The Painted Veil

[happyfilmluvguy]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446755/

Currenty in Post, a remake of The Painted Veil, starring Naomi Watts, which in the original was portrayed by Greta Garbo. Earlier Ms. Watts was in the shadow of the queen of the scream, Fay Wray in King Kong.

Here's the plotline:

"A drama set in London in 1922 about a restless married woman Kitty Fane (Naomi Watts) who, after cheating on her conservative scientist husband Walter (Edward Norton) with a local playboy (Liev Schreiber), embarks on a journey to the Far East to battle cholera. The journey becomes an odyssey of self-discovery."

As much as I am looking forward to see this, I can't help but wonder why this movie be remade?

There's another based on the same short story that Danny Kaye starred in, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

What's your opinion on this?

 

[jake_fink]

I think fans of the Somerset Maughm book may very well be pleased by this. It looks a little too earnestly decorative for my taste, the twee kind of thing Ralph Fiennes specializes in, and yet it has Edward Norton in the Ralph Fiennes role!

The trailer is available here.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I saw this about 3 weeks ago. Great cinematography and the acting was high class. It's not out everywhere but be sure to rent it when it hits the stores!

 

[LadyStardust]

I saw this about 3 weeks ago. Great cinematography and the acting was high class. It's not out everywhere but be sure to rent it when it hits the stores!

I've heard only good things about this, and am hoping to see it soon. One thing;Could you tell me how it compares to Garbo's version, if you've seen it? That has kept me very curious!

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I haven't seen Miss Garbo's version, but I'm planning to. Nonetheless, it's a great film to see in a big screen. I wouldn't see it on anything smaller

 

[HadleyH]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446755/

Currenty in Post, a remake of The Painted Veil, starring Naomi Watts, which in the original was portrayed by Greta Garbo. Earlier Ms. Watts was in the shadow of the queen of the scream, Fay Wray in King Kong.



What's your opinion on this?

My opinion? of yet another remake? I would not give you my opinion on line lol lol The Painted Veil with Greta Garbo and George Brent. And it was not even a good movie in 1934, when it was first made! No matter...nowadays if it can be remake...bring it on. [huh]

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

honestly, the movie is worth seeing, remake or no remake.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Old and New Comparison

I've heard only good things about this, and am hoping to see it soon. One thing;Could you tell me how it compares to Garbo's version, if you've seen it? That has kept me very curious!

Tonight I watched the version with Greta Garbo and George Brent. I think it was pretty good compared to this remake. There were some differences in story though, and I like the changes and additions made to the remake that the original didn't do or couldn't for what they could get away with at the time. Greto Garbo's character is from Austria (probably to fix the problem of Garbo's accent), as the story begins. In the new version, her character is from London, as where the story begins. One big difference. I enjoyed how Toby Jones portrayed Waddington a little more then how Waddington's character was portrayed in the 1934 version. A little too drunk and cheerful for me, Toby Jones was a little more substile and had more dimensions then the 1934 Waddington had.

Much of the 1934 film is the same, in locations, characters and even some of the dialogue. The way it's filmed however, is a lot of tight camera angles and a lot less violence and gruesome imagery revealed. The new 2006 version has some amazing cinematography and they want you to see it, even if it's not necessary. I won't give much away in terms of story, but the ending's are a little different. The 1934 version has much of the same endings as most movies during that time, almost ending suddenly. The 2006 version extends that ending, and changes it a bit.

The entire cast of the 1934 version is great, as is the 2006. No bad acting in either. Some of the character's names are changed, but that doesn't mean much. The funny thing is Liev Schreiber (2006) looks a lot like George Brent in this film, and that doesn't seem like a coincidence. Walter Fayne is much the same in both versions.

I think the 1934 version matchs equally with the 2006 version for the most part, only with a few changes and differences that I personally liked in both, some in 1934 and some in 2006. They are both worth seeing, nonetheless

 

[Orgetorix]

I saw the new version a couple of weeks ago, and enjoyed it very much. What I liked best was the way it tells the truth about love. True love, as Kitty and Walter realize by the end, is self-sacrificial, not self-seeking. Far too many people today marry as an act of self-expression, or to find personal fulfillment, or to have their own needs met. That's fine as far as it goes, but if that's the only basis for marriage--or any relationship--it's going to be a disappointing, frustrating, ultimately love-less endeavour. I thought the movie did a fabulous job of portraying that accurately.

 

[LizzieMaine]

We're in the middle of a two week run of this, so I'm seeing a lot of it. It's a very well-mounted production, with outstanding performances by the leads, and some very fine supporting roles as well. Visually, it's stunning -- there's a lot of the scenic lushness that one associates with mainstream Chinese film, and Naomi Watts was born to wear mid-twenties styles.

The story is -- difficult if you're not prepared for it. A lady in the ticket line the other day, who didn't know anything about the story, asked me if there was a lot of violence in it. I assured her that it's Somerset Maugham -- so all the violence is emotional.

 

[texasgirl]

Out on DVD

I finally got to see this one. I wanted to see it at the theater, but never got a chance. It was a visually beautiful film. The story was interesting and entertaining. And I agree with Lizzie, Naomi was born to wear twenties dresses.

