Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Babel (2006) ***1/2




Novelty is probably the most crucial component inherent to the film "Babel." The filmmakers attempted to link four stories that occur at three different continents thousands of miles away from each other on earth. Such an attempt is admirable. However, it remains arguable whether these four stories are really associated with each other at a meaningful level. Linking four different stories certainly hinges on a commonality, which appears to be a lethal rifle. However, the Mexican adventure failed to exert any effect on this commonality except for the relationship between the children and the two American tourists (played by Brad Pitt and Kate Branch). Of course, the struggling to save the people you love may serve as a better theme for these four stories, but the Japanese girl's story did not quite fit this profile.

Overall, the directing, acting, and cinematography, etc. have made this movie a quality work. The script, unfortunately, may have left something to be desired.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

300 (2006) ***



Frank Miller's graphic novels are nearly the storyboards for filmmakers. In other words, directors can easily know what the movies could look like before they start shooting any scene. The movie "300" is the highlight of the adaptation of Miller's works.

The question is: what else did the director Zach Snyder bring to the story except the adrenalin-pumping and action-packed moments? Some critics use "airless" to describe this movie, while I think such a comment would appear to be unfair to the actors. The reason why I enjoy watching "300" is primarily the performance of Gerry Butler who portrayed the legendary Leonidas. Butler has proved to the world his mesmerizing acting by the role of "phantom" in "Phantom of the Opera (2005)," the adaptation of the beloved Broadway show with the same title. His Leonidas is not only convincing but also commands the movie as Leonidas commanded his Spartan army.

Watching "300" is no doubt a highly entertaining journey.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Pan's Labyrinth (2007) *****




"Pan's Labyrinth (Laberinto del fauno, El)" is the gem of the fantasy movies. In fact, it is not even a typical fantasy film. The wonderland found by many characters in fairy tales is absent in this story. Instead, the secret garden looks like a hell in "Pan's Labyrinth." The script is intelligently written yet it never loses the touch of humanity and compassion. The personalities of the main characters are multi-layered despite the theme is consistently melancholic. Brutality and beauty go hand in hand towards their dooms. Seldom has any filmmaker tried to seduce the audience with a mixture of reality and fantasy by such a dark and tragic ensemble of components. The director/writer Guillermo del Toro has no doubt achieved something unprecedentedly.

This could be the best movie of 2007.



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