tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17006813200247129972024-03-19T04:51:45.015-07:00TWOBEN'S DOMAINEmmett Goodman's search through animation, film and art.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-9292219304302346462011-01-05T11:17:00.000-08:002011-01-05T11:40:16.979-08:00The Illusionist (L'Illusionniste)French filmmaker Sylvain Chomet is in a category all his own in terms of filmmaking. Judging by the time between his projects (its been 7 years since <span style="font-style:italic;">The Triplets of Belleville</span>), a conclusion could be reached that he is a perfectionist, with a delicate eye for detail. <span style="font-style:italic;">The Illustionist</span> is only his second feature film, and while it has some hallmarks in common with <span style="font-style:italic;">Triplets</span>, there is new territory here as well. Both films are nearly wordless and feature stylized characters in non-stylized settings. However, <span style="font-style:italic;">Triplets</span> is a comedic adventure with bits of action and musical interludes, while <span style="font-style:italic;">The Illusionist</span> is more emotionally driven with a greater focus on characters and emotional growth.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN1C-0ZEih24YWXmqpPczoodqyEqQq_8B6_qyDZX9UembINYJMF1r5nQ53NUsakcVWQy6fh8Y4UnQMTQ70gZWPR5KtDkqLS_NGoBjFWk5_gAXTwK3p2MmzoBqO6-U8-uKaVg8Oi23Xo0/s1600/Tati+in+UK.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN1C-0ZEih24YWXmqpPczoodqyEqQq_8B6_qyDZX9UembINYJMF1r5nQ53NUsakcVWQy6fh8Y4UnQMTQ70gZWPR5KtDkqLS_NGoBjFWk5_gAXTwK3p2MmzoBqO6-U8-uKaVg8Oi23Xo0/s320/Tati+in+UK.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558784960273495986" /></a><br />The film isn't totally Chomet's. In some ways it is a (phantom) collaboration between Chomet and famed French filmmaker Jacques Tati (1907-1982). Tati, who directed only six features during his life, is best known for his nearly wordless comedies staring his alter-ego, the innocently-incompetent Mr. Hulot. <span style="font-style:italic;">The Illusionist</span> is adapted from an un-produced screenplay by Tati, said to be written as a response to his estranged eldest daughter. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNLs607YPsU4iRPLtFnPwmFOpt3UM1Dao5vbbbqHGw3rd9RW6oTGDl2_eUWOjYLIePGR3pA4d22w7ZYuNF5raJKrW6TlLaDqBE48Sb18dBh2VXa7_6dfUTILnv87UG_QVQxtNNIxdYVM/s1600/Tati+and+Girl.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNLs607YPsU4iRPLtFnPwmFOpt3UM1Dao5vbbbqHGw3rd9RW6oTGDl2_eUWOjYLIePGR3pA4d22w7ZYuNF5raJKrW6TlLaDqBE48Sb18dBh2VXa7_6dfUTILnv87UG_QVQxtNNIxdYVM/s320/Tati+and+Girl.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558785309382696434" /></a><br />The movie takes place for the most part all around the United Kingdom, with locations in London, Scotland, and a majority spent in Edinburgh (also the location of Chomet's studio where the film was produced). The time of the movie isn't established, although it can considered somewhere around the late 50's and early 60's. The main character, Tatischeff (Tati's birth name), is an aging magician who finds interest for his talents dwindling, and is short on venues to perform his magic act. One of his luckier ventures into Scotland introduce him to an impressed young waitress. After some confusion, she winds up in his lap, and he ends up taking care of her, like a father figure. The rest of the film shows the girl growing up emotionally, while Tatischeff slowly comes to the realization that he needs to rethink his life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52NZZQyMJmcFLHMbHrrktGMPHMuWgi2HeiadQsoxsal5AzCIMYjo43qso8r5jG1Jx5s3LctAGuCvTXFGCu533duhs7OyTVP0oebD64Dr8S53hRzzWrwfba5RIBdxE1kCKcGffEDm5tc/s1600/Tati+and+Girl+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52NZZQyMJmcFLHMbHrrktGMPHMuWgi2HeiadQsoxsal5AzCIMYjo43qso8r5jG1Jx5s3LctAGuCvTXFGCu533duhs7OyTVP0oebD64Dr8S53hRzzWrwfba5RIBdxE1kCKcGffEDm5tc/s320/Tati+and+Girl+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558785557838073634" /></a><br />I have to say, the film is more of a thematic essay than a thorough story. But I might be far reaching. It seems like it is trying to be a clear story, but the relationship between the magician and the girl doesn't start off very clearly. Because there is hardly any dialog, the audience has to pay close attention to the acting and pantomime in order to realize the characters' developments. I had some trouble there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmzqjpJsnBI_HCp_OOu5FfI4s8I8XBpIXubtuJ2faGkDNbYa8JDvnScDBI7crjmEB9jNvntogmeZ2XeTug3GfMCWtFebfkzfFSUVBs3I_9_KX1Cu9Bwr0exzODb1W6RwFiCd_3L3d-C0/s1600/Rabbit+problems+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmzqjpJsnBI_HCp_OOu5FfI4s8I8XBpIXubtuJ2faGkDNbYa8JDvnScDBI7crjmEB9jNvntogmeZ2XeTug3GfMCWtFebfkzfFSUVBs3I_9_KX1Cu9Bwr0exzODb1W6RwFiCd_3L3d-C0/s320/Rabbit+problems+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558785857827984370" /></a><br />One of my favorite characters is a pudgy white rabbit with an irate temper and a need to bite. The rabbit is added for comedic effect, as Tatischeff has a difficult time controlling his live prop before and after shows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrpdNLkF5IJvNKRcacVWtLSLfWJuoFsn1G5r-64GkTkXdKLCqOGzYdwZnKLq7t_0Ma55hb1G1NoCFLare8eK8dnjuUmGMR94GaFLX53tifBvnrVGvM6C80JU6CMMR9-tTw487B-k_4ZE/s1600/Hotel+lobby.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrpdNLkF5IJvNKRcacVWtLSLfWJuoFsn1G5r-64GkTkXdKLCqOGzYdwZnKLq7t_0Ma55hb1G1NoCFLare8eK8dnjuUmGMR94GaFLX53tifBvnrVGvM6C80JU6CMMR9-tTw487B-k_4ZE/s320/Hotel+lobby.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558786293139055378" /></a><br />The character designs are great, although not as fantastical as in <span style="font-style:italic;">Triplets</span>. While the characters in <span style="font-style:italic;">Triplets</span> were like bizarre caricatures, the characters in <span style="font-style:italic;">The Illusionist</span> are much softer in terms of exaggeration. They are not scary looking, and are a little more realistic. Tatischeff is an obvious caricature of Jacques Tati, but in a friendly way. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquI2TRgbl3NzOE9kx67F1jN5ycBy-mJU8yQUD6pyzjKfxRcEf_Sc0k9DfX7vd8vz7LDtLIL-wT6ao7AbZS9HIj0vmkcWzVuXcqSpVpYMjEA4d_vujzWF_SPXJXCSSgnaER-RYip4BmYU/s1600/Scotland.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquI2TRgbl3NzOE9kx67F1jN5ycBy-mJU8yQUD6pyzjKfxRcEf_Sc0k9DfX7vd8vz7LDtLIL-wT6ao7AbZS9HIj0vmkcWzVuXcqSpVpYMjEA4d_vujzWF_SPXJXCSSgnaER-RYip4BmYU/s320/Scotland.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558786723848867586" /></a><br />The art direction of the film is beautiful. The majority is done by hand, drawn and painted with watercolors. Like the character designs, the art direction is only slightly exaggerated, as the location are quite precise. Some shots still require digital assistance, but they are wonderfully composed shots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jbbt9HSvJ_-fIMXFgYGEfRrU7d1b1imwM2Tua5v8DSOhQnluosMoID9B53OJbjNHLOwrdgq3q8sxr6QbpIqqSDCSxUgxVJUNBsAiH4n-6qp4kL_RIVOr13zhCfJrZrLldBPKheMDaCQ/s1600/Scottish+pub.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jbbt9HSvJ_-fIMXFgYGEfRrU7d1b1imwM2Tua5v8DSOhQnluosMoID9B53OJbjNHLOwrdgq3q8sxr6QbpIqqSDCSxUgxVJUNBsAiH4n-6qp4kL_RIVOr13zhCfJrZrLldBPKheMDaCQ/s320/Scottish+pub.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558787040778065138" /></a><br />Some shots, however, get a little too crowded. Too many characters in one shot, and a lot of faces to catch. Actually, this may give the film some staying power. The more it is watched, the more details one can pick up on. However, considering how tricky the story is, that remains to be seen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4_mXS6nUzIeKAoSfUyoeMHNaaq_MJbHjb1-2w2QrJQ7-SXK3KAxZOetqHbgmm9bh6T8soWG0RBn2j35LOx2VFSM50NzqBC4oObx2xbCPtp42-2aEjBuo1PnSRia8XKHWC42qlrOyJA4/s1600/Mousy+man.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4_mXS6nUzIeKAoSfUyoeMHNaaq_MJbHjb1-2w2QrJQ7-SXK3KAxZOetqHbgmm9bh6T8soWG0RBn2j35LOx2VFSM50NzqBC4oObx2xbCPtp42-2aEjBuo1PnSRia8XKHWC42qlrOyJA4/s320/Mousy+man.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558787439349212738" /></a><br />I am very willing to see this film again. This review is after only one viewing, and likely to change after several more viewings. For now, I am still very impressed by Sylvain Chomet's talents as a director and artist, and it is a good film. I just feel the storytelling needs work. It is not easy to replicate a writing style, especially Jacques Tati's style, which was very unique and distinctive. However, I can see Tati's influence in <span style="font-style:italic;">Triplets</span> as well, so the influence is clearly there. I hope Chomet has a few more films up his sleeve. At the very least, his complexities may allow him as many films as Tati produced in his lifetime.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-35468185596080115162010-12-18T13:18:00.000-08:002010-12-18T13:34:38.327-08:00Tangled...a little too straightenedThis movie has been hyped up as Disney's big return to form, especially after years of sub-par movies in the shadow of its partner studio, Pixar. I actually thought <span style="font-style:italic;">Princess and the Frog</span> was the true return to form, but it turns out I was wrong (although I still enjoyed that movie very much). <span style="font-style:italic;">Tangled</span> may be a return to form, but one that depends on nostalgia. Aside from the animation, the movie doesn't break any new ground or enter any new territory.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitASu9_RaMauFG2Alz8svpzQU_jyQ6MPfSikzKJNL7aIkuQqEEJegMmNhEncFwjukO9CQEkR0gHWY-i1CG43sC01ruwjCfglVK-XpRdBEzbUxd2ysnN9fR3ijMrsu1U5bYZUnkOAxW1JU/s1600/Rapunzel+and+Flynn+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitASu9_RaMauFG2Alz8svpzQU_jyQ6MPfSikzKJNL7aIkuQqEEJegMmNhEncFwjukO9CQEkR0gHWY-i1CG43sC01ruwjCfglVK-XpRdBEzbUxd2ysnN9fR3ijMrsu1U5bYZUnkOAxW1JU/s320/Rapunzel+and+Flynn+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552135449804579314" /></a><br />The story is pretty simple. Most of us know the Grimm's fairy tale of Rapunzel. The story revolves around a princess who is surrendered as an infant to a witch and locked in a tower, where the only known means of entrance is climbing the girl's supremely long hair up to the windows. The story here is altered a bit, with Rapunzel being a princess, and kidnapped rather than surrendered. Also of note is that Rapunzel's long hair has healing powers, due to her mother drinking an enchanted elixir while pregnant. The villain (kidnapper in this case) is Gothel, and she isn't a witch or an enchantress, but a very vain woman so consumed with being young forever. Gothel needs the power of the girl's hair in order to remain youthful looking. Move ahead 16 years later, and Rapunzel wants to see the world outside her tower, and gets her chance when a young hoodlum named Flynn Rider (originally a prince in the Grimm's tale) seeks solace in her tower while on the run.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia7Gz2BgqYpU9mrAK0DCxJAgztWgkXV-rnfsnLcovnQhyDzqpEElWbJ_GRDk7j9y776aK3GMCmyzO0eDvWXM8JlJZ_nDorfHaxc30TOXcoy95QeEtsk6_t6L5yr26nKlASgDGsFEXT_I/s1600/Flynn+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia7Gz2BgqYpU9mrAK0DCxJAgztWgkXV-rnfsnLcovnQhyDzqpEElWbJ_GRDk7j9y776aK3GMCmyzO0eDvWXM8JlJZ_nDorfHaxc30TOXcoy95QeEtsk6_t6L5yr26nKlASgDGsFEXT_I/s320/Flynn+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552136083933129250" /></a><br />The story, I have to say is not very original, but it is solid. There is enough development between the characters and their relationships. And while non of it is unique, it is enough to keep the story and the movie going along. Flynn Rider turns out to be a rather compelling character, one in which is so slippery that its hard to know whether or not to trust him. Although he's a thief, its only because he's something of a dreamer who thinks its possible to attain the impossible. This works in the relationship between him and Rapunzel: what she believes is impossible is actually possible, and its vice versa for him. Their relationship connects when they finally make these realizations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokTh_hDhPGQi6wnQiATamFpabmPzKDiZwqKTKeft_qt4B7WZGXLJ0Ax_CyBEFdSLiNrAXP-TYyufBoSj4t984SpBj793pW8jiK6jgsRog5AtBYuvAMZYL2uAdzhy_bt6aX3TQ1Tuss7U/s1600/Rapunzel+and+Flynn+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokTh_hDhPGQi6wnQiATamFpabmPzKDiZwqKTKeft_qt4B7WZGXLJ0Ax_CyBEFdSLiNrAXP-TYyufBoSj4t984SpBj793pW8jiK6jgsRog5AtBYuvAMZYL2uAdzhy_bt6aX3TQ1Tuss7U/s320/Rapunzel+and+Flynn+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552135795651162562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI9zpPNXP8VW1_WiS04qPVVKm0DGIMcDbfTuPMFMCCFP7Sta31Mma0bGfcoLJYlNMRq2fEw0xrP7Pd6VeWAvT1B_4xztuGvfEfWKeN0rRLSZ4M42q6_aMmKu-e7qTrcjkllGnkIYUIi4/s1600/Castle.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI9zpPNXP8VW1_WiS04qPVVKm0DGIMcDbfTuPMFMCCFP7Sta31Mma0bGfcoLJYlNMRq2fEw0xrP7Pd6VeWAvT1B_4xztuGvfEfWKeN0rRLSZ4M42q6_aMmKu-e7qTrcjkllGnkIYUIi4/s320/Castle.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552136559030936914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_k7qXhfQqbahRH5OSAwEacMbYX99SjPVowGEnqT08odYh3fKsQu78hCYQQkOOPD7FVRa9C3HflEmvMpqO9XQaxTHoWdlEzqazgyFtwwM0iiCFyxz8knQonqfM0ug2qcnKu8ASygiR6o/s1600/Rapunzel+and+Pascal+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_k7qXhfQqbahRH5OSAwEacMbYX99SjPVowGEnqT08odYh3fKsQu78hCYQQkOOPD7FVRa9C3HflEmvMpqO9XQaxTHoWdlEzqazgyFtwwM0iiCFyxz8knQonqfM0ug2qcnKu8ASygiR6o/s320/Rapunzel+and+Pascal+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552136789305134946" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Tangled</span> is a mixture of two formulas: Disney's Princess films in the 1950's, and the modern Broadway formula in the early 1990's. They are updated further with Computer Animation. However, the CG is not the realistic "Illusion of reality" look Disney initially tried to achieve years ago, but a closer adaptation of Disney's original character designs from the previously mentioned eras. Glen Keane, who was originally one of the directors, contributes to the character designs of the film, and if you check out his blog and original drawings, the 3D characters bear a much closer resemblence to their drawn counterparts. A much appreciated breakthrough.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL2Dnw66z5eP3nJlJ4q8LRiJ8rN7Y7v-J6kt6Og3JsKiP0YpmZVAClZ8XJYwos4wlv-sVzkvbXZl2PYey4O-sZ_r9t8xBwSXKj38fQWDMeHk5zR8Ku2nGybqrPyd5xDlWva3arwbx-e0/s1600/Rapunzel%2527s+hair.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL2Dnw66z5eP3nJlJ4q8LRiJ8rN7Y7v-J6kt6Og3JsKiP0YpmZVAClZ8XJYwos4wlv-sVzkvbXZl2PYey4O-sZ_r9t8xBwSXKj38fQWDMeHk5zR8Ku2nGybqrPyd5xDlWva3arwbx-e0/s320/Rapunzel%2527s+hair.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552137037791028162" /></a><br />I have to say, when I first heard about this movie (when it was still called <span style="font-style:italic;">Rapunzel</span>), I was curious about how they described the look of the film. Previous directors Glen Keane and Dean Wellins had stated they were working on a CG look that would capture the feel of 2D animation but with an emphasis on the look of oil paintings. I had no idea how to imagine this, but it sounded unique. What they finally have here is very nice, with a great job done on Rapunzel's hair (the much said struggles with the hair seem to have paid off). There were parts of the movie where I didn't like Rapunzel's hair, especially in the end when her hair gets cut off, and it looks all brown and pulpy (sound familiar?).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFIeLab8AZpEXh-KxkeR94Mj__gtPR5efKelxO79Jw0ScCqdO06jENnbnNkonIyRf-8WElRzWuJj82_7bnTbLVOdMi6O6iN3Az-QJ7WQ1dI-WM3oEYVePxOJiZF6rqSYHzpLv9PIOvcU/s1600/Flynn+and+Pascal.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFIeLab8AZpEXh-KxkeR94Mj__gtPR5efKelxO79Jw0ScCqdO06jENnbnNkonIyRf-8WElRzWuJj82_7bnTbLVOdMi6O6iN3Az-QJ7WQ1dI-WM3oEYVePxOJiZF6rqSYHzpLv9PIOvcU/s320/Flynn+and+Pascal.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552137350548623506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA8LeErJVyvdni1rO352VJNdU4E7P1u5fpJ29PODQxWkrIlX8lGCz5gGAaZ4anYDK6n2ELgjsZIaIBzLN2PUKlFbeUoGjZJ1nnP8feIWJsb-H8iagwPbZXAzbTwzailJgjs9O0j2e024/s1600/Flynn+and+Maximus+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA8LeErJVyvdni1rO352VJNdU4E7P1u5fpJ29PODQxWkrIlX8lGCz5gGAaZ4anYDK6n2ELgjsZIaIBzLN2PUKlFbeUoGjZJ1nnP8feIWJsb-H8iagwPbZXAzbTwzailJgjs9O0j2e024/s320/Flynn+and+Maximus+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552137341712030082" /></a><br />These formulas wouldn't be complete without the cute animal characters and broadway style songs which the characters break out into. Rapunzel's only friend in the tower is Pascal, a little chameleon that acts more like a cat than a lizard. The horse, Maximus, is one of my favorite characters in the movie. Maximus starts off as a loyal Royal Guard horse (acting more like a dog than a horse), fiercely tracking down the wanted Flynn, but then becoming a willing ally of Flynn, due to their mutual respect of Rapunzel. These misplaced animals personas managed to add to the enjoyment of the film.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhovZUWY_MZGgf3I7FQFwsFF-KhNTXlIDtCZM0wsEMBX2v-Qag0nmp4qgOzCpPMu__nFnQbJT4zUGKu1B23NSW9AJ6bvchEGafbtpQsqtXOTgJRkDg6CZW4VbAE0gD2yzg_1Dy1jr4IA/s1600/Flynn+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhovZUWY_MZGgf3I7FQFwsFF-KhNTXlIDtCZM0wsEMBX2v-Qag0nmp4qgOzCpPMu__nFnQbJT4zUGKu1B23NSW9AJ6bvchEGafbtpQsqtXOTgJRkDg6CZW4VbAE0gD2yzg_1Dy1jr4IA/s320/Flynn+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552137607950711554" /></a><br />I had problems with the songs. They just weren't memorable enough for me, even with Alan Menken, whose music many a child has grown up on. They just weren't catchy or lyrically poignant enough for me. "Part of Your World" from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Little Mermaid</span> is still a great example of lyrical memorability. However, Menken has not worked with as bold a lyricist as the late Howard Ashman. I mean no disrespect to Glenn Slater, but these songs sounded more like they were playing it safe, rather than treading some new territories.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb92ZYLyVko05Fv_RvL8BjN0JgizLi1A-d6gSEsYufsTxFk3KFoEFI0dd-AvTjbhc4H3S9KEPbhU5oMk5qqPbCoiLJs6ES_qZfVhEdpf_P9xqu8jhRsbNVgy5mwI9T3ExDw-52TvrIOM/s1600/Rat+thug.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb92ZYLyVko05Fv_RvL8BjN0JgizLi1A-d6gSEsYufsTxFk3KFoEFI0dd-AvTjbhc4H3S9KEPbhU5oMk5qqPbCoiLJs6ES_qZfVhEdpf_P9xqu8jhRsbNVgy5mwI9T3ExDw-52TvrIOM/s320/Rat+thug.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552137960800349346" /></a><br />Overall, I come back to the same thing I tell everyone. The movie is good, but its not great. It may be a return to form for Disney, but its no great leap forward. I would have preferred something that broke new ground, either visually or story-wise. I give <span style="font-style:italic;">Tangled</span> a 7 out of 10.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-89986452744018294412010-12-07T11:56:00.000-08:002010-12-07T12:18:42.422-08:00Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II have written about the <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter</span> films on the domain before. Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan of the Potter movies. I have managed to read most of the original books by J.K. Rowling, but it was the movies that turned me into such a Potter geek. At least two years ago, it was announced that <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</span>, the last novel in the series and the end of the story, would be split into two movies,<span style="font-style:italic;"> Part 1</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Part 2</span>. This excited me, as it was obvious that after a 10 year-long phenomenon, it needed to end on a grand scale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide78dfpmbUnfj5llmS9xUA9E2yIlotAXiJv2gavOrTM7xPBq0wNsQ3_LBSfsBDK9YqviIolvDfZl9l_hyQTdqsfhDwPwWR0U_t6R-kX5pli52VAKDe_4-BFsd2-znTDPG3zCEsPIRNWc/s1600/Seven+Potters.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide78dfpmbUnfj5llmS9xUA9E2yIlotAXiJv2gavOrTM7xPBq0wNsQ3_LBSfsBDK9YqviIolvDfZl9l_hyQTdqsfhDwPwWR0U_t6R-kX5pli52VAKDe_4-BFsd2-znTDPG3zCEsPIRNWc/s320/Seven+Potters.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548032194509468882" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Part I</span> came out a couple of weeks ago, and I saw it on my birthday. Recently, I saw it a second time (as I missed about five minutes the first time due to an emergency bathroom break). And all I can say is fantastic. Its already got me revved up for the final part next July.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vjWJONDhPxDBqrDJnUm0cN2wlCA6Qo4AhBUkK3Ly3iMo3q83ARyM3QBEaCjGagYv4HkWTHa2DDGaXVqgH-KKeSiHTxr4wGqF37BIYzQUvk8XYeJL6X1tkqq0gi8Ug8OOFFr613ARuDM/s1600/Harry+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vjWJONDhPxDBqrDJnUm0cN2wlCA6Qo4AhBUkK3Ly3iMo3q83ARyM3QBEaCjGagYv4HkWTHa2DDGaXVqgH-KKeSiHTxr4wGqF37BIYzQUvk8XYeJL6X1tkqq0gi8Ug8OOFFr613ARuDM/s320/Harry+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548032656126225378" /></a><br />Although its a great movie, it has to be judged as part of a series. It will feel weird to judge it entirely as a stand-alone movie, which I notice some other critics have done. As a stand-alone movie, it is technically marvelous, but the script and story rely on everything that has occurred in the series so far. If the previous films are ignored, then the story is confusing and disjointed. Thankfully I know the story well enough to judge it properly. And on a technical level, the film is beautifully composed, with David Yates and his crew really taking their time with the story, and changing the tones a little more casually, as opposed to rushing them from scene to scene, as they did two movies ago on <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter 5</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvde1lbyI32mzQ2sBzJL8_MJaEZkWzauuWV4U4B5khLmB7Bumtg4hvVFeknaWYs-5IpikfU6gAmpz8GIKFzIDs28jzncJPjO3WRNR4OX7TqhDy7eRVxgvxWCZ-iGRhprLS4Slkqh5CE0/s1600/Ministry+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvde1lbyI32mzQ2sBzJL8_MJaEZkWzauuWV4U4B5khLmB7Bumtg4hvVFeknaWYs-5IpikfU6gAmpz8GIKFzIDs28jzncJPjO3WRNR4OX7TqhDy7eRVxgvxWCZ-iGRhprLS4Slkqh5CE0/s320/Ministry+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548032892170715266" /></a><br />This movie is very unique to the series in several ways. For one thing, it is the first movie where nothing takes place at the Hogwarts school. Since Hogwarts has been the primary setting for most of the story, this movie allows us to see the main characters (Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger) under completely new circumstances. Now they are travelling the U.K. completely incognito, searching for horcruxes, the secret to the evil Lord Voldemort's immortality. However, there appears to be something of a Holocaust occurring, with Voldemort's control of the Ministry of Magic cracking down on muggle-born witches and wizards (something akin to white Aryans frowning upon Jews and other minorities). In this Holocaust, the Ministry declares Harry Potter "Undesirable No. 1." <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7O8VmUyJNrGoiyqkwtYL8NJLz9GS0bezKl18GralwzBxOOd3qmUIE0eDSosR6bQSPVeWPoJ18emddcGoHycpqstlDactle88spZ1TJf96F5jOABPwLilFkn4qF2zmGC-sRR3m3Y_GD0/s1600/Voldemort+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7O8VmUyJNrGoiyqkwtYL8NJLz9GS0bezKl18GralwzBxOOd3qmUIE0eDSosR6bQSPVeWPoJ18emddcGoHycpqstlDactle88spZ1TJf96F5jOABPwLilFkn4qF2zmGC-sRR3m3Y_GD0/s320/Voldemort+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548033209698766018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq8dQThHNznW0S7MyV09tm3N_lAuMxoqtpSzsoMIqXsHTMVjHg4Fzwzo3HiYFObi4ZbI4pAQ_qIAC_8wB_fQa7kYhN64T6sRcbZRIl028nQdBDPR-mlGFzfdmVuppTY-TDLul5l8kRrY/s1600/Harry+and+Hermione1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq8dQThHNznW0S7MyV09tm3N_lAuMxoqtpSzsoMIqXsHTMVjHg4Fzwzo3HiYFObi4ZbI4pAQ_qIAC_8wB_fQa7kYhN64T6sRcbZRIl028nQdBDPR-mlGFzfdmVuppTY-TDLul5l8kRrY/s320/Harry+and+Hermione1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548033496294295442" /></a><br />This is by far the darkest movie of the series, and the movies have been getting progressively darker as the characters get older. In this one, the main characters are completely cut off from their safety zones, and yet have to enter danger to find what they are looking for. And in the courses of this danger, characters get killed off. I tend to look forward to darkness in these sort of stories, as it helps to bring home the relationships between the main characters, and it exemplifies the themes a little quicker than if it were lighthearted. Even Rowling herself stated that the major theme of the story is "death." <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-sOsP6y_ya4aXOEBID5Duz6zuKBvWpmrd6vFZdblYg_im_7EzW1xN-gZ3UqycLCN_7o4eSlu828VsfD9QwcZHPZB8RNSDHLljPqogAAcqeuTa6GQS9vfArtNnt4KQS72K8X1xXgTItQ/s1600/Landscape+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-sOsP6y_ya4aXOEBID5Duz6zuKBvWpmrd6vFZdblYg_im_7EzW1xN-gZ3UqycLCN_7o4eSlu828VsfD9QwcZHPZB8RNSDHLljPqogAAcqeuTa6GQS9vfArtNnt4KQS72K8X1xXgTItQ/s320/Landscape+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548033965427921090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbM-rJzs_TEJH0PCRwRsB9AkSgWh8rzTseVdbiDYMhkkJd-oIIMsZZ56ophibLvqHxU4VbZqj124fvDWdCfLFp8_3w0N0ClLTHpptVt2ipfYuVMJobjiTCRjZFOj0y7rpHkc8c3kPt8A/s1600/Landscape+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbM-rJzs_TEJH0PCRwRsB9AkSgWh8rzTseVdbiDYMhkkJd-oIIMsZZ56ophibLvqHxU4VbZqj124fvDWdCfLFp8_3w0N0ClLTHpptVt2ipfYuVMJobjiTCRjZFOj0y7rpHkc8c3kPt8A/s320/Landscape+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548033951800276402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAXEYGR3muBQzCzZ8HH6aH4WiwHYZzYTdgArLfgSKXed6uTR3gZbDOCk4DrR-DvXfjjCLdDlblEWzNTfLl9mq70Ba5x4BjV39vLL_3GVWbNrcEbT98ysC1cUrkxzzcnkVu83gp5P7PpU/s1600/Landscape+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAXEYGR3muBQzCzZ8HH6aH4WiwHYZzYTdgArLfgSKXed6uTR3gZbDOCk4DrR-DvXfjjCLdDlblEWzNTfLl9mq70Ba5x4BjV39vLL_3GVWbNrcEbT98ysC1cUrkxzzcnkVu83gp5P7PpU/s320/Landscape+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548033944516723346" /></a><br />There are some really beautiful landscapes throughout the main trio's travels. The outdoor settings really give the feeling of a road movie, with a wide open world surrounding the three main characters. I don't know who did scouting for this movie, but they deserve some recognition for finding these locations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_sSYstT62uWi1v677GBcvCibzcVoZKvuudfuyyr2gAjxg58Up8Ck_BKIt47C1QjGsbf6xf3etjClPqdVV8WkRo8tc10VGQahswC2Wg3MUFP2jMMF1bvW8TAMflpzOEIOoqWFq8Y0o2s/s1600/Ron+in+London.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_sSYstT62uWi1v677GBcvCibzcVoZKvuudfuyyr2gAjxg58Up8Ck_BKIt47C1QjGsbf6xf3etjClPqdVV8WkRo8tc10VGQahswC2Wg3MUFP2jMMF1bvW8TAMflpzOEIOoqWFq8Y0o2s/s320/Ron+in+London.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548034435098616610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_eMvWH5kHOsDqZUiK4tegxuEgMWMGl_HxndTzkuazj_M23NDBmLtbxwtVR4X75mj9H9ytPPWyM5ZE4tugMBjuB8S8RyGdH_zU1eAeQWe7emE5TxWstUPz4KGl-lKoVgNNE6UhvLwYNw/s1600/London+street.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_eMvWH5kHOsDqZUiK4tegxuEgMWMGl_HxndTzkuazj_M23NDBmLtbxwtVR4X75mj9H9ytPPWyM5ZE4tugMBjuB8S8RyGdH_zU1eAeQWe7emE5TxWstUPz4KGl-lKoVgNNE6UhvLwYNw/s320/London+street.