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{ Zoolanders } || watched in 2012

Last fall, I attended the movie screening with my roommate and her high school friends at Young Life on the Greek Row. We came away from this movie with just this word: "weird." It was so weird and outlandish and absurd and most definitely over the top with male and female models/fashionistas competing for dominance in the fashion world. What I can give this movie credit, though, is the use of bizarre costuming and specific makeup for its characters, and how distinctly personable everyone was! It was not very predictable, which is nice and makes some scenes memorable. Still, there were a couple of moments when I had to turn away from the movie just because it felt uncomfortable (most noticeably the part when the main character, a disgraced model, has to prove himself). ZOOLANDERS is definitely a movie that is not meant to be taken seriously, and everyone gave an amazingly over the top performance. Seriously, I'd rate this five point five out of ten stars.

#zoolanders #365 films

{ Mohabbatein } || watched in 2012

Very lovely movie. Watched this at a friend's house with English subtitles which were, for the most part, good. This is a romantic-musical film that focuses on three couples who met in different circumstances as well as this music teacher who challenges the stone-cold tradition of no-romance-or-be-expelled established by the elder principal of the boys-only school. It is kind of Harry Potter-esque, at least during the Umbridge era / Year 5.

There is a lot of dancing, and the celebration of Holi is included at one point in this movie, so you'd have to really like Bollywood music and spontaneous dances to enjoy this film. It also lasts an unusual amount--but usual for Bollywood movies--of time: three hours. For me, it was a bit challenging for me to really adjust to the slow and dramatic pace of the film.

The most interesting part, though, is the MUSIC. Like, man, I don't know what to say. All I can remember a few months later after the fact is that there was this huge suspense music like duuun-duuun-duuun with camera zooms or pans in onto the teacher and the principal as they face each other (which they do a ridiculous lot). The movie plays a lot with outright symbolism and parallelism using the three couples in love with each other to reflect the teacher's own love, who unfortunately died. The story was simple, but good.

Would rate this movie seven out of ten stars!

#mohabbatein #365 films

{ The Cabin in the Woods } || watched in 2012

Where do I even begin with this? I watched this as part of my first meeting with a... um, religious organization and it was really scary like-- why did they end up choosing this? Was it random? Such an odd choice.

Anyway, I digress. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is an excellent horror-comedy movie, though at times it can be too scary (at least for my tastes!). Joss Whedon doesn't hesitate to explore the numerous horror tropes that I think horror fans will be pleased with: a group of friends decide to stay in a lonely cabin in the woods even though it's certainly a recipe for disasters. Even this group of friends embody the stereotypes: a blonde, a jock, a nerd, a virgin, and a stoner. There's some clever use of a fourth wall within a wall, if you will. I enjoyed the plot twist, but dang the visual effects AND sound effects make everything even more scarier than they should be. So much suspense and so much tension that I covered my eyes throughout some graphic scenes. There is blood, and a whole lot at that, especially towards the ending so you'd best be ready when/if you watch it.

I'd rate this 7 out of 10 stars for not making me sick or vomit! It was just scary; again, horror movies are a refined taste for many movie buffs.

#365 films #the cabin in the woods

things to do:

review movies/books from 2012

cabin in the woods

zoolanders

mohabbatein

wreck-it ralph

brave

what's left of me

current movies/books in 2013

act of valor

sinbad: the legend of seven seas

oz the great and powerful

scooby doo / alien invaders (re-watch)

tokyo heist

{ Galaxy Express 999 }

I really enjoyed the story and characters; the character designs, albeit distinctly 80s, really grew on me. The female characters were especially given respect that they deserve, and they all passed the Bechdel test with flying colors. At the same time, this movie has one of the worst cinematography I have ever seen, such as the constant pans and zooms. It's not as bad as All Dogs Go to Heaven, which made a younger me incredibly dizzy when it aired on Cartoon Network. I found this movie whilst browsing my library for some DVDs, and I thought I would try watching an animated 80s movie. I also thought that it would tie in with Mawaru Penguindrum, but after watching, I realized that it was inspired by the same source material: Night on the Galaxy Road by Kenji Miyazawa. Overall, I would rate this film seven out of ten, because I grew up in the 90s so I wasn't exposed to the 80s cartoons and movies as much.

