The Triplets of Bellville (2003)

(Silence)

I like languages.  I am good at some of them.  I am terrible at others.  I am terrible at French.  I wish I was better, but I am not.

For those of you who remember my post in Ratatouille of how spacial and shape iconography can be/should be used within animation as a tool to communicate with the audience, I present The Triplets of Belleville as a striking if off-putting example of the same principle.  It is as if the artists and directors set out on a task of making the shapes speak louder than the characters and then stretched them out to outlandish proportions.  Champion is a skeleton with enormous thunder legs.  The henchmen are blocks, and anyone not a main character is outrageously fat.  The spacial communications of the Triplets of Belleville are actually a bit unnerving.

I will state that I loved the heart and soul that went into this amazing piece of Cinema.  As long as movies like this exist there is always hope for moments of brilliance in a commercial world.

Ratings:
Tour de France fans:  See it
Loved the Andrews Sisters?: See it
Fans of Music Land:  See it
French:  See it

On a scale of Dorian to Mixolydian, I give The Triplets of Belleville, 3.8 out of 5 stars.  

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

"Don't you think it's a little dangerous to hand out guns at a bank?" (Michael Moore)
"I wouldn't say anything to them.  I would listen to what they have to say, and that's what no one did." (Marilyn Manson)
"If its a choice between covering a near drowning, and someone with a gun, which do you cover?" (Michael Moore to Reporter)
"The gun, every time." (Reporter)

What a highly disturbing and insightful movie.  It is always a good thing to seek out new opinions perspectives to tough questions.  I must admit that I don't own a gun, I don't want to own a gun, and I am generally surrounded by people who don't own guns and don't want to own guns.  I do know many hunters.  However, it is an entirely different perspective to hunt than to keep a gun for protection.  I remember going on a hiking trip in Wyoming, and one of my group insisting that we needed to bring along a hand gun for protection against bears.  I found this dubious and dangerous, and thus he had to carry the gun himself.  We never even came close to seeing a bear.

As for Bowling for Columbine, I think that a movie on the topic of guns and gun related violence in America, can only go so far.  The topic cannot be contained in one movie.  The topic is just too big.  I appreciate Michael Moore's opinions and the way in which he put forth information on a serious subject in a lighthearted manner for the purposes of sparking discussion and self reflection.  That is a noble cause.

Ratings:
Members of well-regulated militias: See it
NRA members: See it
Television News Editors:  See it
Want to be on COPS?: Take your shirt off.
Thinking of committing a violent act with a gun:  Please seek help, tragedies can be avoided.

On a scale of a 10 pin bowling to a 10 point buck, I give Bowling for Columbine 3.69 out of 5 stars.

Thor: The Dark World (2013) *Special Guest Review by Larkspurblossom

**~**Spoilers**~**

"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help." - Loki (to Thor)

Your brother isn't coming, is he? -Dr. Erik Selvig
Loki is dead. -Thor
Thank God... I'm so sorry. -Dr. Erik Selvig

First of all, comic book movies are awesome. They (usually) come out every year on or around my birthday in May, so maybe that was my precursor to liking them so much; I always knew that there would be something to see for my birthday that would have action, comedy, a bit of romance, and a bit of drama as well. Thor was no exception. Perhaps the criticism I have for it is that it, and everything Marvel churns out, is becoming incredibly formulaic. Big strong superhero has problems at home, comes in to save the day, girl gets sappy, evil forces get vanquished, and then BOOM! Cliffhanger!

Would I be happier with whatever ending Thor gave, if I didn't know that he'd return to my movie screen in the 2nd Avengers movie? Probably. Does that mean I didn't enjoy having him (shirtless) in said movie? Not at all. Just because I enjoyed the visual appealing-ness of Thor 2 does not mean that I agreed with the director's cuts and choices of random scenes to move the story along.

That said, good job Christopher Eccleston. I had no idea that was you.
Also, Renee Russo: when did you become such a badass??

So. Ratings. I never understand the blog's, so I guess this means I get to be as random as possible with mine.

