I've seen quite a bit of stop motion animation in my life. It all started for me when I was little (with my then favorite movie) King Kong. I loved the way Willis O'Brien brought the monstrous Kong to life. Fay Wray was also a favorite of any young boy I'm sure. I think Kong really spawned my passsion for stop motion animation. I have encountered other great movies in my stop motion watching over the years. Some that come to mind are Ray Harryhausen's Clash of the Titans and Nick Park's Wallace and Grommit adventures. Ward 13 was my most recent journey into the world of inanimate objects that get set into motion.

I saw Ward 13 unintentionally. My friend and I went to see Mike Judge and Don hertzfeld's The Animation Show. I'm a huge fan of Hertzfeldt so I was looking forward to his long awaited Meaning of Life (which was disappointing). Plus I knew the Animation Show would have some Plympton (predictable but good) amongst other new animated shorts I've never seen. Ward 13 was one of them. It's always fun to see a collection of shorts and hopefully find "the diamond in the rough". You know the new movie you can say to all your friends "you gotta see this it's really cool", then they'll see it and think you are really hip and cool because you introduced them to this new amazing piece of art. Well, Ward 13 was just that, the diamond in the diamonds.

Ward 13 is an edge of your seat, action packed, blockbuster thrill ride... and it's all stop motion. This was the most entertaining movie I've seen in quite some time. It has the story and setting of a 1960's Twilight Zone, the rollercoaster action and speed of a Wallace and Grommit, throw in the fright of Halloween and the slap stick prop personification of Charlie Chaplin and you got Ward 13.

Ward 13 is about a bandaged man who wakes up in a mysterious hospital and all to soon finds out the dark, mutating experiments they are conducting there. His only way to escape is to fight his way out. And man o man does he fight. Most of the movie is him fighting with various characters and the creator Peter Cronwell really pushes it to the limit. Just when you think things can't get worse or more intense they do.

Cronwell did a great job in all aspects in the making of this movie. It has wonderful sets and models, cool innovative fight choreography, and vivid characters. One of the more redeeming qualities of the action is that it is all motivated. Every turn of the wheel chair, or bash of the cane, comes back to an earlier event. What I mean is that Cronwell never takes the easy way out, he puts his character in difficult spots and uses ingenuity to get his way out. There are no unforseen easy tricks, ya know "he just happened to have this the whole time". I never found myself sarcastically saying "yeah right" or "were'd that come from". Cronwell keeps it all very believable which makes it all that much better.

I thougt it was by far the best movie in the Animation Show collection and I can't wait to show it to my friends. Maybe it will make them think I'm hip and cool.

I've been known to read other reviews from time to time and they all talked about this movie being based on Maggie's (Hilary Swank) romance and career with her coach and manager (Clint Eastwood). Having read that I went in with a few preconcieved notions that were in fact very wrong. The relationship between the two seems much more like a father/daughter relationship than a romantic one. So for those of you who think its about their love, its not quite how it seems. I would argue it is a strictly plutonic friendship. Having said that lets get to the goods.

The movie is almost two movies squished into one. One event happens which changes the entire dynamic and mood of the movie. The first half I really enjoyed and the second half, although adding dimension and depth to the characters carried a little too much emotional weight for my taste.

The first part, is a great story about a overaged, under experienced boxer's fight to the top with a really overaged, over protective coach/trainer. It's a heart warming struggle of a woman from nowhere with nothing to loose, and her rise to the top. Good drama, great dialogue and plenty of comedic releif. "Danger" was really hilarious. I thought it was great to put in a skinny twerp to add a little light heartedness to this heavy, emotionally saturated film.

The movie is shot and directed well. It has a dark contrasty feel to it which I love, and have come to expect from Eastwood. There is plenty of action and quick clever dialogue. It's quite a complete movie. The strongest aspect of the film by far is the vibrant characters. They really do jump right off the screen, at timnes it is hard to believe that the story is fiction.

The only problems I have with the movie is Morgan Freemans voice over is a little to obvious and seems to ride on the laurels of other movies with similar narration. Even though it comes full circle in the end I think the voice over in the beggining and in the end of the movie are distanced from each other just a bit too much. The other thing that confused me is it was hard to place the time period, sometimes it seemed like present day and other times it felt like it happened 50 years ago. But despite me being nit picky its good.