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548034426768732434" /></a><br />And there are more scenes in this movie that take place in the "muggle" world, or the world as we know it. There are more scenes that take place in the real settings of London and Surrey. I feel these scenes really tie the story close to home, and we can understand it a little easier, without putting too much logic on the setting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtPIeFwOH0PbzpOBNNn2DafoAVDdNdpoKNvve2I8O3wtA6l_fa0L_xIZtYeRZD9e0X5dmIKVGSO51Qf2OZ1DWsHhVRVoLBZc1aaCvQ8_SC-GSb5cg0FsJHoihxgXo3YnXf6oTbmwqKpI/s1600/Three+Brothers+scene.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtPIeFwOH0PbzpOBNNn2DafoAVDdNdpoKNvve2I8O3wtA6l_fa0L_xIZtYeRZD9e0X5dmIKVGSO51Qf2OZ1DWsHhVRVoLBZc1aaCvQ8_SC-GSb5cg0FsJHoihxgXo3YnXf6oTbmwqKpI/s320/Three+Brothers+scene.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548034655076645090" /></a><br />A major highlight of the film is the animated "Deathly Hallows" fable. As a fairy tale that proves vital to the second half of the story, it is given a very special treatment. The story of the three brothers and their "gifts" from Death is told in a style rendered in CG, but reminiscent of the silhouettes of Lotte Reiniger's <span style="font-style:italic;">The Adventures of Prince Achmed</span> (1937). The style is very engaging, and gives great clarity to what I consider to be a "difficult to remember" plot device. It was designed and directed by Ben Hibon with Framestore. Definitely worth the price of admission. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHp-5oIfP6aj0KsJV_N6ACeYRj7OejFvRVqZ9jEKVZKUhfy5YVrpC39yRvkheRe9aV2aieE-HPR_YmrqSMQl-l8HSGxiZwzDcWxblxBPFJw_R7F3BlYM8kbJVcJUVa5ChJDy2HzhdpRI/s1600/Hermione+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHp-5oIfP6aj0KsJV_N6ACeYRj7OejFvRVqZ9jEKVZKUhfy5YVrpC39yRvkheRe9aV2aieE-HPR_YmrqSMQl-l8HSGxiZwzDcWxblxBPFJw_R7F3BlYM8kbJVcJUVa5ChJDy2HzhdpRI/s320/Hermione+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548035235174648930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYPENOSe9BEwRTfNqleAg_2SHu8lohxxqZ-uy_Qx5bKa8RpoFN22HqawJo7jBiT7QWBe3Xo5XI0h0uVNzDjt_r-DpAN3vgp2ar_FhOxiWFmKrjRsfZ6fwYaDq2TOoco-58E28-21h8HI/s1600/Olivander.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYPENOSe9BEwRTfNqleAg_2SHu8lohxxqZ-uy_Qx5bKa8RpoFN22HqawJo7jBiT7QWBe3Xo5XI0h0uVNzDjt_r-DpAN3vgp2ar_FhOxiWFmKrjRsfZ6fwYaDq2TOoco-58E28-21h8HI/s320/Olivander.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548035226537232994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mQix2KLvPNByb_rN8dT8Tb7GRVi_MLXzJ8RvVByCdw2_4NtCd2nmwgbArLzTiWsiTyV31xWvKSXMmlpjWJIFl1DwSQ2iAo9BEl46ftjKvCJ4whWXsh1hlqX3i9kuNuFXIPkiovekIAk/s1600/Voldermort+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mQix2KLvPNByb_rN8dT8Tb7GRVi_MLXzJ8RvVByCdw2_4NtCd2nmwgbArLzTiWsiTyV31xWvKSXMmlpjWJIFl1DwSQ2iAo9BEl46ftjKvCJ4whWXsh1hlqX3i9kuNuFXIPkiovekIAk/s320/Voldermort+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548035214492137138" /></a><br />In terms of acting, which has always been a stand-out (at least for me) in these movies, those who get to shine really pull it all together. The three main actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson) have practically grown up onscreen as actors, and the results really show. In particular, Emma Watson's performance of Hermione stands out. However, if I have one complaint, its that certain actors that don't appear for very long, they don't seem to put enough into their performance. In particular, this occurs with most of the Death Eater characters, sans Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) who are terrific as usual. Other characters, such as the Malfoys (Jason Isaacs, Helen McCrory, Tom Felton), don't get the full treatment. In particular, I thought more should have been added to the character of Narcissa Malfoy, as she plays an important role in the upcoming Part II. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNMebJCQ3bap8XFXyfzJp9uKGSEAWvn0IqCdSoGPx9Pz2axinaNT8dFTrP8Z5QFNuaiuN2Jh41t-Y2Yfa8XgtJdpVoMV-Fn7sXraNMT0F_x-DmbTePaaxkkBB6VBOWGCWoTwsiPuodFE/s1600/Rufus+Scrimgeour+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNMebJCQ3bap8XFXyfzJp9uKGSEAWvn0IqCdSoGPx9Pz2axinaNT8dFTrP8Z5QFNuaiuN2Jh41t-Y2Yfa8XgtJdpVoMV-Fn7sXraNMT0F_x-DmbTePaaxkkBB6VBOWGCWoTwsiPuodFE/s320/Rufus+Scrimgeour+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548035755271457362" /></a><br />I would have also liked to have seen Bill Nighy's role as Rufus Scrimgeour expanded a bit (although that would have worked better with <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter 6</span>). However, in saying that, Bill Nighy is one of my favorite actors and seeing him as Rufus Scrimgeour is one of the highlights of the movie for me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUTZypp0PHP3RFQS2H5rt04WWqLpC-77O3m1yfQfRcRuJ5b9m_cRQTb5bB8Yk9rEXMSHnoAp7b8jpROlEcmPhBI_t_nTSz35tMaZfnnm2cze6QZJtb9fcL74DLn6nd5fEdYoPlan_JCg/s1600/Aberforth%2527s+reflection.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUTZypp0PHP3RFQS2H5rt04WWqLpC-77O3m1yfQfRcRuJ5b9m_cRQTb5bB8Yk9rEXMSHnoAp7b8jpROlEcmPhBI_t_nTSz35tMaZfnnm2cze6QZJtb9fcL74DLn6nd5fEdYoPlan_JCg/s320/Aberforth%2527s+reflection.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548036069564756418" /></a><br />It looks like they wrapped up these movies just in the nick of time. The three main actors are starting to look too old to play the right ages of these characters. I'm sure everything will be wrapped up nicely in the last installment in July 2011. Its nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it?Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-92047551435354242902010-11-30T17:53:00.000-08:002010-11-30T19:42:41.270-08:00Megamind...DreamWorks's animated features have had the slowest time improving themselves (at least for my tastes). For all we know, this is as good as its going to get (and I hope I'm wrong). Five years ago, DreamWorks Animation was typified by dazzling computer animation and amazing effects, and voice-acting by the top-grossing actors of the day. While this is still the norm, they also relied on terribly transparent stories, rehashing pop-culture references and clichés (I still have a hard time appreciating the <span style="font-style:italic;">Shrek</span> movies). In the last few years, their movies have improved slightly, with stories that, while not totally perfect, do not rely heavily on pop-cultural references or expose the actors behind the microphone. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWnX_UC9dCZf18GcSy03QK6C__lbsbSTsckdwV451PNpjWDO-bWyPEM3hpKU7GhCber5yi6YLGTOMRENRs4C3gztZuozw3_oTSyj0kz_c-tOK-zc2RrMEP4vmBKuTbnzHb7MMmG3-zTY/s1600/Megamind+and+Crew.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWnX_UC9dCZf18GcSy03QK6C__lbsbSTsckdwV451PNpjWDO-bWyPEM3hpKU7GhCber5yi6YLGTOMRENRs4C3gztZuozw3_oTSyj0kz_c-tOK-zc2RrMEP4vmBKuTbnzHb7MMmG3-zTY/s320/Megamind+and+Crew.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545534958369171234" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Megamind</span> is a good movie, but not a great movie. Its pretty forgettable and is likely to become dated as the years go by. But for the time being, it is a pretty enjoyable one. The story follows the evolution of the "bad guy" (another trend following <span style="font-style:italic;">Despicable Me</span>??). In an obvious lift from Superman, Megamind (as an infant) is sent away from his doomed planet for survival on Earth. Unfortunately, the exact same thing occurs with a more human-looking child with super-powers. While the "human" baby is settled with a wealthy couple and lifelong public adoration, the blue alien lands in a Prison for the Criminally Gifted, and grows up with a twisted morale and is led to believe that he is destined to be super-villain. Flash forward to the present, Megamind is the arch nemesis of Metro Man, well known for their elaborate battles throughout Metro City ("Metrocity" as Megamind wrongly says it). When Megamind finally succeeds in killing his arch-nemesis, it seems like the clouds are finally parting for him. So what next?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU156QbIVS5MtJtixjBOTaJC3FzqJmkdobY2kpNIBsuBFCSMKjPyoMyAXkia8iwaPa4M05FPl4J5EuYR7eomRJ7H-v37ebjqAX99M48og1d8LlZvjBmZkiVzrJW_6_jb6uryos8NXgDH8/s1600/Metro+Man+and+crowd.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU156QbIVS5MtJtixjBOTaJC3FzqJmkdobY2kpNIBsuBFCSMKjPyoMyAXkia8iwaPa4M05FPl4J5EuYR7eomRJ7H-v37ebjqAX99M48og1d8LlZvjBmZkiVzrJW_6_jb6uryos8NXgDH8/s320/Metro+Man+and+crowd.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545548287536713026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB7hbeLrDQ6NEO2k5euu3yacovVWmKk2EKvJC8gSYrXJ46djrAkTrcYCWYheE1Sxqa32q0a5MQBgmbXGsZyLlnXWPNL_tqzSlWOXguEUZuQRNQjs0E66a8o-TFRTWEYR2gHL1mmV_r_s/s1600/Megamind+and+Minion.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB7hbeLrDQ6NEO2k5euu3yacovVWmKk2EKvJC8gSYrXJ46djrAkTrcYCWYheE1Sxqa32q0a5MQBgmbXGsZyLlnXWPNL_tqzSlWOXguEUZuQRNQjs0E66a8o-TFRTWEYR2gHL1mmV_r_s/s320/Megamind+and+Minion.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545548481087019778" /></a><br />The story has some socialist overtones to it, particularly in regards to public relations to large figures. If anything, there can be comparisons drawn between 2008 Presidential Election and the fictional reactions of the main characters. It seems like parallels can be drawn between Megamind and John McCain, while the same can be said for Metro Man and President Barack Obama. This isn't meant to be a political critique (I'm the last person to do that), but the point of it is that, with all the recent criticism of President Obama, it seems like he was rooted for the wrong reasons earlier. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhyphenhyphenlhtv45G599OuUZM6Jt6qDYroiMuBdN8nXAXSGaPnbHF_s6wNoM7ZjafGE5DvKIaRDRcj-YJT8abA0CF-jSqIOBexR-ViF6ZBSE1xsWd326IeUA7miyiqivrYBycAJfiXez9634vt4/s1600/Metro+Man+2.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhyphenhyphenlhtv45G599OuUZM6Jt6qDYroiMuBdN8nXAXSGaPnbHF_s6wNoM7ZjafGE5DvKIaRDRcj-YJT8abA0CF-jSqIOBexR-ViF6ZBSE1xsWd326IeUA7miyiqivrYBycAJfiXez9634vt4/s320/Metro+Man+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545548720672271682" /></a><br />In Megamind, the good guy gets to grow up in the lap of luxury, looking all perfect, while the bad guy grows up in a prison, with no proper role models. Megamind is brushed aside for his alien-appearance and loose morals, but turns out in the end to be just as human and good-natured as we see most heroes. Now Metro Man is loved all around (with a Jesus reference thrown in there), but his outward persona masks some sad flaws, as this "great" hero is just as human as any of us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0Tv9kT-DvWPYoBesq_JvRl17E_KoN4X-eAx3swe5pQ2EQ2rh-oYSfGUCSVgmSCiZbDjwDMrb5dKJMHBQBL0asuxbMCXwIqfkXE32AYV7i3Vut1aqH-4yIxaby-Bbl8BDmJ-0RNaSsig/s1600/Metro+Man+4.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0Tv9kT-DvWPYoBesq_JvRl17E_KoN4X-eAx3swe5pQ2EQ2rh-oYSfGUCSVgmSCiZbDjwDMrb5dKJMHBQBL0asuxbMCXwIqfkXE32AYV7i3Vut1aqH-4yIxaby-Bbl8BDmJ-0RNaSsig/s320/Metro+Man+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545550001562542754" /></a><br />However, the story has a plot that could have gone in any direction, and the writers chose one of those alternate routes. It certainly helps that there's a sense of unpredictability to the story. I mean, what does the bad guy finally achieve when his sole ambition has been to kill the hero and take over a single city? For a movie built on clichés, it does a good job of mocking clichés. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkHDY6Y-2GQVTyDBHbKuPRldTls5-87z3sW8hbDvOAMaxDksoCpRLzuxiS8g3zBbe7YQLiRR_oaVo4iIvr7ZRHUVSvUFt4xuA3mKW5LylvGLt86iQJH7EYJPsGDvSPLAmI1LGOb_ctmE/s1600/Megamind+and+Roxy+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkHDY6Y-2GQVTyDBHbKuPRldTls5-87z3sW8hbDvOAMaxDksoCpRLzuxiS8g3zBbe7YQLiRR_oaVo4iIvr7ZRHUVSvUFt4xuA3mKW5LylvGLt86iQJH7EYJPsGDvSPLAmI1LGOb_ctmE/s320/Megamind+and+Roxy+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545550911243980978" /></a><br />One of my biggest problems with this movie is the design. The characters look generally boring, and I find their expressions to be limited. I have had this problem before, but I believe this movie could have benefitted from a little more stylization. The designers could have moved away from the mild DC look, which works better when drawn, not rigged in CGI. And the color design (which is a problem with nearly all Dreamworks films) still has that fast-food in the summer look to it. If the movie were better designed, the story probably could have benefitted from that. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSqJ4yTU0IGTDliUOA9uoJFhoQYI6fRUXn1ycxUO4BWchKkH1iMvLsR5yNMAx8Od0HQXgQZDB7-Y3msgVuzz1ppezb02zwaVSzdIEEJ-MTa0c6skGx3KhRmZ19Ajcd_x4VvBuri4i0ek/s1600/Destruction+shot.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSqJ4yTU0IGTDliUOA9uoJFhoQYI6fRUXn1ycxUO4BWchKkH1iMvLsR5yNMAx8Od0HQXgQZDB7-Y3msgVuzz1ppezb02zwaVSzdIEEJ-MTa0c6skGx3KhRmZ19Ajcd_x4VvBuri4i0ek/s320/Destruction+shot.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545551093483438562" /></a><br />There are too many destruction scenes with too much debris, but I guess that's to be expected is a superhero movie (I think I'm just very anal in that area). I still have that problem with big-budgeted movies: their shots and compositions are all over the place, and are too fast-paced.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurVqqEyCAjna7y-2AAMKlD3hG8w4ZIOsS8IWFZxVrvoGhlDXn8cGSpMYnSCgL8kxDZKfeoYg_jZmX8f6ipAMTCBbfTx0KvtSCpM1v4yGxI3I0b3DBfzYIXeo1OWj8C-o6D3ys7hI7sBU/s1600/Minion+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurVqqEyCAjna7y-2AAMKlD3hG8w4ZIOsS8IWFZxVrvoGhlDXn8cGSpMYnSCgL8kxDZKfeoYg_jZmX8f6ipAMTCBbfTx0KvtSCpM1v4yGxI3I0b3DBfzYIXeo1OWj8C-o6D3ys7hI7sBU/s320/Minion+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545551352179456994" /></a><br />One of the movie's hallmarks appears to be the use of popular music. Dreamworks always seems to be willing to pay handsomely for the biggest pop music hits, and that's no exception here. Megamind and his crew seem to have a preference for AC/DC and other hard rock gems. There's a very humorous scene in which Megamind's sidekick, Minion, keeps accidentally playing Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" when trying to turn off the AC/DC track. And there's a nice Michael Jackson tribute at the end, complete with the song "Bad." Is this all a good thing?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I love hearing hard rock and heavy metal in an animated film. I just wish they didn't always go for the hit songs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfmZ7lIwrZwxkkAOiPHLRyH_2MzCsCTtqoY4KUhziBho47-yevc4_yKLCbVOly6kVnJxz_LFPuo4Y9bYmosPyUG-ZFIMt0VmDdrEfLip2TDUURzOY-hkge_K5PIV_WCk9MaMy4qIjZ5I/s1600/Metro+Man+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfmZ7lIwrZwxkkAOiPHLRyH_2MzCsCTtqoY4KUhziBho47-yevc4_yKLCbVOly6kVnJxz_LFPuo4Y9bYmosPyUG-ZFIMt0VmDdrEfLip2TDUURzOY-hkge_K5PIV_WCk9MaMy4qIjZ5I/s320/Metro+Man+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545551957067126210" /></a><br />The voice acting is too flat for me. Will Ferrell is a good actor, but as a voice artist, it doesn't always work. His performance as Megamind is too friendly throughout, and at the beginning, it kind of gives away that the character is likely to change. The same can be said for Jonah Hill's performance, although it works to the story's advantage. As for the rest of the cast, there's still that sense that they are just talking into a microphone, and not putting a fully formed performance into the characters. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFhjCfO22TF5ayNT8EHIh0hpu3HO-6AsUrI5Qr1QGeMq-9tqYlBf1saIF0ebksmxwaKD9iXdxKhX_plL1TujOxzLBiW8wL6hG6zUjEBEM_PgR4nt8M9Yi82d0VhQvgSMp09R06xyfQPQ/s1600/Megamind+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFhjCfO22TF5ayNT8EHIh0hpu3HO-6AsUrI5Qr1QGeMq-9tqYlBf1saIF0ebksmxwaKD9iXdxKhX_plL1TujOxzLBiW8wL6hG6zUjEBEM_PgR4nt8M9Yi82d0VhQvgSMp09R06xyfQPQ/s320/Megamind+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545551712949382018" /></a><br />My opinion in the end? Like I said before, its a good movie, but I don't see it being timeless. This is a very expensive B movie. If I have to chart this on a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 6.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-48231087264295553932010-11-24T11:43:00.000-08:002010-11-24T11:56:45.653-08:00Artist Personas: Rock MusiciansDuring my last year at Pratt, I took a class that dealt with the ways artists are portrayed in fiction. Looking back, I wish I had taken the class a little more seriously, because it might have prepared me better for after school. In school, we never studied the psychology of artists, and as such we have the same attitude about our heroes as others do.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7A7SOsqtZ9QgO65pQ4LK57ofav-b3GO0Gwc1pBk7ARJCVIKRW1wlzl2r0s4Dgjb6zNkSyC4TljhCquAvOhvE9U0oSumXnK4h4rwghXDsGRaLnWun1f_Gonw3hs8Vd6ueFx4b1eoG9nw/s1600/jack_white.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7A7SOsqtZ9QgO65pQ4LK57ofav-b3GO0Gwc1pBk7ARJCVIKRW1wlzl2r0s4Dgjb6zNkSyC4TljhCquAvOhvE9U0oSumXnK4h4rwghXDsGRaLnWun1f_Gonw3hs8Vd6ueFx4b1eoG9nw/s320/jack_white.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543204813166477714" /></a><br />Its the old story of the intense creative types determined to prove their brilliance to the world. The following entry might be the first of many for me to cover this. I am starting with something that has been on my mind for sometime now: the personalities of rock musicians.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAVHwEG_8VygebPfgVlB1fursmM9dtkFo8r4_phYXfifNoNP__erFU0tx_PBM_8am-iJSMox_xKS7mIxnmDnpG0kBMosP_rlb7p3FcWIa8Lcxr2t-BckKDJZBUTLAFRSXgi3wuS_uZbE/s1600/1HXTD00Z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAVHwEG_8VygebPfgVlB1fursmM9dtkFo8r4_phYXfifNoNP__erFU0tx_PBM_8am-iJSMox_xKS7mIxnmDnpG0kBMosP_rlb7p3FcWIa8Lcxr2t-BckKDJZBUTLAFRSXgi3wuS_uZbE/s320/1HXTD00Z.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543204581914826194" /></a><br />It has become more and more obvious to me recently that those who play music professionally are likely to have to a particular personality. A sort of crazy personality. Sometimes a narcissistic personality. It is a personality that starts off as idealistic, but eventually it is a very confrontational and opinionated sort. There are countless musicians who fit this profile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif35I8HWWIoLP-vdn8RmJpRaz7dZQJ6LHy07Vwd0IGMO6SvZ0cvd6vkitXJgW-ASGH_l-iBFL2CNkU2Mw_as0slMUxGApTcCHEV8Ki_Y6IizJfeMeQPFUq4WEJNykx8TzplSRO1p9uqw4/s1600/Billy%252BCorgan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif35I8HWWIoLP-vdn8RmJpRaz7dZQJ6LHy07Vwd0IGMO6SvZ0cvd6vkitXJgW-ASGH_l-iBFL2CNkU2Mw_as0slMUxGApTcCHEV8Ki_Y6IizJfeMeQPFUq4WEJNykx8TzplSRO1p9uqw4/s320/Billy%252BCorgan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543204950205322930" /></a><br />Before, I just assumed it was an overtly social personality, very unlike my own. Until recently, in my lifetime of listening to music, I never thought about the personalities of the artists I was listening to. But after working with and encountering rock musicians personally, I now have a better realization of these personalities. It has slightly affected my listening habits in a way, as I might get repelled by a brash personality, and want to hear something else.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_cCOKlvDOkoc2wOplu1ZMaN3ym25OpwDmSsgjukuaG4D87MWlL8Pp19TJHD86-T5MOgbvgFcOdHH1CB09IliCe2iLQC9NN8Du3LM-8h4gK45UtaptbLGi6Axk9oE5YaLbNzx-Qk48Ig/s1600/Rush_Group_1978.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_cCOKlvDOkoc2wOplu1ZMaN3ym25OpwDmSsgjukuaG4D87MWlL8Pp19TJHD86-T5MOgbvgFcOdHH1CB09IliCe2iLQC9NN8Du3LM-8h4gK45UtaptbLGi6Axk9oE5YaLbNzx-Qk48Ig/s320/Rush_Group_1978.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205108464781394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhqKAF40S84tKeJcr4Rng2dQpPOrpOeGT5VuKozbEzeS3e8ST-uqECTXYi_3D7kYxxJG-efgZJaQCZCA_rIDeYFEw_gcqj2JTWWnhsVrlQalyg17BDqb7McQx7pYltInDH8pA6kSL7Rs/s1600/rushdoc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhqKAF40S84tKeJcr4Rng2dQpPOrpOeGT5VuKozbEzeS3e8ST-uqECTXYi_3D7kYxxJG-efgZJaQCZCA_rIDeYFEw_gcqj2JTWWnhsVrlQalyg17BDqb7McQx7pYltInDH8pA6kSL7Rs/s320/rushdoc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205105576770770" /></a><br />Recently, I because a late-blooming Rush fan. I have been slightly fond of Rush for a long time, but not a real fan. Its only in the last couple of years that I suddenly became more and more fascinated by Rush's music and history. Earlier this year, a documentary entitled <span style="font-style:italic;">Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage</span> was released. Along with documenting the band's career, it also interviews several celebrated musicians who were inspired by Rush. The interviewed personalities of the band differ drastically in many ways compared to their admirers. Band members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart appear for the most part to be very casual and introverted. Their admirers on the other hand (such as members of Smashing Pumpkins and Rage Against the Machine) are extremely extroverted, over-opinionated, and blunt in their regards to music and the band. I don't know if its the difference between talking about yourself and talking about your idols, but the members of Rush strike me as anomalies in hard rock music, especially Neil Peart.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijYNJY9GEMCmxZv67kE9Zcx1EF7DquIdgyagqmF3irtmPPHv0HGETv2lVaF5czVi9mjKvNeD16SLpgEnSgZaDwf4kZEqV_EjpQulpGcJjQSymKEJFs_hTkf282YW24eKQLt8_QaWuLa0/s1600/np-hyf-tour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijYNJY9GEMCmxZv67kE9Zcx1EF7DquIdgyagqmF3irtmPPHv0HGETv2lVaF5czVi9mjKvNeD16SLpgEnSgZaDwf4kZEqV_EjpQulpGcJjQSymKEJFs_hTkf282YW24eKQLt8_QaWuLa0/s320/np-hyf-tour.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205261384874354" /></a><br />Neil Peart borders slightly on the persona of the tortured poet persona, but not totally there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFTkajI5IBgtDShlw14sJWxUMH1GfTpM6_2FjAw-DKQNIlJ9AC1AsOE9wbuLvc0NW-5UQzi8gcoRC1995-Yf1VyRAq6SbRK2hTc2S5KMLLn-_kDdCnOsL1wYuEovHZWMXZg6-pMA3CG8/s1600/robertsmith007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFTkajI5IBgtDShlw14sJWxUMH1GfTpM6_2FjAw-DKQNIlJ9AC1AsOE9wbuLvc0NW-5UQzi8gcoRC1995-Yf1VyRAq6SbRK2hTc2S5KMLLn-_kDdCnOsL1wYuEovHZWMXZg6-pMA3CG8/s320/robertsmith007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205359352463218" /></a><br />These types are equally extroverted, but can quiet themselves down when they feel really creative. You'll find that a lot of people who are exceedingly creative have qualities that put other people off. They can be crazy, brooding, reclusive, intense, self-centered, or anything else on an endless list. That's not to say some are friendly and personable, as I am confidently sure there are. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju67aFuMfpyzy6PAdX75SUc5xDeL6jrxUSRwdJHgNwrHj6SETUdR6ktDs3ULMizCrU-WulDW8WhQwFKpzYC9E7363M44gJhRjmv2fof0_APVzjkSI86RIb3c4a8X8R9uajZoYsAr9KoyU/s1600/475621399_2f2656c22b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju67aFuMfpyzy6PAdX75SUc5xDeL6jrxUSRwdJHgNwrHj6SETUdR6ktDs3ULMizCrU-WulDW8WhQwFKpzYC9E7363M44gJhRjmv2fof0_APVzjkSI86RIb3c4a8X8R9uajZoYsAr9KoyU/s320/475621399_2f2656c22b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205646143670258" /></a><br />At the moment, I am reading <span style="font-weight:bold;">No Certainty Attached</span>, a biography of Steven Kilbey. Kilbey is the lead singer/songwriter and bass player of the The Church, an Australian alternative band (although Kilbey is British-born). They are best known in American for their song "Under the Milky Way", but I have become a fan of their other works, which are quite prolific. So far, Kilbey seems to downplay a mysterious persona that he has come to be mistaken for, and opened up about his own egotism, musical idealism, and occasionally extroverted nature. The book was written by Robert Lurie, who admits that as a great fan of the Church, he was a little unnerved by the realization that his heroes are just as human and vulnerable as he is. Kilbey admits the same thing about meeting his idols.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-7HJiGGSn5MEt4DLWjCd4nse6KK9bWKWZhJYRQDm8pl2F6G90tOVeL3wm_CLo6O45_dmVVyAHJFc51ONv4jP_kiiwiwfTf9yI_Vp6bLU_Vbui6JWe60WmNNtg34vCSx0i10Tuhlraig/s1600/51c-L5yhhTL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-7HJiGGSn5MEt4DLWjCd4nse6KK9bWKWZhJYRQDm8pl2F6G90tOVeL3wm_CLo6O45_dmVVyAHJFc51ONv4jP_kiiwiwfTf9yI_Vp6bLU_Vbui6JWe60WmNNtg34vCSx0i10Tuhlraig/s320/51c-L5yhhTL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205639740677954" /></a><br />Some artists play the illusion of someone they admire. This isn't just in the case of professional musicians, but even artists in other mediums (animators especially). It is believed if someone made it one way, then another can make it that same path, which is not always the case. You'll end up wasting a lot of time wondering why nothing works. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny971CcWvPSGmu90IdQ4-JYMgKwiP-2IFCRENv4DYV9OmXnC05d_5tetFwR6LiaImpo1aeYT7rBd7uIBxT0Es-Ubf95pqsjfDFIZ_3OKaFSvshgih8iGXnDblMoUOIymH0ksMj4EpC6w/s1600/john-lennon-1961-006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny971CcWvPSGmu90IdQ4-JYMgKwiP-2IFCRENv4DYV9OmXnC05d_5tetFwR6LiaImpo1aeYT7rBd7uIBxT0Es-Ubf95pqsjfDFIZ_3OKaFSvshgih8iGXnDblMoUOIymH0ksMj4EpC6w/s320/john-lennon-1961-006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543205779269795042" /></a><br />You'll notice something about the personal lives of those who become really famous. The people who become really famous are those whose qualities make others doubt them early on. A prime example is John Lennon in his youth: I doubt anyone expected him to be as famous as he eventually became, and he had a pretty checkered reputation when he was young. This is not something you can copy, and its certainly not something to wish to have. That's almost like wishing you were clinically depressed.<br /><br />I could be wrong in some of these instances, but so far I believe I am right. There are more psychological profiles to associate with artists. If I left anything out, I will be sure to come to them at some other point.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-79469870650647148162010-10-19T16:01:00.000-07:002010-10-19T16:23:38.397-07:00Personal Update, October 2010I am writing this to keep my Domain blog going. There is no one subject to this entry, so its pretty much all over the place. I am learning to take advantage of my own individuality, and letting a lot of stuff out. I've been negligent with this blog for months, mainly for a couple of reasons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmXDPw1g5ndVzsI99JAAQfuWlKEhM-FAoOo6ghqB6m_0_c9PahECnMBKpu2wTvKpbe-WKxpkWKx26SpXqHK-6vMonROFwIUe8RQjH1Dmyp-jJGk7eZtPU6Qxkj2tfqfVtfRHLinO8IbM/s1600/FinkThePlaywrightbarton-fink.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmXDPw1g5ndVzsI99JAAQfuWlKEhM-FAoOo6ghqB6m_0_c9PahECnMBKpu2wTvKpbe-WKxpkWKx26SpXqHK-6vMonROFwIUe8RQjH1Dmyp-jJGk7eZtPU6Qxkj2tfqfVtfRHLinO8IbM/s320/FinkThePlaywrightbarton-fink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529896493157897618" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Image from <span style="font-style:italic;">Barton Fink</span> (1991), illustrating the self-righteous writer.