#galaxy express 999 #365 films

{ Redline }

What a movie! Redline is a fascinating example of how much visuals can overtake the film by more than a mile, and it features many interesting angles and perspectives. Everything felt so fast-paced and even the "quiet" moments were short-lived. That could be one of its many faults--although the visuals definitely appealed to me, its story and character development, save for Sonoshee and JP, felt very lacking. It's supposed to be set in Roboworld, a dystopian world, yet we don't know very much about its culture other than it's heavily militaristic and that they harbor a dark secret: a bioweapon called Funky Boy. For me, I don't think the movie would find a place on my favorite list, since it is so full of adrenaline; I would only watch select scenes such as the final race, which was mesmerizing. For now, I'd rate it 6.5 out of 10 stars. Definitely recommend this for racer and action fans, and definitely don't recommend this for people who have medical problems such as epilepsy.

#redline #365 films

{ Paranorman }

What a lovely, lovely movie! Even from just a few shots, it's extremely easy to draw conclusions from the rich scenery, layered with the classic Massachussetts town atmosphere, and the lighting is just so spectacular. I loved the plot, especially the theme (#weirdwins), and the climax definitely was amazing--it offered a fresh take on the outcast trope. The movie is more realistic and grounded, and you could see how modern issues (as well as the actual staff who used to be considered "weird" themselves) affected the plot; it was also sprinkled with horror movie tropes so it's a special treat for horror fans.

Out of all characters, Norman's sister Courtney was the best. Although I don't really care for her personality, her voice actress Anna Kennick expertly makes her come alive and her animation--the expressions and gestures--was absolutely flawless. Norman's personality, conveyed through his words, gait, and gestures, was also lovely--a soft-spoken protagonist in an animated feature for a change! The stop-motion animation sometimes is obvious, especially in the beginning when the characters are lip-syncing, but it adds partly to Paranorman's charm, and it isn't as obvious during high-speed scenes.

The marketing campaign deserves a special mention in this review. Artistically wise, it is perfect and definitely stirs interest among aspiring graphic designers, illustrators, animators, and bloggers--basically the demographic who spends time on the Internet. There have been cases of mysterious presents sent to various adults who were weird as kids, so I'd encourage you to look these up. The LAIKA team is very creative in all aspects of producing and promoting the movie.

I would recommend Paranorman to older children, horror movie fans, stop-motion fans or fans of animation in general, and finally people who felt, or are feeling, like outcasts because they were not considered normal. I think Paranorman really speaks to them, especially the reality of different types of bullying and ostracism. I highly suspect it was inspired by the everlasting issue of bullying, which intensified especially against the LGBTQ youth in September and October 2010. Hence, Paranorman gets 9 stars out of 10 stars for its thoughtful way of dealing with a very real issue, made accessible to an all-ages audience.

#paranorman #365 films

{ The Hunger Games }

Watched this the first or second week it opened in the movie theaters! Or was it the first day? I don't remember anymore, but from what I can remember, it was a lovely movie, albeit a bit too "indie" for me--the shaky camera movements, which captured the sense of being there with Katniss (from her POV), and not as much voice-over which I appreciated. It was good, since it was very faithful to the book with some liberties taken to the physical appearance of characters and the setting. To be fair, not much happened in the first book, so I liked the extra scene with President Snow and Seneca Crane; it adds more depth to the understanding of Suzanne Collins' vision. Overall, I would rate this movie eight stars out of ten.

#the hunger games #365 films

{ Hairspray (2007) }

After a long hiatus, I bring to you a new post! This time, it is a Hollywood movie called Hairspray (2007). Yes, it is a remake of the original Hairspray, but having never seen the original movie, I cannot make an accurate comparison.

Naturally, this musical film features many, many, many songs, sometimes a bit tacky, but nevertheless adds to the feel-good mood. The main character, Tracy, is definitely not your everyday heroine: despite her body, she's easy-going and has an aspiring dream of starring in The Corny Collins Show, while at the same time supports racial integration. I enjoyed that the movie wasn't solely all musical numbers and that there was an underlying plot, albeit a bit cheesy since the antagonist is the pompous, racist Velma, manager of the show and mother of Amber, whom she wants to win Miss Teenage Hairspray. The cast was practically half white, half black (and no blackface!), yet only three black people spoke more than a few lines.

