How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
March 2, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who are due for a wild rumpus: Where the Wild Things Are
In September 2009, New York Times Magazine's Saki Knafo penned a brilliant profile on Where the Wild Things Are's Spike Jonze, detailing how a music video director who got his break helming Charlie Kaufman movies like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. became Maurice Sendak's pick to adapt his beloved 1963 children's book. It also chronicles the hoops Jonze and company jumped through and the many battles Jonze faced head on to ensure that his distinct vision of people parading around in giant monster getups – which cost Warner Bros. a reported $100 million – would be unleashed in theaters across the world. Prior to Knafo's article, I was already excited to see Where the Wild Things Are. The piece merely put me over the edge.
Personally, Where the Wild Things Are failed for me on opening weekend for two reasons: a) my expectations were sky high, and b) the film's wildly unique structure (and, well, "plot" – I swear it has one!) was so unexpected as to make me feel like I should be waiting for things that never came to fruition. Bottom line: Five months have passed since the last time I saw Wild Things. Now that I know what I'm in for, I have faith that a second viewing will prove to be a positive experience.
Wild Things did do a number of things right, however. Among them was having James Gandolfini voice monster Carol. The ex-Soprano has an exceptional ability to delight one minute, then frighten the next. A deserved shout out, as well, belongs to Max Records, who plays the cute kid in the furry bodysuit and crown. I can't imagine what it must have been like to act in a movie like this, where the only beings you have to bounce off of are giants with oversized heads. He handles the job like a champ.
Disc includes: Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must be More to Life featurette, HBO First Look: Where the Wild Things Are featurette, Plus: Series of Where the Wild Things Are Shorts by Lance Bangs
Ponyo
Around the halls of BOP, Hayao Miyazaki is a hallowed name. The creative genius at the head of the Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli has directed such classics as My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. His most recent film is a very loose adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Mermaid, where a little girl fish becomes determined to break free of the confines of her very strange father's home when she falls for a little boy. She becomes human and the two children become great pals. Problem is, Ponyo's transformation has caused a great disturbance in the seas, and a dangerous storm arises. Ponyo's father works to set things right with the world, for he is a keeper of the seas (of sorts).
If it sounds a little offbeat, that's because Ponyo isn't like anything you'll ever see. It's absolutely gorgeous animation in the traditional format, where Miyazaki and Ghibli excel. I would argue that it's his most accessible film since Totoro, which means that even small children could easily understand the story - mainly because the protagonists are such small folk themselves. It's a glorious little film that celebrates friendship and determination, with some really lovely imagery to boot. I recently read a quote from Miyazaki about Fujimoto, Ponyo's father and the ostensible "bad guy" of the picture: "When I start creating a villain, I start liking the villain and so the villain is not really evil." I really liked the character's complexity, even if he is rather...odd. That's the thing about Miyazaki films - the characters are ultimately unforgettable.
Disc includes: The World of Ghibli featurette, Meet Ponyo: Introduction by the Producers featurette, Storyboard Presentation of the Movie featurette
For people who liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Cold Souls
Here's a movie that is bound to amuse people who enjoy movies by Charlie Kaufman. It's Cold Souls, from first time writer-director Sophie Barthes. So as to not confuse you, no, Kaufman had nothing to do with the movie. But, you could probably make a fair argument that his oeuvre inspired it. The movie stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Giamatti, an actor who allows a shady company to extract his body's soul. Why? Paul figures that removing the thing he thinks is weighing him down will allow him to better prepare for the theater production, Uncle Vanya, he's supposed to star in. When things don't go as expected, Paul wants his soul back. Problem is the company no longer has it.
I liken Cold Souls to a movie like Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In both movies, procedures that thankfully do not exist enable people to undo the past. For Eternal Sunshine, it's the ability to cope with sadness by removing specific memories from the brain altogether. For Cold Souls, the stakes have been raised. We're talking about the human soul here!
Though I'd consider it a drama before anything else, Cold Souls does have its share of dark humor. One moment in particular would be Paul Giamatti's experiences post-extraction. As expected, it's a struggle. The movie isn't groundbreaking, but it's a neat little film that explores the human condition in an exciting new way.
Disc includes: Soul Extractor featurette, deleted scenes
For morbid people: 2012
Though the Mayan Long Count calendar "ends" about 2.5 years from now, most of us have realized that it probably doesn't spell Armageddon. In fact, many New Agers believe the date marks a positive transformation – or, the opposite of everything you may have seen in Roland Emmerich's 2012. Well done, Columbia. You released this beast before we had a chance to wise up!
For me, the mystery isn't about what may or may not happen two years from now. Instead, I'm much more invested in finding out how many times the Earth needs to be destroyed to satisfy Roland Emmerich. He did it over a decade ago in Independence Day, then again in The Day After Tomorrow (which, by the way, is a terrible in-flight entertainment choice. I experienced it firsthand a few years ago when my airline thought a movie with a breathtaking plane crash, among other calamities, would be a fitting way to entertain its customers on a long flight). Of course, Emmerich then released 2012.
As for me, I didn't see 2012 in November because I watched it about five years ago when it was called The Day After Tomorrow. I'm also not fond of movies that blow stuff up without reason, so the choice to skip was an easy one.
Disc includes: Alternate ending, Picture-in-Picture: Roland's Vision featurette, audio commentary, MovieIQ, Interactive Mayan Calendar featurette
March 2nd, 2010
Blu-ray
2012 (Special Edition)
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Alice
Clash Of The Titans
Edge Of The Earth / Corner Of The Sky
Eureka Seven: Good Night Sleep Tight Young Lovers
3/2/10 Gentlemen Broncos
Hawaii
Kurokami Part 1
Lily Town
The Neverending Story
Ninja
Ponyo
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Where the Wild Things Are
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Wild Asia: Arid Heart
DVD
2012 (Special Edition)
Alice
Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story (Widescreen)
Bitch Slap
Cold Souls (Widescreen)
Dr. Who: Remembrance Of The Daleks (Special Edition)
Gentlemen Broncos
Hawaii
Jethro Tull: Live at Avo Session Basel
The Life (Unrated)
Lily Town
Love Me Tender (Special Edition)
Matlock: The Fourth Season
Ninja
Once / Slumdog Millionaire / Walk The Line (Triple Feature)
Ponyo (Widescreen)
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are (Widescreen)
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
The Wraith (Special Edition)