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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1854
With the boy to the new "Psychological Thriller" Inception, starring Leonardo De Caprio, Peter Postlewaite, Michael Caine.
Which was interesting and "original", as far as Hollywood films go, which is to say not very but marginally better than average.
Criticisms might include an overabundance of CGI effects (every film seems to rely rather too heavily on those, I think), a rather overly-dense plot and not-very convincing premise or world, a predictable ending (although not as predictable as, say, a James Cameron ending would have been, which I should be grateful for...), and, for me, most importantly it didn't capture the "Unreality" of dreams.
By which I mean I don't have dreams filled with firearms. And the detail, remembered detail at least, is hardly to the same depth as portrayed in the film, rather it's the isolated that stand out and mean something. Perhaps someone else's dreams, or, as is too common with Hollywood, the dream of making a large amount of money off a largely overblown CGI driven film....
I'd give it 1/5 bananas. (**Note: So far other reviews have been in the main very largely favorable. Is it just me, or are most movies just that bad?)
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1828
An unusual film, but that's exactly what I expected of Jean-Pierre Jeunet. No, not Jean-Luc. You know who you are.
Great set design, props, characters, the story was so-so and overall the film seemed somewhat to lack in the "Heart" department. Especially after Amélie. While I'd certainly recommend it over any of the Hollywood drek that too often takes precedence in the cinemas here, it's not his best effort. Worth it for the visuals alone though (nice to see a director using real actors and actresses and not avatars chosen for their generic good looks ...).
And there's something about reconnecting with the same cast that he uses for all his films that makes it - well, enjoyable in the way that catching up with old friends is enjoyable.
I'd give it 6 1/2 Bananas.
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1806
An unexpected (although scheduled) day off, and so I took the boy to see the new Banksy film - Exit through the Gift Shop.
Which is an informative documentary about graffiti and street art in general. About art in general. And, in a perverse way, about art commenting on life and life imitating art. And there are probably a few more things that it was about as well, but to get into it in any depth would be to diminish the surprise.
And there is a surprise. Indeed, for those not too familiar with the contemporary art scene (I'm not, but if I think you're less so than I might pretend...) the ending will be quite the twist indeed, with some genuine laugh-out-loud OMFG moments.
It's absurdly delightful. I'd happily give it 4 and a half stars....I'd a given it a 5 if Thierry Guetta (later known as Mr. Brainwash) had been a better videographer, but then maybe I'd only have given it a 4....
Further Links: 25 of Banksy's coolest murals (another persons list), banksy.co.uk
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 2005
Nothing short of Genius. The stuff of animated nightmares, odd, compelling, deeply rich and evocative symbolism and themes.....
They credit their inspiration and influences in part to Jan Švankmajer and are credited for inspiring the likes of Tim Burton.
A short sample below, taken from "Street of Crocodiles", more can be found linked to it, or anthologies rented from Bird Dog Video.
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1800
A couple of films to note, nothing exceptional but I've been choosing films to inspire conversation with the children. "Religulous" by Bill Maher and a film at the Plaza entitled "The Examined Life".
Now the problem with these films is that they're "Preaching to the Choir". By which I mean that if you've taken the time to go and see them, chances are you're already sympathetic to the film makers POV. The very people that should be seeing the film - who might benefit from it's skepticism and humour, are the very people who won't go to see it.
That said, "Religulous" was amusing. I'd give it 6/10. Nothing new or particularly insightful, merely amusing.
"The Examined Life" - despite the hype and the fact that if you were going to see a film about practical philosophy you'd probably be predisposed to rate it highly, was as well somewhat of a disappointment. A few interesting characters, but somehow it felt like it just could have been done, well, better. Philosophy without action is nothing but speculation. And again, preaching to the choir, it's highly unlikely anyone went to the film and was even slightly surprised as to what it offered, and chances are most of the audience (when we went I counted about 8 other people) have already mused upon these themes. I'd give it a 6/11 - with points off for the very annoying philosopher they interviewed at the start of the film.
On this note I'll end with the idea that to reach their target audiences these films need to sugarcoat their plot and their message. Sort of like "Fight Club" or "The Matrix", films that have a strong component or central theme of philosophy and/or spirituality, yet on the surface were not "about" philosophy or religion. And as a result reached a much wider audience while still prompting conversations and debate about their "message".