I'm writing this right before the Oscars so I gotta throw some predictions in, well not predictions but how I would vote if I could. Best Picture: No, good movie, incredibly crafted, not the best movie. Although I can't think of a better one off hand. Actor in a leading role (Clint Eastwood): No. Eastwood is solid but, he just didn't shine. His performance didn't have that certain inexplicable magic. By the way I would just like to mention that I have never seen anyone with more leathery looking skin in my entire life. It works great for his character; who is meant to have experienced life and lived his age to the fullest, but can you imagine seeing that guy with no shirt on? His skin is like pieces of broken concrete. Best Actress in a Leading Role (Hilary Swank): Hell ya. This is by far the best thing I have seen her in since The Next Karate Kid. All joking aside, I really felt like she was Maggie Fitzgerald not Hilary Swank pretending to be. Thats the best compliment I can give her. Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman): Although I think Morgan Freeman is one of the most moving, powerful actors in Hollywood today I just don't think that the script gave him enough to work for his character to be the best. Now Shawshank on the other hand, well I'll write a review on that soon enough dont worry about that.

The movie is a very complete emotional piece. I'm glad I saw it, I liked it, but tugged a little too much at my heartstrings. I like movies that make me feel good. This ending is a downer, warranted and justifyed, but none the less a downer.

When it comes to filmic craft this movie has just about every ingredient needed to make an awesome movie. It has great settings, cool action scenes, lots of dramatic conflict, snappy editing and sharp cinematography. So I'm trying to figure why I didn't like this movie. It just didn't have that magical "thing" that I look for in a movie. Over my movie watching life I've realized movies I like affect me in at least one of the three following ways. They either take me away to another place, make me think, or have a flat out entertainment value. This one really didn't do any of those things for me.

The way the story is told is similar to director Yimou Zhangs other films (Raise the Red Lantern, Hero, The Long Road Home). But differ from the majority of main stream films an average person sees at the show. It is very slow and melodramatic with a simplicity that is complicated by its various twists and turns at the end.

There is no doubt in my mind that Zhang has an incredible talent for using color in conveying emotions as well as a knack for capturing the authenticity and feeling of the time he trys to capture. HOFD shows all of these attributes, but in my opinion it just didn't all come together. Movies are like cake. Sometimes you have all the right ingredients and take all the right steps but when you pull it out of the oven it as flat as a frisbee. HOFD is a frisbee, all the right stuff; just comes out flat.

In this movies defense, it's a great movie to take your girlfriend on a date to go see. It has lots of long emotional closeups. With passion, love and all that crap for her. With enough fighting and sword throwing for anyman. I took my girlfriend to see it, she thought it was great that I took her to a movie she wanted to see and I was able to bear it. So all in all it was a good deal, I got credit for a chick flick while actually being able to see a movie I could sit through.

This was a pretty good movie. Anime is usually hit or miss with me. I think more often than not alot of the content and characterization is lost in the English translation and makes for almost comical dialogue and vague story. Usually in most of the anime movies I've seen they just give you a scraping off the top of the story and there is much more informatiuon that the creators assumes you know from reading the comic books, or watching the tv show. Sky Blue seemed to make a real effort to spell things out a little more for unpredjudiced audience. Although I'm not really sure if Sky Blue is an original piece or was a spinoff of something else.

Many of the anime movies I've seen have alot of bullet time action scenes with streaking color backgrounds, all raging to the beat of a techno drum. They are usually very high octane and fast burning. Too often anime is an extreme juxtaposition of rapid movements and flashing strobes up against complete stasis. Sky Blue took a different approach to the action. The action scenes are much more operaetic, with very slow, lyric movements and flowing objects. It seems to maintain more of a steady pace that draws a temporal line throughout the movie giving it a certain soft mood. I really enjoyed seeing this different creative approach to an all too familiar genre.

