This movie didn't really do it for me. It took me about half an hour to figure out why...it's because it's a children's movie. I went into it thinking there were going to be some mature themes (they were definitely dark, but not mature) that would be targeted to me, but not in the slightest. It felt like watching an extended episode of "Are you afraid of the dark" or "Goosebumps", which albeit, were great shows to watch when I was 9, but 17 years later it's not going to be the same thrill.
At one point my sister came in and asked if I was watching Rugrats (a tv cartoon about toddlers, wow).
The visuals also seemed primitive to me. I think it's because Coraline was marketed as a Tim Burton feature (which he probably had nothing to do with besides selling his name), and it definitely didn't have the same quality as Nightmare before Christmas or Corpse Bride for that matter.
All that aside, there were a couple of cool moments. During the climax they did some cool effects with the visuals; and thematically the idea of having buttons sewn into your eyes to blind you from the not so pristine facts of life was pretty cool (but was only brushed upon).
I can't recommend this movie because I really had to push myself to finish it.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Where The Wild Things Are? (2009)
Fucking beautiful and amazing. I went into this film after hearing good things from aquaintances and decent things from critics, but fuck wow. This film kept my attention throughout (sadly I had to pee early on and missed 2 minutes).
It's the kind of film that has the authenticity that you want all films to have, and a magic that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
So good that I'm listening to the soundtrack as I write this (as I've just downloaded it!).
It reminisces The Never Ending Story; CGI is however more advanced.
And I can't forget to mention that two of my favourite ladies (Catherine Keener and Catherine O'Hara) and director Spike Jonze who has never disappointed me are all involved in this film.
The story is told simply and doesn't stray from what it is trying to illustrate.
The relationship the Monsters have with each other are great to watch, and also tragic. They are lonely, and looking for security...just like everyone else in the world, frig. I like how the film is so honest with portraying their insecurities.
I had a particularly strong emotional reaction with Paul Dano's character Alexander (the goat). The character is so scared about getting in the way of anyone, and submissive to what the others want to do. During the dirt-throwing scene he gets upset when he gets attacked when he's not ready, I just thought, aw, that would have been me.
I have to say: See This Film! I know if I don't have plans next weekend, you will find me in a matinee for this film :)
It's the kind of film that has the authenticity that you want all films to have, and a magic that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
So good that I'm listening to the soundtrack as I write this (as I've just downloaded it!).
It reminisces The Never Ending Story; CGI is however more advanced.
And I can't forget to mention that two of my favourite ladies (Catherine Keener and Catherine O'Hara) and director Spike Jonze who has never disappointed me are all involved in this film.
The story is told simply and doesn't stray from what it is trying to illustrate.
The relationship the Monsters have with each other are great to watch, and also tragic. They are lonely, and looking for security...just like everyone else in the world, frig. I like how the film is so honest with portraying their insecurities.
I had a particularly strong emotional reaction with Paul Dano's character Alexander (the goat). The character is so scared about getting in the way of anyone, and submissive to what the others want to do. During the dirt-throwing scene he gets upset when he gets attacked when he's not ready, I just thought, aw, that would have been me.
I have to say: See This Film! I know if I don't have plans next weekend, you will find me in a matinee for this film :)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Donnie Darko (2001)
This must be my 5th or 6th time seeing this film, but watching it this time gave me so many ideas, I just had to document.
First of all this is an amazing movie. For the longest time it felt cliche to say this because so many people in my demographic will also admit infatuation with it. Watching it 8 years later definitely gave me perspective. Admittingly, Donnie Darko has a crudeness to it. It doesn't try to come across as completely natural; some of the editing in scenes seem a bit off, and the acting can come across as theatrical.
I like how the film is set in the 80s, but it doesn't try to be nostalgic about the era. Sure there are 80s songs, and some 80s wardrobe, and they discuss the '88 presidential election, but they don't make it feel like a gimmick. Other recent films such as Napoleon Dynamite and Adventureland use the 80s as a foible, but Donnie Darko feels displaced. Not to get analytical, but maybe it has to do with the theme of time travel?
Watching it now I feel like Donnie Darko really was messed up psychologically. When I initially watched it in '01 I though oh, this guy is full of teenage angst, and he's searching for meaning, but really that kid had some serious issues, and like his therapist said, he's probably schizophrenic.
Random goodies: Seth Rogen playing a bit part as a bully, and random fat dude in a sweatsuit in a few scenes with no significant plot contribution. Also, Drew Barrymore trying to be a profound lit teacher is hilarious (woman, you are ridiculous when you are trying to be intelligent, ha).
