Reviews by Lexi

''You are my dream.''

The hopes and dreams of four ambitious people are shattered when their drug addictions begin spiralling out of control.

Ellen Burstyn: Sara Goldfarb

From Darren Aronofsky, Requeim for a Dream is his most disturbing, most crushingly shocking work yet.
Ellen Burstyn is fantastic as the lonely Sara Goldfarb. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans equally convincing via beautiful desperate acting.
Sean Gullette and Mark Margolis (from Pi) also had brief cameo roles in this. I really felt that there is a bond between a Director and his actors when they reuse them in films; It shows comfortability and flows. Shows me there is a good working relationship between everyone working on the project.
Director Darren Aronofsky also cleverly requested of Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans to avoid sex and sugar for a period of 30 days in order to better understand an overwhelming craving. This obviously boosts and gives their performances a more realistic edge, this is painfully, achingly real.



The whole film has all the composites of people clinging onto hope yet ultimately spiralling downwards into their worst realizations.
Beautifully filmed, clever uses of photography and image segments. Split screens of characters talking, drug using/tablet taking, surreal visions of TV show hosts in motion and a surreal, mutant fridge coming to life! Complete madness; The effect of pharmaceutical drugs not just illegal ones is shown.
During one scene in which Ellen Burstyn is hallucinating, her entire apartment is taken apart piece by piece as though it was the set of a television show. Several crewmembers of the mock television show pass Burstyn in her chair, including a man carrying a clip board with the Greek letter/mathematical symbol Pi on the back - a genius reference to Darren Aronofsky's first film.
This film is simply masterful work; The mood beginning vibrant and full of life, energy, spontaneity and spunk...Then gradually the piece becomes full of despair and crushing reality. Not for the faint of heart or audiences via a squeamish disposition.

Requiem For A Dream teaches us, shows us, we must give up our false hopes, quit our obsessive habits, and to lessen our need for drugs, before its too late to do so. Watching this film will put you off drugs for life and rightly so. A film that is so fast paced it makes your heart race, so cringe worthy, so real; An emotional pounder via synaptic shocking proportions.
Adapted from the book by Hubert Selby Jr, whom also worked on the screenplay, Requiem for a Dream definitely makes me want to go and find this book immediately.
The music by Clint Mansell is also a blessing; Wait for the revelation emotion breaking ending with the theme song playing to elevate the visuals to heavenly spheres.

Cleverly Requiem meaning essentially death is the story of human nature and how if we let our impulses and desires control everything we do, they will ultimately destroy us. Sex is a drug, acid and narcotics are drugs, prescription pills are drugs, and the biggest drug of all; Life. Brutal, unrelenting and unafraid to take drastic measures to get across these messages. This is a truthful vision of life and death; of ourselves and the biggest dream of all; Our lives.

''That morning I was not yet a vampire, and I saw my last sunrise. I remember it completely, and yet I can't recall any sunrise before it. I watched its whole magnificence for the last time as if it were the first. And then I said farewell to sun light, and set out to become what I became.''

A vampire named Louis tells his epic life story that covers love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.

Brad Pitt: Louis de Pointe du Lac

Tom Cruise: Lestat de Lioncourt

Kirsten Dunst: Claudia

This soulful account of a vampire based on Anne Rice's amazing novel which i have yet to read will always capture and shudder my soul.
The score melts me each time, the supernatural feel, the timeless narration by Brad. Saw this when i was little and it has stayed with me ever since, every viewing it still satisfies me.

Brad pitt as Louis really conveys his conscientious morally sided Vampire who hasn't like his other brethren lost his humanity. He seems to convey not just in his words but in his face a soulful longing and sulky peaceful yearning.
Tom Cruise as Lestat is charged with energy in a performance that really does let Tom go wild and chew up the secnery. His depiction and his performance with the material show what a fang-tastic actor he truly is. Cruise at his peak.
Also Kirsten Dunst as little Claudia shines also, even at her young age you could always tell she was destined for great things.

My best Vampire film along with Bram Stoker's Dracula. A classic in every sense that will haunt you and mesmerize you and make you feel good no matter how many times you watch. Always reach the end satisfied, and its a wondrous feeling.

