My new Youtube channel... i watched...

Hello fellow bloggers, UCA'ers old and new,

Wow, it's been a while since I posted so here's a quick update.

To keep myself busy in-between work I've started a new hobby....a new Youtube channel, reviewing MOVIES! Yay!

Of the many things I learned whilst studying at University, one of the most surprising, was how much I enjoyed reviewing films as part of my course. I've always had a passion for film and I enjoy talking about them, so this seemed like a logical step to take. So a couple of months ago, after I plucked up enough courage to actually do it, I started posting my vids.

Feel free to check out my other videos over on my Youtube channel "i watched..." and like (or dislike) and maybe even subscribe? Sorry for the plug but I was also hoping to gain some feedback, constructive criticism and advice from creative individuals to help improve my content. So please feel to let me know what you think, it would really help! Thanks

Lave

The Tree of Life: Review

The Tree of Life - 2011

Director - Terrence Malick

1) The Tree of Life - Poster

Plot summary / review

Terrence Malick is a notoriously recluse director with a reputation for experimenting with his films during post production. He achieved critical success with his first feature "Badlands" (1973), going on to direct "Day's of Heaven" (1978). Malick spent two years in post production on Day's of Heaven, exploring different editing and voice over techniques. After it's release, he disappeared from the public eye to work on numerous screenplays and a script, titled Q. He returned to the directors chair twenty years later to create his war epic "The Thin Red Line" (1998) and later "The New World" (2005). Q would eventually manifest itself as "The Tree of Life" (2011).

On its surface, "TTOL" is a postwar, coming-of age story following the O'Brien family in 1950's South America. Brad Pitt demonstrates his diversity as Mr. O'Brien, a loving but overbearing father to his three sons. Having failed to achieve his dream of becoming a musician, he bitterly tells his children "it takes fierce will to get ahead in this world".

2) Brad Pitt as Mr. O'Brien

In contrast, Jessica Chastain wonderfully embodies motherly love as Mrs. O'Brien, often the children's refuge when their fathers temper gets the better of him. The film proposes there are "two ways through life, the way of nature and the way of grace". It can be argued that these two paths are represented by Pitt and Chastain. Mr. O'Brien's nature is striving to achieve riches and respect, finding "reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining". Mrs. O'Brien is graceful, "accepting insults and injuries", believing love is the key to happiness. In a whispering voice over she asks her children to favour the grace of God.

3) Jessica Chastain as Mrs. OBrien

At the centre of this complex but recognizable family is the eldest son Jack. We accompany him on his life journey from birth, through his mischievous pre-teen years (played by Hunter McCracken); to his contemplative adulthood (played by Sean Penn). We witness the loss of childhood innocence and the struggle with his parents conflicting philosophies. As a boy, Jack speaks directly to God asking "where are you?". In adult life, now an architect, surrounded by tall buildings made of glass and steel, he challenges God, questioning his life and existence  Which path does he choose, the way of grace or nature? As he reminisces over his childhood, we discover an event that starts the drama, one of his brothers died whilst on duty at the age of 19. 

4) Sean Penn as Jack

Malick's unconventional narrative and plot is fractured over multiple timelines. We float back and forth through the life of the O'Brien family, like memories randomly manifesting themselves. The movie feels like a memory piece, with obvious comparisons to Malick's real life. He was raised in Texas, had two siblings, one tragically committing suicide at an early age. It's a nostalgic look back at 50's America, rendered exquisitely by production designer Jack Fisk and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezski. 

5) Exquisite cinematography

The Tree of Life is layered with philosophical questions and quasi-biblical images. Upon its release, critics and audiences were divided in opinion. The biggest discussion surrounds interspersing the O'Briens lives with imagery of the origins of the Universe and the creation of life on Earth. Kenneth Turan from the LA times states "the truth is, unless someone tells you that you are watching, for instance, what is supposed to be the formation of the universe or the day in the distant future when the sun becomes a white dwarf, there is no way to know exactly what you are seeing." (Turan. 2011).

6) The singularity?

