Submarine & The Secret World of Arrietty

Submarine (Richard Ayoade, 2010)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

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

Indie, Complex Relationships, Dark Comedy, Teen Romance

Oh, high school... there was something so great about being different. And every moment and event was exaggerated ten times over; became ten times more real. This film reminded me so much of being a teenager - the drama of relationships, the mistakes, the awkward conversations, the escapades. Submarine is funny and sad and contemplative. Richard Ayoade created something quite beautiful and intriguing. The characters and storylines feel real and yet somehow remain entirely fantastical.

The Secret World of Arrietty (Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2010)
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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Animated, Studio Ghibli, Based on Book, Fantasy/Whimsical

It seems like I waited years to see this film - it was well worth it. Studio Ghibli never fails to impress me and inspire. Based on the children's classic The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arrietty tells the story of little people who live beneath the floorboards and survive by borrowing bits and pieces from the humans. It is utterly enchanting. Every stunning illustration -from the world of the garden to inside the walls and under the grates- is meticulously detailed and gorgeous. Arrietty, the heroine, is fun to watch as she climbs the towering walls, skips along blades of grass, and frets and schemes in her room full of found objects. I can't recommend this film enough. Masterful.

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Post Delay

I have not had a computer at home for the last few weeks and, therefore, have not been able to post. Stay tuned (hopefully soon) for posts on:

Albert Nobbs
Jeeves & Wooster Seasons 1 and 2
Miss Marple Seasons 1 and 2
Submarine
The Trip
The Secret World of Arrietty