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dbronsema
Reviews
Suchîmubôi (2004)
Steamboy - 9 out of 10
'Steamboy', the groundbreaking new film from the makers of 'Akira' represents the new benchmark in Japanese animation. While the underlying story that science should be used to benefit mankind and not to wage war is somewhat bland, it is the animation that captivates.
Using both 3D CGI and traditional 2D cel animation, (which works wonderful and is seamless together) 'Steamboy' far surpasses any previous animation to date. The camera pans and swoops around our hero beautifully as we are taken into a 19th century England that is mixed with science fiction. There are inventors and machines, weapons and explosions - are encaptulated within this alternate world. This is the highlight of 'Steamboy', the world is alive and so detailed. All the machines are full of cogs and moving parts - everything seems so real and alive. 'Steamboy' has captured the industrial feel perfectly, just as well (if not better) than 'Akira' captured the 80's futuristic feel.
If you like Japanese animation you will love and adore 'Steamboy', and if you only see one animation this year make sure you see 'Steamboy'. It's simply amazing.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
What Kill Bill does so well.
Here Here,
That feeling I got when watching Matrix (the first one...let's not even delve into what I felt for the second...) was this tickle in the spine. I knew right there and then I was watching something that was amazing and would be remembered for a long time. I looked on in amazement of the shots, the angles, the effects, etc. This same feeling doesn't come along often and it reminds you why you go to see movies (or make them if you're anything like me). I've got that tingle only a couple of times, but when you do (any film lover knows what I'm talking about here) you know its a classic film you're lucky enough to be watching. Remember the feeling in Fight Club when Tyler's real persona was revealed? In Clockwork Orange? In Apocalypse Now when the helicopters fly over? In the opening sequence of Citizen Kane? In the Godfather? We all have those moments...
Now, to Kill Bill... The film either gave you that feeling or it didn't (or won't)...
Personally (like anyone cares about my opinion) I knew it was - at the very least - 'something' special when I realised I was on the edge of my seat during the daring and shocking fight sequences. During the Matrix Reloaded I was (shock, horror!) actully bored with the film's fight scenes. They seemed to be involved to much within themselves and (this is the crux) they forget about the audience watching. Whether you liked KILL BILL or not is irrelevent (okay, it does matter a little) but you have to respect the use of the art - that is film - to engage the audience so well. Tarantino respects the audience (he's been watching countless films so its only expected) and this is why so many people respect him. I won't describe how he does it so effortlessly in KILL BILL (as you really have to see it for yourself) but rest assured some people WON'T like KILL BILL and some will fall in love. Please, see this film and decide for yourself, even to see how film can be used to engage the audience so well.
I only hope that you fall into the latter, and that you are lucky enough to get that tingle in the spine all over again.
Have a good one.