Regardless of the audiences prior knowledge of science or religious views, the computer generated imagery is a thought provoking experience and is breathtakingly realised. A.O Scott of the New York times writes "Its most provocative sequences envision the origin of the universe, the development of life on earth (including a few soulful dinosaurs) and then, more concisely and less literally, the end of time, when the dead of all the ages shall rise and walk around on a heavenly beach." (Scott. 2011). This is accompanied by a powerfully emotive soundtrack. (On the blu-ray edition of this feature a short message appears before the film starts. It says; "For optimal sound reproduction, the producers of this blu-ray recommend that you play it loud"). 

7) Earth emerges

8) Soulful dinosaur

The Tree of Life is an emotional, deeply personal movie by one of the best directors in the business. It is praised by some for it's artistic / technical imagery and style, simultaneously criticised for the same reasons. Like his previous work, Malick experiments with non-linear narratives and philosophical voice overs to evoke emotion. He bravely explores some of the most persistent and profound questions, asking "Is this the only message of the universe – pure survival? But then how is it we want something other than survival? What do we want to survive for? And Malick appears, through sheer crazy excess, to bring his movie closer to the ultimate question: why does anything exist at all?" (Bradshaw. 2011).

Bibliography

Bradshaw, Peter. Guardian review. 16th May 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/16/cannes-2011-the-tree-of-life-review Accessed 30/09/12

Scott, A.O.New York Times Review. 26th May 2011

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/movies/the-tree-of-life-from-terrence-malick-review.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0 Accessed 30/09/12

Turan, Kenneth. LA Times review. 26th May 2011

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/26/entertainment/la-et-tree-life-20110527 Accessed 30/09/12

Illustrations

1. The Tree of Life - Poster

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/jul/01/posters-tree-of-life-terrence-malick Accessed 30/09/12

2. Brad Pitt as Mr. O'Brien

http://cribbster.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/the-10-best-movies-of-2011/ Accessed 30/09/12

3. Jessica Chastain as Mrs. O'Brien

http://thefilmstage.com/news/70-new-images-from-terrence-malicks-the-tree-of-life/the_tree-of-life_terrence_malick_still_photo_66/ Accessed 30/09/12

4.Sean Penn as Jack

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29640 Accessed 30/09/12

5. Exquiste cinematography

http://alternativechronicle.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/who-do-they-say-i-am-%E2%80%94-part-6-terrence-malicks-the-tree-of-life/ Accessed 30/09/12

6. The Singularity?

http://metjush.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/creation-narrative-of-tree-of-life.html Accessed 30/09/12

7. Earth emerges

http://cranesareflying1.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/tree-of-life.html Accessed 30/09/12

8. Soulful Dinosaur

http://thepinksmoke.com/treeoflife1.htm Accessed 30/09/12

World Animation Review (USA) -The Adventures of Tintin

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - 2011

Director - Steven Spielberg

1) The Adventures of Tintin - Poster

Plot summary / review:

Based on the popular comic strips by Belgian writer and illustrator Georges Prosper Remi (aka Hergé), Tintin gets a modern day digital makeover by Steven Spielberg. Joined by his faithful companion Snowy, the intrepid reporter is thrown into a world wide adventure that would make Indiana Jones gulp. Tintin buys a model ship from a market stall, a replica of the Unicorn which was famously ransacked by pirates three hundred years earlier. When the sinister Sakharine tries to buy the model from Tintin, he discovers it holds the secrets to a hidden treasure. By chance, Tintin and Snowy are joined by drunken ships master Captain Haddock, whose ancestral links to the Unicorn run deeper than originally thought.

