My French Movie Weekend

August is turning out to be a busy month, not with a social life, holidays or long hours at work, but with relaxing and distressing. Letting things go over my head instead of screwing up my head. Ah Oui,  I think there is light at the end of my Monsieur X  tunnel.

What a French themed film weekend I have had. My arse hasn’t moved from the sofa (apart from trips to the bathroom and the kitchen) and being home alone this weekend I could watch subtitled movies in peace. So where do I start order of preference or viewing.? I think viewing

Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adele Blanc-Sec (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec)

Desperate to cure her near catatonic sister, intrepid authoress Adèle Blanc-Sec braves ancient Egyptian tombs and modern Egyptian lowlife to locate a mummified doctor and get him back to Paris. Her hope is that oddball Professor Espérandieu will then use his unusual powers to bring the doctor back to life so he, in turn, can use his centuries-old skills on the unfortunate sister. In Paris however Espérandieu is already causing mayhem, having brought to life what was a safe museum egg but is now a very active pterodactyl. Paris 1911 may not be the healthiest place to be. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179025/

 
 
This wasn’t as good as I expecting it to be from the reviews. It was still enjoyable to watch when you want to rest your brain on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Very much a mixture of Indiana Jones and The Mummy movies and as I thought those movies were just OK, it’s no surprise that I found Adèle Blanc-Sec was alright or maybe it was Gilles Lellouche's comedy moustache that makes me rate this film as Ok instead of brilliant.


Les Rivieres Pourpres (The Crimson Rivers)

Veteran cop Pierre Niemans is sent to Guernon to investigate a bizarre murder near a legendary private school isolated in the Alps. And it's no ordinary murder; the killer has been very methodical, leaving twisted inexplicable clues to his motive. Meanwhile Max Kerkerian, an impetuous young cop and former car thief, arrives at a desecrated graveyard 180 miles away. Someone has disturbed the grave of a child who died twenty years before. These two seemingly random events are about to collide as the separate investigations lead the detectives right to one another. The more experienced Niemans begrudgingly joins forces with the brash Max to track down the killer. Despite his ribbing and constant sarcastic banter, Max respects the older cop. The two crimes are assuredly linked--but how? What could the prestigious school possibly have to hide?

Next! Crimson Rivers - Can always rely on the French to give me a good to brilliant thriller. It seems they love a few twists in a story. I think Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno must be the coolest Frenchies to walk the earth. I never knew there was a sequel - The Crimson Rivers II: The Angels of the Apocalypse. That’s on top of my things to do list now - search for a cheap DVD of it.

Les Petits Mouchoirs (Little White Lies)

Of course I have already praised and raved about Little White Lies ( See my previous blog entry - Le Petit Monchoirs - J’adore Cap Ferret) but watching this film which is set in beautiful Cap Ferret again (and again) makes me reminisce about my week there with Monsieur X in 2009. Cycling around the area trying to find the film set as they were filming at the time.


Caché (Hidden)

Georges, who hosts a TV literary review, receives packages containing videos of himself with his family--shot secretly from the street--and alarming drawings whose meaning is obscure. He has no idea who may be sending them. Gradually, the footage on the tapes becomes more personal, suggesting that the sender has known Georges for some time. Georges feels a sense of menace hanging over him and his family but, as no direct threat has been made, the police refuse to help.... written by Simon Jones
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387898/

As I said a few sentences ago, I think the French make the best thrillers and I love the twists and turns but this film was too slow for me. I found myself fast forwarding parts. I know filming the front of the house was part of the storyline but it was very dull and even on fast forward it was far to long.




Panique au village ( A Town Called Panic)

Animated plastic toys like Cowboy, Indian and Horse have problems, too. Cowboy and Indian's plan to surprise Horse with a homemade birthday gift backfires when they destroy his house instead. Surreal adventures take over as the trio travel to the center of the earth, trek across frozen tundra and discover a parallel underwater universe where pointy-headed (and dishonest!) creatures live. With panic a permanent feature of life in this papier mâché town, will Horse and his girlfriend ever be alone? Written by Anonymous
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1433540/

This film was perfect for a French beginner like me, slower and more understandable but it couldn’t keep me awake. Boring!





Finally non of the films gave me any more ideas on how I can get to France or the Cannes Film Festival. However I’m more determined to watch more French films, learn the language and visit that beautiful country again.