mstanger-99388 Reviews

Where Hands Touch (2018)

It Deserves Better

[8/10 · 30 March 2019]

I'm not sure why so many people are giving this movie a bad wrap. The cinematography (though it could use a couple touches here and there) was great. The growth of the romance between Leyna and Lutz did seem a little rushed near the beginning, but when the realities of war and Nazi ideology really began to make its mark in their lives, things got especially interesting. The actors did an amazing job in portraying this too, and there were many emotional and passionate scenes that made me feel completely invested as if I were right there alongside them -something hard to get out of me. The way I see it, many people had a problem with this movie due to the setting. What many people don't seem to realize, is that this film is one of the few nowadays that doesn't completely distort the attitudes and beliefs of another time, and this is especially important when looking at a place like Nazi Germany. After World War I, Germany was completely destitute and caught in a bad financial situation of paying their debts to the Allies while continuously borrowing money from them to do so. Keep in mind, this was the war where just the sheer amount of men that had died, led to a dip in national population. All their fighting and death felt wasted to the Germans, and The Treaty of Versailles would certainly not help them any better. Their dignity and their country was so badly wounded by this, the people wanted to rebound from it, and while national pride or nationalism is not inherently bad in itself, the invasion and massacre of others is. It can't be ignored that many during this era held prejudiced beliefs, yet, unfortunately, most Germans were not aware of the extent to which blood was spilt out of discrimination. Most Germans only wanted to restore their country. In this film, these attitudes are very apparent, and although I do not agree with them, they shine light on the reality of what had happened. It showed the audience that there are shades of gray we often overlook, such as Leyna's situation of not only loving a Nazi, but being born a German of African descent in a European world. This movie is not one that takes away from history, but rather highlights the important pieces we often miss and does so wonderfully.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

One of the Best Miyazaki Films

[10/10 · 20 December 2018]

Ever since my mom brought home the Chinese edition of "My Neighbor Totoro" way back in 2003, it's been on my top ten list of films. And while I haven't lived out in the East Asian countryside nor have I had my mother become seriously ill, the family dynamic of two young girls and their father can always take me back to being a little kid again.

One of my favorite scenes has to be when Mei goes missing. Satsuki and Nanny are heard calling out for her over scenes of fields as the sun sets. First of all, beautiful scenery, but it always makes me nervous when Satsuki calls Mei's name out once more in hope only to be recieved by the loud, static buzz of cicadas. The barren and empty atmosphere certainly gives me the chills. It almost reminds me of getting lost when I was that age.

One of the best features of Miyazaki films is simply the pure piece of artwork it is, and it certainly doesn't falter here. Each animated figure is vividly colored, expressive, and detailed. It's almost a style where you could stop at any moment in the movie and take apart the details of Satsuki's facial expressions or the condition of Mei's clothes and figure out what is happening. Even better are the painted backgrounds of rice paddies that never cease to remind me of Van Gogh paintings or the spiritual forests, and creepy old houses. Every fine brushstroke adds more meaning and cultural significance to the plot, such as the protective spirit statues behind the bus stop in the woods just before Totoro shows up to wait for the Catbus.

Another great feature apparent in this film, and really of his films, is the shear originality of it. I'll be honest, I haven't seen a thing like it. The combination of East Asian mythology and Miyazaki's creativity make all his productions stand out from your typical animations. There's nothing quite so heart-warming as two little kids befriending the big and fuzzy spirit of the forest named Totoro. The plot and content is also innocent and folk-based unlike many animations. It's great in that it allows you to more closely see the values and morals of different cultures without all the hyped fuss. Truly a great movie for all people of all ages.

The General (1926)

One of His Best Films

[9/10 · 27 November 2018]

For such an old film, even people who don't like silent films will find themselves laughing or saying "wow". Even though Buster Keaton was his own stunt double in all of his roles, it is his role as Johnnie Gray in "The General" that stands out as one of his most daring acts.

Stunts took another level in this film. The train itself, which was already way out of it's time, was risky even then. The controls, shifts, and gears were already much more complex than trains of the time, making it much harder to use and easier to screw up. However, Keaton manages not only to control the train, but ward off Union soldiers with cannons and scramble from car to car in a physically comedic sense that keeps people both laughing and on edge.

