New Up! Trailer

For your enjoyment



This just confirms my suspicious that this film is inspired by Miyazaki. Biplanes and zeppelins, a flying house; they’d feel right at home in a Miyazaki universe (I personally wouldn’t mind a few more zeppelins around this universe, but too few agree with me.)

Don’t even get me started about the animation. It’s in a word: stunning. I’d like to talk about the light reflection on those balloons; but you’d just get bored and go watch the dancing parrot in the previous post.

So I’ll jus let you watch the trailer in peace.

9

People have compared this upcoming film to the Secret of the Nymph, which I greatly respected for its mood and animation but not so much for its story.

9 is about the last ‘living’ creatures on earth, created by man before we destroyed ourselves (presumably through war.) It is based on an Academy award nominated short; and is being directed by Tim Burton.

Watch the trailer here.

And here is the original short it was based off of:



Now, I am a bit of an animation geek; and I simply love the fact that American animation seems to be maturing. With shows like Avatar: the last airbender and movie like Beowulf and the Incredibles; the entertainment industry is taking its first steps into a medium rife with opportunities.

It still has a long way to go, both in terms of quality and public acceptance; but the point is that it is going that way.

9 seems to be exploring moods and themes not common in the industry; and I respect the hell out if it for taking the risk, even if it turns out not to be successful.

So, enjoy the video above, and give 9 a chance.

Oh, and Merry Christmas.

Bad Movies

Over at Variety, a guy named Eric D. Snider has composed a fairly impressive list of really, really, really bad movies (and some mediocre ones for spice.)

I particularly like his review of Patch Adams.

I Give Up

I have officially given in to my geek-ness; a personality trait I have fought before on this blog. To prove the point, here is a picture of the enterprise in the upcoming J.J. Abrams relaunch:

The four things that attracted me to Star Trek where 1) the incredible forward-thinking optimism of the show, 2) the ethical, political, and scientific dilemmas, 3) all the “gee-wiz” moments and 4) the fact that people solved their problems with their minds (it was mostly pro-reason.)

While I think that Abrams will give me item number 1, I don’t know about number 2, 3, or 4. Judging Abrams by his work, the show Lost seems generally anti-reason, while Fringe has a tendency to be anti-science. I could be wrong, and I admit I have never fully watched either of these shows.

In any case, I’m hopeful. Abrams might just be the kick-in-the-pants the franchise needs to launch it out of its recent mediocrity.

P.S. – If any of you have any idea how the Star Trek economy works, please tell me, I have been curious for years.

UP Trailer

I like the look of this, it has a children’s book, fable –like quality to it that I find charming.

Coraline

I hope the art of stop-motion animation stays alive for awhile more; it creates a unique look on stage that simply is not achieved by any other current technology. Tim Burton’s visually exiting The Corpse Bride was a great leap forward for the genre; and the always entertaining adventures of Wallace and Gromit simply wouldn’t be itself without stop-animation.

The next major stop-animation production coming out is Coraline, a movie based on the novella by Neil Gaiman. It is a ‘through the looking glass’ type story, as I understand it, with an intelligent female lead.

I just hope the movie is able to follow in the footsteps of its impressive poster.

(Please excuse me these light posts of late, but the political season has burned me out, I just want a break from it all for a time.)

The Man and His Dream

Great Clip from the 1988 movie:

Don LaFontaine: 1940 - 2008

Kung Fu Panda: A Review

Kung Fu Panda is not a film about talking animals, it is a film about anthropomorphic animals; big difference (really.) The world of Kung Fu Panda is just like our own (if our world was ancient mythical China.) People own shops, have children, set off fireworks, and go to restaurants; except these “people” happen to be furry, or scaly, or covered in feathers.

Now I’m sure some of you out there can find some flaws in the idea of a society made of animals of all different shapes and sizes; all I have to say to that is, “shut up you smarmy cynical twit and enjoy it for what it is!”

