High Spirits
Well, I survived the trip to New York, so I figured that my exploits (or lack thereof) would make for interesting fodder for a journal entry. To sum up how I got to New York - for those of you whom I didn’t tell - Penn State’s film society, of which I am a member, holds an annual trip to a part of New York City that apparently has a lot of good art house theaters. I was particularly interested in going since I’ve been itching for some time now to see a fairly obscure movie called “Spirited Away,” and I was lucky enough that a theater in the area we visited was showing it that day. I probably would have seen more films if things in New York didn’t cost so damn much; maybe some of you reading this will just think I’m a cheapskate, but doesn’t ten dollars seem like WAY too much to pay for a trip to the theater? That just seems overly expensive for two hours worth of entertainment.
However, “Spirited Away” was even better than I expected, and considering the fact that I was expecting a masterpiece, I definitely walked away damn impressed. It’s arguably the best film I’ve seen so far this year, although “Minority Report” is a very close second. It’s such a shame that it’s not playing anywhere nearby, but if you’re out and find an artsy theater showing it, I highly recommend a viewing. For the record, it’s a Japanese animated film (although it’s been translated into English) about a young girl who is forced to work at a mystical vacation resort for spirits and other supernatural creatures. I realize that description must make it sound bizarre and distant, but I can’t stress enough how much this film pulls you into another world - we’re talking serious, vaguely drug-induced feelings of “whoa” here. If you’ve ever wondered why more movies can’t be the slightest bit innovative, you must check it out.
Anyway, I’ve spent enough time extolling the virtues of “Spirited Away.” Tomorrow I’ll be back with more on my trip to New York, including observations of mine about the crazy stuff I witnessed. Until then…
I’m out.
However, “Spirited Away” was even better than I expected, and considering the fact that I was expecting a masterpiece, I definitely walked away damn impressed. It’s arguably the best film I’ve seen so far this year, although “Minority Report” is a very close second. It’s such a shame that it’s not playing anywhere nearby, but if you’re out and find an artsy theater showing it, I highly recommend a viewing. For the record, it’s a Japanese animated film (although it’s been translated into English) about a young girl who is forced to work at a mystical vacation resort for spirits and other supernatural creatures. I realize that description must make it sound bizarre and distant, but I can’t stress enough how much this film pulls you into another world - we’re talking serious, vaguely drug-induced feelings of “whoa” here. If you’ve ever wondered why more movies can’t be the slightest bit innovative, you must check it out.
Anyway, I’ve spent enough time extolling the virtues of “Spirited Away.” Tomorrow I’ll be back with more on my trip to New York, including observations of mine about the crazy stuff I witnessed. Until then…
I’m out.