Usually I don't throw too much of a summary in the reviews but I'll throw one in here. The future (duh!), utopian society, in a biological city. All the sky's were destroyed during the "great war", causing constant acid rain and climatic turmoil. Eco Ban (the forementioned living city) is really the only known place to seek refuge of the nasty enviornment. Two classes spring out of the disaster. The people who live in Eco Ban and rule it, and their workers who harvest energy to meet Eco Bans large energy needs. There is a pretty good social commentary on classes, rich verse poor etc., but it's an all too redundant, recurring theme of anime, the rise of the common man against his oppressors.

Ok, enough with the big words, the animation was sweet. Although Im still getting my eyes used to seeing cartoony, hand-drawn,looking characters on top of detailed worlds and vehicles, this movie pulls it off great. I loved the different fashions and styles of vehicles, clothing, weapons, settings, everything. They did a great job of taking me away to a strange new place lush with detail.

By far my favorite scene was the end gunfight with use oprea music as all the characters are floating in an abyss of their own blood and energy.

I saw "The Incredibles". My crazy Schwartzeneger lovin' roomate claimed it was the best movie he saw last year. Now that I think about the movies he saw last year I'm sure it probably was.

Now what I think about the movie. I thought it was good, not great but good. What did you like about it you ask? First and foremost I'm a sucker for animation, always been one of my favorite mediums or genres if you could lump all them together. Second, I think Pixar has started to grow up a little with this movie. This is the first Pixar flick I can think of that doesn't have G.I. Joe syndrome. Ya know were everytime there is a crash or an explosion you see the pilot parachute out just in the nick of time. Thats old school. Incredibles is more new school. In the movie's "reality" people die, people have died and people will die. I like that. Death helps any animated movie. Just kidding. Well maybe not...

I thought the story was mediocre, predictable but good enough to let the beautiful shots get pieced together. That was another awesome aspect of this movie. More than ever, Pixar pulls the camera back and reveals many more long, lyric shots. No longer are the characters held to a single bedroom or a small reef. The characters in this movie exist in a much more complex and sophisticated world, aesthetically and dramatically.

This movie could be boiled down to its basic elements: gadgetry and exotic locations of a James Bond movie, the costumes and archatypical characters of the DC Universe, the cityscape of the forementioned metropolis, the wit and charm of, well, a Pixar movie, but its main downfall is it has the storyline of a bad Home Improvement episode. Isn't that a little redundant, a bad Home Improvement? Anyway The Incredibles, good, worth seeing, but a renter not a go to the theater movie. I guess the exception would be if you were an adult taking a kid to the movie, it has something for everyone.

Sin City:

The only Sin City graphic novel I read was the one with Marv and Goldie. I read it maybe 2 or 3 years ago. I thought it was well done although a little edgier than I'm used to reading. Usually I read alot of the main stream stuff. I know the mainstream stuff isn't as "in" or artsy as the newest, hottest, underground whatever, but it's what I grew up loving so it's what I read. I mostly stick with the Green Lanterns and Daredevils. Although I do read some obscure stuff from time to time.

As far as how close the entire movie sticks to the comics I couldn't tell ya as the first one is the only one I read. But the part with Marv sticks to the comic to a tee. Panel for frame are almost a straight swap out. The film paid extreme close attention to Miller's use of streaking lines showing how conflicted and troublesome Sin City really is. I also appreciated the movies use of precipitation to hide the characters in their backgrounds. Rain and snow consume the characters outlines in some shots. To me this use of obstruction shows how powerful the Sin City enviornment is and how strong its grasp is on the people living there.

Sin City is told in a way I've never seen in a movie before. It is one complete piece but at the same time episodic. The continuity between its sub-stories isn't all that clear, but one things for sure they are taking place in the same town. All the stories have very similar themes as well. They all in one way or another are about a lonesome roughneck trying to save a girl from a killer. It is almost three or four different spins on the same story. But it works.

The use of black and white is fantastic. There is subtle irony of everything aesthetically being black and white. When in actuallity nothing in Sin City is as simple as black and white. The issues and events are far more complex than that.

Sin City is the most horrible place I can imagine. Horrendious acts of vile sodomy are a regular occurence there. The most unimaginable acts by the worst scum of humanity are commonplace. So being an outsider looking into their world is not easy to stomach. Between the canabalism, child molestations and string of serial killers it's hard to believe there is an uplifting moment in this movie at all. There is. The creators do let the occasional moment of humor or tenderness drop. And in such an evil dark place such things are amplified and give the audience a brief chance to pull back from the stench of the sewer grate and catch a breath of fresh air. It was a good move on the creators part. Sin City is quite overwhellming. I kept thinking man I'm glad I didn't bring my girlfriend to this.

