malmroes Reviews

Planetes (2003–2004)

A journey through the vast Space and human realization.

[9/10 · 23 July 2009]

The protagonist in Planetes is Ai Tanabe a young woman with ideals that seem naive to some, if not many, of the other characters in the series. The series centers around her newly acquired job and all that follows in Debris Section aka. Half Section because it has half the employees it should have. Due to an accident involving space debris and a spacecraft Debris section was formed. Planetes has been described as being one of the most realistic animes science-wise. While this may be true Planetes is so much more than just a science based anime. The series progresses really neatly throughout the 26 episodes it spans and at first the episodes are about general debris retrieval, but later develops into other subjects like the gap between the poor and rich down on Earth due to space exploration etc. and what consequences this may lead to. Furthermore it is a love story between Tanabe and the male protagonist Hachimaki and their struggle to maintain their relationship through hardships since they both (especially Hachimaki) have some existential problems to solve. The animation is great and the mood is even greater, it is a joy to watch a scene when the characters float in zero-G or when they are out in space in total silence. A series that shouldn't be missed if you like love stories and Space or just one of those two. You Copy!

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight rises to give justice to this movie, but does he fail or succeed?

[10/10 · 25 July 2008]

Dark Knight as many know is the sequel to Christopher Nolan's take on the dark mysterious protagonist Batman and his fight for justice. This is not always easy for him and it becomes even harder when a somewhat smart, but psychopathic villain with nothing to lose and no real goal other than to have fun in town and watch it burn, enters the scene. And yes we are talking about The Joker. This movie is one of the most satisfying for a long time especially from Hollywood's side. This is not due to flashy explosions and extraordinary stunts (even though they are impressive,) but all the different moods and great acting especially for Heath Ledger's performance and interpretation of The Joker is phenomenal. The movie focuses a lot on Batman's search for justice and how his role should be in a city that are prejudiced toward people who take the law in their own hands like himself and The Joker. This movie contains so many plot twists, events and themes that one is not bored in those approx. 2:30 hours it rolls. It has both a touch of those subjects that were presented in Spiderman (and other movies) such as the hatred and/or doubt from the public people toward Batman. It gives the viewer an insight in how a world swirled in chaos and slight anarchy would be like. It has morale subjects and love related issues. It just has everything and something extra. As already mentioned Heath Ledger's performance is certainly one of those extras and he really gives The Joker's character a certain refinement. His small facial expressions and well spoken dialog really gives one the sense that this guy is a walking loon though still extremely smart. One of the beauties of the Joker's character is also that one is never given a real reason as to why he acts the way he does because this emphasizes his character as not having any real or meaningful agenda he just acts on instinct. As said he is just there to have fun. Another well known character for the fans is also introduced and even though his role is not as big as the Joker's it adds up to the story really well. It is a shame though he does not have more time on stage, but that is how it is. To conclude this is really not a movie to be missed. If you have not seen it yet head down to your nearest movie theater and be both surprised, amazed and even a bit scary. And walk home safely because the Dark Knight is watching you.

Elfen Lied (2004)

Elfen Lied is really a diamond in the rough

[9/10 · 10 July 2008]

As many know anime is a genre that ranges from childish cartoons to more mature stories and drawings which are more complicated than the average Disney movie. Elfen Lied is shrouded in mystique and darkness, but as with many other anime movies and series it has that unique contrast between the more violent, dark, grotesque moments and the more light-hearted and humorous parts which complements each other extremely well. The psychological themes are also very engaging and for instance Nyu's (Lucy's more innocent self) regressive behavior due to isolation and amnesia is, among others, a really nice touch as well as a major point in the story. There are so many different moods in this series and the theme song Lilium also sets a more melancholic and sad mood for the entire series. People have complained or discussed about the fact that the more serious issues and taboo themes in Elfen Lied are portrayed through young characters, but this is also what makes Elfen Lied even more interesting due to the fact that children are widely acknowledged as being innocent beings (symbolic speaking.) But the contrast between this innocence and the violent behavior by the same characters hugely adds to the originality of the series and makes it that more interesting as it results in more underlying psychological themes. There is a term in room decoration and room setting called the eclectic style which means that as long as the different furniture is "fine art" it does not matter if it fits together at all. Elfen Lied is a bit like that just as an anime series. There are lot of different genres and styles in the series and even though they do not seem to fit together on the surface the creators of Elfen Lied has succeeded in making those different parts fit extremely well with each other and have created a very original, innocent, violent and interesting series that should not be missed. As mentioned by so many others this series is not for the faint of hard due to a lot of gore and violence, but at least try it out, because underneath that hard exterior lies one of the greater stories told through the medium of Anime.

