tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.comments2024-02-07T16:54:16.657-07:00Denerstein UnleashedRobert Denersteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comBlogger404125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-61243343754074223062024-02-07T14:39:44.802-07:002024-02-07T14:39:44.802-07:00I found myself wanting sit down with Halle Berry a...I found myself wanting sit down with Halle Berry and Good Will Hunting her: "It's not your fault. It's not your fault."<br /><b><i>Daniel Archangel</i></b>https://www.blogger.com/profile/07084833652283692862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-28488965518292584152024-01-12T15:11:46.789-07:002024-01-12T15:11:46.789-07:00You are hilarious. The edit is great, but the Freu...You are hilarious. The edit is great, but the Freudian slip was equally touching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-89972525534367299342023-12-17T06:52:32.042-07:002023-12-17T06:52:32.042-07:00When film maker is a a giant in the way Miyazaki i...When film maker is a a giant in the way Miyazaki is, it's difficult to give critiques because it seems like he should be the arbiter of what makes a quality animation. However, looking through the lens of three act story structure, it's a simple task to point out that the narrative beats are either blatantly mistimed, absent, or ineffective. Much of the time, it's stories that are intimately aware of story structure which are able to produce strong emotional beats, and the film's lacking attempts at those highlight the missing narrative through line.<br /><br />Storyboarding/animation-first filmmaking has limitations, and those have been visible in the culmination of Miyazaki's work for a long time. It's so much more reliable to intentionally integrate distinct themes and plot with a writing/plotting-first approach.<br /><br />Stories like <i>Princess Mononoke</i> and <i>Spirited Away</i> are in the unique state of having all the charm that comes with a prioritized emphasis on animation, while also having characters with trackable motivations that push through the story. It's far from cookie-cutter, Save-the-Cat structure, but it allows the audience to at least orient themselves throughout the runtime. The Boy and Heron does not give that same luxury.<br /><br />Maybe the most disappointing aspect of the film is that it seems to promise growth in or between characters, but there simply is no attempt to show that (point and case being the main character calling his step-mom Mother after nothing has changed between them, as far as the audience is concerned). In Mononoke, the MC learns, through following his motivation to protect his village and the forest animals, that people are complex and untangling environmental issues is an insane problem. Chihiro, by following her want of getting her parents back to normal, learns that she has tenacity and can form meaningful bonds with people through work and shared experience. I don't know what Mahito was supposed to have learned (besides, loosely, to face the real world) or why he cared so much about retrieving his step-mother when he clearly should have cared more for his biological mother, who is also accessible to him in the same way and place. The film pretends not to notice this at multiple points.<br /><br />I'm sure this film has extraordinary personal and familial value, but it doesn't operate in a decipherable way for a mainstream (Western???) audience. Meanwhile, <i>How Do You Live?</i> is an ethics book highly contextual to Japanese history, culture, and norms which is completely decipherable for mainstream, Western readers.<br />¯\_(ツ)_/¯<br /><br />I'm sure historical and biographical context would help make sense of this film, but a movie that only operates symbolically only has partial meaning. Coincidentally, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i> suffers for similar reasons.<br /><br />Miyazaki will be remembered as the man who forced eastern animated film into the North American spotlight through his passion for and dedication to his craft, no matter how any of his films are received. But, man, I wish this one had been better.<br /><br />MellowGuppinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-15922037151855042482023-12-15T16:53:13.818-07:002023-12-15T16:53:13.818-07:00Thank you thank you thank you! This is my favorite...Thank you thank you thank you! This is my favorite post of every year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-85088942003056664122023-11-25T21:40:41.604-07:002023-11-25T21:40:41.604-07:00I agree. Anton is clearly shown hiding behind the ...I agree. Anton is clearly shown hiding behind the door before Bell enters. We are shown a locked bathroom window and the coin used to remove the vent register remains on the floor. Anton has a thing for coins so he wouldn’t leave it behind and the duct is clearly too small to have been where Moss hid the money so Anton hasn’t yet found the money and he didn’t escape out of the bathroom window. I conclude that Bell was killed in the room by Anton. Also, how does a man paralyzed from the waist down live out in the middle of nowhere on his own? This surreal scene is a hallucination. I interpret the final words of Bell as the moment he dies - abruptly turning to black thereafter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-51468352662011145012023-11-21T10:02:21.436-07:002023-11-21T10:02:21.436-07:00Not really. I think the “Marvels” review is clearl...Not really. I think the “Marvels” review is clearly a negative one. Re:”Fingernails.” I tried to acknowledge the performances while expressing reservations about the credibility and usefulness (dramatically) of the movie’s central conceit. As for “Rustin,” that too is a movie that evoked a mixed response from me. I can only write about how I respond to a movie. That doesn’t necessarily include a recommendation about what you or anyone else should do. Plenty of critics specialize in “in” or “out” reviews if that’s what you’re after, particularly those who use rating systems — either letter grades or stars. When I worked at “The Rocky Mountain News,” I used a ratings system, but — now that I work for myself — I find them to be inhibiting and, of necessity, reductionist. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that years of reviewing in that context hasn’t influenced me, but I try — not always successfully — to break away from that kind of thinking. Anyway, I appreciate your responses and thank you for talking the time to comment.Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-60447753646994352172023-11-20T23:06:41.082-07:002023-11-20T23:06:41.082-07:00Would you be able to clarify? Thanks. Would you be able to clarify? Thanks. Nicholas Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11169282069613671899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-86956814485042269452023-11-16T09:09:29.391-07:002023-11-16T09:09:29.391-07:00OK, Rustin.