The other thing I noticed about the movie is that everday life is so horrible that most of the characters are hardened to it and hardly notice. They have all adapted to this barbaric slice of hell they call home. Although physical pain is dealt out like cards, psycological pain is kept to a minimum. Most of the men seem indifferent to the physical torture they endure. It seemed like breaking the will of another human being is the goal of many characters. Hearing another person scream is a cry of victory for the torturer in Sin City.

The casting department made some real smart decisions in this one. Mickey Rourke is a great Marv. He gives him the over the top toughness and power that defines Marv as the brute he is. All of the women were great, they had the perfect harmony of being in control and completely lost at the same time. They were all compasses with no needles. They lead and inspired men, but lead them nowhere.

I'm glad Frank Miller waited for technology to come far enough to make this movie the right way. I think between this movie and Sky Captain we as an audience are looking at a completely different time of cinema than our parents grew up in. Imagination has no bounds in our industry. I think there is gonna be a big movement towards making these kind of green screen movies. We are gonna see some fantastic things soon thats for sure. Anyway without Frank Miller's good choices Sin City easily coulda been another Dick Tracy. And that my friends would be the biggest sin of all.

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Ong Bak:

This is movie is said to be what will launch Tony Jaa into an international star, and make him the new face of martial arts. Ya know I think it just might be. I found this movie very interesting. For one it was the first movie I have ever seen in the theater by myself. Cool experience, but I prefer to see them with someone else. That way I get their views and opinions as well. Plus, it's interesting to see how another brain interperates the same information. Anyway. Ya this was a cool movie.

It was low budget I'm sure. But it gave it that old kung fu, low budget movie charm. Alot of the movie takes place outside or in very simple interior locations. The lighting seemed to be very simplistic using alot of available light, which works fine for this movie. The rest of the lighting is very nondramatic and pretty straight forward. But who would go to this movie to see deep, significant, dramatic lighhting anyhow.

The story was lacking as I'm sure you can imagine, but the action was freakin' awesome. The story is a predictable tale about a mild mannered peasant sent to the big city to save his village.

If this movie is truly as wire and CGI free as it claims than Tony Jaa is one of the most athletic people I've ever seen. He jumps over cars, and people, runs on peoples shoulders and does some of the craziest kick combinations ever. His fighting style is very new and unique as well. He does lots of cool blocks with his head and legs. The part I like the best about the fights, is watching him drop bombs on peoples heads with his elbows. Even though it's a movie, and they are proffesionals, I'm certain some of these guys got hurt doing this movie. When I thought about it it makes way more sense to use elbows and knees over fists and feet. The joints are way harder (more solid bone) and can crush someone much more effectivelly than a fist or foot.

The movie was very original in many regards. The tree sequence in the beginning was like nothing I have seen before. I was very taken in by hearing the Thai language being spoken for almost two hours. I've never been to Thailand or even Asia for that matter, but I found it refreshing to get a look into the life and enviornment of the Thai peoples culture. Even if it was a watered down, filmicly characatured version of it. Another thing I found funny is that the budget was big enough to have great chases and cool explosions. But it seem where production skimped is on the technical side. Example: sweet explosion, but way out of focus. I actually laughed out loud.

If you like kung fu movies and have a patience for a low budget hijinks, and a passion for fresh explosive martial arts I say check this one out.

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Cutaway:
Oh how precious. Tom Berringer, a Baldwin, and Dennis Rodman, yes, Dennis Rodman in a bastardized skydiving "Point Break" rip-off. That should be all I need to say but I gotta write a little more. This movie is a treasure of gold. It has a weak storyline, and bad acting, but thats what makes this movie shine. One of the only aspects I can think of that give it any artistic merit or visual interest is the skydiving cinematography. There are beautifully shot monatages (9 actualy, yes, 9) of some really insane group skydiving that I'm sure is some of the best skydiving footage out there. So if you like a good laugh with plenty of lame lines, grab a beer buddy and a case and watch this movie.

