#roskirambles

[roskirambles]

Horror Movie of the Day: Nope (2022)

I will throw filth at you

    and treat you with contempt

    and make you a spectacle.

Nahum 3:6

The history of animals in film is a long and illustrious one, as in fact, the very first experiment with cameras that could be considered a motion picture was a jockey riding a horse photographed by Eadweard James Muybridge. Something the Haywood siblings OJ and Emerald will remind you with gusto, since their father Otis founded a ranch that provides trained horses as the self proclaimed descendant of that jockey. Or at least, he did until his untimely death victim of a mysterious freak accident.

With the family business in jeopardy, OJ chooses to sell the horses to a former child star called Ricky "Jupe" Park , who was involved in an incident with a chimpanzee. That is, until they stumble upon something strange on the night sky, frightening enough to make the horses run in terror. And along with it, the opportunity to make it big appears.

That is, if what's there doesn't get them first.

Back to Jordan Peele’s eccentric filmography, this is probably the weirdest of them all but also probably his most naked in his love for cinema, which is one of his biggest strengths. It might sound obvious for a movie director, but in this case that translates to a rich visual language full of references to so many different works and genres, both overt and subtle. Yet, it's not unconditional love either: the criticism about Hollywood's poor animal welfare (a real problem during the Western craze up to the 60's) and the tendency of profiting on sensationalizing others' misery is front and center to drive most of the conflict.

It's somehow a riveting, unashamed western while still being viscerally horrifying with one of the oldest horror tricks getting an effective new coat of paint. Satirizing human arrogance, greed, stupidity and stubbornness it's another ace in the hole, and probably my favorite work of Peele's so far.

#roskirambles #halloween #horror movies #jordan peele #daniel kaluuya #keke palmer #steve yeun #michael wincott #brandon perea #keith david #western #alien horror #nope #nope 2022

[eldraftsman]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Up (2009)

Originally posted: January 15th, 2023 What makes life worth living? Is it the accumulated experiences we gain? The dreams and aspirations we set out to accomplish? Or maybe… something simpler? Can those dreams get in the way of what truly matters?

One of the most critically lauded Pixar films, the opening is so powerful most people would agree it's already a narratively satisfying experience, if a heartbreaking one. A sentiment I agree with: an entire married life of good and bad times, unfulfilled dreams intertwined with lovely everyday experiences, and the void that comes when one half of that whole parts. All in just seven minutes, it could have been a masterpiece of a short film on it's own merits.

Which provides an interesting contention point: some claim the movie peaks at that point and is followed by an underwhelming wacky adventure, which is kind of missing the point of the story. While you can discuss whether or not the execution was on part with such a striking opening(and I can see the decidedly sillier comedy clashing a bit with the surprisingly down to Earth drama of set up), the contrast is needed for the core of the film to shine. And shine it did: this was nominated by the Academy for Best Film when it came out. Even with their contempt for animation they couldn't deny it's greatness.

You need to feel how deep the loss of Carl is, and how ingrained his sense of failure to Ellie's dream is for it to dawn the stronger he is missing on the other things life still has to offer or have already offered him. How that grand dream never coming for her didn't stop her life being worth living by his side, as it's those small experiences that made it valuable. How to move on, keep going and meeting new people was the most meaningful way to embrace the true spirit of said dreamed voyage: an adventure to share with others you care for.

In the words of Doctor Seuss:

"Don't cry because it's over, be happy because it happened"

Oh, fuck it. I wasn't planning on bleeding into another day but there's a LOT this movie does that makes it a masterful showcase of visual design and storytelling. From the different, subtle shifts in color grading that can completely change how the same space feels, to it's almost religious commitment to shape language and how that communicates character.

Sure, it's unsubtle but tells SO much about the contrast of personalities that it gets the point across without words. The fact Russel is round the same way Ellie's furniture is designed isn't a coincidence. Both in the general(his friendly nature) and in the specifics of the movie's conflict (his role being a new person for Carl to share his life with), the decision is pretty deliberate and pays off big time

Also explains why Charles Muntz is so triangular. Specifically triangles pointing downwards. Unstable, passionate. Dangerous. Tragic. The perfect foil for Carl, but arguably more so for Ellie. She could treasure the little things even if some of her wildest dreams couldn't be achieved, which made her life fulfilling. He couldn't move on from his own, so he gave everything away for a fool's errand.

