I like weird things. In fact, I'm very much drawn to them. Yet when I come across something truly bizarre, I can't help but wonder where in the world did these people come up with this stuff.
Big Man Japan is one such thing. Some of the oddest things and some of the best character development I've seen in a film in quite awhile.
The film starts slow though, very slow. I almost turned it off slow, but there was just enough of a "What in the world is going on?" to keep me going. And I'm glad I did. Director Hitashi Matsumoto has crafted an odd mix of mockumentary, Godzilla-esque monster fights, and character examination.
The monster fights will have you shaking your head at their ridiculousness, but it's really the plight of the main character that will keep you going. The hero, Masaru, has such a craptastic life that you can't help but root for him and WANT him to succeed at what he does.
Really, I don't even think I can put into words why you should watch this. The best I can come up with is that About Schmidt found itself in a three-way involving Godzilla films and the non-sequitur of Cartoon Network's Adult swim.
Really though, if you like mockumentaries or over-sized monster fights or just a fully-realized character, you should give this one a go. It is on Instant Watch through Netflix, so it's not even a hard thing to track down.
Showing posts with label mini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mini. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Good Puzzling Platformer
I'm always on the lookout for good platformers. It's even better when they happen to be puzzle games, too.
Continuity is awesome. So far, it hasn't been very difficult, but it doesn't matter. The execution is wonderful. All you must do is find a key and go through a door. The twist? The game boards play like those oldschool slid pictures, the ones you got as crappy party favors, how you had to slide the pieces around the grid to make the solid picture. You must slide the different "pieces" of the level around in order for your little stick-man to navigate his way to the key, then the door. It's a simple idea, beautiful in execution, and would--and does--make a great time waster.
Check it out if you have a few moments. These guys deserve some applause.
Continuity is awesome. So far, it hasn't been very difficult, but it doesn't matter. The execution is wonderful. All you must do is find a key and go through a door. The twist? The game boards play like those oldschool slid pictures, the ones you got as crappy party favors, how you had to slide the pieces around the grid to make the solid picture. You must slide the different "pieces" of the level around in order for your little stick-man to navigate his way to the key, then the door. It's a simple idea, beautiful in execution, and would--and does--make a great time waster.
Check it out if you have a few moments. These guys deserve some applause.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Fantastic Mr. Fox
It was the final showing in Lincoln, and I'm sad that I didn't see it sooner. I would've liked to see it on the big screen once again. It is one of the best/most distinct looking films I've seen in recent times. Wonderful stuff, funny, heart-wrenching, and loads of fun.
An early preview comment said it best: "It's Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl. How can this go wrong?"
True enough. It will be a fierce competition for Best Animated Feature this year, as I would be torn between this one and Up. Then again, Pixar has won enough Oscars already, and Wes is a guy that is very deserving and might otherwise never be acknowledged for his genius.
Anyway, if this film is still in your area, see it. Don't hesitate any longer.
An early preview comment said it best: "It's Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl. How can this go wrong?"
True enough. It will be a fierce competition for Best Animated Feature this year, as I would be torn between this one and Up. Then again, Pixar has won enough Oscars already, and Wes is a guy that is very deserving and might otherwise never be acknowledged for his genius.
Anyway, if this film is still in your area, see it. Don't hesitate any longer.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Princess and the Frog
Like many others, I was quite excited to have Disney go back to a 2-D film. It's what they were founded upon. It's what Disney himself helped revolutionize. They never should've strayed away--especially with how gorgeous those last few films looked. The Princess and the Frog is no exception. The film is a sight to behold and more than worth the price of admission.
That being said, there is a lot more to like about the film than just its looks. Possibly with the help of John Lasseter, the film plays out with fewer problems than some of Disney's last few entries--Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch excluded. This one is in full magical swing with a wild cast of characters and colors galore. And the story is rather tight, too. From the first few moments with any given character, we know exactly what they want--something lacking from all too many films these days. What's better is that we actually care about them. Though a few of them walk the line of becoming annoyingly silly, the story always reins them back in and keeps them likeable--another problem with many films of today: unlikeable characters.