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Planet of the Apes:

This is one of my all time favorites. It is a great movie on many levels, first of all if you love sci-fi from the 60's and 70's this one's a classic. Not only does it have Chuck Heston an all time super star, but it also makes a strong social commentary on class and caste hierarchy. The story is a very strong point for the movie, it's unique and gives the audience an unusual reciprocated view of the social class system by putting the man on the bottom and the ape ontop. Ya know, alot of times I think people look way to deep into stuff for undertones and secret meanings. I however, think this movie's story is filled with them, making this movie great to watch over and over again. The special effects were pretty groundbreaking for the time. I think the makeup was awesome and still stands up pretty well even by todays skyrocketing standards. Some of the visual effects (the lightning storm comes to mind) were quite dated and goofy but help give this movie a nostalgic charm. Then there is the "Chuck" factor. Chuck Heston is one of the best leading men ever. God just doesn't make jawlines like that anymore. He overacts and kicks ass and I can't get enough of it. This movie will always be on my top ten list.

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Batman Begins:

I was quite impressed with Batman Begins. I'm astonished anytime they can put a grown man in a mask and wrap him in a cape without him looking ridiculous. To be able to portray a character who is usually seen in two dimensional, three colors and make him real is truly a testament to the talents of the creavtive forces.

Batman Begins did a great job of retelling the well-known origins of Batman. It takes the audience through the much replicated murder of his parents and shows how he chooses to deal with these issues. I was surprised that the movie was able to convey the intricate complexity of Bruce's character in such a timely fashion. I think if I were writing this movie I would have been overwhelmed with the task of summarizing th comic books' sixty six years of character development through in a two hour and twenty minute movie.

One thing that really stuck with me is a line Katie Holmes has in the movie. She tells Bruce that Bruce is the mask and Batman is the real person. That made me think. One question I always ask my self after seeing a movie is "did that make me think?". If the answer is yes than chances are good it's a pretty freakin' sweet movie. I answered that question with a yes after seeing Batman Begins.

Looking back through my brain in the Batman archives, the idea of Bruce being the fake identity and Batman being his true identity is obvious and I whole heartedly agree. That's what sets Batman apart from many other superheros, they protect their lives and loved ones with their mask and costumes. Batman uses a clean shaven face and tuxedo to protect his mask.

The Batmobile looked awesome. It was sweet to see that thing tear-assin'around the city. For my money I would have to say it is the coolest Batmobile yet. Batman's gadgetry showed us some old favorites like bat-a-rangs and grapling hook guns. Don't worry, there is no shortage of new innovative weapons that we haven't seen before. I'm not gonna spill the beans and ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it.

I've always loved the look of Gotham City. It's amazing to see how different artists have made their own interpretation of Gotham. In my opinion I think to this day the best looking version of Gotham is from Batman the animated series. It had many countoured buildings reminicent of Max Fleischer's Superman cartoons from the early 40's. For those of you who don't know what that is just think of the Rocketeer's helmet or the architecture of Sky Captain and the World of Tommorow. They are all rather similar and use a style called "dark deco". In Batman Begins, Gotham City was recreated with a grand sense of architecture and creativity. It was cool that Chicago buildings serve as an inspiration for Gotham. They did a nice job.

All in all it was a lot of fun to watch. The most hardcore Batfan will find story elements to peak their interests, and there is enough action and explosions to keep anyone glued to their seats. Nice to see DC make a good movie again. Bob Kane would be proud.

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Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith:

Well After a week or two of it being out, and me kinda not getting around to it I finally went to see the last installment of the Epic dynasty called Star Wars. Finally George Lucas no longer has power over us Star Wars fans. He has finally after 20 whatever years played his last card. Its over. I can close that chapter of my cinematic fandom and move on. It is finished. Thank gawd.

I thought the opening star fight sequence was pretty cool but it moved way to fast for me to appreciate. The camera movements were too jarring to appreciate all the action. Despite the swooping camera, I have to give it to Lucas. If there is one thing the man is good at it is putting together some massive, intricate space battles. Every corner of the frame is so detailed with explosions and ships zooming around it is too bad the camera work makes it nearly impossible to see. Witnessing those battles on the big screen makes my 7.50 worth the price of admission.