</span><br /><br />The first reason is that I have taken up a new practice of writing as much dribble as I can each week (and hopefully each day). My one requirement for this practice is to write at least 1000 words in one day. I just pick a subject thats nagging at me, and then dribble the hell out of it. Some of this stuff gets really personal, so its not stuff I want to post here, or share with everyone. But I don't consider these journal entries. I'm simply just trying to better my own writing, and search for new ideas. <br /><br />Second, my movie reviews have slowed down, primarily due to my financial state. I have to be more selective when going to the cinema nowadays. I can't afford to see anything all the time, even though this past summer was particularly slow in terms of interesting movies. I did see movies, but I neglected to review them, as I couldn't write up enough to say about them. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRECLrRstbQN0MRWeU3TAA49SgldbRWo_XLrMyfW7cwRSTmxM-lVYAkHVNbTefhaidvnUDyLUsYRhMM-NyVM5dekfN1RDFDqSFusk-O1BLCyWSxR_h40aXADkYi_Z5e6i53Fs5LzaeI/s1600/how-to-train-your-dragon-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRECLrRstbQN0MRWeU3TAA49SgldbRWo_XLrMyfW7cwRSTmxM-lVYAkHVNbTefhaidvnUDyLUsYRhMM-NyVM5dekfN1RDFDqSFusk-O1BLCyWSxR_h40aXADkYi_Z5e6i53Fs5LzaeI/s200/how-to-train-your-dragon-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529896978476771586" /></a><br />Seeing recent previews for the DVD release of <span style="font-style:italic;">How To Train Your Dragon</span> isn't helping me at the moment. I saw the movie when it came out back in March, and at first I was excited to see it, as it marked Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois' return to feature directing. However, I came out of the movie feeling rather disappointed. While the movie looked very impressive, I was unimpressed and uninspired by the story, the acting, and the character development. I later looked up the original source material, and found that the filmmakers chose to downplay the more whimsical elements of the original material, and focus more on an action/adventure tale. I felt very displeased to know that nearly everyone else I know loved the movie, and considered it the best Dreamworks movie to date. I felt very alone. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHZjHLcG-FjAzaok59YH45CkQB-JmYfyPobHVtAEvNe4es-G36DzvUVSST4VM4Zn421W3jIUyzM3LRpmSWOgk40_B5_voteQtClq2U4yAp00soGexm7tn80PWU5wDDwK_V5P0TqgwZyM/s1600/how_to_train_your_dragon_13.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 84px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHZjHLcG-FjAzaok59YH45CkQB-JmYfyPobHVtAEvNe4es-G36DzvUVSST4VM4Zn421W3jIUyzM3LRpmSWOgk40_B5_voteQtClq2U4yAp00soGexm7tn80PWU5wDDwK_V5P0TqgwZyM/s200/how_to_train_your_dragon_13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529897327034160658" /></a><br />Now at the time I saw <span style="font-style:italic;">HTTYD</span>, it was during a week that did not go well for me. I got screwed over by two jobs, which temporarily shattered me. I reasoned that the disappointment of that week colored my viewing of <span style="font-style:italic;">HTTYD</span>. The only way I can know that for sure is if I watch the movie again, preferably during a more relaxed period. But so far, looking at the previews and watching the clips, I am still reasoning that I am still disappointed by the story and minimal character development. Nothing about it surprised me. Even more disappointing is I feel like the only who feels this way. Still, the movie is only months old, and the recently announced sequel may prove to be a better movie (of which there's a 70% chance of happening).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1luXQ9aakeMUSMwSnVQ-Q5xGSjVOcECkWiaUb5XAtoupvrEhyphenhyphenV7EInuji6IKO5HyW0NdMqlM0j46-D1Ql8ZEPl_50VlfUXJaoMzr85XQuTex8iLBAmYBft8AfCwQnnRAY8mR3EhZquNU/s1600/idiots+and+angels+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1luXQ9aakeMUSMwSnVQ-Q5xGSjVOcECkWiaUb5XAtoupvrEhyphenhyphenV7EInuji6IKO5HyW0NdMqlM0j46-D1Ql8ZEPl_50VlfUXJaoMzr85XQuTex8iLBAmYBft8AfCwQnnRAY8mR3EhZquNU/s320/idiots+and+angels+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529897793859907522" /></a><br />Other movies I have seen are Bill Plympton's <span style="font-style:italic;">Idiots and Angels</span>, playing at the IFC Centre here in New York City, and <span style="font-style:italic;">the Social Network</span>. <span style="font-style:italic;">Idiots and Angels</span> may be Plympton's best feature so far, a long time coming. One thing I admire Plympton for is his ambition and drive to finish what he thinks and starts. So far, he has done nine indie features and countless short films. His features, however, have had trouble finding larger audiences outside of his cult following (due in some part to his lack of feature writing experience). But with <span style="font-style:italic;">Idiots and Angels</span>, he seems to have found a style that works with a feature length, one with little dialog, musical emphasis, and solid pacing in terms of the plot. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH4DZi9hNQLylJ7N-L_yayz31ky3LdVbF9leXo3H_THTfBKkdsceov7qjcYK0GDsYDT3GRqFWyiKfSK-1w_Im4rz1h_n61QZZ7qWpv8q-JyX_9H8FLXZqyrmk1UsaUmu8_p96foDoHdg/s1600/the-social-network-movie-3_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH4DZi9hNQLylJ7N-L_yayz31ky3LdVbF9leXo3H_THTfBKkdsceov7qjcYK0GDsYDT3GRqFWyiKfSK-1w_Im4rz1h_n61QZZ7qWpv8q-JyX_9H8FLXZqyrmk1UsaUmu8_p96foDoHdg/s320/the-social-network-movie-3_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529897975421721042" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Social Network</span> is an easy one for me, having been a devoted Facebook-er for over four years now. I really enjoyed this movie, and it paints an intriguing picture that is both dark and funny. I don't know Mark Zuckerberg enough to judge him or this portrayal, but it seems to be an excellent representation of the Age of the Individualist. Everyone goes from being in clubs to being their own entity. I'm usually pretty cautious with David Fincher's movies, and I was very relieved with how much I enjoyed this one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNMs-yrDr9kTKcqmK2Q2Kv2q5GRYS4dpaxwVNrl8DIzinXNoFHbOctFre50WWYbA_Ob7DvqjhQ8_y8LNcf5hWst_Jxa7dYJcbD6wrHfSUi1sclITWMt4_6kTAet5f1Jg7j5HyA6805k0/s1600/am_bill_plympton_idiots_angels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNMs-yrDr9kTKcqmK2Q2Kv2q5GRYS4dpaxwVNrl8DIzinXNoFHbOctFre50WWYbA_Ob7DvqjhQ8_y8LNcf5hWst_Jxa7dYJcbD6wrHfSUi1sclITWMt4_6kTAet5f1Jg7j5HyA6805k0/s320/am_bill_plympton_idiots_angels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529898180646567490" /></a><br />Recently, my preference for independent animation has been re-awoken after some time. After two years out of college and struggling in the animation industry, I have found the commercial world to be full of nepotism, two-facedness, and blind irony. Now granted, the last two years saw the Entertainment industry ravaged by the financial recession, I can't say any other industry is better. But as I have lost friends and faith, it has forced me to re-evaluate where I stand in this industry and other directions to look in. From the recession, I have lost some idealism, and developed a cynical attitude that arises at the sight of any injustice.<br /><br />But independent animation and independent artists have their own world, far from the prying eyes of the commercial world. Its a small world where everyone influences one another, and can get instant gratification from their art and other art. Its a world I enjoy poking my head in from time to time. A recent Cartoon Brew article, written by Amid Amidi, has just spelled out the end of the creator-driven era in the animation industry. <a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/the-end-of-the-creator-driven-era.html">I insist anyone reading this also read that, as it makes some lucid points.</a><br /><br />In the past, I have hoped to be a part of something that would occur again, but I can't let that guide me anymore. I am looking in other areas not just for ambition, but for survival.<br /><br />Recently, my coverage for <a href="http://asifaeast.com/ExposureSheet/">ASIFA-East's Exposure Sheet</a> has given me some attention for my writing. I am getting encouragement to try my writing elsewhere (although the tricky part of that is not having a journalism degree). There will be things to look forward to in the future of animation and film. I have already figured out that nothing is pre-meditated. Its all a matter of being at the right place at the right time.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-8868944566464727232010-09-26T20:37:00.000-07:002010-09-26T20:50:25.710-07:00Irrational ReactionsThis is a first for me. Animation director, John R. Dilworth, recently held a show at 92Y Tribeca in New York City. The show was called Irrational Reactions, and John requested me to cover it for ASIFA-East, as he felt this show to be particularly successful. I had previously written about John Dilworth for ASIFA last November, but this show had something different to it. Although they are mostly the same films, John's way of presenting them was more intimate than before. The size of the venue allowed for easy audience participation (my sister was one of the lucky volunteers, in John's demonstration of TV series pitching). The highlights of this show were John's moments of prop-comedy (of which he is a natural). <br /><br /><a href="http://asifaeast.com/ExposureSheet/2010/09/26/1262/">Here is a link to the article. Enjoy reading.</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCVDGpU1E-buEJITNzCSio__oMv4Tu8aYewW6LqqbFNJyCqdZkv9aucyIr5vHxxOn2PSE4cJnlPvo-A_WWz51cKmbSmYkMYEMvdnPbqDAJsJnh_i-xXLGMKnrXCJhXFEMv8s4a2VDZ7c/s1600/dilworth-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCVDGpU1E-buEJITNzCSio__oMv4Tu8aYewW6LqqbFNJyCqdZkv9aucyIr5vHxxOn2PSE4cJnlPvo-A_WWz51cKmbSmYkMYEMvdnPbqDAJsJnh_i-xXLGMKnrXCJhXFEMv8s4a2VDZ7c/s320/dilworth-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521435181572777538" /></a>Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-17389985553863080372010-08-29T14:50:00.000-07:002010-08-29T14:55:08.471-07:00Satoshi Kon (1963-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU6qL8iT0GnFLkz7DCjnaiK7jqH8E8v_q0Q0cAHynIlSTnxNnxQrNmsFSJdFjM2mlCc9OhZA3sewYmmUFmEmdjM6izSSRfBX_RJNC84KfzxQDeld9Ed8uOz-t0fwJui7gUwEcuzp55Xg/s1600/466384361_329339bac0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU6qL8iT0GnFLkz7DCjnaiK7jqH8E8v_q0Q0cAHynIlSTnxNnxQrNmsFSJdFjM2mlCc9OhZA3sewYmmUFmEmdjM6izSSRfBX_RJNC84KfzxQDeld9Ed8uOz-t0fwJui7gUwEcuzp55Xg/s320/466384361_329339bac0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510953241879513234" /></a><br />Two years ago, I took the opportunity to see anime filmmaker Satoshi Kon at the Lincoln Film Center in New York City. They were showing his movies, and that night, he appeared for a Q&A after a screening of <span style="font-style:italic;">Paprika</span>. He came out with a camera, and proceeded to photograph the audience. Through his translator, he proclaimed he liked rearranging positions, and in this case, he was observing the audience. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY5sMofb0xODTfMI6XyRqQQYlh7YBlIKUFeJsecGMHNjeMah3GBqOCH1Eusos92bVhjSGtiu0hLCMJyJUKq_pFSiNJ2NpEPioPAk5s4T446NBZUi7x1uruOC7vVOIhxyo9bXwyAt-e6I/s1600/pra+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY5sMofb0xODTfMI6XyRqQQYlh7YBlIKUFeJsecGMHNjeMah3GBqOCH1Eusos92bVhjSGtiu0hLCMJyJUKq_pFSiNJ2NpEPioPAk5s4T446NBZUi7x1uruOC7vVOIhxyo9bXwyAt-e6I/s320/pra+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510953103275593122" /></a><br />Satoshi Kon passed away this week, on Tuesday August 24 2010. He was 46 years old. The news came to me, as well as many other admirers, as a terrible shock. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B0Rligq33y6e_YvJytBOSjBD9UWFCGC1v2vgBvm7FZOvHYEZNTXvOnvPEN_CALxC_4wOmPCjOgxBejSuowGXfD_1ojn2lVE7IpRiUeOf0rs-fIR971-4CN-5MK67_CiLdYTlmWEhFKM/s1600/perfectblue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B0Rligq33y6e_YvJytBOSjBD9UWFCGC1v2vgBvm7FZOvHYEZNTXvOnvPEN_CALxC_4wOmPCjOgxBejSuowGXfD_1ojn2lVE7IpRiUeOf0rs-fIR971-4CN-5MK67_CiLdYTlmWEhFKM/s320/perfectblue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510952862182815554" /></a><br />I have seen all four of his movies, and had only recently started watching his anime series, Paranoia Agent. I was seeing a lot of stuff for the first time while at college, and among it were the movies <span style="font-style:italic;">Perfect Blue</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Tokyo Godfathers</span>. Needless to say, I was blown away by both of them. At the time, I was still slow to accept anime, with the exception of Hayao Miyazaki. But someone told me that Satoshi Kon was just as unique as Miyazaki, so I went on a hunch. And I'm glad I did. His movies are filled realistic images (too realistic by animation standards) being disrupted by surrealistic and dreamlike occurrences and disturbances. I immediately likened him to David Lynch, in terms of writing. He has a real talent of directing stories that enchant the audience with psychologically complex stories, in spite of the incoherent nature of the writing. And yet through all the drama, there is plenty of visual treats and edgy humor to balance the movies out. Very impressive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQI5Eh1_mD2VYM4-MnjXcubj0uYkV2pM2fKm3vtmqzGYPrK5kxJaIR_73-H0fYRqJLHNfuYkfnkvxj4y-28STWCep74chyhRyHUZHjl8lQl1twipxOn43pfAB6E81IyQdZEjVE1pd1YA/s1600/Picture10.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQI5Eh1_mD2VYM4-MnjXcubj0uYkV2pM2fKm3vtmqzGYPrK5kxJaIR_73-H0fYRqJLHNfuYkfnkvxj4y-28STWCep74chyhRyHUZHjl8lQl1twipxOn43pfAB6E81IyQdZEjVE1pd1YA/s320/Picture10.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510952722501371042" /></a><br />My heart goes out to Satoshi Kon's family. Thank you for the magic, Sweet Prince.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-20833335880818001052010-08-17T13:04:00.000-07:002010-08-17T13:20:51.367-07:00Tales from Earthsea: We're not there yet...<span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Earthsea</span> is sort of like a progressive rock album. On a technical level, it is quite extraordinary. The way the shots and action are arranged are top-notch. Unfortunately, it falls very, very short in terms of its content.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBsPCNylDWKq628ASPKr4jym2TkU3tssq1ozUJRQAMNz8UCMb27nCKjRgkZxqAoRoR75WHovUy0ef7N33PQhR5Ks5dGtwx_6tmnyDmSnqHa9m_C8zL_jP6-zHiThDZPaaftRtjLxqTmg/s1600/Tales+from+Earthsea_Poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBsPCNylDWKq628ASPKr4jym2TkU3tssq1ozUJRQAMNz8UCMb27nCKjRgkZxqAoRoR75WHovUy0ef7N33PQhR5Ks5dGtwx_6tmnyDmSnqHa9m_C8zL_jP6-zHiThDZPaaftRtjLxqTmg/s320/Tales+from+Earthsea_Poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506472614272871042" /></a><br />Mind you, I only compare this to progressive rock, because I've been listening to a lot of it lately.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEWjGKNWshlqzcGGJdntfBkLFdbbtS02JeVO4MkMX8YoBYlnpZrNpnikcUgA86UUahK-Ea7WYqM0kllteylUgvSeAWH-0eRJ4V2UCwOJJ0Ty_MOi5CWPdI2WuJtsLpz-eAf8id8YFaEg/s1600/Picture+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEWjGKNWshlqzcGGJdntfBkLFdbbtS02JeVO4MkMX8YoBYlnpZrNpnikcUgA86UUahK-Ea7WYqM0kllteylUgvSeAWH-0eRJ4V2UCwOJJ0Ty_MOi5CWPdI2WuJtsLpz-eAf8id8YFaEg/s320/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506473121122632754" /></a><br />The film starts off with a promising plot. But about 30 minutes in, it doesn't feel like much has changed since then. The beginning shows two dragons fighting in the sky, and this is witnessed by a ship crew below. It is established that seeing a dragon is normal, but to see them fighting viciously is very unusual. The two dragons are never explained again. We are meant to assume that this is a symbol of unbalance in Earthsea's environment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LFROMRGyEtEyEQM7HrH7BZBonzKC8OWRgeLbHQiuh8kMY2PdktVFb9qepNtYM4UeTs9p-H1D0En81DYuvNCNv1xfEycq_MomUqv3XNLqC_nCXKs2kPFx4TQZwJRFwFeejhL4OA_RsvI/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LFROMRGyEtEyEQM7HrH7BZBonzKC8OWRgeLbHQiuh8kMY2PdktVFb9qepNtYM4UeTs9p-H1D0En81DYuvNCNv1xfEycq_MomUqv3XNLqC_nCXKs2kPFx4TQZwJRFwFeejhL4OA_RsvI/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506473641042104370" /></a><br />The story moves very slowly. Its almost like a J.R.R. Tolkein story, fully of allegories surrounded by mythical and medieval occurences. But it takes a long time to reach the point of something, and you are never certain why you are reaching that point. Like Tolkein, it exists within a world of its own, with its own history and mythology. That much is explained, but it is never really explained how the main characters are connected to that. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTD-Vj0qzli1PGvIR-58TROEFVQgh4-MqgoeTRai2wesvgA8QISLV_pmkZEJOnNltqyBPrQrcj8Yy5pXJh8tgNEraFJStZPMRKBm7DctqN4UL7VHYXYLPkKgDPEU4uWFdB9a597_Z80/s1600/Picture+8.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTD-Vj0qzli1PGvIR-58TROEFVQgh4-MqgoeTRai2wesvgA8QISLV_pmkZEJOnNltqyBPrQrcj8Yy5pXJh8tgNEraFJStZPMRKBm7DctqN4UL7VHYXYLPkKgDPEU4uWFdB9a597_Z80/s320/Picture+8.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506473932057638354" /></a><br />The characters are never fully explained. My attention was mostly focused on the character of Arren, who is introduced murdering his father, and then running away, having periodic moments of suicidal tendency. This fascinated me, but wasn't touched upon later in the story. It seemed more like Arren was recovering from something, but we never find out what. Its possible his problems may be an allegory for bipolar disorder.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TT4mbXA1RuRD0AtlysPQSmRWYhjVPSa7-aFzSsYU71hAKgDniWmQnALhb_J3Prltyg4SP67UfIDxWU6_vrogYkJWMk4hWlobhWcApdSrPsg5lcQUK0I7rmpDS8bdeZkYn7XyvXv-kbQ/s1600/Picture+13.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TT4mbXA1RuRD0AtlysPQSmRWYhjVPSa7-aFzSsYU71hAKgDniWmQnALhb_J3Prltyg4SP67UfIDxWU6_vrogYkJWMk4hWlobhWcApdSrPsg5lcQUK0I7rmpDS8bdeZkYn7XyvXv-kbQ/s320/Picture+13.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506474414533536898" /></a><br />The character of Therru is kept a mystery throughout much of the story. We learn that she was an abused child, and her low social status makes her a severe outcast. But at the end of the movie, she is shown to be immortal, which is never fully explained. It seems like there wasn't enough time to fully round her out as a character.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo_rNMkVoIVm6vUy-hucon4gz9dR4RK4hEGmQi9ZAwXMMVjw-C-JG6vfynNX0jFZxZiT0dQmSG7Bf8JDKi2vLmc0OmqWwle7AwrH-X_plQJjbCU0_QIQnSAye1vQASj9bVnXIMHfwIfY/s1600/Picture+14.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo_rNMkVoIVm6vUy-hucon4gz9dR4RK4hEGmQi9ZAwXMMVjw-C-JG6vfynNX0jFZxZiT0dQmSG7Bf8JDKi2vLmc0OmqWwle7AwrH-X_plQJjbCU0_QIQnSAye1vQASj9bVnXIMHfwIfY/s320/Picture+14.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506474670289296082" /></a><br />The antagonist, Cob, is a very confusing character for me. On a simpler note, he's a wizard wishing to gain immortality, but the story alludes to a past he has, which is connected to Earthsea's mythology. The latter isn't explained very much.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxvabGJaspkoAOzPboPm6I1PwwSLLsxie6ISShiipIBe7tHosrYGHx9cxXg_Vb2bh54AuSurh7Eh5Y8THAB4fhILFeB3IQwALhpYI2bXhSmnTlgdWx4tRRJfkjSXmuTY-mNdBHOcjAKE/s1600/Picture+9.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxvabGJaspkoAOzPboPm6I1PwwSLLsxie6ISShiipIBe7tHosrYGHx9cxXg_Vb2bh54AuSurh7Eh5Y8THAB4fhILFeB3IQwALhpYI2bXhSmnTlgdWx4tRRJfkjSXmuTY-mNdBHOcjAKE/s320/Picture+9.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506475425958729330" /></a><br />Goro Miyazaki definitely has the technical prowess down. For a first time director, he helmed a nicely organized visual treat. But as a storyteller, he needs a ton of work there. And this seems to be the general consensus of the whole thing. Goro Miyazaki, the son of animation icon Hayao Miyazaki, needs to really concentrate on what he wants to say in a story, and how to fully explain that to the audience. It seems like he didn't spend very much adapting the screenplay (based on books by Ursula K. Le Guin), and more time structuring the technical challenges of the movie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcQQSCZacr2aLaCCp8gBKGdeWF8HXC9LRlVovhuXW1IUL-c9c0SWGH4sHEGW9yelkCnG5p41sua9eSPSpcvddvPKZIwtmTBDJzT5r9GpE-oF3hGNdXW23uOjhaLLDQxGxT0Rz5FgTd9I/s1600/Picture+12.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcQQSCZacr2aLaCCp8gBKGdeWF8HXC9LRlVovhuXW1IUL-c9c0SWGH4sHEGW9yelkCnG5p41sua9eSPSpcvddvPKZIwtmTBDJzT5r9GpE-oF3hGNdXW23uOjhaLLDQxGxT0Rz5FgTd9I/s320/Picture+12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506475789572709426" /></a><br />Something nice about <span style="font-style:italic;">Tales from Earthsea</span>: it fits nicely with Studio Ghibli's other films. Its not the best thing they've done, but it doesn't ruin their track record.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-88508631586785414142010-08-03T10:37:00.000-07:002010-08-03T12:00:29.449-07:00Back again: Belated respone to Toys and Bad Guys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesBg3eQop1NB_a2Pf6DfWgZ1bPoCfz4PfxO-LWB2cfr1u9tBoUCn5CmPoH_hMEzK6-eXWd47DGn8_nMXDExQW81E0RCtZkDrtIcXJKh4W9M_EMptmTDQPNs8mkrRJl6UuoaGmotUZYfo/s1600/4766644576_c4e8036a52.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesBg3eQop1NB_a2Pf6DfWgZ1bPoCfz4PfxO-LWB2cfr1u9tBoUCn5CmPoH_hMEzK6-eXWd47DGn8_nMXDExQW81E0RCtZkDrtIcXJKh4W9M_EMptmTDQPNs8mkrRJl6UuoaGmotUZYfo/s320/4766644576_c4e8036a52.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501257910823180978" /></a><br />I apologize for not showing up here in nearly four months. These past four months haven't been easy. Back in March, where I last left the Domain, I got screwed over by two jobs. <br /><br />When that happens in the same week, your judgement gets messed up. I saw <span style="font-style:italic;">How to Train Your Dragon</span> that same week, but in the midst of everything going, I think my judgement of the movie was clouded. I will wait for the DVD, and watch it on a day when I'm feeling pretty good about stuff.<br /><br />To be on the safe side, I probably shouldn't discuss one of the issues. But I can safely give the reasons I have been away from this blog for so long. Its simply been an issue of work, and the intolerance of not being paid. I did managed to snag a couple of jobs, but they require me not disclose them anywhere. But in all, everything that happened in 2009 caught up with me, and I saw just how degraded the animation industry has become. While waiting for the industry to clear up (if it ever does), I have focused exclusively on improving my writing skills. Now that might sound ironic as I am explaining why I haven't been around here. But some things I have to keep to myself in the meantime.<br /><br />In the meantime, my movie-going has been few and far in-between. Again, this is due to money. There were few movies I wanted to see in the meantime anyway. The only two animated features to grab my attention were <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story 3</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Despicable Me</span>. Every other animated trailer I've seen...zip. I managed to see both <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story 3</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Despicable Me</span>, without clouded judgement, even in a summer-swollen New York City.<br /><br />I have written reviews for both, although they are both late. I've been too distracted to write them as quickly. They simply take no immediate priority. But I still have my right to comment on them, even if nobody is interested in them now. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">TOY STORY 3</span></span><br /><br />If this is to be the final installment of the <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story </span>movies, they did a terrific job.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ7BKIo2oNhLajG45jp2LVquYmF5fdQNVd0IAN-2gNTEgBRx2aQN5CxuGvgoIG5xBN-rnvNOiKE9FVleD1aPsjO5p5JONSIgHEVBNq-BTugvof84C1f1-FgLIN2BwQuM-qADJsEohXj8/s1600/Little+girl+with+buzz.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ7BKIo2oNhLajG45jp2LVquYmF5fdQNVd0IAN-2gNTEgBRx2aQN5CxuGvgoIG5xBN-rnvNOiKE9FVleD1aPsjO5p5JONSIgHEVBNq-BTugvof84C1f1-FgLIN2BwQuM-qADJsEohXj8/s320/Little+girl+with+buzz.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501252162434337922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdmIqNCr5JA-uwjwBj43yKGQQy7bWNaWYaV0MCnitoFBhSrwtN_aXU25lun-KlWvwhNr9OpXRkS1gSUPSkiyZ3SHaXvPhLHgOgQDxzqGvNqUARbpPVGvvU4W5vL-U9jtJNRMMBqkebdI/s1600/Big+Baby+with+Potato.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdmIqNCr5JA-uwjwBj43yKGQQy7bWNaWYaV0MCnitoFBhSrwtN_aXU25lun-KlWvwhNr9OpXRkS1gSUPSkiyZ3SHaXvPhLHgOgQDxzqGvNqUARbpPVGvvU4W5vL-U9jtJNRMMBqkebdI/s320/Big+Baby+with+Potato.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501252150861649234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eSIDJ8onLuqp-TpIMIQRbqQx44E5zTQfbFKuv8xowvCee0R2whJwnC9wBEepI60kH8G6Of9dBXCHZCZhwOENt6JoKTELEeQdEaysLUrIQmEWJt8bC71B7j4E1Mk43vl1X7SYHz3UsVk/s1600/Andy+as+a+little+kid.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eSIDJ8onLuqp-TpIMIQRbqQx44E5zTQfbFKuv8xowvCee0R2whJwnC9wBEepI60kH8G6Of9dBXCHZCZhwOENt6JoKTELEeQdEaysLUrIQmEWJt8bC71B7j4E1Mk43vl1X7SYHz3UsVk/s320/Andy+as+a+little+kid.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501252130543527602" /></a><br />I also kind of hope this is the last <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story</span> movie. When Pixar did the first two movies, they were still perfecting their technology, and trying to get a natural look for their movies. As such, the first two movies don't look as unique and exaggerated as Pixar's more recent endeavors. But to keep <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story 3</span> in the same vein as the first two, I guess it was important for it to look slightly realistic so as to keep it in close relation to its predecessors. After this, I would prefer Pixar to continue expanding the different directions the visuals of their movies can go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIarSHg8yufst34_1u1Iz6ZlIuIcVp0KAcaDGpXPmD65uLqtV-ktarCzQ6RUcx54KylT_Ge_MfB3wluHukaxmfWIVHOjXaY8d4dvY-q8uh1QmWih6gHbtgCG-6Mt3CcP8YGUHnyjQ_3AI/s1600/Andy's+toys.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIarSHg8yufst34_1u1Iz6ZlIuIcVp0KAcaDGpXPmD65uLqtV-ktarCzQ6RUcx54KylT_Ge_MfB3wluHukaxmfWIVHOjXaY8d4dvY-q8uh1QmWih6gHbtgCG-6Mt3CcP8YGUHnyjQ_3AI/s320/Andy's+toys.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501250685050430530" /></a><br />The first movie focused on Woody and Buzz. The second movie did the same, but also equally focused on Jesse and the new introductions. This movie gives its total focus to all of the main characters of "Andy's Toys," making it an ensemble film of sorts. And it works. While not all the characters get equal screen time (there's just way too many), they are given enough development for the audience to identify them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqirr3lbxPchlP1FBoaizk8A-BvPknfOihLmB6YcCVUDeANFrCfVd-J09WYleaU13byxxX1ZI1M6PF6P5wu3feXZFGn8q9Q_DuqnI3AuLc1gBwUmwMb7XbqFdesqWKMHrJSZFVSQ83dQM/s1600/Lotso+and+crew.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqirr3lbxPchlP1FBoaizk8A-BvPknfOihLmB6YcCVUDeANFrCfVd-J09WYleaU13byxxX1ZI1M6PF6P5wu3feXZFGn8q9Q_DuqnI3AuLc1gBwUmwMb7XbqFdesqWKMHrJSZFVSQ83dQM/s320/Lotso+and+crew.