Review: Pranorman (2012)

directed by: Chris Butler, Sam Fell 

@paranorman is like a zombie. It's a whole with a lot of lose ill-fitting parts. But unlike a zombie, it's FRESH!
— Solo Galura (@GLsolo) September 18, 2012

Review : Fulltime Killer[2001]

Directed by Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai

Fulltime Killer is the story of two assassins. The flamboyant Tok(Andy Lau) and the the quiet O(Takashi Sorimachi), then there is Chin(Kelly Lin) who is set as the love interest. It is also presented as a kind of Noir film with a interpol/police officer(Simon Yam)narrating while in pursuit of both men.

Both hitmen are the best in asia, O ranked #1 and Tok ranked #2. Each man brings something different to their work. O, dispatches his marks with quiet intensity and precision of Swiss watch, tying up any and all loose ends along the way. While Tok has a flair for theatrics, being so glory hungry that he takes off his mask in front of a security camera as a kind of taunt or invitation. Antics like these are usually the reason why he is number 2 as one of his clients would remind him.

The plot steps into a drama aspect quite a bit as melancholy O reminisces about a former lost love, who he only hires as a maid and stalks here through his apartment window.

The stylishness of this picture comes from the directors, who, at the time, were lauded for giving new life to Asian action movies.I don't know if i can draw a direct line from this to the current surge of Asian action movies like The Raid: Redemption If I can't: Who cares? Andy Lau is one Bad-Ass-Good-Looking-MoFo!

Review : Prometheus

I loved this movie. No ratings, no stars, I just love it. From director to cast. I don't really have that much of a problem with Lindelof because I never finished Lost. With all the vitriol he's getting on the internet I do fear for the future of another franchise hes penned. He seems like a nice guy on The Nerdist Podcasts. 

I did not see this in 3D, and having seen it twice now, I wish I had. I could see the intention of the technology used, just like How to Train Your Dragon. *sigh*

I have never seen the original Alien on the big screen. The first time I saw it may have been on TV. Lately I've been rewatching it on my computer. That's not really the best way to see it especially with the ships trying to look heavy, and the landing scenes. "All the excitement of parking." Did I mention I've been rewatching it with Rifftrax? That's probably not good too.

But seeing the original with my limited knowledge of the craft I could see, again, intention. I may never get to experience what most of you got when you saw it for the first time, in the theater, in colour. So when Ridley Scott comes back to not only a genre, but a franchise he helped create I was on board and rode that enthusiasm to the cinema. 

David stole the show, every time he was on screen I just knew he was going to do something, probably on orders or on his own. Hello HAL is that you?

And who would anyone here pick to take out to dinner; The Ice Queen(Vickers) or The Nun(Shaw)? This was really the toughest question on my mind after the movie. 

 

^^For anyone with anymore questions about the movie, her are a few answers. 

Tezuka Profile

It would be safe to say that anyone [here] is  familiar or atleast heard of Osamu Tezuka or some of his most notable works Astro Boy, Kimba The White Lion, Black Jack, and Buddha.

Dororo

As well as being one of [if not] the most popular Japanese comic book artists, Tezuka is undoubtebly one of the most prolific. His body of work reportedly lists 700 titles from in his 40 year career. His influence in the comic book history is indelible even after he passed-away in 1989 his work still garners praise and noteriety from readers - old and new- and peers, most notablly winning a string of Eisner awards from 2004-2009 for Buddha and Dororo.

Even in the light of his fame, Tezuka still sought out to challenge himself and probably the readers and expand the medium of manga. These are a few works that shows him trying to do just that:

'Adolf' known in Japan as Adolf ni Tsugu (アドルフに告ぐ Adorufu ni Tsugu?, literally: "Tell Adolf")

Original run: 1983-1985 in Shukan Bunshun Magazine

Set in a pre WWII world, it follows the story of Three men named Adolf and a Japanese reporter Sohei Toge. Adolf Kamil is an Ashkenazi Jew living in Japan. His best friend Adolf Kaufmann is of both Japanese and German descent, whos father is an member of the Nazi Party and would like his some to support The Third Reich . The third Adolf is Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany.

