Movies: STUNNING ACTION AND IMAGERY IN TIM BURTON’S “MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN”

From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel by Ransom Riggs, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience – “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”  When Jake (Asa Butterfield) discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  As Jake learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, he realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies.  Jake must figure out what is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

                “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is rich with fantastical and immersive imagery, memorable characters, epic battles, and unique time travel manipulations—all brought to life by Tim Burton, in the grand style of his acclaimed films “Edward Scissorhands,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”   Most significantly, it is about embracing the original and peculiar in us all.

               

                What makes the young Peculiars different is also what makes them able, strong and special.  Eva Green takes on the titular role of Miss Peregrine, her home provides a safe haven from the outside world, which cannot comprehend or deal with the Peculiars’ special abilities.  It’s also a refuge from their powerful enemies.

               

                Each child has a unique peculiarity, including levitation, fire-manipulation and super-strength.  The Peculiars’ capabilities are not limitless, and these young people are bound by most of the things we non-Peculiars are.  “They just discover some creative uses for their abilities in certain situations,” says executive producer Derek Frey.

                Choreographer Francesca Jaynes, whose credits include Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Dark Shadows” and “Alice in Wonderland,” worked with the young actors, focusing on the movements specific to each character’s special ability.  But Jaynes notes that, “What was most important to Tim was conveying the humanity of the children.  These peculiarities are not superpowers.   It’s part of who they are.”               

                Burton filmed the action-packed conclusion on the Blackpool pier and in the Victorian circus at Blackpool Tower.   Stunt coordinator Rowley Irlam (“Game of Thrones”) worked with the young actors portraying the Peculiars and all were pleased to take part in a thrilling escape sequence, where they must climb out of a window on the top floor of the Home and slide down its roof, amidst a torrential downpour.  “All the children did their own stunts and were happy as anything to do it,” says Frey.

                “Fans are going to get a no-holds-barred ‘Miss Peregrine’ experience,” adds Derek Frey.  “It’s a full rendering of that story.”   Perhaps no one is more pleased with that rendering than its original architect.  “As someone who grew up loving Tim’s movies, it was so exciting to me that he was interested in my book,” says Riggs.  “I said to myself, ‘Okay, well, this is genius. Tim is perfect for the material, and he’s going to make it all his own.   I love where he went with the film.”

                The impressive cast of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Chris O’ Dowd, Allison Janney, Judi Dench, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Rupert Everett, Finlay MacMillan, Lauren McCrostie, Raffiella Chapman, Hayden Keeler-Stone, Georgia Pemberton, Milo Parker, Pixie Davis, Cameron King, Joseph and Thomas Odwell and Louis Davison. 

               

                “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” will open September 28 in cinemas (2D and 3D) from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. 

Book Review: Me Before You

So I finally found the time to write a book review for Jojo Moyes "Me Before You". I actually finished reading the book during my four day stay in the hospital due to Cholelithiasis, (in hindsight, reading the book, while in the hospital was probably not a good idea given that one of the main characters in the book was a C5-6 quadriplegic) the review was delayed due to the many movie releases + Paul's birthday celebration. Now that "Civil War" is released, I'd better get this review out before "X-Men: Apocalypse" comes out. 

I only found out about "Me Before You" due to the movie's trailer, I was immediately sold with Emilia Clarke in the role, along with Sam Claflin. Who wouldn't? I'm a big Daenerys fan and Sam Claflin is gorgeous. I always thought that his other romantic movie "Love Rosie" with the equally gorgeous Lilly Collins was unmercifully dragging and nauseating. Hopefully, things will be different with the movie adaptation of "Me Before You" 

The trailer in itself was enough to get me to start reading the book, but I also saw lots of recommendations and approval and excitement on the upcoming movie from online friends, who have already read the book, so it was a no brainer to start reading. 

At first glance, "Me Before You" is a predictable love story, or at least the part where pretty, quirky employee falls in love with rich and handsome (yes, it seems to be a prerequisite) employer. But that's where the predictability ends.

The book opens with a quick glance at Will Traynor's exciting life, living in a high end apartment, a successful career, a beautiful girlfriend. He seems to have it all, until an accident leaves him as a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair. 

Two years later, we meet 26 year old Lousia (Emilia Clarke) fondly called "Lou" by her tight knit middle class family who is satisfied with her waitressing job in a local cafe but is suddenly at a loss when she loses this specific job. After going through various occupations at the Job Center (one of them was processing chicken carcass) Lou is employed as a caretaker/companion for Will. 

Taking on the job because of the high pay, (her family really needs the money), Lou struggles with the cold and cynical Will, even her bright and shiny demeanor can't seem to pierce through Will's fortified walls, as he keeps to himself and shuts Lou out. The ever feisty Lou, takes it upon herself to give Will something to live for; the task becoming even more pressing with a deadline shadowing over the unsuspecting pair. Lou discovers that Will has decided to (Spoiler Alert. Stop reading if you do not wish to be spoiled. You have been warned. Last chance.)

-a clinic in Sweden that offers "Assisted Suicide". Okay, so this is the part in the book that takes all "love story cliches" out the window. I was really surprised that Moyes was gutsy enough to tackle such a controversial topic (in a romantic novel, none the less) and this is where readers may have some different opinions. I grew up in a very Catholic household, married into one and spent my whole scholary years in Catholic schools but as a Nurse by profession (yes, this is true) I'm really on the fence about this. 

And so does every character in the book, it seems. As Will's decision leaves his family and Lou, confused and devasted (even Lou's family gets in the mix). Can Lou convince Will to scrap Sweden and continue on living-even if it means being trapped in his chair, unable to be his well travelled adventurous self? 

The book takes on a deep and comprehensive dive in the quadriplegic community, which I must applaud was very informative and interesting. It was a refreshing read and I really learned a lot. 

The very British novel, has a simple enough narrative that is easy to read and follow, nothing poetic but the themes and the thoughts that they provoke are very deep and make you think and reflect on the choices that the different characters make in the story. 

3.8 out of 5 stars. Bring out the tissue for this one. 

Can I just take this space to say another reason that I'm looking forward to the film is the music! 

Some of my favorite bands will be contributing to the soundtrack of the film, The 1975 and Imagine Dragons so Yehey!!! 

“Me Before You” is a presentation of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM). Set for release across the Philippines on June 15, 2016, it will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.