Review: An American Tail

Happy 4th of July to all my American followers, I thought we'd start July with a very American style week. We're gonna start of with talking about a film that I feel should describe Americans haven't been there in ages, but from what I've been told and hearing about the place and people, I feel its pretty accurate but correct me if I'm wrong. 

The story is about a family called the Mousekewitzs a Russian-Jewish family who live in a tiny little house in Russia until one day circumstances arise and they have to move to America. That's the holy grail, they talk about it like its this perfect all amazing place, where there's no cats or anything bad and the streets have cheese everywhere. Fievel who is the main character one of the kids gets lost on the journey from Russia to America and he makes friends with the locals, like Tony, Honest John, Bridget and many more they help him find his family along the way.

I love this story so much, the fact that its about immigration a topic that has been discussed not only in America but everywhere and for years and its been inserted into a children's animation is wonderful. As it teaches children but also adults that no matter who you meet you should try to help as much as you can, because you never go what someone may or may not be going through its also something you should just do. The art of the film is wonderful, and the music is beautiful too but the real big thing here is the story and characters.

Its so political aswell, one of the characters called Gussie Mausheimer who rallies the mice against the cats, she reminds me off Emmeline Pankhurst in a way. There's also another character called Tiger who's a cat but a nice one as he is a vegetarian apart from fish and befriends Fievel and joins the search to find his family. Its made by Universal Pictures and directed by Don Bluth who has been in competition with Disney as who's the best or not. Personally I'm a Disney gal only because I've grown up with Disney but I do have some very fond happy, nostalgic memories of Don Bluth's beautiful stories.

Don Bluth actually worked with Walt Disney on Fox and the Hound but wasn't happy with the way things were done. So he set up his own studio luckily he's quite a well connected guy and is friends with Stephen Spielberg, who helped produce it. This film was one of Don Bluth's first and one of his best its so wonderfully written and I love that its called 'Tail' and not 'Tale'. It's also so underrated, I barely hear people say how much they love this film or maybe I might not be listening either way its amazing film and people should watch. Especially adults as, in the UK and America aswell immigration has become a huge topic well its always been a huge topic and the simple matter is if someone is in need you help them regardless. 

                                                                   
I'm so happy I watched this film, as its so wonderfully made with a beautiful message to give to anyone. It just shows that films can have such an impact they're not just some fun mindless thing you can watch and forget about it. They can tell stories and change your perspective on things and also really nails what I think about immigration and how you should treat people. Overall its a wonderful story that needs to be watched and told again and again. 

Review: Inside Out

Been a bit absent recently not gonna explain why life just happens thats all. But I really wanna talk about this film, as its a Pixar and we all know and love Pixar yes we do, and its fascinating because its a Children's film with themes and messages that kids won't understand and I'm not talking about dirty jokes. 

Those of you who don't know, Inside Out is essentially about Mental Heath and how the human mind works. That already is very big and heavy for a kid to understand, but I think kids are more intelligent for what they're parents and teachers give them credit for. The plot is about a girl called Riley and is just an average kid with two parents who love each other, and she loves Ice Hockey, hates Broccoli. She is moved to a new town, at the start of the film in her mind she has her emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Anger( Lewis Black) Sadness (Phyllis Smith) Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Kalling). all control Riley in certain situations like if she's playing Ice Hockey she's happy and Joy takes control.

They also take control and organise all the memory orbs, a memory orb is a prominent moment of your life well in this case Riley's so for example it could be her first Ice Hockey game, because Ice Hockey is one of her passions. Until one day Sadness touches on of the orbs and Riley associates it with being sad. It just teaches kids about mental illness and how the minds work, and I love that as its important for not just kids but everyone to learn about emotions and empathy for what people are feeling and respect those thoughts in which we are indifferent to and such. 

It also has the witty dialogue Pixar are known for that fits well with both age demographics with kids and adults. I love that Pixar incorporated both the serious side to growing up and the fun and happy side to it aswell. Its got the wonderful talent from Mindy Kalling who was in the Office, and Amy Poehler who both are so funny and witty already as they are comedians, to put them in an animated film and they just riff is brilliant, because they can add so much to the character and make it 10 times more lively. I also love the differences between Mom and Dad's emotions with Mom its very attentive to what Riley's actions are and how she speaks. Dad on the other hand is up with the fairies and as soon as Mom looks at him he just panics and agrees. 

I love this film so much and I'm so glad Pixar made it, not because its wonderfully done with the animations and all that, but with the story arch and what it shows to everyone as its important to understand empathy. Some of the other characters in the film are brilliant aswell, like Bing Bong Riley's old imaginary friend, he is the best and so funny, and adorable. I also love how important he is to Riley as it shows you should never forget about your childhood best friend regardless whether you still talk to them or not. 

