Incendies

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

WOW. Knocked me off my feet, wasn't expecting that at all.

A story that feels epic and intimate. I can see why this has made so many top 10 lists and I'm glad I got to slip it in before the end of the year after missing it at the cinema.

Definitely a must see.

Tokyo Sonata

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I've already said a few times this year how much I like Kiyoshi Kurosawa's work. This is his latest and it's just beautiful. Like his other films it's quite and subtle, but this time there are no horror or dark genre elements, it's a straight forward drama about a japanese family and what happens when the father loses his job.

It's a little unpredictable and, again, I probably don't know enough about the social climate of Japan to understand all the statements it makes subtextually but I still enjoyed this sweet and melancholy little drama.

The Last Circus

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Ooo crazy stuff. I won't pretend to understand the socio-political undertones prevalent throughout this film but I can say that it was a great deal more entertaining than Water for Elephants...

Sad clowns with machine guns. That's really all you need to know.

Blame

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

So what can we blame? My natural aversion to Australian accents? My knowledge of locations that ruin suspension of disbelief? Or just the boring characters, writing, action and direction.

I don't believe for one second that these characters would group together to kill someone. I do believe that they would screw it up as bad as they did but even then, the drama, the stakes, the tension wasn't there.

It just feels like no choice was made in directing or editing to make any stylistic effort to manipulate the audience into caring about anything. It's perfectly watchable and the footage is exposed correctly but other than that there's not much going for this. It finishes as arbitrarily as it began. Eh.

Babe: Pig in the City

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

Just needing to prove a point I made in Happy Feet 2. It's unfair to say that the movie advertised int hat trailer is not what you get. But it's certainly not HOW you get it.

George Miller has made a fascinating film and the darkest, most traumatising g-rated film I've ever come across.

Mickey Rooney dressed as a clown. Horrifying enough I know but then Babe kills him via a series of accidents, in front of an audience of cancer kids, in slow motion to the soundtrack of Édith Piaf's Non, je ne regrette rien. That's just really messed up. There are other ways you could have directed that sequence. And again, it's these unusual directorial choices from Miller that makes watching Happy Feet so fascinating to me as well.

And while maybe not as traumatising as watching a dog strung up upside-down by a chain slowly lowered into a canal and drown while other animals slowly turn away and ignore his desperate plight to the soundtrack of Puccini's Humming Chorus, (already traumatising in itself thanks to Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures) I find there is a far more particular psychological cruelty to watching a cute little cripple dog get killed trying to save his friend's firstly, secondly showing him finally at peace and happily running around in heaven and finally having Babe rip him out of his one state of bliss back into the grimy depressing real world where his is a cripple again. It's hard to describe exactly how well this sequence works at tearing your insides up but it leaves me shellshocked every time.

Yes, Babe 2 is a very dark little number, especially compared to the bright sunshine of the first film. I really do love the way the portray the city. They've made it THE city, with bits of every famous city landmarks all rolled into one giant idea of what a city is, filtered through a children's storybook world. Production design is amazing. And FX work by Rhythm and Hues is great as well.

Look, don't get me wrong, I think the film is utterly amazing and I like how dark it goes but it still does leave me in shock at some of the stuff they got away with depicting without getting the bump up to PG.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

Chan-wook Park's last in his thematic trilogy of revenge films. Just arrived on bluray from the U.K. and the first thing that struck me about it watching again was the ending. I don't remember ever seeing this version where in the films final act everything slowly fades to black and white. I distinctly remember all those scenes in colour. A quick jump on IMDB revealed that two edits exist and the fade was an idea he was toying with. It's an interesting effect, I do so miss the colour from all the blood in the last half but it does serve to emphasises character over actions and a few other things as well.

Chan-wook Park's created another uniquely stylised world (a friend remarked how much it reminded her of Amelie, except this is a littler darker...) and this time he plays around with time a much more and manages to get a great deal of exposition done with snappy flashbacks and fast pace so it never feels too clawing for the audience. I love the way he cuts right to the reactions and aftermath of events for just a few seconds before moving on, and lets the audience fill in the details of what happened.

While there is not big twist revelation like in Oldboy there is a realisations that changes the course of the last act of the film to something that is easily the most emotional part of the film and a rather unusual situation to think about.

In all 3 films we are never told explicitly what to think about the revenge taking place. It's very much left up to the audience to debate after. This film also come with a heavy dose of atonement that cripples our main character, making it very different from the other films in the series. And in the end, as expected, there is not real happy resolution but there is a cathartic release.

It's certainly less extreme than Oldboy but keeps it's pace and style. It's been a very long time since I've watched Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, the first of these films and I think I'll have to dig it up and give it another look now. Check this one out if you have the chance. I believe the Australian DVD that I own has the full colour ending, I don't know which I prefer, I'm still getting over the confusion of thinking there was something wrong with the television.