Another thing I noticed--and maybe I'm wrong--it seemed to have throwbacks to Disney Classics, directly referencing shots from other films or simply using similar art styles and set ups. More than once, I thought about The Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty, and Jungle Book. Some of these might not have been intentional, but especially the reference to Sleeping Beauty was an exact replica of the final dance sequence in that beloved classic.
Really, I was pleasantly surprised. The only downside to the whole thing is that it might be a bit creepy for the young 'uns--despite the "G" rating. And with that, the fact that Disney takes something like making deals with demons a lighthearted affair. Maybe not as blatant or frightening as Anastasia (which was not Disney), but it's really hard to take "My friends on the other side" any different.
Fans of Disney won't be too disappointed with this one, nor will animation buffs in general. It is a fine flick, fun, gorgeous, and wonderful to see Disney back in its "true" colors.
That being said, there is a lot more to like about the film than just its looks. Possibly with the help of John Lasseter, the film plays out with fewer problems than some of Disney's last few entries--Emperor's New Groove and Lilo and Stitch excluded. This one is in full magical swing with a wild cast of characters and colors galore. And the story is rather tight, too. From the first few moments with any given character, we know exactly what they want--something lacking from all too many films these days. What's better is that we actually care about them. Though a few of them walk the line of becoming annoyingly silly, the story always reins them back in and keeps them likeable--another problem with many films of today: unlikeable characters.
Another thing I noticed--and maybe I'm wrong--it seemed to have throwbacks to Disney Classics, directly referencing shots from other films or simply using similar art styles and set ups. More than once, I thought about The Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty, and Jungle Book. Some of these might not have been intentional, but especially the reference to Sleeping Beauty was an exact replica of the final dance sequence in that beloved classic.
Really, I was pleasantly surprised. The only downside to the whole thing is that it might be a bit creepy for the young 'uns--despite the "G" rating. And with that, the fact that Disney takes something like making deals with demons a lighthearted affair. Maybe not as blatant or frightening as Anastasia (which was not Disney), but it's really hard to take "My friends on the other side" any different.
Fans of Disney won't be too disappointed with this one, nor will animation buffs in general. It is a fine flick, fun, gorgeous, and wonderful to see Disney back in its "true" colors.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Looking Out for the Beard
I forgot about the whole beard picture thing... Sorry.
Also, I may be getting sick. I'm telling myself that this is not true, but my sore throat seems to be extending down into my lungs, and I do not appreciate it. We'll see how it goes. Worse comes to worse, I'll just have to stay in bed all day reading and writing.
Oh yes, and last night I watched The Lookout. It starts off much better than it comes through in the end. Joseph Gordon Levitt is a good enough actor that I'm surprised he doesn't show up more often than he does. The movie itself was a good time, with some clever dialogue and some dynamic scenes. Unlike most caper/thriller/drama flicks, this one seemed to keep things rather tight, scenes only being in the film to either further the plot or change character dynamics or both. There were a few that did not do such things--mainly when the film breaks its own POV and goes to Luvlee. Anyway, it's not a perfect film by any means, or even an amazing one, but there are a few moments that make the whole thing worth your time. The opening in and of itself is a great hook, just gorgeous.
One of these days there will be a "beard" picture, and there will still be Gibberish this week. Cool? Cool.
Also, I may be getting sick. I'm telling myself that this is not true, but my sore throat seems to be extending down into my lungs, and I do not appreciate it. We'll see how it goes. Worse comes to worse, I'll just have to stay in bed all day reading and writing.
