After more than four years, The Random Films is moving to a new home. The rebranded, restructured and refashioned blog will have new features such as First Peeks (trailers of upcoming movies) and TV Series (reviews of favorite television shows). Hope you support the new blog just the same. Please visit:MOVIEcracy
Exotic food, magnificent temples, orthodox religions and
diverse cultures are some of the things that define Asia. But those are mostly
textbook descriptions, for in this present time, Asia is gaining more
prominence with pop music, fashion trends, television dramas, and of course,
Anime! What is Asia without these greater-than-life animated series?
Animes originated from Japan. They are animated productions
featuring computer or hand-drawn animation. Many of which are based on Japanese
manga or serialized comic books and graphic novels. Tons of animes had already
been produced and distributed not only in Asian countries but all over the
world. Some only last for a couple of
seasons while others span years of viewership. Some are pseudo-realist while
others are purely based on the out-of-this-world imagination of the creators.
As for me, I have several favorite, but among these peeves, one that I got so
addicted with is ONE PIECE.
Some souls are not rested. They just roam around us, finding ways to free themselves from the things that bind them to the Earth. This concept is depicted in the 2009 film from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures.
The Lovely Bones is a movie adaptation of the award-winning and best-selling 2002 novel of the same name by Alice Sebold. It is directed by Peter Jackson, and stars Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Stanley Tucci.
Plot. On December 6, 1973, fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon (played by Saoirse Ronan) is murdered. As she is walking home through a cornfield that day, she runs into her neighbor George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). The man coaxes her into going with him inside an underground den, saying that he has built it for the neighborhood children. However, Susie senses the danger and evil in the man when she enters the den. She tries to escape but the man grabs her and the cruel murder is then done. Yet, her body is not found... Susie’s parents and sister grieve for her sudden disappearance, and through the years, the family she leaves behind is slowly torn. But little do they know that Susie is still around. Her soul remains in a surreal world, the “In-Between”, that is neither Heaven nor Earth. Susie watches over her loved ones, unable to let go of her frustrations, loneliness, and dreams. In her afterlife, Susie discovers that Harvey has murdered six other females and that her own body is hidden inside a safe in his basement. Moreover, Susie’s grown sister, Lindsey, has now become Harvey’s next victim.But Lindsey has already suspected Harvey and later breaks into his house and discovers the notebook that keeps his secrets. As the truth is gradually brought to light, and Susie’s dreams are somehow fulfilled, her afterlife begins expanding into a larger heaven. In the end, Harvey faces a fateful death and Susie frees herself and enters heaven.
Review.The Lovely Bones is a fantasy movie dealing with how a family copes up with the death of a member. In the film, we see a father in desperation and a mother in denial, and when they finally learn to accept it, justice is served. Yet, the movie has always veered from that theme and instead focused more on how Susie’s soul travels through afterlife and slowly fulfills her “life” in that world. It is a happy-sad world where she slowly pieced the mystery of her murder. Again, the film shifted into another theme – crime and punishment.
The Lovely Bones has a simple storyline interlaced with breathe-taking imagery and striking sentimentality. It has ambitiously shown us pictures of “afterlife” and “heaven” which maybe symbolic and romantic, yet unoriginal and cheesy at times. There is so much emotion evoked in the film, and the alternation of humor, love, misery, hopefulness, and terror really brought interest to the film. However, these sudden shifts of themes and emotions sometimes make a mess, and audiences are left guessing what the movie is for. Is it for adults or teens? Is it mystery, fantasy, or family drama?
The ending of the movie is also quite confusing. Yes, the murderer is found out but is not caught. He easily sneaks the safe containing Susie’s body and dumps it into a sinkhole where the ground totally swallowed it. As this happens, Susie is happy and slowly enters heaven. Could there really be happiness in that?
Unforgettable scenes. The scenes where different images of afterlife and heaven are the most unforgettable parts. They take you to the heights of your imagination. Also, the kiss near the ending, which I find very pathetic, childish and melodramatic, is also quite memorable.
Actors. The performances of Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci were most praised. I first saw Ronan in The Atonement and she was as brilliant as in the film. Ronan can really draw audiences and her innocence, dreaminess, and humor are touching and believable. Meanwhile, Tucci‘s portrayal of the serial killer is perfection with his impulsiveness and silently terrifying look. Both earned various nominations for their acting performance, with Ronan winning three awards.
Reception. The movie received mostly negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 33%, while Metacritic scored it 42%. Yet, the movie did so well in the box office, mostly from non-North American territories.
