axel_foley Reviews

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

this is why you go to the movies

[9/10 · 15 March 2010]

incredible! certainly the front runner for the best animated film of the year. from the first to the last frame this film is as good as an animated film gets on almost every level. beautifully written, designed and executed. though an incredible movie, it's not quite perfection - probably due to time and budget limitations (is there ever enough of either?). that said, the problems i had are far too few to mention. if dragon doesn't absolutely slay at the box office i'll lose faith in middle America.

congrats to the filmmakers - you've made a masterpiece and you made me feel like a kid again. thank you.

Apple Jack (2003)

The best short film I've ever seen.

[10/10 · 14 July 2003]

People, this is an amazing film. From the beautiful opening tiles through to its unexpected climax this film blew me away. Apple Jack has everything a great film should; GREAT story, acting, drama, comedy, tension, twists, design, effects... jesus it was awesome. i've never seen anything like it! Set in the 1940's(?) the director really convinced me that i was there during that fateful October evening. The contrast of characters was brilliant as were the settings. I've never seen a short film have such astounding attention to detail. Every scene is a gem and every shot is a work of art. My wife and I have seen it at least 10 times and every time we find something we never noticed before. I LOVE that in a film.

The damn thing feels like a feature - so much story and information packed into such a small amount of time and handled so expertly. I'm sorry to gush but this is the best short film i've ever seen. I didn't want it to end which is probley why I keep watching it!

Folks, this is what a film should be. a visionary film written and directed by a clearly gifted individual who is obviously passionate and obsessive about filmmaking.

WELL DONE! WHAT'S NEXT? WE CAN'T WAIT!