Oh yes, and last night I watched The Lookout. It starts off much better than it comes through in the end. Joseph Gordon Levitt is a good enough actor that I'm surprised he doesn't show up more often than he does. The movie itself was a good time, with some clever dialogue and some dynamic scenes. Unlike most caper/thriller/drama flicks, this one seemed to keep things rather tight, scenes only being in the film to either further the plot or change character dynamics or both. There were a few that did not do such things--mainly when the film breaks its own POV and goes to Luvlee. Anyway, it's not a perfect film by any means, or even an amazing one, but there are a few moments that make the whole thing worth your time. The opening in and of itself is a great hook, just gorgeous.
One of these days there will be a "beard" picture, and there will still be Gibberish this week. Cool? Cool.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Brothers Bloom
I still hold it against Lincoln for not getting this film into theatres around here. Seriously, it wasn't even that tiny of a release...
Despite my not being able to see it in theatres, I was very pleased to finally have had the chance to check it out. With how much I enjoyed Brick, I had high hopes for The Brothers Bloom--especially since I really like the cast for the film. A day later, I can't decide how much I liked this one. I keep thinking about it, certain scenes and moments, so that in itself is better than most films. Plus, I already want to watch it again, just to see if I can "figure out" some of the subtle clues dropped along the way. And even if you don't like the film overall, the first half hour or so of the film is nothing short of brilliant AND hysterical. I haven't laughed that much at a film in awhile. Perhaps I'm just easily entertained, but part of me seems to resonate with Rian Johnson's humor. If you enjoyed Brick, I wouldn't miss this one. And if you like caper/grifter flicks, this one is playful enough to keep you on your toes--even for veterans of the genre. Basically, I can't think of a good reason not to watch this one, just be warned that it isn't as quite of a feel-good movie as you might expect.
Despite my not being able to see it in theatres, I was very pleased to finally have had the chance to check it out. With how much I enjoyed Brick, I had high hopes for The Brothers Bloom--especially since I really like the cast for the film. A day later, I can't decide how much I liked this one. I keep thinking about it, certain scenes and moments, so that in itself is better than most films. Plus, I already want to watch it again, just to see if I can "figure out" some of the subtle clues dropped along the way. And even if you don't like the film overall, the first half hour or so of the film is nothing short of brilliant AND hysterical. I haven't laughed that much at a film in awhile. Perhaps I'm just easily entertained, but part of me seems to resonate with Rian Johnson's humor. If you enjoyed Brick, I wouldn't miss this one. And if you like caper/grifter flicks, this one is playful enough to keep you on your toes--even for veterans of the genre. Basically, I can't think of a good reason not to watch this one, just be warned that it isn't as quite of a feel-good movie as you might expect.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Less and Less These Days
It feels like it's been a very long time since I've had a film truly creep under my skin and haunt me. Back in high school, it was about every third film that I watched, I'd be thinking about it for days afterward. Now, I'm lucky if it happens once or twice a year. Yesterday, I watched such a film.
Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir) is one of the most interesting and haunting films I've watched in a long while. The style Ari Folman has given with the animation and documentary aesthetics works on so many levels. The images are stunning and burn into your retnas, the ghosts of this film flickering through your head the instant the film credits roll.
I know it is nothing short of a cop-out, but this is really a film that simply needs to be seen. It will probably have a different effect on each person. For me, it reminded me of how lucky I've been to grow up where I have, sheltered from so many horrors in life that I rarely think about and others have had to deal with on a daily basis for years. And it made me realize what my father might have experienced during his army days--and why he rarely speaks of such times.
See this film if you have any interest in animation. See this film if you enjoy something more substantial than explosions. See this film if you're like me--sheltered from so much. Maybe it will peel off a few layers of the tough skin you've grown around your heart.
Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir) is one of the most interesting and haunting films I've watched in a long while. The style Ari Folman has given with the animation and documentary aesthetics works on so many levels. The images are stunning and burn into your retnas, the ghosts of this film flickering through your head the instant the film credits roll.
I know it is nothing short of a cop-out, but this is really a film that simply needs to be seen. It will probably have a different effect on each person. For me, it reminded me of how lucky I've been to grow up where I have, sheltered from so many horrors in life that I rarely think about and others have had to deal with on a daily basis for years. And it made me realize what my father might have experienced during his army days--and why he rarely speaks of such times.