Rating. Out of five, I will give the movie three and a half stars. I really find the movie a “pretty mess” or a “beautiful disaster”. But I still love the film. Its underlying messages, stark emotions, and great special effects make the movie worth seeing again. And again.
The Blind Side is a semi-biographical sports drama film released in 2009 by Warner Bros. The movie is based on Michael Lewis’ 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. It is directed by John Lee Hancock, and stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates and Quintin Aaron (who played Michael Oher).
The movie features the life of Michael Oher, an offensive lineman player for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Michael Oher grew up being fostered by different families throughout Memphis, Tennessee since he was separated from his father and drug-addict mother. At 17, he is lucky enough to be admitted in Wingate Christian School as the coach is impressed with his size and athleticism despite his pathetic academic record. Yet, Michael remains to be meek, shy and distant from other people. One night he has a chance encounter with the Tuohy family – a wealthy, well-educated and devout Christian family. The mother, Leigh Ann, learns that Michael intends to spend the night outside the school gym where it is warmer, and so touched from his plight, she invites Michael over their house. The following day, she asks Michael to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with them. Gradually, Michael becomes attached to the family and soon the parents become officially his legal guardians. Michael becomes better with his academics and later plays with the school’s football team. Everything seems perfectly well, until an investigation is conducted on Michael and the Tuohys… What has Michael Oher learned from the investigator? Will it affect his relationship with the Tuohys? Will it end his dream of becoming a football star?
The Blind Side is one of the best films of 2009, and attesting to that is its nomination in the Academy Award for Best Picture. Undoubtedly, it has good material and the storyline is clear and well conveyed. Though it is not something that everyone can I relate to, The Blind Side is a touching drama and some scenes, even with simple gestures and dialogues, can really make audience come to tears, thanks to the brilliant performance of the casts. However, the film loses focus on highlighting Michael Oher’s biography; it has shifted theme from a sports film to a family drama, or from the “evolution of a game” to the “evolution of a family.” I suppose that is a play on the title, as the “blind side” has not only referred to a sport term but to the family who the main protagonist wants to protect.
Sandra Bullock, who played Leigh Anne Tuohy, is splendid, very beyond words. The character who is a sophisticated, high-class Christian woman was originally offered to Julia Roberts who turned it down. But everything paid off for Bullock whose stellar performance earned her several wins as best actress, including the Academy Awards, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, People’s Choice Award, and 2010 Teen Choice Award. She is really good that I think she has eaten alive the other casts. She truly brought home the bacon for the film.
Moreover, the film is both a critical and commercial success. With its budget of only $29 million, The Blind Side hit box office in its first week of opening and remained to be seen in cinemas for nearly seven months. The movie received 67% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 53 at Metacritic.
Well, I can give the film four stars out of five. The missing star will be for the film’s little ‘failure” – it has not very successfully able to make a hero of the main character Michael Oher. After watching it, audience will remember more Sandra Bullock’s persona who will they look up to and idolize instead of him. Nonetheless, the movie is very appealing, moving and inspiring.
Another great film that exemplifies what International Women’s Month is all about is this 2007 comedy-drama film about teenage pregnancy.
Juno is directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody who based it on many of her own high school experiences. It stars Ellen Page who played the title role. The film was shot only from February to March 2007, but has been very well received by both audience and critics.
The movie is about Juno MacGuff, a sixteen-year-old high-schooler who discovers she is pregnant with a child fathered by her friend and long-time admirer, Paulie Bleeker. Juno intends to abort the child in the beginning, but later changes her mind and resolves to find adoptive parents for her child. She meets the Loring couple – Mark and Vanessa, who live comfortably in their expensive house. To evaluate the parents and to establish connection between them and her child, Juno frequently visits the Lorings. But the simple visits have unpredicted consequences… The flaws in the Loring relationship slowly deepen… Mark Loring falls for Juno… Paulie Bleeker becomes distant from her… While Juno watches the Loring marriage falls apart, Juno struggles to confront her own problems. In the end when her baby is finally born, Juno’s life takes a full circle. After all, there is a choice… and hope.
Juno has multi-layered themes wrapped in light comedy. It is like eating a waffle with a cheesy hotdog filling – it is fluffy and sweet outside, but flavory and tasteful inside. Accordingly, Juno crosses boundaries with several themes. It depicts pro-life because instead of aborting her child, Juno finds suitable parents for the baby. It can also be about pro-choice for Juno, at her age of sixteen, decides for herself despite conflicting options. And finally, the movie also celebrates the triumph of feminism. A confident and intelligent girl is able to rise up after an unplanned happening. For in real life, it would be hard for a teenager to undergo such ordeal. The shame, the guilt, the responsibility, and the physical stress are just few of the hardships a pregnant teenager must bear. One will really look up to someone who can stand up for herself and for what she chooses. It is good that the movie does not portray a girl who really resorts to abortion, early marriage, or even suicide.