OK, Rustin.<br /><br />Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-10291767592309943032023-11-15T22:35:01.531-07:002023-11-15T22:35:01.531-07:00I meant to leave that as a comment for "Rusti...I meant to leave that as a comment for "Rustin."Nicholas Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11169282069613671899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-37611367865070580082023-11-15T09:45:52.422-07:002023-11-15T09:45:52.422-07:00About him? Not sure what you're talking about....About him? Not sure what you're talking about. If you're asking whether I'd opt for "Fingernails" over "The Marvels," the answer is "yes" presuming those were the only choices. Why do you ask?Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-8979144279241321442023-11-14T18:04:48.557-07:002023-11-14T18:04:48.557-07:00Would this be worth seeing if you know very little...Would this be worth seeing if you know very little about him? And if not, would "Fingernails" be a better option? Thanks. Nicholas Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11169282069613671899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-34477901234491691392023-10-24T09:31:27.893-06:002023-10-24T09:31:27.893-06:00Can't say. Too individual a question. That...Can't say. Too individual a question. That's why I qualified my review. Overall, my review is negative. So you can draw your own conclusion. Hope that helps.<br /><br />Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-28919865710206388872023-10-23T19:03:31.572-06:002023-10-23T19:03:31.572-06:00Is this something that'd be worth seeing if yo...Is this something that'd be worth seeing if you're not easily offended or not? Thanks. Nathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06554810860700640642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-61415273695752396932023-10-22T14:39:02.110-06:002023-10-22T14:39:02.110-06:00Talladega Nights" is a hilarious ride, showca...Talladega Nights" is a hilarious ride, showcasing Will Ferrell's comedic genius in a high-octane world. A must-watch for racing and comedy fans alike!Wonder bread jackethttps://www.nycjackets.com/product/ricky-bobby-leather-jacket/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-59831938091624646902023-10-19T19:30:23.768-06:002023-10-19T19:30:23.768-06:00I was happy to find that you are still in the game...I was happy to find that you are still in the game sir. I was born and raised in Denver Co. As a teen, and a young man, I made it a point to read your reviews before seeing a movie. It was a very rare thing for you and I to agree about a movie. So much so, that I would be very confident of enjoying any movie that you didn't like. I have read your review of Killers ot Flower Moon. You still read the same. I will see the movie this Sat. I am very curious to see how much I may have changed. Again, good to see you still kicking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-68637283432588976572023-10-17T01:42:38.319-06:002023-10-17T01:42:38.319-06:00Excellent interpretation!Excellent interpretation!Vernon Mangumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-70254305261725497392023-08-29T17:39:23.385-06:002023-08-29T17:39:23.385-06:00Interviews gone bad if you haven't seen it.
...Interviews gone bad if you haven't seen it. <br /><br />https://uproxx.com/movies/neill-blomkamp-gran-turismo/Patrick Wahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15408356855300575520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-67152767516836485412023-08-29T08:05:37.584-06:002023-08-29T08:05:37.584-06:00If you're neither a racing fan nor a video gam...If you're neither a racing fan nor a video game fan, I'd say find another movie to see.<br />Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-495584643475135812023-08-28T17:51:04.823-06:002023-08-28T17:51:04.823-06:00Would you recommend seeing this? As an aside, I&#...Would you recommend seeing this? As an aside, I'm not a big racing fan. Thanks. Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15505423077197330915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-92116812398054055152023-07-17T15:37:25.555-06:002023-07-17T15:37:25.555-06:00
Hope you feel better now that you’ve gotten that ...<br />Hope you feel better now that you’ve gotten that off your chest — whatever it is you’re trying to say.<br />Robert Denersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146881604428766785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-22671019416544138392023-07-17T14:42:25.847-06:002023-07-17T14:42:25.847-06:00Happy that I didn't depend on this pathetic re...Happy that I didn't depend on this pathetic review of this movie. But the movie is idiot proof so this review is not surprising.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-48746218237937092352023-06-22T13:32:26.011-06:002023-06-22T13:32:26.011-06:00I found your review more interesting than the film...I found your review more interesting than the film. You did leave out the aspect of Lizzy's initial response to the injured bird - sweeping it out the window to "go die someplace else." I felt that her sense of guilt played a large role in her actions later. Thanks for your review, although I felt you were a bit too kind to the director.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-89025372097136853522023-06-19T09:31:25.272-06:002023-06-19T09:31:25.272-06:00The/last/line/is/beautiful.The/last/line/is/beautiful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-9405511694788426562023-05-06T11:52:34.615-06:002023-05-06T11:52:34.615-06:00It's not meant to be funny. I read the book.It's not meant to be funny. I read the book.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955417752300882417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3266940592422630617.post-71791213728352242752023-03-25T03:23:26.110-06:002023-03-25T03:23:26.110-06:00What's really hard to believe, she was also MA...What's really hard to believe, she was also MAUREEN in Once Upon A Time In The West four years earlier age 13. The girl who was shot by Henry Fonda along with her family.RAMONEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844080456093076884noreply@blogger.com