I felt a little uneasy with Hollywood's portrayal of overweight people and people of color. It's Tracy who suggests that the blacks should march to save Negro Day (a day where the blacks and whites dance separately on the show), as if the blacks themselves didn't know any better. When asked about why integration should happen, Tracy states that it's simply "the right thing to do"--and that's that. It felt tacked on, although I appreciate that she feels that way at her young age.

Romance, like in most Hollywood movies, felt incredibly rushed. I almost wanted to laugh when Link a.k.a. Zac Efron sang about how much he loves Tracy, which was really weird but I think it was supposed to be a funny musical sequence. I liked that love was showcased in non-traditional ways, or at least non-Hollywood ways. Overall, I would give this movie seven stars out of ten for its optimistic, uplifting entertainment but not something personally worth a re-watch. It's a good popcorn movie.

#hairspray #365 films

animationart

I’m a Monster-Headless Productions

enigmae

I love everything about this, especially the color key. Definitely has some Lilo & Stich vibe goin’ on with those movements! And a little bit of The Incredibles. Overall, a really solid animated short.

#i'm a monster

{ Lilo & Stitch }

I cried during this movie. Chris Sanders definitely shined as an animator and a storyteller. It evokes the themes of loneliness, family ("o'hana -- that means nobody is left behind, or forgotten"), and friendship. It is so lovely, and definitely has a Pixar-like quality in a Disney animation, along with clues in the background. I watched this before when I was smaller -- definitely more than five years ago -- and re-watching this has made me remember what the movie was all about. I also liked how they chose Hawaii as the setting, and how not thin the characters were. Lilo is absolutely a bundle of joy, even though she is eccentric -- much like Stitch! Hello, nine stars out of ten stars! (I don't want to revisit it this soon, but maybe a few years later.)

Also, their teaser trailers deserve ten stars for being clever and creative.

#lilo & stitch

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky is essentially a YA romance set in a futuristic setting, where life is very similar to ours but has become increasingly digitized. Digital School, or DS for short, has become prominent as a way to end wildfires, gun shootings at schools, and chaos that the United States society has found itself in. Even the trees have transformed into plastic versions of themselves that are installed on fake lawns in people's backyards. Real trees do exist; however, people prefer plastic trees because it is "convenient."

At the heart of Awaken is a young seventeen-year-old girl named Madeleine. As the daughter of the pioneer of Digital School, she has lived the life of a "typical" person, cooped up in her home and going out only to attend soccer practices with her friend, who is as technologically wired or "plugged." Although she loves her father, Madeleine doesn't always agree with her father's idea of a Digital School, insisting that DS has "gone too far." The plot begins when she meets Justin, a mysterious boy, at her tutoring group, and as she comes into further contact with him, she realizes that there is more to him than she initially thinks.

And this is where my review begins. I honestly thought that the book had an incredibly strong beginning with the introduction of the invented world -- the digital concerts, the genetically modified food, the trains -- and the promise of a "rebellion." However, as I read further, I was very disappointed by how much romance took precedent, especially in the middle (which is always the hardest part to write well). I believe that this novel fell short of its potential. Clearly, this novel is the first in a series, and I know that I will not be reading the rest of the series. The events that happened that led to the ending felt forced.

With this disappointment in mind, I would duly rate this YA novel a 5 out of 10 stars. It's not a page-turner, but it may be better received by someone who is comfortable with reading slower paced stories.

#awaken

{ Carrot Crazy }

Yet another senior thesis film by Ringling College of Art & Design! It was one of the animated shorts in the reel that Ringling sent me in addition to my acceptance. I actually love this because it brilliantly executes the idea of two rivals competing for a common prize: in this case, a bunny. I was very strongly reminded of Kung Fu Cooking Girls, but with far less martial arts and more comedy. I kept wondering how the other person could possibly top one another, and I have to admit, this is an ingenious work. These students will go onto greater things.