And of course, shape language gets reinforced with body language. One frame. You can really tell the kind of characters they are with just that.

In case it's not obvious I love this movie. Some of it's comedy is a little too goofy for my taste, sure, but the overall package just hits the right way. Sure, it's romantic and it's central plot device doesn't lack a sense of the absurd, but those emotional peaks render any complaint I could have otherwise completely void.

#roskirambles #animated films #adventure film #fantasy films #comedy film #drama film #disney #pixar #up #pete docter #bob peterson #tom mcarthy #ed asner #cristopher plummer #jordan nagai #michael giacchino

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Laputa: Castle in the Sky (Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa, 1986)

Originally posted: January 11st, 2023 Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships, a pretty misunderstood classic of literature. Usually just called Gulliver's Travels, what once was a scathing satire that mocked English nobility with notorious contempt has been understood as a mere story for children about wondrous lands, two of them standing out in particular. One is Lilliput, inhabited by people twelfth the size of a normal person. The other? Laputa, a floating island of science with an unfortunate but VERY intentional name alluding to a pejorative word in Spanish.

And the last one is, oddly enough, mostly remembered BECAUSE of this one film. Funnily too, as it does completely away with Jonathan Swift's original story(albeit ironically alluding to it's existence) in favor of a tale of both childlike wonder and the dangers of technology and hubris on it's wake. One of the early films of Hayao Miyazaki, you can tell how his directorial style has been perfected since. It is gripping from the start, but it's almost built on a contradiction of tones.

On one hand you have swashbuckling adventures with a pretty charming and humorous cast, where the image of macho men and some of the danger is played for laughs, as a pair of kid heroes pretty much entrust to each other through thick and thin. On the other, there's an underlying power conflict rooted on ambition and conquest, and uncharacteristically for Miyazaki (who has a distaste for black and white morality) a proper villain this time with surprisingly violent and chilling actions.

Regardless, the love for flight, nature, and just life itself shine the brightest amongst the darkness of human hubris. A wonderously fun fairy tale of flying pirate grannies, ancient civilizations of high technology, but above all, of the power of trust and understanding.

#roskirambles #animated films #fantasy films #steampunk #anime and manga #studio ghibli #hayao miyazaki #joe hisaishi #castle in the sky

[roskirambles]

Halloween Movie of the Day: The Mummy (1999)

Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man. This trio is iconic thanks to the original lineup of Universal horror movies from the 1930’s, as part of the first known attempt at a cinematic universe. Said lineup, however, also includes one character that had lesser cultural impact: Imhotep, the undead Egyptian priest trying to find his lover Ankhesenamun who he believes has reincarnated in the modern world. While initially successful, (the mummy as a concept became a halloween staple after all), this character in particular never truly stuck with the same strength as the Walachian count ever did. That is, arguably, until he was reinvented at the end of the milenium with a sexy, explosive makeover.

Yeah, it’s easy to forget but this film is a loose retelling of a 1932 Universal monster flick with some brilliant acting for the antagonist courtesy of Boris Karloff(who also played the Frankenstein’s Monster). What wasn’t there, though, was all the 90’s camp, special effects and Brendan Fraser’s charisma. The core of the conflict is roughly the same, mind you! It just now involves an army of mummies, a goose chase across Egypt for a duo of Mcguffins that control them and an adventurous archeologist, her greedy brother and a former soldier teaming up to save the day.

Okay, maybe it deviates quite a lot... but not for the worse.

It's a pretty self aware cheesy action film with great comedy, fun action set pieces, fairly aged but well executed CGI, some effective bits of horror and shocking violence, a romance that actually has chemistry between the characters and probably the sexiest cast of a Hollywood blockbuster (no, really. Ask any bisexual around you. It's a meme for a reason). What more could ever be said?

I mean, I could complain about all the Egyptology they get outright comically wrong even for the time... but it ain’t that kind of movie (and the original gets it wrong as well, so blah).