See this film if you have any interest in animation. See this film if you enjoy something more substantial than explosions. See this film if you're like me--sheltered from so much. Maybe it will peel off a few layers of the tough skin you've grown around your heart.
Monday, August 17, 2009
As Promised, Two Reviews
I saw both District 9 and Ponyo this weekend, and both were stellar films. Here's why.
District 9 has such a wonderful new take on how sci-fi/action films are made that injects a breath of fresh air into very cliched territory. Neil Blomkamp's documentary-esque mixings into the film give it an air of credibility and realistic approach that is quite different from other films of this type. Instead of trying to create and make his audience believe in another world, Blomkamp constantly reminds us that this is as similar to our world as it possibly can be. And he does this by not making a big deal of all of the special effects. While very integral, and it is chock full of them, the effects are integrated into the film in a much more natural way. The best way I can put this is rather than having a film with special effects, District 9 is a film that just happens to have special effects in it. Does that make any sense? Well, too bad.
Really, this film's biggest downfalls are rather nit-picky--and when you start to nit-pick, it means the overall film is a good time. These nit-picks included: the score, some sterotypes in the characters, and an often-used plot arc. All of these are forgivable, because of Blomkamp's style. Even when we know what's going to happen--either from the trailers or from the fact that this film follows a familiar story line to things we've seen many times before--we'll still be entertained, if not outright amazed at what we just witnessed.
Lastly, what I appreciated most about the film is that Blomkamp didn't forget about humor. Dark as some of it may be, Blomkamp doesn't forget that the idea is somewhat absurd. The humor not only lightens the mood, but it too adds credibility to the film because it isn't out to be a "serious" film. It often makes the more brutal sequences feel that much more horrific and intense, because we aren't laughing at this point--and have no reason to.
So, yes, see this film if you have even the slightest interest in it. It is an interesting take on stale ideas. And quite entertaining to boot.
Ponyo is equally worth your time, but for very different reasons. Really, if you're into Miyazaki's other films, you'll like this one too. If you don't know or like Miyazaki, then I'm not sure this one will win your fandom. It's as whimsical as his other films and equally bizarre, however, it doesn't quite have the "intensity" of films like Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, or Spirited Away. Ponyo shares its similarities with Miyazaki's other films like Porco Rosso and My Neighbor Totoro.
If you're an animation buff, this is a gorgeous film with a wonderful look/feel, and has some of the most intricate hand-drawn animation I've ever seen (some of those shots have SO MUCH going on--I can't even imagine all the time and effort that went into those underwater shots). Also, this is just a fun, light-hearted film. You feel good after having watched it. You had a good time--however silly and bizarre it might have been.
District 9 has such a wonderful new take on how sci-fi/action films are made that injects a breath of fresh air into very cliched territory. Neil Blomkamp's documentary-esque mixings into the film give it an air of credibility and realistic approach that is quite different from other films of this type. Instead of trying to create and make his audience believe in another world, Blomkamp constantly reminds us that this is as similar to our world as it possibly can be. And he does this by not making a big deal of all of the special effects. While very integral, and it is chock full of them, the effects are integrated into the film in a much more natural way. The best way I can put this is rather than having a film with special effects, District 9 is a film that just happens to have special effects in it. Does that make any sense? Well, too bad.
Really, this film's biggest downfalls are rather nit-picky--and when you start to nit-pick, it means the overall film is a good time. These nit-picks included: the score, some sterotypes in the characters, and an often-used plot arc. All of these are forgivable, because of Blomkamp's style. Even when we know what's going to happen--either from the trailers or from the fact that this film follows a familiar story line to things we've seen many times before--we'll still be entertained, if not outright amazed at what we just witnessed.
