Change Your Image
charmed_halliwells
Reviews
Skins (2007)
What happened to novelty?
Astounding intelligence and power of observation are not required to recognize the conspicuous similarities between "Skins" and "As If". Both depict the lives of a group of teenagers who each portray a different stereotype of teenagers in society. Both have their episodes named after the character featured. And both are produced in Britain.
Nonetheless, despite its lack of originality, I did enjoy watching all nine episodes of the first series, mainly because I enjoyed "as if", and now that it is over, the a little less sophisticated, less original and less convincing "skins" would compensate.
However, I still cannot comprehend how producers would literally duplicate a TV series without adding even a tinge of novelty in it. Hopefully the second series would turn out to be a little more original.
Ratatouille (2007)
Everybody Can Cook
Amidst the era of materialism and mercantilism, when sophisticated visualization make up for atrocious plots and rugged actors and chiseled actresses make up for bad acting, rarely do we still find a film like Ratatouille where implicit lessons of life are embedded in an innovative, original and light-hearted plot.
Ingeniously hidden under a tale of rat with an ambition that renders him a pariah among his kin is a message which society has long known but ignored everybody can 'cook'. Undeniably, albeit similar messages which share the same theme everyone can succeed have been conveyed through an array of movies, none had the flair and originality Ratatouille has. With comical lines inserted into a poignant plot, Ratatouille has successfully disseminated a cheesy message, which society is tired of listening, in a casual, simplistic and elegant way.
At last, I would love to say that Disney has finally produced a film that would not only appeal to youngsters for its cute animation but at the same time instill a message that most of us have neglected and overlooked if a rat can cook, why can't a woman rule, why can't a boy be effeminate, why should we punish idiosyncrasies, why do we ostracize?
Fantaghirò: Fantaghirò (1991)
a magical phenomenon indeed
Never have I thought of writing a review which contains biased and partial opinions. Nevertheless, neither a typical review which scrutinizes the show's technical aspects namely the acting, directing and plot, nor one that appraises it from a literary point of view, would give you a comprehensive picture of what this show is truly about.
Frankly, I've seen an array of movies with a much more poignant plot and entrancing acting but have never given any a 9 out of 10 rating. Perhaps it is the concoction of a simple but elegant plot, casual and unexaggerated acting, beautifully coordinated music, a not too original but not too cheesy storyline, and a touch of magic which makes Fantaghiro worthy of a nine out of ten rating.
I believe if given a chance, all four installments (I don't particularly like the fifth) would make every child's day, arouse bittersweet memories in every teenager, and provide a perfect escapist fantasy for every adult who has long embedded in bitter reality.
Fantaghiro is indeed an enchanted piece of art -- a true magical phenomenon.