18the December, 2022: The Amazing Maurice.
Right …
I recorded that video earlier, when I’d just finished dinner: badly wanting to watch a film.
But not — quite then — having deciding, completely, on what to watch.
Picking something … ?
Lifelong Terry Pratchett fan that I am … ?
That decision wasn’t too hard.
I felt settling in with the recently released The Amazing Maurice — based on Sir Terry’s The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents —would be an idea thing to watch.
Did I make the right decision … ?
I think I did.
But … ?
I’ll tell you more, tomorrow.
The Amazing Maurice opens with the voice of Malicia (Emilia Clarke), reading us the opening pages of Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure, of how Mr Bunnsy felt life was unfair: as Farmer Fred had lots of lettuce, and Mr Bunnsy doesn’t.
In the real world?
In the real world, Malicia tells us Mr Bunnsy is not the story we’re going to see.
This story, she tells us, is all about rats.
The scene shifts.
To show us Maurice (Hugh Laurie): a large, talking, ginger tom cat, who works with a small clan of intelligent rats.
Maurice and the Clan go from one town to another: where the rats con the innocent citizens by pretending to infest the place, and then — with the help of Keith (Himesh Patel), a human piper — pretending to be lured out of town: to the sound of big bags of cash.
After they’ve finished with their most recent job?
Both the Clan’s spiritual leader, Dangerous Beans (David Tennant), and his assistant, Peaches (Gemma Arterton), feel they should stop tricking humans, and head for their ideal world.
The paradise island revealed to them in their holy book, Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure.
But in order to get there?
In order to get there, as Maurice points out, they need boats: and cash to buy boats.
They need one last job: at the little town of Bad Blinz …
~≈🐀≈~
Now … what did I make of this?
Was it good, bad, indifferent … or outright fan-bloody-tastic?
I’m biased: I’m a life-long Terry Pratchett fan.
It’s fantastic!
For a start?
The Amazing Maurice is reasonably close to to the original novel: although there are differences. And it’s been a while since I’ve read it.
Dangerous Beans, the David Tennant character, is blind in the novel: or, at least, extremely short sighted. Which he seemingly isn’t, in the film.
The film seems to have removed Hamnpork — the Clan’s original leader — in favour of having Darktan (Ariyon Bakare) as both leader, and the rat who’s caught in the rat baiting ring.
Thewlis as the Boss is new: or, at least, a new way of presenting the Rat King, the novel’s main villain.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing: Hamnpork’s death — in the book — might prove a bit much in a film that’s aimed at a family audience.
But, on the whole? And importantly for me?
It sticks reasonably closely to its source text: including using the Potteresque Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure as a framing device.
And includes details of the story’s settings that will delight fans: but unobtrusive to those of us who aren’t.
The appearance of Rincewind in the scene were Sardines explains the Clan’s origins.
Death, and the Bone Rat’s, appearance.
The hints that show us what the town is called: rather than having characters remind us every five minutes.
And the occasional nod to a well known author.
It’s beautifully done.
As is the occasional sly piece of fourth wall breaking.
As is the casting.
The thing’s got a very strong cast, here: Hugh Laurie as Maurice, Thewlis as the Rat King, Himesh Patel as Keith?
Are all great.
But the utter star of the show?
Isn’t Hugh Laurie’s Maurice.
It’s Emilia Clarke as Malicia: she’s absolutely perfect.
I suspect that — the next time I read the novel? — it’s going to be Clarke’s voice I’ll be hearing, voicing those words.
About the only possible down side?
The Amazing Maurice is available on the Sky Cinema: and in only a few cinemas across the country.
I’m not sure about its international release: but — from the little I’m seeing on various Pratchett fan groups — it’s not had a big international release.
People who are keen to see it — but can’t — have happily admitted to being stuck with waiting for a DVD release: or visiting torrent tracking sites.
Not something I’d suggest: it is illegal, after all.
But something I find very understandable.
Outside of that? Outside of that flaw in distribution?
The Amazing Maurice is one hell of a piece of work: true to its source, madly entertaining … and beautifully watchable!
Frankly?
The Amazing Maurice is something you should go and see, today.
The Amazing Maurice.★★★★⁺
* Troll Bridge is fantastic!
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