Fans were unsettled when it was announced that Spielberg's Tintin would be made using motion capture technology. Previous features made using this technique, such as Robert Zemeckis' Polar Express (2004), divided critics opinions. Many claimed the characters promote an uncanny feeling and appear zombie like. It can be argued that Tintin, voiced by Jamie Bell, has suffered from the same problem. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian writes "It's a photoreal approximation of live action that is technically outstanding, but it has, for me, none of the charm, clarity and style of Hergé's drawings and none of the immediacy and panache of actual, flesh-and-blood human beings." (Bradshaw. 2011)

2. Uncanny Tintin

The uncanny feeling evoked by the dead-eye looking Tintin maybe explained by robotocist 

Masahiro Mori. He observed that when robots reach a level of realistic human appearance, people were put off by them. By stylizing them, or making them more "cartoony", they were generally accepted. Spielberg's Tintin does have a hint of Hergé's original design, but he is predominantly human looking and not entirely successful. However, the overall look and design of the film is realised expertly. "Spielberg and a team of artists and animators have copied not the literal look of the Tintin strips, but the feel." (Ebert. 2011). Certain characters benefit from more artistic licence and caricatured features, for example the Thomson / Thompson detectives voiced hilariously by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

3. Thompson and Thomson or Thomson and Thompson

The Tintin universe is vast with Hergé completing 23 comics in the series between 1929 and 1983. This foray feels like the first instalment with producer Peter Jackson rumoured to direct the next. Spielberg's Tintin has his stamp all over it and can be compared to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981).  Like Indiana Jones, "there is hardly a moment of downtime, a chance to catch your breath or contemplate the tension between the animated Expressionism and the photo-realist flourishes. Relax, you think, as Tintin and the story rush off again, as if Mr. Spielberg were afraid of losing us with European-style longueurs." (Dargis. 2011). With the characters established and with a few tweaks and refinements, Tintin's adventures could be in our cinemas for a long time. What do you say Snowy?

4. Snowy

Bibliography

Bradshaw, Peter. The Guardian review 27th October 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/oct/27/the-adventures-of-tintin-review

Dargis, Manohla. New York Times review 20th December 2011

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin-by-steven-spielberg-review.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Ebert Roger. Chicago Sun-Times review 20th December 2011

http://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111220/REVIEWS/111229999/-1/RSS

Illustrations

1.The Adventures of Tintin - Poster 

http://whstherebellion.com/?attachment_id=16073

2.Uncanny Tintin

http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/trailer-grades-adventures-of-tintin-fright-night-straw-dogs-more

3. Thompson and Thomson or Thomson and Thompson

http://advancescreenings.com/2011/12/review-the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn/

4. Snowy

http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/carlos-saldanha-gary-oldman-zach-galifianakis-annie-awards/

World Animation Review (USA) - The Secret of NIMH

The Secret of NIMH - 1982

Director - Don Bluth

1. The Secret of NIMH - poster

Plot summary / review:

Director Don Bluth's debut feature is adapted from Robert O'Brien's children's novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971). It tells the story of Mrs. Brisby (her name changed due to trademark issues), a widowed mouse living with her children on the edge of a farmers field in a breeze block. With the ploughing season approaching, she must move her family away from danger. However, when her youngest is diagnosed with pneumonia, she is warned taking him outside will prove fatal. Instructed by the Great Owl, Mrs Brisby embarks on a mission to seek out the mysterious rats of NIMH who may be able to help. Along the way she meets a clumsy, but good hearted crow called Jeremy, a particularly fun and well designed character. The majority of "the anthropomorphic animal characters are, for the most part, charming to look at" and "the backgrounds, the colors, the perspectives, the soft differences in shades of light are extraordinarily lovely." (Canby. 1982).

2. Jeremy and Mrs. Brisby

Mrs. Brisby discovers the rats have a colony beneath the rose bush next to the farmers house. It is evident that these are no ordinary rats. Led by Nicodemus, a wise but frail rat, they have developed an understanding of literature, mechanics and even electricity. It is revealed that they are survivors of experiments to increase intelligence by the National Institute of Mental Health. Mrs. Brisby's late husband Jonathan, was also a victim and was instrumental in their escape. In light of this, they agree to help her. Meanwhile, the colony are mid debate, unhappy that they are stealing from the humans, they decide to leave their home in search of an independent life. This view is not shared by Jenner, an evil rat who plots to kill Nicodemus during the move.

