Movie making is a form of writing (obviously) and can be more than just taking the novel to the screen.
Here is a quickie review of “Horton Hears A Who”
See it. If you have a kid under ten, see it today. This is not being overly generous–this computer animated movie was edited with brilliance. The writing is wonderful! I hate Jim Carey, so for me to say he is great as Horton’s voice is really eating crow. Even the running time of 86 minutes was perfectly set for the material. See “The Cat In The Hat” if you want to see the opposite of good timing in a Seuss story. Theodore would have been proud to see his work presented as charmingly with cleverly inserted moral lessons.
RLK 07-06-09
The Triplets of Belleville
The Triplets of Belleville, a 2003 animated film in the International Animation style by Sylvain Chomet, an artist from France (I presume) is wonderful. Thank you Marco McClean for recommending it to me.
And to everyone else I recommend that you only see the DVD version not the VHS (if you cannot see it at say an International Animation Festival) so that you can watch the music video in the special features.
I have not watched MTV for something like four years now. I was hoping it would go away as I thought the concept of TV over radio for music was corrupting the rock world completely. Indeed its novelty has waned considerably for the rock music fan though I understand it is ever popular for the Rapper audience since street thugs on the screen is somehow a wonderful concept. Yet I am glad to say that MTV works if it were only showing trailers for movies. The music video for TToB is not actually its theatrical trailer, that is slightly different and included in the DVD too. But both are visually interesting and evoke some sense of nostalgia and the surreal.
Which goes some ways to describing the movie. The ennui and despair that are evident in the protagonists damaged my enjoyment and appreciation of this film. I don’t blame the artist/writer for it. That is the sense he wants and he succeeds in his depiction. I could have used a love interest or something that supported hope in this movie. Rather Chomet wants political and social satire and he remains something of a purist. For instance, he must be very tired of American/ Brit national slander calling French “froggies” to include the culinary aspect to TTOB. And the satire of American diet and the incurring obesity, or the state of things with professional sports or suburban development—these are all important aspects of Chomet’s film, though he does not offer them to uplift the audience.
The entire black and white musical section was a work of art. That it immediately starts the feeling and theme and that Chomet uses it as a device in the conclusion is worthy license, artistically. Had the song for this film not been so catchy or the namesake characters so interesting, it would have been a drag rather than the animation movie I prefer over both Hollywood and Manga. See it.
Iron Man
What they salvaged from Tales of Suspense they recrafted well. The best segment of this movie was in the suspense built up while Tony was designing the original Iron Man suit in the cave. Also the touch about “Following The Plan” showed exceptional writing and acting especially in a comic book movie.
That this was not a very superhero oriented movie worked well within the plot and time constraints. If I have any negative criticism it would be that Downey doesn’t seem like he is going to fit into a superhero role eventually. He has many Bond-like qualities. His self deprecating humor while talking to himself is some of the best dialog. I cannot see him filling the heroic selfless status of The Golden Avenger but he may be about the best thing introduced to the Marvel line-up and I wish this film and its sequels all the success they deserve. I don’t think Ben Affleck got the chance he deserved with Daredevil. Maybe this writer can help that line out too should they ever revisit Daredevil.
Hells Angels On Wheels
I just saw this flick after hearing about it as a teenager some 40 years ago. My peers were torn between hating it and loving it. they loved that Barger was in it. They loved that it had some cool bikes and interesting riders. They thought the story and fight scenes were all fake.
I just couldn’t have cared less about it so I didn’t see it. I loved Easy Rider when I saw it when it came out, so I am writing this as an open minded biker movie fan.
But now I am a Jack Nicholson fan and I loved seeing this movie as a vehicle for him. It is a very C grade movie and an exploitation movie in the worst sense.
But who cares. Jack is getting beaten up by four sailors and the Hells Angels got his back.
Jack wants the Club Leader’s girl even though Jack hasn’t even earned his colors (though he has a terrific nickname ‘poet’). And he goes after her very Jack style. He tries to win her with reason and common sense. This is doomed to failure in a movie titled “Hells Angels On Wheels”
And the ending to this movie is so bad that it has to rate as the schlockiest ending ever made. If not the worst then it certainly rates. I am talking about a burning dummy, a fake scream, and the scene cutting to animated sillouettes.
Yet it isn’t a bad movie because it has so many nostalgic icons and worthwhile moments.