Peter's Film Screening

Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Sacred Spirit)

2009-10-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

We started watching Seirei no Moribito on the recommendation from my cousin. I'm not a big anime person, but this series is simply a good story. Seirei no Moribito is an epic fantasy that takes place in a far-away land. The main character, Balsa, is a female body-guard who is entrusted to protect a prince. The animation is excellent, but it never takes precedent over the storytelling. Even the impressive action sequences are important to the plot and not just for show. The series is full of vivid, interesting characters that develop through the story line. Chief among these, however, is Balsa, the coolest female character I have seen in a long time.

This animated series is based on a the first book in the Moribito series, by Nahoko Uehashi. The anime version expands on the story somewhat, and I actually liked it a little better than the book, but they were both good. And since the book is just the first of ten novels, I need to read the other ones to properly judge them. I would recommend Seirei no Moribito to anyone, even if (like me) you don't speak Japanese and you don't really watch anime. The DVD's are really expensive, but it's also available online if you know where to look.
∗∗∗1/2

Wives and Daughters

2009-07-02T10:23:00.001-05:00

The BBC works its magic again with another excellent miniseries, this time brining Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Wives and Daughters to the screen. I admit I had never read any of Gaskell's work before seeing the movie, and her only books I knew of were Cranford and North and South. Having happily corrected my ignorance, I will soon be adding some Gaskell novels to my summer reading list.

The main character, Molly Gibson, lives with her widowed father. He remarries a woman with a daughter close to Molly's age, introducing a new mother and a new daughter to the family. It's interesting to see a film explore how two families settle together as one family, with plenty of conflicts and struggles along the way. Mrs. Gibson is at once sly and naive, but always in pursuit of her own selfish interests. Her daughter from her first marriage, Cynthia, has some of the same selfishness, but Molly becomes a good influence on her and she often works against her mother's will. Along the way the Gibsons become involved in the drama of their wealthy neighbors, the Hamleys, who have two handsome sons. It is inevitable in such a story that romance would blossom, but it doesn't happen quite like you would expect it, and that's what makes it so much fun.

If you like period pieces or human-driven stories, I highly recommend Wives and Daughters. It has some very funny dialogue, quite a few excellent performances, and very well-developed characters. Even if you can't stand the better-known Jane Austen film adaptations, Wives and Daughters is worth a try because it doesn't delve into the sappy as much, and it has some great mysteries and plot twists.
∗∗∗1/2

Made of Honor

2009-02-23T11:27:00.000-06:00

The basic plot of this movie is pretty clear from the trailers: Tom (Patrick Dempsey) never commits in any relationship because his best friend, Hannah, is always there for him. She goes to Scotland for several weeks and he realizes he's been in love with her all along. But Hannah comes back with a handsome fiance and a wedding date in two weeks. Since they are such good friends, she asks him to be her "maid of honor" and he goes along with it so he can try to win her back, with plenty of jokes and awkward situations to go around.

I didn't expect Oscar material when we rented this flick, but Made of Honor is even more formulaic and painful than I anticipated. Halfway through the movie I was utterly disgusted, so by the time Tom comes flying through the chapel doors on horseback at the end of the movie I was beyond caring. Romantic comedies aren't my favorite genre, but this one gives all the rest a bad name.

∗

Mamma Mia!

2009-01-13T09:33:00.000-06:00

Mamma Mia! is the film adaptation of the popular West End jukebox musical based on the music of the Swedish group ABBA. Like other productions of its genre, the play and the movie have a loose plot cobbled together in a way to include as many songs as possible from the source artist. This sort of thing works better on stage than on screen, so the movie Mamma Mia! was a little strange. But it was undeniably fun. The cast looked like they had a marvelous time, even if virtually nothing made sense. It was strange to see serious actors like Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth sing and dance, but I think that was part of the attraction. It's funny to watch James Bond, Mr. Darcy, and a multiple-Oscar winner prance about like silly children. I give major credit to Meryl Streep, who has no dance groove but didn't hold back and made it look fun anyway. Worse was Pierce Brosnan, who really and truly can't sing to save his life. He belted it out anyway, though, in a raspy sort of way, so he gets points for effort at least. Fortunately, many of the other cast members sang pretty well, like Colin Firth and Amanda Seyfried.