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501253379396321618" /></a><br />The new characters are given fresh twists, both amusing and dark, compared to how toys were portrayed in the previous movies. In the daycare center, new characters like Lotso (Lots-o-huggin Bear), Ken (Barbie's companion), and Lotso's henchmen are complex toys that have lost their owners, and been given a desolate view on life. Lotso felt abandoned, and his own psychology told him that everyone should be made to suffer just as he did, and they earn their rewards. Ken is a unique character, as he is male but has all the accessories of a girls toy. He's probably been mocked his whole existence, and feels the need to be one of the tough guys to prove his "boys-toy"-hood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqdLyQ0cys5rvBtYNuY5MCwBwvEBLxjOGh_hVviC-s4eF3jwRYc3tlhbzDOY9Kmqpb-kyIqf4uaT6wmPcoEVzKXw1HhG95nAwG65PqY1ODTR7fV5ttmzf28JSUkiBH4yQpWAbMqLiCcQ/s1600/Woody-meets-Bonnie-s-Toys-toy-story-3-13210009-1310-731.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqdLyQ0cys5rvBtYNuY5MCwBwvEBLxjOGh_hVviC-s4eF3jwRYc3tlhbzDOY9Kmqpb-kyIqf4uaT6wmPcoEVzKXw1HhG95nAwG65PqY1ODTR7fV5ttmzf28JSUkiBH4yQpWAbMqLiCcQ/s320/Woody-meets-Bonnie-s-Toys-toy-story-3-13210009-1310-731.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501256034902457410" /></a><br />The toys in Bonnie's room are among my favorites. Whereas in Andy's room, the toys treated it like an office job, the toys in Bonnie's room are like a theater troupe acting in plays with their owner. My favorite new character would have to be Mr. Pricklepants, a cute hedgehog in lederhosen, who thinks of himself as a thespian actor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWdJu_Avr0KO_2gMKbHhiPu03Js7uQzQ-z2I99tavZHohMDsxtdE2EayoubZ0bivSbDW7Ye6TZb-jzf4iqaI_MREfIysmXEUE9xDjigK77PJuqEglk9-7o4g2hpR8rJ4JH40Sjmn9-u0/s1600/Slinky+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWdJu_Avr0KO_2gMKbHhiPu03Js7uQzQ-z2I99tavZHohMDsxtdE2EayoubZ0bivSbDW7Ye6TZb-jzf4iqaI_MREfIysmXEUE9xDjigK77PJuqEglk9-7o4g2hpR8rJ4JH40Sjmn9-u0/s320/Slinky+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501255444044748626" /></a><br />The garbage dump/incinerator scene is one of the high points of the movie. I have to admit, some children may be scared of this scene, but that's not my problem. This scene kept me on my seat, and the character animation enhanced the emotion of the danger beautifully without overdoing it (i.e. getting too wordy and sentimental).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzcqpWyJQ1-1GsbK0ASdsIAYOtdVVIj4NMuyuFgkkTgxT1SvxHsUF6tLlSAOJe5QW706jidzv5w5ZU8Bm-Uzx2XJ9299ktlvdCu6arc-1uKmCny98tus__FpTmXJMlrWMF82efmB3AU4/s1600/Lotso+and+cast.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzcqpWyJQ1-1GsbK0ASdsIAYOtdVVIj4NMuyuFgkkTgxT1SvxHsUF6tLlSAOJe5QW706jidzv5w5ZU8Bm-Uzx2XJ9299ktlvdCu6arc-1uKmCny98tus__FpTmXJMlrWMF82efmB3AU4/s320/Lotso+and+cast.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501256586753038258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT72fLUk74c9JKP-X3EhbofbSWeCCkJqy27k5gKjDvsCP1EMWtkposfl5y-PkTv5bSODM-EWV5vWFFQGEWiT1zZPtIaBltbWgxthU7snZIyPdAdWaqbl_iwaFB9FkX0rui3G7XyWrAkS8/s1600/Woody+in+the+mirror.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT72fLUk74c9JKP-X3EhbofbSWeCCkJqy27k5gKjDvsCP1EMWtkposfl5y-PkTv5bSODM-EWV5vWFFQGEWiT1zZPtIaBltbWgxthU7snZIyPdAdWaqbl_iwaFB9FkX0rui3G7XyWrAkS8/s320/Woody+in+the+mirror.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501256572432130946" /></a><br />Now that I am into the <span style="font-style:italic;">Toy Story</span> movies for the time being, I will wonder if anybody is interested in the twisted logic behind the movies' universe. Does anyone care how these toys come to everlasting life? How can toys made of plastic and cotton have vocal chords? And why hasn't the government latched onto these potentially useful weapons of home invasion? Just let that sink in for a bit.<br /><br />All in all, as I said before, a nice finale to what turned out to be a trilogy. Pixar really pulled it off this time. I like the dark direction they are going into, as it seems to relate to most of the movie going audience nowadays.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjzf7wO_SOq3jhj0LQ1sPGkvGHC0n5qB9UKLMzvh-nu5p7sqNfioEmyyh-EA_tIWiWFzxLgj5bKqt2DTAeyCO0AiOwQEcaHz4aM4xVFnqUNN0nHSFu4AWARVXjeUqVACeuPCAsdcqJ3o/s1600/Picture+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjzf7wO_SOq3jhj0LQ1sPGkvGHC0n5qB9UKLMzvh-nu5p7sqNfioEmyyh-EA_tIWiWFzxLgj5bKqt2DTAeyCO0AiOwQEcaHz4aM4xVFnqUNN0nHSFu4AWARVXjeUqVACeuPCAsdcqJ3o/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501257667394046162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYB3rB4zaAsWvnygoH5Bjo7xhpJZfeNXqsV_iaNfO_yIp4AquiJP9WL5oCIxLSa97XX-FwJ2DXvVEYW_JWDFslKsk_c14QaEAG-YIEtv0M7RJxCaUk1aj0DZnEfTkDYxW_rV8JxM4pr7w/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYB3rB4zaAsWvnygoH5Bjo7xhpJZfeNXqsV_iaNfO_yIp4AquiJP9WL5oCIxLSa97XX-FwJ2DXvVEYW_JWDFslKsk_c14QaEAG-YIEtv0M7RJxCaUk1aj0DZnEfTkDYxW_rV8JxM4pr7w/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501257661957852434" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Day and Night</span>. <br />This may be the best Pixar short in years. Technically, the concept is simple. The two main characters are hand-drawn, but colored with 3D animation. The simplicity ends there. They are fun to watch, and we are curious about their interactions. I do have to admit though, the concept gets a little lost in the middle, when a paranoid radio broadcast in played. That seemed kind of forced. Also, I would have preferred a music different from the happy-go-lucky 1950's soundtrack. That keeps the designs tied in with 1950's UPA.<br /><br />Despite all that, a good experience. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">DESPICABLE ME</span></span><br /><br />This movie came from Illumination Entertainment. It's not immediately original, but its not a bad movie really. Some studios are really trying to put their best foot forward, even though the economy prevents them from getting too far. The plot of the movie sounds unique, in that a "bad guy" is the protagonist this time around. The main character, Gru, is not a pleasant looking figure, but we grow to appreciate him as the movie goes along. Something of an anti-hero, Gru is trying to maintain his status as a super-villain, while dealing with an unexpected new role as adoptive father to three little girls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhqT_Z2Ri6hayLDI0NagVKQn8DfxEcb8ZBK2J4e-eSwMgliJCuQr8uTdyPgvEc-ofAsn2WmHWjbBueQqED_0E7DcwfcAyhm-0wcEUEejv9ZxLNXFxn-x89ccfTkbqrGeVFDqXz3tWns/s1600/Picture+13.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhqT_Z2Ri6hayLDI0NagVKQn8DfxEcb8ZBK2J4e-eSwMgliJCuQr8uTdyPgvEc-ofAsn2WmHWjbBueQqED_0E7DcwfcAyhm-0wcEUEejv9ZxLNXFxn-x89ccfTkbqrGeVFDqXz3tWns/s320/Picture+13.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501246688876786546" /></a><br />The animation is very cartoony. Lots of exaggerated poses (well not a lot, but more than what you'd find in a Dreamworks movie). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo4bINayPwPK1KwT0_aqzRAsVSJt_HJlYML9NPX3U0ppJLqoVLUnKD2S-jjCYOfiCrO-f2LSWI7ljiwlgWohm3vXUrPBUa7KfwEDGvEgOMZonrtlR3rTmVc3D-dQp8MK0jVJwldHsM54/s1600/Picture+10.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo4bINayPwPK1KwT0_aqzRAsVSJt_HJlYML9NPX3U0ppJLqoVLUnKD2S-jjCYOfiCrO-f2LSWI7ljiwlgWohm3vXUrPBUa7KfwEDGvEgOMZonrtlR3rTmVc3D-dQp8MK0jVJwldHsM54/s320/Picture+10.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501247586321312834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUPBMmKag9xoXgR_WzjPW9E3EeEb4nIhAKHoYjIf7juYiTB92qGWGuAYeX_JWXrhhdlyBpIGhlKzKeewc6LWkNK8qiq9_B8NJwgFaza4TgrbTrNXSzgcfr6xVf6LDVzWQcWsKYkWVds4/s1600/Picture+9.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUPBMmKag9xoXgR_WzjPW9E3EeEb4nIhAKHoYjIf7juYiTB92qGWGuAYeX_JWXrhhdlyBpIGhlKzKeewc6LWkNK8qiq9_B8NJwgFaza4TgrbTrNXSzgcfr6xVf6LDVzWQcWsKYkWVds4/s320/Picture+9.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501247577683692578" /></a><br />The roller coaster scene is actually pretty impressive. The way the shots are positioned and sustained, you really do get the queasiness of being high up on rails.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMUEXUStqBko5tWZeA6slJvKvllITXEpC996QfrygN7Cnpckb_xxWafwoCbkdpEONG08-_qgwUzDsjjlPpeg7koW7eix3W9Zy3d4CjgM1njt3UQhk3xbBZtsqfZoG4BNRzzLqxa6844g/s1600/Picture+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMUEXUStqBko5tWZeA6slJvKvllITXEpC996QfrygN7Cnpckb_xxWafwoCbkdpEONG08-_qgwUzDsjjlPpeg7koW7eix3W9Zy3d4CjgM1njt3UQhk3xbBZtsqfZoG4BNRzzLqxa6844g/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501246127350816082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbZOsqMsA8juj7zByyyL1aYDtlU5JGITfdNvCQYIk743mjTsG85A4O14M4y8yqNK5zoJAmpP2DFqoKMrtyhs2hUhQjcGmYmutx9V6_uIyVmObVeZO9IM2ITDwAX3shRdxGRH77kEJlD4/s1600/Picture+6.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbZOsqMsA8juj7zByyyL1aYDtlU5JGITfdNvCQYIk743mjTsG85A4O14M4y8yqNK5zoJAmpP2DFqoKMrtyhs2hUhQjcGmYmutx9V6_uIyVmObVeZO9IM2ITDwAX3shRdxGRH77kEJlD4/s320/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501246116199368594" /></a><br />Nice characters designs. Nice to see a unique one for the main character. There's nothing typical about Gru's design, as he is supposed to be a bad guy, and bad guys usually have interesting appearances. According to interviews, the designers referenced Ronald Searle for inspiration. The could have done a little better for Gru's mother, who I felt had a tired design.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wrTFIoSrv7YKtUPFO1L5L63oDLdV5YtchUVf9xIozNo4NbIV9412nXaxHXyaGs4d6f5TE2qGhUzXCtBIcViQgcWfYRGpb-9x8HYR-7HrTPk3aDvLlD5aHCwkn6qRhelOV57k13UZOlQ/s1600/Picture+11.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wrTFIoSrv7YKtUPFO1L5L63oDLdV5YtchUVf9xIozNo4NbIV9412nXaxHXyaGs4d6f5TE2qGhUzXCtBIcViQgcWfYRGpb-9x8HYR-7HrTPk3aDvLlD5aHCwkn6qRhelOV57k13UZOlQ/s320/Picture+11.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501248323108860514" /></a><br />The minions are never explained. I read somewhere that they are genetically enhanced corn pops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ST_RTK1aQox-SN3o3yaTMCJIgnuu4zI_iIb0HyN3lwdvkN-abepVY29zEAtAv_s8UiZj6hcwYcA6BJQQpvKER3VCRwgTRwx5KSS2ckbUj6qMp4nXZIDztC40JwyukQwcBhdNr36ZAV0/s1600/Picture+16.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ST_RTK1aQox-SN3o3yaTMCJIgnuu4zI_iIb0HyN3lwdvkN-abepVY29zEAtAv_s8UiZj6hcwYcA6BJQQpvKER3VCRwgTRwx5KSS2ckbUj6qMp4nXZIDztC40JwyukQwcBhdNr36ZAV0/s320/Picture+16.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501248733062892562" /></a><br />We have the usual half-hearted voice overs. Steve Carrell's faux-german accent is pretty funny most of the time, although a little forced in parts. Russel Brand does the best job as Gru's aging scientist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2wYLaD1fLaBdoEBZ8k83TO4dqhFbnPzr95Xq1l-_CXBDGWIyyzUOSo1xxCst6XHPnU_l2Hi4ZIMpzkXerhyphenhyphenejAgNNwVcVPIOHNTMP9K9wcLGnAf6VPnJgl_DQm1s-NO1AdBC9Rg9uI/s1600/Picture+15.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2wYLaD1fLaBdoEBZ8k83TO4dqhFbnPzr95Xq1l-_CXBDGWIyyzUOSo1xxCst6XHPnU_l2Hi4ZIMpzkXerhyphenhyphenejAgNNwVcVPIOHNTMP9K9wcLGnAf6VPnJgl_DQm1s-NO1AdBC9Rg9uI/s320/Picture+15.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501249145077966802" /></a><br />A big plus for the screenplay is the humor. There is very little reliance on pop-culture for the most part. The interaction between Gru and the little girls provides a unique backdrop for some very humorous conversations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMW7B7YKon6d9WGEG5jFmHVc7wytZK3qOGGs8gD8MOkMs6m3eE6hosVkoHK37OUXPoprOqA38rTUe4l1_MYY7bwb-3WwefhL-iCdumXtE3l-HXt-qguMwA3oP-G_mLi2gOYW6XdMFN74/s1600/Picture+12.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMW7B7YKon6d9WGEG5jFmHVc7wytZK3qOGGs8gD8MOkMs6m3eE6hosVkoHK37OUXPoprOqA38rTUe4l1_MYY7bwb-3WwefhL-iCdumXtE3l-HXt-qguMwA3oP-G_mLi2gOYW6XdMFN74/s320/Picture+12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501249853183198562" /></a><br />I didn't like the last 15 minutes of the movie. It was in the end that it got too cliched. It gets too glossy at the end, with a big disco scene, and everyone suddenly accepting one another. And this disco scene wasn't the first in the movie. I didn't understand the connection between Disco and super-villany. Sometimes, opposites don't always attract. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCfyhrDTGvy7Iwfo-MSrOqdEQC78EbiykQGH_MfpcWaQ-F9JZE4IvuGGhs8YCFmae5Z5UYVvRnICngFIQ1Vmu5dr2iqZQ6Vk5aTwHFIstqHNby876rrTxdFc3TmIdukCKdpD6SxANsgc/s1600/Picture+8.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCfyhrDTGvy7Iwfo-MSrOqdEQC78EbiykQGH_MfpcWaQ-F9JZE4IvuGGhs8YCFmae5Z5UYVvRnICngFIQ1Vmu5dr2iqZQ6Vk5aTwHFIstqHNby876rrTxdFc3TmIdukCKdpD6SxANsgc/s320/Picture+8.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501250185436152882" /></a><br />Not a perfect movie (again), but not a bad one. I didn't cringe anywhere in the movie, so that's a big plus.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-84900612345956656452010-03-28T15:05:00.001-07:002010-03-28T16:02:39.048-07:00Tim Burton: Alice and the MoMAI feel like I have been putting this off for no reason. But the time seems right to write about Tim Burton.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BLALpwkEqc9eTK1ldFlW7bvCppNKNKDFs30VUdYo9cMr0lsSfuWGWcjx5YePjw3lo2LMmLUkPB7GpRPMSlEAL5NgbG2hmCe9njCoMcaCvxrx62JbxpmjqajH6jRIlb4H_fHMKVXHcHk/s1600/ss-091118-tim-burton-05.ss_full-739040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BLALpwkEqc9eTK1ldFlW7bvCppNKNKDFs30VUdYo9cMr0lsSfuWGWcjx5YePjw3lo2LMmLUkPB7GpRPMSlEAL5NgbG2hmCe9njCoMcaCvxrx62JbxpmjqajH6jRIlb4H_fHMKVXHcHk/s320/ss-091118-tim-burton-05.ss_full-739040.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453809831210887490" /></a><br />I have to start off by calling Tim Burton one of my favorite filmmakers. As a little kid and up until college, he was my favorite director. Although my tastes and views have changed, I still hold Burton in the highest regard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2iaC04LunL7rQ5sGGH90CbspQEz5GTs5XSOgfwSbbQPYwSNvcxF0UlqkKJIADtND3Rk6-u5D2qG_AOO6Ntv62M-nNkfxLJUBo8sC4MUA4BGOIXlpK2wZzUjSua3ULslyMnSyzN-jtWE/s1600/card1256767862-748645.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2iaC04LunL7rQ5sGGH90CbspQEz5GTs5XSOgfwSbbQPYwSNvcxF0UlqkKJIADtND3Rk6-u5D2qG_AOO6Ntv62M-nNkfxLJUBo8sC4MUA4BGOIXlpK2wZzUjSua3ULslyMnSyzN-jtWE/s320/card1256767862-748645.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453811127103859906" /></a><br />The Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a subdued spectacle to see. I say subdued, because of the enormous popularity the exhibit has attracted, which I will explain below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTnvLjkQ48fWUUVbQWKrWHkh8iP3LbpQjUiNKdJyfX0jzWa0qA8Oul0rPMC3egJRyeBiskSbf4X5OP72G9tIWHCr5UBdrURgrd9YAMp5STNuAy7offIgOqBn3zscBIW5TqByIgAvbHU4/s1600/Tim-Burton-Number-drawing-1982.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTnvLjkQ48fWUUVbQWKrWHkh8iP3LbpQjUiNKdJyfX0jzWa0qA8Oul0rPMC3egJRyeBiskSbf4X5OP72G9tIWHCr5UBdrURgrd9YAMp5STNuAy7offIgOqBn3zscBIW5TqByIgAvbHU4/s320/Tim-Burton-Number-drawing-1982.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453811970402178258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzggJnQTCE6YQl_lD0FoNjf9UDCRtNSFmEgdzlKwrX33VX1Q7cwRMieRfXHW3unIMDm_CCyAF1Jq7sB9EpcLEJnd94xyH1S4cAFPEzaV6wljCDQpI0KKTHYqpglf7PK5jNMx_jw2xUfxE/s1600/burton_1a-773816.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzggJnQTCE6YQl_lD0FoNjf9UDCRtNSFmEgdzlKwrX33VX1Q7cwRMieRfXHW3unIMDm_CCyAF1Jq7sB9EpcLEJnd94xyH1S4cAFPEzaV6wljCDQpI0KKTHYqpglf7PK5jNMx_jw2xUfxE/s320/burton_1a-773816.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453811963142963826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv38qOtYGSAujsL_OEB53ZwmEi_8csA156p-HOgBRk0r_yef6knyhUi4e454EchQtsaOh0Vca0JBNvwMiN56NYfaITno5mWGPgcM2mKq9FLgrD3ADyIK91mG3uF6W5gKdShvTUfIElPz8/s1600/TrickorTreat_collage-770878.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv38qOtYGSAujsL_OEB53ZwmEi_8csA156p-HOgBRk0r_yef6knyhUi4e454EchQtsaOh0Vca0JBNvwMiN56NYfaITno5mWGPgcM2mKq9FLgrD3ADyIK91mG3uF6W5gKdShvTUfIElPz8/s320/TrickorTreat_collage-770878.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453811962437743682" /></a><br />The exhibit is divided into two halves: "Growing up in Burbank" and "After Burbank." The former represents Burton's life until 1985, when his movie career took off. These include childhood projects and collected artwork (mostly drawing) from his days at CalArts and Disney. The drawings are what truly make the show exciting, as they demonstrate everything Burton is appreciated for. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VCwUz1eM_FiakSBXxpcJfFo2AdmgXB6I_FglzHKmDnja5AJCKr6hXBdeuc4IeNEV0ZLQ6IWbvi7o6LLo9c901L2O5seq6d3SF5tmUIEfFO9efalq_u2RslY4nY9GfMZJpqsbTFAPUco/s1600/tim-burton-cartoon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VCwUz1eM_FiakSBXxpcJfFo2AdmgXB6I_FglzHKmDnja5AJCKr6hXBdeuc4IeNEV0ZLQ6IWbvi7o6LLo9c901L2O5seq6d3SF5tmUIEfFO9efalq_u2RslY4nY9GfMZJpqsbTFAPUco/s320/tim-burton-cartoon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453812557011425874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYWcOXyACkWMO_LEWDuBXowv1VJFidh8hRMTZt9VvcxONNYmUNLAHj4dlXGTyHafWtl9wrvofCkL-loeMg1uX1f5Z8v64I6GqTczIPeJZEC6tEKGeteciKpq7CcFE6FGxAwQB4wlq3Qk/s1600/Untitled-Ramone-tim-burton-9174995-788-1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYWcOXyACkWMO_LEWDuBXowv1VJFidh8hRMTZt9VvcxONNYmUNLAHj4dlXGTyHafWtl9wrvofCkL-loeMg1uX1f5Z8v64I6GqTczIPeJZEC6tEKGeteciKpq7CcFE6FGxAwQB4wlq3Qk/s320/Untitled-Ramone-tim-burton-9174995-788-1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453812555207147442" /></a><br />His drawings illustrate an extremely fertile imagination. In Burton's world, we find charming characters based on animals and fictional monsters, and grotesque beings based on what we see everyday (what some would call normal people). What we see in the drawings is not something that can be duplicated easily, but these worlds have to be truly felt. One can not feel them unless they experienced the same childhood Burton did. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyecUgMhyrq0ThuGBzs93XRcbUUS-b71lu7SPe_9I9zA-XviM_KkT1GggXHfrP9ImQkHYYILKuff5IIrpYpP9zBzShW9YcWYnGfzxeQrTn2SbxA13HlVSrvvTDwet_6abRajQUcB_9oeE/s1600/Picture+10.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyecUgMhyrq0ThuGBzs93XRcbUUS-b71lu7SPe_9I9zA-XviM_KkT1GggXHfrP9ImQkHYYILKuff5IIrpYpP9zBzShW9YcWYnGfzxeQrTn2SbxA13HlVSrvvTDwet_6abRajQUcB_9oeE/s320/Picture+10.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453813481053818226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS5-J_wGErjyR8ijhR3e-dSYfnmFrL2LdM76KrbZB0bm3azBfY555p85yeBICbExMz4bBEbKRTGXLLX6AdBebNfRx7aS2JyCABakY3fUXd966ZqvIvdOxvvNIMDkW6hI6_IAiBidgIK0/s1600/RomeoJuliet_penandink-770707.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS5-J_wGErjyR8ijhR3e-dSYfnmFrL2LdM76KrbZB0bm3azBfY555p85yeBICbExMz4bBEbKRTGXLLX6AdBebNfRx7aS2JyCABakY3fUXd966ZqvIvdOxvvNIMDkW6hI6_IAiBidgIK0/s320/RomeoJuliet_penandink-770707.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453813153493875746" /></a><br />There are hundreds of ideas coming out of these drawings. It would be great if Burton did a 2D animated film someday. But for now, these drawings work just as well with (Burton's preferred) stop-motion animation.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_3ppE_F-6ugFN-TKwCDnPl0nCGYM7ZY3bO4XcGbdR4p6ZY3hWBqSSa-NQRaNmTJ2KaBk5HX7isSGpE2HodalRBeGokoJjZLK-5OK1JGQaAOMow9rExYRVB37ZldjJBCFpvQJqylieS8/s1600/Picture+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_3ppE_F-6ugFN-TKwCDnPl0nCGYM7ZY3bO4XcGbdR4p6ZY3hWBqSSa-NQRaNmTJ2KaBk5HX7isSGpE2HodalRBeGokoJjZLK-5OK1JGQaAOMow9rExYRVB37ZldjJBCFpvQJqylieS8/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453812563649877442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFM2WAEAmK7V50V7GuIh0ecVNFrjOllTMEMuW5f2QJv-aKZ1owH7hvXQ0dLkjxsJBEW16sSJHva0EQ-U9Ll9Bs7CV0lxI7VK1Y-MzwygVQC2jHawfE2ESo8hQEqTBWdp88c6j6FxgTvI/s1600/Untitled.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFM2WAEAmK7V50V7GuIh0ecVNFrjOllTMEMuW5f2QJv-aKZ1owH7hvXQ0dLkjxsJBEW16sSJHva0EQ-U9Ll9Bs7CV0lxI7VK1Y-MzwygVQC2jHawfE2ESo8hQEqTBWdp88c6j6FxgTvI/s320/Untitled.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453812548062112754" /></a><br />I have seen it twice, and each time, it is crowded, and considering the space the show is in (one of the smaller spaces), it is not very pleasant. <br />The drawings, which are the central items of the show, are stacked in at least 20 frames per wall. To really appreciate this show, the drawings really need to be examined.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yZAOmd1mTXgWzyI_JRQBZ9kZUzdLgbSPF1ETmaoKNDt0mz4FMcLGs3K5YM6kuRG30n3Epi4Zgkb6N2iN_SIU3b1IOECBUi7VVyfDgSEfFw9LU0yVUBtNFOoECPNurS1d5hgLY2D5eHI/s1600/burton_10a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yZAOmd1mTXgWzyI_JRQBZ9kZUzdLgbSPF1ETmaoKNDt0mz4FMcLGs3K5YM6kuRG30n3Epi4Zgkb6N2iN_SIU3b1IOECBUi7VVyfDgSEfFw9LU0yVUBtNFOoECPNurS1d5hgLY2D5eHI/s320/burton_10a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453814026063516882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Ca1b3dYm-kqOKZhjh6etS1HUds-1k5ykgFUu-Up_LexqymMeLIlm_Mf2YBvT-PQrn1eCZnSX0K5w3DdAZZuC89wiBpqSB5Ht_zPf7MX85z-bg77ec3zrCLtWY6Oyt8Y5ICgScstxCo/s1600/burton5-(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Ca1b3dYm-kqOKZhjh6etS1HUds-1k5ykgFUu-Up_LexqymMeLIlm_Mf2YBvT-PQrn1eCZnSX0K5w3DdAZZuC89wiBpqSB5Ht_zPf7MX85z-bg77ec3zrCLtWY6Oyt8Y5ICgScstxCo/s320/burton5-(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453814024262476402" /></a><br />Anybody remember Poppy?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-lJD2380Y7hTacS-StHg7iGuSJnuUvcwRID7KFIwr-zrmImolZAavY-KvSy5P6Rvyla2K92zg6ZlApJsy88q4i2BTa_9JgQVsenUUKul30Ed0_f6XsdNnagsccBwLTiZUri3LKOP_ko/s1600/tim_burton_edward_scissorhands.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-lJD2380Y7hTacS-StHg7iGuSJnuUvcwRID7KFIwr-zrmImolZAavY-KvSy5P6Rvyla2K92zg6ZlApJsy88q4i2BTa_9JgQVsenUUKul30Ed0_f6XsdNnagsccBwLTiZUri3LKOP_ko/s320/tim_burton_edward_scissorhands.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453814016442621682" /></a><br />The second half of the exhibit covers Burton's years after Burbank. The years of 1985 to the present, when Burton went from struggling animator to feature film director. This part of the exhibit seems to be padded down with items and props from Burton's movies. The centerpieces of this half are the stop-motion puppets from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Nightmare Before Christmas</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Corpse Bride</span>. There is also some stop-motion tests made for <span style="font-style:italic;">Mars Attacks!</span> (1996). The movie is not one of Burton's best, but Barry Purves' animation is still a treat for the right enthusiast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wL-QyC0jgFFuVkG8leIhPFkpUxOPs8XrOS30gF8dBrDkObAzbtRHRzos9TbA_s7oXzA3AxVFlwx0c7YTUIxM6V4wkUdzLa8eJLJ7ubXUuXNLkesQvikuTSf8Yu_AaBT-AbR6Y-QbWUs/s1600/Alice,+WQ,+MH.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wL-QyC0jgFFuVkG8leIhPFkpUxOPs8XrOS30gF8dBrDkObAzbtRHRzos9TbA_s7oXzA3AxVFlwx0c7YTUIxM6V4wkUdzLa8eJLJ7ubXUuXNLkesQvikuTSf8Yu_AaBT-AbR6Y-QbWUs/s320/Alice,+WQ,+MH.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453815141499456338" /></a><br />Presently, the exhibit coincides with Burton's latest offering, <span style="font-style:italic;">Alice In Wonderland</span>. Although the movie's reviews have been mixed, I enjoyed the movie immensely. When you admire Burton as much as I do, you run the risk of regretting it if the movie doesn't live up to expectations, and that has happened before (<span style="font-style:italic;">Planet of the Apes</span> [2001] and <span style="font-style:italic;">Corpse Bride</span> [2005]). But that didn't happen this time, thank goodness.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9wDnGCh2sYqhLZW6fYECHGoZMduO0AbzbTzVKxWcsGlVsgJgx-xT8sXUESAaXV9PnP9Unf45YxEg6573oJcFGbVzU1nl3tK1FCNxvwwcZHlnjHOVdbFKmtji_UN_TO4NhcPxc8K4myo/s1600/Mad+Hatter.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9wDnGCh2sYqhLZW6fYECHGoZMduO0AbzbTzVKxWcsGlVsgJgx-xT8sXUESAaXV9PnP9Unf45YxEg6573oJcFGbVzU1nl3tK1FCNxvwwcZHlnjHOVdbFKmtji_UN_TO4NhcPxc8K4myo/s320/Mad+Hatter.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453814707919323474" /></a><br />I don't think its a perfect movie, but I think it is being judged much too harshly. Burton and his crew handled the plot very carefully, making sure everything had a reason for being there, but not overdoing it. When one does a movie with this much visual extravigence, it usually helps that the story be simplified. Linda Woolverton's script is straight to the point, and not padded down with excess dialog.<br /><br />The "real world" scenes that bookend the movie prove that Burton has the ability to bring out characters and their traits without having to rely on the visuals for guidance. This is something a lot of people forget, even though Burton has done it in several movies (particularly <span style="font-style:italic;">Ed Wood</span> [1994]). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVX3IZti3KHTxhQULT5V3SZ0kiK4jh7zciqS4fOK0DlnfgpbDKgnDrKSWVKRKycX93hgU7hWAEEpSwfqbe0-yS2oGAyC4day6wXj0Ey76A9zA1R8cXdpY9D2Ggdo-wVemKEu5ECPTc8/s1600/The+Queen+of+Heart+and+the+Knave.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVX3IZti3KHTxhQULT5V3SZ0kiK4jh7zciqS4fOK0DlnfgpbDKgnDrKSWVKRKycX93hgU7hWAEEpSwfqbe0-yS2oGAyC4day6wXj0Ey76A9zA1R8cXdpY9D2Ggdo-wVemKEu5ECPTc8/s320/The+Queen+of+Heart+and+the+Knave.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453815588114670578" /></a><br />The 3D aspect of the movie works perfectly. It accomplishes the trait of distinguishing Wonderland (or "Underland" in this case) as its own separate world. And like <span style="font-style:italic;">Avatar</span> recently, the characters become the visual aspect. And that brings out some wonderful work from the actors.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5b_jnjfU3Uiwzw1NPVUD39NT-8_TZWmNhwQ8eL4SshFUFukKDsRCR9DM99A9OvlyMwLrslilrCEA-ltcv5WkroWEs-M8JSBr3S7Rv0kPdwemmiDqRMEQPOMHNI0mIHrcK6SjFVpWyt7s/s1600/Cheshire+Cat.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5b_jnjfU3Uiwzw1NPVUD39NT-8_TZWmNhwQ8eL4SshFUFukKDsRCR9DM99A9OvlyMwLrslilrCEA-ltcv5WkroWEs-M8JSBr3S7Rv0kPdwemmiDqRMEQPOMHNI0mIHrcK6SjFVpWyt7s/s320/Cheshire+Cat.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453816173981538690" /></a><br />If I have any criticisms, it is with the soundtrack. Although Danny Elfman's score is strong, it fails to work in several areas of the movie. Personally, I love "Alice's Theme," but the other parts of the score don't seem to live up as quickly. And also, some of the sound mixing seemed rushed, and some of the character's dialog got overrun with other sound effects. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK-gOrDkrUpS-8GNeFfqtoIOJ5dSQPXDCVgJEiv4dckf1DTEbEH7EZoNC_8myx3u4SIf_IjxT_N6DhEPlWIX8neO_SgGo3BsS_H-7RiN8DbcE9qALMXIUmXDM-bY0OePaYdgpSkVYles/s1600/The+March+Hare.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjK-gOrDkrUpS-8GNeFfqtoIOJ5dSQPXDCVgJEiv4dckf1DTEbEH7EZoNC_8myx3u4SIf_IjxT_N6DhEPlWIX8neO_SgGo3BsS_H-7RiN8DbcE9qALMXIUmXDM-bY0OePaYdgpSkVYles/s320/The+March+Hare.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453823718050228482" /></a><br />Well, that's all the hot air I have to fill Burton up with right now. Go see the exhibit if you can. You can always get the art book, but its not the same as physically seeing them.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-31550411870020091242010-02-22T14:14:00.000-08:002010-02-22T14:33:44.375-08:00Waking Sleeping Beauty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2-uArKMNLbXhuYvP5REu6jnI8_xHOnD4oh18cep4v5Ali51nSSSvRXz_npgLqPUIbrSgk7efZrU7W-yid2UrV8zjIxOBMGn3MnyfwcVp8EZeagwXRNmd3eJ4CybDul96_SSy7UCRyUI/s1600-h/Beauty-and-the-Beast-disney-121589_1024_768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2-uArKMNLbXhuYvP5REu6jnI8_xHOnD4oh18cep4v5Ali51nSSSvRXz_npgLqPUIbrSgk7efZrU7W-yid2UrV8zjIxOBMGn3MnyfwcVp8EZeagwXRNmd3eJ4CybDul96_SSy7UCRyUI/s320/Beauty-and-the-Beast-disney-121589_1024_768.