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this space will be used to share movie & show reviews! i'm a serial movie rewatcher, so typically over time i find i have a lot of thoughts to share about my favorites. my husband is a big fan of the Blank Check podcast, so we also watch a lot of new things too -- above my letterboxd account is linked, if you'd like to see what i'm watching in more 'real time'! |
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Ponyo is my all time favorite Studio Ghibli film! There's so much I can say about this movie. I've always been drawn to the sea and oceanlife ever since I was a child. The moment I could confidently swim it became nearly impossible to pull me out of any given body of water, even if I was turned blue and shivering from the temperature.
Ponyo is a movie full of my favorite themes of regular life -- what it means to care for someone, how quickly and deeply a sincere connection can occur, the lengths one will go to in order to be part of anothers world. Plus, Ponyos parents are hot!
Obviously a very different movie, Fight Club is another classic I find myself continuing to return to. Whenever I try to dissect exactly what keeps me coming back to Fight Club, the themes and topics that stick out to me are loneliness, the desire to break free from the rot of mundanity and the development of mental illness without the subject being aware of the occurance.
Beyond the plot I do absolutely love the aesthetics and directorial design choices of this movie. The contrasts between the beginning of Jacks sterile apartment and his [and Tylers] abandoned home, literally rotting in filth, is an excellent visual indicator of the progression of his mental decline.
Anyone reading my movie reviews may find a notable pattern of films with psychological elements in their themes. While I do enjoy a light hearted movie, and am especially a fan of romantic movies [both dramas and comedies], the work that tends to stay with me is that which seeks to understand the frays of the mind. Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon is an excellent example of that. Even his less distressing films evoke deep psychological exploration, making him one of my all time favorite directors and writers for the screen.
Between a jaw dropping design, full of thoughtful details [I am obsessed with Mima's room] and the endlessly suspensful plot, this movie expertly places the viewer beside its protagonist as she desperately attempts to regain full control of her life and public image.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Pearl was such an instant classic for me from the very first watch. Typically I'm not one to grasp underlying plot lines right away, but with this move I very quickly realized it was continuing the story of X, the first in what would be a film trilogy. Realizing that this followed the story of the old woman antagonist from the first film, I found myself drawn in, wanting to know more about how she became what she was in old age.
What I was met with was possibly my favorite depiction of a female villain protagonist in a horror film. As someone diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), I related so much to Pearls' fears, desires and desperations to both be cherished and to self destruct in fear of being abandoned. The emotional current of the film was so easy to be swept away in, as Mia Goth is an incredible actress whose dedication to the trilogy is particularly palpable in this role.
The end sequence is among the most powerful emotional performances I have ever witnessed in both live theatre and film. The monologue delivered by Pearl followed by a two and a half minute still motion sequence as she stands with a giant smile plastered across her face and the credits roll. The emotional expressions of desperation, euphoria and carnal fear of abandonment play through her eyes only on an otherwise frozen face. It gives the impression that Pearl has chosen what she observes as the "most perfect expression" a woman can offer to a husband, and she is too terrified to move from that moment until he moves first, for fear it will lead to her abandonment. Highly recommend this horror trilogy!
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Severance is one of those series I was hearing absolutely EVERYONE talk about, but was on the fence to get into myself. Typically we don't keep an AppleTV subscription, but my coworker and close friend insisted I give it a try, and since season 2 had just finished up, I figured it was a good time to dive in without needing to wait for new episodes.
I am so glad they insisted, because my husband and I absolutely loved this series so far, and are really looking forward to season 3. So many of the themes I'm drawn to across film are nestled into the design of this show. The elements of suspense and mystery paired with the stunning design work and directorial choices leave a myriad of hidden messages for you to find as a viewer, making it something perfect for rewatching.
On a completely different note, the anime series VTuber Legend is absolutely hysterical. I will say if you're not someone particular familiar with Japanese Vtuber culture [and with Japanese modern culture in general], a lot of jokes and general silliness may slip past you. There were things I couldn't understand as an American watching, but regardless, it's a really fun series.
Similarly to the real world of Vtubing, it is also shockingly heartfelt and emotional to watch at times. The realtionships that develop between the people behind the characters and other professionals in their company, as well as the dynamics between the Vtubers and their fans, are deeply emotional and sincere. If you had told me from episode 1 that by the end of the series I would be getting a bit teared up, I wouldn't have believed you, and yet it happened.
Common Side Effects was another highly recommended series to us by peers in the comics industry. Another 10/10 recommendation, the design style for the characters is unlike any other animated series I've watched. At first glance you might think that the show isn't going to be much, maybe a bit odd, but what you're met with is true animated cinematography. There are so many choices through the first season of this show that utilize artful camera filming design, which is truly delightful to take in through the animated lens.
Because this is an Adult Swim production, I came in with expectations it would be pretty goofy like many of my other favorite series from them, but what you're met with is a deeply thoughtful series exploring one of the ultimate questions of humanity; if there was a way to cure all ailments, how would that change the world, and what extents the evils of corporate greed would go to in order to keep it out of the publics hands. And beyond the greed, what are the ramifications and side effects of such a medical miracle?
Growing up I, like many other people far too young to, watched the anime adaptation of Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni...and it was kind of a mess.
But this adaptation of the video game to animation? Absolute masterpiece. Not only did the studio do an excellent job of developing the designs and bringing the series into the modern fold, it also adapted the story in a far less confusing way. Specifically the second part of the anime adaptation, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni: Gou was such an anime stand out for the year it came out. Something I and many other original viewers who had not interacted with the game were left with was absolute confusion about why all of this was happening. A question answered by the second part of the anime.
Judge me if you want, but I'm a Rena apologist and Satoko sympathist for life.