War of the Worlds (2005)

Progression never seems to stop and War of the Worlds is no excuse

[8/10 · 4 July 2008]

As many other franchises War of the Worlds have undergone various changes throughout history. It all started with H.G Wells novel which later was adapted for the radio by Orson Welles. That version also caused panic among the people at that time because they believed the incidents in the radio were actually happening. The radio version was also hugely acknowledged, yet criticized and was later broadcast in Ecuador. The people got so furious because they also believed the events were true so some outraged citizens burned down the broadcast station that had been sending the transmission. Several people were killed in the incident. The 2005 version of War of the Worlds is not the only film adaptation either, but the whole point is that for every adaption the story has changed or been revised almost like old folk tales that have passed on orally and changed or modified from time to time. It is clear to those who have read the book that the movie has attained that familiar Hollywood style we all know so well. As said in the description this is a contemporary adapted version of the old novel which is not that bad at all. The overall story has not changed that much, but it is now told through the eyes of the protagonist; a childish father who is not very good at being a parent. His daughter (Fanning) is mature of her age and is used to emphasize Ray's (Cruise) lack of maturity. Her brother (Chatwin) is also strong willed and determined to join in the fight against the invaders which is also a contrast to Ray's lack of responsibility and problem with being indecisive. When the two children are left with Ray the aliens start their invasion and it is this little family's struggle and Ray's development through the crisis that is the focus point in the story. And it is very well told. The animation of the tripods has been very successful and the powerlessness of the people is convincing enough to make you keep watching. Wells story combined with Spiellbergs directions, complements each other in a satisfying way and even though War of the Worlds is not the best movie ever made it is still worth watching, both because of its entertainment value (if you like sci-fi,) but also because the movie represents a long developed story of a piece of media which affected its contemporary society in very extreme ways. It is furthermore a somewhat new approach to the subject of aliens from Spielberg's side because they now are hostile rather than cuddly (we all remember E.T)

Full Metal Panic! (2002–2006)

Panic? nah do not worry this series will entertain for sure

[8/10 · 4 July 2008]

Anime is truly a genre of its own, but it should not to be mistaken as a linear or uniform genre. Fullmetal Panic is an all out anime with the distinct contrast between the more serious action related and the more humorous and everyday life orientated. The contrast is well told due to the story's plot. Kaname Chidori seems to be the average school girl, but there is more to her than meets the eye. Sagara Sousuke including his team from Mithril are set out to protect her because she is of great importance. Due to this Sagara is transferred to Kaname's school and has to deal with an environment that is quite unfamiliar to him since he is mostly used to be in the battlefield and lacks social abilities. It is Sagara's interaction with the school environment and his duty of protecting Chidori that creates the very charming and engaging contrast that is in the series. It has enough mystique to engage the viewer and enough humor and interesting details that leaves a feeling of hungering for more. It is definitely a series worth watching and a good series to start of with for persons who consider Manga and/or anime as a breath of fresh air. Full Metal also has some aesthetically beautiful scenery especially in the first episode, but it is not overambitious in any way and it has a very clean and simple look to it. The intro and ending themes are also very catchy and are both in the typical Japanese rock/pop genre. The instrumental music supports the different scenes as well. Maybe it is a bit of a risk to buy the complete collection at first, but if one wants to give it a chance then either buy Mission 01 or try to look it up at you-tube. It cannot be promised that the series falls in one's favor, but this certainly is a part of what Manga and Anime is all about.

Pitch Black (2000)

Good movie which takes a new approach to the sci-fi genre

[7/10 · 4 July 2008]

Even though this movie starts off with the usual: something goes wrong, spacecraft crashes, people are stranded etc. it still pulls off and introduces the viewer to some new ideas. Riddick is somewhat of a bad-ass convict and has modified his eyes so he is able to see in the dark which is a much sought after ability due to the situation the ship-crew and he gets in. The cutting in the movie is very good and emphasizes the mystique that shrouds around the anti-hero and male protagonist: "Riddick." The story in Pitch Black is, as already mentioned, to some extent very unoriginal and dissatisfied, but the clipping and cutting in the movie blended with some surprising elements which has been added to the story helps it to still support itself very well and one is afterward left behind with a hybrid feeling of satisfaction and hunger for more. Vin Diesel acts really well in the role as Riddick and even though his character is a hardcore, tough survivor he still takes morale decisions almost on the verge of good, but that does not mean his decisions do not turn in his favor at the very end... Why destroy an already perfect reputation? All in all this is a very good movie though not perfect. The story seems very unoriginal at the surface, but underneath it shines with enough originality to entertain. Some scenes has that wow factor while it as a whole is a bit better than average. It could maybe be described as a cult movie and it is definitely a recommendation for people who wants a spiced up sci-fi story blended with some minor psychological moments and an intriguing protagonist, namely Riddick.

Cloverfield (2008)

Has a lot of potential, but does not quite make it through.

