Miscellaneous Movie Musings the Sequel - Page 40

Alex · 03-14-2010, 10:53 AM

A lot of people did see it. I've seen several reviews that commented on the ickiness in the seeming undercurrent of potential romance between Alice and the Mad Hatter.

I was mildly positive on the movie. Plenty of good stuff and nearly as much awful stuff.

Prudence · 03-14-2010, 04:52 PM

I don't see a daddy-figure being worried about Alice being the "proper" size.

Ghoulish Delight · 03-15-2010, 08:30 AM

We had a really great day yesterday and between laundry, dishes, feedings, vacuuming, yard work, cleaning bunny cages, and playtime, we somehow managed to watch two movies.

Polyester. That's the first John Waters movie I've actually seen. I've long guessed I'd like his movies, just never got around to watching any. It's amazing just how familiar that suburban world is to me. I mean, my family and childhood were not even remotely as dysfunctional as all that, but the suburban trappings it's set in are straight out of my childhood (my parents HAD that couch!). Plus it helped to think of the characters as embodiments of the worst-possible-caricatures of each other that they all imagine. So the bimbo daughter and delinquent son were depictions of what an over-protective mother imagines happens when they're out of sight. And a ludicrously nosy mom who can literally sniff secrets out is how an angsty teen imagines their mom when they've been caught. I think he nailed that.

The second movie was Metoroporisu (Metropolis), the anime version, loosely based on the german silent film of the same name. Loooooosely. Based on in the same way the series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water is "based" on 20,000 leagues in that it has an eccentric guy named Nemo with a submarine, this is "based" on Metropolis in that there are underground workers and a girl who doesn't realize she's a robot.

But that's not to take away from it. I actually rather like the Japanese tendency to pick the bare essentials from an old story like that and splice it into the usual nuclear-arms-race context that you can't blame Japan for obsessing over. I didn't care for the character animation design in Metropolis so much, and it's not the most well constructed film ever, but the setting is gorgeous and the story is fairly compelling. It was worth it just for the scene where the robots come to put out the factory fire.

Cadaverous Pallor · 07-03-2010, 11:33 PM

You're telling me there was never a thread on Alice?? MMM thread, we have a love/hate relationship for sure.

I'll go back and read your posts in a minute.

SPOILERS, of course, it's an old film already, and I'm not using tags.

I loved the whole beginning and a good third of the Wonderland part, but then it lost me. The affronts piled up and the comparisons to Harry Potter and LoTR piled up and the seriousness piled up and the fun leaked out the bottom.

Quick rants:

Mad Hatter as love interest, Scottish warrior? No thanks.

Story entirely too straightforward and fate-laden. I know Carroll included fated requirements of Alice but nothing as huge as this. I think they were going for the storybook fate concept, as in Humpty Dumpty having to fall off the wall, etc, but it just didn't read that way. The desperation of the characters was depressing and the demands of Alice didn't feel like destiny. I got extra mad when the White Queen said it was "her choice", riiight.

Hard to understand even harder to remember names made up for the characters, as well as similarly lame place names - wtf?

Recharacterization of White Queen and especially the Dormouse as Reepicheep, wtf?

Effects made me feel like I could see the green screen, though that may be the actress' fault.

I swear, I was totally on board for the longest time but it totally lost me.

Ok, yeah, enough.

flippyshark · 03-15-2010, 10:30 AM

I love both of those, GD. And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. (Especially after reading some of his more adult manga, as well as his epic biography of the Buddha.) Really, the entire anime/manga industry owes it all to Tezuka. (So do the creators of The Lion King, but that's another story.)

I'm glad you enjoyed Polyester, and I think you've nailed its basic appeal. did you have Odorama cards to scratch and sniff? Did you listen to the commentary? John Waters' commentary tracks are amazing, often funnier than the films themselves.

Now, are you ready for Waters' earlier, cruder and more openly sadistic films? (Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living) I find those hard to sit through, but still kind of fascinating at the same time. And they all have interesting/hilarious commentary tracks on their DVD releases. Go on, rent Pink Flamingos. I double dog dare ya!

Ghoulish Delight · 03-15-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I love both of those, GD. And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. (Especially after reading some of his more adult manga, as well as his epic biography of the Buddha.)

Yeah, I know it's the style. And it grew on my as the movie went on, and in other films I think it's great. But for some whatever reason I thought it hurt this film, dumbed it down a little.

Quote:

Really, the entire anime/manga industry owes it all to Tezuka. (So do the creators of The Lion King, but that's another story.)

And Wall-E. Holy crap did Wall-E lift stuff straight from this film or what?

Cadaverous Pallor · 03-15-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me.

Ah, ok. I thought it was purely an attempt to use 1930's comics and animation elements (pie eyes) to echo the 1930's style architecture etc. To that end, if they had taken it to the nth degree and had the characters look like Steamboat Willie but in color, it might have been awesome.

Otherwise, it was beautiful.

Gemini Cricket · 03-30-2010, 12:51 PM

How to Train Your Dragon

Loved it!

I highly recommend it.

Spoiler:

flippyshark · 03-15-2010, 01:43 PM

The original Tezuka Metropolis manga was published in 1949, and the 2001 animated film retains its character designs, but they decided to render the environment digitally (and as pointed out, quite beautifully). The resulting contrast in detail and dimensionality is indeed striking, maybe even jarring, but unique.

