Hollywood Speeches

So the other day I caught the tail end of Contact. (Excellent movie.) It was right at the part where Jodi Foster gives her speech to the committee about her experience.  She's so passionate about it and even though I know what's coming I find myself caught up in it.  It got me thinking about other big movie speeches.  The really good ones that pull you in despite the fact that you know it's fiction.

I loved Bill Pullman's speech from Independence Day, the one right before the big battle so much I memorized it. (I know, GEEK, right.) And even if you don't remember the whole thing, who could forget Mel Gibson shouting, "They may take our lives, buy they'll never take our FREEDOM!" or Tom Cruise getting in Jack Nicholson's face saying, "I want the truth." Is it the writing, the actors, or some combination of the two?

The writer in me wants to side with the ladies and gentlemen behind the scenes.  After all Shakespeare wrote the St. Crispin's Day speech that has been used and referenced so many times in movies and TV.  But then I try to think of Will Ferrell or Chris Farley (Don't get me wrong I love them both.) doing the courtroom scene in To Kill a Mocking Bird or telling Ilsa to get on that plane in Casablanca and I just can't see it.

So in my mind it's both, but which one is more important?  Which side can better compensate if the other isn't up to Academy Award standards?  What do you think?  (And what's your favorite movie speech?)

Welcome and Happy Hunger Games

   Welcome to Maggie's Movie Madness, occasionally just Maggie's Madness.  So here's the story.  I love movies/tv shows and I've seen quite a bit of both, enough of them that my family uses me as their version of the Guide button.  Just the other day my aunt and I were once again playing our favorite game, What's This?  It is played by her flipping through the different channels while I tell her what it is and sometimes provide a synopsis.  Not to brag but I'm pretty good at it.

   Now I'm not saying I've seen it all.  I have no illusions that I'm some walking, talking IMDb robot, but I do alright.  (I really do have a life, mostly.)  I will be the first to admit, proudly even, that I'm a total dork.  If you got it, flaunt it.

Interested in the book

   Take the Hunger Games for example, I saw it twice in four days and I'll undoubtedly go again.  If you haven't seen it yet, make the time. It's worth it.  I did read the books first and like anyone who has read the book version before seeing it's movie counterpart, I have to say the book was better.  (Wait Hollywood, don't send your action stars after me. Let me finish.)  Let's be honest you can never include everything from a book in a movie.  Time is always an issue, not to mention your changing the view point of the story.  The most important thing to remember, at least in my opinion, when turning a book into a movie is that the people making it stay true to the characters and the story as much as possible.  Especially the feel or spirit of that story.  That's where I think they knocked it into space, the final frontier.  (Sorry couldn't help myself.)

   Are there things that I would have done differently, yes. (Back seat driver that I am)  *SPOILER ALERT*  I would've liked to see more of Katniss and Peeta after the games playing up the Star-Crossed Lovers angle.  I also think that it would have helped those that didn't read the books if they explained how names could be entered multiple times into the drawing.  They did mention it in the movie but I don't think people really understood the process or how slanted it is.  It really adds a level of hopelessness to their lives, a sense of being trapped by circumstances that carries throughout the story.  What I did love was how they included images of the people watching the games and how it affected them.   And even though I hate to say I love a death scene, they did such an amazing job when Rue dies that I couldn't help being moved.  And the part in the cave was probably my favorite. (Honestly I probably would watch the movie just for that.)*OK YOU'RE SAFE* I think the movie really does a good job showing the differences between life in the Capitol vs the Districts, specifically 12.  Woody Harrelson does an amazing job with the character Haymitch, not that there was ever any doubt.  And though I admit going in that I was a little unsure about some of the actors that were chosen, I think they were all fantastic.  Happy Hunger Games and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor.

   NOTE TO PARENTS: Although the violence wasn't as graphic as it could have been considering the movie's storyline, it should be noted that it is a movie about children killing each other and they do show it.  So use your best judgment when taking your kids.