I couldn't leave a review of this movie without describing my two favorite scenes out of it. First, I absolutely love the scene where Keaton must clear the way for "The General" and is forced to stand against the cow catcher with a massive wooden railroad beam. It takes great balance and strength to be able to hold the weight of the beam and maintain that position, especially when he uses the beam to knock another out of the way. Amazing!

The other and most famous scene is the burning and collapse of the bridge. This scene was taken in one shot and one shot only. There was no second bridge. There was no second General. There was no fixable set. During the creation of this scene, Keaton is quoted saying he would either get this perfect or he would die with the burning train. If that's not a great rendition of a Confederate soldier, sue me. In the end, it was perfect!

Overall, a great movie for all ages!

The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

20 Minute Masterpieces

[10/10 · 29 October 2018]

This show has been a favorite of mine since early childhood when me and my dad would watch rerun marathons on the Sci-Fi Channel. Nearly if not every episode is amazing and thought-provoking! It's almost a mystery within itself how Rod Serling can fit such a seemingly complex plot into twenty minutes time and still wrap it up perfectly.

Although other shows like "The Outer Limits" are good, there's a couple differences that set "The Twighlight Zone" apart from them. For instance, the use of movie-quality film, though seems minor, actually makes a big difference. The serious subjects present within the show are turned up a whole notch under the dark and moody lighting and film quality of a film noir. There are also more picturesque shots in the series, many mise-en-scène, that are not only appealing, but tell the whole story in symbols and pictures in the midst of unraveling mayhem.

A couple of my favorite episodes include "The Obsolete Man" and "The After Hours". In "The Obsolete Man" one of the cinematic decisions I noticed and loved was the use of a stark, towering, and white podium among a void of black with a long table stretched out before it of identical people signifying the council. It well demonstrated the image of an authoritarian and self-righteous government filled with people of the same exact mindsets. What's especially thought-provoking about this episode is the political concept of a dictatorship overthrowing what seemed to once be a republic by burning all prior knowledge in the form of books and sentencing harsh penalties to those who refuse. Although this was supposed to represent the Axis countries in WWII and even Communist countries during the ongoing Cold War, it is amazing to see the effects of these that follow through to today that still make this episode quite relevant.

In "The After Hours", Rod Serling looks less to collective ideas of groups and more towards unspoken ideas of the individual by building an episode entirely off of one illogical but nonetheless real question: "What if mannequins were living beings?" Though possibly only something to make a person say "woah, what if?", it can also be said that there is an underlying feeling of fear that is purposely created. Plenty of people have a fear of mannequins; good lord, what if their worst nightmare came true? It is these deep dives into the human psyche presented with extraordinary situations that make me love this show as much as I do.

Fight Club (1999)

A Favorite and a Classic!

[9/10 · 28 September 2018]

Ever since I first watched this movie a few years back with some of my friends, I loved it. It became a sort of habit of ours to watch it every couple weeks or at least once a month while we laughed and quoted the whole thing for fun. Anyways, what makes this movie better than what the 1999 box office credited it with, is the filmography. My favorite use of camera and film techniques probably had to be the moment where Tyler describes the meaningless of possessions in a shot inside their house as it wobbles from side to side. His calm demeanor reminds you more of Jack rather than himself and his more aggressive tone, creating a sense of foreshadowing the ultimate climax when Jack realizes he is Tyler and Tyler is him. It's also very interesting to see the change from a clear and sunny day in the city to the yellow-tinted bars, basements, and ultimately the abandoned house Jack and Tyler live in at night. There's a feeling of the underground's grime and dirt in these transitions, as well as a feel for the tougher moments in life that are a central theme in this movie. This movie also made a high ranking for me because it makes you think. In 1999, people were looking for stability in the shadow of Y2K. They weren't thinking about giving up everything they had, but preserving it and gathering more possessions, as highlighted throughout the film yet again as a central theme. This film goes exactly against contemporary consumer society at the time by instead of telling people to "buy stuff we don't need", it emphasizes the ideas of minimalism and even tribalism in some aspects when Tyler talks about "starting over" again. What sticks with this movie is that it's message still sticks to us today, perhaps even stronger than in 1999.