Monty ,'Trash'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
I saw Volver last night and it was wonderful. I'm always amazed at the great performances Almodovar gets out of Penelope Cruz. I never think much of her in general but in this movie (and in All About My Mother , my favorite Almodovar movie) she's excellent. Also? HOTT!!! Anyway, fabulous movie!
Miyazaki fans: Is My Neighbor Totoro acceptable for a two-year-old? I'm not remembering anything graphic (like in Princess Mononoke ) or scary (like in Spirited Away ), but am I forgetting anything?
GC: Definitely.
Definitely acceptable? I really want to start the niece off young in developing a love of all things Japanese so we can geek out together. She's already down with Hello Kitty.
I was just going through the Flick Filosopher's site, and found her review of Stranger Than Fiction, which she loves and compares to Groundhog Day in both its style and star, and its potential to become an instant classic.
I'm definitely going to see this film, since that's not the first excellent review I've read of it.
her review of Stranger Than Fiction, which she loves and compares to Groundhog Day in both its style and star
Well, that's all I need to hear, really. I already wanted to see it. Thanks for the review, Kathy.
Definitely acceptable? I really want to start the niece off young in developing a love of all things Japanese so we can geek out together. She's already down with Hello Kitty.
Yes, indeed. The plot development may be a little confusing for the toddler mind, but my little Sphere liked the Totoro and catbus segments. On another note, I found Kiki's Delivery Service pretty slow - it's my least favorite Miyazaki - but my neighbors say their 2-yr-old loves the hell out of it.
I'll second Totoro as being the toddler gateway drug to Miyazaki. Very charming and very unscary.
Unlike, Cor, I love Kiki a lot. Not as much as Porco Rosso, but still a lot.
I keep hearing smart folks say that. I ought to give it another shot.
I keep hearing smart folks say that. I ought to give it another shot.
The appeal is in some of the smaller things. Of all his faux turn of the century sorta-euro settings, Kiki's is the one that appeals most to me. Also, I thought the story was one of his stronger ones, even though it was modest. The flying scenes, of course, are utterly dazzling (as ever), but the climactic one is particularly well paced and suspenseful.
Love kiki. Love Totoro more. I am not an action figure/stuffed animal sort of gal, but I do have a stuffed Catbus on my desk, and everyone who comes in my office digs it.