The Breadwinner

The Breadwinner (Nora Twomey, 2017)

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Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Animation, Drama, Political, Storytelling, Coming of Age

Such an inspiring, yet difficult, film to watch. The horrors of being a woman in Taliban controlled areas is something I have a very hard time even thinking about, let alone watching. The animation style Twomey chose to use AND the beautiful storytelling as a coping mechanism, makes this one special. Worth a viewing, for sure. I think it's important to reflect on the advantages and privilege we have in our much safer, Western society.

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Happy Holidays! 400th post!

I can't believe this is my 400th post! In celebration of this, I decided to pull a post I made on my first blog (before this one) about my love of holiday cartoons. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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I'm a cartoon-aholic. I have hundreds and hundreds on tapes, DVDs, and in special collections. But I'm not as interested in most new animated films and shorts - I don't like the pacing, the illustration style, or the voice-acting. As soon as they got famous celebrities to voice-act, everything changed... I'm of the classic, old-school variety who savors the fantastical and whimsical hand-drawn cartoons of the 1920s-1950s. My favorite Disney film is Dumbo and I grew up on Popeye, Betty Boop, and Felix the Cat. There were some pretty amazing cartoons in the early days. Like this triumph by Walt Disney long before the full-length films:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAdhGB2m5oo

Lullaby Land = Wonderful

Anyway, this post was supposed to be about my favorite HOLIDAY cartoons. So here goes:

5. The Night Before Christmas (Disney, Silly Symphony)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmwNQi2VYx0&feature=related

4. Christmas Comes But Once A Year (Fleischer, Betty Boop)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeMeBhkYGlg

3. Christmas Night (Fleisher, The Little King)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smGGfJ3KAC0

2. The Snowman (Briggs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yULYLd53h4 -- part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27lJ0szOM3c&feature=related -- part 2

1. Santa's Workshop (Disney, Silly Symphony)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5M2m8wSg8o

Happy Holidays, all! Enjoy being a kid when you watch these :)

Terry Gilliam Challenge: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (revisited)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009)

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Rating: Q=8, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Fantasy, Adventure, Philosophical, Whimsical

My second viewing of this film revealed that it's my favorite of all Terry Gilliam's work. It is the most "Gilliamesque" with: strange and bizarre scenes, amazing philosophical/spiritual concepts, great acting (Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, and Tom Waits? Plus Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell cameos??), and a lingering effect--it stays with you long after it is over. I really loved figuring out what was going on and then, once I had, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I'd definitely be one of those crazy women who leaps into the doctor's mirror.

I must say that the story is such a fantastic concept, it must be viewed. I don't want to spoil anything, so just go watch it!

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Terry Gilliam Challenge: Tideland

Tideland (Terry Gilliam, 2005)

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Rating: Q=6, P=3 / Thanks But No Thanks

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

Trauma, Coming of Age, Grief and Coping, Dark, Horror

Terry Gilliam's says in his disclaimer to the film: Some people will hate this movie. Some will love it. Some won't understand what's going on. I think that is very true. It is very disturbing, but a beautiful experiment in storytelling. I've never seen a film that was truly from the point of view of a child--that explores her reactions, her imagination, and thoughts. While the "reality" of the story was horrific, the way young Jeliza-Rose deals with her situation is fascinating and inspiring. I don't think I can watch it again, but I'm glad I did take this one on.

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Flavors of Youth: International Version

Flavors of Youth: International Version (Haoling Li, Yoshitaka Takeuch, and Xiaoxing Yi, 2018)

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Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Coming of Age, Reminiscence, Animation

A lovely collection of stories of youth. Beautiful art and dialogue, but the English voice-acting was sub-par, in my opinion. Each story had its moments: homesickness, self doubt, and lost love. Worth watching, for sure. I enjoyed how it made me think about my own adolescent years.

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Terry Gilliam Challenge: The Fisher King

The Fisher King (Terry Gilliam, 1991)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Complex Relationships, Whimsical, Grief, Coping

What a beautiful and hilarious story of friendship and redemption. Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges make the perfect odd couple. I thoroughly enjoyed how Terry Gilliam chose to adapt the story of The Fisher King and also how he chose to show Parry's grief and coping from his traumatic loss. Grief is such a personal emotion, different for everyone. An all-around great film.

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Terry Gilliam Challenge: Twelve Monkeys

Twelve Monkeys (Terry Gilliam, 1995)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Fantasy, Adventure, Time Travel, Post-Apocalyptic, Philosophical

Time travel has always fascinated me, but stories and films about it never fail to disturb me. There is something strange and eerie about the idea of getting caught in a time loop and altering time and events. And it's so depressing to think that going back to try to prevent something awful from happening just can't be done. This story takes that to a whole new level because it is post-apocalyptic. Terry Gilliam masterfully adapted the short film "La Jetee," which I watched right after this film. Wow.

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Terry Gilliam Challenge: The Zero Theorem

The Zero Theorem (Terry Gilliam, 2013)

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Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Fantasy, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Philosophical

Terry Gilliam never fails to intrigue me. I love that he makes his viewers work to understand what's going on and as you figure things out it becomes a marvelous, surreal ride. Christoph Waltz is brilliant as the tortured-genius Qohen. And both Matt Damon's cameo as "Management" and Tilda Swinton's AI psychiatrist are ridiculous and perfect. I'd watch this again, for sure.

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The Post

The Post (Stephen Spielberg, 2017)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Politics, Journalism, Drama, Historical

What a fantastic achievement by Stephen Spielberg--and so very timely. It's still hard for me to believe how often history repeats itself. In my lifetime, it seems like we've consistently taken two steps forward and four steps back. Freedom of the press is absolutely vital. Especially in this era of information. We need to educate how to discern information and how to stand up for what is right. Films (and other art) like this help--they can make a difference. As the film poignantly states near the end of the film "from the majority opinion: 'In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.'"

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