from filmjourney… I find the mystery in Miyazaki’s films to be one of their greatest pleasures, expanding their worlds with each viewer’s imagination. When I was a kid, I loved to scratch my head. Not that Miyazaki crafts puzzling films; his cinema is highly accessible and entertaining at any age, yet he’s a filmmaker who also appreciates how a few unanswered questions in the right places can enrich a fantasy story. Read more
Today’s Reel News is up, featuring your big opportunity to work for Disney for no pay, promoting a “masterpiece” that nobody’s seen! P.S. Narniacs aren’t the real problem. The real problem comes from nicknamaniacs who must put a label on everything and everybody. Read more
No, I haven’t posted my full review of Howl’s Moving Castle yet, nor have I posted any of the interviews I’ve been promising for so long. (The interview with producer Ralph Winter is finished, and it’ll be posted at CT Movies soon.) (more…) Read more
Over on the Feedback page of Christianity Today Movies, Mark Moring has posted some more of the letters responding to the reviews there. There are some interesting reactions to Peter T. Chattaway’s interview with Brian Flemming, the self-described “Christian atheist” and his claims that Jesus didn’t exist. (I posted a link to this last week.) There are also some forceful reactions to reviews of Cinderella Man and The Longest Yard. Nothing terribly surprising, but as always, very interesting. Read more
Today’s specials: HALLIWELL’S TOP 1,000 MOVIES INCLUDES SURPRISES I’d like to see the full list, because I’m really quite impressed with the Top 100. There are some brave and smart choices here that differ from the usual Citizen Kane-happy lists. The grand list-maker explains his work here. Have you seen this film? You should. PINK PANTHER PULLED; FILMMAKERS SECRETLY ASK THEMSELVES “WHAT WERE WE THINKING?” Well, actually, the operative word is “postponed.” After a wave of early-screening bad reviews, it... Read more
I’ve been invited to participate in this, but, doggone it, it’s happening during the same weekend as an out-of-town vacation I planned months ago. So I encourage YOU to go, watch, enjoy, discuss, and be glad that Seattle’s the kind of town willing to put on a festival like this one. June 16-18 Local churches have come together to present The Film Fest on Justice to support the International Justice Mission and their efforts to open an office in Rwanda.... Read more
David Brooks finds his perspective on the African crisis changing. “I came here expecting despair, but now realize that we should be redoubling our efforts out of a sense of opportunity.” Personally, I’ve been thrilled by the headlines this week about new aid for Africa. This is, indeed, significant progress. But we still have such a long way to go. Meanwhile, nobody’s making more noise about the need for aid in Africa than you-know-who. Read more
Today’s specials: (more…) Read more
Adam Walter wants you to know that the first film ever made based on Haruki Murakami’s work is “as good as anything [he’s] seen in the past five years.” Adam posted this in the comments earlier, but it deserves a post of its own: I’ll just say watch for Tony Takitani, the first feature film adapted from the work of Haruki Murakami. The film was actually made last year in Japan but has been shown this year at Sundance and... Read more
Today’s specials: U2 HEARTS ARCADE FIRE In the new issue of Mojo, you’ll find a disc featuring songs that Bono and the boys think you should hear. And I hate to say “I told ya so” but there’s an Arcade Fire track on there. (Thanks, Opus, for the heads’ up. ASTONISHING!! JESUS WASN’T REAL! Peter T. Chattaway interviews Brian Flemming. D’OH! Nancy Cartwright confirms it… A feature film of The Simpsons is in production. AN ANSWER TO SO MANY PRAYERS... Read more
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