 

[Tomasso]

I saw it when it was released and thought it a very good film based on an interesting story, with capable performances, wonderful wardrobe, sets and cinematography. I love a well produced period piece.

 

[Harp]

I think fans of the Somerset Maughm book may very well be pleased by this. It looks a little too earnestly decorative for my taste, the twee kind of thing Ralph Fiennes specializes in, and yet it has Edward Norton in the Ralph Fiennes role!

Haven't read beyond Veil's prologue, which was typical Maugham narrative style and quite enjoyable.
May opt for the flick first this time.

 

[Harp]

The story is -- difficult if you're not prepared for it. A lady in the ticket line the other day, who didn't know anything about the story, asked me if there was a lot of violence in it. I assured her that it's Somerset Maugham -- so all the violence is emotional.

...how true.

 

[PADDY]

I can't see it

It was shown in 'one' cinema 25 miles away from me for all of four days and then they pulled it [huh]

This always seems to happen (Lost City hasn't even got here, and isn't likely to now ) and instead they will put on plotless movies with lots of swearing, bullets and explosions[huh] It does annoy me, but the cinema chains mustn't feel that the market for the Merchant Ivory styled films is in this area that I live [huh]

 

[PADDY]

Just seen this lovely movie...

And Naomi is such a 'honey!' She was born (as another member said) to wear 1920's slim wear...what an absolute doll..!

The Chinese landscape is just wonderful, as is the filtered camera work. It has the feel of the old Merchant and Ivory films of the 80's when movies like "A room with a view" and "A Passage to India" where de rigeur.

If you have a chance, rent it!

One for the boys here, spot the RedWingesque Gentleman Traveller boots!! Think they are 1911's!

(just click on the wonderful photos below for a BIG version!!).

 

[imoldfashioned]

I love this photo so much I ripped it out of a magazine so I could put it on my bulletin board.





I haven't seen this one before. Why don't guys take girls boating anymore? I was so born in the wrong era (sigh).

I really liked the progression of Kitty and Walter's relationship, how she learns a lot about him from what other people say or by watching him when he's unaware. I think this is one of those films I'll watch repeatedly, and the comparison to a Merchant Ivory production is spot on.

 

[PADDY]

SW - I couldn't agree more

That is my favourite 'movie still' too!! I just lose myself in it. Isn't the boating just lovely in the other one? When I was at college many moons ago, I used to go up to Oxford in the spring and hire a punt out (a poor man's version of a gondola, but the same principle with the large barge pole..etc) and go punting up the river. It was in the early to mid 80's, so Brideshead Revisited (by Evelyn Waugh)

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED CLIP HERE


had just come out as a serialised drama, and you had all the wannabee Bridesheadians out on the river with a Teddy Bear and Boater and striped blazers!! Actually it just added to the scene for me, and some students even went so far as to have a cassette player on board playing Debussy or Vivaldi and a wicker basket with Champers and goodies for a pic nic!!

SW - I had no idea you'd replied to 'this' thread!! I'm glad you saw it, as I knew it would just be your 'cup of Lapsong Suchong!'

I love this photo so much I ripped it out of a magazine so I could put it on my bulletin board.





I haven't seen this one before. Why don't guys take girls boating anymore? I was so born in the wrong era (sigh).

I really liked the progression of Kitty and Walter's relationship, how she learns a lot about him from what other people say or by watching him when he's unaware. I think this is one of those films I'll watch repeatedly, and the comparison to a Merchant Ivory production is spot on.

 

[Harp]

... and you had all the wannabee Bridesheadians out on the river with a Teddy Bear and Boater and striped blazers!!...and some students even went so far as to have a cassette player on board playing Debussy or Vivaldi and a wicker basket with Champers and goodies for a pic nic!!

No Mozart?

 

[imoldfashioned]

It is a marvelous photograph--drove me to petty thievery, it did (I ripped my copy out of a magazine in my dentist's office). There's something about the way Edward Norton and Naomi Watts hold themselves that I keep coming back to--they're so "in character" even in a still photo.

When I was at college many moons ago, I used to go up to Oxford in the spring and hire a punt out (a poor man's version of a gondola, but the same principle with the large barge pole..etc) and go punting up the river. It was in the early to mid 80's, so Brideshead Revisited (by Evelyn Waugh) had just come out as a serialised drama, and you had all the wannabee Bridesheadians out on the river with a Teddy Bear and Boater and striped blazers!! Actually it just added to the scene for me, and some students even went so far as to have a cassette player on board playing Debussy or Vivaldi and a wicker basket with Champers and goodies for a pic nic!!

SW - I had no idea you'd replied to 'this' thread!! I'm glad you saw it, as I knew it would just be your 'cup of Lapsong Suchong!' [

Yes, I saw you'd seen this movie in the "what's the last movie you watched" thread and I asked what you thought of it there. Then I clicked out and saw you had started this thread--just goes to show I should investigate before I ask questions! (I'd still like to hear what you thought about Black Book though, unless you've already started a thread on that too and I'm just a goon! )

Tsk, you're killing me with your description of Oxford punting! That sounds absolutely heavenly--I'd melt into a small puddle of joy if I could ever spend a day out that way. I can just imagine you casting off on the river, dashing as always. Sigh!