2014 @ The Movies Archives - Dec.

Below is a monthly compilation of my 128 2014 film reviews originally published on Facebook:

December 5 2014 through December 29 2014:

2014 @ the movies take 120 “The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (English Dub 2nd viewing - It was my 2013 top pick) I caught the English dub to compare it to the Japanese version. As far as dubs go, this is a rather successful effort. The voice casting works. The songs suffer bit from the translation in terms of local color, but they are performed adequately. Of course, it is all worth it for the sumptuous visuals and a traditional tale with surprising depth. Last year, many raved about the female empowerment delivered by “Frozen” - IsaoTakahata’s Princess Kaguya goes even further in its exploration of resistance to patriarchal society, motherhood and even female body image (blackened teeth, anyone?). The way “Little Bamboo's” constantly growing body is portrayed in a very natural and never objectified or fantasized manner is very refreshing. Also featured are the cutest piglets ever which were probably Miyazaki-approved smile emoticon Next up, 3rd viewing with the Japanese version subbed in English! Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 with Susie & Kurtis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM6hcHp0_kU

2014 @ the movies take 121 “かぐや姫の物語 (The Tale of Princess Kaguya)" (Japanese with ENG sub 3rd viewing) Mike Stevens & Moxie Cinema crew, thanks again for bringing the subbed version to Springfield. The film is even more powerful in the original Japanese. The 1PM show had a great turnout and concluded with teary cheers and clapping - thanks Hiromi-sensei for attending and bringing friends and family, thanks Timothy for doing the same - thanks Susie & Kurtis for coming back. By the way, this is not simply the US market version with a different soundtrack and subs, it is the full Japanese original with all-Japanese opening and closing credit sequences - as a bonus the Japanese end credit song was subtitled in English which is not the case on the US version. Experienced in theater 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TlxSboH-D8

2014 @ the movies take 122: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (2D Japanese sub). When I found the first chapter an absolute bore, the second one had a bit more of a spark to it. This third and final part manages to rekindle the boredom of the opening film albeit on a more feisty mode. Fans of overextended epic and expertly crafted battle scenes will rejoice. If you are more into character development and dwarf/elf bonding, you will be sorely disappointed. Hopefully, it will get nominated for best sound design, so I did not see for nothing... Experienced at 新宿バルト9 Wald9 Shinjuku in theater 5.http://youtu.be/1UjeE1zxUxQ

2014 @ the movies take 123: "楽園追放 Expelled from Paradise" (Japanese no sub). The goal there was to experience a real otaku anime on the big screen. Three anime features were showing this week in Tokyo: "Naruto: The Last Movie" (too mainstream), "Yuruyuri Nachuya Tschumi!" (a comedy with a lot of high school girls in very short skirts) and "Expelled from Paradise" which promised ball-shaped robot battles, a fan service-prone cyber-angel girl with impossible hair and some religious subtext... that third choice seemed the perfect blend of otaku madness. They had a 7:25pm and 1:25am showing (for extrovert hikikonomoris smile emoticon. I went to the 7:25pm showing at 新宿バルト9 Wald9 in theater 9. Reserved seating is mandatory and will cost you $17. The theater had about 500 seats and was completely packed. A good 50% of the audience consisted of couples on a movie date smile emoticon A melon soda and tempura sweet potato slices combo costs about $9. The digital projection was spotless and the sound booming. The movie was shockingly chatty. A good 2/3 of the piece, the spandexed lead girl was engaged in heated philosophical debates with a rogue Han Solo type on a desert cruise. Rest assured, the debate got heated enough for her generous bust to bounce quite a bit. The conclusion of the debate was a 20 minute battle scene that felt like a video game on crack. I can't wait to catch the english sub at the Moxie, Mike Stevens!http://youtu.be/aBsgKu6IeHQ

