Don't Stop Believing!

So as a close to my blog--since, let's face it, I've had enough trouble fitting in time to do it as is... I've decided to throw out some new films that even I haven't seen. I'll be happy in knowing that my E&P friends may be watching them for the first time at the same time as me. I know the psychic link I've formed with my GREEN team will aid in this :)

I've researched the reviews on rottentomatoes.com for all of these, and picked the ones that got high marks on the "tomato meter." I've also included a couple that I've seen once, don't remember, or came in half-way through and was confused enough to need another viewing. Happy viewing, readers! I bid thee a fond auf wiedersehen, au revior, sayonara, zai jian, adios, and good night.

The Devil's Backbone: Spanish, part one of Guillermo del Toro's Spanish Civil War trilogy. 92% on the tomato meter (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/devils_backbone/)

House of Flying Daggers: Chinese, yet another film with the amazing Zhang Ziyi, 88% on the tomato meter (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/house_of_flying_daggers/)

Run Lola Run: German, directed by Tom Tykwer, 92% on the tomato meter (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/run_lola_run/)

La vie en Rose: French, starring Marion Cotillard who won best actress for her role, 75% on the tomato meter with a lot of word-of-mouth praise from peers (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/la_vie_en_rose/) 

La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful)

Blurb: Set in late 1930's Arezzo, Italy, Jewish poet Guido Orefice uses his wit and charm to win the heart of schoolteacher Dora. Their fairy tale romance ends in marriage, and produces their wide-eyed son Giosue. When Giosue's fifth birthday comes around, the happy family's party preparations are interrupted when the Nazi's arrest them and transport them to a concentration camp. Throughout their stay in the camp, Guido must use his gift of wit to protect his son from the horrible cruelties of Nazi-Germany. (I did this one... hope it doesn't suck)

Notables: won 3 Oscars in 1999 for best actor, best foreign language film, and best musical score. Nominated for 27 other awards and won 56 (imdb.com)

My thoughts: 4/5

I'm only giving it a 4 because I honestly can't remember this film very well. I watched it several years ago, in the English dub, and have only seen it a handful of times.

From what I can remember, however, this one is a heart-wrencher. The beginning is extremely endearing and hilarious, and makes both Guido and Dora characters to love. But after the Nazi's move in... well, as history has shown, everything goes to hell. The father-son dynamic is something almost anyone can relate to, and the acting is superb. I have never seen the original Italian, but I would suggest watching it in that format. Solely because the language is beautiful, and I remember the dub being very off from the mouth-movements of the actors.

Pan's Labyrinth

Blurb: "Spain, 1944. Officially, the Civil War has been over for five years, but a small group of rebels fights on unbroken in the northern mountains of Navarra. Dreamy 10-year-old Ofelia moves to Navarra with her delicate, pregnant mother Carmen , to become acquainted with her new stepfather, Captain Vidal, a Facist officer under orders to rid the territory of rebels. Ofelia, who is fascinated by fairy tales, discovers an overgrown, tumbledown labyrinth behind the mill. In the heart of the labyrinth she meets an ancient faun who claims to know her true identity and her secret destiny. But first, she must complete three tasks before the moon grows full. And no one must know: not her ailing mother, or her new friend, Mercedes. Time is running out, for Ofelia and for the rebels. Both will have to battle hardship and cruelty in order to gain their freedom. But, who can be trusted in a time of lies and danger? Is the faun telling the truth...? And if not, who is?"

Notables: Won 3 Oscars for art direction, cinematography, and makeup. Nominated for and won over 60 awards.

My thoughts: 5/5 

This film is amazing, to be frank. It will make you cringe, gasp, laugh, and cry. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is an endearing and captivating character that you find yourself relating to, especially if you were one of those imaginative kids back in your day.

The Oscars this film won were well deserved. The believability of these fantastical creatures del Torro brings to life is... well, unbelievable! I found myself shocked at how much there was for my eyes to take in! The story line gives whole new light to what a villain truly is and the power of imagination and the human heart.