[7/10 · 4 July 2008]

I had not heard that much about Cloverfield when I first saw a trailer on the internet, but it did look good. The idea of narrating a story through the lens of a camera had been seen before, but the idea of making a disaster movie this way still appealed to me, though I was not expecting much, but still hoped to get that wow effect which is very much in demand these days. The movie and the ideas behind it really had potential and succeeds at some points to capture and engage the audience because you feel like you are in the middle of the crisis. Unfortunately some issues relating to physics etc. is able to spoil the movie if one thinks very logically. The movie has for instance been criticized for lacking realistic physics relating to the cameraman. A point which can also be seen as a let down for the audience and more or less destroying the reality factor, is the quality of the video, which is quite good. This is of course to make the movie as good in quality as any other cinematic movies, but some might still think that this is a flaw and makes the movie lose a bit of its supposed atmosphere. At points the animation of the monsters look a bit misplaced and it is clear that they are animated creatures. It is hard to criticize this because the perception of the human is much harder to convince in this age of technology than ever before, so it is difficult to make animated characters that look genuine, especially the fictional ones. There is no musical score, obviously, but the sound effects are very good and when you sit in the cinema while gun bullets hiss and military tanks works it way through the streets, the sound really makes it all come to life. Again the sound is in a bit of an over quality state for a normal handy-cam, but it does not spoil the film too much. The acting part is overall okay, but not perfect. They are able to make the movie experience endurable, but again, they do not add up to the wow factor that they could have.

To sum up Cloverfield is a justifiable movie and easy to watch as the story is not that complex. It also tries to show the audience the innermost urges and instincts that follow with trying to survive and it both delivers and fails at doing so. The idea of narrating the story through the lens of a camera has got some real potential, but the top of the peak has not yet been reached. It is all a matter of time before a big breakthrough is made and meanwhile one must just wait and see. See through the lens of progression.

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Good movie, but lacks that joy from the old days

[8/10 · 4 July 2008]

Spiderman gets pinned by nothing less than three villains this time. It is clear that many have complained about this. One can agree that there is a risk of the different character's plots of getting too shallow, but we already knew the story of Harry Osbourne and why he is angry at Parker, so that is one less to be concerned about. Now Sandman, as I recall, was a whole new character that Raimi made dedicated entirely to the movie. Personally I did not mind him getting involved in the plot in the way he did (I will not go further into details for the benefit of readers who has not watched the movie yet,) but some might also think that it ruined a lot of the initial take on the story, which was created in the first movie and furthermore that they abandoned the concept in the early cartoons and Graphic Novels (which I am a bit, but not much acquainted with). This is of course a huge let down especially for the fans of the original Spiderman stories. The bit I was looking forward to in the movie was how they had created Venom and what their take on him would be. I remember sitting in the living room watching Spidey on the TV fighting this weird substance from Mars, first because it was going to take over his personality and later Brock who attained it. It became my favorite villain in the series. I did not quite feel the satisfaction of Venom's personality in the movie though, mainly because it did not quite fit the story in the TV series. The CGI is a complete other issue, and I believe that they graphically made Venom just like everyone had imagined. The thing with today though is that graphics are not all and people are famishing for some good stories to the animated characters. Today many companies make animated movies and CGI and it has become so standardized that you can not exceed the barrier of the audience just by relying on technology. On the other hand if the animation lacks because of the standard expected today, people are disappointed as well, but we will save that for some other time. As many other people I also agree on the fact that Parker was ridiculed in the most extreme way as possible. First of all his character does not fit this kind of persona, and secondly, Tobey did not manage to convince me of Parker having changed due to the new outfit. It was a bit misplaced in the movie, but it was quite obvious to see what the director wanted with those scenes. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out I might add. But besides that incident the movie was quite appalling to me and it could definitely have been done better, but many sequels end up being minor movies in which many people might think that it was just made due to commercial reasons. I did enjoy the moments in which one could recognize some of the original ideas, for instance that Venom is vulnerable to high pitched sounds and I do believe that Spiderman 3 had other moments. The soundtrack in Spiderman 3 pretty much sticked to the kind of music played in the other movies and one did not doubt which movie the music belonged to. The same theme song in the start of the other two movies also played in this one, so that was satisfying.

So to sum up: The CGI was amazing and the way The Sandman forms is very thoroughly made and you are not the least doubting which character you are looking at when Venom is on the take. Spiderman as usual also looked pretty good and the animation in the combat scenes did not falter much either. The story line could have been more thorough and for the more critical fans it might even have been a disappointment. Since I am a fan of Spiderman I decided to give it 8 stars instead of 7. It could have been better, but compared to other sequels it was quite good.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

A film that really does whisper to your heart

[8/10 · 22 April 2008]

Whisper of the Heart is about the female protagonist who studies and reads a lot. She borrows her books from the local library, but every time she borrows a new book she finds out that the same person has borrowed it before her. She then begins to imagine how he might be like and creates a romanticized picture of him. Eventually she finds out who the guy is and they both slowly begin to bond. The young man is a catalyst for the protagonist because he tells her about his future plans, which leads to her thinking about her own life and her uncertainty about her own future. The story is very well told and the imagery is very stunning and captivating though not as grandiose as in Laputa: Castle in the sky, or Howl's moving castle. The musical score also fits the corresponding scenes very well and add up to the varying moods of the film. The movie itself brings up existentialistic questions about one's identity and future, but also love and confusion. It is very well suited to the post-modern society that we live in because of its very distinct themes about the identity and how we forge it. It is an altogether good movie and is a really good diversion to all those Hollywood movies we have gotten used to over the decades.