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jethered
Reviews
Speed Racer (2008)
Artistic & Refreshing
The recently released Speed Racer movie has proved to be one of the most accurate adaptations cartoon to film I've ever seen.
The cartoon is from the late 60's and is originally Japanese and then ported over to United States where it enjoyed quite a bit of popularity. As a child of the 80's, I had seen Speed Racer in reruns and remember thinking it was a little difficult to watch just because it was felt dated. The stories seemed corny and the animation was sub-par compared to what I was used to. It wasn't until much later, when I became a student of animation, that I began to appreciate Speed Racer. In the 90's the cartoon resurfaced all over cable and grew a large cult following because of it's "kitsch" or "camp" value. It's chock-full of unintentional innuendo.
The Wachowski Brothers' film adaptation translates the original cartoon almost exactly. The plot feels totally lifted from an episode; from the outlandish villains and their ridiculous schemes, to the side plot of the annoying little brother and his pet chimp. The actors all look like character designs from the cartoon. The wardrobe is exactly the same, if not very similar. There is a scene where Emilie Hirsh is wearing Speed's outfit right down to the red scarf. Even the show's signature "suggestive gasps" made it into the movie. The only thing that is changed is the high-tech set design, which looks like BladeRunner dipped in a LisaFrank color palette.
That aspect, however, the color palette, is one that must not be ignored when talking about this film. To say that it's over-the-top is almost an understatement. Bright, vibrant colors, lights and animation dominate the movie from start to finish. This look felt most appropriate during the action scenes but in carrying it throughout the film, they really succeed in creating an entirely different world. It's stylized to the point where one might even call it experimental. Absolutely nothing about the look of this film is realistic. Ever.
This is precisely what I enjoyed about Speed Racer. They took a cartoon, and made the film version as "cartoony" as possible without animating the entire thing. More films that take their source material from a cartoon, comic book, or video game need to take this approach. Not everything has to be applicable to real life. I believe filmmakers do a great disservice to these original works when they're modified to be "believable."
I found Speed Racer to be visually engaging for the entire 2 hours I was there. There are times when it drags (the non-action scenes) but overall, I had a really good time. For the first time in quite a while, I felt like someone with an imagination was behind the scenes. I don't doubt that these guys painstakingly watched every single episode of that cheesy cartoon (cringe-inducing as that sounds.) I feel like it's important for the filmmaker to know his source material-- and know it well. I respect and applaud the Wachowski Brothers for taking the time to really study the original.
My recommendation is that anyone who is a fan of the original series should definitely see it. Also, artists (particularly animators and illustrators) should give it a try because it's a great exercise in visual art. If you do not like the original cartoon, do not like cartoons in general, and are more a fan of realism in movies, this film is not for you.
Style (2001)
EXCUSE ME? NANNI.
Well, I came into this film knowing nothing of Baliwood so needless to say, I was quite surprised. The movie follows the madcap exploits of 2 college guys known as the singular entity, "Chantu-Bantu." In this three-plus hour long farce, Chantu-Bantu do everything from dressing in drag to sneak into a girls' dorm to tricking a girl to go out with one of their friends by making her believe he's dying of AIDS.
Combine a ton of these strange, litte, almost episodic plotlines with a few zany, wildly cheoreographed, music videos, some random action scenes, bright colors, bad clothing, and a little obvious homo-eroticism, and you have an incredibly entertaining film-- that is if you have three-plus hours to kill. I recommend watching it over the course of like 3 days.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
MADE ME WANT TO CRY
SPOILERS
As an avid fan of the first Matrix, I've been enthusiastically anticipating the sequels for a while now. However, I believe that my extreme adoration for the first movie did nothing but set me up for utter disappointment with the Matrix Reloaded.
I do like a few things about the Matrix Reloaded. For example, I appreciate the fact that we learn more about the Matrix storyline and that it proves to be a little deeper than what the first movie presented. I enjoyed all the pointless rhetoric and religious allusions in the film. Some may think it was a little overdone, but I think it's just what this movie needed. A sci-fi film of this magnitude that creates an entirely new world will need an in-depth story to back it up- even if it seems unnecessarily philosophical to us as the audience.
The other thing I like are the action scenes. Yes, there are times when they are over-the-top and not as seemless as we'd like, but the execution and sheer imagination of them is enjoyable.
The individual characters in the scenes, however, are trite and boring-especially those twins. I was very excited when I saw their cool, stylish character designs. Actually, all of the characters are designed well, for that matter. But the new ones, (Naiobi, the twins, Persephone, and the new agents) do not deliver enough for me to be impressed. I expected those damned twins to do something amazing-then I find out, all they do is go through sh*t! LAME! And the new agents do nothing different from the first movie. I'll get to Naiobi and Persephone later.
Perhaps what annoys me most with this film was the subtle sexism it got away with. Now, I know that sci-fi traditionally does that and you just have to accept it as part of the genre but the first Martix wasn't like that. Its female character (Trinity) was strong, positive AND sexy at the same time. Matrix Reloaded's females are nothing more than weak, sexual objects, artfully shrouded with big words and seemingly necessary plot elements.