I think the movie itself was pretty forgettable, but it was still incredibly fun because of the music. This is really a compliment to ABBA, for having created such a trove of memorable songs. I am by no means a hardcore ABBA fan, but I recognized every song in the movie and (surprisingly) knew the lyrics to more than half of them. This exhuberant, sing-along aspect helped distract from the thin plot and ridiculous scenes. Mamma Mia! is empty and saccharine-sweet, but still probably worth a rental.
∗∗

Prince Caspian

2009-01-01T07:51:00.002-06:00

Never let it be said that Disney didn't know how to capitalize ona trend. In the wake of highly successful fantasy films such as The Lord of the Rings, Disney weighed in with another classic fantasy series, The Chornicles of Narnia. The second installment of this series, Prince Caspian, is probably one of the best-suited books of the series for movie adaptation. Which is why I was puzzled when the screenwriters took some fairly significant liberties with the plot, mostly in order to include more epic battle sequences and special effects. The Narnia books have their share of fighting, but here it somewhat subordinates the plot. The first Narnia movie, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was pretty decent. Prince Caspian is a weaker movie in general, but it is still okay. The title character is certainly good-looking enough to have plenty of young fans anxiously wait for his appearance in the next movie in the series.

∗∗1/2

Iron Man

2008-11-14T21:23:00.000-06:00

I missed this one in the theater, so we put it in our Blockbuster-by-Mail queue. Perhaps waiting to see it was a mistake, however, because I was a little disappointed. It was a fun summer movie, but it wasn't amazing. The special effects were fine, but those things just don't impress me like they used to. And I saw all the good parts on the commercials anyway. In fact, all but two or three of the good lines of dialogue were in the trailers. I will gladly admit one thing, however -- casting Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark was the best casting decision since Johnny Depp was picked for Pirates of the Caribbean. He was absolutely perfect for the part. I thought Gwenyth Paltrow was an odd choice for Pepper Potts, but not too bad. Jeff Bridges was a fine villain, although I scarcely recognized him with the beard and the shaved head. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the movie a little more if I could have ignored Newton's Three Laws and the basic principles of thermodynamics, but I thought a lot of the action was fairly unbelievable. Still, it was a fun flick, and I would gladly see the inevitable sequel.
∗∗1/2

Dan in Real Life

2008-05-22T13:39:00.005-05:00

Dan in Real Life, starring Steve Carell, is one of those movies that you want to like. Carell plays a widower with three daughters who writes a parental advice column for the local newspaper. At home, however, his relationship with his kids is constantly strained. While at a family reunion, Dan hits it off with a nice woman in a bookstore, only to later find that she is his brother's girlfriend, and she is coming to staying with the family for the week.

With that set-up, you can expect plenty of awkward hilarity. Certainly, there was ample fodder for some good jokes and situational irony. But what follows is mostly just awkward. As is so often the case with Steve Carell, most of the movie's "humorous" moments made me cringe more than laugh. Carell's character has some really poignent moments, but they never last long. The writers and director don't let anything remain understated. As the sequence of events becomes more and more outrageous, I lost any emotional attachment to the characters. There were still a few good lines, but they were far and few between. Dan in Real Life doesn't actual represent many real life situations, which is a shame, because it has its funniest moments when the characters are allowed to act like normal people.
∗∗

I am Legend

2008-05-19T08:35:00.000-05:00

I Am Legend is like a cross between Castaway and a cheap zombie movie. Will Smith plays Dr. Robert Neville, the last man alive, living in New York City. Most of the earth's population was wiped out by a genetically engineered virus that was supposed to cure cancer. Only a small percent of humans survived, but most who did were transformed into rabid creatures who couldn't come out into the sunlight. So Will Smith roams the empty streets of New York, searching for food and performing experiments, trying to discover why he was immune to the virus.