Anyway -as I have already mentioned- a Chinese village is the setting for this movie; the village and the surrounding valley is protected by a team of martial artists called the furious five, made up of a Crane, a Tiger, a Monkey, a Praying Mantis, and a Viper (fans of Kung Fu will recognize these animals as representing real styles.)

Po, the main character, is a Panda (voiced by Jack Black); who idolizes the furious five from his father’s noodle shop (did I mention he is overweight and somewhat clumsy.) Things get set into motion when the wise Buddhist sage (a turtle, naturally) has a vision that Tai Lung, a very nasty snow leopard bent on revenge, will escape from prison. To counter this threat, the temple decides to appoint the Dragon Warrior, who naturally will read the Dragon Scroll, which holds the secrets to “limitless power.”

It is through this that Po is (literally) launch into history; and Po suddenly becomes central to the events in the story.

I won’t be exaggerating when I say I think this is DreamWorks’s best animated effort yet. Yes, Shrek was funnier and even had a lot of heart, but the constant cultural references have dated it. Kung Fu Panda is a completely self-contained world with the exception of a few kung fu movie references that won’t be noticed unless you’re looking for them); all the movies humor derives from the characters and story, nothing more.

And the story never feels at odds with the comedy; unlike DreamWorks films like Madagascar, whose story was a contrived vehicle for laughs; everything is consistent within the Kung Fu Panda universe, everything compliments everything else. Ultimately, this means the movie is funnier, more heartfelt, and more interesting.

The voice acting is another thing this movie gets right. I still don’t understand DreamWorks desire to attach big names to their animated movies; I’m just glad it worked this time. Never am I thinking that Po is Jack Black and that Angelina Jolie is Tigress. The characters break away from their voices, which is a great compliment to the filmmakers. Dustin Hoffman does a great job as Shifu, possibly the best voice acting in the movie (though I will never understand the movies decision to cast Jackie Chan in the role of Monkey, who only has maybe five lines in the movie.)

As for the themes of the film, there really isn’t much new here. There is some body-image issues it deals with, about self-belief and self-acceptance; nothing too new; but is done very well. I particularly like the revelation about the Dragon Scroll, and how it fits into the movie. I found it very positive and life-affirming. There is some Zen-Buddhist-esc platitudes thrown in there (and actually gets it right), but this is more to connect it to its Kung Fu movie origins then anything else.

The movie was ‘filmed’ in cinemascope, which gives it a unique look; the color palette is strong, the direction of the camera is tasteful (which is somewhat lacking in the animation world); all the characters are clean and well-designed, and the character motions are natural and fluid. In fact, the kinematics are some of the best I have ever seen in any American animated movie, it might even top The Incredibles in this regard.

This movie was fun because I wasn’t expecting much from it, and I ended up getting a very good film. Kids will like it for the Kung Fu, the colorful atmosphere and the comedy (which actually had me laughing out loud at points); parents might appreciate the good story and voice acting. Animation geeks will like it for obvious reasons. Kung Fu movie enthusiasts will gush over this movie.

There is a lot to enjoy here, it might not take as many risks as Wall-E, but it stands on its own as one of the strongest animated films to come out in the last few years. It makes me hopeful and exited about DreamWorks future as an animation producer; which is possibly the best compliment I can give it.

Watchmen: Movie Trailer

I had some differences with the graphic novel (though I liked it) and I’m not so sure about the movie; but wow, this is a great trailer:



And see some incredible posters here.

The Dark Knight: Review

Of all the superhero movies I’ve seen, this is the first one I feel comfortable calling epic. It is possibly the most ambitious movie I’ve seen all year; and the most groundbreaking in terms of the genre. In fact, The Dark Knight doesn’t so much feel like a superhero movie as much as crime drama in league with The Departed and Heat (and I’m far from the first person to mention that.)