Arena

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Well that happened.

It's pretty much exactly what you would expect from DTV low budget filmmaking. Cheap thrills, a story we've seen before, some fighting, Samuel L. Jackson? VFX are ok, directed by a VFX guy so you'd hope so. The movie is not that bad compared to most DTV stuff, but then again, I don't watch most DTV films, so yeah, it's pretty bad.

The Skin I Live In

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Pedro Almodóvar's films are a huge gaping hole in my film knowledge. I think I've seen maybe one or two before and it was only with a very vague idea of what this was about that I went into the cinema. Always a refreshing treat.

Maybe it's because I've been watching so many lately but there was something very 90's thriller about this, well, at least the start, which also reminded me a great deal of Eyes Without A Face that I also watched for the first time this year. Of course this then delves into places you couldn't have dreamed of in the 1960.

After the comparatively straight forward set up there is an extended flashback that take us through the rest of the film where not only character backstory is established but there are some slow revelations that become apparent.

Hard to talk about without spoiling but it does seem to be a subject that he's dealt with in the past. Probably not like this. Makes for a fun ride though, very enjoyable.

P2

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

Festive horror! Alexandre Aja's horror films are always enjoyable and this Christmas number, while quite different from his others, is a nice little treat.

I love it mainly for Wes Bentley, who I find just adorable, even as a psycho stalker murderer man. He's just a guy that wants a date for christmas, I can relate.

While the film is basically 2 people in a car park for 80 minutes it keeps the tension and action going with some inventive sequences.

A great addition to my list of Christmas horror films and definitely one of the better ones, easily the best in the last few years.

The Cottage

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

Write Up. Do like this one.

Lovewrecked

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler

From the Director of Grease, Honey I blew Up the Kid and Flight of the Navigator!!! Another Amanda Bynes gem. It's even more trashy than most of her output.

The transitions. MY GOD THE TRANSITIONS! There is actually a STAR WIPE. They are accompanied by SOUNDS! I scoured the credits and looked through IMDB crew list and couldn't find anyone willing to claim responsibility for editing this film. Just some people that were assistants. Does make you wonder.

It's really very bad. This is coming from someone who genuinely likes She's the Man and Sydney White. It does have a gloriously convoluted set up, that's really the main reason I like these films. But really... It's pretty atrocious.

Meet The Feebles

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler

Write Up! Tee hee hee

Zathura

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler

Write up! Love it!

We Bought A Zoo

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

They Bought a Zoo.

Cameron Crowe is just as shamelessly sentimental as Spielberg. Although most of this manages never to tip too far over the edge. It was pretty enjoyable.

Oh, and they bought a ZOO.

The Iron Lady

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler

The latest in Marvel's superhero canon in the lead up to The Avengers movie next year. Meryl Streep takes over the role from Robert Downey Jr, who was busy with the Sherlock Holmes franchise. Stay for the end credits for a Samuel Jackson cameo!

Streep gives a lot of speeches. A LOT.

War Horse

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler, Michael

There was a Horse. There was a War. What more do you want?

I think if you go into this film, after having seen the trailer and not expect blatant emotional string pulling from Spielberg you're bound to be disappointed. On the whole I thought it was pretty good, has a classic hollywood feel to it. Including the melodrama. You'll either go along with it or recoil in horror. I went along for the most part. But then again, I teared up in the trailer, Spielberg just pushes my buttons.

I have had major issues with Janusz Kaminski's cinematography in the past (why must everything glow like it's shot through Vaseline?) but the episodic nature of this allows for changes in the look so the happy glow timers at the start can give way to some gritty war stuff later. And a lot of orange filters at the end.

I loved the war scenes, I'll be honest I didn't care too much about the horse but the war was depicted fantastically. And John Williams gets to cut loose with big epic sweeping melody so that's good.

I like the film ok. I do't think it's fair to just write it off as lesser Spielberg or defend by using the excuse that it's just a kids film. It's definitely overtly sentimental and if you're in the right mood that's great, for me it was alright.

The Adventures of Tintin

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Mum, Dad, Jordan, Amberly, Tyler, Louisa, Naomi, Shane, Michael, Marie-Anne, Gerry, Nicole, Sam, Eathan, Kat, Ant, Werzle, Marcie, Lauren

Earlier this year we got to see what a feature length 3d animation from FX house ILM looks like with Rango. Now Weta has answered the call with an adaptation of a beloved character written by Edgar Wright, Steven Moffat and Joe Cornish, produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Steven Spielberg. Holy cow that's a hell of a pedigree.

