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Computer animation evolved very quickly, and aged very quickly as a result. This is forgivable though, when presented with an enchanting story. And A Bug's Life uses the classic mistaken identity plot to tell a charming tale.
The writers are clever in the grand problems they create for such small creatures. The shift in scale is part of what's so interesting about the movie. The world in which it occurs is very contained, but you don't even notice until the very end.
Something in particular that I noticed - too often, applause is used as a cheap payoff gimmick in films. Not here. The ovation by the characters at the end is powerful in a way that I don't recall ever seeing in a live action movie.
Final Thought: I do insist that, before watching any Pixar film in my collection, one must first watch the short that accompanies it in order to make the viewing experience complete.
Up Next: The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
Buffy is bangin'.
This used to be my definition of a scary movie, back when I was having sleep overs in primary school. Now, I'd almost call it a comfort movie, like a bowl of pasta. It's interesting to go back and pick out early examples of Joss Whedon's humour. I wonder how the film would have turned out, had he been able to guide it in the way he wanted.
Though I'm a loyal fan of the TV series, Kristy Swanson was actually really good as Buffy. She strikes a good balance between light-hearted vapid and taking her fate seriously. And her martial arts is passable. Luke Perry's, however, is not. And Rutger Hauer's violin playing is awful.
Tell you what, if their movie depictions are anything to go by, cheerleaders sure have changed since the 90s.
Final Thought: Not everyone agrees with me, but Paul Reubens' death scene is one of the best things to ever happen in a movie.
Up Next: A Bug's Life (1998)
I bought this film because it has Mark Dacascos in it. Watching it again, there really is no other reason that I have it. It drags. It is so very long. It's visually absolutely beautiful, but surely the length could have been trimmed. I am certain that I've seen this film at least twice, yet there are entire sections of it that I don't recall at all. It was a bit fascinating to discover all the layers of the plot the I somehow didn't notice.
Final Thought: Dacascos has done so many B grade martial arts flicks, it's lovely to see him in something of this quality.
Up Next: Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)
A teen movie playing at cinema noir? Donnie Darko playing at detective? What saves this film for me is that, despite the dark subject matter, it has the occasional moment that reminds you that these are, after all, kids. This is an interesting film to watch immediately after having seen The Breakfast Club, I will say that. Rian Johnson is a bleak director, yeesh.
Final Thought: I'm left unsure of what to say after this film. You use half of your attention to translate their language, and the other half to keep track of the plot, so by the end of it you're a bit tired.
Up Next: Brotherhood Of The Wolf (2001)
Not many of the high school set films made at the moment will still be relevant in 30 years. Not many teen films come close to those of John Hughes.
I think the difference is that this film doesn't try too hard. A run through the school, a dance around the library... it doesn't need to be extreme. It's about who the kids are and how they get to know each other. Why they behave the way they do, why they conform to the stereotypes they've adopted. It's about understanding them, which I feel is why this film is such a classic, and why it resounds for so many people. Teenagers want to be understood, and this film takes the time to do that.
The scene where the characters tell why they are in detention is famous for being unscripted, yet it's so moving and provoking. By trusting them to ad-lib that scene, Hughes caught something raw and honest, which is so often missing amidst the hijinks and extremes employed by most teen films. And Hughes shows that the great mistake Mr Vernon makes is in demanding respect without giving it to these kids, and not even attempting to understand them.
Every time I watch this film, I am once again surprised by how good it is.
Final Thought: If you're going to call them The Breakfast Club, at least reference it at some point in the film before the final line...
Up Next: Brick (2005)
Watching Breakfast At Tiffany's makes me wish I had studied the novel at school. I know that the film changes certain plot elements, particularly the ending, but I would be curious to pick apart the book. The films leaves me feeling somewhat similar to how I did when I finished reading "The Catcher In The Rye", except that I loathed that book.
I bought this film because it's one of those classics that I thought I should have. Incidentally, that's the only reason I read "The Catcher In The Rye" at all, because it's labelled a classic and I thought I should. I guess I expected to be more moved by both. In the case of this film though, I didn't leave with a thorough dislike of it. (I really, REALLY don't like "The Catcher In The Rye"). I will admit though that I feel... indifferent. Perhaps it's partly because, gorgeous as Audrey Hepburn was, she does seem a tad miscast as Holly Golightly. The character is superficial and vague, which is hard to believe of Hepburn. I have trouble connecting with narratives where I can't see why I should care about the characters. I think that Breakfast At Tiffany's is a film that I need to watch repeatedly, in order to uncover Holly's substance.
Final Thought: Having grown up listening to Henry Mancini (as mentioned previously), I find the score to this film very familiar and comforting, so I did enjoy that.
Up Next: The Breakfast Club (1985)
I thought I'd seen this film at least twice.
I was almost right.
I've started it at least twice, and then fallen asleep, been distracted, or had to leave.
This means that I've seen sections of it, but it turns out that I have never seen the end.
That means that, each time I see this, I'm surprised by how great Matt Damon is in an action movie. Matt Damon huh? Who would have thought?
I still feel like I need to watch this film again. I missed some intricacies as I was revelling in merely being conscious for the whole thing. It's a bit terrible that I've fallen asleep in a film so gripping.
It's a great film, it really is, I'm just still a bit unsure of what actually happens. I missed key parts of narrative by exclaiming "Omigod I haven't seen this bit!! Oh things make much more sense now!" And it's not that the film is overly complex, I just have severe gaps in my absorption of it.
I need to be less excitable next time.
Final Thought: Thinking about it now, I still can't actually recall how things tie together. Dammit.
Up Next: Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