This mix creates a superhero experience that is both unique and engrossing; and cultivates a bizarre feeling of plausibility. This is by far the most adult superhero movie I have ever seen; and by that I don’t mean blood, gore, and sex. This movie has a complexity to it that is surprising. Each character is driven by a unique philosophy and set of morals. Especially Batman; who is a vigilantly, but realizes that he cannot be the one that ultimately distributes justice. He sees the new D.A. Harvey Dent (Gotham’s new ‘white night’ played by Aaron Eckhart) and Lieutenant Gordon (the “good cop” played by Gary Oldeman) as people that can ultimately replace him. Ironically, Dent and Gordon see Batman as a person who can really get things done, as the frustrations of working within the law get to them.

But Batman runs head first into the Law of Unintended Consequences. Yes, he is inspiring good (as exemplified in Gordon and Harvey Dent) but criminals are becoming more dangerous; and small pockets of incompetent copycat vigilantes are fouling things up.

Things escalate, and a new villain comes on the scene; a near arch-type of nihilism: The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger.

And what’s to be said about Heath Ledger’s performance that has not already been said? His Joker is mesmerizing: he creates one of the most memorable movie villains I have ever seen, in league with Hannibal Lector.

The Dark Knights’ Joker is a villain of unrelenting evil. As Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred (Michael Cain) says, “Some people aren’t looking for anything logical.” The Joker breaks the old detective axiom “who benefits?” because nobody does, least of all him. The Joker doesn’t believe in values or morality, they are just foolish “jokes” held by an ignorant public, and dropped at the first sign of trouble. The Joker delights in tearing people down; in creating situations where their morals can be compromised. It is for this reason that the Joker fixates on a possibly incorruptible force: The Batman.

It is in this that we see the theme of the movie: which centers on moral compromise. The battle between the Joker, who believes that compromise is inevitable because values don’t exist; and Batman, Gordon, and Dent- who work within there own moral codes but find themselves limited by them. The theme of this movie is carried all the way through; it’s perfect that most of the major action sequences focus to some degree on choice. Can a person stand up for what they believe? The integration of this question into the plot is exiting and often surprising.

Are there any problems? I suppose I could nitpick if I wanted to. There are some pacing issues, and great dialoged is sometimes lost in a scene. Christopher Nolan has problems with directing multi-shot conversations and off-screen action (though he has improved greatly from Batman Begins.) As for Batman’s detective skills: they get a little more screen time then the last movie; in a CSI-esc sequence and a few others. Still, I felt myself unsatisfied with this aspect of the movie.

But these are just small complaints that don’t tar what is ultimately a great film; not just a great superhero movie or action movie; but a great film: period.

The cast and performances are all stunning, nuanced, and honest. Heath Ledger has been given a good deal of press for his memorable role; but I think Aaron Eckhart has been somewhat overlooked. His Harvey Dent is both sympathetic and plausible (without being Naturalistic.) There is a point about a third of the way through where Eckhart displays some of the best acting I have seen all year; Maggie Gyllenhall (replacing Holmes as Rachael) is also good in this scene. Harvey Dent’s story arc is very reflective of the story at large; it is perfectly integrated with the theme. In a way, the Harvey Dent character is at the heart of the movie.

It’s exiting how the movie plays with your expectations; and how much you find yourself caring about the characters and their fates, even those who receive little screen-time (Though the movie is never exploitive.) The plot progressive logically; with each major event being set in motion by one of the characters. In the tradition of great Romantic storytelling, everything has a purpose; and ultimately everything serves and compliments the theme.

I have rarely gone to a movie this long that felt this short. It is a film with a great deal going on, but never feels crowded. The story, as I mentioned, is complex and interesting, many will be surprised where the movie ends up; as it drives home the theme, with one of the best monologues in the movie (the best monologue, of course, belongs to Ledger.)

Like the last movie, this one makes you hungry for more; not with cliffhangers, but with promises of what’s to come. The best testament I can give to this movie that I hope the franchise continues; I hope Christopher Nolan continues to improve in the quality of his directing and storytelling (as he has shown great and dramatic growth through his career.) And most of all; I hope the show isn’t sold out for my second viewing.

Wall-E's Real!

Wall-E Spotted in LA! from Blink on Vimeo.

Like Making? Watch Iron Man.