#carrot crazy

{ The Cat Piano }

This is my first time watching an Australian animated short, and it's very beautiful and musical. Very worth my eight minutes of my night time. I highly recommend watching this, as it's somewhat film noir and indulges in dark color schemes (blue, with occasional dashes of red). Eight out of ten stars!

#the cat piano #365 films

{ Fox and the Hound 2 Clip: We're In Harmony }

Why is it so hard to find a trailer for the midquel to The Fox and the Hound? Granted, I've never watched the first movie, so I found the midquel, The Fox and the Hound 2, to be pretty entertaining. Sure, it wasn't very deep or full of emotion, but it does touch on the topic of friendship: What would you do if your best friend started to drift away from you?

I may not be the right age demographic for this movie, but I gotta say that this movie is not that terrible. Not my favorite, definitely, but not a waste of your time totally, especially if you've never seen the original classic. My favorite character in this movie has to be Dixie, an arrogant dog, who is a veteran in the show business of singing. Both she and Cash, another dog who is the self-appointed leader of their group, do change over time.

What surprised me about this movie was that it was animated very decently, unlike Mulan 2, which I've watched many years ago when it first came out and trust me when the animation in Mulan 2 is absolutely awful. The Fox and the Hound 2 is not as mind-cringing to watch and features many soft shadows, some modest use of color schemes, and a lot of country music, which I don't mind anyway. Great for kids!

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 bones

#the fox and the hound 2 #365 films

{ The Great Mouse Detective }

Simply fascinating, simply fascinating. I love how this film seems so filled with what one could consider "adult" material in today's age: Our mouse detective, Basil Rathbone of Baker Street, shares many similarities with Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes, even going as far as to live in the same house as the human detective and play a violin -- yet another traditional trademark. The Great Mouse Detective includes:

Smoking, mainly by Basil

Character death (out of screen)

Drinking, implied drugs

Blackmail, kidnapping

None of the characters consider the topics serious enough to discuss in depth, however, except the blackmail and kidnapping. I love how, even though the villain Dr. Ratigan could be argued as an one-dimensional character (he is), he is successfully malicious in his intent to destroy his enemy, Basil. He has lofty ambitions, and I do think this film could be improved further by adding a redeeming factor to Ratigan's character (think Princess Mononoke, where no one side is truly black and white). Plus, Glen Keane animated his character!

Absolutely adored the homage to the original novel series, even the Reichenbach Falls, and I absolutely loved how well the storyboards panned out, the color key in some sequences, and the expressions of characters that tell us so much, especially the ending when Basil's body language very clearly expresses his feelings for Dawson, the mouse version of Dr. Watson. It was then that I realized that most animated movies in the US involve a musical sequence: I can't imagine a single film that doesn't have one!

Some trivia: This movie is what saved Disney! And led it to its Disney Renaissance. Goodness, I'm now inspired to draw animal characters because I loved, loved, loved reading books about humanized animals when I was very little. If I could go back in time and relive the 90's, I would buy this movie on VHS. And so I'm rating this film 8 out of 10. I very much wish that Pixar would follow the exaggerated poses characteristic of The Great Mouse Detective.

#the great mouse detective #365 films

{ Hugo }

Frankly, I'm surprised that it's continuing to run in theaters even well into February, but then I realized that it's been nominated for what? Eleven Academy Awards / Oscars? Besides, at least a couple of my friends have HIGHLY recommended the movie to me, and all I can say is that my $13 was worth it! I do wish I had arrived earlier so that I wouldn't miss the beginning and that I would get a better seat a bit further away from the big screen.

This movie had awesome music, awesome effects, awesome color scheme, awesome cinematography, awesome 3D effects (though there were definitely some parts that could've been improved, such as those with two kids looking at each other), awesome acting, awesome theme, awesome movies (not Inception!), and basically, the atmosphere was really nice to watch. Hugo did seem more adult, however, whatnot with Scorsese's direction, since it was incredibly serious. I was thinking more about a childish side to it, because apparently Hugo is Scorsese's first movie for families.

I'd like to watch Hugo again, this time in 2D! Sometimes, it was hard to watch the movie because of the annoyingly loud voices and my lame glasses (both 3D and regular). For now, I will rate Hugo a great score of 8.5 out of 10 stars.

#hugo #365 films

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