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Bashing
Fifty Shades of Grey
is
like er, flogging a dead horse.
Like Twilight and Star Trek, you’re
either into it or you’re not. The fact
that E.L. James’s “mummy porn”
bestseller has sold over 100 million
copies worldwide would suggest
there’s a fervent female fanbase,
and that’s who this film adaptation
is for. Student Anastasia Steele
(Dakota Johnson) is swept off
her feet by brooding, charismatic
and filthy rich businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan),
only to discover his interests in the bedroom involve
her complete submission to his BDSM fantasies – after
signing a contract of consent, of course. Given all the hype
surrounding the novel’s exploration of fetish subculture
(and appalling prose), you could be forgiven for expecting
a raunchy, R-rated romp. But this R18 film is instead a
tastefully shot and mildly erotic romantic drama that’s as
cautious as its protagonist when it comes to exploring the
provocative, sexually-charged subject matter. A riding crop
caressing Ana’s naked shoulder while Beyoncé croons on
the (carefully curated) soundtrack is about as sexy as it gets.
Fifty Shades of Grey
is
9 1/2 Weeks
for a new generation,
with Johnson’s Ana a wide-eyed innocent and Dornan’s Grey
an escapee from a Bret Easton Ellis film.
Of human bondageFIFTY SHADES OF GREY
The idea of making live action
versions of animated classics isn’t
exactly new –
101 Dalmatians
in
1996 was arguably the first – but
with this sumptuous take on the
classic fairytale, Disney have hit
the jackpot. Unlike last year’s
Maleficent
, a darker reimagining of
Sleeping Beauty
, director Kenneth
Branagh stays pretty true to the
original tale (wicked stepmother,
a handsome prince, good-hearted
heroine, etc) and while that means
things do get a little treacley at times, the magic and
wonder of the story shine through. Lily Collins plays Ella, an
eternally cheerful and sweet young woman, despite having
suffered the double tragedy of losing her mother (Hayley
Atwell) while still a child, and then her father (Ben Chaplin).
That leaves her at the mercy of her nasty stepmother
(Cate Blanchett, stealing every scene she is in) and it’s not
long before Cinders is little more than an unpaid servant.
However, help is at hand in the shape of the dashing heir to
the throne (
Game of Thrones
’ Richard Madden) and quirky
fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter). Utterly enchanting.
Once upon a time...
CINDERELLA
DVD & BD
The World of
Fifty Shades of
Grey
– Friends and Family
Behind the Shades
BD ONLY
Unrated and Theatrical
Versions
The World of
Fifty Shades of Grey
Christian Grey Profile
Jamie Dornan Profile
Christian’s Apartment
Christian’s Wardrobe
A Rich Man’s Toys
All About Ana
Dakota Johnson Profile
Ana’s World
Ana’s Wardrobe
E.L. James & Fifty Shades
Fifty Shades: The Pleasure
of Pain
360° Set Tours
Music Videos from Skylar Grey,
The Weekend and Ellie Goulding
9 1/2 Weeks
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date:
10/06/15
Format:
DVD
Ella’s Furry Friends
BD
A Fairy Tale Comes to Life
Costume Test Fun
Staging The Ball
Hire a Big, Dumb Cast (of
smart people)
Alternative Opening: Ella’s
Childhood
Ella’s Furry Friends
Maleficent
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date:
24/06/15
Format:
TOP
HITS
TOP
HITS
DID YOU KNOW...
The origins of Cinderella
actually date back to the 1st
century and the Egyptian
tale ‘Rhodopis’ by the Greek
historian Strabo, which is
considered the earliest-known
version of the story on record.
37
DVD
&
BD
REVIEWS
