Originally released in 2008 in Japan, Studio Ghibli's Ponyo finally makes it to the UK. This animated treat, although lacking some of the depth of Ghibli's previous efforts, is an enjoyable caper that both kids and adults will enjoy. Ponyo (Noah Cyrus) is a goldfish who dreams of living on the surface, and uses magic to change herself into a five year old girl and makes her way to dry land. Once there she meets five year old Sosuke (Frankie Jonas,) who lives with his mother (voiced by Tina Fey.) The two strike a friendship, but unfortunately Ponyo's magic has wreaked havoc and the moon is threatening to crash into the Earth. Also Ponyo's father (Liam Neeson) is desperate to bring her back, and is not afraid to use unorthodox tactics to do this.
The story, based on the Little Mermaid, is rather simple but it's fast paced and manages to keep some tension going. What works much better is the characterisation of Sosuke and his mother and Ponyo and her father. These are fleshed out characters and are very likeable and engaging. This helps make the sometimes slight story very enjoyable. The scenes where Ponyo is first bought to Sosuke's house in particular are funny and charming. There's plenty of humour throughout and a colourful supporting cast including some elderly care home residents who are impossible not to love. Overall the entire film is incredibly charming, and there's rarely a dull moment. The English dub of the film is rather good and well acted, especially from the young leads and Tina Fey.
The animation is excellent, and is clearly a labour of love which shows on the screen. The detail is great and director Hayao Miyazaki even manages to give waves and fishes engaging characterisation. Although the ending feels a little bit rushed, overall Ponyo is a delightful little feature and well worth a watch. Try to catch it in the cinema if you can to see the wonderful care and attention that has gone into the animation.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Review - Let the Right One In
This strange, enchanting film from Sweden is a refreshing take on the now well worn vampire genre. Kåre Hedebrant plays twelve year old Oskar, a lonely boy who is having trouble at school with bullies and has a strained relationship with his mother at home. He meets Eli (Lina Leandersson) a similarly distant and slightly weird twelve year old girl, and we follow the development of their sometimes awkward friendship. We also learn that Eli is hiding a dark secret: she is a vampire, and her “father” (Per Ragnar) who she lives with is actually a serial killer who kills his victims to provide blood for her.
Let the Right One In successfully combines two very different genres, coming of age and vampire horror, into a thoughtful and entertaining film. Oskar and Eli's story is subtly handled and draws the viewer in with a slow burning tension that works well. The screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist, based on his book, is excellent and although it moves at a slow pace it does not affect the viewer's enjoyment. The story is quite happy to take its time and allow the audience to enjoy a deeper understanding of Oskar and Eli. The horror elements are handled extremely well, with the film unafraid to enter darker and gorier territory. Due to the way the main bulk of the story is sensitively handled and feels realistic, when the horror does punctuate the story it allows director Tomas Alfredson to provide some memorable shocks and scenes which will remain in your memory. The film also makes good use of Sweden's snowy landscape and is beautifully shot. The scenery sometimes giving the film an otherworldly feel.
This is an accomplished film and is the work of people highly skilled and confident in their craft. Performance wise the young actors are particularly good, making this supernatural story seem like something that could actually happen in real life. The film rightly won a number of awards at the time of its release and no doubt a Hollywood remake is on the cards, although I doubt it could match the quality of the original.
Let the Right One In successfully combines two very different genres, coming of age and vampire horror, into a thoughtful and entertaining film. Oskar and Eli's story is subtly handled and draws the viewer in with a slow burning tension that works well. The screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist, based on his book, is excellent and although it moves at a slow pace it does not affect the viewer's enjoyment. The story is quite happy to take its time and allow the audience to enjoy a deeper understanding of Oskar and Eli. The horror elements are handled extremely well, with the film unafraid to enter darker and gorier territory. Due to the way the main bulk of the story is sensitively handled and feels realistic, when the horror does punctuate the story it allows director Tomas Alfredson to provide some memorable shocks and scenes which will remain in your memory. The film also makes good use of Sweden's snowy landscape and is beautifully shot. The scenery sometimes giving the film an otherworldly feel.
This is an accomplished film and is the work of people highly skilled and confident in their craft. Performance wise the young actors are particularly good, making this supernatural story seem like something that could actually happen in real life. The film rightly won a number of awards at the time of its release and no doubt a Hollywood remake is on the cards, although I doubt it could match the quality of the original.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Review - Anvil!: The Story of Anvil
In the 1980's Canadian metal group Anvil were, apparently, rock Gods. Sharing the stage with Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, they were headliner acts at the “Super Rock” festival of 1984, footage of which opens this charming little documentary. Their star soon faded however, and while Bon Jovi and co went on to bigger and better things, Anvil disappeared from the limelight. This documentary joins Anvil in the present day were they are a far cry from their 80's glory days.
