MirrorMask
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Movie Reviews of MirrorMask
Movie Review: Lush images, gorgeous music, and an enchanting story
Summary: 5 Stars
A girl who's fondest desire is to run away from the circus falls into her own drawings as her mother lies dying. Wait, what? Helena performs in her parents' circus, but deals with the same issues as most teen girls. Her mum passes out in the middle of a performance and Helena's world turns, well, more topsy turvy than it already was. She had been drawing to escape from her extrodinary adolescent angst, and falls into the world that she had created. She meets exotic people and beasts as she explore her own drawings, then it gets weird.
The Dadaesque world of Helena's drawings is rich with the most powerful and complex imagery rendered, mostly, in black and white. It is visually overwhelming, with subtle and sublime symbols of good and evil.
Normally, soundtrack music doesn't blow wind up my kilt, but "Mirrormask" had a brilliant mixture of jazz, african style strains, and circus riffs that really caught my attention. It complimented the visuals and story perfectly.
I'll make the mandatory comparison to "Labyrinth" - after the basic theme of the angst of a teenage girl and the brilliance of execution, there is none. They're both incredibly well executed, but after that, their lives took different paths.
"Mirrormask" is a treasure of the cinematic arts and if there is any justice in the world and any sanity in academia, it will be held as a shining and exemplary study in how to get it right for centuries to come.
E.M. Van Court
Movie Review: Absolutely Magnificent! What A Fantasy Masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the very good fortune to see this little gem on the big screen. It's a lot to absorb! This is a movie clearly written for grown-ups who still retain their ability to sit still and let go with their imagination. It's a true work of art, and as a result, was not commercially viable in the United States. It barely made it into the theaters! What a shame!
What is wrong with the vast majority of American movie goers? Here in the States we fawn over and spend huge amounts of money on formula-film-trash. But when a film with heart, mind-boggling originality, real imagination, great storyline, stimulating soundtrack, decent acting, wonderful cinematography, and amazing special effects by some of the greatest animators in the entire world, it barely makes a blip on the radar screen. Was this the fault of rather timid distribution? I'm sure it didn't help matters! But ultimately, it's the American desire for violence and perpetual petulant titillation that runs many a decent movie into the proverbial financial ground!
I'm truly looking forward to purchasing this gem when it becomes available on DVD! One of the very few movies I have seen this year, which I would like to see a second time. While most of 2005 has been a year of terrible flops, and way too many disappointments, Mirrormask gives me hope for a brighter movie going future! Thank you all for sticking your collective necks out by making this surprisingly good film! It will certainly stand the test of time!
Movie Review: A Visual and Whimsical Tour de Force
Summary: 5 Stars
I came to this film with no preconceptions. I never heard of the producer, director, writer, actors, or artist. I was intrigued by the trailers, walked out of the theater where I saw the trailers and right into the next showing of MirrorMask.
This is a wonderful film.It borrows heavily from fantasy, from Northern Exposures' best mythopoeia and whimsy, and most especially from an extensive reservoir of Western fanatstic art. There are powerful visual allusions to the work of Bosch, Escher, Dali, Magritte, and Remedios Varo, which alone are worth the price of admission. For me, the visual inventiveness of the film tranforms an otherwise routine "rite of teen angst" tale into a beguiling, riveting experience full of constant and delighting surprises. The writing is reminiscent of the best of Northern Exposure scripts, filled with gentle humor and poignant mythmaking.
The actors, espcially Stephanie Leonidas as Helena and Jason Barry as Valentine, are captivating. They are vivid, accessible, and compelling as the stressed out circus girl, on the verge of womanhood and longing for a "normal" life away from the circus suddenly confronted with her mother's life-threatening illness, and the unlikely champion she finds in the fantasy world to which she escapes in order to cope with the anxiety of her mother's illness.
I commend this movie to anyone who wants a visual banquet served up with bold dashes of what Northern Exposure once was.
Movie Review: Beautiful and fresh.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always been interested in anything from the Henson company and this was something I was looking forward to seeing ever since I seen the preview. I was more than pleased. I didn't know what to expect at first but was hoping for some insane visuals and great characters and special effects. It was all that plus!~
My eyes could not leave the screen the entire duration of the movie. Everything was so visual, the photography was spectacular, it put you right into the movie. The colors were a little strange but it still gave you the feeling of fantasy so I guess it is right on.
The music was fun to listen to as well, there were some nice groovy bass lines although sometimes the music was a little overpowering but it didn't take away from the movie. I couldn't pin down who did the music but I wouldn't mind looking into it some more.
On to the characters. The main characters were okay, nothing special but solid and believable. The young lady who played the main part did an excellent job. But the real story is the CG/puppet characters. There were so many of them and so diverse and interesting. I would have hoped for more puppets than CG but so be it. I'll take what I can get.
I liked this movie a lot. I didn't want to bring it back when I rented it. But alas, I did. Now I need to get it and see it again! Enjoy the movie, it is fun for those that like fantasy and interesting characters.
Movie Review: Mirrormask is Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw Mirrormask for the first time via my Netflix subscription. I had problems with the disk, so I was only able to view the first half or so. That didn't matter. It was plenty of time to decide this was a movie I had to own, and that's saying quite a lot. I don't buy many.
Mirrormask is a *gorgeous* movie. The artwork is just stunning. It's like watching a dream. Hey, it's a Henson production, what would you expect?
The story is very storybook oriented. Not the deepest plot ever conceived but it's not lacking in details; and the characters are very entertaining. Great for kids and adults alike.
I don't actually have kids, mind you, but if i did, I can only hope and pray they'd choose this to watch over and over - ad infinitum - instead of some of the other junk kids get wrapped up in. Instead of feeling like they were having their brain slowly sucked out of their eyeballs, I'd feel they were being infused with a healthy dose of imagination and wonder.
Oh yeah, and the price! I got this thing for under $11. This is a STEAL. It is unbelievable that I can own a cinematic treasure like this for under $11. Seriously. Some of the best money you'll ever spend. If you have a single bone in your body that values true creativity, buy this.
J.