With the post modern likes of Shrek and Enchanted a regulsr feature of the cinematic landscape, I thought it would be interesting to go back and look at the classic animated fairytale that has inspired so many of them.
What is striking about these early films is their simplicity. Aimed squarely at children they aim to please adults only by telling timeworn stories well. They also have incredible pace barely pausing for breath as they whip along to the end in little over an hour. Little worry of fidgeting children there.
Saying they're simple isn't a put down though. Too many films get lost in overly elaborate plots (or no plot at all) and mistake technical wizadry for entertainment. Here you can see animation developing into a modern artform and the influences that would shape such films for the next 70 years and beyond.
The tale of the cursed princess doomed to sleep until true loves first kiss is indeed simple but is told with wit, charm and imagination.
As an aside, a friend who collects spinning wheels assures me they have never encompassed a needle on which to prick your finger. Not such a smart wicked witch.
Sunday 25 October 2009
Friday 23 October 2009
Up
An old man floats his house from north to south America using helium balloons. A young scout joins him for the ride. They discover big birds, talking dogs and learn much about themselves.
In a world where I grow increasingly frustrated with major studios spending such ludicrous amounts on films they dare only to make sequels, Pixar (still don't think of them as Disney) stand out like a lighthouse to show the way. With the exception of Toy Story, no sequels, just fabulous original stories that even when poor by their own standards, stand head and shoulders above all else. They produce blockbusters to look forward to by taking risks. The premise to this film didn't sound great. The trailers didn't enthuse me. But I went because it was Pixar and was rewarded with a fine film indeed.
I arrived at the cinema in a strop after a lousy day at work but less than2 hours later I was leaving feeling, pardon the pun, Up-lifted. Funny one moment, poignant the next this film is more epic in it's 96 minute run time than many of hollywoods bloated "epics".
If more studios were like Pixar, I wouldn't care so much about the lack of independent cinemas in Reading.
In a world where I grow increasingly frustrated with major studios spending such ludicrous amounts on films they dare only to make sequels, Pixar (still don't think of them as Disney) stand out like a lighthouse to show the way. With the exception of Toy Story, no sequels, just fabulous original stories that even when poor by their own standards, stand head and shoulders above all else. They produce blockbusters to look forward to by taking risks. The premise to this film didn't sound great. The trailers didn't enthuse me. But I went because it was Pixar and was rewarded with a fine film indeed.
I arrived at the cinema in a strop after a lousy day at work but less than2 hours later I was leaving feeling, pardon the pun, Up-lifted. Funny one moment, poignant the next this film is more epic in it's 96 minute run time than many of hollywoods bloated "epics".
If more studios were like Pixar, I wouldn't care so much about the lack of independent cinemas in Reading.
The Graduate
Benjamin Braddock, a graduate arrives home stressed about his future, has an affair with the wife of his dads business partner then ends it after falling for her daughter.
Watching a classic film for the first time is a risk thanks to the burden of expectation. Iconic films such as this, with many scenes being riffed on and paradied elsewhere even more so. From Airplane to The Simpsons and those cursed "100 best ..." a lot of the film was familiar. Fortunately this tale of aimless youth is strong enough to survive the lampooning and stand as more than a string of recognised clips.
This strength comes primarily from astute observations of human behaviour. Stifling parties to show off children and associated interrogations from family friends. Casual but piercing insults to defend against insults. Missing the obvious truth because of our own insecurities. Yet for every well drawn moment there is a bafflingly implausible one. Is this deliberate to keep the film light in tone. With a Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack it seems probable. It seemed charming to me but could just as easily wind you up.
Watching a classic film for the first time is a risk thanks to the burden of expectation. Iconic films such as this, with many scenes being riffed on and paradied elsewhere even more so. From Airplane to The Simpsons and those cursed "100 best ..." a lot of the film was familiar. Fortunately this tale of aimless youth is strong enough to survive the lampooning and stand as more than a string of recognised clips.
This strength comes primarily from astute observations of human behaviour. Stifling parties to show off children and associated interrogations from family friends. Casual but piercing insults to defend against insults. Missing the obvious truth because of our own insecurities. Yet for every well drawn moment there is a bafflingly implausible one. Is this deliberate to keep the film light in tone. With a Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack it seems probable. It seemed charming to me but could just as easily wind you up.
Monday 12 October 2009
Zombieland
Do you have the chops to survive the zombie apocalypse? If you've thought about this question (and I know a few who have) then this film is for you.
Little time is given over to the philosophical musings of a Romero zombie flick. This is more a cross of the splatter of video games like House Of The Dead and the geek tries to get laid tale of Superbad et al.
Our geek introduces us to his rules for survival with a reel of examples and then heads off on a road trip to find someone. Anyone.
There's little originality here but it's easy to warm to the characters and gay abandon with which zombies were dispatched kept me chuckling throughout. Zombie fans should enjoy.
Little time is given over to the philosophical musings of a Romero zombie flick. This is more a cross of the splatter of video games like House Of The Dead and the geek tries to get laid tale of Superbad et al.
Our geek introduces us to his rules for survival with a reel of examples and then heads off on a road trip to find someone. Anyone.
There's little originality here but it's easy to warm to the characters and gay abandon with which zombies were dispatched kept me chuckling throughout. Zombie fans should enjoy.
The Eagle Has Landed
Michael Caine is a German officer leading a group of paratroopers on an audacious mission to snatch Winston Churchill from a country retreat.
Key to the plot is that Michael Caine speaks English without a German accent. Why all the other German officers do this is never explained.
A sympathetic light is cast on the Germans, shown to be honourable men but this grates with their intentions.
The tension necessary for these band of brother style films builds slowly but is released far too early on in exchange for an extended action sequence and is never quite recovered.
