Reviews

This film has the honour of being the first anime film that I experienced on the big screen.

I THINK the moments when I was walking out the door after the movie defined what I felt about the film: I overheard a teenage girl saying: 'Don't know about you, but I never noticed violin music in films before this.' Then she proceeds to hum Anna's theme out loud...note by note.

OK, first of all, I don't know what films she has being watching before this, because pretty much every film I watched with a decent score had music I can remember. But even I must admit: The music is the hero in this film, its by far the loudest sound maker in the film, as the strings overwhelms you while the subdued virtual camera pans across typically well-produced Ghibli background art with a bit of light sound effects. I think this film has mastered musically silent scenes...by perfectly contrasting them with scenes where the music takes the reins. The feelings to dread, loneliness and the atmospheric feelings when Anna was exploring the marshes.

I find it intriguing that Marnie's theme was hinted at the beginning, even before the appearance of Marnie, taking its full form about half way into the film, but was never given a full fanfare moment: its a tender woodwind led melody that usually takes the form of a bittersweet waltz, its really quite beautiful to see our two main characters dance to it. Anna's theme; definitely the most memorable theme of the film; is written sorely for tear-jerking. The second phrase of this theme takes the form of a 7 note motif, with the first note jumping almost an octave apart to the second before sliding down with the following 5 notes: vintage nostalgic and beautiful writing. Anyone who can survive these 7 simple notes must have a brick for a heart.

And this basically sums up the music of this film: simple, beautiful and absolutely nostalgic: it is able to etch itself into your brain without the brute force of brass and percussion, relying mainly on tender piano and woodwind solos and a warm strings section. Even the credits song; interestingly sung and written in English; is practically created just to give you nostalgic feelings and tender melancholy.

If I have to describe this film in one word, it would be 'sweet.' That's it. Sweet. Every character; no matter the amount of screen time they get, are awfully likable, the Oiwa family is fun to watch while they had the spotlight, Sayaka, who briefly appears as an adventurous and curious girl, is pleasant to see on screen, Anna and Marnie share a lot of sweet and cute moments, each one leaving you with a big smile on your face. The exceptions to this are characters mainly shown shown in flashbacks: the maids and a brief character called Emily. What I like about Ghibli films like this; a general lack of concrete plot timeline (see Kiki, Totoro and Poppy Hill); is just how...character-driven these films are: there's no plot points that taints and 'conveniently' motivates the characters, instead the plot is moved along by character motivation itself; even if some characters may appear for just seconds...they still somehow serve a profound purpose: The most brutal scenes in the entire film is when the elder Hisako tells her story to Anna and Sayaka: we get to see how Hisako, Anna and Marnie are connected through time.

Granted, I would've like to see more of Marnie, Sayaka and Hisako; particularly Hisako; but what I got was satisfying.

Needless to say, the art and animation is flawless, Studio Ghibli just utterly celebrates hand drawn animation...its backgrounds feels like vivid recreations of Monet paintings brought to life, the Marsh House drawn on pencil by Anna and oil painted by Hisako looked stunning on screen.

So...is this a good film to farewell Ghibli in the foreseeable future? Yes. Is it a masterpiece? It succeeds in many ways but fails in some others. Like I said, the side characters have much more to bring to the table, Anna can be a bit whiny and annoying at first, but she grows like any main character should, Marnie feels too...perfect, and her backstory does not seem to fit her character at times...but she's still a likable presence on screen. Overall, a must watch if you want a easy segway to slowly get into Ghibli films. The soundtrack? Now, this is a possible masterpiece...I would rate score with 5* if its theme based rating only, but overall, its a 4.5*. I also recommend you to check out the included image album: particularly the Anna theme suite.

From the humble underdog story of 2010; which surprised thousands with its heartfelt story, lovable main characters, a dragon everyone's wants to pet and ride and of course, a dramatic leg-losing ending that sooo subtly made it such a emotional ride, a tear crunched its way through my eyelids; comes another ride which welcomingly advances the the world of the Dragonriders.

Five years after the first film, Hiccup and his adorable but lethal Night Fury have explored the vast lands beyond Berk. He finds a crazy dragon lady, a war brooding...and he wants to escape a chieftain's job. This perfect duo was sure able to capture the admiration and undivided attention of the audience; they well animated love and utter connection shown both in heart-felt and humorous fashion. Don't let the mesmerizing good looks of Hiccup fool you: He is still a wise-cracking and geeky guy hiding behind a rather fortunately well formulated puberty.

The animation's handy characterisation of this trait is well done; and a worthy example of the amazing art begin the design of this film: You see Hiccup's ingenious inventions he wears on his armour: A set of handy gliders, a pouch for pencils, another paper dispenser for mapping, a compass on his arms, a multi-function blade handle which sheaths a fire-lit blade and a trigger on it for wizzle-back gas (excuse the dragon naming).

The side characters, expectedly got less focus, but the film makers illustrated the pure love between Stoick and the grossly spoiled-in-the-trailer Valka (yep, Hiccup's mother) so well, they could well have a movie made just for those two. But of course, some good things never blossom. Which brings to the movie's emotion storm: GET READY FOR A EMOTIONAL RIDE. The humour of the twins, Fishlegs and Snotnout also gets a mention: The jokes out of them were not in-your-face; desperate to get a chuckle of you, but they work so well.

Watch for the background: While the humans talk, the dragons play for your laughs; and watch for Toothless' cat-screech moment.