#halloween #halloween movie #the mummy 1999 #roskirambles

[roskirambles]

Animated Movie of the Day: Wolfwalkers (2020)

Wolves have a strange relationship with humans. As the ancestors of the domestic dog, these animals are often still seen as a predator with an adversarial approach to our kin. This closeness and fascination has been the source of many legends, including those of the wolfwalkers: once human, they become wolves at night. So when the wolfhunter's daughter Robyn is met by a girl who can do exactly that, she's forced to see the world from their perspective, where the woodlands are being destroyed on a daily basis under the authoritarian reign of Lord Protector (obviously based on Oliver Cromwell). And finding herself turned into a wolf, she must now make a choice.

While not the most original take on this variant of Man VS Nature(nor the story of a fish out of water defying societal expectations), the emotional earnestness more than makes up for it with a childlike perspective that doesn't belittle the younger point of view but treats it as equally valid as the concerned adults. There's also the endearing bond of Robyn and Mehb. The sapphic aspect of their blossoming friendship may have been accidental, but it's nonetheless wholesome.

Then, there's the animation. Following on the tracks of Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, the folks at Cartoon Saloon keep finding ways to advance their craft and approach to the medium as the visual language here subtly morphs with each scene to strengthen the respective mood. The line quality, coloring style, framing and aspect ratio are all subject to change for the sake of enhancing the narrative, and the well integrated uses of 3D(which was turned back into hand drawn animation) just seal the package. It revels on it's folklore inspirations and the value of drawing as an artform.

An audiovisual delight it embraces the value of one's individuality, a denouncement of colonialism and a beautiful tale of finding community where it matters instead of where you're expected to.

#roskirambles #animated films #cartoon saloon #tom moore #ross stewart #will collins #fantasy films #irish film #historical fantasy #wolfwalkers

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Originally posted: January 10th, 2022 Few animators have contributed so much to the craft as Richard Williams. Writer of The Animator's Survival Kit(an absolute, utter MUST read for any aspiring animator), his dominance of perspective is the stuff of legends. Things you see nowadays animated through the assistance of 3D imagery such as camera shifts in moving environments he could animate by hand. And this exceptional capability was put to the test in one of the most complex animated features ever.

While technically a live action film, this movie has as much if not more animated footage given cartoons are integral to the very plot. Rather loosely based on the much darker "Who Censored Roger Rabbit?" novel, this movie is as much of a classic cartoons fan's biggest fantasy as it was a production nightmare, involving characters from classic Fleischer studios, Tex Avery(aka MGM), Warner Brothers and Disney. And it incorporates them in the real world interacting with humans. With a moving camera and scene appropriate lighting. Even with today's technology that is one daunting task, let alone with traditional compositing techniques(Jessica Rabbit's dress was one particular headache).

But of course, impeccable animation and fanservice to animation enthusiasts can only do so much for a film. Fortunately, this movie does have a backbone to it's zany antics. Playing half a buddy cop film, half a noir film, it presents a compelling enough crime mystery that also involves a surprisingly human protagonist in Eddie(and not just because he's an actual person). Bob Hoskins manages to thread the balance between the comedy and the genuinely tragic backstory of his character, making the seemingly absurd premise work. Same goes for Cristopher Lloyd. He's a lovable goofball as Emmet Brown, but here he's genuinely terrifying.

While a resounding success, given that stars had to align to even make this film possible at all, we'll never see something like it again.

#roskirambles #animated films #noir movies #comedy film #richard williams #disney #who framed roger rabbit #robert zemeckis #peter s. seaman #jeffrey price #bob hoskins #christopher lloyd #charles fleischer #stubby kaye #joana cassidy #buggs bunny #mickey mouse #betty boop #tex avery #looney toons #daffy duck #donald duck

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Atlantis The Lost Empire (2001)

Originally posted: January 7th, 2022 Ah, the Disney Renaissance. Their musicals absolutely dominated the 90's, but from Pocahontas(1995) to Tarzan(1999), their box office returns started to go down. So, the house of the mouse decided to try and shift gears, and took a gamble greenlighting some rather odball movies. None of them paid off, but this ended up giving us one of my childhood favorites and frankly an underrated film that, while flawed, still makes for a very interesting experiment.

Distancing itself from it's predecessors, this movie isn't a musical which presents a refreshing change of pace. Songs wouldn't fit in this film anyways, with it's darker tone, heavy action focus and even violent imagery. The body count is shockingly high for a Disney animated feature, and unlike a film like Mulan a lot of them happen on screen.

