Oscar-nominated features show back-to-back this weekend

Jerry Cornelius [ Fri May 28 2010 2:14 PM ]

The Secret of Kells

Big-screen animation is a cinematic pleasure like no other, an alchemical transmutation of ideas into forms, a way to share visions that otherwise could not exist. At its best, it’s like stepping into someone else’s dream. Hayao Miyazaki’s films achieve this Stendahl-syndrome-like effect, and while I would personally rate 2004’s Howl’s Moving Castle as somewhat overstuffed and unengaging as a whole (it’s adapted from a 1986 British novel), there are nevertheless moments of such jaw-dropping awesomeness, that any flaws are immediately forgiven. (From a “Mom’s Matinee” POV, know this this film is (a) two hours long and (b) a little heady. I’ll be bringing my 6-and-under posse, though.)

Howl’s Moving Castle

Last month I road-tripped to Santa Fe to see The Secret of Kells, which the Guild Cinema has wisely picked up as its main attraction this Memorial Day weekend. The film is a stylish delight with another idea-heavy, dark (and dare I say psychedelic?) story interwoven with delightful kid-friendly inventiveness. (This film isn’t a “Mom’s Matinee” per se, but could be. If your kids can hack a (highly stylized) Viking massacre scene and some other scary bits, their new favorite cartoon cat will definitely be Pangur Bán.)

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Public Comments (3)

- jerry
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- Since 2006-01-09
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OK, it's not *really* a double-feature [ Fri May 28 2010 4:37 PM ]

In that you don't get two movies for the price of one. But you can see these films back-to-back this weekend.
- ChiKung
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The Secret of Kells [ Mon May 31 2010 4:08 PM ]

Overall, good, but I thought the storyline was lacking. There were a lot of good ideas in the film, but they weren't tied neatly together. For instance, I'm not sure that the character Aisling was necessary. Seems like the movie could have gone from point A to point B without her. I would have liked it better if they made her presence more vital to the plot.
The art was pretty at times, but also very much like Samurai Jack, which is a cartoon I don't care for.
Last edited [5/31/10 4:18 PM]
- rei_ayanami
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Aisling represents paganism, nature, the old ways [ Tue Jun 1 2010 2:42 PM ]

I can't imaging that movie *without* Aisling. Even though she's the spirit of the forest, she turns collaborator with Brendan because of the compelling idea of a book that can turn darkness into light. She is Brendan's foil.
Besides, if there was no Aisling, there would be no Pangur Ban "familiar" scene, which is one of the best moments in the movie. I love the brief scene of Aisling in white wolf form, holding court with the two lines of black wolves as Pangur Ban silently implores her to help Brendan escape. No dialog, just one shot of the tableau with the cat in the middle and it's immediately clear what is happening.
Samurai Jack employs this "limited animation" form to good effect as well. Some of the SJ episodes aren't so great, but the first hour-long episode is lovely.

Howl’s Moving Castle, Secret of Kells Guild Double-Feature

Oscar-nominated features show back-to-back this weekend