Some elements of this film are basically your run-of-the-mill special effects movie material. The silent shots of NYC are stark and well-done, although most of the zombie shots are sloppy. I Am Legend has its best moments when Will Smith is actually acting. With nothing but a dog to keep him company, he is a profoundly lonely man, and you actually feel some of that emotion during some parts of the movie. There is a small sub-plot dealing with faith and trust, but it wasn't very well developed so it wasn't very effective. I won't spoil the end, but it does leave room for hope. I Am Legend is a fairly good movie, but I with they spent more time on the human, emotional side than on the special effect zombies.
∗∗1/2

The Prestige

2008-04-09T21:51:00.002-05:00

The Prestige boasts an impressive cast with an ambitious story of magicians, magic, and mystery. Like a real magic act, you can see how they do a few of the tricks before hand, but the overall performance is still very good.

The Prestige follows the careers of two rival magicians. When one of them (Christian Bale) develops the impossible magic trick, the other (Hugh Jackman) becomes obsessed with discovering the feat. Eventually, with the aid of science, he develops an even greater trick, but ultimately at great cost. Bale and Jackman are quite good, but the rest of the cast is also impressive. Scarlett Johansen is the lovely but conflicted assistant working for both men; Michael Caine plays the stage manager and trick engineer; David Bowie plays the true magician of them all, the famous inventor Nicola Tesla. The film has something of a surprise ending, although many viewers will have already figured it out. But that doesn't diminish the thrill or enjoyment. As the movie immediately explains, the title refers to the third part of all magic tricks, in which the illusion is presented. Indeed, The Prestige creates an intense, fascinating illusion.
∗∗∗1/2

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

2008-03-28T13:43:00.000-05:00

I can't quite imagine who thought this movie was a good idea. Logically, some movie executive must have okayed the project, and presumably someone actually looked at the script. I just don't know what they were thinking when they gave it the green light. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is nominally connected with the extremely successful Final Fantasy role-playing video game franchise. However, despite the video games' reputation for complex characters and intricate plots, we have none of that here.

The movie follows the quest of Dr. Aki Ross, the attractive young female scientist (you know the plot is going to be bad just from that phrase) who is searching for the seven "spirits" that will rid the earth of an alien infestation. The usual compliment of stock characters is along for the ride, including the wise old mentor, the attractive male lead, the arrogant and foolish military leader, and a few wise-cracking sidekicks.

The Spirits Within really only has one thing going for it: special effects. At the time it was released, the movie represented an advancement in realistic computer animated characters. For the most part, the people are fairly realistic. You know they aren't real people, but they look and act enough like real people so that it isn't distracting. As is always the case, the effects don't look as good now as they did when the movie came out, but it's still not too bad. However, a little eye candy was never enough to sell a movie with a plot this bad.
∗1/2

Spider-Man 3

2008-03-02T08:12:00.004-06:00

I knew that the third installment of this big-budget comic adaptation was weaker than the first two movies. I intentionally didn't see it in the theater, and I only now got around to seeing the DVD. My problem with the Spider-Man movies is that I'm actually a Spider-Man fan. I had a subscription to the comic for several years when I was young, and I read the comics in the local public library for years before that. So my reluctance to watch the movie wasn't because I didn't like Spider-Man; it was because I was afraid of what the movie makers were going to do with the franchise.

Spider-Man 3 was exactly what I expected it to be. It isn't terrible, but there's a lot that I didn't like about the movie. The major problem with this movie is what I might call the Batman-ization of the Spider-Man franchise. This movie is goofier than the previous two, with more soap-opera like plot elements. It also suffers from villain fatigue -- with Spider-Man fighting an alien symbiote, Venom, the Sandman, and the New Goblin. Frankly, there is just too much going on in this movie for there to be sufficient development of any single plot.

The storyline with the alien symbiote is the most compelling part of the movie. Eddie Brock, Peter Parker's competitor at The Daily Bugle, comes into contact with the symbiote after Spider-Man rejects it. Brock becomes Venom, a bigger and nastier version of Spider-Man who is always more dangerous than Spider-Man's other enemies because he knows his true identity. The Venom character was animated quite well in the movie, but it suffered from poor casting. Topher Grace wasn't physically threatening, and he seemed more goofy than angry or vindictive. The casting of the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), on the other hand, was quite good, and he had a few good scenes, but not enough to make the movie.