''Evil is a point of view. God kills indiscriminately and so shall we. For no creatures under God are as we are, none so like him as ourselves.''

''I spent my whole life not knowing what I want out of it, just chasing my tail. Now for the first time I know exactly what I want and who... that's the damnable misery of it.''

A successful lawman's plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating.

Kurt Russell: Wyatt Earp

Val Kilmer: Doc Holliday

If you love westerns or action flicks you have to love Tombstone. The movie is simply loved. The directing is top notch. Tombstone focuses on accuracy while creating an exciting story.
Kurt Russell who leads, never fails to give an electric performance he is on top form as Wyatt Earp.
Val Kilmer is the total essence of Wyatt's friend Doc Holiday in gaunt like looks and his disposition. Wyatt and his brothers arrive with their wives in tombstone looking for a peaceful place to settle down. Dana Delaney is the beautiful lady Wyatt falls for though his already married. His wife is a drug addict and Wyatt's marriage doesn't seem to be working out the way he hoped it could have. Wyatt is in retirement but Doc isn't but soon trouble comes in the form of an outlaw gang called the cowboys wearing red scarves tied to their belts. They cause all kinds of trouble wherever they go. One night they kill the town sheriff and then they bring their revenge and kill Wyatt's brother Morgan.

Wyatt is spurred out of retirement for good and becomes US marshal seeking his own vengeful brand of justice. Soon a shootout takes place and even Doc gets in on the action too alongside his friend.
My fave scene involves Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Val Kilmer spinning his gun albeith with a cup I could watch all day, first time I saw this I knew Tombstone was great! This scene I always remember alot alongside Val Kilmer who steals the film in my opinion.
This is one of the best western shootouts I've ever seen I'm not usually a big fan of westerns that don't have Clint or John Wayne but Tombstone has an amazing story about real people and events that sucks you in. Tombstone was very enjoyable and the film was brilliantly acted there were no boring scenes throughout the entire film it was a great ride.

Don't miss this you will not be disappointed with an all male cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Sam Elliot, Billy Zane, and loads of others you cannot go wrong with. A masterpiece and one of my favourite movies.

''A faithful heart makes wishes come true.''

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Yun-Fat Chow: Master Li Mu Bai

If I had to sum up Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in just three simple words, they would be Enthralling, Mystical and Mesmerizing.
The story is so well thought out and it goes excellently with some of Asia's biggest movie stars namely Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat.The scenery and the photography was beyond belief. The majestic landscapes of China match imagination when I read all the beautiful Chinese poems of the respective Tang and Sung dynasties. No wonder poets in these eras could come up with masterpieces. They sure had the best inspiration.



Peter Pau not only captured the landscapes and the settings, he also managed to capture the fast-as-lightening action/choreography wonderfully. The shot of Jen gliding over water just lodged in my mind. The soundtrack also is beyond excellence. Tan Dun used different instruments to match the different locales. He mixed in Central Asian music in the desert sequence and Chinese flute in the Southern China scenes. Yo-yo Ma's cello in the main theme makes me want to shed a tear everytime heard.

Now onto the plot, often accused of being far too simple and "high-concept" for such a critically acclaimed film. I would disagree. Certainly, this isn't an exercise in senseless "the-plot-rules-all" film making promoted by many a summer movie. The plot not only serves the characters, but IS the characters, their interactions and relationships. The restrained dynamic between Yun Fat and Yeoh is played against the sparky, lusty affair and her lowly bit of criminal scruff (the latter being standard escapist, fairy tale material, executed perfectly). The final scene between Yeoh and Yun Fat's characters is infinitely more interesting than lesser film makers would achieve, as there is no tragic final kiss but merely tears and regret. Perhaps the most interesting character dynamic is between the aging female outlaw Jade Fox, and her supposed muse, Zi.

The storytelling was done so expertly. As a romantic love story, loving the desert romance between Jen and Lo. It's one of the most charming and believable bonds that I can recollect. Most people gave credit of the fighting to Yuen Wo Ping. I'd give respect also to Ang Lee. I've seen Yuen's martial art films before, but they're never done in such a diverse, an imaginative and artistic way.

The artistic mastery has to come from visionary Ang Lee who has crafted on his canvas of film a beautiful artistic masterpiece.