On the other hand, the “idea of hope after an unplanned pregnancy” has a negative effect. In some way, the movie seems to glamorize teenage pregnancy and promote unsafe teenage sex. It partly violates conservative values. Time magazine has even coined the term “Juno Effect” when 17 students under sixteen years old at a particular high school became pregnant in 2008.
Juno is very well accepted by critics. It gathered 93% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. The movie ranked 463 in Empire Magazine’s 2008 list of The 5000 Greatest Movies of All Time, and Juno MacGruff landed to 56th on the magazine’s list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. It also appeared on the top ten lists of the best films of 2007 in various magazines, including 1st in Chicago Sun-Times, 4th in New York Post, 6th in USA Today, 7th in Los Angeles Times, and 10th in The New York Times.
The movie also received numerous awards and nominations including the Academy and Golden Globe Awards. It was awarded as best comedy or film by Critic’s Choice Award, Satellite Awards, Rome Film Festival, and The National Movie Awards. Ellen Page’s performance is also highly-praised, making her won several best actress awards.
In the box office, the movie also topped the lists. It was the highest-grossing of the five Best Picture nominees for the 80th Academy Awards. Even the soundtracks for the film were very well received.
Truly, Juno has become a contemporary icon in the movie world.
Still in celebration of the International Women’s Month, let us look back at this French film about an extraordinary woman who strives to change the lives of the people around her for the better, yet failing at her own solitary life. Relive “Amelie”.
Amelie is a 2001 romantic comedy film co-produced between companies in France and Germany. Its original French title is “Le Fabuleux Destin d’ Amelie Poulain” which means “The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain”. It is directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet who also wrote the story along with Guillaume Laurant.
The movie is about a French waitress named Amelie Poulain who had grown up isolated from other children. Subsequently, she has developed an unusually active imagination to mask her loneliness. On August 31, 1997, Amelie, shocked by the news of Princess Diana’s death, drops a bottle cap that knocks into a bathroom wall tile and loosens it. Behind the tile, she finds an old metal box that contains memorabilia by a boy who hid it decades earlier. Fascinated by her find, she vows to find the boy which she successfully does, and the boy, who has then become a man, is moved to tears by the long-forgotten childhood memories and resolves to reconcile with his estranged family. Amelie is pleased with the positive effect of her act, and from that moment on, she decides to do good in the lives of others. Amelie becomes a secret matchmaker and guardian angel. To her co-workers at the local café in Montmarte… To her withdrawn father… To her neighbors… And even to strangers… But who shall look after her? When will she have the courage to overcome her own shyness and inferiority? When will she finally find the right love?
Amelie is a light comedy film. It is certainly not hilarious, and comedy is made simple, giving audience smiles and light chuckles throughout the movie. But beyond the comedy, the movie is certainly not shallow for it explores human kindness and strife in a funny way. It portrays a common trait to everyone – that is to attempt or persuade change to others, or possibly the world, yet failing to correct our own weaknesses. Theme is depicted in an everyday life, so scenes are raw, natural and believable, giving audience the feel of an ordinary urban neighborhood.
There are many symbolisms in the film. For example, Amelie fulfills his father’s dream of travelling the world by sending his garden gnome to an air-hostess who takes snapshots of it posing with landmarks from all over the world. Another is the copied painting where the painter can not quite capture the excluded look of the girl drinking a glass of water. For the painter, that girl comes to represent Amelie and her lonely life.
The movie ends satisfactorily for me. Amelie has accomplished her self-willed missions, and she herself finds the things that make her truly happy.
The movie cast has done well, too. The lead actress, Audrey Tautou, is perfect for the role, though she was not originally the first choice for it. She is pretty without being too beautiful, and comic without being foolish. She has wonderful expressions, especially the sparkle in her eyes. Since then, she has done many great foreign films like “A Very Long Engagement” and “Coco Before Chanel”.
The movie has been well received. It is one of many movie bloggers’ favorites. It was selected by The New York Times as one of “The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.” The film was a huge commercial success too, becoming one of the top-grossing foreign language films in the world along with Taiwan’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, China’s “Hero” and Mexico’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”. It was nominated for several awards including five for the Academy Awards. In 2001, it won several awards at the European Film Awards, including the Best Film Award.
Though Amelie is not of my personal favorites (simply because this is not my type of movie), it is certainly one of the most unforgettable, lovable and enjoyable films in the recent age.
