Crimson Peak - The movie with an identity crisis

When I walked out of the cinema this morning, I spent almost ten minutes in the toilet pondering on what I just watched. I had a mixture of emotions roiling inside me, which made me stop to think about what I just saw. And around nine hours later, I sit here, still not quite sure of what I did watch.

I was tremendously excited to watch this movie for several reasons. (a) It was a gothic romance, (b) The trailer made it looked superb, and (c) The cast of the movie looked freaking awesome. But strangely enough, it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Could it be because my hopes for this movie were ridiculously high? Maybe. But Crimson Peak has some rather glaring flaws which might have attributed to how disappointing this film turned out to be.

Let's get this straight. Crimson Peak is not bad. In fact, I wished it turned out to be some stupid romance horror flick that I could just walk out of the cinema and say "Meh. That was awful." and go on my merry way. But it wasn't. And that, is what makes me torn. The problem, is that Crimson Peak isn't bad, but it is definitely not good either.

For starters, the plot was quite lackluster. It's straightforward, and plays out like one of those point and click adventure novels which makes it, unfortunately, quite predictable. You know how it will play out, thanks to the ample amount of foreshadowing, but it uses a straight forward formula that takes much of the 'mystery' aspect out of it. And we have to keep in mind that Crimson Peak isn't marketed as a 'Mystery' movie, so we can't really blame the darn thing for having such a lackluster mystery.

But on the other hand, Crimson Peak isn't a horror movie either. I'm no expert, but it doesn't really feel like a 'horror' movie would. Like Edith, our main female character, says at the beginning of the movie. It's not a ghost story. It's a story with ghosts in it. Well, okay. And therein lies the problem.

Crimson Peak does not know what it wants to be.

It's not scary enough for horror fans, It's doesn't have good enough plot for mystery fans, and while the romance makes the movie interesting, it isn't enough to save it. Crimson peak can't be classified by a genre, because it doesn't even know it should be classified as. The story goes from 'mystery' to 'romance' to 'horror' and then shockingly, ends with a sequence that seems like it would be a better fit in a slasher movie than in this one.

Pros:

+Movie is stunning and very beautiful
+The cast and its acting is brilliant
+CGI is well done and doesn't feel cheap
+Sound effects are good

Cons:

-Weak plot
-Unsatisfying payoff
-Movie is stuck between a smattering of genres
-A little too bloody despite being marketed as a gothic romance


Did I enjoy Crimson Peak? Yes.

Would I watch it again? No.

When Marnie Was There - Omoide no Marnie

Studio Ghibli's last film is a coming of age story. I can't say I'm exactly surprised, they seem to like making films revolving around self-discovery and growing up mixed with fantasy or supernatural elements. I think that's what I love about them. They take one look at the norm and go 'Psh. Normal is boring.' and the fact that they excel at their jobs makes anime fans like me feel all the more grateful.

The feel of this film was pretty similar to that of Kagurashi no Arrietty. Or more specifically, the similarities can be found in the main protagonists in that they both suffer from life threatening illnesses and are sent somewhere to recuperate.

One thing i truly admire about When Marnie was there is how wonderfully Annie was portrayed. She begins as a cynical, angry teen who eventually becomes more understanding and more open with both others and herself. The movie makes us sympathize with her, and at the same time, allows us to see her flaws. She's not perfect. Though her problems may seem minute to us, in the end, they are pretty big from her perspective.

Plot gets a 6/10 because let's face it; an angst ridden teen trying to find herself isn't exactly an original idea. The plot twists fails to be surprising because the foreshadowing and hints the movie dropped were a little too good. At one point in the movie I went 'Oh. I think i know where this is going.' and though the ending was heartwarming, it was hardly spectacular. The supernatural aspect of the story was pretty okay. It gave us exposition, background, and made me care for the characters. But they relied too much on using it as a plot device so the novelty of it wore out soon enough.

Characters gets an 7/10. While Annie had a good character development, Marnie still remains somewhat of a mystery. Despite the film's attempts at trying to make her more than just a cut board cutout, Marnie doesn't really get any memorable development. I do appreciate the dynamic between Marnie and Annie though, it's interesting to see them bringing out the best in each other while simultaneously bringing out the worst as well. There seems to be an undertone of Yuri (or shoujo ai) but the ending pretty much kills off that sentiment. As a Yuri fan, I feel decidedly upset but ultimately I think it was for the best. Instead of trying to make a relationship that would never happen to work, it was just better to direct that effort into making the characters and story better.