Dr. Richard Kimble: I thought you didn't care?
Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: I don't.[laughs]
Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: Don't tell anybody, OK?

A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins.

Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of killing his wife, must find the real one-armed killer, uncover a secret conspiracy/revelation and betrayal while avoiding Marshal Sam Gerard.

Harrison Ford: Dr. Richard David Kimble.

Harrison is remarkable in this as the Doctor who is put on a false charge, sentenced to death and goes on the run. He plays Kimble with finesse and intelligence with charismatic moralistic temperament. Iconic.
Tommy Lee Jones: Marshal Samuel Gerard. Jones was born to play a marshal, he compliment's ford character as they become entangled in a game of cat and mouse. One of those roles that sticks in your memory. Jones makes it stick in your mind like a burning smoking poker.
Look out for a young Julianne Moore as Dr. Anne Eastman.
For me the definition of Chase movies. This is a thrill ride that has your heart thumping start to finish. One of my fave films and for good reason.Tommy Lee Jones, who did pick up an Oscar, is the U.S. Marshall( Sam Gerard) who is bent on catching the escaped Kimble. Playing like an adapted Les Miserables, this is actually taken from a true story. Throughout the movie, Kimble evades police while trying to track down his wife's real murderer. While containing a few scenes that require a stretch of imagination, as a whole the movie is realistic, and full of edge-of-the-seat suspense.

The chemistry between the Ford/Jones duo is a pleasure to watch. The Fugitive part together with the struggle between two strong personalities makes up for two truly entertaining hours.In my opinion, "The Fugitive" is the best movie of 1993. It is also one of the few successful films-based-on-a-TV-series. Harrison Ford is good as Dr. Richard Kimble. But to me, David Janssen still the best out of the three incarnations of the wrongly accused, yet rightly resourceful doctor. Tommy Lee Jones is equally effective as U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard, Kimble's pursuer.For the movie, Gerard's title and first name were changed. Those who have seen either of the TV incarnations of the Fugitive will recall that his name is Lieutenant Phillip Gerard. Why the change is anyone's guess.The best lines in this film are from Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The former shouts: "I didn't kill my wife!" In response, the latter says, "I don't care!"
The message here, of course, was that Gerard's job was to nab Kimble, not determine his guilt or innocence.

The second half of the film is mostly a patient cat-and-mouse chase. It isn't fast-paced as the first and the ending is well-conceived. What makes "The Fugitive" work so well is I didn't only root for Kimble, but I rooted (and laughed) for Gerard as well. Besides Davis's smart direction and handling of the film's pace, the story by David S. Twohy is masterfully written and is near perfection.Harrison Ford gives another unforgettable performance as Kimble, but Jones is the stand out here as Gerard.
The supporting cast is great, too and "The Fugitive" is a classic film that shouldn't go unseen.

Pure adrenaline.

''Many, many years ago in a sad, faraway land, there was an enormous mountain made of rough, black stone. At sunset, on top of that mountain, a magic rose blossomed every night that made whoever plucked it immortal. But no one dared go near it because its thorns were full of poison. Men talked amongst themselves about their fear of death, and pain, but never about the promise of eternal life. And every day, the rose wilted, unable to bequeath its gift to anyone... forgotten and lost at the top of that cold, dark mountain, forever alone, until the end of time.''

In the fascist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.

Ivana Baquero: Ofelia

Sergi López: Captain Vidal

Guillermo Del Toro's El laberinto del fauno, translating as Pan's Labyrinth or The labyrinth of the faun, has been called a fairy tale, but it is one with dark, exotic colours, a seething reality of warmth, and a tragic adult fairy tale reminiscent to the tones entwined, for example, in The Brother's Grimm stories.
Historical, realistic merging with the layers and realms that equal fantasy. Guillermo Del Toro effortlessly combines the two Worlds; Essentially one World thus joined.



It owes a debt to the Latin genre concerning magical realism, as it reflects the grim fantasies revolving around a young child caught in the middle of a brutal conflict and her desperate longing for a world without torment and anguish. Set in Spain after Franco had emerged victorious in the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist troops and die hard resistance fighters continue the struggle in the Spanish countryside.
As the film opens, Carmen (Ariadna Gil) and her daughter Ofelia, brilliantly performed by Ivana Baquero, are travelling to join Carmen's new husband, Falangist Captain Vidal (Sergei Lopez) in his military headquarters.