An interesting attempt at mixing some originality into the formulaic but not the classic I expected.
Key to the plot is that Michael Caine speaks English without a German accent. Why all the other German officers do this is never explained.
A sympathetic light is cast on the Germans, shown to be honourable men but this grates with their intentions.
The tension necessary for these band of brother style films builds slowly but is released far too early on in exchange for an extended action sequence and is never quite recovered.
An interesting attempt at mixing some originality into the formulaic but not the classic I expected.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Creation
A biopic following Darwins struggles to put his thoughts and observations on evolution into the form of his revolutionary book, "On The Origin Of Species". It would be better titled Faith. There is little here about his early voyages on the Beagle, the genesis of his theory, nor much on the many years experimentation that followed gathering evidence to support it. Instead it shows the struggle of a man confronting his faith and all to aware that in writing his book he will confront the nations. Not only this but he is severely ill and heartbroken by the death of his eldest daughter Annie.
There is anunusual tone to the film. Where you might normally expect the completion of the book to be a triumph, here it is only a release from the bind that it has been, cathartic in completion but not celebrated. The tragedies in Darwin's life cast a a pall over the film that rarely lift and the majority of lighter moments come from the flashbacks to when Annie was alive.
Paul Bettany, as ever is excellent in a role where his character must change dramatically and frequently. So too is Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Emma who must be more reserved ad she tries to hold together a family while trying to support a husband directly confronting her own faith.
A good and interesting movie but not for those in low spirit.
There is anunusual tone to the film. Where you might normally expect the completion of the book to be a triumph, here it is only a release from the bind that it has been, cathartic in completion but not celebrated. The tragedies in Darwin's life cast a a pall over the film that rarely lift and the majority of lighter moments come from the flashbacks to when Annie was alive.
Paul Bettany, as ever is excellent in a role where his character must change dramatically and frequently. So too is Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Emma who must be more reserved ad she tries to hold together a family while trying to support a husband directly confronting her own faith.
A good and interesting movie but not for those in low spirit.
Tuesday 6 October 2009
9 Songs
A couple meet at a gig and go to 8 more, hence the title. It's real footage of real gigs although one is a Michael Nyman concert and I'm not sure he sings at all so it ought to have been called 8 Songs and a Tune.
The question the film poses is "When is a porno not a porno"? The answer of course is when it is an arty film. This is the most explicit film the BBFC have passed for general certification and explicit it certainly is. However, through the multitude of bedroom antics so clearly illustrated, a sense of the imbalance of the pair's relationship develops as man falls in love and woman uses him for sex. This use of sex scenes to progress the narrative and express the nature of a relationship is presumably what the BBFC are looking for when doling out the 18s and Xs. Ang Lee used similarly explicit scenes in Lust, Caution with great effect but also much protest. It also better illustrated the second quality presumably requsted for standard certification. The sex scenes aren't obviously titillating. In fact those in 9 Songs feel more like excerpts from a How To Make Love DVD.
So then, with a collection of gigs and shags developing characters and telling a story we must question whether I cared. Ultimately the answer is not really. A tale of making and breaking of a relationship told with tenderness was unexpected but lacked any real interest by focussing so much on how much sex could be got away with.
The question the film poses is "When is a porno not a porno"? The answer of course is when it is an arty film. This is the most explicit film the BBFC have passed for general certification and explicit it certainly is. However, through the multitude of bedroom antics so clearly illustrated, a sense of the imbalance of the pair's relationship develops as man falls in love and woman uses him for sex. This use of sex scenes to progress the narrative and express the nature of a relationship is presumably what the BBFC are looking for when doling out the 18s and Xs. Ang Lee used similarly explicit scenes in Lust, Caution with great effect but also much protest. It also better illustrated the second quality presumably requsted for standard certification. The sex scenes aren't obviously titillating. In fact those in 9 Songs feel more like excerpts from a How To Make Love DVD.
So then, with a collection of gigs and shags developing characters and telling a story we must question whether I cared. Ultimately the answer is not really. A tale of making and breaking of a relationship told with tenderness was unexpected but lacked any real interest by focussing so much on how much sex could be got away with.
Monday 5 October 2009
District 9
Aliens stranded on earth are placed under their own apartheid in Johannesburg while a shifty corporation try to unwrap their technology. Trouble kicks off when an employee gets an alien infection and begins metamorphosis.
As an allegory on the injustice of apartheid, which this film obviously is at one level, District 9 is not very effective. The point is made so bluntly it can be registered and disregarded again long before any actual thought is required. It is much better as piece of sci-fi since key questions about the aliens, why are they here, why can't they leave etc are never answered.
It is at it's most effective when presented as an historical documentary using CCTV and archive news footage to build the story. Unfortunately it keeps dropping out of this whenever it needs to show things that would otherwise remain unseen.
In classic blockbuster style the last half hour is largely blowing things up with alien tech but this is fun to watch after an hour and a half being shown all this technology innert. The end, as with the film asks more questions than it answers and leaves the door open for a district 10 sequel. I for one would be happy to see it.
As an allegory on the injustice of apartheid, which this film obviously is at one level, District 9 is not very effective. The point is made so bluntly it can be registered and disregarded again long before any actual thought is required. It is much better as piece of sci-fi since key questions about the aliens, why are they here, why can't they leave etc are never answered.
It is at it's most effective when presented as an historical documentary using CCTV and archive news footage to build the story. Unfortunately it keeps dropping out of this whenever it needs to show things that would otherwise remain unseen.
In classic blockbuster style the last half hour is largely blowing things up with alien tech but this is fun to watch after an hour and a half being shown all this technology innert. The end, as with the film asks more questions than it answers and leaves the door open for a district 10 sequel. I for one would be happy to see it.
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