OSTs are well...meh. The ending did strike a cord with me and there were several scenes where the music stood out well. But overall, not very striking. They did their job of suiting the atmosphere but once the credits roll, I could't recall having remembered anything. 7/10

Recommended: A nice, enjoyable movie best saved for those rainy days. It is ultimately enjoyable, butt does not fall in the same vein with Studio Ghibli's previous works. 3/5

Naruto The Last Movie

With a title like 'The Last' Naruto movie, you can be sure that even non-naruto fans would watch it. After all, the final movie following the end of the super popular shonen manga is something that anime fans cannot miss, even if you dislike shonen. For many, Naruto was a gateway to the anime world, and for others, it may have been the one and only anime series they have ever watched. No matter, you can be damn sure that everyone would be there to experience 'the end' of the naruto anime franchise.

I doubt that the end'll be so soon though, because seriously. Who can forget Naruto, as an anime or a manga? It's left its mark so deeply in the anime world that it seems unlikely that it would be going away any time soon.

The story is set two years after the end of the manga/anime, and shows us an older cast of characters. They more or less have the same personalities, but with longer hair (or less hair in Naruto's case) and more mature faces.

The movie kicks off with a scene of a time before any ninja villages were born (as if everyone didn't know already!) and unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you'll be hard pressed to not understand it all. Fast forward, and I was suddenly seeing an older Naruto teaching a small group of students, whilst being bombarded by hero praise from the rest of the students in school. It seems that he has been pushed into hero status, something I was clearly shown to the start and to the end of the movie.

And from there, the ball gets rolling. Surprisingly, the plot gets pushed to the back burner in favour of showing the budding romance between Naruto and Hinata. The NaruHina ship has sailed folks, and fans will be drooling all over this new movie, featuring 90% more fluff and romance than the entire Naruto anime combined. As the movie goes on, you can tell that this movie is not a closure of any sort.

It's fanservice. The highest quality kind.

Most things Naruto fans wished they could see on screen are present, a Kakashi baring his usually hidden eye for the world to see, romance (fucking finally), older characters and konoha citizens wetting themselves over Naruto himself.

Yep. Who cares about the villian, we know he's going to lose anyway. But i do have to say that the scene where the villian and heroes resolved everything was angsty, especially his sentence as he was walking away. One liners have always been a personal pet peeve of mine anyway.

7.5/10 and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

My neighbour Totoro

And here comes one of the most famous anime movies made by Studio Ghilbi. My neighbour totoro!

I seriously cannot understand how Hayao Miyazaki can make something so utterly enjoyable for people of all ages. The feelings that i experienced from watching this movies was absurd. I enjoyed the innocence and childish antics of Mei and Satsuki. The movie also made me laugh in some parts, because looking at the children of today, they seem so vastly different compared to the ones in this movie.Honestly, i could watch this movie over and over without getting tired of it. It is cute, funny and heartwarming.

What i liked about My neighbour Totoro was the easy transition between a light hearted moment to a more somber one. Satsuki displays a maturity beyond her years, something that was not lost on me when the scene played out. It takes a very realistic approach to much darker themes like death, and i am surprised how well it is done despite it being a 'kid's' film.

One thing everyone who watch my neighbour Totoro will remember is how sweet it was. It shows a time in our lives where we were curious about everything and sought to discover things we did not know. It runs for only one hour, but the movie i would say, was successful in forever imprinting it in my memory. Those who watch this can see why Hayao Miyazaki is so popular and famous. My neighbour Totoro has something which many movies lack. And that is, heart.

Edge of Tomorrow

Frankly i don't know what made me write this but i can tell you now that this movie is easily one of the best i've seen in 2014 so far. Edge of tomorrow is one of those movies where i cannot forget, even after i left the cinema, the story is still running over and over in my head.

I think that they did a great job of making this movie based on the source material; a light novel named All You Do Is Kill. The characters connect with the audience seamlessly and i felt genuinely amused by Major Cage's situation and also felt his despair when the movie went on. I hope this movie comes out on blu-ray because it is freaking awesome and i will definitely buy it.

