Thursday, June 18, 2015

Thursday Movie Picks: Animated Movies



Girls and boys, when I found out the topic for this week's Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly meme hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves, I thought I was in trouble. You see, ever since the beginning of this meme last year, I've peppered in animated movies from time to time. Now, we're actually supposed to pick animated movies and I think I've run through the ones I would want to pick. I mean, there's no rule against picking a movie more than once, except for my self-imposed restrictions. So, here I am, in a quandary of my own making. Of course, there are tons of other cartoons out there for me to pick, but you've seen those. With a little digging, I came up with some that flew a bit under the radar...at least, I think so. Then again, you're a movie buff. You've probably seen these, too. Here they are...


The Animatrix
(2003)
Chances are you've seen The Matrix, and quite possibly, the entire trilogy. If not, you're at least somewhat familiar with the story. This plays as a prequel to the first film. There are nine vignettes that work to give us a history of the events that led to the creation of the matrix as well as some stories of smaller scope. A number of different styles of animation are put to use, basically a different one for each story. Most of them are traditionally drawn. The final story, pictured above, is computer generated to resemble the movie and indeed plays like a scene from it. Like the animation, these stories can be all over the place, but come together for an interesting ride.


Waltz with Bashir
(2009)
At its core, it's a pretty straight-forward documentary. An Isreali filmmaker interviews his fellow veterans as he tries to remember what happened during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. It’s labeled a documentary but hardly plays like one. For starters, it's completely animated. Yup, an animated documentary. This allows the movie freedom to visualize what these men are saying in a quite literal sense instead of doing awkward reenactments, or having it be just a succession of talking heads. It is daring, shocking, and its story is expertly told. No, its not for kids, at all.


Mary and Max
(2009)
This Australian offering starts with a little girl named Mary back in the 1970s from a really dysfunctional family. She decides she wants a pen pal and happens to get her hands on a New York City phone book. By chance, she chooses Max, a single man in his forties who has a mental disability. What ensues is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. From the very moment my first viewing of this movie ended, it became one of my all time favorites. Watch it now. (My full review)


Because I couldn't let the opportunity pass to talk about my boy.




Batman: Gotham Knight
(2008)
Here is the most experimental Batman movie of all. To be honest, that’s probably the reason I like it so much. It’s a unique approach to the character that doesn’t undermine what we know of him, but expands our understanding. To achieve this we don’t follow a single narrative. Instead, there are six vignettes telling different stories involving our hero. They’re not officially part of the Nolan series, but they seem to fit snugly in the space between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, referencing events in the former quite often. This also looks different than anything else in the canon. Most of the flicks either try to look like the comics or one of the animated series. Gotham Knight does neither. It plays with different styles and color palettes. In a bold move, even Batman himself is rendered in a number of different ways. Understandably, this may be a bit too eclectic for a some folks but to me it’s a magnificent effort.


Batman: Under the Red Hood
(2010)
Someone using the name Red Hood, one of the Joker’s old aliases, has taken over the Gotham drug trade. However, the Joker is locked away in Arkham Asylum, having killed Robin, the Jason Todd version, five years earlier. There is also a whole host of other things going on involving Ra’s al Ghul, Black Mask and the Riddler. Luckily, former Robin Dick Grayson, now called Nightwing is around to help out his old pal. He also gets under Batsy’s skin noting that if he had the same issues then the Joker would be dead by now. In all, it’s a marvelous mystery and character study that rises above its medium. Best of all, it delves into The Bat’s psyche without recounting his origin story (yet again). It all adds up to an amazing Batman tale. In short, I think this is the best of all the Caped Crusader’s animated features.


Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
(2012)
It has been ten years since Bruce Wayne has dressed up as a bat and went crime-fighting. To fill the void, he partakes in other ways of trying to kill himself...er...get the adrenaline pumping. He's also become quite the prolific drinker. He says it helps him stay on the sidelines. He's really using it to cope with the tragedy that eventually led to him becoming Batman, the murder of his parents. In any event, it's getting harder to stay out of the game now that Gotham has a new menace, an out-of-control street gang calling themselves the Mutants. What makes these guys particularly dangerous is they like to commit random acts of violence, making them unpredictable. They also like to take over Gotham TV and threaten city officials by name. This includes Commissioner Gordon who has just announced he is retiring shortly. He vows to get the Mutants off the streets before punching out for the last time. After a couple of these punks have a run-in with Bruce, our hero decides it's time to don the cape and cowl once more. This is merely the set up of a sprawling epic that so happens to contain a preview of a certain fight from the upcoming Dawn of Justice movie. You can watch it in two parts, roughly 75 minutes each, or in one two and a half hour shot.