The gorgeous Maribel Veruda (Y Tu Mama Tambien) returns as Mercedes, one of the most heartwarming and courageous female characters I've had the pleasure of watching. But don't be fooled by the title (as my mother and I were), this fairy tale is anything but happy, and certainly not kid-friendly. The story is dark, with the only pinpoints of light being Ofelia's unwavering innocence and love for her mother and Mercedes. Don't be shocked if a few moments take you aback--but they're well worth it.

Oh, and I definitely recommend watching it at least once in Spanish. The language is absolutely beautiful, and the voices the actors give their characters only heighten it.

... whoops...

So... talk about forgetting to make this blog at all Springfield-relevant...

In my earlier posts, you all have probably noticed that I told you where to find these movies around town. For some reason, I randomly forgot how to do that... apparently.

The last three I've posted (+ one anime corner selection) can all be found at the Blockbuster on Glenstone and Grand. These were: Casshern, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Natural City, and Princess Mononoke (anime corner). I'm sure they can be found at any Blockbuster, but I've never rented them from another place so be sure to call first and check.

Casshern and Princess Mononoke will definitely be available for purchase at Entertainmart or Vintage Stock. I'm still getting familiar with Y Tu Mama Tambien, so I'm not sure of its popularity here in the states (meaning, no idea how widespread you'd find it in Missouri). Natural City's pretty obscure state-side, so if you're lucky to find it, kudos! But I would recommend online purchase--faster and cheaper :)

Anime Corner

In this corner: Princess Mononoke

Blurb: "While protecting his village from a rampaging boar-god, the warrior Ashitaka is cursed with a rapidly spreading scar that threatens to end his life. Seeking a cure and a reason for the animal-god's attack, he journeys into the sacred depths of the Great Forest Spirit's realm. On the edge of this once serene forest, however, the Tatara clan have begun to destroy the surrounding land to produce iron. In retaliation, San, the adopted daughter of the wolf-god Moro, has begun raiding the Tatara fortress to stop their encroachment. Soon Ashitaka is caught in the middle and must stop the war between the humans and the forest dwellers before they destroy each other." (rottentomatoes.com)

Notables: 11 award wins and 5 nominations (according to imdb.com, though not all are listed); including award from the Japanese Academy for best film

My thoughts: 5/5

This is possibly one of the best animated films I've ever seen. Hayao Miyazaki once again marries beautiful artwork with a storyline that will find its way into the classics. True to his normal style, the film does contain a bit (understatement) of social commentary. Still, it is a fantasy unlike any other (remember wanting to ride around on giant animals when you were a kid? well, they get to!). It hearkens up childhood memories while still providing adult-level entertainment--something I'm starting to believe only Miyazaki can do.

Really, I have no complaints with this film. There are a few loose ends that could have been raveled up, but nothing that cuts into the basic plot as a whole. I've even watched the English dub of this film (in fact, that's how I was introduced to it), and truthfully it's one of the better ones I've seen. So for this one, I of course always recommend the subtitled version (the language is Japanese for anyone who doesn't know)--but if you're not wanting to read along, I definitely give the "OK" for the dub.

Side note for parents: this one's okay for slightly older kids, I'd say. By our standards it would probably have a PG rating, mostly for violence.

Natural City

Blurb: "Earning comparisons to such classics as Blade Runner and The Matrix, this Korean sci-fi feature takes place in the year 2080. Following a battle that nearly destroyed everything, a city has been rebuilt. This city is technologically advanced, and has become dependent on the cyborgs that its people created. Similar in many ways to humans, the cyborgs gradually begin to rebel against their makers. Torn between his secret love for a cyborg and and his duty to his fellow humans, R must make a world-shattering choice." (rottentomatoes.com)

Notables: Won the Grand Bell Award in South Korea (Best Visual Effects), nominated for best film at Fantasporta (International Fantasy Film Award)

My thoughts: 4/5
I've only seen this once, but Natural City definitely made an impression on me. Unlike most sci-fi (especially a lot of Asian-country based sci-fi's) films, Natural City has a pretty good blend of amazing technological goodies and actual plot-line that's understandable. It surprised me, to be sure. I was watching an action packed thrill fest with lots of flashy lights and gadgets, when suddenly the age-old "human element" snuck up on me and whacked me over the head with a tear-jerking scene.

And yes, I know "snuck" is not a word.