Strike witches The Movie

Now let it be said that this is not the first time i have watched this movie.  But damn, it is good.

I am a sucker for these types of anime. Moe overload and the entire cast are mostly girls, my favourite kind of anime. I know i kind of sound like a pervert here but i enjoy an entire female cast more than a co-ed cast is all i'm saying. The dynamic is completely different but i am a complete sucker for it.

Strike witches the movie is a sequel to Strike witches season 2, picking off where the anime ended. For those not familiar with the anime series, i recommend that you watch it first because the characters will be less unfamiliar and more enjoyable for you. The feeling i get when watching Strike witches (the entire series) is very similar to the feeling i get when watching Girls und Panzer. Moe, check. Military, check. Possible yuri pairings and shoujo ai explosion, check.

The movie is extremely enjoyable for fans of the series like me, and i am happy to say that although it is not the best anime movie i have ever watched, it manages to hold its own. The last 30 mins of the movie is fantastic and very high octane and did i mention that i love friendship between moe girls? Seriously, this stuff is fodder for my imaginary moe world.

Plot: Picks up from season 2 of strike witches. Like all the animes of this genre, it gets boring sometimes but the overall experience is good. 7/10

Characters: This is where strike witches shines. A great cast of fully developed characters (from the anime) with individual personalities and quirks. Outstanding. 9/10

Music: The movie ending is pretty good and fits the overall feel of the series ( not only the movie). The opening is generic but still good. 7/10

Ghost in the shell

So i finally got around to watching some Anime since i have been lazing around doing nothing but playing Terraria and Skyrim. I always wanted to watch ghost in the shell but sadly never got around to doing it until today.

This movie is nothing i expected it to be, yet it was so much more. I honestly wished it was longer, not just a mere one hour and twenty minutes. The movie itself does not waste a single second, every minute was pure enjoyment and was extremely dedicated to propelling the story forward. Ghost in the Shell did not feel rushed and they even managed to take you on a tour of a neo tokyo with wonderful music in the background. The atmosphere was nearly always intense and somehow or rather kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story is obviously original (It was practically the inspiration for The matrix series for god's sake) and was intriguing and mind bending. I didn't understand some parts of the movie truthfully speaking and got mixed up with the names for which sector was which. (Inner embarrassment unleashed!)

The characters themselves were kind of mysterious and nothing much was known other than the fact that they were cyborgs, which is why the movie does not need to explain why they are there, since they are 'police officers'. I found that i loved Motoko the best, and there were quite alot of philosophical sayings thrown here and there which added to the intense 'detached atmosphere'. The bad assery in this film is almost second to none although i wished that they had added more action scenes. Still great nonetheless.

This movie has been hailed as a classic by anime fans and i can see why. Although it is not perfect, it is still utterly amazing in its own right. A definite must watch for sure!

Plot: 8/10

Characters: 7/10

Music: 8.5/10

Animation: 8/10

Overall: 5/5

Redline

Redline is the most deadliest racing tournament in the whole galaxy. Racer JP is about to compete in Redline, however he finds himself falling for his racing rival; a beautiful woman named Sonoshee. Basically, that is what the entire movie is about, racing and romance. However, despite the typical cliche story line, it wouldn't be too far off for me to say that this movie, KICKS ASS.

This movie is executed perfectly, the story flows smoothly and there is not a dull moment, The impeccable animation coupled with amazing soundtracks will make this movie a eye opening experience. The animation is done by Madhouse with second key animation by Gainax which assures us that this will be an extremely heart pumping, adrenaline filled film. There is nothing much to say, except that you should be experiencing this for yourself, because Redline cannot be put into mere words.

Redline also consists of a large amount of interesting characters, however the information given to us is minimal, but enough to join the show. Only the main characters get their break and show us pieces of their oh so mysterious past. Personally, i wanted to see more of JP's past but sadly i can only take what i get.

Plot: Typical but better than average. 7/10

Characters: Interesting characters but very superficially explained.7.5/10

Animation: Unqiue and eye catching but top notch.  10/10

Recommendation: Suitable for almost anybody. 5/5

Kotonoha no Niwa

A short film made by Makoto Shinkai (5cm per second, The children who chase lost voices and the place promised in our early days.) Sheesh this man is a genius.

