Artigianale Digitale

NETFLIX: Nearing the end of his life, Wang -- a locally renowned street performer and wizard of the venerable art of mask magic -- yearns to pass on his technique. But custom prescribes that he can only hand down his craft to a male successor. Anxious to preserve his unique art, the heirless Wang buys an impoverished 8-year-old on the black market. When the child divulges a dreaded secret, Wang faces a choice between filial love and societal tradition.

MY TAKE: This was a very dark film. Slave trading, child selling, kidnapping, corrupt police... all that was missing was cannibalism and cockfighting. I realize the time period was set in the 30's or 40's, but I'm unsure how much Chinese society has changed in it's views on women. The film ends well, if tearfully, and that is it's saving grace.

MY RATING:  (you'll never see Kai-Lan the same way again)

Tags: review, china
Categories: Movies

NETFLIX: Sang-Woo, a spoiled little South Korean boy, is spending the summer with his mute grandmother who lives up in the mountains. Over the course of the summer, Sang-Woo gets used to his grandmother, whom he used to make fun of, calling her a "retard." He also gets used to the simpler ways of life in the country and learns the importance of love and respect for one's family and elders.

MY TAKE: A very strong film. Sang-Woo needs an attitude-adjustment (read: kick in the pants), but his mute grandmother is nothing but kindness itself to him. Eventually this greedy, selfish brat learns in the hard life of the country your most valued possessions are love and family. Also, don't be fooled by the trailer, it turns out good in the end but it's a long hard road for Sang-Woo.

MY RATING:  (I've got to see this again!)

Tags: movie review, korean
Categories: Movies

NETFLIX: Whether at home or at school, 9-year-old Phoebe (Elle Fanning) always seems to get in trouble for breaking the rules. When her drama teacher (Patricia Clarkson) casts her in a production of "Alice in Wonderland," Phoebe begins to receive personal advice from the play's characters. Felicity Huffman, Bill Pullman and Campbell Scott also star in this fantastical tale about inspiration and overcoming adversity.

MY TAKE: An intriguing look at OCD & Turrets Syndrome, but fails on several levels. The principal and B&W psychologist are merely caricatures, but other characters are meant to be real (if you're going to script the adults as a child would see them, keep it consistent). All conflict in the movie could be cured by communication (makes for a frustrating film). The drama teacher is excellent, though becomes a martyr much like Dead Poets Society.

MY RATING:  (worth viewing)

Tags: movie review
Categories: Movies

NETFLIX: This quirky Sundance comedy from writer-director Mike Cahill chronicles the journey of a delusional father (Michael Douglas) who's convinced that a fabled treasure is buried somewhere beneath his Southern California suburb. His delinquent daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) -- a high school dropout who was abandoned by her mother and saw her father sent to a mental institution -- resists his ravings at first. But, eventually, she starts to believe.

MY TAKE: This was a very enjoyable film. Just enough believability to offset the implausibilities of the story line. A little strong language, but not overly so. There were A LOT of prominently displayed brand names throughout, whether this was meant to be a commentary on the sameness of society or just plain advertising isn't clear (I'm leaning to the latter). The funniest scenes are with the "Swingers," absolutely a priceless freeze-frame flashback scene. Ends in an unfortunate way, or it's open for a sequel.

MY RATING:  (weak ending may mean sequel)

Tags: movie review
Categories: Movies

MOVIE	RECEIVED	RETURNED
MY RATING:
Army of Darkness	07/21/09	08/06/09
MY RATING:
Gran Torino	07/03/09	07/15/09
MY RATING:
The Island on Bird Street	06/24/09	07/03/09
MY RATING:
The Butterfly	06/15/09	06/24/09
MY RATING:
The Chorus	06/08/09	06/15/09
MY RATING:
Super Size Me	05/27/09	06/08/09
MY RATING:
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day	05/08/09	05/19/09
MY RATING:
They Live	04/14/09	05/08/09
MY RATING:  (and that's being generous)
The Odd Couple II	04/06/09	04/14/09
MY RATING:
Quantum of Solace	04/01/09	04/06/09
MY RATING:
Hancock	02/03/09	02/23/09
MY RATING:
Hot Fuzz	01/27/09	02/03/09
MY RATING:
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian	01/07/09	01/27/09
MY RATING:
The Dark Knight	12/31/08	01/07/09
MY RATING:
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor	12/18/08	12/31/08
MY RATING:
WALL-E	11/07/08	11/18/08
II MY RATING:  III MY RATING:
Star Wars: Episode III	10/15/08	10/21/08
Star Wars: Episode II	10/07/08	10/15/08
MY RATING:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind	09/18/08	09/23/08
MY RATING:
The Bucket List	09/03/08	09/09/08
MY RATING:
My Man Godfrey	08/08/08	08/27/08
MY RATING:
National Treasure: Book of Secrets	07/01/08	07/24/08
MY RATING:
Metropolis	06/27/08	07/01/08
MY RATING:
My Neighbor Totoro	05/15/08	05/27/08
MY RATING:
The Cheap Detective	04/08/08	05/08/08
MY RATING:
I Am Legend	03/31/08	04/08/08
MY RATING:
Night at the Museum	03/21/08	03/25/08
MY RATING:
Pan's Labyrinth	03/14/08	03/21/08
MY RATING:
The Bourne Ultimatum	03/11/08	03/14/08

Tags: 2-do, movie review
Categories: Movies