by Felipe Rosa
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: while this film hold the least typical moments of the series, the courtship, which are a great drag, it also has one of the most exhilarating, the last lightsaber duel. Such unevenness mostly subtracts, but there is relief that the worst is over, when compared to the first episode. Read also: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, fantasy, star wars
by Felipe Rosa
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: not a film to be taken seriously, not to the extent the series’ fan do anyway. Taken at face value, it’s moderately fun and definitely silly (some elements, such as the Gungans, excessively so. This is the silliest of the whole series), but that goes hand in hand with the inspiration for the series. One thing is perfectly clear, however: had the saga started with this one, it would not be the success it is.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, fantasy, star wars
by Felipe Rosa
Hugo: there’s a great, earnest sweetness to this film. Part of it comes from the story (one that makes it almost imperative that Martin Scorsese directed this), but also from the themes presented (and how they are presented): one’s purpose in life, one’s loss when they lose that purpose. Great visually as well, as some stories are told silently, from a distance. It does have some minor problems with pacing and the kids are not great, but Ben Kingsley is.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Fantastic Mr. Fox: very quirky animated film, starting with the style chosen. Reasonably funny, reasonably touching, certainly more original than most of the animations around us nowadays. It carries the same emotional distance than other of Anderson’s works, but somehow, that fits a cartoon somewhat less than it fits a live action feature.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: animation, comedy, fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Puss in Boots: a typical DWA film will be well done and funny, a pleasure to sit through but empty and somewhat heartless, therefore easily forgettable. This one has the usual drawbacks, but not the usual strong points. It’s still quite well done, and the voice acting is good enough, but the humor is flat and the whole thing is almost boring.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure, animation, fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame: one of the most appealing summer movies is also one of the most unusual. A “high fantasy wuxia”, it’s beautifully done (but deserved a better digital copy), and fun to watch. It’s main strength is the mix of genres, with a whodunit playing the most important part.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: action, fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: as a standalone, it’s rather weak, since it’s just a mix of action scenes and awkward exposition, despite the appropriately gloomy athmosphere. So the solution to enjoy this more is to just see it as part of something bigger. But the whole series is sort of underwhelming as well. Read also: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: fantasy
by Felipe Rosa
Kung Fu Panda 2: looks beautiful (and, surprisingly, makes good use of 3D; it means a lot coming from me), but it doesn’t have the heart or the content to match that beauty. The characters are flat like a board, if one can even call them that. It’s not even all that funny.
Categories: Film reviews • Tags: adventure, animation, fantasy
Fifth about The Seventh