Your busted tired dance moves are no match for my security protocol

Monsters vs. Aliens (Letterman and Vernon, 2009)

A mish-mash of recycled sci-fi films, MVA could have been a feast for film geeks and kids alike. While it's fun to see new life breathed into old characters, there's not much else about the film that captured my attention. Even the film references got tiring at times: I definitely rolled my eyes at the "that would be a very convenient truth" line. Though the characters were interesting in theory, and the actors voicing them fairly talented, they just didn't come to life as I'd hoped. Seth Rogen carries the bunch as B.O.B., and the few humorous moments in the film stem from his delivery. Most of the film, however, isn't that funny or engaging, and all too often it feels like it's trying to be. At several points it was clear that we were meant to be laughing, and the silence in the theater was palpable and awkward. Overall, the film was cute enough, but felt like it was trying too hard to do more, making its shortcomings stand out, and a few fancy 3D effects weren't enough to make up for lackluster writing.

It seems you have quite a fondness for movies.

Paprika (Kon, 2007)
Admittedly, it took me three tries to make it all the way through Satoshi Kon’s animated film. I kept watching it just before bed and found myself drifting off to sleep. Not because the film is boring: the premise is interesting, and the animation is gorgeous. In fact, my tendency to fall asleep is rather indicative of how well the film succeeds at creating a dreamlike state. By way of explanation, some plot summary might be useful: a company has created a device (the DC mini) that enables psychiatric researchers to record their patients’ dreams. When the device is stolen, the thief is able to enter people’s dreams and terrorize them. As dreams and reality merge, the vivid animation makes it hard to distinguish between them, which helps you feel completely enveloped in the world of the film—an immersion that ties into the film’s commentary on the danger of denying people the freedom to dream and the parallels it establishes between dreams and film.
Rating: 3.5/5

Can't films be therapeutic?

Waltz with Bashir (Folman, 2008)

Initially I wasn’t sure if I liked the animation style because it seemed a bit choppy. There was something disturbing and awkward about the way the images moved. (Perhaps it’s just because the opening sequence damn near terrified me.) It didn’t take long for me to change my mind about that, though. The animation brings the story to life in a way that seems appropriate to its thematic issues: just as Ari Folman’s memory of his involvement in the war in Lebanon is sporadic and incomplete, the characters move in fits and starts, stumbling through the background Folman has created for his subconscious. I love documentaries, and I’ve seen quite a few particularly interesting and personal ones already this year (Dear Zachary and My Winnipeg come to mind); perhaps this makes me more invested in the notion that film can be powerfully cathartic for those dealing with traumatic memories than most viewers. Regardless of my personal investment in the form, though, I think Waltz with Bashir stands out as a disturbing, frustrating, and gripping account of the effects of war, the fallibility of memory, and the power of film.
Rating: 4/5

You probably think this world is a dream come true...

Coraline (Selick, 2009)
Having read Neil Gaiman’s novel just before seeing the film, my primary complaint against the latter is that it wasn’t quite dark enough. The book struck me as exceptionally creepy for a children’s story—what with the singing rats and all. The film, perhaps toned down a bit for the kids in the audience, looked stunning, but didn’t seem to capture the creepiness of the book as well as I’d hoped it would. In dealing with adaptations, I try not to compare the content too much, but I do think it’s fair to compare them in terms of effect. Though the film version of Coraline didn’t leave me with the same effect as the book, this is the only flaw I really found with it, and it’s a fairly minor one. The story is relatively simple, and the stop-motion animation brings it to life marvelously. All in all, I enjoyed the film, but it didn’t quite absorb me as much as I had anticipated. I’ll have to give it a second viewing, as I was clearly distracted by my 3D glasses throughout the first screening.

Rating: 3.5/5