Much Better!

I exchanged my DS this morning for a new one, and it is perfect. No bad pixels, touchscreen works, and I even happened to run into someone else with a DS at the movie theater to test my wireless with. All is well.

Tiny Movie Reviews

Not reviews of tiny movies, but tiny reviews of movies!

MIRRORMASK: Visually jaw-dropping. Terrific acting, especially considering how much of the movie is animated. Stupendous writing, with some of the most memorable lines I've heard in a movie in years and years. I haven't been this stunned since I first saw Spirited Away, but this film totally blows away the fantasy elements of that anime. Stephanie Leonidas is utterly adorable, and impressively pulls off playing a 15 year old girl even though she's 21.

Sadly, I doubt that it will get a mainstream release. It is too dark and disturbing, even though it is in many ways innocent and sublime. It is too much like a Heironymous Bosch or Dali painting to be accepted by the general public, and they will not want to take their kids to see it. I fully intend to buy it the instant it comes out on DVD, because it is a remarkable piece of art. I really hope to see Dave McKean doing more directing in the future.

Favorite line: "LOOK! AN IDIOT!!!" "Where?" *vanishes*


THUMBSUCKER: This is the feelgood version of American Beauty. The Polyphonic Spree soundtrack is what does it. It's not often that I find myself smiling throughout the entirety of a film, but the performances and the writing were very well done here. The cast was truly stellar, with top notch deliveries by Tilda Swinton, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D'Onofrio and relative newcomer Lou Taylor Pucci. Even Keanu Reeves comes off as almost-not-wooden. Kelli Garner is the new Jennifer Connolly. Hubba hubba!!!

Favorite line: "The only way someone like me could get her attention is by being her kid."