The film shifts seamlessly between fantasy sequences and the armed conflict. Captain Vidal is depicted as a soldier who takes pleasure in killing. In one scene, he sadistically beats a peasant to death with a bottle, suspecting him of being a rebel. However, his actions, brutality and cruelty is not limited merely to rebels. When Carmen becomes sick during her difficult pregnancy, the girl hears her stepfather tell the doctor that if it comes to a choice between saving the mother or saving the baby, he wants him to save the baby.
Nationalist men, fascist men deal strength through lacking in empathy and essentially weakness is nurturing compassion for those considered weak. Captain Vidal is merely the equation of a unified sense of patriotism mixed with hatred for the World which is to be this perfect World. He is a product of Franco. A product of malicious certainty which wishes to eradicate anything that opposes the regime.
Amidst all this darkness, Ofelia develops a warm relationship with the housekeeper, Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), whom she later discovers sneaks out at night to bring messages, food, and medical supplies to the rebels. The Captain is merciless when he discovers Mercedes' treason as well as that of Dr. Ferreiro (Alex Angulo) whom later refuses to obey Vidal's orders.




As the world around her grows darker and her mother becomes sicker, Ofelia further retreats into her dream world. Soon she must make the most difficult choice any person can be asked to make.
Pan's Labyrinth is a strong and layered film but it is also emotional, tragic and dramatically charged while being powerfully subjective.
Del Toro's work, however, is not confined merely to metaphysics or spirituality.
Essentially his story is a personal film about memory, life and dreams. As both Ofelia and Vidal remember their fathers, Guillermo Del Toro wants the world to remember the sadistic nature of the Franco regime, the courage of those who stood up against its brutality, and the innocence his country lost forever.

Overall, Pan's Labyrinth won 3 Oscars for it's beauty and arty majestic approach. Art direction, cinematography and make up we're the respective awards yet I feel it is much more than merely a beautiful style over substance venture. This is a beautiful, effect laden piece, yes, but it is also deep, meaningful and reflective of ideals and philosophical discussion regarding life and death. In that respect, Pan's Labyrinth achieves eternal, loving adoration from audiences and film lovers. A timeless classic for years to come.



''A long time ago, in the underground realm, where there are no lies or pain, there lived a Princess who dreamed of the human world. She dreamed of blue skies, soft breeze, and sunshine.''

''I see you.''

The world of Pandora and it's people(The Na'vi) are threatened by humans searching for an expensive resource.

Sam Worthington: Jake Sully

James Cameron has always been a man of unsurpassed imagination, a man with vision and a fun loving disposition for using technology to achieve his dreams. The fact is Cameron isn't just a director; he is an artist.
I have grown up with James; having been born in the 80s when he was churning out his projects which still remain dear to me to this day. Who can forget The Terminator(1984)? A time travel spin with machines ruling the future. Or his fun, quirky screenplay for Rambo 2(1985); showing wit, charm and adrenaline. Then we have the sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien; one of the best sequels of all time: Cameron's Aliens(1986). The deep imaginative piece The Abyss(1989) would follow a few years later; showing us Cameron's other glimpse into good natured extraterrestrial life and his love of the ocean and romance; a new world in itself.
As for the 90s; it seemed as if the 80s were in essence merely a warm up for the maestro directors talents. Having received attention and Awards for his illustrious effects and wizardry usage of technology, he steps up his game; Aces up his sleeve in the guise of another untouchable sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991), then later True Lies(1994), and the immortalized romance with historical preference Titanic(1997).



Years later we reach 2009 and James Cameron seems to have resurfaced from his exploration under the ocean, from his dabbling with 3D technology and has unveiled his latest epic fantasy sci-fi; Avatar.
Cameron had to wait ten years for the technology necessary to realize his baby.
Upon seeing the character of Gollum in The Two Towers(2002) James Cameron knew CGI effects were at last ready to unleash his new world Pandora.
The film results in being 40% live action and 60% photo-realistic CGI. Large quantities of motion capture technology were used for the CGI scenes.
This however does not sum up the beauty and magnificence Avatar truly is; My early claim of Cameron being not just a director but an artist is certainly a gross under-statement.

