SYNOPSIS:
In the wilds of 19th century England, a forbidden passion draws
the two lovers ever closer-even as fate conspires to tear them
apart. Bright Star takes you to a world where through life maybe
fleeting, great art- and great love- last forever. Let this
sparkling gem of romance illuminate your heart.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Love is a many splendid thing. Which is why,
everyone loves a good romantic movie. With a tagline like
“First Love Burns the Brightest”, the acclaimed
Jane Campion (The Piano) brings romantic die hards on a moving
journey of undying love, based on a true story no less. You
know what they say, it is the real stuff in life that moves
us the most.
Based on Andrew Motion’s biography
“Keats” and Campion’s screenplay, this refined
film tells the story of 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny
Brawne. Their love story is a three year romance which was
made more tragic by his untimely death at 25 years old.
This film is set in London 1818, and the
Victorian era backdrop will either charm or alienate today’s
audiences. Depending on whether you find this polished and
sophisticated approach appealing (read: no hot bods and wild
sex in the movie), you will feel and empathize with the two
long suffering protagonists. On one end we have a ravishing
poet Keats, and on the other we have an outspoken fashion
student Brawne. The polar personalities of these two young
people will only draw them towards each other, as they are
unimpressed with each other’s field of work.
Before long, the pair is deeply and powerlessly
absorbed in each other. This is probably what love is all
about – forgetting about the other daily bores in life,
and being swept away by the indescribable sensations of romance.
Campion manages to capture this stir of emotions with her
sure handed direction. It helps that the poetic context provides
lines like “I have the feeling as if I was dissolving”
and “Forever panting and forever young” to bring
about the grand notions of love in the Victorian era.
Campion’s young stars Abbie Cornish
(Elizabeth: The Golden Age, A Good Year) as the vocal Brawne
and Ben Whishaw (The International, Brideshead Revisted) as
the charismatic Keats portray the couple in love with much
appeal, and this will draw audiences into the mysterious force
of love.
One
can also expect top notch production values from the film.
The dreamy landscapes and the wistful cinematography will
sweep you off your feet, as if you are falling in love for
the first time once again. The bed of purple flowers and the
lovely fluttering butterflies complement the moving tale of
undying love aptly. It is like a bright star shining from
the skies, bringing about the much needed illumination in
this time of cynicism and distrust. It is good to watch a
pure romance film like this and believing in love again.
SPECIAL
FEATURES :
The
Code 3 DVD contains some rather short clips as bonus features,
including a one minute Deleted Scene – I’ll
Wait which further makes viewers feel the pain of
this romance, as well as a two minute Becoming Keats
and Fanny Featurette where Campion talks about how
Cornish and Wishaw complemented each other to play the two
protagonists. The three minute Setting the Scene Featurette
brings you to the shooting location in England which is made
beautiful with its flower beds, while the two minute An
Inspiring Romance Featurette has Campion talking
about what inspired her to make this film.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
There
movie’s visual transfer is pristine, and is presented
in Dolby Digital 5.1 English audio track.
MOVIE RATING:
 
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted
on 24 May 2010
|