Band members Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner may not be rocking stadiums anymore but they are still entertainers. Both have day jobs but they are far happier playing at local bars. Having tasted fame in the 80's they are always trying to find ways to hit the big time again. We follow the band on a ultimately disaster prone tour of Europe and the recording of a new comeback album which doesn't always go to plan. Rock and roll is never straight forward and this film proves that point – while Kudlow and Reiner are clearly great friends there are plenty of tantrums, fighting and tears along the way. This film could have easily become a grotesque Spinal Tap-esque parody of the rock industry, but the strong characters of Reiner and particularly Kudlow transform the film into a eye opening and thoroughly entertaining look at the world of a struggling rock band. These guys try incredibly hard to succeed and when it sometimes get to much they are not afraid to show their sometimes explosive emotions on camera. Although the touring and concert sequences are interesting and engaging some of the best parts of the film are set away from the rock antics, such as a lovely and occasionally hilarious sequence where Reiner shows his talent for painting.
Director Sacha Gervasi, a former roadie for Anvil in his teenager days, is quite happy to just point the camera and shoot what's happening with little intervention. Kudlow and Reiner are so entertaining to watch there's really not much more that can be done to spice things up. There's plenty of good humour here but also very personal drama as well. When the film was first released there were rumours that it was all a spoof, but watching the film there's no doubt that although these characters are sometimes larger than life, they are firmly rooted in reality. They share problems members of the audience are probably going through as well – second mortgages, debts, making them engaging to the audience and easy to relate to. Anvil is a very enjoyable documentary and well worth a watch. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets an Oscar nod this year.
Band members Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner may not be rocking stadiums anymore but they are still entertainers. Both have day jobs but they are far happier playing at local bars. Having tasted fame in the 80's they are always trying to find ways to hit the big time again. We follow the band on a ultimately disaster prone tour of Europe and the recording of a new comeback album which doesn't always go to plan. Rock and roll is never straight forward and this film proves that point – while Kudlow and Reiner are clearly great friends there are plenty of tantrums, fighting and tears along the way. This film could have easily become a grotesque Spinal Tap-esque parody of the rock industry, but the strong characters of Reiner and particularly Kudlow transform the film into a eye opening and thoroughly entertaining look at the world of a struggling rock band. These guys try incredibly hard to succeed and when it sometimes get to much they are not afraid to show their sometimes explosive emotions on camera. Although the touring and concert sequences are interesting and engaging some of the best parts of the film are set away from the rock antics, such as a lovely and occasionally hilarious sequence where Reiner shows his talent for painting.
Director Sacha Gervasi, a former roadie for Anvil in his teenager days, is quite happy to just point the camera and shoot what's happening with little intervention. Kudlow and Reiner are so entertaining to watch there's really not much more that can be done to spice things up. There's plenty of good humour here but also very personal drama as well. When the film was first released there were rumours that it was all a spoof, but watching the film there's no doubt that although these characters are sometimes larger than life, they are firmly rooted in reality. They share problems members of the audience are probably going through as well – second mortgages, debts, making them engaging to the audience and easy to relate to. Anvil is a very enjoyable documentary and well worth a watch. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets an Oscar nod this year.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Review: Avatar 3D
After a twelve year absence following 1997's "Titanic", director James Cameron makes a return to the big screen with this overblown but largely enjoyable fable. The action takes place in the future on a planet called Pandora, which contains a rich source of a rare mineral called "unobtainium" (one of the cringier moments of the script.) However the the inhabitants of the planet, the Na'vi, are unwilling to let humans take this mineral and a war is raging. Sam Worthington plays Jake, a paraplegic army man called up to replace his recently deceased brother in a project on the planet called "Avatar." The project allows humans to take control of a Na'vi body, hoping to blend in and learn more about their culture. As the story progresses Jake must decide if he's on the side of the humans or the Na'vi.
The story is mainly an excuse for a seemingly endless parade of special effects which do look rather impressive on the big screen. Pandora is a fantastic looking planet, especially during the night time scenes, where it takes on a strange ultraviolet look which looks great. The Na'vi race are also an amazing special effects achievement, with a depth and characterization rarely seen in CGI creations (apart from in Pixar films.) There really is no faulting the special effects and production design which is superb throughout. As for the human actors, who include Sigourney Weaver as the leader of the Avatar project, there's not much to say other than they get the job done. They definitely take a back seat to the effects. Sam Worthington is a likeable enough hero but there's nothing special about his performance.
Unfortunately the script and story don't nearly reach the same heights as the eye popping effects. The story is a predictable, pedestrian affair, with few surprises. The story has similar themes to Cameron's previous efforts "Aliens" and "The Abyss" but doesn't share the formers excitement or the latter's mystique. The script is also a bit of a dud, with little charm or wit. Its primary concern is to move the story from one elaborate special effect sequence to the next. Although the script and story are not very interesting, the spectacle on screen managed to keep my attention for most of the time. There are moments, especially just before the enjoyable finale, where the film threatens to sag under its own weight, but it manages to keep the entertainment going.