3. Meeting Nicodemus

The political and morale messages in the second half of this feature might be lost on the younger audience. However the trials and tribulations of Mrs. Brisby's grounded story will keep them entertained. Perhaps NIMH's meagre run time of 82 minutes was not enough to flush out the complicated back story from the source material. It can be argued that the over arching narrative was not a priority for the first time director. Bluth and the animators behind NIMH, were previously employed by Disney. "Disillusioned by the company's cost-cutting animation production and lack of artistic ambition, (they) formed new companies and made animation features with ambitions toward the old levels of artistry". (Cavalier. 2011:16). They experimented with traditional, often more labour-intensive techniques on a tighter budget and produced impressive results. Particularly the glows in the Great Owls eyes, achieved by using backlit, multiple camera passes.

4. The Great Owl's eyes

The Secret of NIMH is a valiant effort to reproduce the success of Disney's "Golden era". "It looks good, moves well, and delights our eyes. It is not quite such a success on the emotional level, however, because it has so many characters and involves them in so many different problems that there's nobody for the kids in the audience to strongly identify with." (Ebert. 1982). Bluth addressed this successfully with his subsequent features An American Tail (1986) and The Land Before Time (1988).

Bibliography

Canby, Vincent. New York Times Review 30th July 1982

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9901E5DB103BF933A05754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes

Cavalier, Stephen. (2011) The World History of Animation. Aurum Press Ltd. UK.

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times review 1st Jan 1982

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010342

Illustrations

1. The Secret Of NIMH poster

http://thesilvermirror.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/classic-review-the-secret-of-nimh/ Accessed 25/07/12

2. Jeremy and Mrs. Brisby

http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/65300/the-secret-of-nimh-family-fun-edition.html 

3. Meeting Nicodemus

http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/secret-of-nimh-the.html

4. The Great Owl's eyes

http://needlerfanpudge.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/secret-of-nimh-2-timmy-to-rescue-god.html

World Animation Review (UK / USA) - Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox - 2009

Director - Wes Anderson

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox Poster

Plot summary / review:

Director Wes Anderson looked to be a promising movie maker after his 2001 release The Royal Tenenbaums. His stylised visuals and dry sense of humour appealed to devoted young movie-goers, however it can be argued his subsequent films "showed worrying signs of fatigue". Sukhdev Sandu of the guardian analyses stating "charm had given way to arch whimsy; the inventiveness of old had curdled into mannerism and melancholia." (Sandhu, 2009). Knowledgeable movie lovers were worried when it emerged that Anderson was adapting Roald Dahl's beloved 1970's book Fantastic Mr. Fox into a feature animation. Ali Catterall of Film4 slates the film in her review asking "how much longer are we expected to stand impotently by while Hollywood arrogantly Americanises our every British children's icon?" (Catteral. 2009).

Anderson does semi-Americanise the British Story. He resorts to the old Hollywood cliché of making all the good guys Americans; and all the bad guys the Brits. However, he takes the story in an exciting new direction and is backed by a stellar voice cast, from both sides of the pond. George Clooney is on form as the cunning, (supposedly retired) chicken thief Mr. Fox. Meryl Streep plays the upright Mrs Fox from who he keeps his dinner plans a secret. Nonetheless, Mr Fox endangers his family by battling with the three farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean played by Michael Gambon.

2. Fantastic Fox

3. Evil Brit Farmers

Fantastic Mr. Fox's story does bare similar themes to Anderson's previous works. It has a dysfunctional family many of who display social anxiety's. But he wraps these themes up in a deliciously rendered world. Roger Ebert describes it as "an animated picture with nothing in common with traditional animation, except that it's largely in one of the oldest animation styles of all -- stop motion, the one used in "King Kong." The animals aren't smaller than people but often larger, and more mature." (Ebert. 2009). The retro-tinged animation lends to the 1970's feel appealing to young and old audiences familiar with Dahl's work. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian compares the visual style with that of pioneering animators and artists. He observes "it's like something by Oliver Postgate or Jan Svankmajer, and some might detect a trace of affectation in this olde-worlde effect, but I found it utterly beguiling and entirely consistent with Anderson's quirky homespun aesthetic, his snappily offbeat dialogue and distinctive proscenium-style framing. In its cheerful anarchy and brutality it's very Dahlian – in spirit, anyway." (Bradshaw. 2009)

4. Super stylised visuals

Mature viewers will recognize the painstaking hours endured by the animators to achieve Anderson's look. Younger audiences will marvel at its magic. "Only an idiot would expect profound insights. What we do get, though, is a dazzlingly imaginative and poetically inflected comic caper that offers the tantalizing possibility that Anderson’s best work, far from being a distant memory, is still to come."  (Sandhu, 2009).