If Spider-Man 3 had just had two villains, it might have had time to develop the characters a little more. Instead, Sam and Ivan Raimi decided to also include the story of Harry Osborn becoming the New Goblin. Combine this with the soap-opera drama of Mary Jane Watson and the newly-introduced Gwen Stacy, there was just too much going on in this movie to do any one storyline justice. The movie makers may have wanted to squeeze as much into the movie as possible, in case they didn't get to make another one. But in doing so, they may have guaranteed that the franchise stays at only three movies.

Ratatouille

2008-01-05T09:24:00.000-06:00

Ratatouille is the most recent of the computer-animated movies created by Pixar and Disney, and in that impressive tradition, it doesn't disappoint. Ratatoille (named after a Mediterranian stew) tells the tale of Remy the rat, who spurns the garbage-eating lifestyle of his family and instead pursues fine cuisine, mixing flavors and learning to cook by secretly watching a cooking show by the famed French chef, Auguste Gusteau. But when Gusteau unexpectedly dies and Remy is separated from his family, he winds up at Gusteau's struggling restaurant with an awkward young washboy named Linguini. Remy's big dreams of making great food come true when he discovers that he can control Linguini's movements by pulling on his hair under his chef's hat. The two team up to create amazing dishes, while trying to escape discovery by a suspicious sous chef. Ratatouille isn't the best movie Pixar has ever made, but it is both charming and entertaining for all ages.
∗∗∗

Stardust

2008-01-05T09:23:00.000-06:00

Stardust is a novel by noted fantasy writer Neil Gaiman, whose witty and off-beat books and stories have developed quite a following. Although many of Gaiman's works have been picked up as options for movies, Stardust is the first movie to actually attempt to translate Gaiman's tales to the silver screen. It tells the tale of a young man named Tristan who ventures into a magical kingdom in order to bring back a fallen star to the girl he thinks he loves. Of course, it's not as simple as it seems -- the fallen star isn't just a lump of rock, it's a girl (Claire Daines) who is being hunted by several malevolent princes and an evil witch (Michelle Pfeiffer). There are plenty of adventures that would normally be tired clichés, were it not for Gaiman's habit of fracturing fairytales and doing the unexpected. I don't mean to say that there isn't a happy ending (there is), but how they get there is often unexpected and convoluted. Stardust isn't a perfect film; sometimes it is a little too weird or moves too slowly. But it definitely has its moments, including a hilarious performance by Robert DeNiro as the cross-dressing captain of a flying ship. Fans of Gaiman's work and the fantasy genre will enjoy Stardust, but it has plenty of appeal for people who thought they would never like a fantasy movie.
∗∗1/2

Bewitched

2008-01-05T09:21:00.001-06:00

Hollywood's utter lack of imagination can occasionally give rise to some humorous moments. In this quasi-remake of Bewitched, an over-the-hill actor (Will Farrell) signs on to do a remake of the classic series, but he wants a nobody in the role of the witch Samantha so she doesn't steal his thunder. He chooses a woman he meets in the bookstore (Nicole Kidman) on the exclusive criterion that she can wiggle her nose properly, never suspecting that she is, in fact, a real witch. Hilarity, as you may imagine, is sure to ensue.

Fans of the original Bewitched series may chuckle at all the references to show. It isn't necessary to have seen the original series in order to enjoy the movie, but you may miss a lot of the jokes. The movie has plenty of fun with situational comedy, and takes quite a few jabs at movie remakes as well. Appearances by Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Colbert, and Steve Carell liven up an otherwise bland movie. The end is cute, although not terribly surprising or eventful. Bewitched is somewhat amusing, even if it isn't exactly fine cinema.
∗∗

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2008-01-05T09:19:00.000-06:00

The fifth installment of the Harry Potter movie series is the best one yet in many respects. The screenwriting for Order of the Phoenix is very good, carrying over all the important elements from 870-page book while leaving out all the excess. As a consequence, this film deviates from the storyline more than previous films by combining scenes and expediting the story, but it maintains the important dialogue. The result is a film that doesn't feel rushed but still manages to cover a whirlwind of events and character development. My major complaints about Order of the Phoenix are stylistic (I thought the art direction, especially for the Department of Mysteries, left much to be desired.) This movie has perhaps the best climax of the entire series, with an actual confrontation of good and evil and a duel between the wizards Dumbledore and Voldemort. Frankly, I wanted to be wowed by this scene, but it was pretty mediocre. Still, the movie in general is quite good, continuing in the tradition set by the previous two Harry Potter films.
∗∗∗