The acting was suprisingly good. I didn't think good acting could trancend a bad script made up of pathetic dialogue. But I was delighted to be proven wrong. The guy who plays The Emperor does a pretty good job although in the very beginning it becomes quite apparent he is not a physical actor. When the droids are pushing him around he doesn't sell it very well, it was pretty funny. But his delivering of dialogue was right on. Natalie portman was great in this. She pulled emotion and weight out of a character with really no personality or charisma. She gave meaning to a character who only existed out of necessity to fill a gap. She was gave a powerful performance that drew me in and made me empathize with her. In the movie it is intersting that Padme makes the audience realize the artosity and power of Anakins transformation into Vader. Hayden Christiansen was ok, he didn't blow me away, but he didn't embarass himself either. Samuel Jackson seemed to be the main actor who couldn't work with the script. Jackson just couldn't get something out of the dialogue that wasn't there like Mcgregor and Portman did.

I have seen Episode I and II and it wasn't until about half way through III that I realised I have no idea what the hell is going on. I understand there is a power struggle and the Jedi's are mixed up in it but I can't really tell who is on which side and why every one is fighting. I'm not sure if that's faulty story telling or my own thick headedness. I understand the whole good vs. evil/Palaptine vs. Jedi scenario but why the clones and the robots are fighting I don't really get. So I was kinda confused.

The worst and best part is the very end scene with Vader. So hilarious. I'm not gonna ruin it for those who haven't seen it though, but man o man.

Like I said its cool to see on the big screen, but the lack of script and dialogue becomes a hole in the movie I'm not willing to overlook. It is nice to finally have a close to Star Wars, that is all wrapped up into one convienient package called Return of the Sith. Finally.

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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

First I'll start with the disclaimer. I never read the book, or anything in relation to it, I went into the movie theatre without having any preconceived notions about the book, the story, any of it. I was fresh to the entire thing. Having said that I'll get to the movie.

I haven't seen many movies like this one. If I had to go side by side comparison with another one I would have to go with The Fifth Element. They both are sci-fi dramadies with an array of characteristics from numerous other genres. I didn't like The Fifth Element all that much. I thought it had too many cheesy parts that were just a little too out there for me. And guess what, I feel the same way abouty Hitchhikers. Just too zany.

The story was no doubt original but just a little too loosely tied to reality for me to get sucked into. The whole time I was watching the movie I was never drawn into it. The really good movies are the one's that are so encapsulating that you as a viewer you don't realize your even watching a movie.

This movie had a production value identity crisis. What does that mean? Well I'm gonna make it up so get ready. [I'll tell ya if I buy into it on the other side] The movie had some scenes, like the planet factory scene, that were detailed, and breathtaking visually. I'm sure the cost alot of money and resulted in the movie looking very proffesional. But then I would see a few scenes that looked like they took place on some lame set recycled from an old Star Trek set. I'm not sure if they went for a low budget feel at times on purpose for nostalgic value or to pay homage to 60's sci-fi but it just didn't work. It was too jarring. [That first sentence now sounds legit to me. Ha! Who'd uh thunk I could pull that one off.]

Hicthhiker's had some great elements to it as well. At times it was very funny. Marv the depressed robot was a brilliant original character. Alan Rickman (the voice of Marv) brought a downtrodden and dry humor to the robot that only he could do. His performance reminded me very much of his as the Metatron in Kevin Smith's Dogma. Marv is a super-intelligent yet depressed robot, and the Metatron is second only to God. Yet they are both stuck to follow belittling rules and constantly forced to dumb themselves down to the comedic, human level. I've always been a big fan of Alan Rickman's cynical tone in his movies. This role is perfect for Rickman. I also have a deep appreciation of his ruthless humor in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

It was alot of fun to see large aliens with all the detail and character of Jim Henson's creations. The Vogon's looked like something plucked right from The Dark Crystal. Hats off for the creators, very cool.

The sum up: Like Jim Henson? Like The Fifth Element? Like Alan Rickman? Rent it, watch it slightly drunk, you'll enjoy it.