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Reviews
Shin kidô senki Gundam W (1995)
American, mildly entertaining; Japanese makes all the difference
I know this is a cliche among anime fans -- but see the original. Most of the negative reviews are written about the American release of Gundam Wing on TCN which was okay, but pretty shallow and, frankly, not told all that coherently. The original, Japanese-language version makes a lot more sense and really shows you the depth of the characters and of the plot. Subtitles can be a pain to read if you've watched them before, but it's worth the growing pains -- believe me!
As for whether Gundam Wing is derivative of the earlier series -- of course it is! I've yet to run into an anime series that's a "sequel" that didn't have some major parallels to the earlier stories in the saga. Let's face it, though -- the reason there's a sequel is because the first one was a success. The whole point of putting out a second series is to re-clothe the same, winning formula. Can that wear thing? You bet. But it's the nature of the beast.
Gundam Wing is a great sequel in its added depth and complexity, but you're you're not going to catch any of that in the American release... But, even there, it's a moderately fun ride.
He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2002)
Shot to video AND HOW!
It's one thing to put a movie on TV. Another to shoot one and put it directly on TV. Another to shoot a movie as if you never intended to do anything with it other than put it on TV. And man does this one smell of video!
The story's okay, with some adaptations from the novel, but that's no big deal. I can forgive that. I can even forgive the sappiness of the stoy; judge a movie on its own genre.
What I can't forgive is the production. I admit that PAX is no big media centre, but surely they can still draw a little better talent than the casting for this flick. The leads all look like they're doing a commercial for local TV or else hamming it up in a civic theatre. People sometimes seem to forget that when there's a camera involved, they don't need to act out as they might on stage.
What's worse is the cinematography which is framed like a daytime drama, and lit with less creativity than that. The staging is simple -- two people talking should face each other in the middle of the room. The action should be center-stage. Et cetera.
You can bear with it, but the production doesn't do half justice to what the authors of the novel deserve...
M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931)
Incomprehensibility does not equal art
I'm a fan of Peter Lorre's and I love black & white films. I enjoy foreign films. I even like trying to twist my brain around mind-boggling, symbol-filled, convoluted art flicks. But I was incredibly disappointed in, *M*.
It had a lot of potential, but it kept drowning in itself. It took me a while to understand this. The plot itself wasn't overly complex -- so why did I still have the feeling of unpleasant confusion. What I finally realized is that *M*'s downfall is that it can't decide what it is.
I went into it with a general understanding of what it was going to be about, and knowing Peter Lorre's work I had certain expectations. The parts of the movie that were most satisfying to me were those which fit those expectations: a tense, shadowy atmosphere made all the more eerie and suspenseful by the skillful use of, "In the Hall of Mountain King."
Other parts of the movie felt more like a police procedural. There is certainly a place for the Ed McBain's of our world, but that place is not being mixed in with Robyn Cook. These segments felt out of place, and they jarringly interrupted the mood created by the spookier, more emotionally taut scenes.
The much-applauded ending had the same problem for me: it suddenly introduced yet another mood -- that of introspection and social consciousness. This was too distinct from either of the other two moods to feel as if it were even part of the same picture.
Each mood, each theme, each general strain could have been very good on its own -- but, as a package, the film felt ill-blended. And, as much as I enjoy paradox and even confusion, they are not, in of themselves, sufficient criteria for a good film.
Enterprise (2001)
Relax... Enjoy yourself.
I approached Enterprise with mixed anticipation. The concept intrigued me, and I've been a long-time Trek fan, but I numbered among those who were disappointed in Voyager. Rather than just blame Jeri Taylor for what I perceived to be Voyager's shortcomings, I took a more generalized approach: Star Trek has run its course and is dry.
My uncertainties were assuaged by the pilot episode. I find the characters enjoyable, the setting interesting, the story involving... I especially appreciate the well-conceived mixture of old (e.g. Klingons, Andorians, Naussicans, Vulcans, Star Fleet itself) with the previously unheard of.
My confidence in the show is even more encouraged when I remember that this is but Enterprise's first season. (It's maiden voyage, if you will.) Compare this to most first-seasons and it shines even brighter. Star Trek (TOS) re-runs were the Trek of my childhood. TNG was the Trek of my developmental years. DS9 was the Trek of my emerging adulthood. I have different attachments to each of those shows -- but I have to admit that the first seasons had a lot more struggles with character development, consistency of quality, and so forth.
I understand some of the specific criticisms of Enterprise. My first reaction to the theme song was *intensely* negative. (Though let's be honest, folks, whether or not you like it, it is not a folk song.) After a few episodes, though, I let myself listen to the lyrics and pay closer attention to the imagery on the screen -- and suddenly the entire opening (including the song!) has become quite meaningful to me. And not only that, but I think it captures the atmosphere of the show quite well.
To cut to the chase -- I think my problem was that it was a different, and that annoyed me for its own saying. It "wasn't Trek" -- whatever that means! All I had to do was relax, watch the show, and enjoy myself, and suddenly it's become one of my favorite weekly television experiences.
Yes, some of the pacing still needs to be worked out; yes, we're still just getting to know the characters, so some of theme seem cardboard; and, yes, there is sometimes a bit of scientific gymnastics. But they're fewer than a dozen episodes into the series, and I am confident that these (minor!) kinks will be worked out in time.
So relax. Follow my lead and take off your critical Trek-fan hat, sit back, and watch the show. Enjoy the interplay of the characters. Enjoy the naturally relaxed approach of most of the actors. Enjoy the sense of exploration. Enjoy the tension that comes from wonder quieted by third-party words of caution. Just enjoy the show.