You’ve probably read this in my Miyazaki reviews possibly a thousand times, and I know if you say something enough it loses its meaning, but, who gives a crap? Miyazaki is a genius. There’s nothing else I can say. Words in the human language can’t express how brilliant Miyazaki is. Should I apologize for repeating this over and over in every review? I wouldn’t have to if you ever saw a film from the director. “My Neighbor Totoro” is the pure essence of Miyazaki. A man with a true clutch on the child spirit and imagination. He knows children, he knows how to touch children’s core emotions, and he uses that to express his wildest machinations. “My Neighbor Totoro” is without a doubt one of the sweetest and most heartbreaking animated films I’ve ever seen. Bar none.
Category Archives: Movie Reviews
March of the Penguins (2005)
The title March of the Penguins really refers to the march of a large tribe of Emperor penguins focused on here that march to a nesting spot, attempt to breed, and then march back and forth finding food to feed the only babies that were able to survive the harsh cold. For those religious whom attempted to pin their ideologies upon this hit documentary, they never really take in to consideration much of what happens here. Regardless though, “March of the Penguins”, the second highest grossing documentary of all time, basically has one objective to show the true nature of the penguin’s journey to pro-create. We see penguins marching, penguins surviving, penguins mating, and penguins attempting to have babies. Obviously that’s not just one objective, but it really does boil down to the purpose of the documentary.
Betty Blowtorch (And Her Amazing True Life Adventures) (2003)
I’ve never heard of Betty Blowtorch before–and after hearing their music, I’m sad I haven’t. I should really start seeking out better bands than what the media hands me. Granted, I only listen to classic rock, but you get my point. “Betty Blowtorch” is quite possibly one of the best rock documentaries I’ve ever seen. It’s the classic tale of a rock band starting out, garnering a fan base, forming a friendship, their attempts at stardom, their inevitable grasp for it, and their imminent downfall thanks to outside sources. Most modern music documentaries prefer to profile bands that suck like They Might Be Giants, or All American Rejects, but this film profiles a band–who doesn’t suck like Paris Hilton in a porno–they’re called Betty Blowtorch, four hard rocking bitches that were a hybrid of KISS, The Runaways, and Motley Crue.
Munich (2005)
A man once said, “If you want peace, prepare for war”, but it’s without a doubt, no one ever retorted with “At what price?” Often times, war is rationalized by those who continue it and those who support it. Collateral Damage, Friendly Fire, and the like are terms used to further downplay the futility of war. I am not a pacifist by any definition of the word. I do not adhere to the mindset of such an ideal, but when it applies to “Munich” and the films ultimate pacifist message, I tend to agree with him and Kushner. “Munich” has been one of the most controversial films of 2005, and in the long run, of all time, and will have you stepping back to re-think not only the 1972 Munich tragedy, but war in general. Spielberg and Kushner through the events of 1972 use that as a template to express their feelings toward the modern world at war. Do the ends justify the means? Does going after terrorists end the war, or does it subject us to even more war?
A History of Violence (2005)
I’m not–a fan of Cronenberg. Yes, I admit it, and no I will not turn in my lifetime membership card, I am a film buff through and through, bitch. As the saying goes, “those who don’t remember the past, are doomed to relive it”. The question is, can we ever leave behind a violent past, or are we doomed to relive it? And does violence in any form ever go away? I was not expecting anything in particular with this film, but I was expecting a bad film. Surprisingly though, this is not a bad film. In fact it’s a great film, and at many times an excellent examination of violence as a concept and as an everyday aspect of our lives. Cronenberg’s direction is on the mark. If you’re expecting an action thriller with gunfights, and fist fights, and sex, well–there’s some of that, but it’s rare, honestly. What you will get though is a thorough, engrossing, and tight explanation on violence, and the cyclical nature of it.
The Wedding Crashers (2005)
I don’t buy in to hype. Something is a masterpiece, the scariest movie in years, or an instant comedy classic, my first impulse is to challenge that idea and seek it out. And when I do, I scrutinize it. Harshly. Narcissism, Vanity, A god complex, dissect that comment as you must, or will, but it’s a routine. A routine that I hold dear. Now, every now and then, I’m proven wrong, and something completely sideswipes me and my expectations. “Wedding Crashers” is, without a doubt, fucking funny. And not just funny, but really fucking funny.