Natural City's language is Korean, as mentioned above. The subtitles are on par, but I have not watched the dubbed version (I never do, to be fair). The main characters (R, Cyon, and Ria) each have their own likability that keep the story interesting. Though I will admit, if you're one for character development, it doesn't happen much in this film (barring a couple characters, and the changes are a bit minor in most instances).

I give it a 4/5 because the writers tried to use mystery as a plot device, and in my opinion kind of failed. It's entertaining, visually stimulating to boot, and the ending is heartfelt (albeit on the depressing end of the spectrum). But holding off valuable information pretty much throughout the film makes most viewers (especially those not savvy to the common blunders of subtitles) a little confused. Still, as long as it's worth a second watch--which I say it is--I guess the bits you miss out on the first round come into focus the next time.

Y Tu Mama Tambien

Blurb: "Abandoned by their girlfriends for the summer, teenagers Tenoch and Julio meet the older Luisa at a wedding.  Trying to be impressive, the friends tell Luisa they are headed on a road trip to a beautiful, secret beach called Boca del Cielo.  Intrigued with their story and desperate to escape, Luisa asks is she can join them on their trip.  Soon the three are headed out of Mexico City, making their way toward the fictional destination.  Along the way, seduction, argument and the contrast of the trio against the harsh realities of the surrounding poverty ensue." (imdb.com)

Notables: Between 2001 and 2003, "Mama" won 27 various awards (Venice Film Festival's best screenplay award) and was nominated for 16 including an Oscar.  Because imdb.com is only allowed to display so much for free, there are most likely more than this!

My Thoughts: 4/5

AWKWARD!!  While most synopsis will tell you there is sexual content, they REALLY glaze over how much.  I wouldn't call these scenes "gratuitous," but I also had a hard time watching it with two of my girlfriends.  The plot deals with social issues as well as elements of the human condition, regardless of $$$ lines.  It shows the power of sex and the effects it can have on the basic relationships we're all apart of.  The dialogue is funny, and the character of Luisa (played by Maribel Verdu, "Mercedes" from Pan's Labyrinth) is powerful and amazing.  But this is definitely a film I would recommend watching alone (get your mind out of the gutter)!  Solely because the content will most likely make you really uncomfortable in the presence of others.

I give it a 4/5.  The subtitles are well done and the story is compelling.  But again, it's not a friend-gathering movie :)

Casshern

Blurb: "In a world with an alternate history, a great war finally comes to an end leaving the earth diseased and polluted.  The geneticist Dr. Azuma vies for support from the government for his neo-cell treatment that he claims can rejuvenate the body and regenerate humankind.  The government leaders, guarding their own deeply entrenched powers, turn down the professor.  Driven to complete his work, Dr. Azuma accepts a secret offer from a sinister faction of the powerful military.  After an incident occurs in Dr. Azuma's lab, a race of mutant humans known as the Shinzo Ningen are unleashed upon the world.  Now only the warrior known as Casshern, reincarnated with an invincible body, stands between the Shinzo Ningen and a world on the brink of annihilation." (imdb.com)

Notables: No awards are mentioned on imdb.com.  Unfortunately, the "official" movie page won't load on my computer.  To be honest, if it didn't receive anything, I'm not surprised.

My thoughts: 3/5

Calling all scifi-action fans!  Really, this is a movie for you... and pretty much only you.  I love scifi, and even though I'm not much of an action fan, the movie at least kept me interested.  However, if you're not very good at reading and interpreting subtitles, or even know much about the 1973 anime (or really, Japanese myth in general), you will spend most of this movie confused.  Being an everything-Japanese fanatic, I was mostly okay... but even I had moments of "wtf mate?"  The costuming is good, and the art direction you can tell was a huge focus.  With scenes shot in both black & white and color (with some in that nifty black & white with bits of color, like a character's eyes or a thing of flowers), there's definitely a lot of visual variety to be had.  But truthfully, the story is complicated and often times depressing.  However, there is a wonderful twist in the climax that harkens to the greatest of traditional scifi literature, raising social questions that will leave your jaw open and your mind churning for at least an hour afterward.

I give it 3/5 because I know everyone's first reaction will be "...huh?"  But if you can stand to watch it through again, you'll find a lot of cultural relevant nuggets among the power-packed scifi ride.

