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Reviews
Suchîmubôi (2004)
A visual masterpiece, if somewhat lacking otherwise...
With a movie as critically acclaimed as Akira behind you, it's got to be difficult to meet expectations. Still, Steamboy is a nice attempt. Steamboy certainly has some of the most amazing animation you're likely to see, anywhere. The depth and detail in Steamboy will sometimes leave you awestruck- I couldn't believe the level of intricate detail in the designs. This is a world of clockwork wonders, and every last cog and piston is animated with breathtaking care.
The biggest shortcoming of Steamboy is that too much of the film seems like an excuse to show off such beautiful animation. That is, the story frequently seems like an afterthought. This isn't to say that the story is *bad,* but it doesn't have near the level of refinement or depth that Akira has. It's a capable enough story, but there are frequent moments where it's clear that events are more an excuse for pretty animation and special effects, and less a means to further story or character development.
Despite that, Steamboy is a great piece of animation. Go in with reasonable expectations, and enjoy the ride.
Les revenants (2004)
Great concept, but shaky execution...
"They Came Back" has some really neat things going on- the concept being presented is really interesting, and definitely worth watching. What happens when the dead come back? What happens when the dead come back, but they're not bloodthirsty monsters, but, rather, seem to be *fairly* close to "normal?" They can talk, and remember some of who they used to be. It's an interesting idea, and the movie starts off well enough, looking at how a town copes with the return of all of these people. The problem is that it never really gets going. There are scenes that seem designed to make you think that these beings *could* turn into the standard brain-eaters... but to what purpose? In the end, there are too many questions left unanswered for this to be really satisfying. I don't need everything spelled out on a billboard for me, but I expect the director to at least see the story through. I need something to work with- an explanation for what made them come back, or what their goals were, or where they were going. Shoot, I'd have settled for an explanation for why the explosions or for why the zombies felt drawn to a particular place. Still, it's worth watching for a different take on the "return from the dead" idea, and even if it's not ultimately satisfying, there's obviously a great concept there.
Soul Survivors (2001)
Huge letdown...
Soul Survivors is a messy, poorly thought-out movie that relies on tired clichés and a cop-out ending.
One of the problem is that there are simply too many events that don't make sense and too many questions that remain unanswered in light of the ending. How did she end up with the necklace? Why were did her friends turn on her and try to keep her there? Who were the murderers? In addition, the ending is ridiculously obvious for too long. It's not shocking or surprising, and is a tremendous cop-out. This particular ending has been a tired cliché for decades. It's no less tired when it's induced by an accident.
I couldn't help but feel annoyed by the movie- There aren't any real thrills to be found here beyond a few cheap jump-shots, and the characters are, for the most part, annoying and unpleasant (in one scene, a girl's "friend"/ex-boyfriend has sex with her while she's asleep... and she continues to associate with him?). As a horror movie, it completely lacks horror, and there are far better thrillers out there.