Bibliography

Bradshaw, Peter. Guardian review 22nd October 2009

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/22/fantastic-mr-fox-review - Accessed 07/05/12

Catterall, Ali. Film4 review 23rd October 2009

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1197696-fantastic_mr_fox/ - Accessed 07/05/12

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times review 24th November 2009

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091124/REVIEWS/911249995 - Accessed 07/05/12

Sandhu, Sukhdev. Daily Telegraph review 23rd October 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/6408554/Fantastic-Mr-Fox-review.html - Accessed 07/05/12

Illustrations

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox Poster

http://www.impawards.com/2009/fantastic_mr_fox.html - Accessed 07/05/12

2. Fantastic Fox

http://highdefnews.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/fantastic-mr-fox-blu-ray-review.html - Accessed 07/05/12

3. 3. Evil Brit Farmers

http://screenrant.com/fantastic-mr-fox-reviews-kofi-36221/ - Accessed 07/05/12

4. Super stylised visuals

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/nov/04/wes-anderson-fantastic-mr-fox - Accessed 07/05/12

World Animation Review (Ireland) - The Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells - 2009

Director - Tom Moore

1. The Secret of Kells - Poster

Plot summary / review:

Set in Medieval Ireland, The Secret of Kells tells the story of a young monk, Brendan (Evan McGuire) and the creation of the sacred "book of the Kells". Brendan has lived his whole life behind a fortified outpost called the Abbey. It is under constant construction by his uncle, Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson), to protect from invading Vikings. Brendan is captivated by the arrival of travelling wise man and "illuminator" Brother Aidan, protector of the sacred book.

2. Brendan and Brother Aidan

Inspired by brother Aidan, Brendan's dormant 'illustrative' talents are awakened. It can be argued that one of the films underlying message revolves around the discovery and wonder of arts, crafts and nature.  Brendan ventures outside of the walls and into the surrounding forests to gather nuts to use as ink to help complete the book. There he meets a mysterious, forest dwelling, fairy-like girl called Aisling. Using her powers, she helps guide Brendan into the brave new world.

3. Brendan and Aisling

The Secret of the Kells is clearly a labour of love by director Tom Moore. "The story is a bit tangled, and there is too much of it packed into nearly 80 minutes, but little kids won’t be bothered when the animation is so magical." (Clark. 2010). Although the plot revolves around the sacred book illustrating the four gospels, it is never fully explored or explained. It is however at the heart of the films greatest success, it's visual style and design. Every shot of the film is "filled with patterns and borders, arches and frames, do-dads and scrimshaw images. The colors are bold and bright; the drawings are simplified and 2-D. That reflects the creation of the original book in the centuries before the discovery of perspective during the Renaissance." (Ebert. 2010).

4. Artistry

Moore's film was rightfully nominated for "Best Animated Film" at the Oscars in 2009. It doesn't quite reach the heights of it's competitors, including Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Henry Selick's Coraline (2009) and the eventual winner Up (2009) by Pixar. However it "is a rare example of The Academy using its powers for good, since the word-of-mouth that's followed has garnered it a UK cinema release, as well as guaranteeing that more than a handful of people at festivals will see it. And see it you must." (Ivan. 2010). Even if it is just to marvel and the beguiling animation.

