pablobg Reviews

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

A treat for the Nintendo-generation

[8/10 · 23 November 2010]

It wouldn't be fair to judge a movie like this by conventional cinematic standards. Or maybe not- it would still fair okay. The thing is that this movie is tailored to the ones that grew on Nintendo, internet and probably don't care about anything else. So it isn't hard to realize why some other people didn't like this movie. Some reviewer said that this was a prime example of "attention-deficit filmmaking"- and it sure is, and it's great. The editing reflects clearly this trait- in less than a minute it goes to three or four different locations. It's fast, and it's fun.

The movie has a very original presentation, filled with comic-inspired graphics and eye-candy. It has very bright colors and it is just nice to see. The video game-inspired humor and general nonsense are backed up by lots of computer-generated effects and comic-like text that is hilarious from time to time. Again, for the ones that we played all this games, it's really fun to see how the movie makes fun of the games (and gamers) clichés. I mean, even the movie's premise falls into this grounds.

So, the movie itself may have a nonsense story and doesn't take itself serious at all. But it really works. Not for everyone, but it does. It's fun, but it won't change your life (if it does, then you really need to stop playing games and watch more good movies). Then again, is a must-see for the viewers that the movie appeals to.

Pickpocket (1959)

Deliberately unconventional approach to filmmaking with great results

[8/10 · 23 November 2010]

Pickpocket is a film that apparently has serious flaws- from the very beginning it displays little to no emotion as the actors on screen just say their lines and the camera just follows them from a distance, with no close-ups or any other tricks.

But what is unique about this film is that this very criticism is actually a deliberate attempt to cause uneasiness in the viewer. And it succeeds- the anxiety, as felt by the pickpocket in his everyday living, is also transmitted to us. So, to correct my previous statement: this movie does not lack emotions- it has emotions: anxiety, uncertainty, but these are delivered in an unconventional manner.

From a personal standpoint, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. It is hard to appreciate this dimension of the film at first. But after seeing some extras from the excellent Criterion package, I was able to understand better. How Bresson actually committed to cause these emotions in the viewer, how he re-shot several times various scenes until the actors just repeated their lines, until no trait of emotions were left. Michel's narration voice-over is flat, plain. These were non-professional actors set to work in a non-standard way, Bresson's way. And the result is this: a film somewhat off-putting, but still a great work of art.

Coo: Come from a Distant Ocean Coo (1993)

A fun, good movie- should be better known.

[7/10 · 16 November 2010]

"Coo of the Far Seas" may be somewhat unknown and low profile, but is nonetheless a nice, fun movie that packs action and a environmentalist message.

The movie starts as Obata finds a strange creature, which he names Coo. At first, the movie starts at a moderate pace, as the relation between Obata and Coo develops. Soon, however, other parties interested in the creature will begin to cause trouble and what started really nice and peaceful becomes a battle for the creature's safety and some other major issues. It's a really fun movie, and the action seems like an analogy to today's conflict: humans fighting for nature against others who show no respect towards nature and won't care to cause damage to fulfill their goals. The movie's antagonist are such people- they are really, really hateful as they represent the humans' worst traits.

While the movie isn't really something new and it has some typical clichés here and there, it's a really good film. It's story and some elements are somewhat childish (for example, as the relation between Coo and Obata develops, I couldn't avoid noticing similarities with some other Japanese animations, such as Pokemon, where such human-creature relations are present) but that's not a bad thing- just some people may not dig it as children do. But still, this movie was far above my expectations (there really weren't much, as there's no much info about it).

Garasu no usagi (2005)

A usual war movie- good, but nothing new.

[6/10 · 11 November 2010]

The Glass Rabbit (Garasu no usagi) is a typical drama film about the horrors of war. It is a story that has been told a thousand times before in cinema, and this movie is another addition that follows the usual pattern, resulting in a movie that, while it isn't bad, doesn't have any unique elements that make it stand out.

The story follows the little Toshiko an the rest of her family as they deal with the effects of war. The first minutes of the movie shows Japanese people facing the war with pride, as the news of each successful attack makes them sure they will win. However, as the war progresses, Tokio is bombed, and people that otherwise was unknowing about the real effects of war realize that maybe the war isn't a good thing. This is important, as the movie begins with a somewhat pro-Japanese tone (is Japanese animation, after all), as them being the war victims and the Americans the only bad ones. However, as the movie progresses it shows a universal anti-war message, as both sides suffer and inflict a lot of damage.