Sure, Iron Man is sometimes at odds with Newtonian physics, but any Maker can still enjoy watching Tony Stark put together the Mach 1:

Fake Making is a time-tested, enjoyable movie experience; I cite the treehouse form Earnest Scared Stupid, the Plane in Radio Flyer, the other Plane in The Flight of the Phoenix, the even better Treehouse in The Swiss Family Robinson; and dozens of others.

There are some very good engineers in the movie world (though they do cheat, being fictional and all.)

The Dark Knight Poster

OK, this is my last geek post, I promise.

‘Ghost in the Shell’ to be made into movie

I love these stories; both the comic and the anime series are incredible (though I wasn’t a huge fan of the movies, didn’t like the “mood.”)

It’s a fair bet that Spielberg and DreamWorks (who are producing the film) will bring in the great action and style, and maybe even the political and social intrigue; but I don’t know if DreamWorks will do justice to the philosophical underpinnings, which is an important part of the stories.

After all, the very title “Ghost in the Shell” is riddled with though-provoking goodness.

2008 Movie Preview

Here is a quick list of the biggest movies yet-to-come this year:

Iron Man, Staring the ever talented Robert Downy Jr., promises to be the first big hit of the summer. Its hero, an inventor and industrialist, might make for a different kind of superhero movie.

Nobody quote knows what to think about Speed Racer; based on the Japanese cartoon. Though the Wachaski Brothers (The Matrix, V for Vendetta) deserve some trust in matters of style.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian looks good in the previews, but so did the original, which turned out to be luke warm at best. The sequel looks less metaphorical then the original, a focus on story (and fleshing out the otherwise boring main cast) could save this film.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal skull brings back Harrison Ford to his crowning role. I don’t know weather this film will bring back the magic and the adventure of the original, or become a shallow remnant of its past glory; but I for one am exited.

Initial reports of Sex and the City suggest that it’s going to bomb; though how much those can be trusted can’t be said.

The summer’s animation tour starts of with DreamWorks’s Kung Fu Panda; which might be good, though DreamWorks has produced too much mediocre animation to be trusted.

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is another Adam Sander vehicle that will likely offer the same kind of comedy we’ve seen before in a different place; though it might be good for a few laughs.

The Happening is M. Night Shaymalan’s newest film, which looks like another movie that tries to build a premise off surprise endings (though I will give Shaymalan kudos for some stylistic choices.) This one centers on a mysteries environmental catastrophe (which is undoubtedly the result of human action.)

Edward Norton becomes Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk. This sequel to the long-winded release several years ago is going to fix some of the flaws of the original, while still being true to the character. There is some good buzz around this film; though many are thinking what I am thinking, that The Hulk is just not that interesting of a character.

Get Smart is a comedy spy-film, a remake starring Steve Corel; though it is too early to tell if it will sink or swim.

Pixar’s 2008 release is Wall-E. This marks Pixar’s first tryst into satire; it stars a lovable robot Wall-E, as he tries to single-handedly clean up Earth after it is destroyed by consumerism and a short sited Wal-Mart like cooperation called Buy-In-Large. I don’t like Pixar’s anti-capitalist direction, though their focus on quality story-telling and characters might make me forgive them.

Wanted is an action film starring an amoral group of assassins cleaning up the world; there is nothing in this film that looks particularly original, is success seems tentative.

Will Smith is Hancock; a down-on-his-luck superhero who causes more damage then he's worth, advertisements have yet to reveal what kind of depth this movie might have.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army brings back the most lovable anti-Christ you’ll ever meet; this time with hosts of new characters and a much wider world. The first one wasn’t bad, though far from spectacular; the sequel might develop the world better then the original, and round out the characters.

Mamma Mia! is a comedy/musical in the same league as Hairspray; and will probably entertaining in the same way (which is not a bad thing.)

The real superhero treat of 2008 will likely be The Dark Knight; the sequel to Chris Nolan’s Batman Begins. These films bring the character of Batman of to where he was always supposed to be. This is the most buzzed movie of the year, and with one of the most brilliant viral campaigns ever conceived, it promises to be successful as well.