The 3D presentation makes the special effects look even more impressive, and adds a greater sense of realism. Unfortunately the tinted 3D glasses do dull the colours on the screen, but it doesn't impact the film too much. Overall I recommend giving Avatar a watch, although it is definitely a film to catch in the cinema, and in 3D format if possible. On DVD the special effects will lose some of their sparkle and the flaws in the script and story will be more noticeable.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Review - Sherlock Holmes
After “Young Sherlock Holmes” where we followed the detective's adventures as a young boy, and “Basil The Great Mouse Detective” where we followed his adventures as a mouse, Sherlock Holmes gets another reinvention as a action film hero in this uneven romp from director Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jnr plays the eponymous London detective, with Jude Law taking sidekick duties as Dr Watson. The two are drawn into a strange plot involving the mysterious Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong,) a villain previously hung for murder who appears to have come back from the dead and is embarking on a devious plot that is bad news for the citizens of London.
The plot is pretty flimsy and and the three screenwriters responsible seem to realise this as they pay minimal attention to the story and concentrate more on the lead characters. Robert Downey Jnr does a good job as Sherlock Holmes, an eccentric genius who's very handy with his fists in this interpretation. Downey brings across the detective's two sides, the buffoonish clown and the intelligent sleuth, very well and is a pleasure to watch on the screen. Jude Law has a drier role as Dr Watson but he brings a down to earth quality that helps anchor the film in reality. Mark Strong makes a menacing if one note villain but he's sadly given too little screen time to make much of an impact. The pretty Rachel McAdams makes a forgettable appearance as a sort of love interest to Sherlock Holmes. Her character is a bit of a mess, she is not in the film long enough to get any romantic frisson going between herself and Holmes, and sadly McAdams acting is sub-par and fails to bring across any emotions or motives. She appears to be shoehorned into the film to offset the “Boys Own” feeling the majority of the film has.
Director Guy Ritchie does a solid job of controlling the chaos on screen. He handles the action scenes fairly well, especially the all action finale which includes a well done fight on a partially built Tower Bridge. Although the films' marketing pitches it as a action film there's more talking than fighting. Unfortunately the film falls a little flat when there's no action on screen, the pacing is uneven and some of the scenes can drag. Thankfully the main meat of Sherlock Holmes, the sleuthing, is handled well and it's entertaining to see Holmes piece together the clues. There's also some fun scenes where Holmes will play out in his mind how he's going to take out a bad guy (aiming for weak spots, predicting his moves.) We see these thoughts Holmes is playing out in his mind, and then we see it again as Holmes actually carries out his plan.
The cinematography and set design is excellent, with Victorian London brought vividly to life. There's also a good soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Overall Sherlock Holmes is a decent effort at breathing new life into the detective although the uneven pacing and the villain not getting enough time to make a strong opponent to Holmes does let things down.
The plot is pretty flimsy and and the three screenwriters responsible seem to realise this as they pay minimal attention to the story and concentrate more on the lead characters. Robert Downey Jnr does a good job as Sherlock Holmes, an eccentric genius who's very handy with his fists in this interpretation. Downey brings across the detective's two sides, the buffoonish clown and the intelligent sleuth, very well and is a pleasure to watch on the screen. Jude Law has a drier role as Dr Watson but he brings a down to earth quality that helps anchor the film in reality. Mark Strong makes a menacing if one note villain but he's sadly given too little screen time to make much of an impact. The pretty Rachel McAdams makes a forgettable appearance as a sort of love interest to Sherlock Holmes. Her character is a bit of a mess, she is not in the film long enough to get any romantic frisson going between herself and Holmes, and sadly McAdams acting is sub-par and fails to bring across any emotions or motives. She appears to be shoehorned into the film to offset the “Boys Own” feeling the majority of the film has.
Director Guy Ritchie does a solid job of controlling the chaos on screen. He handles the action scenes fairly well, especially the all action finale which includes a well done fight on a partially built Tower Bridge. Although the films' marketing pitches it as a action film there's more talking than fighting. Unfortunately the film falls a little flat when there's no action on screen, the pacing is uneven and some of the scenes can drag. Thankfully the main meat of Sherlock Holmes, the sleuthing, is handled well and it's entertaining to see Holmes piece together the clues. There's also some fun scenes where Holmes will play out in his mind how he's going to take out a bad guy (aiming for weak spots, predicting his moves.) We see these thoughts Holmes is playing out in his mind, and then we see it again as Holmes actually carries out his plan.
The cinematography and set design is excellent, with Victorian London brought vividly to life. There's also a good soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Overall Sherlock Holmes is a decent effort at breathing new life into the detective although the uneven pacing and the villain not getting enough time to make a strong opponent to Holmes does let things down.
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