So, yeah, the film is more violent. And scarier too(Rourke's death is quite gruesome). It's also more visually interesting in some ways. With character designs from creator of the Hellboy comics Mike Mignola, the art direction has an edge to it that complements the action set pieces and adventurous narrative. The city of Atlantis, while decadent, is breathtaking.

What about the characters though? Well, they're really fun! While not having the most deep story arcs, all have a very strong charisma and bounce off each other humorously (my personal favorite is Vinny). Protagonist Milo may be the most plain of the bunch but he's still a likable dork. As out of focus as it is, his relationship with Kida is also charming, both of them understanding the importance of cultural exchange.

And that's the deal. This film is closer to Raider's of the Lost Ark than Beauty and the Beast. It's a death defying adventure with just enough plot and characterization to justify the action. There's still some compelling drama here, but the focus isn't the romance or the self discovery. It's the crazy, cool journey.

#roskirambles #animated films #disney #michael j fox #james garner #cree summer #don novello #phil morris #claudia christian #jackeline obradors #florence stanley #david odgen stiers #john mahoney #jim varney #corey burton #leonard nimoy #mike mignola #atlantis the lost empire #action films #science fiction

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Christmas movie of the day: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Originally Posted: December 7th, 2021 Rare is the day when a creative work is the epitome of it's own message, but such is the case with this little special that could. With a rushed production and no confidence for it's success from anyone involved in it's creation, this is such a giant of a short film that to this day it is still the nominal Christmas TV special over 50 years later.

All of this is poignant because the message o the short: the beauty of humility. In typical Peanuts fashion this is a tale where things don't go too well for Charlie Brown, but for once there's a silver lining for him. His simple contribution of a worn down tree is dismissed as a failure, but in the end it proves to be just the right thing for the Christmas play. Even if the message is delivered in the context of the religious tale upon which Christmas has been built, it is delivered in such a way that there's a universality to it. A man born from the most humble origins that still managed to change the world, which is analogous to that small tree.

And it also goes for the short itself. Made on a shoestring budget and executive disapproval, it had everything against it and yet it changed the world. It's resonant even today, and somehow it actually managed to disuade against consumerism. Seriously, aluminum trees? They were a real thing, it just happens this short utterly obliterated them in the popular eye.

I frankly didn't think much about it the first time I watched it, but I can see why it's so… touching. There's something powerful, even timeless, in the simplicity and humbleness of kindness.

#roskirambles #christmas special #charlie brown #peanuts #charles schulz #bill melendez #vince guaraldi

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro, 2004)

Originally posted: January 7th, 2023 When adapting a book to the realm of cinema, the beauty of the work is often lost in translation: Missing characters, trimmed down side plots or simply a compact interpretation of the plot that loses all and any impact. In other cases, however, it's this compromise what lets the film find it's own unique beauty, and with a bit of luck one as powerful as the source material.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and loosely based on the eponymous 1986 novel by Diana Wynne Jones(the first in the Wizard's Castle series), it tells the tale of homely hat maker Sophie Hatter, who gets cursed by the Witch of the Waste to become an old woman. In order to break the curse, she sets to find Howl the Wizard who travels across the land in a magic castle with the power to walk like a living creature. Adventure, self discovery and romance ensue.

And the similarities between the two stories kind of end there, as the film is in many ways nothing like the book. While some plots are missing and characters altered, the most notorious change has to be the war: a mere backdrop of the novel that was nothing but a few short sentences takes now a heavy spotlight that dramatically alters the thematic core of the story.

All of this would be a cardinal sin for most adaptations, a sentiment shared by some of the book fans. But I already presented my stance here: the beauty of this film comes from said differences. While the novel's critique of gender roles takes a back seat, a woman's self affirmation isn't a contradiction to this, nor is it the critique of war to the novel's exploration of social class, or the appeal for love and selflessness.

Even with its admittedly odd pacing, the romanticism is still enveloping, not hurt in the slightest by its jaw dropping visuals and Joe Hisaishi's melancholic yet uplifting score. Not for nothing it's Miyazaki's personal favorite: a film about why life is worth living.

I don't think I need to introduce this music piece to anyone, but the main theme of the film Merry-Go-Round is probably Joe Hisaishi's finest work and given his body of work that's a monumentally tall order. Capable of evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place and era that don't even exist, it still manages to capture a wonderous sense of love and hope for the future. A seemingly impossible contradiction in musical form, it's waltz foundation is a delight to the ears.

