad. Warner Bros. are also interested in producing a Space Invaders movie but here on Movie Squad we think that was best done on that episode of Futurama.

The only movie this week is more rom and hardly any com.

‘Dear John’ – Directed by Lasse Hallström (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Cider with Rosie). Starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried.

Synopsis: While John (Tatum) is on leave in his home town, he finds Savannah (Seyfried), a college student visiting the town. Although love was unexpected, it doesn’t mean they didn’t find it. With the knowledge of John having to leave for the army, their love still lives, until his re-signs on due to the 9/11 attack. Troubles invade and their love is put on hold. One cannot bear it anymore; can the other?

Review: It’s easy to dismiss a film like this as just a chick flick. Has much in common with the wartime melodramas. Getting to know you scenes are a bit cutesy. Quality direction. Doesn’t let it get too schmaltzy. The emotional scenes are not too much. Themes are not talked about out loud as with other films of this genre which is great. An excellent performance by Channing Tatum. He captures the quiet strength and the emotional reserve of a soldier, without being emotionless. Amanda’s is not so well developed. Surprisingly quite a good film. Take that ‘Avatar’!