Quick Film Reviews #24
Mulholland Drive
Just to be absolutely clear, Mulholland Drive makes no sense. It feels like many of the ideas or possible storylines have been cut off half way through, before anything is developed or tied together. It's a film you go along with for the atmosphere or experience. And that atmosphere is... Hollywood is sinister and weird? I didn't really get into it.
Robocop
I don't think I'd ever seen Robocop all the way through before, so my friend Nick lent it to me. I wonder if Robocop isn't an inversion of the normal template, and if this accounts for its longevity. Typically in a science-fiction or fantasy story, the bad guy is slow-moving and invulnerable while the protagonists dash about. In Robocop, everything is slowed down to the pace of the main character. (I still might prefer the musical though.)
Lebanon
Lebanon is film shot entirely from inside a tank. I think they amplified the sound from outside a bit, but the only views you get are through the vehicles gunsight. Sometimes people drop down into the turret. As the film progresses, the setting takes on the feel of a mine or an underwater cave. I didn't think it was an especially good film, but the unique concept definitely makes it worth a watch.
My Neighbour Totoro
Amy said Studio Ghibli's iconic film is "overhyped". She was expecting more catbus style weirdness, where the film is actually restrained in its use of magical elements. I liked it more, possibly due to being more amused by small children. Some day I'm going to do a chart showing how much time in each Ghibli film consists of girls running really fast.
Before Sunrise
Amy and I had a bit of a discussion about this film. In particular, how much of the film is a reflection of how people (or at least, people like the characters) get to know one another? Much of what they say is only superficially profound, if that, but does it really matter? Ultimately, in a film about two people talking and falling in love, you have to fall in love a little with the characters, and I don't think either of us did that.
Just to be absolutely clear, Mulholland Drive makes no sense. It feels like many of the ideas or possible storylines have been cut off half way through, before anything is developed or tied together. It's a film you go along with for the atmosphere or experience. And that atmosphere is... Hollywood is sinister and weird? I didn't really get into it.
Robocop
I don't think I'd ever seen Robocop all the way through before, so my friend Nick lent it to me. I wonder if Robocop isn't an inversion of the normal template, and if this accounts for its longevity. Typically in a science-fiction or fantasy story, the bad guy is slow-moving and invulnerable while the protagonists dash about. In Robocop, everything is slowed down to the pace of the main character. (I still might prefer the musical though.)
Lebanon
Lebanon is film shot entirely from inside a tank. I think they amplified the sound from outside a bit, but the only views you get are through the vehicles gunsight. Sometimes people drop down into the turret. As the film progresses, the setting takes on the feel of a mine or an underwater cave. I didn't think it was an especially good film, but the unique concept definitely makes it worth a watch.
My Neighbour Totoro
Amy said Studio Ghibli's iconic film is "overhyped". She was expecting more catbus style weirdness, where the film is actually restrained in its use of magical elements. I liked it more, possibly due to being more amused by small children. Some day I'm going to do a chart showing how much time in each Ghibli film consists of girls running really fast.
Before Sunrise
Amy and I had a bit of a discussion about this film. In particular, how much of the film is a reflection of how people (or at least, people like the characters) get to know one another? Much of what they say is only superficially profound, if that, but does it really matter? Ultimately, in a film about two people talking and falling in love, you have to fall in love a little with the characters, and I don't think either of us did that.