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Reviews
Hoshi no koe (2002)
Anime with Wonderful Soundtrack
As others have noted, this is basically a love story set during a war. It features Mikako and Noboru as two teenagers who have grown up together and fallen in love. They are separated when Mikako leaves to fight a battle in a distant star system and Noboru is left behind on Earth. Their only means of communication is via text message/e-mail over their cell phones. However, the many light years of space between them caused a time delay of months and sometimes years between these messages.
I was incredibly disappointed when this film ended at only a little over 20 minutes. When I rented it, I did not know it was a short. I thought it was a full-length film. The brevity of the film was a bit disconcerting as I was just beginning to empathize with the characters when it ended. I am very impressed that one man created this on his home computer. Although the visuals would not win awards, they are adequate for the film. Additionally, the strength of the visuals comes in the backgrounds rather than in the animation itself.
Much of this film is atmospheric. The backgrounds of space and planetside vistas lend the film a lyrical feel. The language of the characters themselves is almost poetic. And the music truly brings poignancy to life. I found myself sitting with the menu screen on the DVD just so I could listen to the theme music. It captures a hopeful yet incredibly melancholy feel of separation.
Perhaps the greatest weak point in this film is that some ideas are suggested but never fully developed. (Spoilers may follow.) At one point, we see Noboru walking with another woman. Is the implication that he has found someone he could share his life with even if he truly still loves Mikako? Also, the communication between the aliens and Mikako suggests that the war is a misunderstanding. And what of the message that the alien leaves with Mikako that she will see Noboru again? Overall, though, I enjoyed this short. The music alone conveys much of what the story is. Although the beginning is rushed (I'm certain due to the length of the film), the ending that intercuts Mikako and Noboru's voices is artistically imagined and creatively executed. I was pleasantly surprised by the poignancy of the story if a little disappointed by the length of the film.
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Ho Hum Story with Action
I will openly admit that I wasn't blown away with the first Underworld movie; however, I was willing to watch the sequel in hopes that it would develop and improve upon the first. Sadly, I was disappointed. As the plot has already been covered by others who have seen the movie, I shall dispense with summaries and discuss the film as a film. As with the first one, I found the rather bleached-blue film style annoying, although one could make the argument that this is an artistic choice. Beyond that, though, the story seemed weak and more a vehicle for action than a premise for a movie.
There were several inconsistencies or merely weak points that prevented a strong storyline. (Spoilers may follow.) For example, the ending of the movie suggests that Selina, by drinking the blood of Alexander Corvinus, has now become some sort of either super-vampire or a hybrid herself. The final scene of the movie sees her standing in sunlight. There is no explanation and very little to set up an explanation in the rest of the film. Second, the love scene between Selina and Michael was absolutely nothing more than a gratuitous sex scene. It did nothing to further the story and might I add that a storage box seems like a rather uncomfortable place for sex. Third, the back-story of the brothers and the tension between father and sons was poorly developed to the point that I could barely keep names straight. There are numerous other points that I could make, but I think readers have probably understood my impression of the movie by this point.
All of that said, the film seemed to please fans of the first Underworld, so I suppose it fulfilled its purpose. I rented the movie and found myself so bored with it that I ended up signing online and surfing the web to keep from falling asleep through the end. Thus, I probably missed a lot of the action that seemed to be the main purpose of the movie. The one redeeming factor of this film was that the actors did a pretty admirable job given the script they were handed.
Love Letters (1999)
Charming Love Story
This is a charming film. Rather than attempting to dazzle its audience with special effects, Love Letters chooses to delve into the intricate relationship between two life-long friends and lovers (Andy and Melissa). At the same time, the script allows for an analysis of interpersonal relationships. How do our parents shape us? What part do our circumstances ultimately play in how our lives proceed? How much should one sacrifice for love? And how strong can love be?
Stanley Donen did a beautiful job of making a movie that never leaves one room span an entire world of emotions. Although there are flashbacks into different parts of the characters' lives, the true action of the movie never leaves Andy's home library. Donen peppers his set with details that are revealed throughout the course of the film. Indeed, a library seems the only possible setting once one realizes the importance of words in this film. Witty and heart-wrenching, Love Letters is a fabulous text that has been well-rendered on the small screen.
On a less critical note, I adored this movie. Now I'm in search of a copy of the play. I'd like to compare how the screenplay differed from the original play.
Waking Life (2001)
A Thinking Film
Waking Life proves to be a film that definitely requires one to stay awake to follow it. With a plot centered around one person's search for definition and a style that literally overlays animation and live action, anyone searching for an action flick will be sorely disappointed with this movie. That said, a philosophy student would probably love it. Waking Life looks at how a postmodern individual attempts to understand his existence. Premising much of the movie's dialogue upon the concept of lucid dreaming, the writer of Waking Life pretty much offers viewers a two hour discussion.
I found this film interesting by the end, though it was slow-moving and I had to initially force myself to continue watching. It was good to see many ideas that I and my friends have long-since discussed into the ground covered in a feature length film, though I think that anyone seriously interested in these ideas may already have thought of many of the ideas put forth in Waking Life. The musical scenes were intriguing but seem almost more a distraction to the film than a solid addition. A "sketched" animation technique takes some getting use to when one first begins watching the film. At points, it seems a bit distracting overall reinforces the confusion between real and imagined. In general, I would advise this film to anyone who is a serious movie-watcher and who wants a bit more thought provoking film. Watch it with a friend and be prepared to discuss some ideas after the credits roll.