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Reviews
Captain Marvel (2019)
A chore to get through, this is one of Marvel's weaker efforts
I don't know what I expected, but given the huge marketing push, general hype, and the fact that Danvers/Marvel has been set up as THE heavy to take down Thanos, this was a massive disappointment. You can practically see the rewrites, the strain behind the camera, the confusion in the editing bays as they tried to stitch together Brie Larson's weak performance into something intriguing.
Given the success of Black Panther and Infinity War, there's really no excuse for how sloppy this film is on nearly every level. The plot is ludicrous and nonsensical, filled with bad exposition, the cinematography is bland, the musical choices are uninspired, and the '90s setting is milked for far too much nostalgia. Mendelsohn and Law are fine, the cat steals scenes, and if you can get over Jackson's uncanny valley performance, he's entertaining, but past their efforts, there's hardly any passion or love on display here. It's such a half-baked, pedestrian effort, it doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the far superior "Wonder Woman", which made audiences worldwide fall in love with Gal Gadot.
Disney as a conglomerate has been resting on their laurels with all of their corporate acquisitions, and with the exceptions of "Infinity War" and a few choice Pixar films, their artistic output has been stagnant for years now. The persistent fact that we as a species still put up with, let alone support and encourage, Marvel's mediocre, middle-of-the-road, meandering messes will make it crystal clear to our grandchildren's children how and why cinema died - by a thousand cuts, this time specifically with regards to the sloppy, incoherent action scenes.
Not recommended.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Timeless, subtly hilarious classic
Wes Anderson loves his characters.
As a matter of fact, if one were to take the actual plot of The Royal Tenenbaums (not Wes and Owen Wilson's screenplay), one could imagine how any other Hollywood director might have approached the matter- after all, it isn't an overly complicated story- an estranged father wants back into the family he just about ruined with his insensitivity and boyish antics. For most big-name budget movies this would be but a subplot of a romantic comedy with sharks.
No, when you think of it this film isn't really about much at all. But Wes Anderson has an all-too-rare mastery of his craft, an innate gift of being able to visualize every single nuance of action, every minute reaction of every single one of his characters BEFORE rolling the film.
Of course, crafting lovable, understandable characters is one of the primary jobs of a screenwriter, but what makes Wes so unique is his (and you all knew this was coming) SUBTLETY. Little details flow in and out, things are seemingly set up for no reason and paid off with this filmmaker's one-of-a-kind sense of humor.
Like fine wine (and his previous films, Rushmore and Bottle Rocket), time is on The Royal Tenenbaums' side. This is a film that, in a decade, any devoted student of film can sit down and watch, literally, as an audio/visual bible- I could go on for hours about the film's exceptional sense of style and humorous recurring themes, but I know mere words will fail me. I highly recommend you watch this film with an open heart and mind. In an age where people don't really pay attention to the movies they watch anymore, TRT may not be for everyone, which is a shame because it's an instant classic, no matter what the cant-stand-20-minutes-in-a-film-without-a-car-explosion generation has to say about it.
His dialogue is perfect. His attention to detail is hilarious. His characters are what they need to be- nobody is trying to grab the camera's attention here. So what if attention deficit moviegoers, the Academy, the BAFTAS and the Globes don't recognize his brand of greatness? Wes Anderson is the filmmaker of the future.
Rushmore (1998)
Wes Anderson classic
All I can say is that I was completely blown away by this film. It truly deserves whatever praise is given to it. I mean, wow. There is so much subtlety at work here, so much attention to every single nuance of character, so many subplots, that Wes Anderson masterfully and effortlessly juggles around, that upon my first viewing I couldn't believe how much was crammed into this film.
I became a Wes Anderson fan after watching The Royal Tenenbaums, and looking back at this old gem, I can tell you how much better it is. No, it doesn't diminish any of his other films, it is simply filmmaking on a whole new level. Mr. Anderson is a director who knows his actors in the sense that he can and does make every scene count towards making his audience fall head-over-heels in love with his characters. And I pity the cold heart that doesn't feel for Max Fischer, or smile when Margaret Yang (played by the beautiful Sara Tanaka) tells him that he treated her like a jerk, in a character turn that shows the audience that Mr. Anderson and his cowriter Owen Wilson aren't making a screenplay for any ol' teen movie here.
You could say it's the music that makes "Rushmore". You could say it's the details. The way things set-up so well (such as how Max 'recycles' the bike Mr. Bloom thrashed). Heck, you could even say those funny blink-and-you'll-miss-em moments bring smiles to your face. Jason Schwartzman pulls off a seemingly effortless performance with just the right amount of honesty, longing and intelligence to make you not only believe his character, but understand why he is who he is.
I know it's dangerous to label a movie as an instant classic, but there are no better words to describe how "Rushmore" made me feel. Bravo!