And in case you're wondering… Diana Wynne Jones loved the movie, so any purism about her intentions being mangled or else seems trite.

#roskirambles #animated shorts #fantasy films #anti war films #hayao miyazaki #diana wynne #joe hisaishi #studio ghibli #howls moving castle #Youtube

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Originally posted: January 6th, 2022 No, I'm not a man of faith. In fact, I can be very critical of it. So I can't say in all honesty that I agree in the slightest with the theological and moral views or the historical descriptions in the Old Testament. However, I can find artistic merit in a well told story, which is very much the case of this film.

This early Dreamworks production is by no means the only cinema retelling of the story of Moses and the captivity of Israel in the land of Egypt (one of Hollywood's biggest epics is The Ten Commandments (1956) after all). What this version of the story does that others don't, however, is bring a human layer to a part of the story that simply wasn't there before. The aforementioned epic and even the Biblical recounting seem to mostly skim over this part, but Moses and the Pharaoh(who wasn't specified as Ramses in the Book of Exodus yet is referred as such in this and other films) used to be brothers. Adoptive of course, but this means the antagonistic relationship they're put through given the conflict should've meant more to them than just making demands to each other or spouting lines about which God is the true one.

That's the one true strength of the film. I don't agree with God's approach in this tale, but the movie's very compelling drama puts in perspective why people would. You can empathise with Moses here, seeing his plight as an israelite that can't turn a blind eye to the suffering of "just slaves" anymore. You can also empathise with Ramses, always craving for the respect of his father but never feeling earning of it, and being torn between his former brother and his duty as the ruler of the land.

It surpasses one of Hollywood's biggest classics not because of a bigger scope, but rather a smaller one, that also manages to be more accurate to the Biblical accounts with fewer liberties. It should be telling of it's quality that even as an atheist I still earnestly recommend this film.

#roskirambles #animated films #dreamworks #prince of egypt #biblical fiction #val kilmer #ralph fiennes #michelle pfeiffer #jeff goldblum #sandra bullock #danny glover #hellen mirren #patrick stewart #steve martin #martin short #musical cinema

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Animated movie of the day: Tenshi no Tamago (1985)

Originally posted: January 3rd, 2022 Mamoru Oshii. If the name is unfamiliar to you, he's one of the most successful auteurs in the world of anime. I use this label over director because, while there's clear authorial intent with many of them, Oshii has been known for flat out defying giants and using their namesakes to make his unique vision come through regardless of the consequences(Urusei Yatsura and Ghost in the Shell come to mind). So when he was given full creative freedom as an established director…he went into the depressing but beautiful realm of visual poetry and religious symbolism.

Inspired by his own crisis of faith, this is probably the most abstract and surreal movie I've reviewed so far. It's slow paced, visually dense, nearly devoid of dialogue in it's entirety and it presents a fairly simple narrative in terms of what literally happens but near incomprehensible when it comes to analysing it's themes. The utter most basic gist is about a little girl that holds on to a large egg. She meets a man that carries a cross shaped rifle and they travel together in what seems to be an abandoned, dying world.

While it's clear Christian imagery is prominent throughout it all(including an ominous divergence of the story of Noah), the actual meaning behind it all is not clear cut and left open to interpretation, and the events throughout are themselves often presented in an ethereal fashion. The artistry of the images on display is simply stunning, with the art direction of Yoshitaka Amano of Final Fantasy fame. The end result, however, is less whimsical and more of a melancholic dreamscape made of abandoned buildings and angel fossils; where the shadows are overpowering and you're only accompanied by the sound of running water.

Closer to what you would see from Andrei Tarkovsky than a traditional anime, this is the last film you'd watch with a bucket of popcorn. Even so, it's still an experience I'd recommend anyone to have at least once.

#roskirambles #animated films #anime and manga #mamoru oshii #yoshitaka amano #arthouse film #surrealism #angels egg #tenshi no tamago #biblical symbolism

[roskirambles]

Horror Movie of the Day: Pulse (Kairo, 2001)

Solitude, the modern plague wrecking the world. Hikikomori (ひきこもり) is a Japanese word to describe social shut ins, and it’s suspected to be a problem exacerbated through the evolution of new technologies. So ironically enough, despite the world being more connected than ever some people can die completely alone and no one would know.