2014 @ the movies take 124: “The Gambler” This one caught me by surprise. I had not seen any trailer or advertisement for it - it just appeared! I first thought Mark Wahlberg was trying to pull a Keanu and start his own “John Wickesque” franchise - absolutely not, he plays an English professor! Marky Mark teaching freshman comp and reading Shakespeare with a gambling problem - that is too high concept to miss! The result is a weirdly interesting movie that doesn’t always work, but Wahlberg is pretty good facing Jessica Lange and Jabba “Goodman" the Hutt and the ending is kinda sorta boldish. I was still left with the feeling that this half misfire contained random sparks of a better film. Well… it’s the remake of a 1974 James Caan vehicle available on Netflix. I did my homework and watched the 1974 version - fascinating. The original is a razor blade of a film. 40 years later the blade is still there, but it is quite dull. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 5. A scene from the 1974 original not found in the 2014 version - like any English teacher heading to work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-LdRzkWrDM

2014 @ the movies take 125: “Unbroken” Here comes another perfect example of the WW2 ready-to-watch biopic: Dig out a true extraordinary tale of suffering, heroism and redemption that took place between 1939 and 1945 (even better if after 1941). Start with childhood scene during the harsh 30’s cut to 1940’s, unveil true hero pitted against foreign vilain. End with pictures of the real person (possibly old age footage if still alive). Ironically, the truly extraordinary fate of the central character (here Louis Zamperini) dissolves into a WW2 movie cliché. Yes, the film is perfectly executed with a very detailed depiction of the time period, but ultimately loses touch with its human element drowned in WW2 déjà vu… One special mention for the Japanese torturer who is interestingly ambiguous - the last shot of his family portrait is the best moment of the film. The other 216 minutes can be avoided. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in Auditorium 14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8mBzKLhL0U

2014 @ the movies take 126: “Into the Woods” A Disney musical - it seems to be the perfect Pascal death cocktail. However, I had to catch it for Oscar race reasons. It is bound to be nominated for Best song, or Best film containing an actress named Meryl. When I understand the original material goes a bit further, I still found the polite subversion of classic fable tropes refreshing. The cast seems to have fun and it comes through. I heard purists were outraged because one song was cut from the film version. I don’t really know where they could have placed it. The piece is already quite longish. The repetitiveness of the plot doesn’t help either, but it goes with the fairy tale territory. I still don’t understand why they randomly break into songs, but that must me a cultural thing wink emoticon Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14in Auditorium 1. The initial teaser where most characters look over their shoulder still cracks me up, Kurtis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDWADpZEs70

2014 @ the movies take 127: “Exodus: Gods and Kings (3D)” another pre-Oscar watch for a shot at best costume design or best set design. I was also very impressed with the uncut version of Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005) that I watched recently. It gave me hope that I would not have to suffer trough another “Noah.” Aside from Christian Bale’s horrible beard, it is an epic visual feast. It is going to be very hard to re-watch Charlton Heston (also a so-so beard) leading twenty guys across a misty puddle after this spectacle… Scott chooses to really focus on the Rameses / Moses relationship. However, he also surrounds them with a huge cast of famous faces (Sigourney Weaver, ben Kingsley, Aaron Paul…) that end up kind of waiting in the background for a chance to say half a line. We end up with two guys each wielding their own immense faceless crowd across vast deserts. With such a Caucasian-dominated cast, one could have avoided casting God as an impetuous British white boy with an impeccable RP English. "More tea with your locusts?” If you have 3h15 to spare favor the director's cut of “Kingdom of Heaven” for a much better and subversive Scott. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14in Auditorium 11.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8YsulfxVI

2014 @ the movies take 128: “Whiplash” After really enjoying the intense short-film version that was part of the Sundance shorts selection, I was a bit worried seeing it expanded into a feature. The transformation is beyond successful - a sure contender for my top 5 of 2014. Not only the intensity of the original is preserved, but the complexity and ambiguity of the relationship between the two leads is taken to a new level. The acting is top-notch - so good to see J.K. Simmons shine in a lead role. The work on the soundtrack is also extremely impressive. Jazz fans will rejoice, but the piece is not just a drum-centric jazz feast. It is a thought-provoking look at the teacher/student relationship and about the dangerous energy it can generate. With current trends in education shying away from this energy, the film cultivates it to the extreme. “No words in the English language are more dangerous than 'good job." A perfect echo of this quote from “Nightcrawler” another favorite from 2014: "Having been raised with the self-esteem movement so popular in schools, I used to expect my needs to be considered. But I know that today's work culture no longer caters to the job loyalty that could be promised to earlier generations.” Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2. Second viewing already planned smile emoticon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo