pauldahn Reviews

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Great Film For All Generations

[9/10 · 5 August 2006]

TOTORO, in classic Miyazaki tradition, brings the fantastic into the realm of everyday occurrences. The underlying story is rather unextraordinary: a Japanese father moves into the countryside with his two daughters, and they adjust to their new pastoral environment while waiting for the mother to be released from the hospital. We are not explained exactly why the mother is bedridden, but the ambiguous reason for her hospitalization plays an effective role in keeping the dramatic tension taught throughout the film. However, the plot is driven mainly by the imagination of the two children whose experiences with the magical create the driving mechanism behind the film.

Without giving anything away, TOTORO is a heartwarming film that inspires both the young and the old alike. Watching the film again several years after seeing it in the theaters, I realize that the story works not because it is about fantastic and magical characters but rather it involves everyday struggles to which we can relate. In TOTORO, we see Miyaki revisiting the same themes (involving familial harmony, nature, environmental awareness, courage, etc.) that he further develops in his later works. Nevertheless, the mastery and the imagination behind his craft keeps the story fresh.

Despite what the Box Office report card may indicate for TOTORO, this is a film sure to be a hit with the family.

What's Up, Fatlip? (2003 Video)

Get Yourself a Fatlip!

[14 January 2005]

This film, which documents the plight of a has-been rapper, owes its effectiveness to the utterly charismatic personality of Fatlip. From the first scene, his captivating performance and charm carry the audience, and Jonze is careful not to get in the way of allowing Fatlip's personality to speak for itself. Through the performer's lyrics and on-screen conversations, Jonze provides a revealing look at the rapper's insight into the entertainment industry, his personal life and what he's lost in the process. A profoundly touching and honest look at an endearing performer, "What's Up, Fatlip" is a soulful documentary worth owning.

Someone Special (2004)

A Work of Cinematic Genius

[10/10 · 26 September 2004]

I am not quite sure if this film is available in the states. However, I understand that the video version is available in parts of Asia. The subtitles on the DVD release are competent for the most part, although the nuanced dialogue and cultural expressions from a few scenes leave something to be desired in the translation. Despite the studio-chosen English title, Aneun Yeoja, the original title literally translated is "A Girl I Know."

As for the movie itself, the story is fresh and interesting, and Jang's feel for comic pacing is impeccable. One can't help but feel drawn to the main characters as the tightly wrought storyline continues to unfold on the screen. Watching this film has made me an avid fan of the filmmaker, and I have actively sought out Jang's work since. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is tired of the same old Hollywood-produced, cookie-cutter romantic comedy.

The Legend of Razorback (2002)

after school Special

[6/10 · 19 July 2004]

Razorback is a story of a young orphan who lives with his grandmother. The movie takes place after the death of his parents (not explained), where we see that the boy has retreated into himself and refuses to talk. What ensues is a story of how the boy comes out of his shell. A throwback to the after school special that was so popular in the eighties, Razorback is awash with all the ingredients that made the genre so popular with the Star Wars/Indiana Jones generation in the eighties: dreams of a misunderstood protagonist, threat of fantastic danger, mysterious old man who holds the key to happiness, and final victory of sorts when the protagonist is able to overcome his fears and stand up for what he believes is right.