Lastly, what I appreciated most about the film is that Blomkamp didn't forget about humor. Dark as some of it may be, Blomkamp doesn't forget that the idea is somewhat absurd. The humor not only lightens the mood, but it too adds credibility to the film because it isn't out to be a "serious" film. It often makes the more brutal sequences feel that much more horrific and intense, because we aren't laughing at this point--and have no reason to.
So, yes, see this film if you have even the slightest interest in it. It is an interesting take on stale ideas. And quite entertaining to boot.
Ponyo is equally worth your time, but for very different reasons. Really, if you're into Miyazaki's other films, you'll like this one too. If you don't know or like Miyazaki, then I'm not sure this one will win your fandom. It's as whimsical as his other films and equally bizarre, however, it doesn't quite have the "intensity" of films like Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, or Spirited Away. Ponyo shares its similarities with Miyazaki's other films like Porco Rosso and My Neighbor Totoro.
If you're an animation buff, this is a gorgeous film with a wonderful look/feel, and has some of the most intricate hand-drawn animation I've ever seen (some of those shots have SO MUCH going on--I can't even imagine all the time and effort that went into those underwater shots). Also, this is just a fun, light-hearted film. You feel good after having watched it. You had a good time--however silly and bizarre it might have been.
Friday, August 14, 2009
I Don't Think I Could Do This
You have to wonder about things--especially films--that are given away for free. You'd think that either the film is terrible, or the filmmaker is crazy, or both. Nina Paley is doing just that. While I rented her flick, Sita Sings the Blues, through Netflix, you can watch the entire thing for free online. And if you don't want to stream it, Paley gives you permission to download the film.
I don't honestly think I could ever do such a thing--put my welfare in the hands of my fans--but I think it's awesome that Paley has taken this leap of faith and let her audience send whatever support they can. And support it they will, as SStB is a great watch. While the animation isn't groundbreaking or very dynamic, Paley recognizes this and works with what she has, using shadow puppets (a throwback to The Adventures of Prince Achmed, I'm sure), cut-out style animation, and what look to be traditional Indian paintings. And these are animated in such a way that we can overlook the lack of movement for sake of content. Paley proves that you don't need something to look as gorgeous as Kung Fu Panda to make for an interesting animated film. Really, it's only about 80 minutes, and it is more than worth your time.
In the weekend time, I hope to enjoy both District 9 and Ponyo. I'm sure I'll be talking about them next week. Until then...
I don't honestly think I could ever do such a thing--put my welfare in the hands of my fans--but I think it's awesome that Paley has taken this leap of faith and let her audience send whatever support they can. And support it they will, as SStB is a great watch. While the animation isn't groundbreaking or very dynamic, Paley recognizes this and works with what she has, using shadow puppets (a throwback to The Adventures of Prince Achmed, I'm sure), cut-out style animation, and what look to be traditional Indian paintings. And these are animated in such a way that we can overlook the lack of movement for sake of content. Paley proves that you don't need something to look as gorgeous as Kung Fu Panda to make for an interesting animated film. Really, it's only about 80 minutes, and it is more than worth your time.
In the weekend time, I hope to enjoy both District 9 and Ponyo. I'm sure I'll be talking about them next week. Until then...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
I had a chance to watch this amazing film the other day.
As some, or many of you, may know, I'm not one for anime. Usually, when someone suggests a series or film that I should watch, I--nine times out of ten--tune them out and forget all about said anime. Although I'm an animation lover, I find most anime rather trite, and I often loathe the voice work--both the original and the dubbed. However, there are exceptions. Of course, Hayao Miyazaki's films are excellent. I enjoyed Trigun, and Tekkon Kinkreet was one of the better films I watched last year. Because of my selectiveness in watching these things, I was more than a bit wary about The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. But seeing as my wife was out of town and I didn't have much going on, I popped this one in. And was very impressed.
The film has a pretty simple idea at its core: a girl has the power to jump back through time. From some of the other anime's I've seen, I feared this might take a ridiculous turn, going over the top, becoming silly or too bizarre for no real reason. But, TGWLTT keeps things close to heart, following Makoto through her last few weeks of school before she has to figure out what she wants to do with her life. When you get right down to it, this is really just a coming-of-age/love story that just happens to have fantastical elements to it. And as many of you know, these are my favorite kinds of stories.
