I am, of course, a fan of books about teaching.  I would say after reading my way through this book that this is less a book about “how” to teach and more one of what a teacher thinks.  There are great many emotions in this book that will be familiar to anyone who has taught junior high or high school age students.  I enjoyed much of it.  McCourt is telling us about the heart of a teacher (his own heart) not with platitudes or pleasantries, but with the grim realities of what sinners all gathered in a classroom do when they bump into each other.  That is not to say that this is making any conscientious religious plug or point.  He is a Roman Catholic from Limerick, Ireland who certainly has the Church’s dogma in his head, but he seems to wrestle with it as much as take any comfort in it.

The real story here is the winding and often desultory path that a teacher takes through life.  I am convinced that many teachers, like Mr. McCourt, do not “set out” for the promised land of the classroom, but rather wander across it, and even perhaps spend a goodly portion of their time seeking to “get out of it.”  You will find sentences you have to step back from and perhaps disagree with, but most teachers will take the whole journey of the book as a singular whole and from that find much solace and sincere agreement from the experience.  Enjoy the journey, don’t pick at the individual lines.  If you are teacher, you ought to enjoy it, you ought to read it.

A B Movie of B movies

I watched this in October of 2009 with James and Josh

We roared through this. We stopped at the special scenes and used the slow mo to enjoy it yet more. Cruising along at 30K feet, a young man (“about to get married”) sees a giant shark leap out of ocean and bite his 707 in two. What I loved about this is the casting and the basic assumption.

The cast features Lorenzo Lamas, Deborah Gibson (yes, that Deb Gibson), and several other really un-gifted actors. The producers actually thought hard, apparently, about how to assemble a campy cast to pull off this idea from someone’s couch.

That brings us to the compelling plot. Scientists stumble upon a government experiment gone bad whereby two pre-historic enemies (the legendary megladon and a huge octopus) are unfrozen and thus allowed to attack high-flying airliners, take a bite out of the Golden Gate, and generally wreak havoc on the world until, again, science comes to the rescue. As the two main scientists make out in the janitor’s closet of some government project building, they realize that perfume would attract the beasts to each other (because sex rules the evolutionary world). And thus the world is saved. But wait, just as the two are about to sail off to study snails somewhere, another possible movie plot is brought to them by their sidekick and we have the basis for a possible franchise of horribly done movies to begin. I can hardly wait. Make the next one in 3D if you can!

Recommendation: Seriously? If you love to laugh, have fun. Oh what Mystery Science Theater 300 could do with this!

The “Way Too Short” Old version

I watched this with Judy in April of 2008.

I love Orson Welles, but I did not think he made a very good Rochester. I have appreciated Joan Fontaine in other films (Suspicion – which probably got her this part / Ivanhoe) but between the time given and her persona, she just did not make it as Jane. I think the time issue is the biggest deal here. You take a 500 page novel and reduce it to 97 minutes and you just have to cut way too much. Judy just kept saying, “Wow, they keep jumping,” all the way through the film. I would give it kudos for being so early in film making, but it just seemed way too cheap and short.

Recommendation: absolutely necessary for Jane Eyre lovers, but way too short – if you have to miss one, miss this one.

The Masterpiece Theater version

I watched this with Judy in January of 2008.

I am mixed on my reviews of Masterpiece Theater work. There are times when they slow everything down to a state of absolute dust, but in this instance, I think they have put together one of the best versions of this great story. Coming in at 240 minutes results in a serious time commitment, but it is a great story and allows itself to be spread out over several evenings if necessary – though my wife prefers the all at once shot.

Even at four hours, they had to cut some stuff (20 minute childhood?) and take some other liberties, but I think the director was seeking to preserve rather change the story, and that it is essential to my enjoying it.

Recommendation: absolutely necessary for Jane Eyre lovers, but way too long for those not that “into it.”

The blinding flash version, made for TV

I watched this with Judy in March of 2004.

Of all the versions, this is probably my least favorite, and brevity is the main reason. The actor for adult Jane, Samantha Morton, is passing in her marks, but there is just no justification other than TV for making this deep story so short and shallow. Seemed low budget, probably was, and should have very few fans because of it.

Recommendation: absolutely necessary for Jane Eyre lovers, but way too short to do the story justice.

The Zeffirelli version.

I watched this with Judy in April of 2004.

I have come to see that watching this classic tale is a hobby of mine. Judy loves the story. And there are a lot of versions. This one is classic Franco in its set, costumes, attention to detail. The problem as I see it is that you can always boil what is truly a character piece down to its basic plot and run it that way, but the true lover of Bronte is going to feel ripped off. The key to a good Jane Eyre is capturing the character without going over the top of the details.

If the above is true, then Franco did well. Choosing great actors is at the heart of pulling a classic off, and FZ always seems to put the most attention into such with his films. Having Anna Paquin play the young Jane was an excellent choice, but then he seemed a genius in casting Charlotte Gainsbourg as the adult Jane. She did a great job of becoming Jane. I am going to resist trying to line up the various versions of this story according to their “ranking” but this is a particularly good example of what a film about this story should be like.

Recommendation: absolutely necessary for Jane Eyre lovers, but if you only watch one, this might be the one. The BBC one is awesome, but a lot longer.

I watched this on several occasions, the first time was with Judy in March, 2004

On so many levels I enjoyed this movie.  A) I love coming of age films, especially those that change up the normal notions. B) Robert Duvall rocks.  C) I am somewhat of a curmudgeon, and so are they. D) Anytime others grow the wrong things in their gardens, I enjoy it.

What did I learn?  Not much of anything.  But I enjoyed it.

Recommendation: Its not going to do anything but tickle some folk’s funny bone.

I watched this film October, 2009

A difficult but compelling film.

From Ingmar Bergman.  Subtitled.  Given the date, it is an edgy film.  You see a virgin raped, without a lot of gratuity.  Then you watch this rough view of life unfold as the rapists receive theirs at the hands of the virgin’s father.  The point seems to be a contemplation of faith and grief.  Through out the film the devout family seems thwarted from seeing their prayers answered.  Max von Sydow is surrounded by other good actors.  A lot is given to you to think about.

Recommendation: gritty, certainly not fuzzy feelings, but an open hearted modern look at providence, sin, vengeance, and redemption.

I watched this September, 2009

Initial Reaction: Its foreign, so it took more work, but it was worth it.

Major Actors: Jean-Pierre Leaud; Francois Truffaut directed, his debut

My Thoughts: This is a great look inside the mind and motivations of a child raised in the modern world. When left to his own by disengaged and rather banal parents, he goes with his heart, which is wicked and yet desiring something more. In the end, I was struck by the power and pathetic end to his strong desire to “go to the ocean.” Though Truffaut certainly did better work as he gained his stride, this is a really strong debut.

Recommendation: If you like character pieces, don’t mind working, this is a really well-filmed piece.

I watched this in September of 2009, with Judy

Initial Reaction: Fine acting with a less than full plot

Major Actors: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven

My Thoughts: I love CG. He had presence. That being said, this is not one of his best works. Niven had a specific character that he played well. I certainly empathize with the basic message – great works done for the wrong motivation can snowball into a horrible situation. This is a nice distraction but not a really deep or thought provoking piece.

Recommendation: for those who like the older movies, especially Cary Grant. A nice stay at home and get all warm and fuzzy with the wife kind of film.