Les aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)

An adventure set in the early part of the 20th century and focused on a popular novelist and her dealings with would-be suitors, the cops, monsters, and other distractions.

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (screenplay), Jacques Tardi (comic books)

Stars:

Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric, Gilles Lellouche

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louise Bourgoin	...	Adèle Blanc-Sec
Mathieu Amalric	...	Dieuleveult
Gilles Lellouche	...	Inspecteur Albert Caponi
Jean-Paul Rouve	...	Justin de Saint-Hubert
Jacky Nercessian	...	Marie-Joseph Espérandieu
Philippe Nahon	...	Le professeur Ménard
Nicolas Giraud	...	Andrej Zborowski
Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre	...	Agathe Blanc-Sec (as Laure de Clermont)
Gérard Chaillou	...	Président Armand Fallières
Serge Bagdassarian	...	Ferdinand Choupard
Claire Pérot	...	Nini les Gambettes
François Chattot	...	Raymond Pointrenaud
Stanislas de la Tousche	...	Le chauffeur Pointrenaud
Youssef Hajdi	...	Aziz
Mohamed Aroussi	...	Traître égyptien

Storyline

Desperate to cure her near catatonic sister, intrepid authoress Adèle Blanc-Sec braves ancient Egyptian tombs and modern Egyptian lowlife to locate a mummified doctor and get him back to Paris. Her hope is that oddball Professor Espérandieu will then use his unusual powers to bring the doctor back to life so he, in turn, can use his centuries-old skills on the unfortunate sister. In Paris however Espérandieu is already causing mayhem, having brought to life what was a safe museum egg but is now a very active pterodactyl. Paris 1911 may not be the healthiest place to be.

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Plot Keywords:

pterodactyl | steampunk | tomb | mummy | egypt | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some violence, language, brief sensuality and rude humor

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

France USA

Language:

French English Spanish

Release Date:

14 April 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

Adèle and the Secret of the Mummy

Filming Locations:

Cairo, Egypt

Box Office

Budget:

€25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,607,170 (France), 18 April 2010, Wide Release

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,522,487, 6 May 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp,Apipoulaï,TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

President Fallières has a Scotch terrier called Nelson. This is ironic given that two of greatest defeats suffered by the French Navy (the Battles of the Nile and Trafalgar) were inflicted by the British admiral, Horatio Nelson.

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Goofs

The book, "Le Monstre des glaces" that Adele signs for Andrej, is a paperback book with a glossy colour card cover. Books were not printed in that style until at least the 1930s. There were, however, "penny dreadfuls" and "yellowbacks" published in Europe as early as the 1880s that did have color paperback covers though not on heavy card stock.

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Crazy Credits

The initial credits show Egyptian figures next to the names the contributors. The figures are based on traditional Egyptian art, but with modifications reflecting the role of the person name in the credit e.g. carrying musical instruments or a power lead. The figures 'morph' between credits.

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Alternate Versions

US version was cut by ca. 2 minutes to secure a PG rating. The scene where Adèle takes a bath was edited to remove nudity and smoking. In addition Professor Espérandieu's beheading and Adèle's accident at the tennis game were edited to remove frightening images.

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Connections

Referenced in Edición Especial Coleccionista: Titanic - 1ª Edición (2011)

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Soundtracks

Adèle Blanc Sec
Written by Françoise Kohn, Thomas Dutronc, Thomas Dutronc, Frédéric Jaillard and Xavier Bussy
Performed by Thomas Dutronc and Louise Bourgoin

User Reviews

A fantastic, lighthearted movie

I found this film to be highly entertaining. I wasn't aware of it's comic book origins, but they come as no surprise. I did have high expectations having enjoyed most every movie I've seen by Luc Besson. In that, it did not disappoint.

This is not a movie you will be taking seriously. But there's the charm that you'd find in french director Jeunet's films (like Amélie or City of Lost Children) but without the smarm of Micmacs. Also at work here is Besson's great use of expressive, diverse faces and superb sets and costumes like in his The 5th Element. A few charming plot twists that would never come from a Hollywood film and you've got a ticket to a highly entertaining movie.

Louise Bourgoin is excellent in the lead role. She fits marvelously into this detailed 1911 and is both charming and resourceful. I hope to see her again.

Overall I came into this film not expecting much but started grinning in the first ten minutes and left with a smile. It's not without plot holes and some occasional barely passable special effects. But it's got heart, whimsy and a steampunk Paris that delights the imagination.