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Reviews
Migration (2023)
A lovingly animated film-by-numbers that younger audience-goers will get the most enjoyment from.
I saw the Swedish dub of Migration (or Änder as it's been titled in Swedish) today with my 5 year old son who thoroughly enjoyed all the slapstick in the film, and if you've ever seen an Illumination film then you'll know what kind of slapstick I'm talking about. Elaborate camera moves, slow motion, things happening of little or no consequence to the plot, just there to keep the ball rolling towards the next set-piece. The colours were beautiful and the different landscapes were I think the most beautiful parts of the film.
Everything else felt like other similar films aimed at the audience south of ten years old. You might see this was written by Mike White and think this will dare to fly a different route but no. This was a film made by consensus from script to screen.
Yet again all the children in the showing were laughing and reacting exactly where Illumination wanted them to so they must be doing something right. The film went by pretty quickly too.
To conclude, see this with kids, it's a safe bet to keep them entertained for about an hour and a half. Don't expect as an adult to have much to engage with here otherwise except all the lovely colours.
Ted Lasso (2020)
In for a penny, in for a pound.
The idea of making Ted Lasso, a series of skits concocted to promote the premier league on NBC, a TV series was met with cynicism. Most of us assumed it would run a joke that had already been run into the ground even further into the ground.
The first episode, while certainly watchable and entertaining didn't give a huge amount of hope. What would follow though would prove to be one of the most good natured TV series' I have ever seen while never letting up on the funny. I'm up to episode 9 and each episode just builds on the last. It's barely about football at all really though I feel that's something that will become more prevalent next season and I can't wait.
Simply put, this little world they've made makes me feel good. It's populated with characters who want to do better and who better to guide them than Ted Lasso. A truly kind man, an idealist and even idealism can have its pitfalls.
It's comedy drama with a heart of solid gold and in this year of 2020 it has never been more welcome. Roll on season 2!
La tortue rouge (2016)
A wonderful film with wonderful sound.
I saw The Red Turtle on a whim at the beginning of the month on my honeymoon in New York, and went in knowing nothing about the film except that Studio Ghibli and Isao Takahata were involved. Sold.
It's a wonderful visual treat, but it was the sound that completely immersed me on the desert island with our protagonist. There's a wonderful tranquility to the movie that I really enjoyed. Soaking up the sound of the surf, the scuttering of crabs on the sand, the rain in the woods. It gives the environment an almost tangible quality, and the animation is just gorgeous.
When this tranquility is disturbed, it's all the more powerful for it in it's juxtaposition. This was a film that benefited massively for being seen on a big screen with a good sound system.
It won't have the popular appeal of more mainstream action-packed hyper-colourful computer animated films, but it's lack of dialogue and thus no need for translation gives it a universal appeal for those with some patience. Children and adults can enjoy it on many levels. There were a few children in the somewhat sparse audience I enjoyed the film with and by the time the credits rolled, they were in tears and seemed like they took a lot away from the movie. I had a tear for myself as well. Movie magic.