(On left): Cinema Dave meets Heather Langenkamp
By Dave Montalbano
http://cinemadave.live journal.com
Like last year’s The Lone Ranger, Maleficent was skewered by urban elitist film critics upon release. Much like the recent release of Mom’s Night Out, there is a disparity between public perception and mainstream critics. With $69 million box office revenue, Maleficent proves that everything old is new again.
At a recent Spooky Empire convention [May-Hem, held May 30-June, 1 in Orlando], Grumpy himself — actor Lee Arenberg from the television show Once Upon a Time- addressed this disparity.
“You do not know how much power the fans hold. Critics had judged The Lone Ranger even before it was released. Studios are putting more emphasis on computer metadata as generated by the fans.
While Walt Disney studios is best known for their animated fairy tales, the studios recent adaptations have taken on a darker tone. Last summer, the Magic Kingdom was forced to close their gates on “Villain’s Day” due to overcrowding. With this emphasis upon villainy, one has to ask “Do heroes matter?”
Best known for playing Freddy Krueger’s arch nemesis “Nancy” in The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, actress Heather Langenkamp addresses this question in her documentary, I am Nancy. Featuring writer/director Wes Craven and Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, Langenkamp asks the question, “Why Freddymania and not Nancymania?”
I am Nancy is a poignant documentary that is fan-based. The fans who Heather interviews come from all walks of life, i.e. doctors, lawyers, children, paraplegics, hearing impaired, victims of domestic violence. While most people agree that Freddy Krueger is “cool,” most people are really “Nancy.”
Instead of being a victim (for whatever reasons), Nancy chooses not to empower evil.
Langenkamp knows her success; she’s happily married with kids, owns her own business and a
cts occasionally. She definitely understands that fine line between fantasy and reality.
Fairy tales, villains and monsters like Maleficent have been with us since the dawn of time. Through history, one sees how each generation interprets these stories. These interpretations often reflect a culture in decline or on the rise. As Langenkamp says at the end of her documentary, “Be Nancy.”
(On left): Cinema Dave meets Godzilla.
