Mirrormask (2005)

In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.

Director:

Dave McKean

Writers:

Neil Gaiman (story), Dave McKean (story)

Stars:

Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephanie Leonidas	...	Helena / Anti-Helena
Jason Barry	...	Valentine
Rob Brydon	...	Morris Campbell / Prime Minister
Gina McKee	...	Joanne Campbell / Queen of Light / Queen of Shadows
Dora Bryan	...	Aunt Nan
Stephen Fry	...	Librarian
Andy Hamilton	...	Small Hairy
Simon Harvey	...	Sphinx
Lenny Henry	...	Cops 1-4
Robert Llewellyn	...	Gryphon
Eryl Maynard	...	Mrs. Bagwell
Eve Pearce	...	Future Fruit Lady
Nik Robson	...	Pingo / Bing (as Nik Robinson)
Victoria Williams	...	Nurse
Rick Allen	...	Man In a Box

Storyline

In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year-old girl named Helena who works at the family circus with her father and mother, who wishes--quite ironically--that she could run away from the circus and join 'real life'. But such is not to be the case, as she finds herself on a strange journey into the Dark Lands, a fantastic landscape filled with giants, Monkeybirds and dangerous sphinxes. She must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get back home.

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Plot Keywords:

circus | dream | fantasy world | dark fantasy | dream world | 

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Taglines:

Enter A World Where Dreams Are Real

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Carobna maska

Filming Locations:

Black Island Studios, Alliance Road, Acton, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$126,449, 2 October 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$864,959, 11 December 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Destination Films, The Jim Henson Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the circus montage at the beginning of the film, there is a brief shot of a hand balancing and twirling a set of four crystal balls. This art is called Contact Juggling, created by performance artist Michael Moschen and originally debuted in the Jim Henson film Labyrinth (1986), which in part inspired this film.

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Goofs

After Helena holds up the key while looking at the tower, the immediate next shot shows the key facing the opposite direction.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Valentine: I am a very important man. I've got a tower.

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Connections

References Labyrinth (1986)

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Soundtracks

Close to You
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Performed by Josefine Cronholm

User Reviews

I thought it was better than Labrynth. I know you don't believe me.

This is my first review, so pardon me for any clumsiness in its composition. As such I am nervously avoiding any discussion of the plot, lest I spoil anything.

This is a continuation of the tradition of fantastical films about the adolescent transition of young women. Other films in this vein are "Alice in Wonderland", "Paperhouse",and "Labrynth." The film was produced by Henson Studios, and is presented like their other features, but rather than puppets and elaborate sets, animation replaces those elements.

Visually I found it stunning. I am familiar with McKean's work, and I found this to be amongst his best. It was distinctly McKean's style. The use of color was phenomenal, as well as surreal composition. I was enthralled seeing his creations in literal motion, rather than the usual implied motion. I personally thought there were a number of visual references to other great films, but I'll leave that to your opinion. I thought the direction clearly demonstrated his grasp of composition.

The writing was true to Gaiman's tradition of off-beat fairy tales. The pacing was dreamlike, flowing between slow moments of beauty and exposition to frenetic moments of fierce action. Humor, dark and otherwise, punctuated the film. The dialogue was very strong.

I was also very fond of the use of sound. One scene is a frightening and beautiful music video, that can be lifted out of the film completely and carry itself. It fits better in the film, but doesn't need to.

The film fits extremely well with all of the previous Henson Productions. I suggest having seen "Dark Crystal", "Labrynth", and "Jim Henson's The Storyteller" before viewing this. The piece fits very well with these.