The 13th Warrior (1999)
A highly underrated gem
I don't understand what people find wrong with this film. First off, it's certainly not in the same genre as Gladiator, Braveheart or The Two Towers. The 13th Warrior is simply entertainment at its best. It's a straightforward, nitty-gritty action film. And those who complain about the first half of the film being boring are completely missing the point of it. This film left a lasting impression in my mind simply because everything was so well-built up from the outset. When Omar Sharif's character translates for Antonio Banderas' character in the Northmen's encampment, it shows how alienated the latter is from these strange men. However, his ability to understand their language shows how talented and adaptable he is- it is a form of fleshing out his character. And the first half of the film really immerses one in the world displayed on screen.
As for the latter half of the film, I found it immensely entertaining. I won't forget the man who chooses to be left behind when the Northmen escape the cannibals' lair. There is a lot of fun to be found here, such as a fight between two of the Northmen, one older and one younger, which is a prime example of how quality sound editing can really make or break a one-on-one battle- a flaw that doomed Troy's Achilles-Hector fight scene.
I don't understand why people criticize this film's minute details as if it was a historical epic. This is a movie that really takes you away into a different place, and for that it deserves a 9 out of 10.
Kâdokaputâ Sakura: Fûin sareta kâdo (2000)
A worthy end to a beloved series that keeps the camera on its characters
This is an awesome film, and a worthy and fitting end to an anime (based on a manga) beloved by many.
When the television series ended, it left its audiences a nifty little cliffhanger, and set things up well for this film while still managing to tie things up some. I won't lie to you. This movie is chiefly about the love story between Sakura and Syaoran.
But what makes this film such a bona fide success is that while it keeps the focus on the main characters, it isn't afraid to give minor characters their due. For example, Kero-chan steals a lot of the scenes and fits into the story perfectly as comedy relief without seeming tacked on in the least.
Director Morio Asaka and screen-writer Nanase Okawa know their characters. The dialogue never sells out or ceases to be fresh. Everyone is perfectly in character, and while this leads to a certain degree of predictability, it also brings smiles to the faces of fans who understand how much respect the material brings to their characters.
And as I said in my review for the first movie, there is something for every anime fan here. While those new to CCS fandom will probably be wary of this film being nothing but tying up loose ends left by the end of the 70-episode television series, they'd only be half right. While it ties up a lot of loose ends, it manages to hold its own as a film and capture the viewer's attention.
For fans who haven't seen this or want to enjoy it in the best possible way, I suggest shelling in the extra cash to buy the Special Edition CCS Movie 2: The Sealed Card DVD. Not only does it come with a see-through plastic flat thingy (I don't know what it's called!), inside the case you'll find "Tomoyo's Photo Album", a small booklet containing select CLAMP art from this movie. Also, you have the option to listen to the movie in English (tolerable) or with the original Japanese voices with subtitles (my choice).
But what makes this DVD worth the price of admission is the hidden Kero-chan Video Extra (search for it in the Extras Menu).
To fans, this movie is the Holy Grail. Every scene is not only necessary, but perfectly tuned to fit the rest of the film. While many fans will complain that the movie ends quickly, well, that's what fan fiction is for. ^_^
Kadokyaputa Sakura (1998)
A whole lot more than just a treat for fans...
CLAMP has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with this movie.
I will say this: As the first of two Card Captor Sakura movies, this film is, of course, much more enjoyable to one who is familiar with the television series. And since most fans of the series will have seen this (and loved it), I guess the only people who will take the time to read this comment are casual anime fans who are curious about the show.
There is a lot of entertainment to be found even for those who aren't acquainted with the show. While this film probably isn't the best way to become acquainted with the wonderful characters of CLAMP's Card Captor Sakura, it does exemplify everything that makes CCS one of the most beloved manga/anime series around. Also, and to a lesser extent (as this movie is often more serious than the anime), it gives you a bit of a window into the themes and nature of the television show.
The story is simple enough: the magical girl Sakura wins, not by chance, tickets to go to Hong Kong. Her best friend Tomoyo, brother Touya and his best friend Yukito accompany her. Once there, though, it becomes evident that there was a purpose for her to win that contest... Someone or something isn't normal in Hong Kong... Her "rival" Syaoran and his cousin Meiling join Sakura as she faces mysterious forces.
What makes it worth watching is its execution. While I can't speak from the perspective of a non-CCS fan, I can't think of any reason not to recommend this film, really.
For those skeptical of the whole concept of CCS, I suggest that you don't write this off as another girl's movie. True, it does follow the happenings of a girl who is gifted with magical powers, but as is evident from the heartfelt screen-writing, beautiful art, above-average use of transitions (for an anime film, anyway) and intelligent way it builds up scenes, this movie is truly labor of love.