I’ve just spent too long finding pictures of all these characters to not now do some version of this… but… I should have gone to bed an hour ago… so not now.
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I caught the end of who framed Roger Rabbit? the other day. I don’t think I’ve seen it since it was in the theaters. I was struck by how badly the actors interact with the cartoons, compared to modern stuff. they’re clearly acting to empty space where they think the cartoon will be. I don’t know if there’s better direction now, better animators adding the CGI stuff, or just a general improvement from familiarity with the process. It was still a fun bit of movie (well, except it was on broadcast tv, so there 878 commercials…).
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The interactions were practical effects.
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Who Framed Roger Rabbit is amazing.
But yes, actors often have more to work with in CGI films. A well-known example from Peter Jackson’s LOTR films is that the fully-CGI character of Gollum was performed live on set by Andy Serkis wearing a motion-capture suit.
And from the direction side of things, I recall some behind-the-scenes videos showing how they came up with a VR system for Peter Jackson so that he could physically walk himself and a ‘virtual movie camera’ (being a motion-tracked physical stand-in for a real camera) through animated 3D CGI scenes, so that he could get the shots and camera movements he wanted.
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It’s an Easter film, not a Christmas one.
One can easily argue, for example, that George dies when he plunges off the bridge. He goes through Purgatory in Potterville, where he is shown that his cardinal sin is inverted pride - He believes that his own opinion of himself as worthless is more accurate than everyone else thinking he has value. Clarence is Virgil, guiding him through the the vision of what the world would have been like without him, until he reaches Heaven where he is reunited with those that he loves, in light, and knowing his own value and his place in the community of saints.
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It’s a slight tangent (and I’m not piling on a game that has been getting a lot of needless hate from what IMHO is outright sexists) this is single handedly the most pointless piece of mocap I have ever seen.
For those that aren’t aware Jack quaid plays a cosmic cube in the new god of war video game.
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Went to see the Masters of the Universe movie today. I had been hearing good things from fans of the old cartoon, and after viewing it, I have to agree!
Visually it is a good representation of the source material, bright and colorful without looking too cartoony, and also not strictly limited by the designs of the old show.
Characters actually have arcs. The movie is aware of the camp and cheese of the show and lean into that a bit, which ends up being a little cringe now and then and might turn off some people, but as I think it was completely intentional, it worked for me.
All the actors gave great performances, many being over the top in a way that, again, just fits considering the source material. Very funny, though a few times it felt a bit forced.
I also loved how they explained away the ridiculous names of many of the characters. It was perfect!
Really enjoyed it, though I can see it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
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I had a day at the cinema today.
- Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
- The Richest Woman in the World (2025)
- Peking Opera Blues (1986)
The first and third were part of a mini festival being run by my local film society this weekend to celebrate their 80th year, and the gap between those was sufficient to see something at this year’s French Film Festival, running at the same time.
I didn’t particularly enjoy The Richest Woman in the World (I just didn’t find the story very engaging, despite the weirdness of it); but the other two were each remarkable viewing.
Jeanne Dielman is a character study comprised of long takes from static cameras, substantially devoid of dialogue or secondary characters, and running close to three and a half hours. You’ll know if that’s the sort of film you’re interested in; and if it is, then I recommend it.
Peking Opera Blues could hardly be a more different kind of film, and I would describe it as “delirious chaos” (and also “a grand time”).
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Followed today by:
- Imitation of Life (1959)
- 8½ (1963)
Imitation of Life was wonderful.
8½ I had some trepidation about, which was at least partially borne out. I think perhaps the concept is more enjoyable to me than actually watching it. In many ways it’s a shambles of a film which is justified by it being about a shambles of a film production. I liked the free blending of fantasy, memory, and reality which, combined with the self-referential and autobiographical elements, genuinely make it a bit of a mind-bender. I’m still thinking about it; but if I was going to re-watch these then I’d be excited to see Imitation of Life again, but I’d still be trepidatious about 8½.
The mini festival was eight films spanning eight decades; chronologically:
1946: Notorious
1959: Imitation of Life
1963: 8½
1975: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
1986: Peking Opera Blues
1997: Boogie Nights
2009: Fantastic Mr. Fox
2015: The Lure
I’d have gone to a couple of others if the timing had been better for me, but I managed to see the four that I’d not previously seen.
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And again tonight, 'cause Monday is the regular film society night! Tonight it was:
Phantom of the Paradise (1974) and my goodness this was wildly entertaining, ludicrous fun. The whole thing is insane, and nothing at all like I was anticipating from a Brian De Palma film. (Well. Mostly. There are recognisable elements. But it bears almost no resemblance to what I’ve seen of the rest of his catalogue.) I should mention that it’s a rock opera blending Faust with The Phantom of the Opera, but to be honest that doesn’t really begin to explain it.
It seems to have been Jessica Harper’s first feature film, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was cast in Suspiria on the basis of this.
The most unexpected credit for me, though: “Set dresser – Sissy Spacek”. This was made two years prior to Carrie. (I’ve just looked this up, and that transition didn’t go how I imagined :). She’s said in an interview that she didn’t know what she was doing as a set dresser, and that neither De Palma nor the studio had any interest in her for the part of Carrie; but she had half a foot in the door on account of her husband being De Palma’s production designer, and I guess she wowed them in the audition, and the rest is history!)
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Saw the new Masters of the Universe movie. It was waaay better than I expected. Someone really knew what they were doing: incredibly camp, innuendo so heavy I’m surprised got past the censors, fan service for the entire runtime. 10 waily Brian May guitar solos out of 10.
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For a film with no real public excitement I am hearing good things
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Watched the first three episodes of Spider-Noir with Nicholas Cage. It’s pretty dang good! Cage just goes full ham into the stereotypical gumshoe portrayal and it’s glorious. We’re watching it in color, per my wife’s preference, but I’m curious to go back and watch it in black and white for the full noir effect.
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We finished the first season of Attack on Titan. The stakes are too high. I need a break already.
I miss One Piece. We got to watch the latest for episodes that we missed during and before vacation yesterday and I am considering starting over (on my own, I don’t think my partner is up for a rewatch)
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Spider Noir was an excellent film noir homage with Nick Cage channeling Bogart hard.
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I just binged all 16(?) episodes of Pantheon, a cartoon about uploading intelligence, and it was way more interesting than I expected it to be.