As expected, it looks very pretty. Some uncanny valley issues, sure, but the world they've created is wonderfully detailed. Comparisons to Indiana Jones are apt. It is a fun period action adventure thrill ride and Spielberg seems to be having a good time playing in this new digital playground. Hell, there's a 7 minute action sequence all done in one shot. I do love my Spielberg action set pieces. Although he seems to be having so much fun with his camera it's never still, I felt sorry for the people in my group (biggest of the year!) who had never seen a 3D film before, they had a rough time for a lot of it.

Andy Serkis creates another memorable mo-cap performance. I liked Daniel Craig as the villain too, and of course Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. I was disappointed they didn't have Professor Calculus and the shark submarine but perhaps next time. Oh and it's the 2nd film in a row where opera plays an important part, but I like it's use in this film much more. Hilarious.

SWORD FIGHT WITH CRANES!

I loved the opening title sequence, although it's very reminiscent of Catch Me If You Can. The John Williams score was very similar in that segment.

The film is extremely enjoyable, I had a great time, I wanted more from the finale but they opted for a sequel set up rather than a full conclusion. I guess that suit, it is an ongoing series after all, and I would like to see Peter Jackson have a turn at one.

Happy Feet 2

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

When George Miller created Babe 2: Pig in the City he won the award for darkest, most traumatising sequel to a children's film ever created. So I'll admit I walked into this film with a little trepidation. Babe 2 scars, even as an adult. Serious nightmare material.

However Happy Feet 2 has so much in common with its predecessor you can, for most practical purposes, treat this write up as a review of both.

Primarily this is advertised as cute little penguins singing horrifying mash-ups of pop tunes and that is indeed what the majority is. However there is always a scarily apocalyptic undertone of impending doom that's unsettling in the extreme. Perhaps it's the juxtaposition of horrific real world dilemmas with singing cartoon animals. In any case, it can be a little jarring but most welcome to think about with things are getting too cutsey. And there are a few genuinely serious moments where I though he was going all Babe 2 again, but he did end up saving some of the characters in mortal danger this time. Perhaps he's mellowed in his old age. But still, it was touch and go for a while there...

The other thing that can be a little jarring but it actually pretty neat is the use of real humans in live action mixed in with the animation. I love that.

And that's just one of the many out-of-left-field decisions that went into the making of this film. While a lot of this is standard stuff it does goes places you couldn't see coming. This time through I'm thinking specifically about Matt Damon and Brad Pitt playing krill that go on an existential journey to try and change their standing in the food chain. Utterly bizarre stuff to deal with in a kids film but it actually ties in nicely to the finale.

What I don't like so much about the finale is the particular voice the new baby penguin finds. For most penguins it's a pop song, or possibly rap, for Mumbles it was tap dancing. But opera? Kids are probably going to find it as hard to sit through as I did.

Animal Logic have really outdone themselves with this film and I doubt 95% of their audience will even realise just what they have accomplished here. The first film was filled with incredibly gorgeous images, their digital rendering of Antarctica. Not only that but they are playing with hundreds of furry/feathered animals and a huge amount of water simulation and atmospherics. This film takes all these elements up a few notches and adds in what I can only describe as elastic scale. Level of detail must be a nightmare when dealing with creatures as big as whales and as small as krill and everything in between all interacting with each other and the camera having to move through and find and frame all of them appropriately. At krill level the detail on the ice and snow and fur looks incredible. And it pulls back all the way to shot of the entire universe. The dynamic changing between these scales in the same shot makes for some awesome 3D too.

So while I can't stand the singing and much of the kiddy humour I do love the unsettling undertones, the bizarre choices and on a technical level this is just staggering. It's very patchy but it holds together ok.

Tower Heist

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

It's very hard to find a cinema open on christmas day in Perth. But with a bit of a commute I managed to see the one bit film opening tomorrow that I don't already have a ticket for.

So Brett Ratner's latest is a poor man's Oceans 11. It's aiming for that fun, mischievous heist but with a little extra quirk from the inexperienced characters. The result is crowd pleasing enough but completely lacking in charm, suspense and any significant humour.

The coolest thing about the film is the score by Christophe Beck. Not often you get themes in 7/8 and it give the film a bit of a 70's throwback feel.

Alan Alda is a bad guy! Oooo. Gabourey Sidibe desperately trying to show her oscar nom wasn't a fluke does a Jamaican accent! Ooooo. Other People! OOooooo.

A poorly used chess game metaphor results with a build up to the climax of the heist ending in the classic line delivery "Checkmate." Uhh. Yeah that happened.

If you lay out a plan and then it goes awry in the execution, the audience is in suspense. If you hide the plan and then reveal the smart twist at the end then the audience is thrilled. If you don't lay out a plan then when it goes wrong we don't care and when all the clever twists happen we don't believe it.

I liked the re-staging of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. That looks like effort was made. The rest of the film is just ok. Glad this one's out of the way, I'm pumped for magical movie day tomorrow.