animated
A poorly made Roger Rabbit copy.
What can you really say about "Cool World"? The best word I can think of is just purely insane. Directed by legendary director Ralph Bakshi, this movie was suppose to be his big come-back to film after a brief retirement. His more noticable films included "Fritz the Cat" and "Lord of the Rings". His original pitch was that this was going to be a live-action/animated horror film about a cartoon and a woman having sex and creating a hybrid, with the hybrid wanting revenge because his father abandoned him. But after a secret rewrite took place, Bakshi was forced to completely recreate the film using the new screenplay and break away from his original vision. Thus, "Cool World" was born.
The twisted tale stars Brad Pitt as Frank Harris, a "noid", as humans are refered to, who was transported to twisted and insane world of, oddly enough, Cool World back in the 1940s after a terrible accident. Since then, he has served as the detective of Cool World. Jump to forty-seven years later and we meet are other main character named Jack Deebs (played by Gabriel Byrne)who has been recently released from prison. During his time in prison he creates a comic series that he thinks he created called Cool World, when in actuallity the universe exsisted long before him. Jack gets frequently transported to his insane universe by one of his characters, a "doodle" named Holli Would (Kim Bassinger) who wants to use Jack for her own needs. It's Frank Harris' job to prevent Holli from doing so or else something awful would happen.
The film was ultimately met with poor reception, and for good reason too. For one, most of the performances in this movie are just down-right terrible. I could find more convincing acting in "Kazaam". Another problem with this film is the interaction between humans and cartoons. If you look back at "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" you were probably completely blown away by how realisticly the toons and humans interact. Here, it seemed very unconvincing. The plot didn't make any sense either and it basically went nowhere. I also really didn't find anything that was supposed to be funny or dramatic here. I will give the film this much credit though. I do praise the film for its creative and completely f***ed up atmosphere.
Overall, just skip this film and watch Roger Rabbit again, because that is ten times funnier, better acted, and has greater special effects.
Little known film makes big appearance at film festival!
Alex Zuckerman is caught in circumstances out of his control when he is abducted by aliens. They implant a mind control device inside of his brain so that he would become an insurgent in their upcoming invasion of Earth. With the help of Sir Psycho; Alex Zuckerman assembles a scary crew - ascending into space on a mission to save Alex's mind, soul, and ultimately the entire human race.
The story wanders. Although the animations are stunning, the soundtrack seems incomplete. Alex Zuckerman is a must see, and is on youtube!
Alex Zuckerman - The New Animated Film You Have To See!!!
Alex Zuckerman is caught in circumstances out of his control when he is abducted by aliens. They implant a mind control device inside of his brain so that he would become an insurgent in their upcoming invasion of Earth. With the help of Sir Psycho; Alex Zuckerman assembles a scary crew - ascending into space on a mission to save Alex’s mind, soul, and ultimately the entire human race.
The story wanders, and the soundtrack is minimalistic. Alex Zuckerman has a unique storyline, and unparalleled graphics. As an entire package - Alex Zuckerman is different than anything you'll find anywhere else.
This cartoon features alien carnage!
You may view Alex Zuckerman at the following URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7wx9WExfzs
This movie, placed over 1000 years in the future, is about a young girl named Nausicaa and her quest to restore harmony to the world that is now overrun by the “toxic jungle”. She learns that the jungle is vital to the survival of the earth after so many
Nausicaa (of the valley of the wind) is a completely hand drawn full length movie created in Japan directed by Miyazaki. This movie, placed over 1000 years in the future, is about a young girl named Nausicaa and her quest to restore harmony to the world that is now overrun by the “toxic jungle”. She learns that the jungle is vital to the survival of the earth after so many years of pollution and braves Tolmekian soldiers, poisonous plants, stampeding Ohm, and giant insects in order to protect it. The strategic use of music throughout the movie brings the watcher on a rollercoaster of thought while invoking emotion to match. The antique backgrounds and cartoony characters give a unique contrast and energy that is rarely seen in animated films.
Soundtrack is often a key point in movies, including, not only music, but the dialogue. Often the music runs while no one is speaking and, sometimes, quietly in the background as a character talks. This music is meant to evoke specific feelings during different parts of the movie, such as when they want to build suspense the writers use a quiet pounding sound and then, at the moment they want you frightened, they play a harsh loud noise to make you jump in your seat. In Nausicaa suspenseful music is not as key as music that makes the watcher feel empathetic. By using calm almost childlike songs they relate moments where you should feel for Nausicaa and her cause to childhood memories. The songs sound almost like nursery rhymes without as many words, often the songs play without much singing. On the other hand the suspenseful music (the slow pounding sound) is used when people encroach on the valley Nausicaa and her people live in. This background sound tends to lead you toward wondering what is coming and then, as the music changes to warlike or back to childish, you see what the music had you waiting for all along. The dialogue in the movie is well played considering the movie was created for the Japanese culture, and thus, language to be spoken.
The backgrounds of movies that are videoed with live actors tend to be blurred or phased out. In animated films, like Disney’s, they are often drawn with the same cartoony look as the characters. Before Disney died, however, the backgrounds were wonderful pieces of art, looking much more realistic than the characters that danced in them. In Miyazaki films the characters don’t only walk among the antique background, they interact with it. Nausicaa rides her glider over the toxic jungle, she and her glider have a very animated look that contrasts with the, almost museum worthy, jungle and clouds. This contrast helps draw more attention to the characters without making the background a blurred mess of colors. The only downside to this is when something is going to move the watcher is aware before it does because it is animated differently from the rest of the background, cartoony amongst detailed pieces.
Overall Nausicaa of the valley of the wind is a wonderful movie. Well placed dialogue and a constant stream of emotions that will keep the watcher intrigued and wishing for her success. The message of the movie is well hidden but still strong so that when its watched you are not aware of it but if asked later will probably come to mind. Amazing animation, as expected, from Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki) and an enchanting array of characters. To give it a rating, I’d have to say, of 10 out of 10.