Michi Kudo has recently started working in a plant shop. She feels something wrong about her coworker Taguchi, who has been absent for a few days while working on a floppy. Going to his apartment, she finds him to act strange and retracted… only to turn a corner and find him dead, seemingly since days ago. As for the contents of the floppy itself? Strange photos of him staring at his computer.

On the other side, University student Ryosuke Kawashima is realizing something is decidedly wrong with his own computer after hiring a new Internet provider, and doesn’t exactly understand why strange images of alone people are appearing on his screen. Another University student has a theory: the dead are invading the world, and trapping the living in their loneliness.

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, this movie for the most part is eerily quiet. It’s not quite bombastic even on it’s scares, but its everything feels so wrong. The lighting, the camera angles, the subtle sound cues; all of it has this sense of dread you can't quite put your finger on. And then there’s the narrative underbelly: despite its decidedly dated depiction of technology and fashion (setting it squarely at the beginning of the 2000’s) this one probably hits harder than ever in a post-pandemic world, with isolation is presented as a fate worse than death, almost the one true hell a person can fall into.

Slow and subtle, it's a movie where the absence is meant to be part of the horror itself. If you come with the right expectations, it can get under your skin just the right way.

#roskirambles #halloween #horror movies #halloween movie #j horror #kiyoshi kurosawa #kumiko aso #haruhiko kato #koyuki kato #kurume arisaka #kairo #pulse

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Christmas Movie of the day: Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Originally posted: December 25th, 2021 Have you ever been confused by the sudden rise of popularity(no pun intended) of a single character you're unfamiliar with, decided to check the source material out and end feeling even more confused when it turns out said story has nothing to do with what people make out of said character? Well, that's my experience with this movie and the figure of Jack Frost, the fanwork surrounding this character has gone into wild directions. Not completely out of place given the premise of the film but misleading nonetheless. Fandom madness aside, however, what does this movie offer?

Plenty of things. For starters, the character designs. It stands out that, despite being exaggerated and having expressiveness in mind they're sharper than what you'd expect from an American production, and not just in the dynamic way you see in movies like Kung Fu Panda. Heroic or antagonistic, they all carry weight to them. The eyes of these people are generally smaller, and their factions more angular, which gives them a bit of an edge. This is appropriate because despite the more whimsical elements this movie allows itself to go into some dark places. I won't say no family animation film hasn't tried this before, but addressing topics like mortality in such a sobering way is certainly unusual.

That said, this is of course not the whole movie, or even the central theme. The role of stories for people, belief, one's sense of identity and loneliness are explored through the lens of popular legends in the flesh. While not all created equal, they're all fairly compelling on their own either because of their design or how well they incarnate their role. The villain in particular stands out to me, striking an excellent balance between compelling and threatening so he's neither just ruthless nor a mere walking sob story.

This one is quite underrated. It may not be Dreamworks biggest success but there's more to it than just a pretty boy.

#roskirambles #christmas movies #animated films #dreamworks #rise of the guardians #jack frost #santa claus #easter bunny #tooth fairy #sandman #chris pine #alec baldwin #hugh jackman #isla fisher #jude law

[roskirambles]

Halloween Movie of the Day: Ghostbusters (1984)

I might be preaching to the choir but let's do this anyway.

We all know the tale as old as... at least the 80's: The trio of parapsychologists formed by conman Peter Venkman, the hermit Egon Spengler and lovable dork Ray Stantz finally gather actual scientific evidence that ghosts exist in a public library (that's good news!). Unfortunately, they get fired from their positions at Columbia University (bad news). So they choose to go freelance as paranormal investigators that deal with restless spirits, a business that starts slow with Venkman hitting on their first client (huh). Until it starts to pick up with ghosts haunting people everywhere, to the point they need a four recruit so things are going well (I guess?). A little to well, because this is a sign that the end of the world is nigh (Oh no), and only then do they get in trouble with an obstructing APA agent (Oh, for the love of...).