The whole time-travel aspect is handled both with maturity and makes sense. Often there are too many holes left in a time-travel story, but this one keeps things tight, slightly complex, and very intriguing.
Animation-wise, the film looks wonderful--especially as (at least until Princess and the Frog) American films have all converted to computer animation.
And the voice acting isn't too shabby either. I watched it with the original Japanese dubbing, so I can't attest to the English, but there weren't any overtly squeaky or otherwise annoying voices.
Basically, whether or not you're in to anime, you should check this film out. It's amusing, emotionally engaging, and a nice take on a coming of age tale.
As some, or many of you, may know, I'm not one for anime. Usually, when someone suggests a series or film that I should watch, I--nine times out of ten--tune them out and forget all about said anime. Although I'm an animation lover, I find most anime rather trite, and I often loathe the voice work--both the original and the dubbed. However, there are exceptions. Of course, Hayao Miyazaki's films are excellent. I enjoyed Trigun, and Tekkon Kinkreet was one of the better films I watched last year. Because of my selectiveness in watching these things, I was more than a bit wary about The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. But seeing as my wife was out of town and I didn't have much going on, I popped this one in. And was very impressed.
The film has a pretty simple idea at its core: a girl has the power to jump back through time. From some of the other anime's I've seen, I feared this might take a ridiculous turn, going over the top, becoming silly or too bizarre for no real reason. But, TGWLTT keeps things close to heart, following Makoto through her last few weeks of school before she has to figure out what she wants to do with her life. When you get right down to it, this is really just a coming-of-age/love story that just happens to have fantastical elements to it. And as many of you know, these are my favorite kinds of stories.
The whole time-travel aspect is handled both with maturity and makes sense. Often there are too many holes left in a time-travel story, but this one keeps things tight, slightly complex, and very intriguing.
Animation-wise, the film looks wonderful--especially as (at least until Princess and the Frog) American films have all converted to computer animation.
And the voice acting isn't too shabby either. I watched it with the original Japanese dubbing, so I can't attest to the English, but there weren't any overtly squeaky or otherwise annoying voices.
Basically, whether or not you're in to anime, you should check this film out. It's amusing, emotionally engaging, and a nice take on a coming of age tale.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
More Mini Film Reviews
Had a chance to watch two whole new movies this past week, which is rather surprising given my self-imposed busy-ness. Here's my two cents on two family fantasy flicks.
Dragon Hunters (Chasseurs de dragons): My brother showed up with this dvd in his hand, saying I should check the thing out. At first glance, it looks like some failed computer animation that didn't garner enough pull to hit the theatres and instead went straight to dvd. And while I'm not sure if this is the case--as it was initially released in France--this direct-to-dvd-in-America release turned out to be a fun ride. Granted, the story is rather cliched, and the characters are archetypes that we've seen before: an adventurous princess, a kind-hearted "tough" guy, the comic relief/brains of the operation little buddy, and a dog-like creature with bad manners. What DH lacks in character originality, it more than makes up for in the design. Both the characters and--especially--the world in this film are simply amazing. So much style and imagination to go around that I'm not surprised the characters suffered as it's plain to see that much time and effort went into the creation of the world. And unlike most of the direct-to-dvd releases we get here in America, the animation for this one is quite good. Not to the level of Blue Sky or Pixar or even Dreamworks, but it is much better than the other "independant" animation studios. So check this out if you have a chance. It's short. It's fun. And it has plenty of style.