Ayako Original run: 1972-1973 in Big Comic Magazine

Ayako show the tensions in the Tenge family, a rich land owning clan, set in the years during the reformation  of Japan by the Americans after WW2 up to the late 60s. Ayako is also the name of the child born of an incestuous affair by the patriarch  of the Tenge family and his daughter-in-law.

MW Original run: 1976-1978 in Big Comic Magazine

MW follows the relationship between Japanese priest Father Garai, his connection to serial killer Michio Yuki who was effected by the MW gas which has lead to his criminal lifestyle. This manga while containing an explicit homosexual relationship is only one of the reasons for its infamous reputation. The art style was influenced by the gekiga movement dominant in the 1960s-70s, which was more experimental, and explicit mostly aimed at a much older readership.

Oscar Ramblings 2012: Best Animated Feature

The Biggest Awards for Cinematic Arts is showing on February 26 est/pst and I thought I'd shout out my ideas about it on to the internet. 

Best Animated Feature is always an interesting mix for the Oscars. It usually puts together the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed pieces with the more obscure -mostly not American, not Pixar- productions. It has  among the past winners is Hayao Miyazaki for Spirited Away.

This years nominees are:
Rango

Upon hearing the details of the production I was interested to at least give this movie the benifit of the doubt. Johnny Depp teaming up with another director that was not his usual collaborator to work on an animated movie. I enjoyed this film upon viewing. It is nowhere near what most people are used to expect from animated feature. Visually, it stands apart from all the animated films. The choice for the lead himself is designed to go against the grain of the cuddly colourful cartoon character. It took the realism and highlighted the grim and soot.  And it has an amazing action sequence choreographed that left me glue to the action and would have had me applauding in the cinema if  I did not think that was weird.  It is darker in look, tone, humour, I am happy that this got a nomination.

Puss in Boots

Now this movie I like though it did slow down a lot in between the movie. It took the everything the lead character had in the Shrek movie and surrounded him with other characters to interact with. While the idea I agree with the execution, not so much. I would have love to see more of Puss doing more in the movie because most of the side characters did not interest me at all. I am quite surprised that this got a nomination. 

Kung Fu Panda 2

People loved the first but seamed mixed on this instalment. I had the opposite reaction. I loved the visuals of this movie. I thought I could have done without the 3D honestly because some of it was lost on me. I probably didn't notice it or it wasn't that good to begin with. The artwork immediately hooked me. The character design and the colours the were used to ton full effect, to give mood to this movie is amazing. The design of the main villain Shen is beautiful and brought to life with the animation and Gary Oldman's voice work. The patterns of his colours and the way he moves shows great care in execution especially in the fight scenes. I just wish there was more of it.  

Chico and Rita

It is amazing what music does to a person, it had me loving this movie from beginning to end. The music actually is only a back drop to the story of the two title characters, a story we have heard many times before. The story its self is very grown-up for what most are used to in animation. It is sexual, violent and real. The animation moves to the music with organic camera movements and a very realistic movement for animation. I hope more poeple would see movies like this to show them animation is a medium not a genre only for children. 

A Cat in Paris

The last and by no means the least. Far from it, this is my pick to win the Award. The art is again something that most would not be easy to warm to. It has a hard edge, which most would compare to expressionist art. It's a film inhabited by humans but starring a Cat. The characters though drawn two dimensional are well rounded, except maybe for the antagonist who seems to have only one setting. The story never goes where you would expect, and then throw in a sequence in the dark. The movie is equal parts fun, suspenseful, funny and heart warming. I do hope this is a win, if not I have already been treated to a fun movie and will certainly  be watching this again.

All the other catigories in this years Oscars cab be seen here.