Anime Corner (continued)

In this Corner: Howl's Moving Castle

Blurb: 18-year-old Sophie Hatter's life is turned upside down when she is confronted by a witch and turned into an old hag by an evil curse. Ashamed of her appearance and knowing she can't continue her normal life, working in her mother's hat shop, Sophie flees for the hills in hopes of finding a way to break her curse. She is then swept up into a grand adventure when she is rescued by a castle roaming the hills on four legs. The moving castle is said to belong to the handsome young wizard Howl, who has a frightening reputation of eating the hearts of beautiful young women. Aboard the castle, Sophie befriends the fire demon Calcifer, who agrees to help break her curse if she can free him from the contract he has with Howl. As the two try to discover ways to help each other, Sophie's presence makes the castle come alive again and she finds herself falling in love with Howl.

Notables: Between 2004 and 2006, this film was nominated at several different events for a total of 12 awards, and won 8 awards. Including winner of animation of the year in 2005 at the Hollywood Film Festival, and an Oscar nomination in 2006. For a complete list of these nominations and wins, refer to imdb.com (Howl's Moving Castle).

My thoughts: 4.5/5 This story is best described as heartwarming. If you're looking for the warm-fuzzy feelings, this has everything you could possibly want. The characters are endearing and some of them downright adorable. The story is really enchanting, and Sophie Hatter is a perfect heroine to follow in this fantasy tale. The love story is obvious enough that children (particularly girls, 10+) can pick up on it the way they would a treasured Disney movie, but definitely one of the more kid-friendly anime films I've seen. The animation itself is well done. I'm a particular fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work, and in "Anime Corner" you'll see a lot of his stuff mentioned. This is one of his better ones, I would argue.

I give it a 4.5 solely because both of the language selections have a little fault or two that make the inexperienced watcher either confused or turned-off from the film. In the Japanese + subtitles version, a critical piece of information (which if you decide to watch I'll be happy to tell you) isn't translated into English and you'll miss it entirely. In the English dubbed version, you have to deal with Christian Bale's atrocious voice-acting. If you'd prefer to watch the English, the remainder of the cast makes up for it. I think Billy Crystal as Calcifer is an amazing portrayal, for example--lots of laughs! But if you just can't get past Batman as Howl, then I'd be happy to give away the little bit of info you'd miss in the original Japanese.

I own this movie! I'm sure it can be purchased at Entertainmart or Vintage Stock for an OK price. However, if you'd rather watch before you buy, I'd be happy to loan my copy to you as long as you promise on pain of death to return it in the same happy way it left me ^_^

Anime Corner

Okay, so I'm giving into my more nerdy desires and have decided to start a little special section for my blog called "Anime Corner." Just to give you a little idea, "Anime Corner" will always be the title for each of these posts and they'll appear in my blog just like any other review I do. I'm making sure to distinct these posts from others just because anime is much different from your average foreign film, and because almost all of them are Asian-produced (usually Japanese). This way, if you're not an anime fan, or want to stick to the regular films, you'll know this post is a good one for you to skip. But I encourage everyone to try and watch at least one of these films! It's a good way to branch out.

If you don't know about anime, I'll give you a little background and then put my actual review in a following post. Anime is basically the title we use to distinguish Japanese animation films or television series from American cartoons. These films/series (I'll be focusing on films) have a completely unique style of drawing and their stories are often based somewhere in (typically) Japanese myth. Most of these creations aren't really "kid-friendly," hence why we avoid the term "cartoon." But the animation does give each one that nostalgic feel of watching beloved cartoons, and that's why I think anime is such a great art form. It's got the same warm-fuzzies of a cartoon, but characters and plots that adults and even older kids (depending on the film I'd say 11/12+) can appreciate.

Obviously, for more information on the history of anime, just type it into a search engine. I recommend ask.com because you avoid a lot of advertisements. But Google is always a good friend. Oh, and another catch... many of these films won't be available for renting. Some will--the more popular ones have found their way onto Blockbuster shelves. But others are still pretty obscure, and I will try my hardest to find a rental for them, or at least somewhere they can be purchased for cheap and then resold if you don't find it your cup of tea.

Extra reviews

Hey everyone!