Bibliography

Clark, Cath. Time Out Review - 29th September 2010

http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/86834/the-secret-of-kells.html

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times review - 31st March 2010

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100331/REVIEWS/100339983 - Accessed 01/05/12

Ivan, Sophie. Film4 Review - 6th October 2010

http://www.film4.com/reviews/2009/the-secret-of-kells - Accessed 01/05/12

Illustrations

1. Poster

http://www.impawards.com/2010/secret_of_kells_ver2.html - Accessed 01/05/12

2. Brendan and Brother Aidan

http://filetraffic.eu/s/secret%20of%20kells - Accessed 01/05/12

3. Brendan and Aisling

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jul/07/movies-secret-of-kells-animation-flat-and-just - Accessed 01/05/12

4. Artistry

http://www.blogography.com/archives/2010/10/amazonia.html - Accessed 01/05/12

Watership Down - World animation reviews (UK)

Watership Down - 1978

Director - Martin Rosen

1. Watership Down - Poster

Plot summary / review:

Based on English author Richard Adam's novel, Watership Down is an established classic, endlessly repeated on British television. It was originally directed by John Hubley who left early in production after completing the opening scene. Martin Rose took over the reigns, recruiting an impressive cast of British film, television and theater stars including John Hurt and Richard Briers. It's a rare animation that still manages to appeal to audiences of all ages. Richard Schickel of Time magazine states at the time of it's release that it "keeps kids on the edge of their chairs without inducing in their parents an overwhelming desire to escape theirs for a smoke in the lobby." (Schickel. 1978).

Set in Hampshire, England (where Adam's grew up), the story revolves around a group of rabbits living in their warren. An intuitive young runt rabbit called Fiver receives a terrorizing vision of the imminent destruction of their home. Fiver and his brother Hazel try to convince the chief rabbit to evacuate but are unsuccessful. Lead by Hazel, a small group of rabbits set off on a dangerous journey to find a new home.

2. Fiver's visions

3. The journey begins

The film has a realistic, sensitive and unsentimental style. It does suffer "at times from rather minimal animation, which, along with the limited range of expression in the naturalistic animal faces, often contrasts with the dramatic voice performances by the excellent cast." (Cavalier. 236:2011). This is atoned by strong character designs and sumptuous environments akin to John Constables watercolour paintings.

4. Watercolour environments

Marketed as a family friendly, mainstream film, Watership Down is no cute children's story. There is a powerful sense of danger throughout the film culminating in a gory final battle. Rosen's film is a brave and uncompromising story that "ultimately works because it doesn't dilute the violence and drama of Adams' book with a rose-tinted lens." (Luck. 2008). Combined with Art Garfunkal's powerful, emotional soundtrack "Bright Eyes" (1978), Watership Down is rightfully considered as one of the greatest animations of all time.

5. Uncompromising violence

Bibliography

Cavalier, Stephen. (2011). The World History of Animation. UK. Rotovision

Luck, Richard. Film4 review 3rd September 2008

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/watership_down/reviews/#type=top_critics - Accessed 11/04/12

Schickel, Richard. Time Magazine review 13th November 1978

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946188,00.html?promoid=googlep - Accessed 11/04/12

Illustrations

1. Watership Down - Poster

http://www.impawards.com/1978/watership_down.html - Accessed 11/04/12

2. Fiver's Vision

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/oct/11/kids-films-library-children-recommend - Accessed 11/04/12

3. The journey begins

http://members.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/waterdn.html - Accessed 11/04/12

4. Watercolour environments

http://watership-down.tumblr.com/post/8082088450 - Accessed 11/04/12

5. Uncompromising violence

http://www.lionking.org/~watership/wdfilm.html - Accessed 11/04/12

Yellow Submarine - World Animation review (UK)

Yellow Submarine - 1968

Director - George Dunning

1. Yellow Submarine Poster

Plot summary / review:

Director George Dunning's Yellow Submarine is widely considered to be an icon of British history and animation. Released in 1968, it fuses experimental art with exploratory music from "The Beatles". It was released "after the Summer of Love but before Woodstock, when the Beatles stood astride the world of pop music, and ``psychedelic art'' had such an influence that people actually read underground newspapers printed in orange on yellow paper. " (Ebert. 1999).  The movie also fuses a third popular subject of that era and is filled with non-subtle references to hallucinogenic drugs.