Review: Batman Gotham Knight

Originaly posted July 8, 2008 on Multiply


The Dark Knight swing into action on July 17, 2008. But along with the long awated sequel, DC and WB is releasing "BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT".The release coveres six stories in the life of Batman[Bruce Wayne] in between the Batman Begins leading up to The Dark Knight. The project can be pralleled to the "Animatrix" [ the tie-ins to the the Matrix Trilogy.] The producers take the same route taken by the Wachosky bros. by taking different writers and producers ang giveng them free reign on their interpretaion of Batman. Marketing stunt or pure art...? Who knows, ill be putting in my two cents or 1000php when this comes out... id love to get this on blue ray[but i dont have a BR player so F*** that!]

Heres a Chapter-by-Chapter Synopsis of the movies to wet your appetite.

In “Have I Got a Story for You,” Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (“A History of Violence”) tells the story of how chance encounters with Batman by a group of youngsters leave each kid with a very different impression of the Dark Knight.

In “Crossfire,” acclaimed novelist/comics writer Greg Rucka tells the story of Gotham City police having to get over their distrust of Batman – while under fire from the mob.

In “Field Test,” writer Jordan Goldberg showcases the incredible high-tech arsenal Batman commands and reveals that there are some things even Batman won’t do in his pursuit of justice.

“In Darkness Dwells” takes Batman into the Gotham sewers to face “Killer Croc,” a deformed thug who seems even more monstrous after the Scarecrow, and his fear toxin, makes a resurgence, in a story by David S. Goyer, co-screenwriter of “Batman Begins.”

Award-winning comics writer Brian Azzarello explores an early chapter of Bruce Wayne’s training in “Working Through Pain,” showing how a mysterious and exotic Indian woman named Cassandra introduced Batman to techniques that would help him to conquer the physical and spiritual consequences of what he does.

Finally, in “Deadshot,” four-time Emmy Award-winning writer Alan Burnett ties together threads from all the Batman Gotham Knight chapters, as Batman must thwart an unerring assassin whose love of guns and disregard for human life lets him cross lines that even a Dark Knight shies away from.

That should get you going... heres the website, lots of fun.

Stay tuned for my review when this comes out!

Review: The Twilight Samurai

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Directed by: Yôji Yamada

The Twilight Samurai is a departure from the contemporary samurai movies. Where as most samurai movies abound in sword-fights, this movies slashing count could fit in one hand. The pace is slow, yet you may hardly notice while your are almost sharing the life of the protagonist going through the day-to-day duties of a low-ranking samurai Seibei Iguch in the last days of the Shogun period. Rather than participate in the social norms of drinking with his colleagues after work he rushes home to spend time with his two children and tending to his mother, earning him his nickname "Twilight Seibei"

A conflict arises when recently divorced Tomoe who returns to the village for some peace and quiet is hounded by her drunk & abusive husband. Seibei brings himself to fight for Tomoe's honour by duelling with her ex-husband and then effectively dispatching him in a brief but efficient manner. After which word of his prowess with a sword spreads and is sought-after for a mission to relieve another samurai of his duties.

The Twilight Samurai brings a fresh perspective to its crowded genre and gives insight in to the lives and times of the people of 19th century Japan. It tells a the story of a simple person, living, and like the samurai's technique, it is simple and effective.

Rotten Tomatoes

A Tangled Review.

"This is the story of how I died." These were the opening words of Disney’s 50th animated feature Tangled. The Disney Studios has announced that Tangled would be their final fairy tale story which sounds even worse after you have seen Tangled.

The casting of Mandy Moore as Rapunzel a was pitch perfect, as Tangled is a Disney movie, and like many Disney movies musical numbers abound. Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel who has locked away sweet Rapunzel has one of the best songs titled "Mother Knows Best" warns our heroin of the perils awaiting her should she venture into the wide wild world. Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider is no slouch holding his own in a show stopping duet titled "I See The Light" set against the most beautifully staged sequence in the movie. Rapunzel is a musical make no mistake, the scenes that feature singing and dancing happen in the most organic way possible never feeling tacked-on or forced as an interlude in the story.

