Well, as you might have expected, I did go watch Alice again - this time without the 3D trappings. The colors were in fact noticeably deeper and richer, particularly in the flowers and other surroundings of Wonderland. It wasn't day-glo 70s garishly colorful (which I nearly expected), but it was definitely an improvement. And a lot of the camera angles were so oriented to 3D on their own, that I found I didn't miss the added depth very much at all. Since the 3D effects were so much more subtle … [Read more...] about Addendum to “Alice”
Movies
Alice in Wonderland!
Oh my gosh, I have lost track how many months I have been waiting for this movie! I am a huge--dare I say, rabid--fan of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Both separately and together, these two have produced so many movies which I have loved...well, I'm not a huge fan of the Pee Wee movie, but that was early Burton. But I digress.... Having been home from the theater barely half an hour after seeing this, I will confess that my mind is racing a bit and I am fighting to stay relatively organized. … [Read more...] about Alice in Wonderland!
Romeo + Juliet
There is nothing quite so tragic as to finally have the opportunity to watch a film you've wanted to see for years, only to find that the film you so longed for bore no resemblance in reality to the wondrous work of art conjured in your head. Such, unfortunately, is the case with Romeo + Juliet--a modernized version of Shakespeare's tragedy from 1996, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Daines in the title roles. I will at this point confess that I only got through about twenty minutes of … [Read more...] about Romeo + Juliet
Cars
Ever since The Little Mermaid gave me permission to enjoy cartoon movies as an adult, I've been impressed by the sheer beauty of Disney animation. From the classics to (most) current films, they are simply gorgeous to watch. It was my husband who told me the history of the multiplane camera -- invented by Walt Disney himself, and used to open nearly every Disney film since Snow White. It's due to my exposure to so many Disney films that I study their opening scenes so carefully. With the … [Read more...] about Cars
Robert Downey, Jr. – Times Two!
No, I did not have the great fortune to see two Robert Downey, Jr. movies in the same day. However, I did see Sherlock Holmes and The Soloist within a few days of each other, and I was highly entertained and very impressed with both. Reviews below! Sherlock Holmes Exciting, engaging, witty, and charming - I loved this vision of Sherlock Holmes! I'll admit, I wasn't ready to have my perceptions challenged. But I at least had the opportunity prior to the film to look into how Arthur Conan Doyle … [Read more...] about Robert Downey, Jr. – Times Two!
Shutter Island
I first became interested in Shutter Island through some Facebook buzz, mostly about how the movie played so differently from the trailer. I will admit, I normally pass on most movies with Leo DiCaprio--probably because the last thing I saw him in was Titanic, so I've dismissed him as a rather pretty-boy one trick pony. I have been happily corrected in his fantastic and unnerving performance in Shutter Island. I found out that yet again this is a film based on a book, though perhaps a not … [Read more...] about Shutter Island