Inkheart: It hit me about two minutes into this that making a MOVIE about a book that is enamoured with books seems rather counter-productive. The only way the translation would've truly worked is if they'd replaced the book's books with films. Then it could be a film that is about being enamoured with films. Of course, this would've changed everything--though they've already done enough of that. While staying mostly true to the novel, Inkheart doesn't carry the weight and entertainment of its written counterpart. This falls mainly to some less-than-stellar direction and the utter crapfest of a score. Seriously, Javier Naverrete needs to write music for cheesy television specials. So many moments of this film were ruined by the obtrusive score. It still makes for a decent enough watch, even if you haven't read the book, but it just doesn't translate well. Plus, for fans of the book, it is rather bothersome to see a character like Mo played by Brendan Fraiser. He's just not old enough for the part. Watch this one if you like fantasy flicks and don't have the time to read the book.
Dragon Hunters (Chasseurs de dragons): My brother showed up with this dvd in his hand, saying I should check the thing out. At first glance, it looks like some failed computer animation that didn't garner enough pull to hit the theatres and instead went straight to dvd. And while I'm not sure if this is the case--as it was initially released in France--this direct-to-dvd-in-America release turned out to be a fun ride. Granted, the story is rather cliched, and the characters are archetypes that we've seen before: an adventurous princess, a kind-hearted "tough" guy, the comic relief/brains of the operation little buddy, and a dog-like creature with bad manners. What DH lacks in character originality, it more than makes up for in the design. Both the characters and--especially--the world in this film are simply amazing. So much style and imagination to go around that I'm not surprised the characters suffered as it's plain to see that much time and effort went into the creation of the world. And unlike most of the direct-to-dvd releases we get here in America, the animation for this one is quite good. Not to the level of Blue Sky or Pixar or even Dreamworks, but it is much better than the other "independant" animation studios. So check this out if you have a chance. It's short. It's fun. And it has plenty of style.
Inkheart: It hit me about two minutes into this that making a MOVIE about a book that is enamoured with books seems rather counter-productive. The only way the translation would've truly worked is if they'd replaced the book's books with films. Then it could be a film that is about being enamoured with films. Of course, this would've changed everything--though they've already done enough of that. While staying mostly true to the novel, Inkheart doesn't carry the weight and entertainment of its written counterpart. This falls mainly to some less-than-stellar direction and the utter crapfest of a score. Seriously, Javier Naverrete needs to write music for cheesy television specials. So many moments of this film were ruined by the obtrusive score. It still makes for a decent enough watch, even if you haven't read the book, but it just doesn't translate well. Plus, for fans of the book, it is rather bothersome to see a character like Mo played by Brendan Fraiser. He's just not old enough for the part. Watch this one if you like fantasy flicks and don't have the time to read the book.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Fanboys, and I Sort of Lied
Last night, my wife, a friend of ours, and I watched Fanboys. It is a surprisingly amusing film with a collective cast of recognizable folks throughout. From as big of names as Seth Rogen and William Shatner, this film has cameos from Star Wars stars, Kevin Smith, Chris McDonald (aka Shooter McGavin), and many more.
While this might not be the comedy of the year, it is much better than expected. I feared that it might be a film for strictly the hardcore Star Wars fanboys, but director Kyle Newman, has made more of any everyman Star Wars nerd film, one for those of us that have seen the episodes 4-6 more times than we care to admit, but feel like George Lucas killed his own franchise with the newer films.
Check this one out if you have 90 minutes to spare, and you like a bit of nerd with your humor.
As for my sort-of lie, I'm referring to the cost of my Gibberish collection that I mentioned back on Monday. I thought it would be around eight bucks, but after some more searching. I found that what I had in mind would be closer to $15.00. SO, in light of this, I think I'm going to pull together both a cheaper collection--still probably around eight bucks--and have a Collector's edition that will run about $15.00. Either of these might be a bit cheaper, but I can't be sure until I really get down into the nitty gritty of it all. Basically the regular edition will probably just be a magazine/comic book style book that will simply collect the comics of this last year. The Collector's Edition will be a small trade paperback that will include commentary on each of the comics over the years, how it came to be, what I was thinking when I drew/wrote it, and--if possible--I'll collect the illustrated story I wrote back towards this blog's beginning. I'll keep you all posted as this develops.
