Regal Nuisance

Friend went with me to watch the PHM movie the other day and I'm still thinking about it. I forgot adaptations could be good, that they could be honest reflections of the book. I guess that's what happens when the people involved genuinely love cinema and the source material. It was goofy, it was funny, it was sincere, it captured the tension in the right moments. The actual cinematography was wonderful - they used actual real puppets for rocky and practical effects, no green/blue screen, props, and good lighting and sound. I could always see what someone was doing on screen (looking @ you devil wears prada 2) and hear what they were saying. I love how the film emphasised the importance of personal connection between people, and how it acknowledged the significance of various points whilst letting it still be goofy (like when Grace first catches Rocky's parcel, and he holds it up triumphantly. Despite the comedy of the moments before, the lighting is dramatic and its shot in a way to parallel the moon landing (iirc), even while Grace is actively being goofy. This is human-kind's first contact with intelligent life, and its significant, says the cinematography. And it was a normal person - a civilian - who did it, says Grace). They kept in fist my bump. The planet Adrian is so so gorgeous. The sound track was on point (I also love how they represented Rocky's voice!). They took some creative liberties and unlike many adaptations in recent years (cough murderbot show cough), they actually improved things (like the creative variance in the Eridian schoolkids in the epilogue, highlighting Stratt's significance by making her dress comfy whilst everyone's in suits, rocky's ship, the ship scene--). I have some critiques, because of course I do, but it was genuinely such a good and fun film?? and adaptation?? I was half shocked, and also pleased. 

My concluding thought is we gotta stick Ryan Gosling in a sweater and a goofy role more. I think he thrived in Barbie and PHM's fun roles. 

Bless my friend, he let me ramble at him for an hour afterwards about the book and how the movie compares. He's a good egg