proud_luddite
Joined Jan 2018
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During the Han dynasty in ancient China, the title character (voiced by Ming-Na Wen in the English language version / singing voice by Lea Salonga) is a teen-aged girl and the only child in her family. To spare her father from being drafted into an emerging war (he has difficulty walking), she disguises herself as male and joins the Imperial Army.
"Mulan" has spectacular animation especially in action scenes that take place in a mountainous region as well the concluding scenes in an imperial city. It also has the blessing of great humour including Mulan's grandmother (June Foray, singing voice by Marni Nixon) and Mushu (Eddie Murphy), a miniature dragon who is a spirit guide to Mulan. In typical Murphy style, he deliver the film's funniest line about a "drag show" - a line which also astutely summarizes the film's plot.
This film perfectly challenges sexism without being preachy and is a unique coming-of-age story of a misfit (Mulan frequently fails at others' attempts to make her a traditional-wife-in-training).
The only criticism of the film's ending is that it is so pleasant that I wish it could have been extended.
A true delight.
RATING: 9 out of 10
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Animation
"Mulan" has spectacular animation especially in action scenes that take place in a mountainous region as well the concluding scenes in an imperial city. It also has the blessing of great humour including Mulan's grandmother (June Foray, singing voice by Marni Nixon) and Mushu (Eddie Murphy), a miniature dragon who is a spirit guide to Mulan. In typical Murphy style, he deliver the film's funniest line about a "drag show" - a line which also astutely summarizes the film's plot.
This film perfectly challenges sexism without being preachy and is a unique coming-of-age story of a misfit (Mulan frequently fails at others' attempts to make her a traditional-wife-in-training).
The only criticism of the film's ending is that it is so pleasant that I wish it could have been extended.
A true delight.
RATING: 9 out of 10
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Animation
- dbamateurcritic.
Raffaella Pavone Lanzetti (Mariangela Melato) is a smug woman of great wealth on a yachting vacation in the Mediterranean Sea while accompanied by her husband and friends. Gennarino Carunchio (Giancarlo Giannini) is one of the yacht employees and he loathes Raffaella's frequent political pontifications. Through various circumstances, the two end up on an uninhabited island together. The film's full title is "Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August".
The movie is dependent on the performances of the two leads who must carry most of the weight of the film themselves. Thankfully, they are perfect in their roles. Each has a solid character arc that is very well portrayed. In the beginning, it is Raffaella who stands out as despicable; later, it is Gennarino who acts terribly. He is in a position of well-earned revenge but he goes too far with it as he expresses misogyny with violence.
Among many other praises, "Swept Away" is a powerful reflection of its time and place regarding politics and prejudices. The hyper-privileged Raffaella is a devout capitalist while working-class Gennarino is a member of the Communist party. Also, Raffaella is from northern Italy while Gennarino is from the south which results in a regional prejudice (northerners looking down on southerners) that is revealed during their many conflicts.
Director/writer Lina Wertmüller does a great job in capturing the beauty of the locations as well as the raw, twisted sensuality in the connection between the two leads. It's tempting to compare "Swept Away" with the more recent "Triangle of Sadness" (released in 2022). Both films expose class differences and conflicts while characters connect on a sea vessel and later on a deserted island.
In "Swept Away", even if there is occasional discomfort with some scenes of dominance, the viewer is still likely to be 'swept away' by the film's sensuality including the touching score by Piero Piccioni and the beautiful cinematography by Ennio Guarnieri. And its final scenes make for a powerful dramatic conclusion.
RATING: 9 out of 10
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS: Acting by Mariangela Melato and Giancarlo Giannini
The movie is dependent on the performances of the two leads who must carry most of the weight of the film themselves. Thankfully, they are perfect in their roles. Each has a solid character arc that is very well portrayed. In the beginning, it is Raffaella who stands out as despicable; later, it is Gennarino who acts terribly. He is in a position of well-earned revenge but he goes too far with it as he expresses misogyny with violence.
Among many other praises, "Swept Away" is a powerful reflection of its time and place regarding politics and prejudices. The hyper-privileged Raffaella is a devout capitalist while working-class Gennarino is a member of the Communist party. Also, Raffaella is from northern Italy while Gennarino is from the south which results in a regional prejudice (northerners looking down on southerners) that is revealed during their many conflicts.
Director/writer Lina Wertmüller does a great job in capturing the beauty of the locations as well as the raw, twisted sensuality in the connection between the two leads. It's tempting to compare "Swept Away" with the more recent "Triangle of Sadness" (released in 2022). Both films expose class differences and conflicts while characters connect on a sea vessel and later on a deserted island.
In "Swept Away", even if there is occasional discomfort with some scenes of dominance, the viewer is still likely to be 'swept away' by the film's sensuality including the touching score by Piero Piccioni and the beautiful cinematography by Ennio Guarnieri. And its final scenes make for a powerful dramatic conclusion.
RATING: 9 out of 10
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS: Acting by Mariangela Melato and Giancarlo Giannini
- dbamateurcritic.
The sequel to "Inside Out" (2015) continues following the life of Riley Andersen (voiced by Kensington Tallman) who is now thirteen. She attends a three-day hockey camp in order to try out for the school team. In the mean-time, a parallel universe shows the battle of emotions in her growing mind. "Inside Out 2" is a Pixar animated film.
Like the earlier "Inside Out", this film uses imaginative metaphors for all the possible emotions when growing up using great humour and an elaborate universe that represents the mind of one person. This is most effective when emotions are conflicted.
In the 'real world', Riley is tempted to betray old friends in order to join a higher social circle. While the film would have been better if it elaborated on this universal theme, it still succeeds as fine entertainment.
Like the earlier "Inside Out", this film uses imaginative metaphors for all the possible emotions when growing up using great humour and an elaborate universe that represents the mind of one person. This is most effective when emotions are conflicted.
In the 'real world', Riley is tempted to betray old friends in order to join a higher social circle. While the film would have been better if it elaborated on this universal theme, it still succeeds as fine entertainment.
- dbamateurcritic.