The Golden Compass

2008-01-05T09:17:00.001-06:00

Ever since Hollywood started to make money on fantasy films like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, there has been a glut of such films based on young adult fantasy series. The Golden Compass is the most recent offering, with some big-name stars (Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and Sir Ian McKellan) bolster its appeal. The movie got a lot of last year for supposedly being anti-religious. Indeed, the author of the trilogy is fairly hostile to religion, and the books (especially the third) reflect that sentiment. However, it mostly comes off as anti-establishment in the movie. The Golden Compass paints a picture of a world in which all people have animal companions (quixotically named "demons") and where animals talk and magic is commonplace. Like most movies of its genre, there are plenty of adventures, perils, and quests. There are also, however, some mild themes of corruption, pain, and masochism. The ending of the movie is particularly weak because the book ended with the sacrifice of a child, so the movie just ends before that happens. If the film series is successful, the movie makers will face increasingly challenging themes to portray in a children's movie. I doubt that it will make it to a full trilogy, but The Golden Compass is fairly decent by itself.
∗∗

The Bourne Ultimatim

2008-01-05T09:14:00.000-06:00

The third and probably final installment of the Bourne Trilogy was actually better than I expected. I've been a big fan of the series ever since I saw the first one in the theater, but I had heard that the third one wasn't as strong as the first two. I think this is probably true, but The Bourne Ultimatum is still pretty good. It ties off the storyline nicely, although there is still room for more in the Bourne storyline. But I hear that Matt Damon refuses to do another movie, which is probably wise, and without Matt Damon the movies wouldn't be half as cool. In addition to Damon, I loved the greater role given to Julia Styles. The film picks up right where the second one left off, and it does a good job of reminding forgetful viewers what happened in the first two films before it takes off on another adventure across three continents. A couple scenes, one in London's Waterloo Station and the other on the rooftops of Tangier, are absolutely thrilling. Joan Allen and David Strathairn play competing CIA officials trying to track Bourne down. Both are fine actors, although their conflicts give rise to some of the worst lines in the movie. (The screenwriters clearly have a very low opinion of the intelligence community.) All in all, this is an exciting, fun movie to watch. And if you're like me, your pulse will race a little bit as soon as the theme music starts.
∗∗∗

My Neighbor Totoro

2007-12-06T10:20:00.000-06:00

My Neighbor Totoro, in my opinion, is Hayao Miyazaki's greatest film. Considering his enormous and amazing body of work, that's saying something. My Neighbor Totoro isn't as well-known in the U.S. as some of Miyazaki's other works, such as Spirited Away, for which he won an Oscar. The movie was made almost twenty years ago and it is set in rural Japan, with few of the plot elements that American audiences are used to. But from the very beginning, this film is absolutely magic.

The movie begins with two little girls moving into an old house with their father. Their mother has been in the hospital for some time, and they are hoping she will be released soon. In the meantime, the girls meet their new neighbors, who are friendly people. Then one day the youngest girl discovers a furry little creatures and follows him home to his den. These forest animals are called "totoros," and they have magical powers and can't be seen by adults. The girls have several adventures with the totoros, and the big Totoro helps save the day at the end.

Part of the reason I loved this film is how it shows a different lifestyle. Despite the fantastical title characters, most of the movie takes place in a normal, real-life setting. To an American viewer it was interesting to see the differences in housing, schooling, transportation, and culture. I also love how realistic the characters are. The little sister is just as uninhibited, childish, stubborn, and temperamental as a real four year old. The girls' father is gentle and supportive, and believes them when they tell him of their adventures with Totoro. Of course, as always, the animation is gorgeous and articulate, capturing the natural movements of real children.