From a scale of Odin's-day to Thor's-day, I give Thor: The Dark World a rating of 3.5 stars.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

"Darling, you're exposed."  (Miles Massey, Marylin Hamilton Rexroth Doyle Massey)

"The Massey pre-nup." (Everyone)

Intolerable Cruelty is an acceptable, well-crafted, and occasionally funny movie that does not merit inclusion into the pantheon of either the Coen Brothers or  Rom Coms.  It has many laudable and attributes including great performances, sharp dialogue, classic narrative style, and quirky Coen-nesses, but all of them feel subdued and flat.  Worth one's time once for a second date, but probably not a second viewing.  

Ratings

Coen Brothers:  I love your movies.  This one is good not great.  It is my least favorite of your catalog to date.  Please keep making movies.  

Classicists:  The plot and structure of Intolerable Cruelty is far to Shakespearean to not have been heavily influenced by one of the bards creations.  I just don't know which one.  If anyone can tell me I would be interested.  

Romantacists:  Skip it

Schisters:  See it

Edward Herrmann: You are a rock star in everything.  Act on!

On a scale of a Bell Boy to a Concierge, I give Intolerable Cruelty 3.3 out of 5 stars.    

21 & Over (2013)

"Look Jeff Chang this is your 21st birthday in the United States of America, Budweiser and bald eagles you go out and drink." (Miller)

"What up, Chief." (Miller)

"She's a hard 9 and you my friend you are a soft 6. Deal with it." (Miller)

There is a place in Cinema for absurdest party driven slightly post teenage stupidity alcohol fueled adventures.  In fact, every 4 years or so a new crop of those around 21 are treated to a new movie to meet their specific needs that are SO different than those of 4 years ago.  It's kind of a sickly brilliant business cycle for fulfilling the unrequited party dreams of the college bound/initiated. Good for you market analysts pushed for this movie's production.  Unfortunately, it is not original, a little too gross, not particularly meaningful, and utterly predictable.    Don't worry you can try again in 3.8 years.

I am still going to point out that I am utterly confused as to the time line of 21 & Over.  Here are the key things.  They are at a University (Northern?).  Jeff has an interview the next day.  At the end of the movie "The Chief" states that he wasted his weekend and has to go to work.  There is a pep rally that night.  So, if traditionally college football game are on Saturday with the pep rally the night before....then the movie takes place over Friday into Saturday.  But, who schedules an 8am interview on a Saturday?  More importantly, The Chief says he wasted his weekend and has to go to work, implying that the film took place over Sunday night into Monday.  But, then the rest of the events don't make sense.  Why is there a multifloor dorm party on a Sunday night? Why are bars just absurdly hoppin on a Sunday? A college football game on a Monday?  The timeline of this movie has some serious inconsistencies.

On a scale of soft Othroclase Feldspar to hard Corundum, I give 21 & Over 2.4 out of 5 stars.

Ratatouille (2007)

"Got your toque!" (Chef Skinner)
"Keep your station clear or I WILL KILL YOU!" (Colette Tatou)
"I haven't reviewed Gusteau's in years.  My last review condemned it to the tourist trade. I wrote "Finally Chef Gusteau has found his rightful place in history alongside another equally famous chef... Monsieur Boy-ar-dee.". That was were I left it. That was my last word.  THE last word.  So tell me, Ambrister, how can it be POPULAR?" (Anton Ego, Peter O'Toole)

"In many ways the job of critic is easy.  We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment." (Anton Ego)  I too am guilty of the fact that it is more fun to write and read negative criticism than to make an earnest effort to look beyond and designate something as NEW.  I find Ratatouille to be as close to flawless as any movie can be.  It's script sublime, the animation superb, and the cast: perfection.

I will point out that Ratatouille is the film I would use as the textbook example of how to use shape to iconographically differentiate your characters and give clues to their inner forms. Be on the look out for how Remy is made up of triangles, Emile is a circle, and Anton Ego is distinctly coffin shaped.

Ratings:

Critics:  Must list
Foodees:  See it
Franco-Cinephiles:  See it
Janeane Garafalo: I didn't even know you were the voice of Colette Tatou.  Magnificent job.
Mother who makes the best food:  Must list

On scale of stinky meat to stinky cheese, I give Ratatouille 4.19 out of 5 stars.