So what is the story of Avatar? The brief synopsis doesn't particularly sum it up. Yes, it is about humans exploiting a new world for their own pockets; it is about Jake Sully whom has lost the use of his legs being transported into a 10ft Avatar body...BUT it is also a love story between the hero and heroine whom are from different worlds. This is a Ferngully outsider meets natives, a Last of the Mohicans integration romance wherein the evolution of the hero is saved by love.
Neytiri(Zoe Saldana) teaches Jake Sully(Sam Worthington) the Na'vi's way of life after becoming lost in the Jungles of Pandora. Slowly he begins to learn how every living creature, being and plant is entwined in harmonic proportions; energy and cosmic balance without industrial destruction to nature.
Titanic showed us the epiphany of romance from Cameron; Avatar shows a union of two soulmates destined to be together always. When Jake and Neytiri kiss for the first time, under tendrils of memories, you can feel the connection deep within; Your heart skips a beat.

The creatures, plants, machines, locations, vehicles are all breathtakingly beautiful. In fact as we see this New World and these gigantic humanoids, one begins to feel as part of proceedings, as if we are on this world with them. Every blade of grass and plant can be felt when witnessed in 3D, every sound and noise ambient with unsurpassed depth.

The casting assemble Avatar has to offer is of course pure indulgent cream. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana excel as the romantically destined Jake and Neytiri; their chemistry as real and believable as the 3D world we are sucked into. Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine makes for another great Cameron character whom hasn't lost her edge since her Alien days; Grace is scientific, interesting and harbours all the teaching instincts towards the Na'vi one would expect a scientist to maintain. A Doctor smoking in the future was perhaps not so believable yet perhaps portrays the level of stress her character endures.
Special credit must go to Stephen Lang as the military titan Colonel Miles Quaritch; whom is a villain you love to hate. This is a man not only doing his job but enjoying it; the typical fire first Army Colonel whom loves quite literally blowing the living daylights out of anything that moves.
Michelle Rodriguez playing Trudy Chacon was definitely a fun character with some memorable lines; ''You're not the only one with a gun bitch!'' gained a belly laugh of humour.
Giovanni Ribisi, Joel Moore and Laz Alonso also helped flesh out the assemble with memorable characters.
It must also be said that the characters whom inhabit Avatar bodies actually look like their human counterparts. Every facial move, gesture and movement effortlessly captured in a splendid array.

Avatar also has an epic score; original haunting Music by James Horner. Perfected Cinematography by Mauro Fiore(director of photography) and a fabulous team for the Artful work and costumes accumulated within the making.
The battle sequences will literally have you on the edge of your seat, while fast paced chases are elevated to majestic grandeur; flying creatures attacking huge orca-type aircraft, alien horse-riders battling against mech-warriors with marines and Jake's encounters with the many types of creatures all induce awe.

Overall, this is an emotional turbulent journey that never loses momentum in the whole of its 2 hours and 40 minutes. Avatar will pull at your heart strings and make you care for a people from another World. Cleverly it doesn't give us a title for the film at the beginning but waits until the glorified magical ending of rebirth. By then I was moved to tears on a fair number of levels; many scenes invoking emotion, passion and inspirational bursts of imagination.
Who could of thought that the song I see you by Leona Lewis could be such a sweet soothing reminder to this beautiful realization we have just witnessed. James Cameron's Avatar will undoubtedly win numerous Awards in the future, even if not, this is pure escapism and a colourful escape to another breathtaking world which cannot be ignored. This is art at it's highest pinnacle. This is love in its truest form. This is perhaps the swan song masterpiece ever to be conceived from Cameron; Avatar is the baby we waited 10 years for Cameron to make...and it was certainly worth the wait! Visionary.

''Out there is the true world and in here is the dream.''

''I need you to believe me right now.''

A civilian diving team are enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and face danger while encountering an alien aquatic species.