Another comparison I want to make is to Synecdoche, New York. Both films prevalently use the theme of loneliness. The protagonists are so occupied with death and lonliness, that it consumes them. It's the heaviest theme to carry (as probably best represented in swedish art films), and would probably depress viewers if watched repeatedly.
I really liked the soundtrack of Donnie Darko (as it probably was what drew a lot of people to this film). And to be completely biased I have to say check this film out, because it is so awesome even the ridiculous parts are great.
First of all this is an amazing movie. For the longest time it felt cliche to say this because so many people in my demographic will also admit infatuation with it. Watching it 8 years later definitely gave me perspective. Admittingly, Donnie Darko has a crudeness to it. It doesn't try to come across as completely natural; some of the editing in scenes seem a bit off, and the acting can come across as theatrical.
I like how the film is set in the 80s, but it doesn't try to be nostalgic about the era. Sure there are 80s songs, and some 80s wardrobe, and they discuss the '88 presidential election, but they don't make it feel like a gimmick. Other recent films such as Napoleon Dynamite and Adventureland use the 80s as a foible, but Donnie Darko feels displaced. Not to get analytical, but maybe it has to do with the theme of time travel?
Watching it now I feel like Donnie Darko really was messed up psychologically. When I initially watched it in '01 I though oh, this guy is full of teenage angst, and he's searching for meaning, but really that kid had some serious issues, and like his therapist said, he's probably schizophrenic.
Random goodies: Seth Rogen playing a bit part as a bully, and random fat dude in a sweatsuit in a few scenes with no significant plot contribution. Also, Drew Barrymore trying to be a profound lit teacher is hilarious (woman, you are ridiculous when you are trying to be intelligent, ha).
Another comparison I want to make is to Synecdoche, New York. Both films prevalently use the theme of loneliness. The protagonists are so occupied with death and lonliness, that it consumes them. It's the heaviest theme to carry (as probably best represented in swedish art films), and would probably depress viewers if watched repeatedly.
I really liked the soundtrack of Donnie Darko (as it probably was what drew a lot of people to this film). And to be completely biased I have to say check this film out, because it is so awesome even the ridiculous parts are great.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Zodiac (2007)
This is one of those films I'd put off seeing because it deals with one of the few subjects I don't enjoy exposing myself to: true stories about serial killers. I feel like I'm desensitized to almost all gory ideas that can be portrayed on screen, but once I know that this happened for real, I try to stand clear (non-fiction violence is just not fun, which is why I'll never see the Karla Homolka film).
Putting that all aside this was a good film. It was very polish, and I really liked the cinematography and colouring of the film.
Acting was also well done. I really liked Robert Downey Jr's downfall, and Mark Ruffalo was good with the hot raspy voice, and Jake Gyllenhaal played the obsessive self-appointed detective well (even though I thought it got annoying, and just wanted him to go back to his wife).
I liked the scene when Mark Ruffalo tries to recreate the killing scene, at the scene with the taxi cab. Visually they make the taxi cab stand out, and everything else in the mise en scene is muted so that your attention is more focused. Framing was also really well done, with the handycam feel to it at parts.
People will readily compare this film to Fight Club and Seven (and other Fincher films), which is all fine and dandy in the world of auteur theory, but I feel like I enjoyed this film moreso when I wasn't jutzposing conventions that run through all his films. One element worth pointing out was in the newspaper office, the letters from Zodiac were blanketed on the walls, to show that he is haunting their environment, cool beans.
This film is worth checking out.
Putting that all aside this was a good film. It was very polish, and I really liked the cinematography and colouring of the film.
Acting was also well done. I really liked Robert Downey Jr's downfall, and Mark Ruffalo was good with the hot raspy voice, and Jake Gyllenhaal played the obsessive self-appointed detective well (even though I thought it got annoying, and just wanted him to go back to his wife).
I liked the scene when Mark Ruffalo tries to recreate the killing scene, at the scene with the taxi cab. Visually they make the taxi cab stand out, and everything else in the mise en scene is muted so that your attention is more focused. Framing was also really well done, with the handycam feel to it at parts.
People will readily compare this film to Fight Club and Seven (and other Fincher films), which is all fine and dandy in the world of auteur theory, but I feel like I enjoyed this film moreso when I wasn't jutzposing conventions that run through all his films. One element worth pointing out was in the newspaper office, the letters from Zodiac were blanketed on the walls, to show that he is haunting their environment, cool beans.
This film is worth checking out.
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