I have a real problem with that ridiculous cake orgasm scene. What is it trying to prove? I understand the character who does it was trying to demonstrate his power or whatever, but I thought that could have been more tastefully executed. He could have had her do any number of things that would have had a more meaningful impact. Instead, she comes. It's totally unnecessary and quite juvenile. I'm sure that whoever wrote it has never given a woman an orgasm in his life.
I thought perhaps, that stupid scene could have been redeemed when Persephone debuted, but I was wrong. Again, I was expecting such a wonderfully designed character to do more. I totally thought we'd see her kick some ass. Nope. `All I want is a kiss from a big strong man, because as a woman, all I really need in my life is a man to give me some good-lovin'. In fact, that's all I'm good for anyway-being a mindless sex slave.' And her kiss doesn't even do anything to him! I thought she'd have some kind of poison, `kiss-of-death' type of deal and then fight or something. But no, it was just a kiss. Technically, it does nothing but slow the story down as it was too easy. It pales in comparison to all the other obstacles Neo and Co. have to face. Furthermore, if she is just a program, why the hell would she even need to be kissed by Neo so badly? Programs need good-lovin' too, I suppose.
Remind me, was Jada Pinkett in that film? I wouldn't have known. I expected her to be kicking ass like Neo and Morpheus. Instead, she is hardly involved in any of the action scenes.
Also, I could have done without the Zion orgie scene. First of all, I was already offended by their portrayal of Zion as some weird amalgamation of all these foreign cultures. Secondly, exactly what was the reason to show all these people sweating and grinding all over each other? Seriously, is it supposed to symbolize heaven or hell, because I didn't get it. I mean, the first Matrix managed to be sexy without showing tits. And are we supposed to be culturally elevated at the fact that the people in Zion are ethnically diverse? F*ck that, if they're going to be portrayed as sex crazed dancing fools, then they might as well have been all white as far as I'm concerned. The scene was distasteful and again, juvenile-- most likely written for that homely sci-fi kid who thinks this is what clubs and parties are like and hopes to one day build up enough courage to go to one because it is the closest he'll ever be to getting laid.
And don't think I didn't catch that subtle sexist comment the Architect made when he said Neo could rebuild Zion with something like 16 women and 8 men. `Of course! I'm a man and would love to impregnate more than one woman! There really needs to be 2 or 3 women for every man because that's just the way we are!' Friggin' disgusting.
I'm not going to get into the whole `Neo penetrating Trinity to save her life' scene because I've ranted enough. Also, it's kind-of reading into it to think that that scene had sexual connotation. Still, if I thought it, I'm sure tons of other people did. `Hey, since I'm never going to stick my penis inside a girl, I'll fantasize about penetrating her all Matrix-like, like Neo!'
Like I said before, I set myself up for a fall when I expected Matrix Reloaded to be amazing. I admit, it was entertaining to look at albeit completely socially irresponsible. Whatever, it's not like sci-fi movies are supposed to be culturally uplifting. even though I thought the first Matrix was.
Blue Crush (2002)
Surprised
Ok so the only advertisment I saw for this film before actually seeing the film was a horrible subway poster. You all know how awfully designed subway posters are. So I'd pass it and be like-- yeah there's a film you couldn't pay me to see. A modern-day surfer flic? Give me a break. Then I got a ticket for a free screening and was like, "Why not? I'm in the mood for a laugh." And then I actually saw it and was actually enjoying myself. I was genuinely interested in the plot and the characters! Whoda thunk??? I really enjoyed Michelle Rodriguez's character, who is the most interesting in the film. It was also refreshing to see Sanoe Lake and the Chris Taloa (not typical Hollywood-looking actors) on te big screen-- even though I couldn't understand a word Taloa's character said.
Two complaints though-- 1) I could see the computer graphics effects in the surf scenes very plainly. I mean, I don't know whether people care about that or not but I can tell you I wasn't even looking for it and noticed. 2) The surf scenes toward the end pale in comparison to the first one. It's kind of a let-down.
I can't explain why I enjoyed this movie and I'm not going to buy it or anything but I will watch it again if the opprutunity arises.
La pianiste (2001)
what the...
I liked it. Yeah, it was disturbing but I liked that. Yeah of course the sex scenes were over-the-top and unbelievable, but I thought that was the point. I mean, how often does one meet a character like this? I was never bored by the film either. Seems like just when I got used to it, something else happened to shock me more. Fun movie-- maybe not as emotional or thought-provoking as some may have wanted but hey, what're gonna do?
Showgirls (1995)
Must See
This is just one of those films that everyone must see. It's like-- if I had to sit through it, EVERYONE SHOULD!! Seriously, it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I quote it regularly. It's one of those movies where everytime you think it can't get any worse-- everytime you think Verhoven can't top the last scene-- he does. Everyone needs to see this movie-- just to see why we call Elizabeth Berkley the human dolphin.
Beverly Hills Teens (1987)
Another Great 80's Toon
Yeah I came across a 6 episode tape of Beverly Hills Teens from some second hand video store and almost peed my pants with excitement. I used to LOVE this cartoon. If you didn't watch Jem, you watched this! It's so one of those cartoons that was made to market toys. Plus, it's such a sign of the times. The characters' outfits are SO 80's! Love the girls' gloves and the boys' gold jewelry! It's cleverly written too. Favorite line, "He may seem fabuloso-- but underneath he's still mondo-grosso." HAHAHA!!