What a surprise & relief!
This film is great. At last, a really good film aimed at children, but still suitable for adults of any age...and without resorting to any swearing or sexualizing the cast (no lascivious clothing, the now standard Hollywood open pouty mouthed looks of submission / unnecessary lipstick on young girls, compulsive romance between main characters etc).
Incredible & unexpected- I'd given up on any decent, well made films for children being possible in the modern age...
I can't stand review that just regurgitate the plot, so without giving anything away I urge anyone interested in Science/Speculative Fiction to check this film out. The story is a different take on the 'Conceit of Scientific Progress' & has great resonance for todays youth ...& adults. It also pays homage to cinema classics from Asia (Ultrman/ Inframan ! ) & Manga . Effectively this film explores the modern Myths of the tele-visual age with style & insight. Everything about it is brilliantly done, from considerate direction & production values to the acting & soundtrack, There isn't a boring moment in its brief running time - a sequel should be mandatory...
The only negative points- for those who are really fussy- There are a couple of 'No Way' moments that are still reasonable within the films slightly stretched 'logic', and some of the characters don't have the time to be more fully realised, yet these are very minor quibbles for a film that's so enjoyable & manages to impart very serious questions regarding the effect of modern technology on susceptible minds / modern Humanity. It may have been even better if it was 10-15 minutes longer! It does look as if one scene was cut.
This film is harder hitting than nearly all the recent junk I've watched/reviewed. The director has previously been involved in some excellent documentaries, let's hope he continues making intelligent cinema like this. All the irritating elements of 'young modern film makers are absent from this - ie: out of focus-shaky cam-strobe edited- brain bludgeoning soundtrack/effects levels & contrived dialogue... Instead this is imaginative, really well made entertainment with a good heart , sense of humor & serious/important intent... & numerous quotable lines. Maybe that's why it's been ignored by the critics?
My rating is 8 to 9 , out of 10 compared with all films. & 10/10 for a children's (genre) film.
Note- watch all of the film including the credits until the very end...
I can't stand review that just regurgitate the plot, so without giving anything away I urge anyone interested in Science/Speculative Fiction to check this film out. The story is a different take on the 'Conceit of Scientific Progress' & has great resonance for todays youth ...& adults. It also pays homage to cinema classics from Asia (Ultrman/ Inframan ! ) & Manga . Effectively this film explores the modern Myths of the tele-visual age with style & insight. Everything about it is brilliantly done, from considerate direction & production values to the acting & soundtrack, There isn't a boring moment in its brief running time - a sequel should be mandatory...
The only negative points- for those who are really fussy- There are a couple of 'No Way' moments that are still reasonable within the films slightly stretched 'logic', and some of the characters don't have the time to be more fully realised, yet these are very minor quibbles for a film that's so enjoyable & manages to impart very serious questions regarding the effect of modern technology on susceptible minds / modern Humanity. It may have been even better if it was 10-15 minutes longer! It does look as if one scene was cut.
This film is harder hitting than nearly all the recent junk I've watched/reviewed. The director has previously been involved in some excellent documentaries, let's hope he continues making intelligent cinema like this. All the irritating elements of 'young modern film makers are absent from this - ie: out of focus-shaky cam-strobe edited- brain bludgeoning soundtrack/effects levels & contrived dialogue... Instead this is imaginative, really well made entertainment with a good heart , sense of humor & serious/important intent... & numerous quotable lines. Maybe that's why it's been ignored by the critics?
My rating is 8 to 9 , out of 10 compared with all films. & 10/10 for a children's (genre) film.
Note- watch all of the film including the credits until the very end...