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441198404894120962" /></a><br />Last week, I was lucky enough to attend a preview screening of the new documentary, WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY. Its theatrical release date isn't for another month, but preview screenings are always fun. The documentary covers the Walt Disney Animation studio at the time of its Renaissance in the late 80's and 90's. Outwardly, it was a very exciting time (I remember these movies coming out every summer, they were huge events). But behind the scenes, it was a constant battle, one between the artists and executives, and conflict among the executives themselves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPbRcxYyeSCRvC3sb3TDBPcLRnUm2rMyKRSEJ7hed50BYYu72g8Wz0sblqPTjUvQfGnxwC-gm78NrubwzINuF0sEfIH6UE2CrqM8EfVkusdOSDeqkmJaWy_1spccRZMjgHm1d-WwsWWg/s1600-h/Michael+Eisner+and+Jeffrey+Katzenberg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPbRcxYyeSCRvC3sb3TDBPcLRnUm2rMyKRSEJ7hed50BYYu72g8Wz0sblqPTjUvQfGnxwC-gm78NrubwzINuF0sEfIH6UE2CrqM8EfVkusdOSDeqkmJaWy_1spccRZMjgHm1d-WwsWWg/s320/Michael+Eisner+and+Jeffrey+Katzenberg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441198411119089458" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Then-CE0 Michael Eisner (left) and Jeffrey Katzenberg (right) around the time of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit?</span></span><br /><br />I wrote a review, which has been published on ASIFA-East's Exposure Sheet. Actually, I need to point out that this is first time one of my reviews has been edited by someone other than myself. Richard Gorey replaced changed some of the wording, so its a little alien to me. But I shouldn't be too surprised by this. Most authors have to deal with editing. I'm learning this, and will have to learn it occasionally for survival. <a href="http://asifaeast.com/ExposureSheet/2010/02/22/waking-sleeping-beauty-review-by-emmett-goodman/#more-949">You can read the whole thing here.</a>Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-54906931289452946542010-01-19T12:53:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:05:26.772-08:00An Inspiring WarningThis was already posted on Cartoon Brew, but I found it very inspiring.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8768785&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8768785&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8768785">The Revolution Will Be Animated</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2979037">Marine Lormant Sebag</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />It is a short documentary by Marine Lormant Sebag about Nina Paley's struggles and resolution with copyright. For those who don't know, Nina Paley's feature film, Sita Sings the Blues, is a marvelous undertaking, which she produced and funded all on her own. The rest is explained in the clip, but it is an interesting insight into how indie filmmakers like Paley and Bill Plympton make their living, and the confines one could face from a business perspective. There is a lot to be aware of here. I'm not sure what Paley was thinking from the very beginning. As a devoted music fan, I am aware of the dangers of using copyrighted music against my own art. While some big distributors are able to secure the rights to some music, it is difficult with indie filmmakers searching for distribution. Clearing the rights to just two songs could consume half your budget. <br /><br />Just something to be clear on. I don't know if this would be harder, but I would much rather collaborate with a famous songwriter or composer, than borrow a famous song. It may sound like a pipe dream, but it also sounds a hell of a lot more logical.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-70611010363869907612009-12-24T11:35:00.000-08:002009-12-24T13:24:51.515-08:00The Princess and the FrogThe big news with <span style="font-style:italic;">The Princess and the Frog</span> is Disney Animation's return to hand-drawn animation. That detail might have been a bit over-hyped. But its an exciting return, as it is an art form that hasn't been subconsciously abandoned. I got to see the movie twice already, and there is a lot to praise about it. I just hope Disney improves upon this in the new decade.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaOrxvh5CWlGO3n1csg3WYOCWPFZBBfJ2qYyQBtSs9CIH02V2g-BPkLH_07mUl3n7Q1Nbon29R8FwjbY1R6FNyCgrFH9z2P1a6pXxRw9glO5UUuD9G-0FKuGRvxtoVGiI2lUdkClZs8c/s1600-h/Tiana+and+Naveen+11.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaOrxvh5CWlGO3n1csg3WYOCWPFZBBfJ2qYyQBtSs9CIH02V2g-BPkLH_07mUl3n7Q1Nbon29R8FwjbY1R6FNyCgrFH9z2P1a6pXxRw9glO5UUuD9G-0FKuGRvxtoVGiI2lUdkClZs8c/s320/Tiana+and+Naveen+11.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418890222020821762" /></a><br />The first thing I must praise is the screenplay. The dialog is the most un-clichéd I've heard from Disney in a long time! Rather than using worn-out movie lines, the writers find new ways to say the same things. And they go easy on the puns. The dialog was more dignified, and the movie ran smoothly all the way through.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PTmLIdl-AmJF6NCb1NcR3LytlYfJlnWKi_YTxTqeHp9fxF6UYYo-WPmfXznkz-yPIluZxVvxRbl5lfAr9-6hOCA1ZUe9sd1tAbVctF2fBvQW9JVmOphSO3MMJCrJMtPqL4uMkQ-8lio/s1600-h/Naveen+dances.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PTmLIdl-AmJF6NCb1NcR3LytlYfJlnWKi_YTxTqeHp9fxF6UYYo-WPmfXznkz-yPIluZxVvxRbl5lfAr9-6hOCA1ZUe9sd1tAbVctF2fBvQW9JVmOphSO3MMJCrJMtPqL4uMkQ-8lio/s320/Naveen+dances.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418891883531405586" /></a><br />For once, both the (supposed) princess and prince are not innocent, but flawed characters. Prince Naveen is spoiled and penniless. He is philandering and cut off from his rich family for being irresponsible. His self-absorption gets him into trouble, but give him a slight fearlessness of the outside world (although its just as naive). A slight flaw in the film, however, is the story establishes this too quickly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC5ZMMMiO9qWHFf-_v6Ze-iOB_tXNVTIwNtjTWSzmZ7w3Rdci8mNkp_T7hrB47IWEl51q7AtL7W9P5KYC6bgn2lzDJGI2DZ2OOQ5hRb5DYymvdgQai9R_db1SFMuxTYF_QYaZA8x35mU/s1600-h/Tiana+24.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC5ZMMMiO9qWHFf-_v6Ze-iOB_tXNVTIwNtjTWSzmZ7w3Rdci8mNkp_T7hrB47IWEl51q7AtL7W9P5KYC6bgn2lzDJGI2DZ2OOQ5hRb5DYymvdgQai9R_db1SFMuxTYF_QYaZA8x35mU/s320/Tiana+24.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418892411775142114" /></a><br />Tiana is a career-driven, type-A persona. She is a very skilled chef, and she dreams of owning a restaurant in New Orleans. However, she has been so determined to succeed, she unknowingly abandons freedoms she already has. She chooses to work instead of having fun (even for just a few moments).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvgKYV-cw_lUQOXXkgGb4vQevi5j7phmPgNoX887Z5cplugmA8y94kys6KtOeKRA5aD9FPUiq9uBwSEJ3t9F8SaXhT33tqD76zGFhcuKFblYOTnXI2gQKf5LrnIRKCYqQf9CUVADlT7M/s1600-h/Dr.+Facilier+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvgKYV-cw_lUQOXXkgGb4vQevi5j7phmPgNoX887Z5cplugmA8y94kys6KtOeKRA5aD9FPUiq9uBwSEJ3t9F8SaXhT33tqD76zGFhcuKFblYOTnXI2gQKf5LrnIRKCYqQf9CUVADlT7M/s320/Dr.+Facilier+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418889429771366034" /></a><br />Dr. Facilier (played brilliantly by Keith David) is a very unique Disney villain. He is a voodoo master ("Shadow Man" in the movie), which is just the same as an evil sorcerer. However, this time its not just greed that drives him, but also fear for his own soul. Part of his plan is intended to help him repay a debt to his friends on the "other side." I've almost likened Facilier to a corrupt business man needing to repay loan-sharks. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TA0gSoCROy3cd-HHFoC9P0_rE_ireXd0aye4fiUTXtFLbPq6iaq0PslGwNjW2sCfSSOS4_UU0c5Y-pVCPRbugafpfItb-cPI3h_6V-4fDfidmxq0SPb6ZH4joXCZE52kBoYZO8Ij3EE/s1600-h/Louis+6.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TA0gSoCROy3cd-HHFoC9P0_rE_ireXd0aye4fiUTXtFLbPq6iaq0PslGwNjW2sCfSSOS4_UU0c5Y-pVCPRbugafpfItb-cPI3h_6V-4fDfidmxq0SPb6ZH4joXCZE52kBoYZO8Ij3EE/s320/Louis+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418892685266109010" /></a><br />All characters are put to good use in the story, and there's no wonder as to why they are there. Louis, the jazz-loving alligator may be comical, but he relates to Naveen and Tiana's plight, and is as much an outcast as they see themselves. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1peuovO-dRayuqwgI2Oy-70WcGSg4oFIIkl3ew6lEHc5B9AgVZhyphenhyphenifuPp-b-cojEamBSF8qnH_ETvow7CuWo3Tv-9tp8_udSviIGlxks86PtoPdz2xORw2GT8PLiUXaaqOuRJDJmuno/s1600-h/Mama+Odie+and+Juju+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1peuovO-dRayuqwgI2Oy-70WcGSg4oFIIkl3ew6lEHc5B9AgVZhyphenhyphenifuPp-b-cojEamBSF8qnH_ETvow7CuWo3Tv-9tp8_udSviIGlxks86PtoPdz2xORw2GT8PLiUXaaqOuRJDJmuno/s320/Mama+Odie+and+Juju+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893080701758194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHt8m8Le2C8gC0R-QK706tx5PnB9Z_RNPfT7fLnbndAqPS2DD-f635cFPbyU3TNlIwRgnu743NvjWMZimI-2eta0FJ95_ZKXqiBREpeDzUl7hJ8a8gyKDrFYJepcmrneuwLAsLIu4cBg/s1600-h/Ray+17.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHt8m8Le2C8gC0R-QK706tx5PnB9Z_RNPfT7fLnbndAqPS2DD-f635cFPbyU3TNlIwRgnu743NvjWMZimI-2eta0FJ95_ZKXqiBREpeDzUl7hJ8a8gyKDrFYJepcmrneuwLAsLIu4cBg/s320/Ray+17.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893074053508386" /></a><br />Raymond, the cajun firefly, initially struck me as a throwaway character, but soon becomes the movie's unlikely tragic hero. Tiana's debutante friend, "Lottie," becomes the frogs' destination as she is a temporary princess needed to break their spell. And Mama Odie, the blind voodoo lady, is presented as the wise fairy godmother. But to keep it fresh, the writers have her lessons temporarily fall on deaf ears. And Naveen's bumbling valet becomes the movie's secondary villain (Nice!). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46Qn9FlP3-UA1WyYOGTeD6Px5lAGHdPG50QaA1L85D7RnG6mipQcywoRT55uhsppfizCinqrMQ263qKw8dUNdkep8EGXbC1fxq8tF1ey96mlJndU7-Vj1SKBpdhI4AjmsuXejqH2rdVA/s1600-h/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46Qn9FlP3-UA1WyYOGTeD6Px5lAGHdPG50QaA1L85D7RnG6mipQcywoRT55uhsppfizCinqrMQ263qKw8dUNdkep8EGXbC1fxq8tF1ey96mlJndU7-Vj1SKBpdhI4AjmsuXejqH2rdVA/s320/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893908656682610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G_nOHWAZrDeS1kuWXjlaXZ3D7ream43pHE8hsngniE_PUmQaJh6bKzJNCfoyDGgZwPasWgrWNl6Et6i_wv2VKeI4Qkl_UM64epHxMTfvfqSP634TyLj-gX-lBCFY4fPPKMHCVN1Xnkw/s1600-h/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G_nOHWAZrDeS1kuWXjlaXZ3D7ream43pHE8hsngniE_PUmQaJh6bKzJNCfoyDGgZwPasWgrWNl6Et6i_wv2VKeI4Qkl_UM64epHxMTfvfqSP634TyLj-gX-lBCFY4fPPKMHCVN1Xnkw/s320/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893904668720178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6xKM7Ou1HLVU8RtLgZJ0DLghS1vKoW-5ryfFdb-Oxm-S1zL9lEzpcYhgI_N_pQcL2apiUi1aKL5EyrU7QTu9v7AW5iBz8cj_VMAGXM7XHOGJtHz0WdW6eLoSU5MdwnqOhzl6PWs3yRA/s1600-h/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6xKM7Ou1HLVU8RtLgZJ0DLghS1vKoW-5ryfFdb-Oxm-S1zL9lEzpcYhgI_N_pQcL2apiUi1aKL5EyrU7QTu9v7AW5iBz8cj_VMAGXM7XHOGJtHz0WdW6eLoSU5MdwnqOhzl6PWs3yRA/s320/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893901226043506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPre7T6m1Hzi3U6Jrn47KdGQehYJDPOjYUXm-XdyQBtD4UbFjf7qVOtd1uuLbnhQOYJCcdZD-d5iKsRwfivpACnsVd8Vr9H92CstrPY3GgyoYD019x4y6yHVTUxq4J1tx6NEtRJ99NGe0/s1600-h/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPre7T6m1Hzi3U6Jrn47KdGQehYJDPOjYUXm-XdyQBtD4UbFjf7qVOtd1uuLbnhQOYJCcdZD-d5iKsRwfivpACnsVd8Vr9H92CstrPY3GgyoYD019x4y6yHVTUxq4J1tx6NEtRJ99NGe0/s320/Naveen+Frog+(s%2Bs)+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893892766435938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OA11RW9XldPrwEbHcZ8TQou5j-Ml6slJeTdGzY5ahpjfECo3ce2MQGkWM2pyKys3Q30CnemhwlFnGNPNQEPuR50AuJAbfnpwhwwgfT_VKHPUJ-COU7t5FHJN5-yBSE5gTJRwwGbx93M/s1600-h/Naveen+frog+39.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OA11RW9XldPrwEbHcZ8TQou5j-Ml6slJeTdGzY5ahpjfECo3ce2MQGkWM2pyKys3Q30CnemhwlFnGNPNQEPuR50AuJAbfnpwhwwgfT_VKHPUJ-COU7t5FHJN5-yBSE5gTJRwwGbx93M/s320/Naveen+frog+39.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893885032319714" /></a><br />The animation is beautiful and nicely balanced. Now that CG animation is in full swing, Disney's hand-drawn animation doesn't have to worry about trying to be as realistic as possible. Now the animators can go back to capturing what only 2D animation can capture: an immediate essence balanced with style, art and acting. The character animation is right to the point.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhFGNtRCvgCzW7rMHhOCQeEihuH8Kwl8yYpE8jFL4gjK6zRym-GppKlQnqRtlo6yvW5zTEzPdUbpqsTPqcWA_lLPptvB-dgkcg4-HUc6ceEh9IAAZc161JuI8Nl3nvDm2fviFkyoAu0A/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhFGNtRCvgCzW7rMHhOCQeEihuH8Kwl8yYpE8jFL4gjK6zRym-GppKlQnqRtlo6yvW5zTEzPdUbpqsTPqcWA_lLPptvB-dgkcg4-HUc6ceEh9IAAZc161JuI8Nl3nvDm2fviFkyoAu0A/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418915758978130050" /></a><br />This "money shot" here reminds me of something Hayao Miyazaki would have done. The coins are all hand-drawn, so their lines are constantly moving.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JgDh_Eqwsfk9zGrbLrDFEjycAn7zVr0ImoenIdZUvsg54G5HQl9xDHoJY9V_ZoYE2P9ZuX756cVxhDppvXqMe1k7gmnIqdvve-vMvkoXJT3tTICUl0ylehmAHSRuPjM1fLzIIBxroH0/s1600-h/Naveen's+arrival.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JgDh_Eqwsfk9zGrbLrDFEjycAn7zVr0ImoenIdZUvsg54G5HQl9xDHoJY9V_ZoYE2P9ZuX756cVxhDppvXqMe1k7gmnIqdvve-vMvkoXJT3tTICUl0ylehmAHSRuPjM1fLzIIBxroH0/s320/Naveen's+arrival.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418894827604727362" /></a><br />An unsung star in this movie is animator Eric Goldberg. Goldberg's primary character is Louis the Alligator (who I think has the best animation in the movie). Goldberg is also responsible for the miscellaneous characters in the background. All these characters bear Goldberg's influence of Chuck Jones. Goldberg's animation captures something extreme and abstract, while also maintaining a soft flow and irresistible charm. Bravo Mr. Goldberg. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05TOGxGjW06fE-NQURBC5OgjkSNCl4Jh8F-kUKHPr0PRqufx-acMwv4sdp6hJmp1PlVKSLThhJrJ2-pueleXb514ekX_OBtS9T9h47LWMvqf4PfVxp8mtWKl7l3tzBzpN3SGJbWxqBUk/s1600-h/Louis+5.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05TOGxGjW06fE-NQURBC5OgjkSNCl4Jh8F-kUKHPr0PRqufx-acMwv4sdp6hJmp1PlVKSLThhJrJ2-pueleXb514ekX_OBtS9T9h47LWMvqf4PfVxp8mtWKl7l3tzBzpN3SGJbWxqBUk/s320/Louis+5.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418894472604019458" /></a><br />Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of Disney clichés here. And a few of those clichés contribute flaws. The final wedding scene is by far the most clichéd scene in the film, complete with a cute animal audience and over-the-top water effects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiKcR5V4PEuUCtB3LwPu5z8PMSXmCEzd-RZR-9m0AVdN5TIkrK5kbuOi8wFeiuEORoGY2_Ia4fDCujEZWUytEvoiQKVdbsIiqK1w2ET8s0Zd89LxFWzpbei9U8WGSvjLD6cAX9jKrL4I/s1600-h/Mama+Odie+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiKcR5V4PEuUCtB3LwPu5z8PMSXmCEzd-RZR-9m0AVdN5TIkrK5kbuOi8wFeiuEORoGY2_Ia4fDCujEZWUytEvoiQKVdbsIiqK1w2ET8s0Zd89LxFWzpbei9U8WGSvjLD6cAX9jKrL4I/s320/Mama+Odie+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418895272082720626" /></a><br />The Broadway style also feels like a cliché long overused. But at least here, John Musker and Ron Clements do it right. Rather than just throwing a few songs into the film, the music takes up at least 1/3 of the film's length, making it seem like a complete musical. One of my complaints with movies like <span style="font-style:italic;">Aladdin</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Lion King</span> is that there wasn't enough music in the movies to make the musical aspect complete. With <span style="font-style:italic;">The Princess and the Frog</span>, the other 2/3 of the film don't seem out of place with the rest of the music.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRm81x98YfVtxWwbmZtDGggivbP6x82-Un6eM24vyP0uHV9b-HhpBc-Qrjx447rFScghzlEdQd3v2Xw_cAVd-IketD4nZIHjpqeZ4b4u6qNuC6L1YMTRrEFcCQXo2OoS3BGR_cVfXHk8/s1600-h/Louis+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRm81x98YfVtxWwbmZtDGggivbP6x82-Un6eM24vyP0uHV9b-HhpBc-Qrjx447rFScghzlEdQd3v2Xw_cAVd-IketD4nZIHjpqeZ4b4u6qNuC6L1YMTRrEFcCQXo2OoS3BGR_cVfXHk8/s320/Louis+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418895459153059554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD3QEOSPmyXtEUfLNJMaPNaoqXe1Qm8Ss4ms9pKH4znroFIUoj5pxBesLY-zY0h2PLG7_OdlqqwNbu_Xlduq_lnxYnPo7lSq_Lb5VEuQ9yiFioVIecmcnJz4bNOyXD43ecEahm8uVfuY/s1600-h/Facilier's+demons+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD3QEOSPmyXtEUfLNJMaPNaoqXe1Qm8Ss4ms9pKH4znroFIUoj5pxBesLY-zY0h2PLG7_OdlqqwNbu_Xlduq_lnxYnPo7lSq_Lb5VEuQ9yiFioVIecmcnJz4bNOyXD43ecEahm8uVfuY/s320/Facilier's+demons+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418895672230340866" /></a><br />Randy Newman's jazz inspired score is a new achievement in his animation repertoire. I have to admit, I have never been a huge fan of Randy Newman's scores. I find them too happy-go-lucky sounding. I like it when music can change its tone and ambience according to the scenes. In <span style="font-style:italic;">Princess and the Frog</span>, Newman's score seems a little more experimental, and he incorporates jazz and swing music into the mix, and he does a nice job balancing it with some Gershwin inspired orchestrations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPnqJNVkW4umwF0szt4BI7giQszEYlqQdi5UvlC0xGBgydjtM6yuDp6sZGLwGAuI1AahUQQx1qHqn0l3vo_fNYcG4weofLauigwitUz9ZBXDmOQ5LafwOhzXr1FSRBSK2lFs-ArvPBAI/s1600-h/Naveen+frog+21.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPnqJNVkW4umwF0szt4BI7giQszEYlqQdi5UvlC0xGBgydjtM6yuDp6sZGLwGAuI1AahUQQx1qHqn0l3vo_fNYcG4weofLauigwitUz9ZBXDmOQ5LafwOhzXr1FSRBSK2lFs-ArvPBAI/s320/Naveen+frog+21.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418895978303844786" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Princess and the Frog</span> works very well on its own. Compared to other Disney movies, its definitaly one of the best, but it still feels like another Disney movie. There's nothing about it that makes it significant compared to other movies. But on its own feet, it works tremendously well. Disney's animated films still have much to improve upon, and they have just started again here.<br /><br />We are approaching the next decade of the 21st century. And that really shouldn't mean anything. Its just another year. <br /><br />Happy Holidays anyway!Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-13283252837121675782009-12-10T16:19:00.000-08:002009-12-10T16:30:50.472-08:00An Evening with John R. Dilworth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs9pl4NMsYth26JK6scZlQWgqNOxRvSvzhqx2FF1hH5ltZddUrzdLn6YXtt8UGPpKaOYcLhsMpf4K8klztoF69p3m8GYZOD0Ik6DBolNRj7jQQZ6tPl0HoRtWU1kyqxVXCfvFkqQo3E/s1600-h/-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs9pl4NMsYth26JK6scZlQWgqNOxRvSvzhqx2FF1hH5ltZddUrzdLn6YXtt8UGPpKaOYcLhsMpf4K8klztoF69p3m8GYZOD0Ik6DBolNRj7jQQZ6tPl0HoRtWU1kyqxVXCfvFkqQo3E/s320/-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413768684282573122" /></a><br />On this blog, I haven't expressed enough of my admiration for John R. Dilworth. I still think <span style="font-style:italic;">Courage the Cowardly Dog</span> is one of the best shows on Cartoon Network (even long after its run) and his independent work is ingenious. A couple nights ago, John was the subject of an ASIFA-East retrospective, and as an ASIFA-East board member, I took the opportunity to write about the event. <a href="http://asifaeast.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/an-evening-with-john-r-dilworth/">The article has been published over at The Exposure sheet.</a> Check it out. It was a tremendously enjoyable evening. You couldn't predict anything! Much love goes to John, and plenty comes back to you!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-S1gpYgb4uMAC4jj792YwP0G8IHDcRXNQNpc21mVl8UAVWSmfBYEsDq_XGylePBr-l3B-VeNfIgbHojll7RsmD_Sd25nqQl_RQgwxER6grim9_x6IZKg6oYR5OXtSzDq0WTZ-yU9jIo/s1600-h/-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-S1gpYgb4uMAC4jj792YwP0G8IHDcRXNQNpc21mVl8UAVWSmfBYEsDq_XGylePBr-l3B-VeNfIgbHojll7RsmD_Sd25nqQl_RQgwxER6grim9_x6IZKg6oYR5OXtSzDq0WTZ-yU9jIo/s320/-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413768813341162514" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">A great Thank You to Pilar Newton for taking these pictures!</span>Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-82174812779533706962009-12-05T12:32:00.001-08:002009-12-05T13:10:19.518-08:00The Fantastic Mr. Fox<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcoAWJsGRBUsn-kZrExYEWz2jCgh0EWwZbjQ32tZFa-WkGSCQvhxHklMerjPtxNY4sX836qR-D5eCkLyPNnzU3CA9AhL9gmdE8Y8zCRLLXnr0xmDYOJQXburQcYxH7nrQ-XsnPKsVg1k/s1600-h/fmf+Mr+Fox+and+Badger.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcoAWJsGRBUsn-kZrExYEWz2jCgh0EWwZbjQ32tZFa-WkGSCQvhxHklMerjPtxNY4sX836qR-D5eCkLyPNnzU3CA9AhL9gmdE8Y8zCRLLXnr0xmDYOJQXburQcYxH7nrQ-XsnPKsVg1k/s320/fmf+Mr+Fox+and+Badger.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411855504286113394" /></a><br />Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's <span style="font-style:italic;">The Fantastic Mr. Fox</span> is a great movie. It is also an anomaly amongst other films of recent years.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJAycYz00bZ5jgmEYOHYel1-fw30mFPxzefNEA-V3UD1ViVKXw6IJH8JDTYIKe1btrx7eA5bHU0yi8cjkd8wv5b7L2Z1TY9Oc5Mr9OICCIB28vScJ0mKZDgRWFnzbXjxdTW-YYGrWoCw/s1600-h/FMF+Ash+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJAycYz00bZ5jgmEYOHYel1-fw30mFPxzefNEA-V3UD1ViVKXw6IJH8JDTYIKe1btrx7eA5bHU0yi8cjkd8wv5b7L2Z1TY9Oc5Mr9OICCIB28vScJ0mKZDgRWFnzbXjxdTW-YYGrWoCw/s320/FMF+Ash+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411855822849445266" /></a><br />Anderson's films have a questionable charm to them. We see characters we want to like, but then all these little negative nuances pop up, and the characters become more and more flawed. In saying that, <span style="font-style:italic;">Mr. Fox</span> may very well be Anderson's most charming movie since <span style="font-style:italic;">Rushmore</span> in 1998. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlvfe0A6oDf2N4D7uso3eyPRV3ik1zg6KWoJcT6b6fD0xiDHVV-i-psg3NbKPZ0H-M3rqzmRHmdTmTMHlu2K-ww3TBOQTarlU4ytF2XYfzNn2zBazyhy1hZVSNXcremqvz_rkEvZvWkw/s1600-h/fmf+Badger+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlvfe0A6oDf2N4D7uso3eyPRV3ik1zg6KWoJcT6b6fD0xiDHVV-i-psg3NbKPZ0H-M3rqzmRHmdTmTMHlu2K-ww3TBOQTarlU4ytF2XYfzNn2zBazyhy1hZVSNXcremqvz_rkEvZvWkw/s320/fmf+Badger+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411856251551549410" /></a><br />Although this is Anderson's first adapted screenplay, the characters still maintain traits that make this a familiar Anderson territory. For example, the dialog is mostly expository, and characters are portrayed as being brutally honest, and willing to point out things that nobody else needs to hear. And when a character is in need of sympathy, that same character offers some hostile anecdotes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjinXDaLtwDiZQ85AUE4rHgHvoBzq_3Kgl6QS7W8fvyWyYxL4802DoLrk2ard9_cnnTsOmrKbkQPgAWsUQF232RanwyLjikzjtyHOlUTLJRNZ9PUDQBrf2NsObiDl7nK9fe9lg1dSnXiI/s1600-h/FMF+Mr+Fox+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjinXDaLtwDiZQ85AUE4rHgHvoBzq_3Kgl6QS7W8fvyWyYxL4802DoLrk2ard9_cnnTsOmrKbkQPgAWsUQF232RanwyLjikzjtyHOlUTLJRNZ9PUDQBrf2NsObiDl7nK9fe9lg1dSnXiI/s320/FMF+Mr+Fox+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411856478045090962" /></a><br />Mr. Fox (or "Foxy"), the primary character, is the only one who makes himself out to be "fantastic." Immediately, there is a cunningness to the character that the audience can appreciate, but in several scenes, we are ultimately reminded that he is very selfish, and even admits to having feelings of narcissism. George Clooney's performance seems to enhance the leading-man image that Foxy has of himself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pWklcOAj0CFIwyY7bp4pcMRJNsJ8XP15HUHx1op_bcNzlumwf2GinI0Lmhn5edi62uXAVhOv3ftjawusnY2gPwT1_bEyKcJft4nKom-oHeMVd3Kn__hsUAq43vpSbPPS2pKdRJ94huc/s1600-h/fmf+Ash+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pWklcOAj0CFIwyY7bp4pcMRJNsJ8XP15HUHx1op_bcNzlumwf2GinI0Lmhn5edi62uXAVhOv3ftjawusnY2gPwT1_bEyKcJft4nKom-oHeMVd3Kn__hsUAq43vpSbPPS2pKdRJ94huc/s320/fmf+Ash+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411857199770973234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1ZaSAyP8fZinP3nSmi3yYfQsZLFMZ195CnREB4tL2Rb_9DyqP_ezKyhTxzUwTwD4JdAiWQJqH54mOrqz89VlcBlE1Tbj-r0vW5xr5iOyF4q3kmTHOFGaBDP6SkqhN3VJ2suH1cxI2G8/s1600-h/fmf+group.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1ZaSAyP8fZinP3nSmi3yYfQsZLFMZ195CnREB4tL2Rb_9DyqP_ezKyhTxzUwTwD4JdAiWQJqH54mOrqz89VlcBlE1Tbj-r0vW5xr5iOyF4q3kmTHOFGaBDP6SkqhN3VJ2suH1cxI2G8/s320/fmf+group.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411857193425298642" /></a><br />Every other character in the movie lives in their own world, until theirs' falls victim to Foxy's world. Roald Dahl's original story doesn't begin until about a third into the movie. Anderson might have done this in order to set up each character and their motivations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0ta4EhPi4EaVdVHL0WWFCdoOv016vAskXwRBMgH0xzyKZ7Khj80Oadq9OGs3XLdpTBEbTbZlWJGz3OJ8J9CwPvcgZrdCPBsMTTGui7jauOjHbRNrnwJ-rScSAQj0DNI_2_ObTstHgFA/s1600-h/fmf+Boggis.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0ta4EhPi4EaVdVHL0WWFCdoOv016vAskXwRBMgH0xzyKZ7Khj80Oadq9OGs3XLdpTBEbTbZlWJGz3OJ8J9CwPvcgZrdCPBsMTTGui7jauOjHbRNrnwJ-rScSAQj0DNI_2_ObTstHgFA/s320/fmf+Boggis.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411857610616613458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmLGwcvo3goFJwQExCksEdypaS_0EDKaXzy13FKBnFiGihGUoHF7QQWt8nlSUF0pPqo_0GrVRWdTL6aLzSqdb9nYFnne3tB1SY66eAjXgBhOnW1AwLYX2CNxXu-ZYuDwfyf7Ne-G9OZQ/s1600-h/fmf+Bean.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmLGwcvo3goFJwQExCksEdypaS_0EDKaXzy13FKBnFiGihGUoHF7QQWt8nlSUF0pPqo_0GrVRWdTL6aLzSqdb9nYFnne3tB1SY66eAjXgBhOnW1AwLYX2CNxXu-ZYuDwfyf7Ne-G9OZQ/s320/fmf+Bean.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411857602204905394" /></a><br />There is something of a war objective going on. The second half of the movie involves a war between animals living in refuge and humans interested in petty revenge and carnage. It feels like a Holocaust of sorts (and I mean that very lightly). Foxy is targeted for behaving like a wild animal, and the other animals have to suffer for it, even though they all behave like good all around (human) citizens. The three farmers ("Boggis", "Bunce" and "Bean") are the oppressors. Bean acts as the dictator, and the others coming off like passive-aggressive Nazis.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRIceOzkLb2NUD_9LjGSEHtEwzLMW8zoAScu68kM4qkNiwXJLBU7ApvQ9GlJwnV1vnoq54KVazjvEUUbgeH_u8v5icOMGnivWwXTtQ-s4fN39TnagnTok1JyIpo9NfMbYmOFAYHxDjes/s1600-h/fmf+Mr+Fox+and+Kylie+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRIceOzkLb2NUD_9LjGSEHtEwzLMW8zoAScu68kM4qkNiwXJLBU7ApvQ9GlJwnV1vnoq54KVazjvEUUbgeH_u8v5icOMGnivWwXTtQ-s4fN39TnagnTok1JyIpo9NfMbYmOFAYHxDjes/s320/fmf+Mr+Fox+and+Kylie+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411858118794316674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6Wy6a_gwRJdr8TiJIfWJIou_-mXepa_nJih-zwsRDXNj59NkMmKT3IELvPqEh7nVF1XRFZtRygcq_ftTfg_V3q5kLcQ7fQH_EPrTgBIqbDWMmXJ-C8wSMHUZ2I-9O-I60le54N2BnmA/s1600-h/fmf+Coach+and+Kris.