Ed Harris: Virgil 'Bud' Brigman

The Abyss is the most thought-provoking, imaginative, and beautiful science fiction film out there among the visionary stars of cinema. Master filmmaker and craftsman James Cameron brings us another thoughtful sci-fi epic behind The Terminator (1984) and Aliens(1986); two films that played brilliantly with Cold War-era paranoia, he brings us something that could possibly be the director's most introspective piece.
1989 was quite a year in terms of undersea sci-fi flicks; Leviathan and DeepStar Six taking full advantage of the Alien craze, and while The Abyss had aliens on its mind, these particular extraterrestrials come to us with a message and a purpose; echoing Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.



The film begins with the sinking of an American nuclear submarine that was brought down under mysterious circumstances. The navy commandeers a civilian drilling rig to enter the sub and search for survivors. But this ragtag group of blue-collar workers, led by Bud Brigman (Ed Harris) and his ex-wife Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), are plagued by a Navy SEAL team's insane leader, Lt. Coffey (Michael Biehn), and a series of bizarre underwater occurrences that could prove that they're not alone on the ocean floor.
The Abyss boasts one of the most compelling science fiction stories of any sci-fi film in the past 20 years. It was James Cameron's third and most powerful film; perhaps not his best according to his hardcore audience and certain critics, despite its groundbreaking computer animation effects and story.

The Abyss released in 1989 with a trimmed down 146 run time. Later when the movie came to video Cameron released his directors adding a significant amount of footage and bringing the time to 171 minutes. Most of this extra footage comes in at the end of the film and stands to clear up some major confusion wrought in the theatrical version. It seems that there are some creates living at the bottom of the ocean and are rather perturbed at humanities prevalence for violence. It seems these creatures (aliens?) can manipulate water and have forced giant tidal waves to start approaching every major port. Humanity is saved when the creatures see the true love between the two main characters.

What Cameron does extremely well in this picture is create tension.
The claustrophobic setting of an underwater oil rig to the potential nuclear meltdown; each scene slowly tightens the screws of suspense.
One among a few favourite scenes involves the sentient being crafted entirely of liquid or water. Cameron's dabbling with effects showing how later in Terminator 2 and even Titanic show his appreciation and love not just for visual bliss but water based imagination in the essence of his many creations. Let us remember also that Cameron's underwater marvel won an Oscar for Best Effects, Visual Effects; they are simply majestic.
The dialogue in Abyss is clunky at times; cliched variety that Cameron brings to pretty much all of his movies. Some of the extemporaneous characters bring little to the overall movie and help distract the viewer from the main plot. I think Cameron has done a very good job with the two main characters though. Ed Harris does a remarkable job playing his role as boss on the rig while still hackling with his wife. Mastrantonio also does a fine job of portraying the tough as nails Lindsay while still remaining feminine and sympathetic.

The directors cut ending is debated in the online world. While it serves to clarify what was a rather abrupt and confusing ending in the original it also becomes quite preachy and is at a loss for any type of subtlety. Cameron attacks his anti-war message like Ripley against Alien.
Even with some confusing dialogue and a preachy ending, The Abyss has still maintained in being not just one of my favourite sci-fi stories but one of the deepest enriched babies out there; The Abyss in essence is as deep as it's title suggests. James Cameron creates tension and imagination like two lovers; a master of his craft. This is Cameron at his most under-rated, most triumphant, most Zen best.

''We have no way of warning the surface. And you know what that means? It means, whatever happens, is up to us.''

''We each need to find our own inspiration, Kiki. Sometimes it's not easy.''

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

Kirsten Dunst:Kiki

Majo no takkyûbin(1989) known as Kiki's Delivery Service features such a character in Kiki, a thirteen year old witch whom is made to leave home and find a new city in which to hone her skills.



The trials and liberations of independence await Kiki in the town she chooses to live. But for the most part Kiki seems to be able to find a generous benefactor to help her overcome obstacles without resorting to her natural powers. Her helpfulness earns her a lodging at a bakery where Kiki quickly resolves to start a delivery service. When she almost botches her first errand she relies on the kindness of a cabin dwelling artist who has found the toy black cat Kiki had dropped. And later a sleepy eyed St Bernard helps her exchange it with her black cat Jiji, who had been pretending to be a toy in the recipient's house. Because Kiki meets with friendliness from everyone; the film avoids confronting the lurking menace the big town would normally pose for a thirteen year old girl. Rather, the unimaginative conclusion of the film seems to be that friendliness always benefits it's patrons.
After Kiki promises a boy she meets to attend a party with him, she spends her entire day helping an old woman prepare a herring pie for her granddaughter and misses the appointment. This is around the time Kiki begins to lose her magical powers. But this is a rare reminder that Kiki is supposed to be a training witch, and the film never explains how Kiki loses her magical powers and how she subsequently regains them at a conveniently helpful interval in the story.