The story shows the usual terrible things- death, violence, loss, hardship- in a way that, even though we know what is about to come, is still moving and sad. It's the usual sequence of "one bad thing happens, then another, and another" but tries to end in a somewhat hopeful way. Other aspects of the movie are okay- it features some nice backgrounds and decent animation. The editing is somewhat uninspired, some scenes end rather abruptly and the story is just shown linearly in little vignettes. So, in brief- the production is just so normal that it falls flat sometimes. The movie works, but it is not a masterpiece- it doesn't try to be, either.

Darker Than Black (2007–2010)

Starts bad, but gets better.

[7/10 · 11 November 2010]

I got into Darker Than Black because of its creators- Tensai Okamura has made some real nice works before, notably Wolf's Rain. In that series, he also worked with Yoko Kanno, the composer of some of the best soundtracks I have heard in my life, most importantly Cowboy Bebop. However, this series isn't as good as those mentioned earlier, but it is still good.

The problem with DTB is that it starts bad. It's just confusing, we don't know what's going on and we don't know the characters, so it's hard to care about them. Not only that- what I expected that would save the series, the music (I believe that music is as fundamental as anything else) wasn't that great either. Kanno's music just didn't stand out, and even the opening and closing themes weren't hers.

However, if you have patience, there's a point where we get to know the characters. Some story arcs get really interesting and when a episode ends, you will want to see the other to know what is going to happen. And it gets fun and turns out to be a nice experience. However, I would only recommend it to anime fans- not the general public. There's still a lot more series in the same vein of DTB that are much better and you should see them before this one.

Lightning Bolt: The Power of Salad (2002 Video)

You will love the documentary if you like the band

[9/10 · 14 July 2010]

If you stumbled upon The Power of Salad and Milkshakes then probably you know Lightning Bolt. If you don't, check their music first- their noisy, loud and aggressive music may not suit everyone. However, it's great music with a purpose- not just shallow and senseless noise. But I won't bother you with their music for now- let's focus on the documentary.

This documentary follows Lightning Bolt on the road, with cuts from various gigs from their tour. It's great as a music DVD, as we can see the band and their raw energy on stage. Their live shows can't be compared to their records- as the band usually plays on small venues, not on a stage but at floor level and with the audience right next to them (and very loud). This documentary lets us feel some of that amazing experience.

Also, we get to know other facts and stories from the band. Stuff that only fans could care. That's why this documentary it's suitable for fans only. Otherwise, you will find this pointless, boring, and above anything, loud and noisy. However, if you like Lightning Bolt, you should see this right now- will make you love the band even more.

Malta con Huevo (2007)

A nice comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously.

[7/10 · 25 June 2010]

"Malta con Huevo" is one of those movies you can really enjoy when certain aspects are ignored. Like a lot of other chilean movies, it does not take itself seriously because it knows that otherwise something could mess up. But anyway, it definitely went over my expectations with some really original elements.

The movie is really funny at times, but in general it has a fast pacing which doesn't make it any boring and let's you ignore some less-polished aspects of the film. Still, I wouldn't recommend it to someone outside Chile, due to the local jargon and the type of humor. I could be wrong, but there are definitely other much-better chilean movies out there.

Anyway, if you're looking for an effective, light comedy, this is a good one. The acting is fine, the actors play just fine in a setting which doesn't make much sense and everyone seems to be a little crazy. This isn't bad at all- the mess in everything makes it even more fun. However, don't try to make a serious cinematic appreciation of this film while watching it or you will spoil it.

Mondays in the Sun (2002)

Simple but beautiful movie

[9/10 · 25 June 2010]

"Los lunes al sol" premise may not be enough to some in order to make a great movie: a movie that just shows us the everyday lives of a group of unemployed. It's also a great tale of friendship, as we see how this group of friends stay together to overcome the difficulties that arise from the closure of the shipyards.

The movie isn't political or tries to be confrontational; it's focus on the human lives involved make it a profoundly human story. The acting really helps in this aspect. It is natural and simple, but in a good way- we're dealing with a totally (but sadly) normal situation here. "Los lunes al sol" shows us that it's not needed a disaster or anything big to tell us a great story. It can be, instead, a simple one. Simple, but told and acted emotively. It may tend to be slow-paced sometimes, but it's a must see nonetheless, as this makes you thankful for what you have and for the ones around you.