Princess Mononoke

I recently watched a really old favourite of mine. The recite-word-for-word kind of favourite. It would be Princess Mononoke the 1997 Studio Ghibli film.

(source: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/22800000/Princess-Mononoke-studio-ghibli-22837813-1067-1600.jpg)

Now there is just something about Ghibli films that will always hold a special place for me. The animation is beautiful and the stories are always so fantastically complex for kid's films. In fact, I feel a bit betrayed by the films Hollywood shoved down my throat as a child. I shall be upfront and admit to being a massive Disney cynic. I hate how every Disney princess is a dithering wallflower and give up everything to find a handsome bloke and suddenly everything is magical and sparkly. I hate how every bloody bad person is ugly and the good people are flawless (hello skewed perception and high value of an uncontrollable thing like looks). I generally hate most Disney films. So the highly moral issues tackled in the Ghibli films are refreshing to say the least.

Maybe I'm just glamourising Ghibli's because they are not British or American and are therefore enriching as a cultural change. Who knows. I digress.

So, Princess Mononoke, being my favourite Ghibli follows young Ashitaka, who has been cursed by a demon spirit and forced to become a nomad to find a curse. He finds himself in the position of being a human, part of a culture where unnatural, environment destroying habits are key to life and yet he believes in the natural reign of the forest and nature.

(source: http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/heights/5927/anime/conflict_01.jpg)

Ashitaka is a medium between two other key characters at war: San, a human raised by wolves and spirit creatures and is in denial about her own humanity and Lady Eboshi, girl-power ruler of an industrial Iron Town. This film makes such a brilliant commentary of how humans have strayed from the natural order, creating something not only revolutionary, but also destructive and selfish. Take that shallow Cinderella and your silver slippers!

Fantastic, thought-provoking watch and still, a favourite.

9.5/10

Buried

I heard about the concept for Buried and was immediately dubious about the concept. A film shot entirely in a 5/6ft whatever" set? Surely not! Surely a film needs locations and visual variety in order to be successful?

Now, I'm not going pretend this is the greatest film I've seen, because that, my friends, would be lying. But they have most definitely smashed my dubiousness into smithereens. The way this film works is by the power of suggestion and most films now do depend too much on plating up every bit of information, so this was a refreshing change.

Being completely central to the protagonist, Paul, the performance of Ryan Reynolds is key to the brilliance of this film. It isn't over-done in terms of dialogue. We have no reliance on cheesy internal monologues. No, you're forced to relate to Paul through his panic-ridden expression and actions.

I think if you are willing to watch this film with an open mind, then it's a thrilling watch. For sure a brave concept to pull off, which wasn't ruined by poor execution. I thoroughly enjoyed it as something outside of your multi-character, multi-setting film and as something that couldn't be easily replicated.

On a slight side note - How amazing is the poster for this film?! Very Vertigo.

8/10