1. District 9
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Up
5. Drag Me to Hell
6. The Time Traveler's Wife
7. Let the Right One In
8. The Wrestler
9. Bolt
10. Frost/Nixon
Sunday 11 October 2009
Up - review
With each passing year, Pixar produce classic after classic. And they are classic in a way that only improves with time. Watch the ones you think you're not that keen on again, and you'll be surprised at what a gem you've missed.
There's a simple way to tell if the animated film you're watching is a Pixar one. Does it make you cry? If so, it's Pixar. And this one made me cry. More than once. And not just at the end. The film's opening credits tell the story of how a young Carl meets Ellie. We then get a silent/musical montage that tells the story of their lives together, including Ellie's death. It's one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen, and is never sickly, just emotional.
The film soon finds its pace as we're introduced to the energetic Russell. And he highlights one of Pixar's true strengths. They really know how to write likeable kids. Kids in movies are frequently more irritating than adorable, yet Monsters Inc.'s Boo is utterly adorable. Even moody emo Violet in The Incredibles is watchable, rather than detestable (not to mention Dash and Jack-Jack). And here, motormouth Russell should be annoying as hell- but never is. Ditto with the young Ellie and near-mute Carl. Lovely stuff.
From here the plot kicks off and the film hits a high gear, pleasing its younger audience without alienating the adults. Some of the emotional connection may be lost, but you never lose sympathy with the characters, nor investment in the story.
The "talking" dogs are simply inspired (squirrel...............) and the laughs keep coming from the most unexpected of places.
It's almost a shame that next up from Pixar are two sequels- Toy Story 3 and Cars 2. Both are hugely welcome, but I can't wait to meet more wonderful creations from such an imaginitive studio.
I have to say, though, the 3D didn't feel as necessary here as it did in Bolt or even Toy Story. But it's a nice gimmick to give you the excuse to see it on the big screen, rather than lose out by watching it on DVD or download.
I'm not sure if Up rates as highly with me as Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo or WALL•E, but it certainly delivered on my very high expectations.
There's a simple way to tell if the animated film you're watching is a Pixar one. Does it make you cry? If so, it's Pixar. And this one made me cry. More than once. And not just at the end. The film's opening credits tell the story of how a young Carl meets Ellie. We then get a silent/musical montage that tells the story of their lives together, including Ellie's death. It's one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen, and is never sickly, just emotional.
The film soon finds its pace as we're introduced to the energetic Russell. And he highlights one of Pixar's true strengths. They really know how to write likeable kids. Kids in movies are frequently more irritating than adorable, yet Monsters Inc.'s Boo is utterly adorable. Even moody emo Violet in The Incredibles is watchable, rather than detestable (not to mention Dash and Jack-Jack). And here, motormouth Russell should be annoying as hell- but never is. Ditto with the young Ellie and near-mute Carl. Lovely stuff.
From here the plot kicks off and the film hits a high gear, pleasing its younger audience without alienating the adults. Some of the emotional connection may be lost, but you never lose sympathy with the characters, nor investment in the story.
The "talking" dogs are simply inspired (squirrel...............) and the laughs keep coming from the most unexpected of places.
It's almost a shame that next up from Pixar are two sequels- Toy Story 3 and Cars 2. Both are hugely welcome, but I can't wait to meet more wonderful creations from such an imaginitive studio.
I have to say, though, the 3D didn't feel as necessary here as it did in Bolt or even Toy Story. But it's a nice gimmick to give you the excuse to see it on the big screen, rather than lose out by watching it on DVD or download.
I'm not sure if Up rates as highly with me as Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo or WALL•E, but it certainly delivered on my very high expectations.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Toy Story 3D
The film that introduced the world not only to wholly CGI movies, but also to the mighty Pixar, has now been re-released in glorious 3D.
Needless to say, it stands up very well and whilst the 3D adds very little, it's a great excuse to see this classic again.
Knowing what was to come from Pixar in the future, Toy Story does pail by comparison- give me Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and WALL•E over this any day- but that's really not saying much given the high standard Pixar have not only set, but have maintained and even raised.
Next year sees the 3D reissue of Toy Story 2 (out now in the US) and I, for one, can't wait.
-- Posted from my iPhone
Needless to say, it stands up very well and whilst the 3D adds very little, it's a great excuse to see this classic again.
Knowing what was to come from Pixar in the future, Toy Story does pail by comparison- give me Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and WALL•E over this any day- but that's really not saying much given the high standard Pixar have not only set, but have maintained and even raised.
Next year sees the 3D reissue of Toy Story 2 (out now in the US) and I, for one, can't wait.
-- Posted from my iPhone
Saturday 3 October 2009
Movies on the plane
Watching movies on a plane is never the best way to see a film. During my flights to/from Florida, there were many choices, though far too many interruptions (not to mention naps) to give any of them my full and fair attention. I started and gave up several times (The Soloist was particularly difficult to get into in this environment) but I did make it through two films.
The first was Sunshine Cleaning, a comedy drama starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, about a pair of sisters who clean up crime scenes. This one in particular is one I feel I cannot review as huge sections were missed, and no rewind meant I had to keep jumping in and out. The impression I got of the film was frankly disappointing, but I am hoping to watch it properly in the future.
The other film I saw was Year One, an historical comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera. I saw enough of this to say I enjoyed the first half, chuckling to myself on many occasions. Michael Cera is particularly gifted at delivering one-liners (albeit with the sane performance in every role) and provides most of the laughs. Jack Black's character was too irritating to be likeable, however, and the film certainly outstays its welcome. Once you pass the hour mark, the film starts to repeat itself, including its many celeb cameos. Then again, I may have just been tired and willing it to end so I could sleep. Or try to.
I am unlikely to rate these films on Flixster/Facebook or imdb until I've given them a fair shot, but still wanted a record somewhere that I had seen them, and what my first impressions were.
-- Posted from my iPhone
The first was Sunshine Cleaning, a comedy drama starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, about a pair of sisters who clean up crime scenes. This one in particular is one I feel I cannot review as huge sections were missed, and no rewind meant I had to keep jumping in and out. The impression I got of the film was frankly disappointing, but I am hoping to watch it properly in the future.
The other film I saw was Year One, an historical comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera. I saw enough of this to say I enjoyed the first half, chuckling to myself on many occasions. Michael Cera is particularly gifted at delivering one-liners (albeit with the sane performance in every role) and provides most of the laughs. Jack Black's character was too irritating to be likeable, however, and the film certainly outstays its welcome. Once you pass the hour mark, the film starts to repeat itself, including its many celeb cameos. Then again, I may have just been tired and willing it to end so I could sleep. Or try to.
I am unlikely to rate these films on Flixster/Facebook or imdb until I've given them a fair shot, but still wanted a record somewhere that I had seen them, and what my first impressions were.
-- Posted from my iPhone
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