At its heart, My Neighbor Totoro is about human relationships and struggles, and about being happy. I heartily recommend this film to all ages.
∗∗∗∗

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2007-11-23T11:37:00.000-06:00

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy now occupies a classic and cult status among science fiction novels. I suppose it was only a matter of time before such a popular series was made into a movie. I read the book years ago, and I liked the whimsical and irreverent humor. It wasn't the sort of thing that translated easily to the silver screen, however. One attempt at bringing the series to life on the BBC during the 1980's is now legendary for its spectacularly bad special effects and acting. This second attempt did a better job, but it still couldn't quite capture the magic of the books. At least the special effects were better, and there were some okay scenes, but for the most part it was fairly ho-hum. I've seen a few bits of the old BBC series, and I was amused to see that several scenes in the movie paid homage to that version. I was also fairly impressed with Mos Def as Ford Prefect; I didn't think he would work in the part, but he was okay. I didn't particularly like the portrayal of Zaphod Beeblebrox, however, They sort of made him a cross between a vapid celebrity and George W. Bush, which ruined the vibe of the original character. I hate it when movie makers sacrifice character and plot for cheap political jabs.

Fans of the books probably won't like this movie a ton because of its departures and differences from the novels. Newcomers to the series might like it, but they also might be confused because a lot of it doesn't make much sense. Maybe that works better in a book than a movie. It wasn't too bad, though, which is more than I can say about most sci-fi book adaptations. Put this one in the Glad-I-Didn't-Pay-To-See-It-In-The-Theater category.
∗∗

TMNT

2007-11-11T14:59:00.000-06:00

I actually really liked the idea behind this movie. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise has seen a couple cartoon series, several video games, and three live-action films. But I thought that a computer animated film was perhaps best suited for the genre, since the creature characters would be just as believable as the human animated characters. I was quite satisfied with the animation of this movie; it was campy, but fun to watch. I was also pleasantly surprised with some of the big-name voice talent the movie used, Patrick Stewart, Lawrence Fishburn, Mako, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ziyi Zhang. The voices weren't distracting, and they worked very well in their respective roles.

As as often the case with cartoon movies, I wish they movie makers had put a little more effort into a workable plot -- it was a rather outlandish story of monsters from another dimension. (The main characters live in New York City -- how far do you have to look to find crime to fight?) It was definitely a movie geared for the audience that watched the show 15 years ago. I count myself one of that crowd, so I thought it was a fun, silly movie. Not a great movie, but a good enough movie.
∗∗

Princess Mononoke

2007-10-25T09:32:00.000-05:00

This movie has become one of my favorite films by Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, partially because it so different from the rest. Although it is a cartoon, Princess Mononoke is nothing less than an epic saga filled with armies, magical creatures, and a struggle to rule the world. The story follows Ashitaka, a prince of a small tribe who is mortally infected by a strange disease after defending his village from a corrupted animal god. Ashitaka leaves his people in search of a cure, traveling through war-torn lands and meeting people from all sides of a great brewing conflict. Some of the other characters include the leader of a mining operation, a group of men trying to kill the great god of the forest, and Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves who fights the miners for control of the forest.

Ashitaka is only one small player in this story, but it is told from his perspective, drawing some comparisons to Star Wars. The story is just as sweeping as the space adventure, but they themes are different. The balance between industrialization and nature and technology and magic are prominent in the film. However, neither industry nor nature are portrayed as the "right" choice. Equally complex are the characters, many of whom are trying to kill each other and make terrible decisions. But Miyazaki makes each personality unique and nuanced -- there are no simple bad guys in this tale. Nor are there completely happy endings, although there is hope for peace and balance in the future.

Princess Mononoke is an excellent film, but be warned: it is not for small children. The level of gore and violence is much higher than your average cartoon, and it carries a PG-13 rating in the U.S. The action and thematic elements are worthy of a sprawling epic Hollywood film, but by rendering it in his gorgeous signature animation, Hayao Miyazaki has told an amazing story in a way that Hollywood never could.
∗∗∗1/2