Capping off an unremarkable summer for animated movies (with the possible exception of Wall-E) comes Space Chimps; another sarcastic animated film about talking animals.

The X-Files: I want to believe is another sequel; and I want to believe it will be good, though it is far to early to tell.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor reunites Brendan Frasier and the original Mummy cast, this time in Asia (with Jet Lee being the new Mummy.)

Tropic Thunder is a high-budget comedy about the making of a Vietnam action film; initial reports show promise, though again, it's too early to tell.

Taken promises to be an entertaining, though cliché’, action film; made better by the fact that it stars Liam Neeson.

Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa might generate a few laughs, but in the end I doubt it will be memorable.

In November, the next Bond film entitled Quantum of Solace brings back our favorite spy in his new-more realistic-style.

Also in November, the sixth Harry Potter film, directed by the same man who did the fifth. It’s a fair bet tat the series will keep up its high production values and strong characterization and story.

Disney will also release Bolt, an animated film centered on a dog that thinks he’s a superhero.

Punisher: War Zone is the sequel to the somewhat successful original, this time starring a new Frank Castle, and a more stylistic world.

No real information has come out on the remake on The Day the Earth Stood Still; weather it will be a high quality remake (like war of the worlds) or more like Nicole Kidman’s remake of the body snatchers, remains to be seen.

EXPELLED

Ben Stein is hosting a documentary, supposedly it is going to have the biggest debut of any documentary ever; called Expelled: No intelligence allowed. Here is a brief summery:

"'Expelled' calls attention to the plight of highly credentialed scholars who have been forced out of prestigious academic positions because they proposed Intelligent Design as a possible alternative to Charles Darwin’s 150-year-old theories about the origins of life. Instead of entertaining a debate on the merits of competing theories, the scientific establishment has moved to suppress the ID movement in a “systematic and ruthless” way at odds with America’s founding principles, the film asserts."

I am fine with ‘intelligent design’ being played around with in discussion, or in philosophy classes, but it isn’t science. The “Theory” of intelligent design does not meet any of the requirements necessary to be called a ‘scientific’ theory; it is un-testable, un-empirical, it is merely a philosophical assertion based on the shortcomings of evolutionary theory. If intelligent design qualifies as a scientific theory; then so must astrology.

Intelligent Design is not persecuted because people refuse to give it a title it doesn’t deserve.

This is not to say the scientific community-and higher education-don’t have serous flaws; in many respects, the “science establishment” deserves harsh criticism, but not because it doesn’t accept intelligent design.

Batman: Gotham Knights

I usually don’t let my inner geekiness’ on to this blog, but I couldn’t resist with these last two posts.

INDIANA JONES: AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

“An Idea Is A Greater Monument Then A Cathedral”

While the movie Inherit the Wind has very little to do with the trial it was based on, it still expertly demonstrates and dramatizes the underlining battle of ideas that went on there.

Art can be seen as a reflection of culture; a collage of its dominant ideas and conflicts. Watching the clip below, I'm surprised how different movies where back then; sure, they lacked the subtlety and finesse of modern movies, but there was little of the vagueness and that certain evasive relativism that’s hard to define.

While movies are more technically brilliant then they ever where, in many ways they are much more cowardly; even those movies which are supposedly “cutting edge” or “controversial” stink of this same vagueness, the same fear, the same unwillingness to commit to anything they say. In the end, they only end up being offensive, and even at that they mostly fail.

A movie about a child molester (The Woodsman) ends up saying nothing, even committing to a solid picture of the character. A movie that explores racism without ever exploring racism (Crash.)Vague pseudo-philosophical rhetoric that attempts to be “deep” (The Matrix sequels.) And a movie that plays with, but never commits to, the idea of fate and God (I am Legend.)

All these movies are a testament to our time, to the post-modern, anti-ideas that have become almost entirely dominant.

Well, below is a movie that has none of that vagueness, whose characters declare exactly what they believe in, and why.

I have to say, it’s refreshing:



There is another good clip here.