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mike8869
Reviews
Mind Game (2004)
A mind-blowing, surreal, life-changing adventure
Wow. What can I say? I was truly blown away by this movie. Winner of the Noburo Ofuji award (the most prestigious award in Japan for an animated film), this film has unfortunately only had a very limited release in Japan (although it is playing in theaters again since winning the award). The director, Masaaki Yuasa, has previously done critically acclaimed animation work on other series, and helped create the equally mind-blowing, and somewhat disturbing short animated movie "Cat Soup".
The first thing about the movie to note is the animation. The animators worked in a collaborative effort, and included a wide range of experimental and traditional animation techniques, a bit of CGI, and even a bit of live action. Viewed as individual pieces, it can be jarring, but seen together as a whole, each piece seems to fit with each other perfectly, with the different animation forms setting the mood perfectly.
The story begins in present-day Tokyo, and follows a loser who is letting his childhood girlfriend slip away. Things take a twist to the fantastical side, as the characters embark on a surreal journey that changes everything about them. The actual elements of the plot are not really the focus of the movie..it is about setting the mood, creating the atmosphere of the characters' emotions, and drawing the viewer in to same mental journey the characters are going on, without even realizing it. The pace of the movie picks up and slows in parts, before building up to its thunderous and (literally) exhausting climax.
See this movie , if only for the virtuoso animation that you will not see in any other film. And who knows? it just might change your whole outlook on life.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
AOTC wins the award..*spoilers*
for funniest death scene ever. I seriously haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Where did they find the woman who played anakin's mom? "Anakin, you're so handsome! I love...youaaach....euuuch......uuuugh..."
As for the rest, well, the movie sucked because of all the reason's previously stated. Too much CGI that doesn't follow the laws of physics, etc. There was a scene in which there was a REAL canoe on some REAL water, and it was so jarringly out of place because it wasn't CGI enhanced. Even yoda's lines ridiculous were little a getting.. its hard to sit thru too much of that. And enough with people getting their hands cut off. The only single element that was not directly drawn from a previous star wars movie was the last ditch desperation selling out of yoda's character. I admit it was the most entertaining part of the movie, but come on, it's just not yoda's style.
Also, let me just say that christopher lee should have been cast as Anakin, and that anakin's corruption to the dark side should have started when he was much older than 16. The tragedy of Vader is that he was once a great and noble jedi, who was twisted and corrupted. Instead we will get bratty and annoying teen who turns to the dark side in a fit of adolescent rage ("I WILL be the most powerful jedi ever! I will! nyah! nyah!) Christopher lee's character is exactly what i had imagined as a pre-Vader Anakin. He almost had me convinced he was on the good side when he was talking to obi-wan..someone who can be seemingly wise and yet menacing at the same time. Plus, he's tall enough. When he is walking with the emperor at the end, it's almost like he IS Vader, just without the armor. couldv'e been perfect..