Just to make things easier, and I'll try to mention it in every blog... but for extra reviews, I always refer to imdb.com or rottentomatoes.com.  I prefer to give you the sites, instead of specific reviews, so that you can read the good and the bad and decide for yourselves!

Also, it's hard for me to post direct links.  I'm on a Mac, and the links don't always insert correctly... and rottentomatos.com never wants to completely load on my dead-beat Internet connection.  But whenever I give specific information from one of these sites, or a different one, I'll include a link as best I can to give credit where credit's due.

As always, you can also look up the pro's reviews.  I just think viewer ones are better because no one's getting paid for which direction their thumb goes.  Siskel&Ebert are online, and usually the go-to for reviews.  Or, just Google it!

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)

Blurb: "Visionary Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and acclaimed director J.A. Bayona present The Orphanage, a 'positively terrifying' (John Anderson, Newsday) new vision of the classic ghost story.  Returning to her childhood home--a mysterious, seaside orphanage--Laura and her family unknowingly unleash a long-forgotten, evil spirit.  Now, thrust into a chilling nightmare that involves the disappearance of her young son, Laura must confront the memories of her past before the ghosts of the orphanage destroy her... and everyone she has ever loved." (newline.com/properties/orphanagethe.html)

Notables: Spain's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (imdb.com)

My thoughts: 5/5  This movie blew me away.  You will scream, and you will love it.  The main character, Laura (Belen Rueda) grabs your attention and your heart, and doesn't let go.  This film is as much mystery as it is horror, and believe me you won't be able to solve this one!  If you like old fashioned ghost stories, compelling characters, and edge-of-your-seat heart-pounding breath-stopping suspense... don't pass this one up.  Even if you scare easy, and horror is hard for you to swallow, watch this one through the end!  You won't be disappointed.  It's available at every Blockbuster, and probably a few other rental places in town.  Or, if you're like me and have to own these pieces of amazing film, used copies are available at Entertainmart for between $10-$13.  The primary language is Spanish, but I do believe it is available dubbed in English on the DVD (my recommendation is, always, to watch it with subtitles ^_^).

For some more reviews, if you don't want to take my word for it, go here: imdb.com or rottentomatos.com (simply type The Orphanage into the search bar).

2046

Blurb: "A Hong Kong writer finds inspiration from the women he's encountered is his past in this futuristic story of love and memory from Wong Kar Wai, who continues the story he began in his acclaimed masterpiece In the Mood for Love. Remembering back to the early 1960's, when he lived in the Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, Chow writes an erotic story that begins with a mysterious woman who lived in room 2046. Chow moves into room 2047 and begins an affair with a beautiful prostitute who now rents the mysterious woman's room. As he writes his story, which he sets in the future in the year 2046, Chow tells of a place where people travel to recapture lost memories; he is the first one to return."

Notables: Winner of 6 Hong Kong film awards, nominee in the Golden Palm Cannes Film Festival, starring Tony Leung (Hero) and Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha)

My thoughts: 4/5 This film is great if you enjoy beautiful imagery, scenery, and art direction in general. Several of the screenshots are equivalent to oil paintings. But if you're looking for something fast-paced, this is not for you. 2046 deals with the complexities of human love and the fears of being alone, as well as learning to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang, as well as their fellow actresses and actors (Gong Li and Faye Wong, to name a couple) provide superb acting in portraying multi-faceted characters that you grow to love, loathe, and relate to.
Overall, I give 2046 a 4/5, mostly because in a few places it lacks a bit of clarity--as well as being almost draggy in places. But really, it all depends on what you're looking for. It's worth the watch, and can be located at Blockbuster on Glenstone in the foreign section. Be forewarned it is one of the few foreign films in America that has not been dubbed over! The languages are Cantonese and Japanese, with English or Spanish subtitles. However, the subtitles are very well done.

Ladies and jellyspoons...

Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome! The aim of my blog is to provide film-lovers with some artistic and unusual alternatives to the average American film. I'll be reviewing personally or providing reviews from other sources (such as rottentomatoes.com) of movies you can rent from video stores right here in Springfield! Or, if I happen to see something amazing that I have to tell you about that isn't available in town, I'll let you know where you can get it.

With any luck, you'll find a new favorite amongst my suggestions. Happy viewing!