Elizabethtown

2007-10-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

Elizabethtown is a quirky movie that is hard to pin down. I'd probably call it a romantic comedy, but it doesn't fit neatly into that genre. The movie follows Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) who has just gotten fired and gets the news that his father has passed away while visiting family in Kentucky. He goes to bring his father's body home, and meets a flight attendant (Kirsten Dunst) who brings him out of the dumps and helps him appreciate what he has. This isn't a feel-good movie, however -- it's full of odd moments and bizarre images, so you never quite know what will happen next. Alas, all this quirkiness gets in the way of a coherent storyline. Elizabethtown could have still pulled it off, if it weren't for a couple scenes that ruined everything the film had built up at that point. There is an irreverent scene at the funeral with Drew's mother (played by Susan Sarandon) that has no part in the movie. It seems to have been added just so the Academy Awared-winning actress could get more screentime, but the movie falls apart after that. I like quirky movies, but the quirks can't dominate over the plot, as is the case here.

Elizabethtown is equally culpable for dealing in trite stereotypes of small-town America. Elizabethtown is painted as a small community stuck in the 1950's, full of backward-thinking people and unbending tradition. Even as the movie tries to break out of the standard movie-making formula, it bandies about the same tired Hollywood-centric view of Middle America promulgated by writers and directors that have never lived outside of California. This shortcoming, combined with an ineffectual storyline, make Elizabethtown fizzle long before it ends.
∗∗

Howl's Moving Castle

2007-09-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

Unlike most films by legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, Howl's Moving Castle is based on a previous work, a book of the same title by Diana Wynne Jones. The story follows Sophie, a meek young woman who falls under a curse that makes her old and wrinkled. She flees to the wilderness, where she encounters the giant walking castle of the mysterious wizard Howl. Sophie takes up residence in the castle as a cleaning woman, and becomes entangled in the affairs of witches, wizards, intrigue, magic, and nations at war. The animation is some of Miyazaki's best, and I enjoyed the interplay between magic and technology. I thought the story was well done, although there were parts of the plot that weren't quite as clear as they could have been. Still, they don't get in the way of an excellent movie. The English dubbing is very well done, and features such impressive voice talent as Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, and Billy Crystal. Howl's Moving Castle is some of Miyazaki's finest work.
∗∗∗1/2

Kiki's Delivery Service

2007-09-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

Kiki's Delivery Service has many of the signature traits of films by the legendary Japanese illustrator Hayao Miyazaki. However, I think it's one of his weakest works. The plot follows Kiki, a young witch who must travel to a new city to practice magic on her own for one year. She and her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, have to adjust to both independence and city life. As the title suggests, Kiki sets up a delivery service and has several adventures and makes new friends while delivering packages. My major issue with this movie is that it doesn't have much of a point. There are some themes of self-realization and growing up, but they aren't well developed. The animation also isn't as rich and detailed as some other Miyazaki movies. I'd call this movie okay, definitely fun for kids, but after seeing other Miyazaki films, this one was something of a let-down.
∗∗

Bleak House

2007-09-03T12:16:00.004-05:00

While the BBC's miniseries adaptation of the enormous Charles Dickens classic Bleak House isn't exactly a "film," I think it surpasses the normal scope of television sufficiently to warrant a review. I have always wanted to read Bleak House because of its infamous satire of lawyers, but I confess that I balked at the size of the book (it has around a thousand pages). Then I discovered the miniseries, which is still quite long (almost 8 hours), but manageable. We had to borrow it from the library twice to finish the whole series, but it was well worth the effort.

Despite its boring title, Bleak House has a little bit of everything -- suspense, intrigue, mystery, murder, and romance. The plot revolves around a young woman who never knew her parents and her two companions who stand to inherit a fortune in a court case which has already gone on for decades. There are also plenty of scandalous secrets and absurd characters which reminded me that Dickens was writing his era's version of a soap opera.

The production of Bleak House is excellent -- the BBC has come a long way since it made a movie out of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The acting is very good, and the writers did an admirable job and reducing such a hefty serial novel into the most important elements. Even the music was superb -- quiet and pretty, but with an edge to it that hints at sinister intentions. I only had two small complaints about the production -- the main character is supposed to look like the character played by Gillian Anderson, but the two actresses look nothing alike. I also found the modern, jumpy camera style a little distracting at times, although it was very unnerving and matched the tone of the series. Overall, I thought Bleak House was a fine production and a great way to experience a classic novel.
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