                                                       
You need to watch this film if you haven't seen it, because its funny with it being very mature as it tackles with emotions and the human mind. Because feelings are complicated and to put it in such a simple but also being witty about it, is very impressive. Its such a great film as Mental Health is getting better and much more support its wonderful to have a story like this to exist. 

Peppermint Friday Review #27: Porco Rosso

Been really wanting to do a review of a Studio Ghibli film as they are amazing, and everyone should talk about them, as I only ever really hear film buffs talk about them (like me), and Anime fans, as Studio Ghibli is the Japanese Disney. So I don't really hear that many people talk about them, well in my area I know its a multi million empire churning out classic films, but whenever I mention it too people they're like 'who?' and that annoys me. 

Porco Rosso is about a World War I veteran who was turned into a pig by a curse before the film takes place, his mannerisms are very charming, and gentleman like. At the beginning Porco take down some sky pirates, after he's finished he goes to his usual diner and bumps into an old friend Gina. The head of the sky pirates go to their diner and plan for they're next attack, which is on Porco. Porco gets attack, and is assumed dead, he then decides to head for Milan to see the mechanic Piccolo assisted by his granddaughter Fio who is very enthusiastic about mechanics.

This film is so amazing, and funny I simply adore the quick witt humour of the script. The time period its set in is 1930s and instantly its appealing to me I love the costumes, the language being used its so stunning, its delicious. Porco is just brilliant, I love how relaxed he is about his appearance, you can tell he's annoyed by it, but not too much from the outside. The story shows you should never judge a book by its cover, with Porco looking like a pig, doesn't mean he is a pig and acts like one. With Fio who is a young woman, that loves mechanics and is amazing at it, you just never know a person until you get to know them, we all have many secrets and troubles.

Gina is a a character that I love, she is so funny and beautiful, she is very streetwise and you honestly wouldn't think it considering, she is very welll off and beautiful. That's why I love Studio Ghibli so much the way they write they're characters is brilliant, I love how relatable and varied they are. There's not one character who I look at and go 'oh she's like this' or 'he's similar to him' its so different and brilliantly written. I loved that they made the main character a pig, because if Porco was a real man, I don't think it would have been as good a film or character, because it gives it an air of mystery. 

Few other minor characters I like are the members of the Gang, Porco and FIo meet. One of them has such a funny voice its so crazy, and memorable I don't know if I hate it or I like it, its like marmite. I like with Studio Ghibli that with creativity there's no limit, with every Studio Ghibli film its different from the other and thats why i love it, with Disney and I ]'m not hating Disney as they're getting better with stories, its just that most of they're stories are about Princesses. With this film its about air pirates, a man who turned into a pig, if I described it to someone who knows nothing about it, they'll think its some dark, grown up film. 

Overall you should give Studio Ghibli a go as they are amazing and make some real diamonds, and Porco Rosso is a great start! One day I will do a post on my favorite Studio Ghibli films, as they're so good everyone should watch them. I will speak to you all later and have a great day wherever you are!

Review: Phone Booth

So last week not alot happened as there was no Wednesday post, but it was all about women who were either tortured or sociopathic women, and interestingly they were both by Stephen King. This week we're gonna try to do films that show a character in isolation like this film and disaster films aswell, which funnily enough was the first film that I watched that had violence and swearing, like they were using words I never even heard my mum and dad say. 

The film stars Colin Farrell as the main character Stu, he is a publicist who has been cheating on his wife Kelly who is played by Radha Mitchell, he makes promises he can't always keep to his clients and those in his personal life. He then uses the phonebooth to call his bit on the side Pam who is played by Katie Holmes, when he tries to call her it isn't her, its instead this stranger on the other end. Who knows everything about Stu, and every wrong thing he ever did in his life. 

As the plot thickens, and escalates it then turns into this police stand off, and its to the point where Stu's entire life is at risk, and he has to do everything the caller tells him to do, because he's so scared, he's forced into telling the truth and being honest. I love Colin Farrell anyway, I think he's a fantastically versatile actor who can do nearly anything. His character in this film was extremely unlikeable which you need as he was a horrible person, you needed a character with a abit of depth in order for them to change in a way. 

But even so in the end you assume his character changes, and you're on the edge as you're thinking does he? I personally don't think he did, I mean he's a good guy underneath and he's been through such an ordeal but you get the feeling no he won't change although that might be just me. The caller is never revealed in the film, its anonymous trait to this film which is great as it makes it more mysterious, as Stu must have had alot of enemies. Although it might be the pizza delivery guy, as he is the least likely you'd think would pull something like that.

Despite the lack of on screen presence both Katie Holmes, and Radha Mitchell had they were both very good, and I would've like to have seen a little more character development into both of them. But I understand that it would have taken away from the spotlight on Stu. Kiefer Sutherland plays the caller which is possibly the best performance of the film, not to say Colin Farrell wasn't good as he was, but Kiefer was so terrifying and you never got to even see him, just hear his voice. It was incredibly mesmerising and unforgettable to watch.

