(My review is spoiler-free!)
Isao Takahata's screenplay is a bridge between adult appeal and childhood sensibility. This accomplishment is due to its treatment of adults as being prone to at least just as much fear, selfishness in the face of inconvenient responsibilities, and risky distractions as kids. The other side of the coin concerning his script's brilliance is this: it doesn't treat kids stereotypically as easily frightened, or without wise perspectives. Some other highlights: • The minimalist watercolour animation that flows from scene to scene when it serves the narrative. It's complimented by lush classical music. • A scene where someone sees troubles as physically bigger than they really are. This is accompanied by a daydream of fearlessly confront a problem as a superhero. • The film's message to be aware that family divisiveness often breeds (by simmering in seeming harmony while complaints build up unspoken; communication is left unwatered) when life seems to be going well; while bonding often happens when life punishes all members together. ~ ~ ~ ★ Film Details ★ Directed by: Isao Takahata Screenplay by: Isao Takahata Style: Short Stories that Feature a Family Based on: Nono-chan by Hisaichi Ishii Genre: Slice of Life/Comedy Release Year: 1999 ~ ~ ~ My other Studio Ghibli film reviews:
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Poster by phase_runner. ★ My spoiler-free review of The Batman ★ The Batman is an expertly crafted haunting movie, and I'm pretty confident that it's the most thematically complex Batman film to date. It also features the most frightening Batman since it presents the criminals' perspectives on a nightmare entity, whether he slowly emerges from the shadows or pursues them relentlessly with fiery rage. Speaking of which, the film features some of the most thrilling action that I have experienced in any film, though this comic book movie is a refreshing psychological drama and thriller that's patiently paced, rather than an action flick. It's the most melancholic Batman film too, one where Gotham's silent cry for healing through love, hope, trust, and justice (amidst the city's abusers) is amplified by its contrast with a through-line of trauma. The Batman expands on the Dark Knight's themes of institutional corruption and the mutual escalation between law enforcement and law breakers during a war on crime with nuance and much subtlety. The film also presents a deep thematic dive on wealth inequality and the systemic privilege of being wealthy (and the responsibility that the fortunate have to help people who are oppressed). Likewise, The Batman also deals with vengeance, poverty, and hopelessness being major forces for terrorism, as well as social media's role in terrorism's growth. I emphasize that I'm a fan of this film. Poster by Khoa Ho. ★ Who is my favorite Batman? ★ Robert Pattinson is the best Batman, because his Bruce Wayne truly is Batman, and he has no other persona, even without his literal Bat mask; His version is a ferocious yet life-preserving, traumatized but fear-lacking, frightening (to others in Gotham) yet heartbreaking, exhausted but vengeance driven, and flawed yet ultimately inspirational Dark Knight. His version seems as if it's the most realistic psychological portrayal of the Batman character in film. Furthermore, his stellar action features some mistakes and physical trauma for him, which recalls (but doesn't imitate) James Bond's action in Casino Royale (2006), which felt more real for the franchise. Christian Bale still provided the best authentic Bruce Wayne in my view. Batman was ultimately his mask, his burden to bear for a while, while his Playboy persona was a bit over the top (though entertaining). His true Bruce Wayne personality was fearful yet driven to use his fear to ultimately protect others and inspire them to lift one another up (no matter how many times he fell), even if it meant he had to embody a creature of the night to accomplish his end goal. Michael Keaton's portrayal of the playboy persona of Bruce Wayne continues to be the best. It's an eccentric persona which fits the eccentric version of Gotham in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns, a city whose melancholic and barely contained chaotic architecture contains many larger than life characters. Adam West's portrayal of Batman remains the best parody of the character. The brilliance of his portrayal is that it's of a Batman who is unaware that he's hilarious and in a comedic world. Poster by hamletroman. ★ Some of my nostalgic Batman memories ★ Batman & Robin was the first Batman film I saw and I enjoyed it immensely as a kid...it was a live action Saturday Morning cartoon. I haven't seen it in nearly 2 decades but I still remember that unintentionally laugh-riot of a line from Mr. Freeze before he unleashes his freeze gun. Mr. Freeze: "What killed the dinosaurs? THE ICE AGE!" He said it with so much confidence and seriousness, as if it was the final heroic one-liner that a villain hears in an epic 1980s action film. Later on, around the year 2000 (I was about 7 years old), I discovered a VHS tape of Batman (1989) at a flea market (by the way, the video cassette was in a Blockbuster store sleeve). My parents got it for me, and they were also eager to own a copy of the film since they were fans of the movie. I was blown away when I saw it and it ignited in me an eagerness to experience the rest of the original Batman film series. Though I prefer thematically dark Batman stories, The Adam West starring Batman series and film hold a special place in my heart; it's one of the greatest parodies of all time, whether it was wholly meant to be or not. By the way, my sister and I were familiar with the film but when we discovered that one of our TV channels was showing a re-run of the series several years ago, we tore through the episodes that aired while we laughed our heads off. It was amongst the last rounds of experiences we shared as siblings who lived together and I'm thoroughly grateful for it. 🙂 ★ End ★
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