While this might not be the comedy of the year, it is much better than expected. I feared that it might be a film for strictly the hardcore Star Wars fanboys, but director Kyle Newman, has made more of any everyman Star Wars nerd film, one for those of us that have seen the episodes 4-6 more times than we care to admit, but feel like George Lucas killed his own franchise with the newer films.
Check this one out if you have 90 minutes to spare, and you like a bit of nerd with your humor.
As for my sort-of lie, I'm referring to the cost of my Gibberish collection that I mentioned back on Monday. I thought it would be around eight bucks, but after some more searching. I found that what I had in mind would be closer to $15.00. SO, in light of this, I think I'm going to pull together both a cheaper collection--still probably around eight bucks--and have a Collector's edition that will run about $15.00. Either of these might be a bit cheaper, but I can't be sure until I really get down into the nitty gritty of it all. Basically the regular edition will probably just be a magazine/comic book style book that will simply collect the comics of this last year. The Collector's Edition will be a small trade paperback that will include commentary on each of the comics over the years, how it came to be, what I was thinking when I drew/wrote it, and--if possible--I'll collect the illustrated story I wrote back towards this blog's beginning. I'll keep you all posted as this develops.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Two Mini-Reviews
In the last few days, I've actually had time to watch a couple of films and decided to share my two cents.
s. Darko: Seriously, this was one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen. With the exception of a few rather fine shots, the film has nothing going for it. For the most part, the acting is bad. The script makes no sense. And unlike Richard Kelly (who wasn't associated at all with this film) when these people fail, the film simply rots. (In case you're wondering what I mean... Basically, I've decided/found out that everything I tend to like about Richard Kelly films is not what he intended. Thus, when he fails is when he suceeds.)
More often than not, I like bad horror movies. They're good for a laugh--and laughing is always good. However, this one was just a mess, one cryptic remark after another followed by some wannabe-experimental shot that's then combined with a few cliches along the way. I'd read some bad reviews for this one, but I decided to see for myself. Please, people, learn from my mistake, kill your curiosity now, and save yourself those two hours.
Land of the Lost: While this was almost as much gibberish as the above film, it was much more entertaining. The story was nothing more than one bit of nonsense followed by an action sequence, and often, the two overlap.
Really, as with most of his films, it boils down to whether or not you like Will Ferrell. If you do, this one is a good time. If you don't, then, well, you're better off staying away.
For me, I enjoyed the addition of Danny McBride to the mix. He's quite a funny guy, and if you haven't seen The Foot Fist Way or Tropic Thunder, do yourself a favor and check 'em out.
Gibberish tomorrow.
s. Darko: Seriously, this was one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen. With the exception of a few rather fine shots, the film has nothing going for it. For the most part, the acting is bad. The script makes no sense. And unlike Richard Kelly (who wasn't associated at all with this film) when these people fail, the film simply rots. (In case you're wondering what I mean... Basically, I've decided/found out that everything I tend to like about Richard Kelly films is not what he intended. Thus, when he fails is when he suceeds.)
More often than not, I like bad horror movies. They're good for a laugh--and laughing is always good. However, this one was just a mess, one cryptic remark after another followed by some wannabe-experimental shot that's then combined with a few cliches along the way. I'd read some bad reviews for this one, but I decided to see for myself. Please, people, learn from my mistake, kill your curiosity now, and save yourself those two hours.
Land of the Lost: While this was almost as much gibberish as the above film, it was much more entertaining. The story was nothing more than one bit of nonsense followed by an action sequence, and often, the two overlap.
Really, as with most of his films, it boils down to whether or not you like Will Ferrell. If you do, this one is a good time. If you don't, then, well, you're better off staying away.
For me, I enjoyed the addition of Danny McBride to the mix. He's quite a funny guy, and if you haven't seen The Foot Fist Way or Tropic Thunder, do yourself a favor and check 'em out.
Gibberish tomorrow.
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