Depression Theater 1: The Illusionist

I don't watch films to feel sad.  I want to be energized, pumped up.  I want to leave the theater going "Hell Yeah!"  But, hey we are all adults here, and we all know we need a balance diet even in the arts.  So sometimes it is good to slow things down a little, and get a bit more emotional.

"The Illusionist" is the story of a struggling magician.  It's not that he's a bad magician.  He can pull off his tricks with a smooth grace of an artist.  The trouble is that the world has moved on.  Now even Scotsmen in kilts are rocking and rolling, and the illusionist just looks old fashioned.  Now his only real fan is a young lady who attaches herself to him and the illusionist now seeks to please her.  They, and an ill tempered bunny, form sort of a family, but such things cannot last.

It's a beautifully animated film.  Done nearly without dialogue it is incredible how much the animators were able to convey with body language.  Truly if these were living breathing actors they would be up for oscars in an instant.  I don't know if I would see this film again, but I am glad I saw it.  But we disagree on this....

There are magicians....