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Reviews
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
Miyazaki strikes again
Alright, I'm not gonna lie to you. HMC is flawed. Then again, what isn't?
The very best thing about this movie is that you actually care about the characters.
I often end up half-rooting for the villains in most movies, but not here. Miyzaki, has created such deep and lovable characters(especially Calcifer) that every little problem they faced had me doubled up in worry.
The story is interesting too, though a little lacking. The cities are on the brink of war, due to foolishness and random gobbledy-gook that i didn't understand.
And here's where Miyazaki goofed up. While he should have made the entire war drama more, well, dramatic, he instead replaced it with cleverness. We get a serious scene that could have easily escalated into something more profound and moving with Miyazaki's talents, but rarely does. Many of the scenes (especially the ending) feel like they should end with an earth shattering bang. Instead they all end abruptly, leaving us scratching our heads and wondering what the hell was the point Miyazaki was trying to make.
Of course, Miyazaki has to be aware of his target audience, which unfortunately includes the little ones, so I can't really blame him for not going further. I would have preferred it if he went for the profound rather than the clever, but hey that's life. This is STILL a great film that everyone should see. 8/10, maybe 8.5/10
Shin kidô senki Gundam W: Endless Waltz (1997)
A Fitting End
The series "Gundam Wing" itself received mix reviews. Many hated the new take on the Mobile Suit Gundam series that had started way back in 1978. But many forgave the series when this movie came out. Characters they had hated before redeemed themselves, and the story and overall theme held everyone's interest.
Now, my own opinion. Endless Waltz is a near perfect ending to the most popular of the MSG franchise(though not necessarily the best). It leaves a lasting impression on you, whether you enjoy the series or not. Though be warned, parts of the story are a little confusing if you never watched the series, and other parts will be far less interesting(like the return of Zechs). Still, the moral issues of the movie are moving, and the clashes between the characters are gripping.
Now, I'm a fan so I may be a little biased, but I still fell this movie is great anime(especially when compared to the kiddie crap 4Kids distributes). It's worth watching. I give it a 9 out of 10, but fans can add a point, and non-fans can subtract a couple. Anime haters may subtract as many as they like.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Success!
Oh, thank God. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Jesus, I was worried, like many others, that this film would do nothing to discard the image of the first two prequels, but by God, it did. Is it flawed? Damn straight it's flawed, and I would have been shocked if it wasn't, but the flaws are heavily outweighed by the positives this time around.
First off, the flaws. Remember those annoying as hell love scenes with Anakin and Padme? They're back, but not as cringe-inducing as before, and if you just smile and nod, you'll get to move right on to the good stuff.
The acting by some of the characters is, well, uninspired. Poor Samuel Jackson has to act stiff as a board in this one, instead of putting any energy into the film(nice one, George, brilliant move.) Natalie Portman, who's supposed to be a good actor(she was nominated for an academy award) does better than Episode 2 standards, but not by much. Oh yeah, and Hayden is still as crappy as ever. He has the look, and that's it.
Now, onto the positives. The movie has a darker, crazier feel that I couldn't help but love. No more pussyfooting around, we get straight to the good stuff. The opening scene with R2D2's antics made me wonder if it was going to be a stupid laugh fest, but my fears were not confirmed. Oh, and when I mean dark, I MEAN dark. Hundreds of jedi get iced, and many little kids are killed by none other than Anaking himself.
The special effects are the best yet, providing the most intense saber action i've seen thus far(and probably ever will). And when ever Hayden can go through a line without sounding like a little brat, some deeply emotional scenes between him and Kenobi are shown that just make you glad you saw the movie. Yoda's scenes are heartbreaking at times, though many found them annoying, I did not.
While I think it lost a little of the magic, it sure as hell has more than the first two prequels. See this movie. It kicks ass, trust me. 8/10
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
a great movie with a few flaws
Alright, since everyone already knows the the positives of this movie, I'll talk about the (two) flaws of this movie.
Flaw Number 1.) The romance between Bennet and Eugenie is ridiculous and in my opinion unnecessary. These two don't know each other, yet they magically fall in love for no apparent reason. The entire thing is so preposterous that I was sure that she was sent by the communists to trap Bennet. Love at first sight is NOT something that you put in a movie like this.
Flaw Number 2.) I can't understand why Sinatra and the rest of the intelligence officers didn't capture Sergeant Shaw immediately after they discovered how he was being brainwashed. And I REALLY don't understand why Bennet left Shaw in the hands of Jocy. Bennet isn't a genius, but he's not retarded, and only someone with that mental capacity would give the deadliest assassin in America a chance to kill more people.