The Yellow Submarine is a reflection of societies relaxed views on the swinging sixties. On paper, the plot resembles a script for Saturday morning cartoons, only written by a teenager experimenting with said hallucinogenics. Time magazine refers to Submarine as  a"two-hour pot high" but "still a breakthrough combination of the feature film and art's intimacy with the unconscious." (Time. 2008)

2. Psychedelic art

The basic plot opens in Pepperland which is invaded by the Blue Meanies. They turn the music loving inhabitants to stone and drain away their colour. Old Fred, the conductor of the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, escapes in the Yellow Submarine to enlist the help of the Beatles. They embark on a "trip" (in every sense of the word) to save Pepperland with their songs, eleven of which are featured throughout. 

3. Blue Meanies

4. Sgt. Peppers

It is commonly misconceived that the Beatles voiced their characters, however they only "redo old songs or appear once, in person, briefly, in one of their worst acted appearances ever." (Adler. 1968). Despite this the Yellow Submarine has a cult following.  The older audience sing-along to their songs and muse over the sixties references.  Contemporary teenagers snigger at the suggestion of drugs. The younger modern audience won't understand the jokes or references to art. The Beatles songs contribute to the film but the animation has not dated well, which may explain a 3D revamp due for 2014. 

5. The Beatles

Bibliography

Adler, Renata. New York Times Review 14th November 1968

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF173DAF2CA7494CC1B779948D6896&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes 

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times Review 5th September 1999

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19990905/REVIEWS08/909050301/1023

Time Magazine Reveiew 4th September 2008

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beatles_the_yellow_submarine/reviews/?type=top_critics

Illustrations

1. Yellow Submarine Poster

http://www.cinemasterpieces.com/cine_Y.htm - Accessed 06/04/12

2. Pyschedelic art

http://thewanderingimage.blogspot.co.uk/2011_07_01_archive.html - Accessed 06/04/12

3. Blue Meanies

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/quiz/beatles-yellow-submarine-766752/ - Accessed 06/04/12

4. Sgt Peppers

http://www.cornel1801.com/1/y/YELLOW-SUBMARINE/movie_film.html - Accessed 06/04/12

5. The Beatles

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beatles/+images/2711544 - Accessed 06/04/12

Belleville Rendez-vous - World Animation reviews (France)

Les Triplettes De Bellville (French Title) - Belleville Rendez-vous (English title) - 2003

Director - Sylvain Chomet

1. The Triplets of Bellville Poster

Plot summary / review:

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times describes Bellville Rendezvous as "creepy, eccentric, eerie, flaky, freaky, funky, grotesque, inscrutable, kinky, kooky, magical, oddball, spooky, uncanny, uncouth and unearthly. Especially uncouth." (Ebert. 2003). All of these descriptions are accurate, however, it is also charming, engrossing, touching and oddly beautiful.

The first feature animation by French Director Sylvain Chomet revolves around Champion, a small orphaned boy living with his grandmother. He dreams of one day competing in the Tour De-France. His grandmother (Madame Souza) encourages his dream by buying him a trike. As he grows into a man, he is ferociously  trained by Madame Souza and their faithful dog Bruno.

2. Young Champion

3. Grown up Champion

Whilst competing, Champion is kidnapped by a group of Mafia gangsters and taken to a New York-esque city filled with wonderfully over the top stereotypes.  Champion is used in underground gambling scheme ruled by a French Mafia boss. Madame Souza and Bruno set off on an elaborate rescue mission. Along the way they befriend The Triplets of Bellville, ageing 30's jazz musicians with an unhealthy appetite for frogs.

4. The Triplets of Belleville

Bellville is a wonderfully odd animation throughout. Its eccentric story is complimented with grand, surreal, beautifully rendered environments. It somehow manages to be gloomy and funny, often in the very same scene. This also translates into the character design as Richard Corliss of Time Magazine observes, stating  "the old woman is stocky and clubfooted, a compact metaphor for stubborn dedication; her grandson is so spindly he could ride Giacometti's Chariot; Bruno the dog has more personality than 101 Dalmatians." (Corliss. 2008). Chomet's universe pushes the laws of physics and physiology to the extreme, but to hilarious effect. In a market ruled by computer generated animation, Bellville is a reminder that traditional animation is not dead. It demonstrates that a good story, combined with outstanding character and environment designs can still be popular, no matter how peculiar it is.