A mishmash of genres, it mixes supernatural if not Lovecraftian horror with science fiction, all of which is put through the lens of the opulence of New York in the 80's. The end result? Sheer comedic brilliance with some sharp banter and strong chemistry between it's cast as a trio (eventually quartet), complemented with a very entertaining depiction of ghosts that ranges from the silly to the scary (but never dull) thanks to some stellar visual effects. Whether you see Venkman as endearing and funny with his antics or mostly a jerk will vary nowadays though. And a demon who is scary in part because they’re neither man nor woman? That’d be an icon today, but what do I know (then again, that makeup tells me the creators knew what they were doing).

Regardless, between a great balance of comedy, spooks, a sliver of satire about the life in the Big Apple, and one of the most iconic climaxes in cinema history no wonder it's a keeper nearly 40 years later.

#halloween #halloween movie #ghostbusters #bill murray #harold ramis #dan aykroyd #ernie hudson #sigourney weaver #annie potts #rick moranis #roskirambles

[roskirambles]

(Archive) Honorable mention: Cool World (1992)

Originally posted: January 10th, 2022 Ralph Bakshi, the champion of underground animation. Throughout his career he has always fought to push animation in other directions than the kid oriented market of the American mainstream with films like Fritz the Cat. Unafraid to go raunchy, gritty irreverent and just plain dark, his work is characterized for focusing less on technical perfection and more on trying to do something new and daring. Which makes the case of this film such a tragic loss.

Originally pitched as a flat out erotic horror film involving the daughter of a human comic book artist and the living incarnation of one of his characters, executive meddling(from both the producer and lead actress Kim Basinger) befuddled almost everything this movie was aiming for. The desire to make it something more family friendly led to a movie that isn't fully adult oriented yet isn't really appropriate for children either. Murder, sexuality and vice are still rampant, just not as overtly explicit, and in a clumsy attempt to cash on the success of Roger Rabbit (something Bakshi wasn't interested in doing) they got a young Brad Pitt to interpret a cop dating a cartoon girl while trying to stop another one from bedding a human, since that's the one forbidden crime in the cartoon world.

If the plot sounds like a mess… it's because it is. So what's worthwhile here? That despite the butchering of Bakshi's vision, there's still something enthralling about this thwarted experiment. While a film like Roger Rabbit presents an inviting cartoon world, everything here is twisted, both literally and metaphorically. It feels less like Looney Tunes and more like a Tijuana Bible.

It's underground, grungy aesthetic combined with some shreds of potential the mangled plot still has, while unable to tell a striking tale on it's own, do fuel the imagination of what could've been and show the possibilities the premise of two different worlds clashing actually offer. Such a bloody shame.

#roskirambles #animated films #adult animation #ralph bakshi #kim basinger #brad pitt #gabriel byrne #Michael Grais #Mark victor #cool world

[roskirambles]

Horror Comedy of the Day: Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Zombie parodies have become such a staple of media they’re hardly a groundbreaking concept. If you see a funny premise, chances are someone has thrown zombies into the mix somewhere. Which makes all the more impressive that such an early example has pretty much stood the test of time, keeping it’s humorous edge and strong sense of identity in such a saturated market.

The first in the so called Thee Flavors of Cornetto trilogy, it tells the story of late bloomer Shaun. Having been recently dumped by his girlfriend Liz because of his lack of motivation, his work life and romantic relationship are very much stuck, wasting away with his immature slob of a house mate. That is, until the zombie apocalypse strikes his neighbourhood and poor naive Shaun brings Liz and everyone in his close circle to take shelter in their preferred pub. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve talked about Edgar Wright before with my thoughts on Last Night in Soho (2021) but it’s pretty much impossible to argue that his lane isn’t comedy. The premise here is pretty much a romcom among zombies, and darn it if it doesn't deliver. The script here has sharp dialogue, a brisk pacing and most all, some absolutely stellar gags courtesy of masterful blocking and timing, which can make even some gruesome deaths carry a laugh. It also isn't afraid of poking fun at itself with meta gags about it's casting(Yvonne's party? Composed of more renowned actors than the main cast at the time), all helped by on point acting that enhances the more farcical elements of the story.

That doesn’t mean every single scene is funny, however. As any worth while comedy it has some striking moments of drama, heartbreak, and even gruesomeness. Plus, the final act does get quite intense and there’s a decidedly cynical underbelly to it’s satire. Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic time that short of 20 years later is still a must watch.

#halloween #horror movie #edgar wright #shaun of the dead #roskirambles