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jroman52
Reviews
Inugami (2001)
a surprisingly absorbing, moody tale
Many may find this slow going, but it is beautifully shot, and compellingly strange. This kind of folk myth is not often seen on the screen, and hardly ever in such a low-key, erotic style. And there is nothing so terrible about the soundtrack, except perhaps to opera snobs who can't bear to hear Verdi put to use in such an out-of-context way. Not a great film, but above-average for this genre. The Japanese countryside is gorgeous, the atmospherics are evocative, and the actors, particularly the women, are all first rate. Throw in some fascinating scenes of paper making, and on the other hand, some beautifully framed sex scenes, and this is certainly much more watchable than many of its American equivalents.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
a movie that deserves its buzz
Viewers who complain about the lack of character development, or the dominance of visual elements and design, are missing the point. This is an extraordinary achivevement of the imagination, a movie that manages to be futuristic and nostalgic at the same time. It may remind one at times of classic movies like "Things to Come", or early attempts at the creation of an "unreal" visual world, like "Tron", but in the end, there has never been a movie like this. It's going to be around a long, long time. It has an extremely effective musical score, a confidence that verges on swagger, and very solid action-adventure performances by all cast members. The fact that its final moment is one of puckish humor, rather than melodramatic triumph, is the sign of a movie that knows how to hit just the right notes every step of the way.