Took another persons picture without permission. I bow my head in apology. I truly am sorry. Heh now we all know i will never just take a picture of google. Oh my god my heart nearly stopped. No pic here go search for it on your own people.

A boy who enjoys making shoes goes to a park during the rainy season. There he encounters a woman who was drinking beer and eating chocolate. When she is bout to leave, she smiles and recites the answer to a tanto (japanese literature), and leaves saying that they may be able to meet on another rainy day.

I have no qualms about the story, i think that it is well written and managed to bring out my emotions within the 46 minute timeframe. It is interesting in its own way, and grabbed my attention because of the chemistry between the main protagonists.

The part i enjoyed the most was the ending. It was so heartfelt and emotional and it made me tear up a little. :)

And as expected of the graphics, they are fantastically detailed. What caught my eye was how detailed the little things were; such as the raindrops and the shoes. They played a subtle role in the movie.

Plot: Pretty good. 8/10

Characters: The movie was too short to go deeper into their pasts but they showed just enough to keep me guessing. 7/10

Graphics: Pretty good. 8/10

Recommendation: 3.5/5 (some people may find it boring)

After watching Anohana i think i became a magnet to depressing yet joful animes. Oh woe is me.

The Princess and the Pilot

Once again, my love of anime is sparked. Another beautiful movie is engraved into my mind.

Charles is very nicely drawn. So cool!

I have to admit, my first impression of this movie when i saw the poster was "I think its going to be somewhat boring." BUT after watching it my thoughts are completely blown out of the water.

The fact that i didn't have to skip over any part of the movie is evidence enough for me. ;)

I also have to say that the backgrounds in this movie was MIND BLOWING. I have never seen the night sky animated so meticulously, and the plane fights are so fluid it is like watching magic in action. 

Now onto the review.

Plot: Simple, straightforward but compelling. But i wished there were more action. Almost an hour was just based on how they met each other and how they escaped the enemy.  7/10

Characters: A little vague, and i didn't like how Charles didn't end up with her. I know its their 'reality' and bla. I found their personalities too soft but it added to the charm of the movie. 7/10

Graphics: Awesome. "But-t it...." No no arguing. Its awesome and thats that. 9/10

Music: Soothing and heartwarming. Love it 8/10

Paprika

Another mind-blowing Satoshi Kon production.

After watching this movie, i had to slowly come down to earth. That's how good it was.

Well basically this movie involves moving across the boundaries of dreams and reality using a technological breakthrough; DC mini.

Atsuko and her other personality, paprika, are thrown into a bizarre situation when the DC mini is stolen by an unknown perpetrator, who uses it to terrorize people's dreams. The concept of Yin and Yang is also shown in the last part of the movie. Through in a police detective and ta da!

I feel that this movie shows us that we can never escape from reality, and sooner or later we have to face our true feelings. No matter how terrible or wacky it is. Well that's just my opinion though.

Now onto the review.

Plot: Nobody would have ever thought of this. Only Satoshi Kon. Very unique story. 8/10 

Characters: They were interesting and i absolutely love paprika. She's so cute. However only Konakawa's past was revealed, the rest were just left in the dark. 7/10

Graphics: Just amazing. When reality merged with dreams, it was a sight to behold. Very fluid. 9/10

Music: This one may be different for others, but it sounded very sassy and sexy. Just me i guess? 8/10

I couldn't really classify this as romance. But i think it veers more to the thriller/horror, fantasy and sci-fi side. A definite must watch.

Tokyo Godfathers

Another awesome movie. I hate myself for not knowing about these fantastic movies. What am i doing?!

Anyway this one made me laugh lots, the epic characters, their twisted views of society and their life stories were a thrill to watch. I recommend this one for comedy lovers.

The lovable characters all have their tragic pasts, and this movie sort of explores how society is like for people with addictions, family problems and of course; work. My favorite part of the movie is how the story manages to twist and turn, surprising me immensely. Never a dull moment.

It is a great one folks, Kudos to the late Satoshi kon.

Alright, now on the the review.