This movie is also one of those few movies that can hold the 3D banner high, and be damn proud of it! A dragon movie screams 'pretty flying scenes' and this film takes full advantage of this: A solo-gliding start, a catch-up session with mum (fishing for food by the way), a few awe-striking battle scenes and of course the dragon racing. Now the music...

DON'T LEAVE JUST YET. I am sickened by how movie-lovers can ignore the musical talent that is John Powell, who wrote a 90 minute long roller-coaster of a score for this. I urge you all to appreciate the frantic writing of the music behind the pretty picture and remind yourselves how music elevates the film to another level. I ask of you 5 minutes of your time: Stay back for the credits to enjoy just a snippet of the Oscar-worthy music.

All in all: Get your arses into Imax and dust off a pair of 3D glasses, and enjoy this piece of Divine Masterpiece, and wait another 3 years for one final shot with HTTYD 3.

Middle Earth perhaps was not meant to look 'real' on screen, and I don't think Tolkien even intended it to be a 'earthly possible' world when he created it. They say the human mind are hardwired to advance into the surreal with every imagination and artistic exploration they attempt. My point? Peter Jackson's creative team have made Middle Earth an unrealistic, but spectacular world for us to wish to be part of. My proof? Who here didn't wish that they lived as hobbits in Hobbiton when you see that cute, peaceful and lazy village, where all you do is eat, drink and laugh? Who didn't cried and star wide-eyed at Rivendell when the harps and angelic choristers greeted the majestic waterfalls and mountain valleys of the Elf haven? Middle Earth is officially the most sought after vacation or living spot that doesn't exist.

Now, enough with Middle Earth itself and talk The Hobbit. This review is wholly intended as a review of the entire series with whatever that is available thus far, with strong emphasis on the 'Desolation of Smaug'. I managed to keep Lord of the Rings out because I know haters of the Hobbit series will see this a extreme bias to review new movies with a universal legendary trilogy as support.

Wow...where to begin? This is my favourite movie of the year and it tunneled itself past several long-standing contenders for the top.

The movie kicks straight into the action with a sense of urgency that actually lacked in the first movie, with the dwarfs and Bilbo continuing on their quest to reach Arebor and retrieve treasure from the dragon Smaug and a certain specific gemstone that's of the most importance to Thorin, leader of the company.

'An Unexpected Journey' did its part to celebrate the old trilogy and welcome us back to Middle Earth with new and colourful characters, while also giving us back 'The' Wizard, the jolly and fun Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) and a new Bilbo (Martin Freeman) who managed to crawl into my brain, and portray the character EXACTLY to my imagination, with even more humour and emotion. The dwarf gang still kills it in this film, all with their funny moments and heroics. Orlando Bloom's Legolas returns as a heartthrob, only with more ommmph in his character, due to his slightly more tender age and untested nature, his return is rightly justified by the presence of his father in the movie, so the haters have one argument terminated. The imagined Lady-elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) surprisingly filled a gap in Tolkien's gender diversity and introduced raw tenderness and romance in a package of knives and explosive ass-kicking when time requires it, its a risky move, but all done in good reason and to give the movie more heart and a heroine character that Arwen and Eowyn delivered in The Lord of the Rings. This movie cast radiates a certain originality that only Middle Earth can provide us, which is only fitting for a marvelled novel. Radagast? I'll say at least he acts like a more normal wizard in this movie, helping Gandalf on his side-quest, which actually feeds more directly to the entire Middle Earth history, no spoiling here. :)

Locations? The beauty and natural majesty of New Zealand is not overstated or exaggerated in the first movie. 'An Unexpected Journey's goal to return you to Middle Earth in the smoothest method paid off with vistas and real-life landscapes of that tiny country in the South. The second movie? S**t's getting serious here, and locations reflected that, and the underbelly, or the less inviting parts of the Middle Earth begins to show. Let's start with Mirkwood...One of the creepiest scenes you will ever see, and spiders...yes giant spiders in perfect CGI magic from the wizs and witches of Weta Workshop, Elves's domain? Remember the wood-elves are less friendly than Rivendell and their area of the woods reflect that. Laketown is another cinematic achievement with immersive environments that makes you forget its all a set-piece location (yes, no off- putting 100% CGI here! large sets are built for Laketown), the Bard's lack of characterisation in the novel is expanded welcomingly in the movie, which showed him a bad-ass archer with skills rivalling the elves , while also a family man with kids. Once again, I applaud Jackson's team for creating a cast of multi-dimensional characters with layers to unravel and explore.

Finally, for those who groan that the dragon was 'shown' in the trailer...you ain't seen nothing yet, because I know as a fact that a nose, an eye and a growl is not everything that a dragon can bring to the table. And Smaug? He's HUGE! He's a perfect villain with a wit and a voice to match. Cumberbatch's voice radiates terror and almost a sense of torment on whoever hears the dragon speak, the whole cinema shakes, with a tiny squeak from me in response. I can tell you now that the ending WILL leave you yearning for more.

Yet, out of ALL this, the One Ring still shows itself, almost as an afterthought, but that's the point isn't it? Its symbol as desire for power over others is never truly shown in everyone, but it exists in everyone, once again the movie explores that through Bilbo.

On the whole, a viewing spectacle that delivers enjoyment for the entire three hours. Those expecting an echo of the critics' complaints for its length of runtime will be disappointed, I feel that a movie this long is long enough to truly immerse you into its story, and this movie did it perfectly and with an ending that still leaves you wanting more, the typical 90 minute quick-dose of cheesy action from Hollywood is no longer adequate, and it's time the word 'patience' is used. How does anyone expect character development, drama, action and emotional ride in 90 minutes?