Disney's Rapunzel is adorable, insufferably so. Dare i say she may well be the most beautifull among all Disney Princesses or maybe I'm just more partial to blondes but face value aside Rapunzel as a character is what wins you over. Unlike other princesses this one is proactive setting complicated gears in motion to fulfil a simple goal. Flynn Rider can hold your attention and has gained the most at the end of the movie after he makes the biggest sacrifice getting his ass handed to him by a horse. Mother Gothel we all know is evil but putting on the guise of a caring mother to keep Rapunzel.

Tangled is a return to form for Disney now with John Lasseter taking the reigns at Disney Animation Studios. There is an obvious hike in quality when your protagonist and antagonist are not the only memorable characters in the movie. As many of the other Disney classics the side characters enhance the experience. Little Mermaid and her fishy friends, Aladdin and his Genie, Simba and his Hakunamatata friends, and Belle and her menagerie of anthropomorphised household appliances. Tangled certainly has these and more mainly in Maximus a zealous Imperial Horse and Pascal Rapunzels long suffering but equally understanding house-mate/pet chameleon. Even on route we meet a interesting collection of ruffians who break into a chorus titled "I've Got a Dream" inspired by Rapunzel.

As beautiful as Rapunzel is the world they inhabit is equally as gorgeous. Never have I seen so many variations of the colour green. Beautifully rendered the forest seems alive even though we only see parts of it as our Main Characters travel through it. This may be a CG movie but it the look and feel of it has that unmistakable charm of a classic Disney fairytale.

All these elements come together to bring you a delightful version of a story your heard many times before and you’ll be happy to add this version to tell at bedtime.

Review: STAR TREK (2009)

I myself dislike knee-jerk reactions to any thing. But in today's internet, email, blogger-sphere and and message board era, i find myself drawn to peck at an anonymous keyboard from some undisclosed site typing these words:

Star Trek (2009) is AMAZING. There are simply not enough adjectives to describe it. The level of craft taken from pre-production to the hype is well worth it. The franchise is in very good hands, as exemplified with this installment. A big thank you to all those who made this film for giving us what may be the best film. The actors, writers, producers ( i almost never do that), etc... and the Director. You owe it to yourself to see this movie. And if possible See it in IMAX. It is time and money well spent.

Without a doubt it deserves a 5 out of 5 rating!

In the words of an Enterprise Crew member: "Live long and Prosper"

Review: The Orphanage [2007]

directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona
A waft of the sea breeze comes in through your window while you sleep. You remember the memories of what it was like as a child to live here, happy and content. And the lighthouse outside your window no longer shines into your room.
I am not an all out fan of the Horror/Thriller Genre, especially with today’s crop of films from the mainstream wave. I like a good scare as much as the average person, that’s why I try to avoid it every chance I get.
But upon hearing of a project by a team of filmmakers that I avidly admire, I could not help but set my apprehensions aside.
The film revolves around a woman who has returned to the orphanage where she herself was taken care of. She has come with the hopes of turning the house into a home for her, her husband, son and other children which she hopes to adopt. Things take a turn when their son makes new friends [invisible friends] and subsequently disappears after fighting with his mother, during the opening party for the new children. And what follows for months is a draining search for their son.
During this search they take the council of doctors, paranormal experts and mediums. It is during the experience with the medium that they learn of their sons “friends” which may have not been make-believe after all.
The over all tone of the film is not what you would expect from the usual set of movies from this genre. Of course the whole film sets you up for different highs and lows for your emotions, delivering effective scares throughout. I found myself covering my eyes in most of the scary scenes, frightened at what the next frame holds.
But obviously this film is not your run of the mill horror show, complete with a full assortment of monsters. Though this film sports a very creepy child with a sack on his head, which most movie fans will be able to tie to the Scarecrow. Very limited in his actions and screen time but very effective, lingering in your mind long after the movie. The little details in this production set it apart from other movies in its genre. From the opening credits to the props and the nods to popular fantasy literature give the movie a character unseen in the genre and constant in the team’s production of films.
It is a breath of fresh air -even though most of the time you’ll be gasping for it. It IS a horror movie and it delivers, but what sets it apart is the story. It will -depending on your fright meter- scare you, and you will also be touched. Without a doubt.

Adios Carinio.