I know these are all Batman flicks, but I highly recommend screening them before you decide to let the kiddies watch them.


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20 comments:

  1. The only one in that list I've seen is Waltz with Bashir which was just mesmerizing and intense but it's ending was just a fucking blow to the gut.

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    1. A blow to the gut is right. It's an amazing film.

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  2. I've seen Waltz with Bashir and didn't know it was a documentary, perhaps my memory serves me incorrectly...while since I've seen it.

    Mary and Max I also picked. Such a moving film. From what I remember is discussed mental illness really rather well.

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    1. Your memory is fine. I had no idea it was a documentary the first time I watched it, either. I only found this out later when I was looking up some info on it before writing my review of it. Then I was even more amazed by it.

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  3. Waltz With Bashir. I haven't quite been able to bring myself to watch it even though I know it's brilliant.

    I ADORE Mary & Max so much. Everything about it is so perfect.

    What you said about The Animatrix is so true: It's very much all over the place, but a hell of a ride.

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    1. Mary and Max really is perfect. And I definitely recommend Waltz. Glad you feel the same about The Matrix.

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  4. Yes to all those Batman picks! Mary and Max is very popular this morning. Waltz with Bashir has been in my Netflix queue for awhile, it's slowly working its way up.

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    1. Glad to see another Batfan. Get to Waltz soon. Please. And Mary and Max.

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  5. Mary and Max was wonderful, but so so sad. Waltz with Bashir sounds interesting, will have to see that one.

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  6. Interesting picks, none of which I've seen, though I have heard of Waltz with Bashir and I love the Batman graphic. Mary and Max sounds unique I might have to give that one a try. I'm really not much of an animation fan so it was rather difficult for me to come up with three that I liked and was only able to do so by bending the rules with one that is only part animation.

    Here's my three:

    Pink Floyd-The Wall (1982)-Isolated from everyone a rock star quickly descends into madness. Not wholly animated this strange film starts off with a live action segment then after about twenty minutes is interspersed with animated sequences, often quite disturbing, all set to Pink Floyd’s music.

    The Rescuers (1977)-Two mice on the Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca voiced by the odd couple pairing of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, attempt to rescue little Penny who has been kidnapped by the evil Madame Medusa and her gang as they search for treasure in Devil's Bayou. Fun if minor Disney is set apart by the great voice work of the unexpectedly simpatico Newhart and Gabor and the awesome Geraldine Page as Medusa.

    101 Dalmatians (1961)-Cruella de Vil wants a Dalmatian coat and she and her evil minions will do anything to get one. Adult Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita set out to rescue the title pups from the fate she has planned. Will she be stopped in time? Classic Disney.

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    1. I've been real hesitant to see The Wall. Every time I think I want to watch it, I change my mind. Love 101 Dalmatians. Think I saw The Rescuers as I kid, but honestly can't say for sure. Please see Mary and Max.

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  7. You went with 6 too!!! There were just so many to chose from, I couldn't narrow it down to 3. So much I need to see here. Great picks. I really want to see Mary and Max. I've seen that pop up a few times today already!

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    1. You guys, man! Always breaking the rules :P
      - Allie

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    2. Isn't that what rules are for?

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    3. Yes, Drew I will certainly bring up Mary and Max during an upcoming 4 Ways discussion.

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  8. Of all these picks, I've only even heard of Waltz with Bashir. I really want to see that one. You've also really got me interested in seeing these animated Batman movies. I would probably actually dig some of those. Thanks for the recommends!

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    1. Waltz is excellent. I'm a huge Batfan, so I had to do it. I'll restate mt warning, though. These are definitely PG-13, and that last one flirts with an R.

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  9. I found Mary & Max incredibly depressing, two sad characters exchanging letters. Waltz with Bashir was mesmerising though, brilliant film.

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    1. I can see it having that effect on some people, but I actually found it to be quite the opposite. Not much to say about Waltz. Brilliant sums it up.

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