Valentine’s Day DVD/Blu-Ray Duo Review
Let’s time travel this V-Day! We are checking out two romantic love stories from different times. In Bright Star, Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw fall crazy in love way back in the 1800’s. In The Time Traveler’s Wife, the couple is Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams whose endless love spans decades… depending upon where time traveler Eric pops into Rachel’s life. Talk about a complicated relationship.
Here’s the haps….
From Warner Brothers Home Entertainment
The Time Traveler’s Wife- Blu-Ray Edition
In this time travel romance based upon a popular novel, Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) has hip-hopped through time since he was a kid due to a genetic disorder. As an adult, he meets hot Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams) in a library and dubs her his soul mate.
Big love barrier? Their relationship has to grow as Clare ages since Henry has no control over when he’ll pop in and out! She could be a child, a teen or an adult! This disappearing act also includes their wedding night but hey, she loves him.
Henry consults a geneticist but basically learns that he and Clare can’t escape their fates. Will their love last the test of time?
Special Features: A couple of nice ones: "An Unconventional Love Story" is a really thorough behind-the-scenes featurette covering all facets of production from script to finding locations, the props, music, effects and some very informative cast and crew interviews. Well worth a watch.
"Love Beyond Words" is a neat feature since it tells us the troubles of adapting a time-shifting novel to the screen; pleasing fans of the book while trying to make the movie make sense. Writer Bruce Joel Rubin tells us just how hard it was.
Wrapping Up: This fantasy/romance is beautifully-acted by buff Eric Bana and beautiful Rachel McAdams. It’s an old-fashioned tale of eternal love positioned in a sci-fi premise that makes the tale fresh. Well worth a rental or a buy for your collection…also would make a nice V-Day gift for your honey!
From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Bright Star- the DVD
Why isn’t this stunning-looking film available on Blu-Ray? Oh well. Do you write music, blogs or novels? Do you think there is nothing like love to inspire your creative process? It worked for classic poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) when he met seamstress and early day fashion designer Fanny Brawne (Abby Cornish).
Keats was a young broke poet sleeping on his friend’s couch and fighting writer’s block. Fanny needed to find a rich husband to support her but fell for penniless Keats and the rest is history; he died young after writing some of the world’s most timeless love poetry…inspired by his devoted lady love.
Special Features: A “Deleted Scene” adds character interest. In "Becoming Keats and Fanny" you learn how the actors developed their characters. "Setting the Scene" gives details on how director Campion accurately re-created 19th century England.
For the story of the real John and Fanny watch "An Inspiring Romance" you see how reality was morphed into screen story. Overall, we would have liked more from Abbie and Ben but get a lot of Jane. Still very interesting and worth a watch.
Wrapping Up: Performances in this PG romance are excellent as is Jane Campion’s direction. Costumes and sets are amazingly accurate and beautiful. The passion of the couple is palpable, even if they don’t physically hook up. This is a wonderful, romantic story for a V-Day marathon with your gal-pals especially. Well worth a rental, maybe a buy. But… it would have soared on Blu-Ray!