It’s not perfection, not the perfection I’d heard about by any means, but it’s funny, really funny. “Wedding Crashers” is a more than welcome return to risqué, edgy, raunchy, and exploitative comedies. It’s a welcome return to adult comedies. Bye bye safe PG-13 bullshit. Enjoy being played in church socials and elementary schools. Most comedies these days suck, but if you take my opinion as respectable, then I can recommend “Wedding Crashers” as a really funny but flawed venture for the pack of Vaughn/Wilson/Wilson/ Ferrell/Stiller/Robbins/Black whom just seem to be flipping coins to who will star with whom in the next comedy.
John and Jeremy carry on the legacy of their friend Chazz, the great Wedding Crasher. Following the rulebook of wedding crashers loyally, they crash every single wedding and attempt to meet women. But they finally meet their match when they crash the wedding of a local senator’s daughter, and are thrown for a loop by his two daughters. John begins falling for Claire, an independent, and witty girl, while Jeremy attempts to evade the younger sister Gloria–who is very sexy, but just plain insane. Though Wilson does, admittedly have his moments, most of the comedic slack is taken by Vaughn and Fisher, but we’ll get to that. “Wedding Crashers” is an entertaining bit of part sex comedy part romance comedy that really does show these two friends struggling to survive this situation, with Jeremy taking the worst beatings.
He’s shot in the ass, beaten, raped, and everything else, but his devotion to John makes the buddy comedy between Owen and Vince fascinating and it keeps you waiting to see what will break this bond, if it does break. “Wedding Crashers” has some of the more clever, and rapid fire dialogue that really does throw many biting one-liners, and great characterization that I enjoyed, but that’s due in part to the good performances. Rachel McAdams is funny and charming as Claire and gives a very sympathetic supporting role, while Wilson is charming and dials down the usual prerequisite obnoxiousness that he brings along with every single one of his roles. But the real reason to watch? Vince Vaughn and Isla Fisher. Together. Separately. I’m not a fan of Vaughn usually, but in “Wedding Crashers” he shows us what capability he has in a good comedy films that exercises his talents.
Vaughn has one of the funniest characters I’ve seen in a while as a man who just wants to get laid, makes a sacrifice for his friend, and really experiences all sorts of torture for it. While the very sexy Isla Fisher who snuck up on audiences upon its release is laugh out loud hysterical as the insane demented Claire who isn’t afraid to go above and beyond to please Jeremy. She’s insane resorting to all sorts of measures and clinging to him after one sexual encounter. Fisher, wife of Ali G, performs her comedy with ease, and utter flair. She has a knack for physical comedy torturing Jeremy when in doubt of his affection, and Vaughn handles her dementia with finesse. The funniest scenes in the film are between them, and Vaughn is never afraid to steal the scenes from Wilson.
Fisher steals the show with her comedic flair and utter sex appeal, while Vaughn plays off that giving great chemistry. That said, “Crashers” is just way too long featuring a meandering and less funny second half that I found pretty exhausting. While the first half was full of laughs, we enter in to more romance comedy territory that was too boring. It felt as if the movie was already finished and they were dragging it on leading to a really corny unfunny ending that was also incredibly typical with the declaration of love in front of a crowd. You figure for a movie intent on becoming original, they could have pulled off the climax much better in terms of comedy. The rest of the film features appropriately sleazy comedy that just worked, because the cast knew how to handle the humor, and the script never called for ridiculous gags to gauge laughter from the audience.
The hand job scene had me in tears, the quail hunting scene was hysterical, and the football sequence was classic. This was a comedy that was actually funny, and I’m shocked. Despite a lame second half, and an utterly corny climax, “Wedding Crashers” is surprisingly a very funny adult comedy that finally brings us sleazy and very funny humor that is aimed particularly at an audience whom can actually go to the movies without their parents permission. With great acting, hilarious gags, and great writing, it actually lives up to the hype.
Trudell (2006)
Is it ridiculous to think the government killed Trudell’s family? Is it dumb to think the government had it out for Trudell at all? Not when you pile on the evidence. Lennon, Hoffman, Kennedy all were radical thinkers whom are still discussed as men possibly done in by their own government, but the documentary “Trudell” is apologist in every way and form making exception for Trudell who, simply put, incited violence and in many ways had the potential for terrorism. Not only was committing the crime of burning an American flag a possible clue, but he called for revolution and war. The fact he hated America didn’t make him less interesting to me, but the mere fact that he had the potential to be a terrorist in the sense of Guevera makes him a slight threat, thus a reasonable worry for the government.