Snowflake · 03-15-2010, 01:47 PM

This is just 27 different kinds of wrong.....

HBO remake with Kate Winslet as Mildred, Guy Pearce as Monte

EW report is here

5 hour mini-series? Jeebus the nice tight 111 minutes does quite nicely.

They going to cast Ann Blyth as Mrs. Biederhoffer?

03-14-2010, 10:53 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	A lot of people did see it. I've seen several reviews that commented on the ickiness in the seeming undercurrent of potential romance between Alice and the Mad Hatter. I was mildly positive on the movie. Plenty of good stuff and nearly as much awful stuff.
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03-14-2010, 04:52 PM	#2
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I don't see a daddy-figure being worried about Alice being the "proper" size. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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03-15-2010, 08:30 AM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	We had a really great day yesterday and between laundry, dishes, feedings, vacuuming, yard work, cleaning bunny cages, and playtime, we somehow managed to watch two movies. Polyester. That's the first John Waters movie I've actually seen. I've long guessed I'd like his movies, just never got around to watching any. It's amazing just how familiar that suburban world is to me. I mean, my family and childhood were not even remotely as dysfunctional as all that, but the suburban trappings it's set in are straight out of my childhood (my parents HAD that couch!). Plus it helped to think of the characters as embodiments of the worst-possible-caricatures of each other that they all imagine. So the bimbo daughter and delinquent son were depictions of what an over-protective mother imagines happens when they're out of sight. And a ludicrously nosy mom who can literally sniff secrets out is how an angsty teen imagines their mom when they've been caught. I think he nailed that. The second movie was Metoroporisu (Metropolis), the anime version, loosely based on the german silent film of the same name. Loooooosely. Based on in the same way the series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water is "based" on 20,000 leagues in that it has an eccentric guy named Nemo with a submarine, this is "based" on Metropolis in that there are underground workers and a girl who doesn't realize she's a robot. But that's not to take away from it. I actually rather like the Japanese tendency to pick the bare essentials from an old story like that and splice it into the usual nuclear-arms-race context that you can't blame Japan for obsessing over. I didn't care for the character animation design in Metropolis so much, and it's not the most well constructed film ever, but the setting is gorgeous and the story is fairly compelling. It was worth it just for the scene where the robots come to put out the factory fire. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-03-2010, 11:33 PM	#4
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	You're telling me there was never a thread on Alice?? MMM thread, we have a love/hate relationship for sure. I'll go back and read your posts in a minute. SPOILERS, of course, it's an old film already, and I'm not using tags. I loved the whole beginning and a good third of the Wonderland part, but then it lost me. The affronts piled up and the comparisons to Harry Potter and LoTR piled up and the seriousness piled up and the fun leaked out the bottom. Quick rants: Mad Hatter as love interest, Scottish warrior? No thanks. Story entirely too straightforward and fate-laden. I know Carroll included fated requirements of Alice but nothing as huge as this. I think they were going for the storybook fate concept, as in Humpty Dumpty having to fall off the wall, etc, but it just didn't read that way. The desperation of the characters was depressing and the demands of Alice didn't feel like destiny. I got extra mad when the White Queen said it was "her choice", riiight. Hard to understand even harder to remember names made up for the characters, as well as similarly lame place names - wtf? Recharacterization of White Queen and especially the Dormouse as Reepicheep, wtf? Effects made me feel like I could see the green screen, though that may be the actress' fault. I swear, I was totally on board for the longest time but it totally lost me. Ok, yeah, enough. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
	Submit to Quotes

03-15-2010, 10:30 AM	#5
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	I love both of those, GD. And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. (Especially after reading some of his more adult manga, as well as his epic biography of the Buddha.) Really, the entire anime/manga industry owes it all to Tezuka. (So do the creators of The Lion King, but that's another story.) I'm glad you enjoyed Polyester, and I think you've nailed its basic appeal. did you have Odorama cards to scratch and sniff? Did you listen to the commentary? John Waters' commentary tracks are amazing, often funnier than the films themselves. Now, are you ready for Waters' earlier, cruder and more openly sadistic films? (Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living) I find those hard to sit through, but still kind of fascinating at the same time. And they all have interesting/hilarious commentary tracks on their DVD releases. Go on, rent Pink Flamingos. I double dog dare ya!
	Submit to Quotes

03-30-2010, 12:51 PM	#8
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	How to Train Your Dragon Loved it! I highly recommend it. Spoiler: It's sort of a expanded version of The Reluctant Dragon. It's wonderful.
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03-15-2010, 01:43 PM	#9
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	The original Tezuka Metropolis manga was published in 1949, and the 2001 animated film retains its character designs, but they decided to render the environment digitally (and as pointed out, quite beautifully). The resulting contrast in detail and dimensionality is indeed striking, maybe even jarring, but unique.
	Submit to Quotes

03-15-2010, 01:47 PM	#10
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	HBO is making Mildred Pierce into a mini-series This is just 27 different kinds of wrong..... HBO remake with Kate Winslet as Mildred, Guy Pearce as Monte EW report is here 5 hour mini-series? Jeebus the nice tight 111 minutes does quite nicely. They going to cast Ann Blyth as Mrs. Biederhoffer? __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
	Submit to Quotes