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6Wy6a_gwRJdr8TiJIfWJIou_-mXepa_nJih-zwsRDXNj59NkMmKT3IELvPqEh7nVF1XRFZtRygcq_ftTfg_V3q5kLcQ7fQH_EPrTgBIqbDWMmXJ-C8wSMHUZ2I-9O-I60le54N2BnmA/s320/fmf+Coach+and+Kris.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411858106038407666" /></a><br />I have mixed feelings about the voice acting. I was concerned about George Clooney playing the lead at firsy, but now I feel that his vocal performance is the strongest. His voice is the most identifiable, and suits the character of Foxy very nicely. The rest of the actors were alright, but not all felt right. Jason Schwartzman, Wallace Wolodarsky, and Eric Chase Anderson all sounded too similar to one another, and Bill Murray sounded too much like Bill Murray. Meryl Streep did a nice acting job, but it wasn't used enough, and Owen Wilson was promoted for a performance that only lasts about 3 minutes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJpOtfG1Thq0aPPRC39YuMxIY7veQ6Q0XKKYTVWmozGx_Uv7DkCqLMtkU4O2e5LckjOyXwpUxd61qcKUBUBNohzAKiPIS2BSInUz8_SJd9bzHehL4t3hCoDuWhnVL3AB4hd2DvUp_EyY/s1600-h/FMF+Kris+and+Ash.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJpOtfG1Thq0aPPRC39YuMxIY7veQ6Q0XKKYTVWmozGx_Uv7DkCqLMtkU4O2e5LckjOyXwpUxd61qcKUBUBNohzAKiPIS2BSInUz8_SJd9bzHehL4t3hCoDuWhnVL3AB4hd2DvUp_EyY/s320/FMF+Kris+and+Ash.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411858821630110898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY59ZaCth45bjaL6P6Qu16dPJ_a7k1g0xVTMxGJGrDvcDtwZErBNeE8dCGe-JMQvNLD-RGQ5mVWU2X9lU2neGaklgAEnNoShgEqTigGblO9EIYQC92XTTn5gG0K0QwfISA4Xznxia2PUU/s1600-h/FMF+dance.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY59ZaCth45bjaL6P6Qu16dPJ_a7k1g0xVTMxGJGrDvcDtwZErBNeE8dCGe-JMQvNLD-RGQ5mVWU2X9lU2neGaklgAEnNoShgEqTigGblO9EIYQC92XTTn5gG0K0QwfISA4Xznxia2PUU/s320/FMF+dance.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411858809947683746" /></a><br />Visually, the style is classic stop-motion, but in a way that tells a children's tale. In other words, it is technically advanced, but attempts to look simple and aligned. Anderson is known for setting up very crisp looking shots, which is optional for live-action, but a definite for animation. That right there gives some comfort in Anderson taking over an animated venture. The best animation directors need to be able to design their movies, and Anderson is no stranger to this task.<br />And no Wes Anderson movie is complete without a unique soundtrack of old 1960's rock tunes. When watching <span style="font-style:italic;">Mr. Fox</span>, I had to resist singing along to the songs in the movie, which include stuff from the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Burt Ives, and the Bobby Fuller Four.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOfKFTfX14nWMAtr4eQMlSiCaVLEF74Cp2UPmBPwIWeBaeI_wQJMH4kihFs9NZ7dJ3361Y5eCGI0ITI2FJb1nRHnFqaEjiLSv8zxwfWsIJP0slei_6_l_wKWpA1UJWqo0GHbj8-qdog/s1600-h/fmf+Petey+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOfKFTfX14nWMAtr4eQMlSiCaVLEF74Cp2UPmBPwIWeBaeI_wQJMH4kihFs9NZ7dJ3361Y5eCGI0ITI2FJb1nRHnFqaEjiLSv8zxwfWsIJP0slei_6_l_wKWpA1UJWqo0GHbj8-qdog/s320/fmf+Petey+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411859688102689362" /></a><br />Jarvis Cocker's appearance (as a human character, "Petey") is a welcome surprise. Cocker is one of my favorite songwriters, if not one of the best songwriters of the last 20 years. <br />I was not alone in laughing at the irony of Petey being called a weak songwriter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP0QnzgWkAfAC_785U0L15QN981-VEiFldSyth9wKhDYng5scP5Sym9wmD-Dx0rXM1WndKwyF9It7y1tmGWqYZ2GVuOzBlOtbBuww732IzfjtSfrhgXQccPTcQ0pDcIu7cNCfQH-hcdk/s1600-h/fmf+tree+dug+up.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP0QnzgWkAfAC_785U0L15QN981-VEiFldSyth9wKhDYng5scP5Sym9wmD-Dx0rXM1WndKwyF9It7y1tmGWqYZ2GVuOzBlOtbBuww732IzfjtSfrhgXQccPTcQ0pDcIu7cNCfQH-hcdk/s320/fmf+tree+dug+up.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411860152110544562" /></a><br />I have to say the stop-motion style works remarkably well. The characters are only slightly stylized, but are not painfully realistic. The look is carefully balanced between cute, believability, and realism. And the mechanics of the puppets are one of many, many testaments to the puppet work of McKinnon and Saunders. Its good to see puppets with moving jaws, as opposed to stuck on mouths. And the storybook design works pretty well, although it would have been nice to see the sky looking something else other than sunset orange.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUrThvuljN2CDAbJ2OfVMfGjAjCp9AMWtbixlmvPuvbsGPVJsl98mQihyQnZaEcBvqo9habfe-NeRGAN6Y9bQyYdTZcH-YVfW_NOAoIE-0IqKUOmilJUU30NXyFa21zC5kGyqXg5uVUQ/s1600-h/fmf+electrocution.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUrThvuljN2CDAbJ2OfVMfGjAjCp9AMWtbixlmvPuvbsGPVJsl98mQihyQnZaEcBvqo9habfe-NeRGAN6Y9bQyYdTZcH-YVfW_NOAoIE-0IqKUOmilJUU30NXyFa21zC5kGyqXg5uVUQ/s320/fmf+electrocution.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411860499076713778" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Fantastic Mr. Fox</span> really is a film that both adults and children can enjoy. No more of the parents saying they like the film, because it teaches their children good morales. Here, children audiences can enjoy the look and actions of the characters, while adults can pick out intellectual stimulations that are equally humorous.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-48881451731334638542009-11-19T13:24:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:37:06.356-08:00Henry Selick in New York<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6fo5YoT8O9hZBS-9xb5VJ8kgH1oD7SE370u8PFNpXd7MrpT0Ztgweyd_RhUEyh1q8bPVmXeUzXqxFLMCyamQpzSZWl45YjwrEEDFLXkDrLSyh5R7hPGrI0irCP17yyywXWEUB9cVM54/s1600/coraline_shot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6fo5YoT8O9hZBS-9xb5VJ8kgH1oD7SE370u8PFNpXd7MrpT0Ztgweyd_RhUEyh1q8bPVmXeUzXqxFLMCyamQpzSZWl45YjwrEEDFLXkDrLSyh5R7hPGrI0irCP17yyywXWEUB9cVM54/s200/coraline_shot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405931928425117378" /></a><br />With awards season in full swing, some films from earlier in the year need some reassurance. <span style="font-style:italic;">Coraline</span> doesn't need any in my opinion, but Focus Features probably wants to be safe. Henry Selick is currently doing a small promotional tour of <span style="font-style:italic;">Coraline</span>, and stopped by New York for a few appearances. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Coraline</span> screened in 3D in Union Square Tuesday night. Mr. Selick appeared after the screening for a Q&A. Afterward, I grabbed the last spot on line to grab an audience with the director of not only this film, but <span style="font-style:italic;">The Nightmare Before Christmas</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">James and the Giant Peach</span>. I got my audience with him, and got to converse with him. Major <br />moment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ7QDpaeMafKND-R1ywZQHJLS7amrhXVupQh_yfSYgzmVF4Xfd8Pk9uIyLqCUr7wg-kG7aeHntkcuhhlC2VDA9Nmw0UXrCDOozKMQ9xW9PJ3JP-fDuIYkfJmNbilFAqF3U-g52IgxpnI/s1600/Henry+Selick+signed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ7QDpaeMafKND-R1ywZQHJLS7amrhXVupQh_yfSYgzmVF4Xfd8Pk9uIyLqCUr7wg-kG7aeHntkcuhhlC2VDA9Nmw0UXrCDOozKMQ9xW9PJ3JP-fDuIYkfJmNbilFAqF3U-g52IgxpnI/s200/Henry+Selick+signed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405930984721773042" /></a><br />I had to cover this event for ASIFA-East's blog. <a href="http://asifaeast.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/henry-selick-brings-coraline-to-new-york-city/">For more detail, you can read it here.</a>Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-6801637115559591032009-11-04T14:39:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:55:17.206-08:00Mary and MaxI went to see <span style="font-style:italic;">Mary and Max</span> at the SVA theater for International Animation Day. And what a treat. This year has seen a wide variety of animated releases, and there are still a few more to come before the year is out. <span style="font-style:italic;">Mary and Max</span> is one of those few, and one that stands out on its very own.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t5xwDgtjklMGC1Q7Uk0XTlmvWp_Z2QVT3V5KwP5oZmOjgKj6XfABt8aRQEx5mYr5QV0EePZjxlwK9an14gnPS4z80w-PB4nkVbgWg_PpSkv0s6OH4LmvkxfbVmnzUdoh8G2AZA7NDdk/s1600-h/mary-and-max-poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t5xwDgtjklMGC1Q7Uk0XTlmvWp_Z2QVT3V5KwP5oZmOjgKj6XfABt8aRQEx5mYr5QV0EePZjxlwK9an14gnPS4z80w-PB4nkVbgWg_PpSkv0s6OH4LmvkxfbVmnzUdoh8G2AZA7NDdk/s320/mary-and-max-poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400382663721667426" /></a><br />The film states at the beginning that it is based on a true story. Director Adam Elliot confirms this in interviews. An Australian filmmaker, Adam Elliot's previous short films (the <span style="font-style:italic;">Uncle, Brother, Cousin</span> trilogy and <span style="font-style:italic;">Harvie Krumpet</span>) are all desaturated stop-motion pieces, primarily dealing with characters with certain disorders (mostly neurological). His films are quite dark, but at the same time, written with funny and sympathetic humor. <br />This movie follows the pen-pal friendship, beginning in 1976, between Mary, a little Australian girl with blossoming insecurties, and Max, a 44-year old New Yorker with issues of his own.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EyUpV_ov7cK1PHGdltZnwwwNBVxOyNM-uZcR775IpXXwHZ11_mSV8WERJkv-oH51Hr1FLbz9_t7h24fdFVVmwal1TfWB5gKMAZ4KKjhuGGi-pYS21_FSXtrWODNhJ8wSw2ziXgio6to/s1600-h/adam-large.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EyUpV_ov7cK1PHGdltZnwwwNBVxOyNM-uZcR775IpXXwHZ11_mSV8WERJkv-oH51Hr1FLbz9_t7h24fdFVVmwal1TfWB5gKMAZ4KKjhuGGi-pYS21_FSXtrWODNhJ8wSw2ziXgio6to/s320/adam-large.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400384384790973730" /></a><br />When I heard about <span style="font-style:italic;">Mary and Max</span>, I was first excited by the general idea of illustrating a pen-pal relationship. But then I became even more intrigued when I learned that one of the main characters has Asperger Syndrome, a form of mild autism.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPLwdsy9odlmrbqqbOyBVR6w5P6XRpZtpWb1DOljh2OVsiLmiMHsNHUNiL94LQMuAq-LSb37mianxHIal01cj1q21RCqU4B_OEYC5tRAdwomLyh3R7_n8iMkhjksRdnSXRw_-r7RJqcE/s1600-h/large-Mary&Max.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPLwdsy9odlmrbqqbOyBVR6w5P6XRpZtpWb1DOljh2OVsiLmiMHsNHUNiL94LQMuAq-LSb37mianxHIal01cj1q21RCqU4B_OEYC5tRAdwomLyh3R7_n8iMkhjksRdnSXRw_-r7RJqcE/s320/large-Mary&Max.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400382869202109490" /></a><br />I write this review as an Aspie myself. Actually, I have to admit I never knew of the word "Aspie" until I saw this movie, and I've been diagnosed since age 9. The character of "Max" is a middle-aged, Jewish New Yorker, whose issues are diagnosed as Asperger Syndrome halfway through the movie. I have to say that the issues portrayed, while exaggerated, are very accurate. Max has difficulty reading other people, making or keeping friends, suffers from acute anxiety, and pays particular attention to certain things (in this case, the amount of cigarette butts on the streets, and chocolate). Something else I connected with was how Max found his favorite cartoon heartwarming, because the characters had everything he didn't.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_bUW_Jy8JB8Ev2zJHmaKIwR_fwPKSRq1cv_fTUnLjO5pMvfQYv0kZ_8XBZZWhznC_flWpMneCzAv2JXx9l9gcY07gksK48AL_SuxZ2IOrG66-fugGjTvsLl0hxJPdTdpkjClAaGtlEw/s1600-h/mary_max_main.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_bUW_Jy8JB8Ev2zJHmaKIwR_fwPKSRq1cv_fTUnLjO5pMvfQYv0kZ_8XBZZWhznC_flWpMneCzAv2JXx9l9gcY07gksK48AL_SuxZ2IOrG66-fugGjTvsLl0hxJPdTdpkjClAaGtlEw/s320/mary_max_main.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400383098969012162" /></a><br />The character of "Mary" is very sympathetic. She has issues that anybody can have, only her's are exasperated by the people around her. This included her critical, alcoholic mother and distant father, as well as a lack of human friends. However, her friendship with Max remains a pivotal source of inspiration for the rest of her life. So much so, that when she upsets him from afar, she almost considers giving up the rest of her life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUaenjSlylewHe8OBLyGej3Joj5UXzCjvTKnfRTACwT_jW51pkZ_HxgPYaMITcNl9Ky-1xQsZMnXumUbHL1_X_MhevZ9Am3RYWhsidwtDYwPnhGNI9thwOIbs6zC6-Kub0-HCTUjhT7Y/s1600-h/mary-and-max-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUaenjSlylewHe8OBLyGej3Joj5UXzCjvTKnfRTACwT_jW51pkZ_HxgPYaMITcNl9Ky-1xQsZMnXumUbHL1_X_MhevZ9Am3RYWhsidwtDYwPnhGNI9thwOIbs6zC6-Kub0-HCTUjhT7Y/s320/mary-and-max-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400383777766126274" /></a><br />A trademark of Elliot's films is the use of narration. These narrations are distinguished by the timing and pace the speakers usually provide. And of course, Elliot's talent for stringing words together when certain effects are described. The next time I see this movie, I should take note of my favorite quotes.<br />On that note, I have to praise the voice over work.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirziv7C04KKE5tWPLGYkMaOK1Etxraixk46JkL9Y_DuVqy1xh-hiZuTSK1vK9JfImyCfYPhjfTJVjw2IUBEqTu0URsXu6kYGzRYa4eACnulhOunjdn-NW9heMvjmo95OXFTUp4om2MGRQ/s1600-h/600full-philip-seymour-hoffman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirziv7C04KKE5tWPLGYkMaOK1Etxraixk46JkL9Y_DuVqy1xh-hiZuTSK1vK9JfImyCfYPhjfTJVjw2IUBEqTu0URsXu6kYGzRYa4eACnulhOunjdn-NW9heMvjmo95OXFTUp4om2MGRQ/s320/600full-philip-seymour-hoffman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400382366693198994" /></a><br />Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favorite actors. His repertoire is all about characters, and keeping the audience believing them. His voice-over for Max is nothing like Hoffman's normal voice, but is a very realistic sound for this sort of character. Max sounds real, and his emotion is played out nicely through a deep, slightly congested, slightly Yiddish accented voice. All the praise in the world for Mr. Hoffman.<br />But with that, I also have to praise Toni Collette's portrayal of Mary, and Barry Humphries' narration.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZODqMQkvVrcNVGJL1KlWH4rDQ86LZJk4Rucx3V_A6OP8eu5ZNy9g0d6nWUmJi8OGIUaSGWjSM4JOCM9JFhJHI_wiwS9TRhMI85oWw2v6vEYB88HKXCAQR1QHXDSGege3Xc1H9Srx4H4/s1600-h/19121969.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZODqMQkvVrcNVGJL1KlWH4rDQ86LZJk4Rucx3V_A6OP8eu5ZNy9g0d6nWUmJi8OGIUaSGWjSM4JOCM9JFhJHI_wiwS9TRhMI85oWw2v6vEYB88HKXCAQR1QHXDSGege3Xc1H9Srx4H4/s320/19121969.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400383990172029778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hmWZQCvgxfN5SuPN-4SihPGVKqOOReS_ft4vKP9irrgJbKqO7_h-PYVRASj_gbIKzFd0RFp2ydq26T9jO1LLDv7PLC9ioxBZaC-IIMxYSuzDDNMsZW5SeRAxhSlqwDlogRtphHk1b0I/s1600-h/97673701959570297308.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hmWZQCvgxfN5SuPN-4SihPGVKqOOReS_ft4vKP9irrgJbKqO7_h-PYVRASj_gbIKzFd0RFp2ydq26T9jO1LLDv7PLC9ioxBZaC-IIMxYSuzDDNMsZW5SeRAxhSlqwDlogRtphHk1b0I/s320/97673701959570297308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400384113887604162" /></a><br />The movie is stop-motion, although not as complex as <span style="font-style:italic;">Coraline</span> or <span style="font-style:italic;">Wallace and Gromit</span>. But that's not a bad thing at all. The stop-motion gives the movie is own universe. The characters are designed in Elliot's usual fashion, in which nothing is straight or perfectly sculpted. The design of the movie follows this very deliberately. It gives the impression of a flawed world. And this impression fits in well with how the main characters view the rest of the world outside their shells. <br />One of the film's executive producers introduced the film. He specifically stressed that everything on screen was real and tactile. This not only included puppets and sets, but also effects animation, such as rain and urination. This maintains a tradition with Adam Elliot's previous films, all of which were not only stop-motion, but had limited movement, and relied mostly quick little actions and the character's expressions, and very little concern for effects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24m_6gaSz8rMQF8Q4wi3rkJto_N-3RiI6anJkbErwk0_i3t1u1eAEl5Pv-2BI_-77WkxQOzyYU0PwfYEMuM3c2vwLLUVsVWkTzgg_RxUw1NShP4gqNpUZTDWWLvBqQ3PH5RXe07JeK-c/s1600-h/max-and-mary4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24m_6gaSz8rMQF8Q4wi3rkJto_N-3RiI6anJkbErwk0_i3t1u1eAEl5Pv-2BI_-77WkxQOzyYU0PwfYEMuM3c2vwLLUVsVWkTzgg_RxUw1NShP4gqNpUZTDWWLvBqQ3PH5RXe07JeK-c/s320/max-and-mary4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400384251754848818" /></a><br />After the screening, I met with some friends and a couple of them asked me how I felt about the way Max was portrayed. I told them it was great, and totally understandable. Mr. Elliot certainly did his homework on the subject, and knew just how to express it. Everything about this film was well balanced. The visual style and the writing style, all worked hand in hand to bring these peculiar subjects to light in a way that is funny and appreciable.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-35148748185459646732009-10-21T20:58:00.000-07:002009-10-21T21:16:31.020-07:00Analo6ue, "I'm Not A Mover"I am pleased (and relieved) to announce that I have finished my first ever "music film." The usual term is "music video," but since those don't get much airtime on television anymore, and I see more videos at film festivals, it just seems pointless to use that term anymore.<br /><br />We present "I'm Not A Mover"<br />by Analo6ue (pronounced "analog")<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi-FO-8wNxY0Kc_d28jQUcI-Wy32nvPRyDa8eDH4a8py6mYuYClRITRSxS1PgGzGf0Wt6QocTBAhKN6s-5qrMV24VKqsKzdL60RGg4XwYiBsuVD3wfZ32ikr-j7cU-OW-9lGhTq9Sc18/s1600-h/IMNAM+17.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi-FO-8wNxY0Kc_d28jQUcI-Wy32nvPRyDa8eDH4a8py6mYuYClRITRSxS1PgGzGf0Wt6QocTBAhKN6s-5qrMV24VKqsKzdL60RGg4XwYiBsuVD3wfZ32ikr-j7cU-OW-9lGhTq9Sc18/s320/IMNAM+17.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395270824625804226" /></a><br />The short combines live-action (directed by Taylor Clark) with 30's style rubber hose animation; the plot reaches a point where the two interact. I story boarded the whole film, and seeing Taylor recreate my drawings through live-action was quite a sensation. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMzHbhmibFzGhS596RYcKjzuQNNpS5362tsusD-DbN1mtDoOMaA71sp69a_gGgkPPUZbKtUarc-vQ_IxScVBj5nrhig6nMPPHiC9H2NOIQ2lbvRgrLXKxoyYAaOdj7w8wZvvKD4p_SJk/s1600-h/IMNAM+16.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMzHbhmibFzGhS596RYcKjzuQNNpS5362tsusD-DbN1mtDoOMaA71sp69a_gGgkPPUZbKtUarc-vQ_IxScVBj5nrhig6nMPPHiC9H2NOIQ2lbvRgrLXKxoyYAaOdj7w8wZvvKD4p_SJk/s320/IMNAM+16.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395271594200043682" /></a><br />I need to extend a hand to lead compositor <a href="http://jaimeekkens.com/">Jaime Ekkens</a>, for the wonderful job she did on the effects. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU502KwNQDR3bUU-AgVdCYo3VLmiqLBtd6cEFnNNM1lG5BzKd62y_b7NspQNJEohTHwn73yFPcKM4a-Lq1D9yZs2yg-ElH7otNoN_yzaIBbalYf98Q15QEbA835KnAma9jYBf6_OLeoU/s1600-h/IMNAM+15.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU502KwNQDR3bUU-AgVdCYo3VLmiqLBtd6cEFnNNM1lG5BzKd62y_b7NspQNJEohTHwn73yFPcKM4a-Lq1D9yZs2yg-ElH7otNoN_yzaIBbalYf98Q15QEbA835KnAma9jYBf6_OLeoU/s320/IMNAM+15.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395271185478628562" /></a><br />Like many others, I haven't been very well off financially. For four months, working on this short has kept me sane. Still, the video had to meet its completion at some point, which took two months longer than we had initially intended. Still I am excited about having completed it, and we hope it has a good festival life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQCXO-u3g3YHb74kPburTinMl2oWZqWVKhnkaaeZBuau6KWWjpX0TvIuBk884zPxAJ5avuX8u-F9s6w7v-RzWEPDbmVQZJ7G-AN16dKsS6uSOhxw0eg1s1i2WRZS74jNK_v5Gns9JGrU/s1600-h/IMNAM+12.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQCXO-u3g3YHb74kPburTinMl2oWZqWVKhnkaaeZBuau6KWWjpX0TvIuBk884zPxAJ5avuX8u-F9s6w7v-RzWEPDbmVQZJ7G-AN16dKsS6uSOhxw0eg1s1i2WRZS74jNK_v5Gns9JGrU/s320/IMNAM+12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395272112535108674" /></a><br />Analo6ue is the first musical group I have ever actually worked "with." The group is a three-piece: Brian (guitar, vocals), an old friend of mine from Ohio; Owen (lead vocals); and Evan (drums). There is no bass player. When people ask me about Analo6ue, I refer to them as an alternative-blues band. The band have a sound which doesn't get much usage in animation. But we all went for the same thing, so there wasn't much conflict.<br />You can check out more of Analo6ue on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/anal06ue">their MySpace page</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg_n4VD9k4TYDW-qxB8O_GFxbUqK7rToOhbPTtnV0b5Fp5c0fCTyFFTcauJJlR8hhCBDbIhnGafjEKbCnEahC9sl-EirfdJIZThOtocxX3XvsL7w-g7C8Mhfh7s3Pz8oYGh6wbArA24k/s1600-h/IMNAM+13.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg_n4VD9k4TYDW-qxB8O_GFxbUqK7rToOhbPTtnV0b5Fp5c0fCTyFFTcauJJlR8hhCBDbIhnGafjEKbCnEahC9sl-EirfdJIZThOtocxX3XvsL7w-g7C8Mhfh7s3Pz8oYGh6wbArA24k/s320/IMNAM+13.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395271824527852338" /></a><br />At the moment, we are trying to get the video exported into HD (High Definition) format. After that, its off to the festivals. I will also announce when it is viewable on the internet.<br /><br />I hope to move onto another music film soon. It is a point where two of my greatest passions meet.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-80094502991124874362009-10-09T19:00:00.000-07:002009-10-09T19:28:59.921-07:00Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...and a side of PraiseI don't know what some are thinking. For the past couple weeks, I have heard a ton of praise for <span style="font-style:italic;">Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</span> from friends and aquaintences, most of whom work in the animation and movie industries. Now it turns into a personal tale that is classic for me: a movie that everyone loves is a huge disappointment for my tastes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvPkF5KBpdv7GJYlwGlKieDeWor4UY2cC4ZbkJmD5G7HwDHlmTnzj0rlsSXf_BiKsJU_la2Z8SziMh835iJsnLr3RsZHnvcvLBK8ZvW45wsl6pNHmmD7hOgdc_-xg-89xpRiHkgOlcC4/s1600-h/cloudy_with_a_chance_of_meatballs_movie_poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvPkF5KBpdv7GJYlwGlKieDeWor4UY2cC4ZbkJmD5G7HwDHlmTnzj0rlsSXf_BiKsJU_la2Z8SziMh835iJsnLr3RsZHnvcvLBK8ZvW45wsl6pNHmmD7hOgdc_-xg-89xpRiHkgOlcC4/s320/cloudy_with_a_chance_of_meatballs_movie_poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390788328146069010" /></a><br />I remember reading the original book in elementary school. I remember enjoying the concept of food being produced through the weather. I can't say I was all over the drawings, and I don't blame the filmmakers for redesigning the original story.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrMWWg65vB0mlYi2PMvCSeZMDdLq_oDvxDgtAmUTlf244x_-6Zz0yWzzXVeGZIL3VI-EZYotom45qgXKg1nwQvdkEf-pKO65h02oz5GHSbcY4xW2MzBuPBqdXfstPF05a45ShpyAgQ5A/s1600-h/Picture+23.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrMWWg65vB0mlYi2PMvCSeZMDdLq_oDvxDgtAmUTlf244x_-6Zz0yWzzXVeGZIL3VI-EZYotom45qgXKg1nwQvdkEf-pKO65h02oz5GHSbcY4xW2MzBuPBqdXfstPF05a45ShpyAgQ5A/s320/Picture+23.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390789069076647138" /></a><br />This was a really dumb movie. At least that's how I felt. With all the hype this movie was receiving (particularly from those who don't care much for computer-animated features), this movie sounded like something new and special. It was no different from the first impression I got from the trailer. It is unoriginal and garish looking. The story by and far is nothing but predictable. Flint Lockwood, the main character, is an aspiring amateur inventor whose flaws are terribly humiliating (and the dialog does nothing to help). He finally perfects a useful machine, which can transform water into food and feed his economically tarnished hometown. Eventually, his machine brings out all the flaws in every other character. And the bad guy, the Mayor, isn't a very well-developed bad guy. All I see is someone who want to gorge and be powerful, but he's not totally believable (in fantasy terms).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQsPFJY4B6un6F56Yoppz8r-IOikIlexF6EUoyrYQeKSS17ag-vX7rx-DRv9-59cKmI-KZXgKV588Rhk8W2vGTSX0I8UMjB9PzACdF0SJlNPmyHbOu1QAJ4g1Rkkyu_CkDloWeZ5HYKg/s1600-h/Picture+17.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQsPFJY4B6un6F56Yoppz8r-IOikIlexF6EUoyrYQeKSS17ag-vX7rx-DRv9-59cKmI-KZXgKV588Rhk8W2vGTSX0I8UMjB9PzACdF0SJlNPmyHbOu1QAJ4g1Rkkyu_CkDloWeZ5HYKg/s320/Picture+17.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390789348639769506" /></a><br />The pacing is the one thing I would exemplify with this movie. The pacing is organized and doesn't move too fast. All the jokes (no matter how used up and wordy) and drama (no matter how preachy) are at least delivered on time and given enough space to take place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgVGjZ5iZAhFvThJWVdfumTePf_UGxL6fFvnOs-bo1QkMijAnzo4zTjpS-ZLNAX7X-w_uNCil2XT57wTO4AovhLMhHnmcFl2cs1hdAsrO5GnKFqAAAss3DtesKa435Bla3fnnph8nNm4/s1600-h/Picture+15.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgVGjZ5iZAhFvThJWVdfumTePf_UGxL6fFvnOs-bo1QkMijAnzo4zTjpS-ZLNAX7X-w_uNCil2XT57wTO4AovhLMhHnmcFl2cs1hdAsrO5GnKFqAAAss3DtesKa435Bla3fnnph8nNm4/s320/Picture+15.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390789860405724786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg687mhQdhyphenhyphenNqAX-3wxKisl1_XpweVrbv12mla1BOVcwrJEnLGKopi9k9V9MJ-kS8VIRG6JFz1I32UJLokHKHn8hg1MlOPFmQvqsINCdLWHpKEwN16bVhEtomcqfeHXnspEPc0TED2nXhc/s1600-h/Picture+8.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg687mhQdhyphenhyphenNqAX-3wxKisl1_XpweVrbv12mla1BOVcwrJEnLGKopi9k9V9MJ-kS8VIRG6JFz1I32UJLokHKHn8hg1MlOPFmQvqsINCdLWHpKEwN16bVhEtomcqfeHXnspEPc0TED2nXhc/s320/Picture+8.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390789854778380482" /></a><br />Visually, the character designs are not too interesting. But with computer animation, character design is tricky to judge. I just didn't like these designs, although the design of Flint, the main character, had some appeal. I'm sorry, but I find cubic shape fingers scary looking in CG. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQnVjvB28_ADyD2udeBof1BPNZczKGUE3uGliY5q2ANPZodTfJjH76LzuJfc43cGPyP1ffc0vRGczD3cCVQBFW0uLyazdkNEItKn4nsivEQAi09bq8lPG7plYDS6zmNSo33iSvWJ9BwA/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQnVjvB28_ADyD2udeBof1BPNZczKGUE3uGliY5q2ANPZodTfJjH76LzuJfc43cGPyP1ffc0vRGczD3cCVQBFW0uLyazdkNEItKn4nsivEQAi09bq8lPG7plYDS6zmNSo33iSvWJ9BwA/s320/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390790231562616386" /></a><br />Terrible voice overs. As usual, these movies put a lot of attention on the celebrities doing the voice overs. Often, there's at least one voice-over per movie that manages to do his/her job. But here, there was nothing special, or impressive. The voices are bland and have few defining characteristics.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Yeq-q6x6JVhDPmB4vrbFgvRjvp-TWNfXv33i2RcGgzVfA_vOE_yAdgwu1EilXOKkL91HPdaDp_c6MEF85vvkzg9q28BQOugRXeEySLkNcRGbtDROYgJUbS0APPEvmLCY943J38Q7DUY/s1600-h/Picture+16.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Yeq-q6x6JVhDPmB4vrbFgvRjvp-TWNfXv33i2RcGgzVfA_vOE_yAdgwu1EilXOKkL91HPdaDp_c6MEF85vvkzg9q28BQOugRXeEySLkNcRGbtDROYgJUbS0APPEvmLCY943J38Q7DUY/s320/Picture+16.