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Re: New S&A film (again & again)


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Posted by LukeDolman on May 31, 2016 at 10:32:33 user LukeDolman.

In Reply to: New S&A film (again & again) posted by Peter Hyland on May 31, 2016 at 03:38:15:

My apologies if I'm rehashing anything. I can't view the Times story online.

This film would seem destined to be the proverbial "Curate's Egg" - good in parts but not really pleasing anyone.

I'm just imagining a herd of focus-group-typical teens at a cinema...

"Hey Dude! Let's catch 'Transformer Turtle Heroes Versus Alien Mind Apocalypse'! It's like yeah, soooo machines 'n' slime duuuude"

"Nahh, that sounds totes rank man... I wunna go see Swallows 'n' Amazons, 'cuz I hearz it's got a SPY in it. I wasna gunna see it 'cuz I was a bit worrid I might giggle at a girlz name, but it's all good now 'cuz they changed her to Tatty instead".

Hmmm. No. Call me cynical but I can't see the 'yoof' flocking to this one. So why risk alienating your core, target audience by changing the plot and character names of such a well known and well loved story? Numerous costume dramas and adaptations of literary masterpieces have shown that there is a domestic and indeed worldwide demand for the gentler, genuine article. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if the producers had stuck to their guns (if they ever had guns to stick to) and simply trusted AR's storytelling?

I well remember how utterly disappointed I was when I finally watched the 1986 "Biggles" film as a teenager and slowly realized the full significance of the sub title "Adventures in Time". It was terrible and I turned it off halfway through. Ironically, I saw "Aces High" (1976) for the first time, shortly afterwards, and loved it. I've watched it at least half a dozen times since; this latest with my own son.

We don't need to dumb down literary adaptations for children and I would once have expected more of the BBC (Kitty "blip" aside). Sadly we seem to be living in an era where the satire of "W1A" is truly art, imitating life, imitating art.

Best regards
Luke





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