Bibliography

Corliss, Richard. Time Magazine Reveiew 4th September 2008

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_triplets_of_belleville/reviews/?type=top_critics - Accessed 04/04/12

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times Movie Review 26th December 2003

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031226/REVIEWS/312260303 - Accessed 04/04/12

Illustrations

1. The Triplets of Bellville Poster

http://movieposters.2038.net/movieid-525 - Accessed 04/04/12

2.Young Champion

http://www.cinergie.be/film/triplettes_de_belleville_les - Accessed 04/04/12

3.Grown up Champion

http://alpenatweed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/triplets-of-belleville.html - Accessed 04/04/12

4.The Triplets of Belleville

http://vjmorton.wordpress.com/2003/09/14/tiff-day-six-first-part-with-grades-from-days-9-and-10/ - Accessed 04/04/12

Persepolis - World Animation Review (France)

Persepolis - 2008

Directors - Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi

1. Persepolis poster

Plot summary / review:

Persepolis is an autobiography based on Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, who co-writes and directs with Vincent Paronnaud. It's not a direct frame-by-frame recreation of the original books,  Satrapi and Paronnaud use the animated format to recast certain scenes and expand them into different directions. The result is a film that manages to stand alone in it's own medium whilst remaining faithful to its source material.

It tells the story of young, outspoken Marjane, an Iranian girl growing up in the 1970's during the Islamic revolution. Marjane is a feisty but vulnerable character with a unbiased love of Western trash culture. Her doting family ceaselessly campaign against the Shah, some of whom endure harassment and even imprisonment. Her secular family welcome the revolution when it finally arrives regardless of the overenthusiastic Theocrats patrolling the streets. Anna Smith of the BBC notes "Despite dealing with adult themes such as interrogation, imprisonment, drugs and sexual awakenings, there's a delightfully childlike element to Persepolis." (Smith. 2008). 

2. Young Marjane and her family

The animation and visual style submerges the audience in Marjanes childlike view of the world but does not sugar coat it. "The style is deliberately two-dimensional, avoiding the illusion of depth in current animation. This approach may sound spartan, but it is surprisingly involving, wrapping us in this autobiography that distills an epoch into a young women's life." (Ebert. 2008). As Marjane grows into a teenager, the society she thought she lived in has disappeared. After nearly being arrested for wearing make-up, her family reluctantly send her to Europe to live with friends.

3. Hostile environment

Marjane's time in Europe becomes chaotic. Surrounded by a vastly different society full of casual sex and drugs, her suppressed raged is triggered and she loses herself. Homesick and disgusted with herself she is left with a dilemma; return home and lose her individuality, or stay and give up her home. She returns to Iran and discovers it is even more hostile than she remembers. The home she grew up in no longer exists.

4. Grown up Marjane

Persepolis "is one of those rare things in the cinema: a movie with an urgent new story to tell and an urgent new way of telling it." (Bradshaw. 2005). It's an emotionally hard hitting, deeply personal, often very funny coming of age story that's far more interesting than its Western counterparts. It's visual style and engaging narrative make it's political message easy to swallow whilst remaining easily identifiable to a range of audiences.

Bibliography

Bradshaw, Peter 25th April 2005

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/apr/25/animation.drama - Accessed 03/04/12

Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times review 17th January 2008

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/REVIEWS/801170305 - Accessed 03/04/12

Smith, Anna. BBC Review 22nd April 2008

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2008/04/21/persepolis_2008_review.shtml - Accessed 03/04/12

Illustrations

1. Persepolis Poster 

http://www.impawards.com/2007/persepolis_ver3.html - Accessed 03/04/12

2. Young Marjane and her family

http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=439 - Accessed 03/04/12

3.Hostile environment

http://sporadicsequential.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/best-comic-book-movie-ever-plus-pretty.html Accessed 03/04/12

4. Grown up Marjane

http://crookedcorners.blogspot.co.uk/ - Accessed 03/04/12