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390790487610292050" /></a><br />The coloring is something of an eyesore. In my psyche, I see too much orange and pink when thinking of the movie. There are no pleasurable color schemes in the movie. All the colors are bright and overdone, and they look like concert lights.<br />The animated food is a major flaw. All the food looked poorly colored and lumpy. There was nothing alluring about it, which I believe all food on film should look like if that is the point. All the spaghetti, steak, meatballs, donuts, chicken, and whatnot, looked like it was cooked at a theater concession stand. Who could find that appetizing?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn63koYuKoFHi8WjcYTIyFie_48aqy1LT8Q6r-aY8nual_zKhAJc07o5AkGNGPKKz11kr_06vNml3Iz31c5q_gBVuw5NVFcZwqojamUQUyz_e35FERuLElif5QKbDmktBnuzxjb8ONEws/s1600-h/cloudy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn63koYuKoFHi8WjcYTIyFie_48aqy1LT8Q6r-aY8nual_zKhAJc07o5AkGNGPKKz11kr_06vNml3Iz31c5q_gBVuw5NVFcZwqojamUQUyz_e35FERuLElif5QKbDmktBnuzxjb8ONEws/s320/cloudy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390792003351496066" /></a><br />The credits have some redemption. Again, this movie keeps up the current trend of presenting credits in an alternate form of animation (beginning with <span style="font-style:italic;">Ratatouille</span>'s hand-drawn end credits). The credits have a bit of a 60's retro feel to them, but that is undone by the dance number playing over them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLDU_PKAw3ySGf2qSvJO3MyfSbYidw_1J1_E9Rn104xaafOQziTQysvqNpOByKN0c_5W0X1RqjIaPaByjmnDt_bRy_d_ArJugRd0jpP_RCUaFB7PkxXEMVqh1QoJiH9WFYrEMktIQKnA/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLDU_PKAw3ySGf2qSvJO3MyfSbYidw_1J1_E9Rn104xaafOQziTQysvqNpOByKN0c_5W0X1RqjIaPaByjmnDt_bRy_d_ArJugRd0jpP_RCUaFB7PkxXEMVqh1QoJiH9WFYrEMktIQKnA/s320/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390789062580546434" /></a><br />I don't have too much to say anymore, because I don't want to dive too much into it. My first impression of the movie is very unpleasant. And all the praise this movie received makes me feel like Hell has frozen over. <br /><br />For all I know, Hell really has Frozen over, and this is the beginning of the apocalypse. <br /><br />Or maybe, I just need to accept my own opinion and move on.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-50284966344359377722009-09-10T22:28:00.000-07:002009-09-11T22:49:21.739-07:00Inglourious BasterdsI saw <span style="font-style:italic;">Inglourious Basterds</span> a couple of weeks ago. I waited a while to write about it for two reasons: one because I have no deadline on writing reviews; two because I was hearing some bizarre complaints concerning Brad Pitt's character, and I wanted to collect a few of them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjVmMm0XKV8ZpX2lW9Asebg6gSiv6YqGYpH4659EXftp8f-1qZ7wkFaDjd38m9WRwa2uDioE2CmUyXmc_vjJEPvFCL6av78iWDWiEZLnBtn-q37bWCvQsm58e4bbqtmpQMpUMJo7Lqrk/s1600-h/inglourious-basterds-italia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjVmMm0XKV8ZpX2lW9Asebg6gSiv6YqGYpH4659EXftp8f-1qZ7wkFaDjd38m9WRwa2uDioE2CmUyXmc_vjJEPvFCL6av78iWDWiEZLnBtn-q37bWCvQsm58e4bbqtmpQMpUMJo7Lqrk/s400/inglourious-basterds-italia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380450442247655330" /></a><br />I am a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino. He gives the impression he wants to make movies both he and the audience can enjoy. He is one of the few directors I can believe gets self-gratification out of his own movies, and yet balances his own needs with the audience's. I have nothing but the greatest respect for Tarantino's talents as an auteur. <br /><br />Everyone seems concerned that Pitt's character, Lt. Aldo Raine (aka "Aldo the Apache") is only in the movie for about 30-40 minutes. It is true Brad Pitt was displayed as the central character of the movie, but he's also the most noteworthy actor in it as well, which gives the movie commercial credibility. Personally, I think that just seems like another of Tarantino's tricks to surprise the audience. That's not to say Pitt doesn't do a good job; he does a great job and his presence seems to add a fantasy element to the movie. I can't deny, however, he gets out-acted by certain cast members.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHqSUfo0PVMgj1dzDwOiBkV6h-WwVtEOYEzTcwbvBcgzkiqTOLlrQt5orH-yshluRS4arKisowK5WdKQ9I-Zc_z0b502BG-XWn3wI1e15_-bZcIRFE9NzFKfGDxVgoZciOoHfsF3wVuU/s1600-h/grondhouse1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHqSUfo0PVMgj1dzDwOiBkV6h-WwVtEOYEzTcwbvBcgzkiqTOLlrQt5orH-yshluRS4arKisowK5WdKQ9I-Zc_z0b502BG-XWn3wI1e15_-bZcIRFE9NzFKfGDxVgoZciOoHfsF3wVuU/s400/grondhouse1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380450698689198098" /></a><br />The movie is presented, as Tarantino intended, as a Spaghetti-western taking place during World War II, with primary emphasis on Nazi-occupied France. The movie is divided into five chapters (in the same way <span style="font-style:italic;">Pulp Fiction</span> was divided into three stories), except this time, there is less juggling with the story's timeframe. There are three camps that are the primary focus of the movie, and they all converge in the final chapter. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkYF8bSG8LqnZbsdJAc8SwtvOaFnp3fShyodid9h9URUsnZFf1vuPCF8Hh5uhbcs2uu96BhJhM35sP5yLiDVwUmaeWm-ccfxOobaNxuKSi2hlojG-TZIOIsDlXT6-s2qYStuW30x4ZYE/s1600-h/inglourious_basterds_02_1920.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkYF8bSG8LqnZbsdJAc8SwtvOaFnp3fShyodid9h9URUsnZFf1vuPCF8Hh5uhbcs2uu96BhJhM35sP5yLiDVwUmaeWm-ccfxOobaNxuKSi2hlojG-TZIOIsDlXT6-s2qYStuW30x4ZYE/s400/inglourious_basterds_02_1920.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380450900048748018" /></a><br />The Inglourious Basterds: A team of civilian Jewish Soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine. Their sole mission is to murder as many Nazis as possible, which is justified by a few members' flashbacks to their own mal-treatment at Nazi hands.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq7glCA51aulFkyJRXV-wo0rdjKKBpFqCn4bc1XF_mLifX843zTbi83LDoSHTvORwbxTF0TtrQdp4EIcEQG0pguoMHazM5fLocCFesRB-kh3fiCIgxJcsrZJPeKwfcN5TTn4d6SfjKn0/s1600-h/inglourious-basterds-review-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq7glCA51aulFkyJRXV-wo0rdjKKBpFqCn4bc1XF_mLifX843zTbi83LDoSHTvORwbxTF0TtrQdp4EIcEQG0pguoMHazM5fLocCFesRB-kh3fiCIgxJcsrZJPeKwfcN5TTn4d6SfjKn0/s400/inglourious-basterds-review-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380451056331392242" /></a><br />The Nazis are portrayed as a despicable breed. There are points, however, where they are portrayed as being paranoid about the state of the modern world, and see Jews and minorities as interferences in the modern world's progression. This ideology both justifies why the Nazis are what they are, and at the same time, makes them even more antagonistic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6V42AL_wnybYHrsF1852FvTeRZdyTKdcKY23dT10qLSI_LhVvQ2BC5WPdSp5HVj4arKg5AwEQKOT5TcC4bQ03Us7-2oIYpJgebT6h9yk01HTFJSqkzyiqRbsYVUrAq3b1zYyf47btf4/s1600-h/inglourious-basterds-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6V42AL_wnybYHrsF1852FvTeRZdyTKdcKY23dT10qLSI_LhVvQ2BC5WPdSp5HVj4arKg5AwEQKOT5TcC4bQ03Us7-2oIYpJgebT6h9yk01HTFJSqkzyiqRbsYVUrAq3b1zYyf47btf4/s400/inglourious-basterds-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380451253183742674" /></a><br />The third camp is the smallest. Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), a young, (secretly) Jewish-French girl who survived the brutal massacre of her family and is on the run under an alias running a movie theater. Understandably bitter about the world around her, she sees a golden opportunity to not only gain victory for the Jews, but bring brutal justice to the wrongs that were done to her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBZX1FLG_v2SNwNmrckp1C-DPkrIZZnLtLDUl83dn3Y0AVcQqYs7iIEivzdQmJBweS3HhrMn9o4Kd107hubHbw13Cd0jy7sm3yX7H12LRG-LoW6udIZ5H1UcbWkPPfsG3fJJ-FqtoKsI/s1600-h/inglourious-basterds-0905-pp05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBZX1FLG_v2SNwNmrckp1C-DPkrIZZnLtLDUl83dn3Y0AVcQqYs7iIEivzdQmJBweS3HhrMn9o4Kd107hubHbw13Cd0jy7sm3yX7H12LRG-LoW6udIZ5H1UcbWkPPfsG3fJJ-FqtoKsI/s400/inglourious-basterds-0905-pp05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380451527505372834" /></a><br />The screenplay is unique. The characters are handled in a way that makes them sympathetic and understandable at the same time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FHjbMirGCEvqNW6GGMXkGNiHAV1zGgupm00502go4uxnIeBkz0SWpfxhGjUhXlw-vMN6qmMGQk5JecrKHrL8-pw21mhir9VwYrtuLLiRIFvI3EAy4Qex38HJNqDtEopvIADutEYK-Ec/s1600-h/inglourious_basterds_christoph-waltz.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FHjbMirGCEvqNW6GGMXkGNiHAV1zGgupm00502go4uxnIeBkz0SWpfxhGjUhXlw-vMN6qmMGQk5JecrKHrL8-pw21mhir9VwYrtuLLiRIFvI3EAy4Qex38HJNqDtEopvIADutEYK-Ec/s400/inglourious_basterds_christoph-waltz.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380451360500474146" /></a><br />The primary antagonist of the picture is Standartenführer Hans Landa (aka "The Jew Hunter"), brilliantly portrayed by Austrian actor Christophe Waltz. The character is a layered sadist of a detective, whose vast attention to detail give him reason to feel like he is invisible. Landa's appearance bookends the movie. Right from the start, Waltz plays Landa like he is floating on air. This is certainly one of the most compelling characters Tarantino has ever created.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBYcLT6XzGcUQcUjJg7FbX6OicqtLZ180FDWyhkifc70eqp9AdZPRsJ1G6ZSsXDeBjF7eCJWYWg1twwYcKaCCKHkyeL7rlHrltbkIvjs-ela1xgUVysv_O084RlRPG5IWpC-DRUu_-QQ/s1600-h/inglourious_basterds08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBYcLT6XzGcUQcUjJg7FbX6OicqtLZ180FDWyhkifc70eqp9AdZPRsJ1G6ZSsXDeBjF7eCJWYWg1twwYcKaCCKHkyeL7rlHrltbkIvjs-ela1xgUVysv_O084RlRPG5IWpC-DRUu_-QQ/s400/inglourious_basterds08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380452129746740626" /></a><br />Mélanie Laurent's performance as Shosanna is very tender for the most part, but she turns heads with a demonic turn. And ironically, this demon actually possesses some sympathy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI7DLu7WyFKDTCRsLpi-FWzi6pDGDFyaYoOLGNcTKLGHlhrkD2rGVuZTcIgkDPLwg6daRi2TFiajXhzezjmNE1gKe53vEweKYgMTsjK6wYs7Dr65BLiBxWSun9MeJ_VQfAxDLixjeSfU/s1600-h/basterdsnew2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI7DLu7WyFKDTCRsLpi-FWzi6pDGDFyaYoOLGNcTKLGHlhrkD2rGVuZTcIgkDPLwg6daRi2TFiajXhzezjmNE1gKe53vEweKYgMTsjK6wYs7Dr65BLiBxWSun9MeJ_VQfAxDLixjeSfU/s400/basterdsnew2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380451836126134626" /></a><br />As with his previous two movies, nostalgia obsessed Tarantino opens the movie pretty old fashioned like. He uses an old Universal logo (used in the 1970's and 80's). At my first viewing, there was a little kid. I couldn't see him but he sounded like he could have been from 6-9 years old. As soon as the old logo came upon the screen, the boy loudly went "Wow!" The rest of the audience (myself included) found that amusing.<br />* Please do not ask me what a kid this young was doing at this movie.*<br /><br />The climactic scene in the French movie theater is a sight to behold on screen. I found myself wanting to laugh at several parts of it. The scene turns the whole movie on its head, and exposes the major idea behind it: that this movie is taking place during WWII in an alternate universe! One has to appreciate the sound design of that scene. The sound editors had a lot of volume to balance, and did so in a way that made the scene explode (pun intended). <br />The whole fifth chapter (about 30+ minutes long) is the highlight of the movie, and ties everything up in a pretty exciting, violent, darkly humorous, and satisfying way.<br /><br />I better stop now before spoiling anything else. All in all, this is a great movie, on par with <span style="font-style:italic;">Pulp Fiction</span>. I loved it. That's all I can say.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-28129859923432818332009-08-27T15:59:00.000-07:002009-08-27T16:20:53.830-07:00Ponyo: the ocean feels very warmHayao Miyazaki is one of my favorite filmmakers, one of my favorite artists, and a champion of originality. Although his movies are considered Japanese anime, viewers have a better chance of learning of Miyazaki through Disney than through more traditional anime.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt66-V5PPmSM1JbntuyFtHUNBg1ZwkuIaUUjNiYtPHOtYjuTrWVlS4FjgI25W7dLbfXx7w6JNN_kbvXlb4lCOVtoVyF_YNc7CGxjuipCee7oQ1OwNPG_agS85RPxTgc1ozrp22zmPIsk/s1600-h/ponyo3b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt66-V5PPmSM1JbntuyFtHUNBg1ZwkuIaUUjNiYtPHOtYjuTrWVlS4FjgI25W7dLbfXx7w6JNN_kbvXlb4lCOVtoVyF_YNc7CGxjuipCee7oQ1OwNPG_agS85RPxTgc1ozrp22zmPIsk/s400/ponyo3b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374786276322014674" /></a><br />Miyazaki has stressed many times his fascination with a child's point of view. Previously, he explored this idea in <span style="font-style:italic;">My Neighbor Totoro</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Spirited Away</span>. <span style="font-style:italic;">Ponyo</span> marks another journey into adolescence and childhood through the child's point of view. Everything seems very large, and not too complex. The world and the its ocean are big and mysterious to the two main characters, Ponyo and Sōsuke. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqGrNZUCr9kc0vxkVCsfQ9vh4IstjFvAEwRK7WwtBJUz2JzVY0jzhph9F6XYK2_1a0jzGkkNx5n8beWEQFdIDnOqoYxb2EjkeO7tpvJpWGgc5CdgpZs9gc0z5xFqYKrWtnqOiciBuNt8/s1600-h/Picture+16.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqGrNZUCr9kc0vxkVCsfQ9vh4IstjFvAEwRK7WwtBJUz2JzVY0jzhph9F6XYK2_1a0jzGkkNx5n8beWEQFdIDnOqoYxb2EjkeO7tpvJpWGgc5CdgpZs9gc0z5xFqYKrWtnqOiciBuNt8/s400/Picture+16.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374784301865259522" /></a><br />The story follows a humanoid fish (referred to as a "goldfish," but looking like a little human girl) named "Brünnhilde" by her father, but later named Ponyo. The goldfish swims away from her father, a caretaker of the sea, to view the world above, and soon possesses a desire to be human. She is found by a five year-old boy named Sōsuke, and they each take a quick liking to each other. Afterward, they are separated, explaining their friendship to their parents, and then brought back together again, only to truly prove their relationship in a test of love. In the midst of all this, Ponyo's parents (wizard and goddess) struggle to maintain balance in the sea as they realize their daughter's true (yet unnatural) passion to evolve from a mystical sea creature to human being in the world above.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bq6FMYeFeXLZfx8io_G0Bjc5AbnhJFj5MfeA74MaGnmFL59BV-E4KPn8sSpbQ-cR9iyeYkmi1ATfLcnGhHTxLhj4yY9kCkewEuKlaNiUAJagVzuk6gaEzNdJ0AKqjSVYzWZEdFaJZEE/s1600-h/Picture+12.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bq6FMYeFeXLZfx8io_G0Bjc5AbnhJFj5MfeA74MaGnmFL59BV-E4KPn8sSpbQ-cR9iyeYkmi1ATfLcnGhHTxLhj4yY9kCkewEuKlaNiUAJagVzuk6gaEzNdJ0AKqjSVYzWZEdFaJZEE/s400/Picture+12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785058844266786" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ponyo</span> has a slightly different look for a Miyazaki film. The backgrounds are executed with a much softer tone, almost with pastels and water colors, as opposed to delicate realism. In keeping with the theme of water, everything visual is round and bulbous. There's hardly a straight line to be seen in the movie. The animation of the characters also seems to be a little looser than in Miyazaki's previous movies. The characters' outlines appear to be moving more than usual, giving their bodies more physical expression. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU4o24cqJOfMjZEo3cMBBImAyhVETQijuHfR07FsX63G5j-OhWCSWUb-GIOAxbKpjTexfZXLiLWTwdP8VYRh0EEZAzaXVqPxT6quqRFRf2tjuFi6jxE8413c6lcf17RAbQ-NKsEuEZD8/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU4o24cqJOfMjZEo3cMBBImAyhVETQijuHfR07FsX63G5j-OhWCSWUb-GIOAxbKpjTexfZXLiLWTwdP8VYRh0EEZAzaXVqPxT6quqRFRf2tjuFi6jxE8413c6lcf17RAbQ-NKsEuEZD8/s400/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374783786101571138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSunRx2SNW2HA450HxMmXyQCzHivBOKypukS0s_n37CmW8Svve3ese0gWn2LK0v_icT3cDC1KHhewgOm8v99jcjOUgKr34NZ77v6XY3r53cKiJxMYZEBKPZoG8RVwu0XgOd8_bMmWl8M/s1600-h/Picture+9.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSunRx2SNW2HA450HxMmXyQCzHivBOKypukS0s_n37CmW8Svve3ese0gWn2LK0v_icT3cDC1KHhewgOm8v99jcjOUgKr34NZ77v6XY3r53cKiJxMYZEBKPZoG8RVwu0XgOd8_bMmWl8M/s400/Picture+9.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374783772872535970" /></a><br />Some of the best parts of the movie, in my opinion, are those featuring ocean waves and the shapes coming from the sea. Rather than a realistic looking ocean and storm (already a complicated task), Miyazaki and his crew took what sounds like an easier and more experimental approach. This time, the exaggeration of the waves, looking like morphing bulbous blobs, is easier to understand. The waves are also a lot of fun to watch. This is the first time in a while where I was having fun watching the animation, rather than just admiring the technicality of it. The waves are dark and looming, but there's something funny and amiable about them. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKZJXdQNxFpHJpTCamL5AM6FBiGxVDL78fb_dTLAjtAf4AMbM7WGFVNuvhRQzQarq4XSxEqKZL8BBuYqn-WgOm7aXTR9hd1AN25-Z6FQqA1D3MKzfmOzfv79BgVGYnJgBd9UYbmyWbPI/s1600-h/ponyo-0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKZJXdQNxFpHJpTCamL5AM6FBiGxVDL78fb_dTLAjtAf4AMbM7WGFVNuvhRQzQarq4XSxEqKZL8BBuYqn-WgOm7aXTR9hd1AN25-Z6FQqA1D3MKzfmOzfv79BgVGYnJgBd9UYbmyWbPI/s400/ponyo-0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785739611788930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaKhrMJsRwUl7GtqGlEu78EexxSCQFmLs_sJCPzNLRrckwTtl44tkShiwUs1gwcEP2bAPwaDY0QV6JWhWkKNv2-R7gERFKJK9FDH5tcXjp0Pvfi3acZS2Hg6YPUBRIAd5cmI9axsOLCs/s1600-h/Picture+21.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaKhrMJsRwUl7GtqGlEu78EexxSCQFmLs_sJCPzNLRrckwTtl44tkShiwUs1gwcEP2bAPwaDY0QV6JWhWkKNv2-R7gERFKJK9FDH5tcXjp0Pvfi3acZS2Hg6YPUBRIAd5cmI9axsOLCs/s400/Picture+21.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785733182491378" /></a><br />A big part of the story deals with parental relationships. Sōsuke at first glance has an average relationship with his mother, but is later shown to care very deeply about her. He also shows concern for her, especially when his father (a ship captain) has a habit of working overtime. Ponyo's parents, by comparison, are more unique, as they have mystical elements. Ponyo's father, Fujimoto, is very layered: he is shown to be a stern wizard who despises humans (despite being one himself at one point) and is devoted to the well-being of the sea. Despite these traits, he truly loves and cares for his daughter and other children, and in the end, accepts Ponyo's decision. Ponyo's mother, Gran Mamare, is a looming sea goddess, with great beauty and gentle insight. The scenes with Gran Mamare are among my favorite scenes in the movie. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqVWR1Rbs2FKg6vaFK-LJOwnPue9jKrEOxk6KgXndK2pGsbU0RYhaf-HV54bjgBnQEY5TTRWnBTVbJuqgrqYyCn7tgEFPeP0d4hVaDp73ctAYg5b5lKsfprlybwbuxpNnRaSMcpCJTis/s1600-h/Picture+20.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqVWR1Rbs2FKg6vaFK-LJOwnPue9jKrEOxk6KgXndK2pGsbU0RYhaf-HV54bjgBnQEY5TTRWnBTVbJuqgrqYyCn7tgEFPeP0d4hVaDp73ctAYg5b5lKsfprlybwbuxpNnRaSMcpCJTis/s400/Picture+20.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374784621393160322" /></a><br />I can't say enough to praise the film score. Joe Hisaishi's music has been a crucial part of Miyzaki's movies since their first collaboration on <span style="font-style:italic;">Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind</span>, close to 25 years ago. I found myself getting the chills at the sound of the primary theme of the score, which mostly played during scenes under the ocean and scenes involving Ponyo's mother, Gran Mamare. The music in these scenes is loud and operatic with an emphasizing choir, enough to make a full-grown adult feel small. There are also parts of the score that are reminiscent of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries," (Miyazaki has stated that part of the story and setting is inspired by Wagner's <span style="font-style:italic;">Die Walküre</span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBJ6xGIkQ74D52_orRWse7W7mKaFlmaTHUcZp5kfZ6Yzj33d9Canth8Z7uvLmg0ay_Yya6BpMnB-mclp2LWe6BZ4kz2tNWeDKnti4JWAbHI01NbIDsFHa22OWDz_ZxCZd11mKup_uBck/s1600-h/ponyo-7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBJ6xGIkQ74D52_orRWse7W7mKaFlmaTHUcZp5kfZ6Yzj33d9Canth8Z7uvLmg0ay_Yya6BpMnB-mclp2LWe6BZ4kz2tNWeDKnti4JWAbHI01NbIDsFHa22OWDz_ZxCZd11mKup_uBck/s400/ponyo-7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785250618786322" /></a><br />I am glad this got a theatrical release here in the U.S., thanks to Disney. I have to admit I had great concern over the English dub. What made me nervous right away was the casting of Frankie Jonas (youngest brother of the Jonas Brother) and Noah Cyrus (Miley's younger sister) and Sōsuke and Ponyo respectively. The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus are big Disney stars, and here they casted their siblings, which strikes me as Hollywood nepotism. Surprisingly, these two kids do a great job: their voices are emotive and clear, and right to the heart of the young characters. Tina Fey (of <span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday Night Live</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">30 Rock</span>) portrays Sōsuke's mother, Lisa, and also managed to bring heart and warmth to the character. The rest of the actors (Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Lily Tomlin, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Matt Damon) are all pretty good, even though a couple of them have only minimal dialog. I also have to admit, I feel a little uncertain about Liam Neeson's performance (and I say this as a Neeson admirer).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBwXBWicOAi1vpn2UeZ81lDiigdaGB7R3iGuiEHx0Zmy-1XXd-49xlAqmuwDe5Omxgp6R5eRS_ijNCU8pQ4wd3YpZPqFT3FStsA8Ru5GNBsYv5khSuzjEFvu9Km8JdiDqvdBqes517y4/s1600-h/ponyo-9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBwXBWicOAi1vpn2UeZ81lDiigdaGB7R3iGuiEHx0Zmy-1XXd-49xlAqmuwDe5Omxgp6R5eRS_ijNCU8pQ4wd3YpZPqFT3FStsA8Ru5GNBsYv5khSuzjEFvu9Km8JdiDqvdBqes517y4/s400/ponyo-9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785923174138914" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ponyo</span> is one of the warmest movies I have seen in a theater in quite a while (not since the <span style="font-style:italic;">Wallace and Gromit</span> movie four years ago). The movie ends with a sense that anything can happen, but happiness and balance are now full circle. Miyazaki hasn't lost his touch, all of his movies are timeless, and <span style="font-style:italic;">Ponyo</span> is no different. I will be remembering <span style="font-style:italic;">Ponyo</span> for a long time.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-5056534581104462602009-08-22T15:53:00.000-07:002009-08-22T16:30:11.969-07:00Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs...not there yetBeing a part of the New York animation scene, I am biased to be pleased that there is a place like Blue Sky Studios nearby (previously located in White Plains, NY; now relocated to Greenwich, CT). But being pleased with a studio that makes animated feature films doesn't count for how I feel about their output. So far, I find each of Blue Sky's movies to be mindfully flawed in some way (or ways). <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age: The Dawn of the Dinosaurs</span>, the third installment of Blue Sky's <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age</span> movies, is just as flawed, but not enough to keep me from enjoying the movie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E6mGiWzIzFcxFfJETNf5_RM5nG0rZDTn5q_S9csrUgz7HspZ1U9O7Q4DAdQMHlMemKHL9LOxB0yPaGFn2gd3W3wnAqgxIfT5EAIsIzFoxl-mwPO6Wzo6jReJmp8skaIRm08Z3hE8yho/s1600-h/MV5BMTY0OTMxNjI4MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzcyMjU2Mg@@._V1._SX600_SY337_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E6mGiWzIzFcxFfJETNf5_RM5nG0rZDTn5q_S9csrUgz7HspZ1U9O7Q4DAdQMHlMemKHL9LOxB0yPaGFn2gd3W3wnAqgxIfT5EAIsIzFoxl-mwPO6Wzo6jReJmp8skaIRm08Z3hE8yho/s400/MV5BMTY0OTMxNjI4MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzcyMjU2Mg@@._V1._SX600_SY337_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372929475575805330" /></a><br /><br />The story of <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age 3</span> is probably my favorite so far in the <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age</span> films. The "herd" is still together, and true to form, they can't live with each other or without each other. Wooly mammoth partners Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expecting their first child, yet Ellie seems to be suffering the least of her extended family. After discovering three lone eggs in an underground cavern, Sid, the unhealthy yet optimistic sloth (John Leguizamo) decides to care for them. When they hatch into baby tyrannosaurus, their mother attacks above ground looking for them, and takes them (and unintentionally) Sid back into the cavern. The rest of herd rush into the cabin to find him, and happen upon an underground jungle populated by (thought to be) extinct creatures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUoKEpEpatIRo7BMJcXsPrYcF8XHBO9TGAK6ePfnfGCcaEayrRr-0mzDckoDidpzFyI9ouEatXmZddEIIriLPLLrtqXaPhAGu7OVO590sOml0ex0KRZp8Lhg6E5xqtqaJaEFAz1LdeXI/s1600-h/2009_ice_age_3_032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUoKEpEpatIRo7BMJcXsPrYcF8XHBO9TGAK6ePfnfGCcaEayrRr-0mzDckoDidpzFyI9ouEatXmZddEIIriLPLLrtqXaPhAGu7OVO590sOml0ex0KRZp8Lhg6E5xqtqaJaEFAz1LdeXI/s400/2009_ice_age_3_032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372929714062677634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbrpKkVKQF0Cwtny-2wTin6ws4xpJ6g4qAec-DACcKTuEWZi_wrYyjlQT1xCSDZgRwxDtqzmDYWH4Ias35n4RDHDP2Kw8MWFW5e0a_SOkXWXPm67T2MDYYQnMXqK2nplLycPzxFjf1Rk/s1600-h/IA3003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbrpKkVKQF0Cwtny-2wTin6ws4xpJ6g4qAec-DACcKTuEWZi_wrYyjlQT1xCSDZgRwxDtqzmDYWH4Ias35n4RDHDP2Kw8MWFW5e0a_SOkXWXPm67T2MDYYQnMXqK2nplLycPzxFjf1Rk/s400/IA3003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372930045437415042" /></a><br /><br />The story is pretty decent. The herd is portrayed from the start to be something of an extended family (something I enjoy seeing in stories). I love the action element to the story, but there are great moments of comedy interspersed throughout. My favorite scene has to be when the herd is trying to cross through a toxic cave, and when they breath in, the toxic gas causes them to go uncharacteristically happy and hysterical. The stories of the previous <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age</span> films were okay, although I like the first one the least (the human characters were boring and unnecessary), and the second was only a mild improvement.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyA-61C5R2NaSJQFLnalqmJMWG8iGn-Xsvlwc0BRQoFkzMVHOJtljRTeekkvjJGBeTQtA6F9LXZq6QBJVFdt8krobA_e_2g1x2ThSRqt2-g8maMOp_SNPae72jyeyt1Hgw-q11nH37BM/s1600-h/Picture+17.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyA-61C5R2NaSJQFLnalqmJMWG8iGn-Xsvlwc0BRQoFkzMVHOJtljRTeekkvjJGBeTQtA6F9LXZq6QBJVFdt8krobA_e_2g1x2ThSRqt2-g8maMOp_SNPae72jyeyt1Hgw-q11nH37BM/s400/Picture+17.