Due to Hayao Miyazaki's spirited direction the film rarely loses its magical spark. Nonetheless; also the writer of the film, Miyazaki takes many thoughtful detours from the fundamental themes underlying the story. After seeing this film, a viewer may still wonder why those people seemed to be so undisturbed by the sight of an adolescent witch zooming across their town on a broomstick. One may also ask why Kiki decides to start a delivery service instead of sticking to her avowed mission to train to be a witch. Unfortunately, Kiki's Delivery Service leaves these and many more questions unanswered. Fortunately we can fill in the blanks with our imaginations.
What sets Kiki's Delivery Service apart from many of Miyazaki's other works is the personal, rather than epic, nature of the story. It wonderfully captures the daily life of an aspiring 13-year-old girl moving into the life of a bustling town. While there is plenty to please the thrill-seeking adventurous spirit, the film's real beauty lies in its ability to portray the more introverted aspects of life. Most Western animated cinema centers around loud, pop-influenced music and a bad-guy-fighting action-oriented plot, but Kiki's Delivery Service has a charming and understated musical score, and lacks a traditional antagonist. Life isn't all excitement and fighting bad guys; something that this film seems to get across more so than any Disney, Pixar, Fox, or other Western animated film I've ever seen. In fact, the doldrums of life are what form the heart of this film.

Majo no takkyûbin is a masterpiece, and Kiki's search for the heart within herself is a tale that adults may appreciate more than their children. Indeed, Kiki is one of the most appealing characters that Miyazaki ever brought to life, which is certainly saying something. One of Miyazaki's great talents is in never be belittling his audience, and with this fantastic story he proves this point once again.

''Well, well, well... hello kitty.''

''You have to think about one shot. One shot is what it's all about. A deer's gotta be taken with one shot. I try to tell people that but they don't listen.''

An in-depth examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA.

Robert De Niro: Michael

Meryl Streep: Linda

Christopher Walken: Nick

What can I say but beautiful simply beautiful. Forget every other Vietnam movie, every Rambo film, every war imitator such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket or Apocalypse Now, forget about them for a moment, The Deer Hunter has one thing they don't have initially... a heartfelt study of men and more importantly of a man who deals with the after effects of war in so much detail. This is three hours that will change your life.



Robert De Niro's performance is without a doubt a colossus of triumph. An evolution of a man has never been shown in such detail. How war changes your whole way of life that it stays with you even after it's over.
Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken are fantastic. A love triangle also provides interest and a frustration that as it plays out you can only watch in wonderment.

I love the scene where all the men are gathered round sombrely, for a moment at peace...listening to their companion play the piano all captured by it's soothing notes. Close ups of faces caught up in the emotion of the music are shown in a way it moved me. Then it out of the blue fast forwards to them in the turmoil of Vietnam and the atrocities of soldiers attacking civilians. We see Micheal explode into action, a positively cringing game of Russian roulette with the Vietcong rebels. Three bullets really takes the biscuit, to witness the outcome is pure adrenaline and to see his friend at the start lose hope only to be comforted by Michael is heart warming yet terrifying.

The bond of friendship and what lengths you will go to for it is so resolute in this it will turbulently set your emotions flaring. Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro later on repeating their roulette game against each other is beautiful. As he begins to crumble to see tears, to remember his life, it's like waking from a dream but what happens is tragic.
One of the best films I've seen that really does show not just war but an analysis of the human psyche, which we can all relate too.

Don't be put off by the long running time, this is a classic that doesn't quit till the credits and will give your mind alot to chew on.
Metal Gear Solid, Rambo, and now Deer Hunter. Really does depict horrors of Vietnam and the after effects on its soldiers.

Another classic, one of De Niro's best, and grand story-telling and vision from Director Michael Cimino.