I've given some shots at CGI and computer animation in general, but I do not apologize for it. People have taken a wonderful technology, capable of so much, and made it an eye rending horror. Just yesterday I saw the first photos of Speilberg's "Tintin" and all I can say is wow howdy that is some ugly stuff.
So it is a joy, really a treat, to see something like Toy Story 3 which shows how it is done. The animation is natural, breezy. The designs are so clean and well thought out. The colors are bold without causing a headache. In short, the film looks wonderful.
But, of course if I just wanted to see something that looks wonderful I'd go to a musuem or look in a mirror (I kid!) What makes the toy story movies so good is the writing and voice work. Though the subjects might be little toys, these films are really about the big things in life: love, trust, and loyalty.
In the latest romp, the toys are concerned about their future. Andy is now all grown up and ready for college. The choices seem bleak, a retirement home set up in the attic, or the garbage can. Our toys think they've found a new home in the nearby preschool, but is it all it's cracked up to be? Can Woody give up on Andy? Can he abandon his family? Will Ken and Barbie get together?
The film deftly handles it all with a light sure touch. All the actors are given space to work with their characters. I specially like Joan Cusack for her performance of Jessie. She retains the emotional vulnerablity from the last film, but definitely shows she has grown into her new family. Tim Allen is funny, but his character isn't central to this story arc so he's far more the comedy relief. Really it is Tom Hanks who is the center of this film and he does such a good job I'll forgive him for other projects like "The Davinci Code."
Seriously, you are not too old to see this. This might be a "kid's movie" but I think most adults will enjoy the experience.
Bonus: Every villain should have "Death by Monkeys" as an option. Just saying.
STRANGE SPANNERS being an accounting of strangeness of the warp and woof of my mind For those of you new here, think of this as 1/2 "Night Gallery" Our Motto: Nos somnium quisnam es futurus fatum quod insolitus tutus vos!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Part 1: Formless horrors
The Thing in the Lake, in "The Raft"
It would be hard to follow up "Creepshow" which was an incredibly fun film and also had a highly stylized look. "Creepshow 2" didn't even really try. It went for a more conventional anthology feel and generally had subpar stories and production values. "The Raft," based on a King short story, is a prime example. Several expendable teens decide for one last end of summer swim and party at the isolated lake. Having gone out to the floating raft they are now suddenly the prisoner of some .... thing. Teens are slowly expended as we get to see who the final teen will be.
Now generally the creature here is disappointing. King wrote of it as some sort of living oil slickery looking thing. The film makers for the most part translated this to "Deflated rafted covered in oil and junk. It's a big disappointment and really kills the mood for much of the piece. However, they do rather successfully translate several of the kills of the story to the film fairly spectacularly intact. This includes a rather horrific scene where a character gets sucked down through a knothole. Definitely not a good way to go.
As things go, this is rather par for the slimy course, but it does get bonus points for being a hypnotic slimy monster. "Look into my slime!"
It would be hard to follow up "Creepshow" which was an incredibly fun film and also had a highly stylized look. "Creepshow 2" didn't even really try. It went for a more conventional anthology feel and generally had subpar stories and production values. "The Raft," based on a King short story, is a prime example. Several expendable teens decide for one last end of summer swim and party at the isolated lake. Having gone out to the floating raft they are now suddenly the prisoner of some .... thing. Teens are slowly expended as we get to see who the final teen will be.
Now generally the creature here is disappointing. King wrote of it as some sort of living oil slickery looking thing. The film makers for the most part translated this to "Deflated rafted covered in oil and junk. It's a big disappointment and really kills the mood for much of the piece. However, they do rather successfully translate several of the kills of the story to the film fairly spectacularly intact. This includes a rather horrific scene where a character gets sucked down through a knothole. Definitely not a good way to go.
As things go, this is rather par for the slimy course, but it does get bonus points for being a hypnotic slimy monster. "Look into my slime!"
Today's Secret Code for November 3rd 2010
"The storm clears the deadwood." Again: "The storm clears the deadwood." Today's colour is a fresh one. Today's author is hopeful. That is all, maho maho.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
And so they rested
"...and the last Titans did tireno longer wishing to raise their handsagainst their unruly children"Let them rule, it is what they deserve..."said one"I hope they have children one day."said the otherand thus resigned under the sunthe last Titans did retire..."
A smile behind a glass wall
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