Characters: Fun, lovable and very unlikely protagonists for this film. The homeless can be heroes too! 9/10

Plot: This one's a no brainer. The story was ridiculously funny and heart warming at the same time. 10/10

Graphics: Not bad at all. The backgrounds and character faces were quite well drawn. 8/10

Music: So so. Nothing really spectacular. 6/10

Overall i think its a interesting movie and there are some parts which are somewhat dark. Quite fitting actually.

I actually wish it was longer. The ending was pretty good.

Summer wars

Holy mother of gosh. This is fantastic.

The absolute craziness of this movie will just draw you in. You will be on the edge of your seats for the entire thing, i'm not even bluffing on this one.

This really made my day. Summer wars is a romantic comedy bordering on insanity, and the characters are so developed, it makes me wonder about all the movies i have been watching up till now.

Summer wars, is the best experience you will ever have and you will love it to bits.

Now on to the review.

Plot: The simplicity and the sci-fi-ness is the key to the magnificent story. 10/10

Characters: Very interesting characters, they somehow come off as mature. Kudos to the grandmother. But there were a few unexplained parts of the characters, sorta like the backstory. 8/10

Graphics: Very very intense. So beautifully drawn. i'll go out on a limb for this one. 10/10

Music: It evokes your emotions in the battle scenes 7/10

Well there you have it! I highly recommend you guys to watch it. I think it is a very underrated anime movie. The perfect phrase would be diamond in the rough.

5 centimeters per Second

Long overdue movie. Truly an amazing film. After watching this movie, i consider it 62 minutes of pure magic. I'm not even trying to exaggerate this.

The movie poster

I think the perfect word to describe this movie would be "Bittersweet". Separated into 3 stories, it shows the different moments of Takaki Tono, the protagonist of this film.

 Story 1 titled " cherry blossoms" shows Tono and his old childhood friend Akari Shinohara conversing with other via post.

Both set a place to meet each other, however due to the snow Tono's train was severely delayed. I liked the way he described the feeling of being stuck in the snow, "Each passing minute felt like an eternity"

However he still makes his way to the station where they both decided to meet, and surprise surprise, Akari was waiting for him. Although i feel that this scene was very cliche, it was touching nevertheless and managed to draw out the happiness of meeting each other. It ends after tono and akari sharing a kiss on the snowy field next to a cherry blossom tree and sending each other off at the train station.

The significance of this scene is when Tono dismisses the letter he lost, which was filled with his unsaid feelings towards her, as insignificant because of the kiss they shared. But Akari takes out her own letter and stares at the leaving train. I didn't realize how important this scene was until the end of the movie.

Tono and Akari walking on the snowy fields.

The second story, called "cosmonaut" is about Tono in highschool and his friend Kanae, having romantic feelings for him. She states that he felt different from the other boys thus making her attracted to him. On the other hand, Tono seems ignorant of her feelings and seems to be emailing someone most of the time. However it is later revealed that he merely writing those emails and did not send them to anyone. There is also scenes which show him thinking of Akari.

At the final part of the story, Kanae finally gives up on Tono because he always seems to be looking far off into the distance, and she realizes that she would not be able to give him what he wanted. She also states that she would never stop loving him no matter how much time passes and cries herself to sleep.

The last story, 5 centimeters per second, shows Tono working as a computer programmer while Akari is preparing to get married. I find this last story very heart breaking because it is actually shows how reality really is. Even though he still loves her, they are already too distant and lead completely different lives.

I didn't really like how it ended, but it reminded me that this is how reality is. Tono somehow looks like he is going through depression and shows us a glimpse of his failed relationships. On the other hand, Akari seems to be at the best point of her life, and is getting married.

Tono and Akari share a dual narration in the last story and they say how they had a dream last night about their last meeting in the snow. One day while walking down a road, they encounter each other at a train crossing. Although they both turned back at the same time, the passing train blocked each other's gazes.

When the train finally passes, Tono looks back to the other side of the railroad only to find no one there. He smiles and starts walking in the opposite direction once more.

This film shows how people can grow apart through time, and how teaches people to stop pining over the past and move forward. A very mature and realistic film. Personally, i think that this movie is both sad and satisfying, because of utter realness of which this movie is based on. Truly a masterpiece.There were many sad quotes as well. ;_;