                                                                
This film is very good, and delivers its brief of being a psychological thriller, but however I personally feel there are better psychological thrillers out there. The reason I did this as a review was 1. It feels strangely nostalgic to me, as it was the first film I watched that had swearing, and violence in and that's always memorable to any film fan. 2. I wanted to write a review that wasn't 100% positive, and I like watching films and reviewing films I like, but its also nice to write abit of criticism aswell.

Peppermint Friday Review #17: Persepolis

In my last post I said that this film was going to be not for kids, as its an Animation but believe me it is not by far.

Persepolis was originally a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi, and it tells the story of her life through adolescence and her life growing up in the Iranian Revolution. I loved it so much, its so harrowing to watch, and get into. Now before I didn't know that much about the Iranian Revolution, but watching this film from a first person narrative, and to do it in such a beautiful way is wonderful. 

The artwork is so unique and unlike anything I've seen before, like I said this film is not for kids when I mean kids I mean 12 and younger. As some people might not be affected by the themes and the language of the film, as it is a true story and from what Marji goes through its something no kids should watch. From wonderful free country Marji use to live in she's is then striped from her home Iran and moved to Austria where again she's moved from house to house. 

You see Marji experiencing different views, and being political and seeing the beautiful country with lots of political and strong views on certain things. One of my favorite bits was where Marji was waking around with her head scarf on and she's got a 'Punk Is Not Ded' T-Shirt on, and it makes me smile where despite the War that's gone on, and how much everything in her life has changed, she still remains punk rock.

This film is amazingly done, and I loved every bit of it. Its so beautiful the artwork, the dialogue is perfect it fits in so well. To see Marji grow up and her change overtime, and what she believes and everyone in her family to be affected by everything that goes on in Politics, the War, Iranian Revolution. 

                                                       
I strongly urge everyone to watch this film as its so funny, sweet, heartbreaking and serious everything I love. Next week will be so much fun, as I'm going back to watching some gorgeous film noir. I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxed weekend.

Favorite Animation Films

We're gonna talk about Animation and all the ones I love, as there are many from different countries and not all Animation are for kids. Theres something so inherently beautiful about storytelling in Animation, theres an artwork to it aswell which I love.

Wallace & Gromit

I have been watching Nick Park's creations for as long as I can remember. I used to watch the full Wallace & Gromit video set until it broke that was how hardcore I was about Wallace & Gromit. Its so British and cosy, the obsession with cheese and inventions gave them a massive quirk. When they released Chicken Run oh god my younger self went crazy, its an amazing film with colourful characters. You really got to admire the stock-motion animation of it all as it takes years to make a film as the first Wallace & Gromit was in was in 1989.                                        

Up

I had to include a Pixar wouldn't be right otherwise, I have to say I think I'm more of a Pixar girl than a Disney girl, however I do love them both equally but I grew up with Pixar more as I remember Toy Story 2 when it came out and being obsessed with it. The film is brilliant for not only kids as its funny and entertaining but there are some bits in the film that I don't think some kids will get. Not to say that they won't get it but there are some elements that are so heavy, such as the first 10 minutes where you see the story of Ellie and Carl.                     

The Cat Returns

Okay this film, first of all I love Studio Ghibli like there creativity is out of this world, like there is no boundries for that company. If those of you don't know what Studio Ghibli is they are the Japanese Disney basically, and they are brilliant at making things creatively. The Cat Returns is about a girl called Haru who saves a cat from crossing the road, its then discovered he is the Cat Prince and would like to thank her by marrying her, and taking her into the Cat Kingdom where cats stand on there hind legs. I know its mad but I love it so much, and its about Cats and any film for me about animals wins me over. There are tons of Studio Ghibli films that I adore, and I will talk about them in a later post. I also feel that Studio Ghibli is amazing, and every person in the whole world needs to love it.                                                                    

Coraline

Another stock-motion film, I read the book and completely adored it. I always associate this film with being in High School as I was obessed with Dark Fantasies and Dark Comedies, and this is a very Dark Comedy. Its about a girl called Coraline who's parents are too busy to notice her, she then finds a door to another world that everyone has buttons for eyes. Its scary oh god, but its an amazing film and the director Henry Selick did a brilliant job with the artwork, and its exactly how my 12 year old self saw the world of Coraline and the Other World.

The Triplets of Belleville

I don't think this film is talked about enough, as its good I first watched this film when I was in School during Art. The story is about a Grandmother raising her Grandson, and training him for the Tour De France, until the day comes of the Tour De France and he and two other cyclists are kidnapped by the French Mafia. Its quite a grown up story, but the artwork is beautiful and so unique. I like the fact that they exaggerate the features of people, its also a very quiet film with little dialogue but its still good and you still get to know the characters and story.  

Overall Animated films are brilliant if you find the right one, and not to say there all for children because the one this Friday is definitely not for children. I hope you all are well, and adore these films as much as me, and I will see you this Friday.