Request a Movie Review

[The Mad Plumber]

This is an idea that I wanted to test out for a while. This thread is similar to the Movie Help thread where users post questions about movies and other users post answers to the inquiries. The idea behind this thread is that users post requests for a review of a movie, and a board member who has seen said movie can give his or her opinions.

I will start off this thread by requesting a review of Super.

I took my tablet to the gym and had intended to watch it there. When I started the movie, I noticed that it started at around the 8-minute mark, which tells me that I had tried to watch it once, but for some reason I stopped it after 8 minutes and never returned to it. So, I restarted the movie from the beginning. When I saw a brief sex scene at around two minutes into the movie (with bare breasts and hairy buttocks), I was worried about watching anymore because I did not want to get in trouble for watching racy movies at the gym. At around four minutes into the movie, I was frustrated with the movie because I was not finding it funny; neither the animated intro, the grown-man-making-crayon-drawings joke, or "Kevin Bacon likes eggs" warranted laughs from me. When it got to the point that the man's coworker started talking graphically about his wife's promiscuity, I gave up on the movie again and turned on something I knew I liked.

Without watching the movie in its entirety, it strikes me that its only draw is the promise of a dorky, shlubby loser (I think my coworker has a bobblehead of the actor in her office) donning a red superhero outfit. Is it like Kick-Ass? I don't think that I liked Kick-Ass.

So, I would appreciate if someone who has seen the film can give me insight. Thanks!

[Afgncaap5]

Can't help ya with that movie, though I'd be curious to know someone's thoughts on Spirited Away, because I've had lots of people recommend it to me as "something I would like", but people also said the same thing about Ponyo. And Ponyo was a good movie, but it wasn't something I liked (in fact, I'd say it's one of the strongest examples I know of "things that are good but I really don't enjoy them.")

I don't know if people recommended it because they know I like fairy tale stuff or folklore (and it looks like it's got that), or if people recommended it because they think I'm a person who watches Anime (I'm generally not, Cowboy Bebop notwithstanding). So... I dunno. It's on my list, but I wouldn't mind someone talking about it. I'm assuming it's good, I just don't know if it'll be appealing.

[The Mad Plumber]

Feb 13, 2017 2:36:28 GMT -5 Afgncaap5 said:

... I'd be curious to know someone's thoughts on Spirited Away ...

Let me note two warnings. First, it may have been over five years since I have last watched Spirited Away, and it is not a movie that I have at home currently. Second, for a while, I was somebody who liked anime, or at least I was led to believe I liked anime. However, I have become increasingly disgusted with anime in general and particularly disgusted with anime fans. So, I might actually have the objectiveness that you desire.

Spirited Away is about Chihiro, a girl who is resentful about having to move to a new home. While driving, her mother and father discover a buffet of food at what they believed was an abandoned amusement park. The food is cursed and transforms Chihiro's parents into pigs. Chihiro finds herself trapped in a spirit world and, until she can break the spell on her parents, she must take employment at the bathhouse that caters to various spirits and monsters.

I somewhat suspect that the recommendations that you got for this film are from people who self-proclaim this as being their absolute favorite film. I have the cynical belief that people only proclaim this film as their favorite only out of personal vanity and ego. When they call Spirited Away their favorite, it is their way of patting themselves on the back for having the good sense to like something so cultural.

Nonetheless, it was an entertaining film. It is exemplary of Hayao Miyazaki's good taste in storytelling and animation. The film is pretty lighthearted and not violent like films such as Nausicca and Princess Mononoke. The bizarre imagery might be a hurdle. The world of spirits features anthropomorphic frogs and radishes, disembodied heads, a man with spider-like limbs, a masked wraith of sorts, and a nauseating giant half-naked baby.

Disney has this obnoxious protocol where they cast objectionable celebrities as voice actors for these Studio Ghibli, such as Jada Pinkett-Smith in Princess Mononoke and Shia LaBeouff in Nausicca. Spirited Away, as far as I can tell, does not feature any objectionable celebrities in its cast. The most recognizable voice in the cast is John Ratzenberger, and he is most certainly the furthest thing from objectionable.

My gripe with the movie is that it lacks a climactic ending. More or less, Chihiro's dilemma is painlessly resolved. I have a hard time remembering all of the humor, but the funniest bit I remember is when the wraith goes on a vomiting rampage through the bathhouse and crosses paths with the matron.

So, in my opinion, Spirited Away is a good and entertaining film. HOWEVER, it is not the classic that everyone would like to argue. Princess Mononoke and Nausicca are generally superior movies, and Kiki's Delivery Service still remains my favorite.

[Deleted]

Mmm, I would like it if someone were to look at the obscure horror film Inside with Luke Goss. I'd review it myself but... I socially know some people who worked on it. 

[Afgncaap5]

Feb 13, 2017 22:35:29 GMT -5 The Mad Plumber said:

Feb 13, 2017 2:36:28 GMT -5 Afgncaap5 said:

... I'd be curious to know someone's thoughts on Spirited Away ...

Let me note two warnings. First, it may have been over five years since I have last watched Spirited Away, and it is not a movie that I have at home currently. Second, for a while, I was somebody who liked anime, or at least I was led to believe I liked anime. However, I have become increasingly disgusted with anime in general and particularly disgusted with anime fans. So, I might actually have the objectiveness that you desire.

Spirited Away is about Chihiro, a girl who is resentful about having to move to a new home. While driving, her mother and father discover a buffet of food at what they believed was an abandoned amusement park. The food is cursed and transforms Chihiro's parents into pigs. Chihiro finds herself trapped in a spirit world and, until she can break the spell on her parents, she must take employment at the bathhouse that caters to various spirits and monsters.

I somewhat suspect that the recommendations that you got for this film are from people who self-proclaim this as being their absolute favorite film. I have the cynical belief that people only proclaim this film as their favorite only out of personal vanity and ego. When they call Spirited Away their favorite, it is their way of patting themselves on the back for having the good sense to like something so cultural.

Nonetheless, it was an entertaining film. It is exemplary of Hayao Miyazaki's good taste in storytelling and animation. The film is pretty lighthearted and not violent like films such as Nausicca and Princess Mononoke. The bizarre imagery might be a hurdle. The world of spirits features anthropomorphic frogs and radishes, disembodied heads, a man with spider-like limbs, a masked wraith of sorts, and a nauseating giant half-naked baby.

Disney has this obnoxious protocol where they cast objectionable celebrities as voice actors for these Studio Ghibli, such as Jada Pinkett-Smith in Princess Mononoke and Shia LaBeouff in Nausicca. Spirited Away, as far as I can tell, does not feature any objectionable celebrities in its cast. The most recognizable voice in the cast is John Ratzenberger, and he is most certainly the furthest thing from objectionable.

My gripe with the movie is that it lacks a climactic ending. More or less, Chihiro's dilemma is painlessly resolved. I have a hard time remembering all of the humor, but the funniest bit I remember is when the wraith goes on a vomiting rampage through the bathhouse and crosses paths with the matron.

So, in my opinion, Spirited Away is a good and entertaining film. HOWEVER, it is not the classic that everyone would like to argue. Princess Mononoke and Nausicca are generally superior movies, and Kiki's Delivery Service still remains my favorite.

Thankie kindly!