Well, I haven't done a review for a while now, but yesterday's film has prompted me to get going again!


Out of all the films we have seen so far this year, this is the first one that I haven't actually seen before, so I was coming at it with fresh eyes for a change...



(whoops - one and a half hours later... - I got caught up watching bits of Twin Peaks!)



...ok, I'm back! As I was saying, this film was new to me, although I had seen other stuff by Lynch including the TV series Twin Peaks, which also stars Kyle MacLachlin.(In this series, he has actually graduated from amateur sleuth to FBI Agent!)



Blue Velvet made for an uncomfortable couple of hours viewing, although to me the comparisons between this film and The Cook et al were interesting. I must say, I am surprised that Jolanta found this film easier to watch than the Cook...maybe the 'look' of this film was a bit too close to home for me- after all, I was an 80's teenager! I think that because the setting of The Cook was so theatrical, it made it easier to distance yourself from what was actually happening, whereas in Blue Velvet, I could identify with the teenagers, how they looked (big hair, 'interesting' skirts) and how they behaved ( lots of smooching about at parties! [snogging - is that still a word these days?!])

What I found interesting was the similarity between the women in Blue Velvet, The Cook, and also Poltergeist - all strong women willing to do whatever it takes to get through and survive, and protect their own. The difference between Dorothy and Georgina was down to what was at stake - in Blue Velvet, Dorothy had to do what she did to protect her family, whereas Georgina was looking after herself. Both women use the mens weakness (ie need for sex) to to protect themselves and their families, but where Georgina recognises the sexual advances of Albert as wrong, Dorothy is confused by the feelings that have been unearthed in her, and seems to relish the beatings in a sadomasochistic way.

I thought the'Baddies' (ie the men!) were completely different - Albert Spica comes across as a playground bully, compared to the sociopath that is Frank, in Blue Velvet. Frank is so completely loopy, that you could not reason with him whatsoever. Also, his use of drugs (Nitrous oxide...laughing gas - I don't think so!) sets him apart from the scene and lifts the tension to another level.

The conclusion of the film, with everything 'back to normal' is the scariest bit of all I think, as it is hinting that whatever you think is safe and normal at home, is harbouring something sinister, and there is nothing you can do about it......!

And on that cheery note, thanks Phil,for reintroducing and introducing me to some screen classics! If you had told me a year ago, I would be sitting in a 'cinema' with about 30 young men watching Blue Velvet, I would never have believed you!