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372930497593976418" /></a><br /><br />The best part of the movie is the overall look. Recently, I became a fan of illustrator and character-designer Peter De Sève, probably best known for his New Yorker magazine illustrations. The designs of the characters are wonderfully balanced between needing to be 3-dimensional, looking unique and distinctive, and wordlessly expressive. In fact, Mr. De Sève recently <a href="http://peterdeseve.blogspot.com/">started up a blog</a>, which includes some of his <a href="http://peterdeseve.blogspot.com/2009/08/ice-age-dawn-of-dinosaurs-pt1.html">pre-production drawings</a> for the movie. His designs of Manny, Diego, and Sid are very distinctive of one another, and all have traits that define their personalities (like Diego being very sharp looking with a few rounded edges, Manny all hidden away by tusks and fur, and Sid with tiny eyes and a carelessly round belly). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilukJ3kipKV_l8Mr64UH8vXDOTqq2QIXNBiULuz3IKsKFQD99J5bvYXhUXsZQZMd7kZyYhelRT_vncQeUQM_LfM0JObSUe6hZmbJgJqTozKfoOtgbxPFWGrbKS3PHWe2psz_rgW2Y4s98/s1600-h/Picture+21.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilukJ3kipKV_l8Mr64UH8vXDOTqq2QIXNBiULuz3IKsKFQD99J5bvYXhUXsZQZMd7kZyYhelRT_vncQeUQM_LfM0JObSUe6hZmbJgJqTozKfoOtgbxPFWGrbKS3PHWe2psz_rgW2Y4s98/s400/Picture+21.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372930879257103122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYsFlR0THIfMbWhyphenhyphenSW8pH6OHgHY2iaFn5DdmTBoCaHoa1x29F1hJdnSpPtEeIfpdkSiy3qeziK0BBw0-1RjGlXaoYrfwgc2_qAWixIXnEBhcfC1dh4l75u9w5W4FkP3L9Af3WO5lHvHc/s1600-h/Picture+18.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYsFlR0THIfMbWhyphenhyphenSW8pH6OHgHY2iaFn5DdmTBoCaHoa1x29F1hJdnSpPtEeIfpdkSiy3qeziK0BBw0-1RjGlXaoYrfwgc2_qAWixIXnEBhcfC1dh4l75u9w5W4FkP3L9Af3WO5lHvHc/s400/Picture+18.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372930874545019618" /></a><br />The designs of the rest of the "herd" are cute as well: Ellie is a lot softer looking than Manny, and I love the manic appearances of twin possums Crash and Eddie. The new character, Buck is my favorite new design, for the biased reason that I love weasel characters. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt-C3soMcv2TzKP5ruj3rWTxKFcJ15fKUcH02E5yp82cRgDHae8hypNm7Qza_PZ76zO1AXrStN-SMSJygI2H1P_jTji4cGl9O26RVq74vmjms4Bc0YabObB7Qvp9M2dCeH2JjUT-BRNY/s1600-h/Picture+11.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt-C3soMcv2TzKP5ruj3rWTxKFcJ15fKUcH02E5yp82cRgDHae8hypNm7Qza_PZ76zO1AXrStN-SMSJygI2H1P_jTji4cGl9O26RVq74vmjms4Bc0YabObB7Qvp9M2dCeH2JjUT-BRNY/s400/Picture+11.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372931182114945330" /></a><br /><br />The wooly mammoth characters, Manny and Ellie, are impressively animated. Not only are they shown to be large and rotund, but their tusks and wool cover most of their faces. This leaves their eyes as the primary source of facial expression, which the animators do a fantastic job of accomplishing. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKKBbWX5bbHsVE_ZYJyBkiv7SduXaXr-ygLzAL8vQVu0BaxmFsIrf5QnaC6JyiUfbG1aEe6fGyMjObd3tNC3Absv0A0J4KBE5elAyCYjALu6A-q6hgqEZ79Xc5X2udtpU8FeVuCJ0_fo/s1600-h/Picture+12.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKKBbWX5bbHsVE_ZYJyBkiv7SduXaXr-ygLzAL8vQVu0BaxmFsIrf5QnaC6JyiUfbG1aEe6fGyMjObd3tNC3Absv0A0J4KBE5elAyCYjALu6A-q6hgqEZ79Xc5X2udtpU8FeVuCJ0_fo/s400/Picture+12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372931573102291186" /></a><br /><br />The biggest flaw of <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age 3</span> is the dialogue. I find most of the dialogue (if not all) to be predictable, which drives me crazy. I like being surprised by what a character says (especially in humorous situations). This is a flaw evident in all the <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age</span> movies. I constantly find myself cringing at some of the dialogue, and I just want to pause the movie so I can correct the dialogue to myself. I was especially displeased with the character of Buck having an Australian accent, thus making the dialogue one big cliché after another. Maybe it would have helped if the accent didn't have so many references to Australian dialect (i.e. "You'll never find your mate,...MATE"). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpd8AFjiZUFIsKSLOzDlEsTYFQ14IzegopaaLHDKPgpLd-N-wnQAT0WqKcou0iaqVbuv2mTQ45HTXpE7OTQrKskk5V-LwchUoJ1UryzTB8n7mk0Ogw00aJ0FYO1uis9K1SJJzVJO3rzc/s1600-h/Picture+15.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpd8AFjiZUFIsKSLOzDlEsTYFQ14IzegopaaLHDKPgpLd-N-wnQAT0WqKcou0iaqVbuv2mTQ45HTXpE7OTQrKskk5V-LwchUoJ1UryzTB8n7mk0Ogw00aJ0FYO1uis9K1SJJzVJO3rzc/s400/Picture+15.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372931789282939874" /></a><br /><br />None of the voice acting helps the dialogue out. I personally don't like the celebrity casting Blue Sky places in its movies, although I can appreciate what it does for the reputation of the movies themselves. Ray Romano's portrayal of Manny in the first movie seemed a little too close to his comedy persona, but in <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age 2</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">3</span>, his performance is much smoother and not as forced. John Leguizamo, of course, always impresses by keeping himself masked with a happy lisp when playing Sid the Sloth. The rest of the cast (Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, Simon Pegg, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck) isn't too impressive, and don't give the characters as much depth as their appearances offer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FPEKBn0iWjaCPKg55iotIY-qDvxalvS9SZUpWxIYuCNlsTpFJYpBMDnXDHKcoYmgX_EH8-EZb5HdKpwY9qAzgJEt6PVFuc6d0LM8-hsfVkiXuVH7vygFObSzGRt7u6JSMK9SoUzaAZs/s1600-h/Picture+25.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FPEKBn0iWjaCPKg55iotIY-qDvxalvS9SZUpWxIYuCNlsTpFJYpBMDnXDHKcoYmgX_EH8-EZb5HdKpwY9qAzgJEt6PVFuc6d0LM8-hsfVkiXuVH7vygFObSzGRt7u6JSMK9SoUzaAZs/s400/Picture+25.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372931996371254786" /></a><br /><br />The Scrat and Scratte subplot is at times very sweet, very funny, and a little creepy. As in the previous movies, Scrat, a "saber-toothed squirrel," is still obsessed with gathering acorns, except this time he meets his match in a female counterpart, Scratte. Throughout this story, Scratte managed to outsmart Scrat in getting a particular acorn, most of which end in pain for Scrat (the weirdest part being a scene that evokes the chest-waxing scene in <span style="font-style:italic;">The 40 Year-Old Virgin</span>). Eventually the two fall in love, only for Scrat to be torn by between his love for her and his absurd acorn obsession. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-DKk2ThgQYmCANOWnh9oBVQ-1O75EJpnB9AoWj6mNkQrJsgsbTIK3zWFNlp9P6XKWwC3hYLLYHvKIbIkr6j0swxStiI-kprsKWcnNx2Q5XJcmtWckVGsSWWhg8bwVYxOZJfjKAWE5SE/s1600-h/Picture+26.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-DKk2ThgQYmCANOWnh9oBVQ-1O75EJpnB9AoWj6mNkQrJsgsbTIK3zWFNlp9P6XKWwC3hYLLYHvKIbIkr6j0swxStiI-kprsKWcnNx2Q5XJcmtWckVGsSWWhg8bwVYxOZJfjKAWE5SE/s400/Picture+26.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372932171869102306" /></a><br /><br />Eventually her nit-picky attitude opens the door for him to pursue his acorn, which leads the two prehistoric squirrels back to their previous conflict. Long story short, he ends up losing both his precious acorn, and (quite possibly) his one true soul mate. Aside from the aforementioned chest-waxing, I quite enjoyed this little subplot. Not everyone wants to admit it, but the reason Scrat's little adventures are so enjoyable is the lack of dialogue, and total reliance on physical comedy, something harking back to the early days (or prehistoric in this case) of cinema.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4BA9d2El-HL6bD7G2hx46kzLYws7VeR3kDgIhn1ZAg7F_lkegeseLKLbG26IOBpo9Y4i8b9-JNYDTYNvkCfbbybtuK56rFL42j8zUxPUaU3sWiGwiE7UDirgvb7V_yVSgYwTvSaRiDE/s1600-h/5btgs5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4BA9d2El-HL6bD7G2hx46kzLYws7VeR3kDgIhn1ZAg7F_lkegeseLKLbG26IOBpo9Y4i8b9-JNYDTYNvkCfbbybtuK56rFL42j8zUxPUaU3sWiGwiE7UDirgvb7V_yVSgYwTvSaRiDE/s400/5btgs5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372932343296346418" /></a><br /><br />What more can I say (if I haven't said enough). This is my favorite of the <span style="font-style:italic;">Ice Age</span> films, but its not the best movie ever. I still mind the dialogue flaw very much. However, its still nice to see computer animation that's not overdone, and still has a simplified, yet stylized look. Still, my thoughts on Blue Sky movies remains unchanged.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-83342022120664449512009-08-05T18:16:00.000-07:002009-08-05T19:35:27.516-07:00The Secret of KellsHere is a film with which I had no expectations whatsoever. I don't know the filmmaker (Tomm Moore), the studio (Gébéka Films), or the story. But in the end, all I can say is <span style="font-style:italic;">The Secret of Kells</span> is a fantastic movie. Great animation, great story, great acting, and it is short yet complete.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8_I0gKLP6ggpYEUdafBMwg6RfVqvFOsEm3yLZ_hkm0VGQ_aNcDStaW_ZKXH2WE2pLRZQvu4kiutO5w8EKGWFYYpVCL6kE3Q1ZAnJMrWb4kxq8hBGH5Heh_MmpAqwhbbPRVn9kRsshLw/s1600-h/secret_of_kells_aislingseye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8_I0gKLP6ggpYEUdafBMwg6RfVqvFOsEm3yLZ_hkm0VGQ_aNcDStaW_ZKXH2WE2pLRZQvu4kiutO5w8EKGWFYYpVCL6kE3Q1ZAnJMrWb4kxq8hBGH5Heh_MmpAqwhbbPRVn9kRsshLw/s400/secret_of_kells_aislingseye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366672581570655186" /></a><br />I thought the film would seem a little strange to someone with no prior knowledge of Celtic mythology. But that proved not to be the case.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwjUG2pGDZMUR7biTQudGUktQppzk1MwrORQjrq0iFK46DY5-90KSxnk3hFyH2EkjvlYmeUAeVd8z1ivHqtSX5wXV26sGn8hwiZgRAapeNMoKzbwGeyhY6wES8OH8wxtGr-oRiGkQMFk/s1600-h/Tajna_Kellsa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwjUG2pGDZMUR7biTQudGUktQppzk1MwrORQjrq0iFK46DY5-90KSxnk3hFyH2EkjvlYmeUAeVd8z1ivHqtSX5wXV26sGn8hwiZgRAapeNMoKzbwGeyhY6wES8OH8wxtGr-oRiGkQMFk/s400/Tajna_Kellsa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366671969577200482" /></a><br />The film takes place in Ireland in the 9th century and follows twelve year-old Brendan. An adventurous boy by nature, Brendan is in the care and shadow of his strict uncle Abbot, whose sole concern is the safety of the Kells Village from the oncoming Viking attacks (in Irish terminology, the Vikings are referred to as "Norsemen"). One day, the village receives an elderly visitor, Brother Aidan, who introduces Brendan to the valuable and fantastical Book of Kells. As the film continues, Aidan inspires Brendan to develop his imagination and complete the book, all the while narrowly avoiding the severe disapproval of his uncle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOMpl5PziyvMScHWn9Ya7W8xG5-rj2aEu04JuB9XupJH6EiW3zGb1fz8w4aS7UC0KjGtWRi13GK0Xq6GS6u_JSy3SfkayR6oR1SdvyjMKOwNjqU3ImXgsFbEVL_FDe5zHACC8DD4Yth8/s1600-h/bob1_VO_04128RVB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOMpl5PziyvMScHWn9Ya7W8xG5-rj2aEu04JuB9XupJH6EiW3zGb1fz8w4aS7UC0KjGtWRi13GK0Xq6GS6u_JSy3SfkayR6oR1SdvyjMKOwNjqU3ImXgsFbEVL_FDe5zHACC8DD4Yth8/s400/bob1_VO_04128RVB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366669832085976338" /></a><br />The art direction, from a first glance, is reminiscent of the shows currently on Cartoon Network. This, surprisingly, helps to move the story along. The combination of simplicity with fantasy setting keeps the story from getting caught up in technological detail. But that's not to say the art direction is terrible. Quite the opposite: it has one of the best art directions I have seen in any animated feature of the last decade. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxJbPuJVIwDTYOXFy9ThqoesbbaSJ2o0EXBsMYG4iHCWRxJdzDiTDM3YYvJ48l4bxLFNuRycwfRoizh9IZLp1Ou8pCc2KulQvNEun_2P-8jrh-FIpO-CUzagLZkwX_mZcbZdkicJhaFo/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxJbPuJVIwDTYOXFy9ThqoesbbaSJ2o0EXBsMYG4iHCWRxJdzDiTDM3YYvJ48l4bxLFNuRycwfRoizh9IZLp1Ou8pCc2KulQvNEun_2P-8jrh-FIpO-CUzagLZkwX_mZcbZdkicJhaFo/s400/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366671168082263986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u5Piww6t1LwB9zHqk2R4koYsjTXDakfUlcG9Tv-r4D57Lbz1oj7opz3jLOPtOrdYSFTgVCvaM-fHqdHfIrtr0Pa9zFouXmeQh_ZwI-M-c4I5kfeJwrLK8GEaKFRt7KFqfpvDoBVy_ns/s1600-h/Picture+9.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u5Piww6t1LwB9zHqk2R4koYsjTXDakfUlcG9Tv-r4D57Lbz1oj7opz3jLOPtOrdYSFTgVCvaM-fHqdHfIrtr0Pa9zFouXmeQh_ZwI-M-c4I5kfeJwrLK8GEaKFRt7KFqfpvDoBVy_ns/s400/Picture+9.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366671576900003538" /></a><br />The color scheme of the movie is very distinctive. The film's primary colors are, unsurprisingly, green (an Irish tradition) and white (which gives the sense of the world surrounding the Irish). The most drastic change in the color scheme comes at two points: when Brendan is learning and working on the Book of Kells, the palette is made up of various warm colors, giving a feeling of comfort while Brendan becomes engaged in his new found interest; the other points are the scenes involving the Vikings (aka the Norsemen) where the dominating color is red, signaling danger and anger.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlP670BCzylmaWgIqLfhTnkc-hGMJ_4Rc2xQD6QHSkGRrWAFErV1_kRoGHq2VViD89ajNgpJwNHavmZTsxfcus6qo2A2AwnHNprvUbvo8CkSib2J8bRlvQui7k2Ee8QXPz3VhOOEC4sY/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlP670BCzylmaWgIqLfhTnkc-hGMJ_4Rc2xQD6QHSkGRrWAFErV1_kRoGHq2VViD89ajNgpJwNHavmZTsxfcus6qo2A2AwnHNprvUbvo8CkSib2J8bRlvQui7k2Ee8QXPz3VhOOEC4sY/s400/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366672277375883714" /></a><br />The music is an impressive component of the film. Some of the score is provided by French composer Bruno Coulais, who provided a haunting ambient score woven with Celtic melodies. The score goes beautifully with the fantasy-related sequences. Elsewhere, music is provided by Kíla, a Celtic folk group, whose sound adds a feeling of authenticity to the scenes within the Kells village. The psychological aspects of Coulais's score with Kíla's Ireland meets the World sound makes for one impressive soundtrack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwZ9rwnSfBDWkPLhBma-1hffuxsH4_8br7RII7PQ_SJq_wbaBB7JuBvc7tx4q9A1qqubNIFclvQE_UDqEkulRUHB1zG5Eutq_YdJfZbebVly3H7dW-Dmvn0WAq14pK6POmSE1WIqgdvg/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwZ9rwnSfBDWkPLhBma-1hffuxsH4_8br7RII7PQ_SJq_wbaBB7JuBvc7tx4q9A1qqubNIFclvQE_UDqEkulRUHB1zG5Eutq_YdJfZbebVly3H7dW-Dmvn0WAq14pK6POmSE1WIqgdvg/s400/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366670291798852226" /></a><br />It is exciting to see a country's unknown animation talent getting unleashed. I have never known of any Irish animation, not even indie (I've probably missed something, feel free to correct me). But <span style="font-style:italic;">The Secret of Kells</span> has given me hope for hand-drawn animation. I don't know what's next for Ireland. Technically, the film is one third Irish, one third Belgian, and one third French. Still, for me, the film is all Irish. The Irish have always had a film scene, and this may be just a new addition to their country's film culture. Or it could be the start of something interesting....Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1700681320024712997.post-89122519909977218492009-07-21T19:36:00.000-07:002009-07-21T20:10:39.752-07:00Harry Potter: the Half-Blood Prince is still in the Title.I wrote an entry <a href="http://doubleben.blogspot.com/2009/02/harry-potter-and-words-of-film-loving.html">some months ago</a> about how much I enjoyed the <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter</span> film series. The entry is pretty open-ended, and there is still much about the films to be praised, and (at the time of writing it) there are still 3 more films in the series. Now one of those 3 has been released, and I am ecstatic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyMWXH-S0OvLIvPhEPPqAeFOVSddQWj62lwwoWrkDBDCBn4_YdhyphenhyphenyensCXroeqIHCyJp7js_06UZjmzky2AAAiKwn3sQQEw8vhc0zryEtXd55gwh2DerssudoC9BauJ438jSCfOCtook/s1600-h/239-HP6D-05801.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyMWXH-S0OvLIvPhEPPqAeFOVSddQWj62lwwoWrkDBDCBn4_YdhyphenhyphenyensCXroeqIHCyJp7js_06UZjmzky2AAAiKwn3sQQEw8vhc0zryEtXd55gwh2DerssudoC9BauJ438jSCfOCtook/s400/239-HP6D-05801.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361113453425022082" /></a><br />(images copied from Yahoo Movies)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</span> is part six in the series (both book and film). The story picks up just a few weeks after the end of the last installment, <span style="font-style:italic;">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</span>. Despite going through what may have been the worst year of his life, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe, always remarkable) is slowly but surely keeping his feet on the ground, and has shed some of his erratic behavior from the last movie. Now he seems to have a firm grip on what's going on around him, and it shows when, for the first time, he starts to realize his feelings for Ginny Weasly (Bonnie Wright), his best friend's sister.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pl-JMCAr3xv-jLFhVz6HEynd1VwhzQIdIP39bZzttNsMYbz05-DBJ0-VP2FhT-8GIqRNFYyPnlWq_CzP6Ceucp3YvNvjz7DvX0Fg1I4YytGkoxGIs4MAXcsRZVzQk2ASNVPndsVkRqE/s1600-h/842-HP6-FP-00313.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pl-JMCAr3xv-jLFhVz6HEynd1VwhzQIdIP39bZzttNsMYbz05-DBJ0-VP2FhT-8GIqRNFYyPnlWq_CzP6Ceucp3YvNvjz7DvX0Fg1I4YytGkoxGIs4MAXcsRZVzQk2ASNVPndsVkRqE/s400/842-HP6-FP-00313.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361112998905400674" /></a><br /><br />The acting is spot on, as usual. The movie's primary newcomer is Jim Broadbent, playing Hogwarts professor Horace Slughorn. The character of Slughorn almost mirrors the mood of the movie overall. Slughorn is a very excited yet nervous person, whose naive (yet comedic) nature hides a dark secret he has yet to forgive himself for. Its the same as the rest of the movie, which has an ominous feeling overall, despite many moments of charming comedy. Jim Broadbent's performance is exceptional in capturing these moods and hidden emotions. The scene in Hagrid's hut has to be the centerpiece of Broadbent's performance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdAeGxUEBsci5NVgTMB33KPHsBjM0gQQ49_FGrRn1wOtjyOi4FfYFrpvpq-opYN4czgLOKPLeMWvDmyAVAoP2hTt-kW5F1BVlgiEGyuKjwYWQn3t6MTI9GLoGUrFBKgpvMm8PlLor_wI/s1600-h/375-HP6D-01436r.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdAeGxUEBsci5NVgTMB33KPHsBjM0gQQ49_FGrRn1wOtjyOi4FfYFrpvpq-opYN4czgLOKPLeMWvDmyAVAoP2hTt-kW5F1BVlgiEGyuKjwYWQn3t6MTI9GLoGUrFBKgpvMm8PlLor_wI/s400/375-HP6D-01436r.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361112032362912674" /></a><br /><br />A further kudos to Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore, his fourth time out. His performance as Dumbledore is always outstanding. The performance can be described as playing him like a drowsy sleepwalker who is always aware of everything around him. In words, that probably sounds like a criticism, but it is not. Especially in this movie, the character displays a sense of fear and ominous expectation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RzIN0Z53J0IqfFF6_jdV5zVx6pTd6omziQo6UzEqhFx5iUvAwfv7oqM0DiAJQf-8H4ROSitQM42tSQQ78yEJyapASFPw2VQfj2CrywRlhJmf5Rmw1k5WWTzGiQrAmOH3MEQukCz9C7U/s1600-h/784-HP6-TRLF5-3092.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RzIN0Z53J0IqfFF6_jdV5zVx6pTd6omziQo6UzEqhFx5iUvAwfv7oqM0DiAJQf-8H4ROSitQM42tSQQ78yEJyapASFPw2VQfj2CrywRlhJmf5Rmw1k5WWTzGiQrAmOH3MEQukCz9C7U/s400/784-HP6-TRLF5-3092.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361113159719371522" /></a><br /><br />What more can I say about Alan Rickman's performance as Severus Snape? Rickman is a remarkable actor, and he knows how to manipulate emotions in the strangest of ways. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEq5at126bPp1fKL05sLHqCgQBWLZSN66W1SGlUyhAzY3RHHwv1J39O_atULb4JD9ngLbXaAC_OFQvmpxmceawIscZZ6cVeRuER7azUW7UQsQJCajC2uwYXFTCpXU4KT0V0jULpmLsgg/s1600-h/685-HP6D-02227r-C.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEq5at126bPp1fKL05sLHqCgQBWLZSN66W1SGlUyhAzY3RHHwv1J39O_atULb4JD9ngLbXaAC_OFQvmpxmceawIscZZ6cVeRuER7azUW7UQsQJCajC2uwYXFTCpXU4KT0V0jULpmLsgg/s400/685-HP6D-02227r-C.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361112616963117186" /></a><br /><br />A lot must be said for director David Yates, who's directing of the series has improved remarkably. Although <span style="font-style:italic;">Order of the Phoenix</span> was very enjoyable, there were flaws which I minded more than the other films. I found the pacing of the movie 5 to be too quick, and some of the characters were given less screen time and development than before (in fact, book 5 is the longest in the series, while movie 5 is the shortest so far. Sadly ironic, don't you think?). But this time, Mr. Yates appears to have learned from his previous experience, and directed with a beautiful pace and careful timing for each character.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48IIpVifFnY2bfURiRu4zYfOkV8U0uuzRvnYKCTIpKDYZfd2P6zEF8rMfAv9xElUw-PPL8PJKpilcdSDGYcwN0xMsqbd-oviQ3hB47yndKi3pEB36H_Fy4JDbVJqbBYw7zuk3cmgZOFg/s1600-h/767-HP6-FP-00327.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48IIpVifFnY2bfURiRu4zYfOkV8U0uuzRvnYKCTIpKDYZfd2P6zEF8rMfAv9xElUw-PPL8PJKpilcdSDGYcwN0xMsqbd-oviQ3hB47yndKi3pEB36H_Fy4JDbVJqbBYw7zuk3cmgZOFg/s400/767-HP6-FP-00327.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361111517326124402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheSoADqFy4bnUlsNTEm3ab65OaSCYE51lH6g2B4nfPzWNJsLsiVbdMwhHFlcGULz2kjqnwWOZ_ZGW-L7KGjZsEWFj399WpmmHFokXMcxW2TahTlXQQncfaTqehIgdh9uo_rxA73qX29g/s1600-h/254-HP6-VFX-00207.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheSoADqFy4bnUlsNTEm3ab65OaSCYE51lH6g2B4nfPzWNJsLsiVbdMwhHFlcGULz2kjqnwWOZ_ZGW-L7KGjZsEWFj399WpmmHFokXMcxW2TahTlXQQncfaTqehIgdh9uo_rxA73qX29g/s400/254-HP6-VFX-00207.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361111276413587314" /></a><br /><br />The characters of Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) have been given tremendous development. More than in the previous movie, here they really do support Harry, without drawing too much away from their own issues. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is given his biggest role in the series, as he is now made a part of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters, but later revealed to be against his will. He is shown to be disturbed by the actions he is being forced to do, showing that despite his own bigotry, he is unwilling to act on them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFIOmSCsBijnblFnNAvp3e-0TdztPJLeoZ7QJljD5_m8QTcc-InbOjgAq2E0eOsMplyWVImFixa0diHzdEak-_cHMF3ZFzBw8EjqeH9pxk-48ENjODxJ60WMp7pEazyR4fLwz5qsWVMo/s1600-h/466-HP6-FP-00278.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFIOmSCsBijnblFnNAvp3e-0TdztPJLeoZ7QJljD5_m8QTcc-InbOjgAq2E0eOsMplyWVImFixa0diHzdEak-_cHMF3ZFzBw8EjqeH9pxk-48ENjODxJ60WMp7pEazyR4fLwz5qsWVMo/s400/466-HP6-FP-00278.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361112307220588930" /></a><br /><br />Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter, terrific as usual) is given a bigger role than previously, as she goes from being introduced as the first female Death Eater to a rather vicious and devoted follower. Another newcomer to the series is Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy, a role that is to be larger in the next installment.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_-DQbdOshw_hrNNt-GIlIBpdvpaZGHKy7UXl4EM-7LPlfmsMa63f29d_XsbRSwnqeYYyWTacjZvocl9sswpJpj_8LN32drBtaRE-eHlqBwPm7QG-D8cE9xB8AQpNHwq9VvicYLaSmQ0/s1600-h/335-HP6-VFX-00367.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_-DQbdOshw_hrNNt-GIlIBpdvpaZGHKy7UXl4EM-7LPlfmsMa63f29d_XsbRSwnqeYYyWTacjZvocl9sswpJpj_8LN32drBtaRE-eHlqBwPm7QG-D8cE9xB8AQpNHwq9VvicYLaSmQ0/s400/335-HP6-VFX-00367.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361111794910788962" /></a><br /><br />Visually, the scenery is unchanged from the previous movies. But now, everything is colored differently, with an emphasis on gray. This is to show that the world is aware that something is wrong; that there is a storm coming. The attacks that start the movie (Diagon alley, and then the London Bridge) really set the tone. Bruno Delbonnel is the movie's cinematographer, and he does a nice job of giving the movie a lush yet slightly desaturated look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlhU4ypulUW14wgv1u7twR10kh6a7eFwnUOR3uSLFZ9LGtJYVn3qS1_x-iy5zNMMx2B__oW_gAgBcDbE7_1BROnAijYKGVitGUJd55POlYOYUGMt4QhLjIJ97A9-tbeefdv5lDSAyK4Q/s1600-h/33-HP6D-01380r.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlhU4ypulUW14wgv1u7twR10kh6a7eFwnUOR3uSLFZ9LGtJYVn3qS1_x-iy5zNMMx2B__oW_gAgBcDbE7_1BROnAijYKGVitGUJd55POlYOYUGMt4QhLjIJ97A9-tbeefdv5lDSAyK4Q/s400/33-HP6D-01380r.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361108699224324626" /></a><br /><br />Among the few minor complaints I have is the music. Nicholas Hooper, the film composer, worked on movie 5 and did a fantastic job. This time, however, much of the score, save for the very end of the movie, seems to be repeated from the previous film. I would have liked to hear some more alterations and new music for this film. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZFucUPeLjO-hcvgPhmyZavImYE6zqbw1gYNzRGWcGL5LPCKpZBeoxAkSaXBPgB79BnfImqZjkZFv8Jeb5no2lizC9A0s4eMvhaxx3SQO3-KtN2xEi8w850IzMKVCb4dk072yg5njPAE/s1600-h/106-HP6D-07725.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZFucUPeLjO-hcvgPhmyZavImYE6zqbw1gYNzRGWcGL5LPCKpZBeoxAkSaXBPgB79BnfImqZjkZFv8Jeb5no2lizC9A0s4eMvhaxx3SQO3-KtN2xEi8w850IzMKVCb4dk072yg5njPAE/s400/106-HP6D-07725.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361110631478283394" /></a><br /><br />A second complaint I have is the placement of the scene where Snape makes the unbreakable vow with Narcissa Malfoy. It comes after we see Harry meeting Dumbledore at the beginning. I would have rather the vow scene come before we catch up with Harry, that way, we can maintain a sense of secrecy, outside of Harry's knowledge.<br /><br />And finally, not much too go on here, but I think the Half-Blood Prince subplot wasn't focused on enough. It doesn't become significant until the end. I won't spoil it, but I will say its a moment of tragic irony.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl140n5xPaKs3tIZlOTkCuyNjscqin4GCY5dYYasAIBQ3FIrgfQQtSLqn3-d33Dq4VthEnlIXRzAxLdXqZg9J4WnMmcHSHq40MCuzM5YJCy3RGl7DjS6ZWAPCi7_NsIoXulE-EkGt9-EA/s1600-h/625-HP6D-00817sR.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl140n5xPaKs3tIZlOTkCuyNjscqin4GCY5dYYasAIBQ3FIrgfQQtSLqn3-d33Dq4VthEnlIXRzAxLdXqZg9J4WnMmcHSHq40MCuzM5YJCy3RGl7DjS6ZWAPCi7_NsIoXulE-EkGt9-EA/s400/625-HP6D-00817sR.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361112787078600242" /></a><br /><br />All I can say now is I am super excited about the final two installments. These last two movies make up the seventh installment, as the producers saw fit to give the final book a really big sendoff. My thinking exactly. Much of the cast from throughout the series will be appearing, so everyone gets a proper sendoff or comeuppance. And looking at movie 6, I am confident David Yates will pull off an extraordinary finale.Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02550182438003731076noreply@blogger.com0