thelittlecheez Reviews

Finding Nemo (2003)

Up there with The Nightmare Before Christmas and Toy Story.

[10/10 · 25 April 2004]

When I originally saw the poster for this film (big empty space with a single fish), I instantly wanted to watch it, as I thought it was just beautiful. However, then I saw the trailers, and thought it just looked like a typical cutesy disney kids film.

Today I watched it on VHS, and realised that my original ideas of what it would be like were indeed accurate. Within five minutes of the film starting, we given one of the most emotive scenes I've ever seen in a children's film, and it actually makes you feel stupid for getting so worked up over a film which is meant for children!

The story is predictable, which is understandable as I doubt Pixar wanted to bewilder the children. However, this is made up for as the character development is great, as we see the isolated culture of the fish tank, and the class system between the different sea creatures (crabs being simple tramps, turtles being richer 'californian' thrillseekers etc.)

The way the film has been made is also great, with the amazing endless underwater landscapes, and the brilliant musical score from Thomas Newman (American Beauty, Six Feet Under). The film has the poetry of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, with the tongue-in-cheek humour of Toy Story, and the emotion of Watership Down, making it one of the best children's films I have ever been fortunate enough to see.

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Tarantino good, Stone... not so much.

[19 April 2004]

I thought the Bonnie and Clyde-esque story for this film was really good, albeit very unoriginal (the story practically IS bonnie and clyde, including a scene where Malory walks off in a huff in the middle of nowhere, much like Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde). The script was pretty good, although nothing to write home about.

*possible spoiler... but i doubt it*

However, I do feel that this film is hellishly overrated. There is some really good camerawork, especially of the shots of Tommy Lee Jones in the prison. Other than this, I found the cinematography really irritating. It seems that Oliver Stone just tried to add as much 'innovation' to the film as possible, and inevitably failed. The reason for this is that he switches between colours, and projects media images onto the walls, without any real reason. It means nothing, it's just Stone trying to be clever. This film would have been considerably better if Tarantino had directed it, and wrote the screenplay. However, it was still an enjoyable viewing, and so I'll give it 6 out of 10.

Rejected (2000)

Possibly the greatest short?

[10/10 · 27 October 2003]

I went round my friend's house once, and he showed me this cartoon. It is possibly one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Right from the beginning, we see something so wonderfully non-sensicle, as a cartoon boy holding a large spoon, ranting 'my spoon is too big', and then a banana enter and state that he is a banana. The general idea of the film is that it is a series of adverts made for the family learning channel, and various different food products, which were rejected. As the film goes on, we see Don's confidence in creating cartoons gradually fall, as he descents into madness, drawing cartoons with his left hand with bizarre backwards talking, until eventually, his world collapses. The funniest part is probably where we see a fluffy cloud type thing preaching about how great everything is. His anus then starts to bleed and eventually he is washed away by the blood. I urge anyone with a sense of humour to get hold of this short, as there is a good chance you could wet yourself watching it.

Meeting People Is Easy (1998)

a good insite beyond the rock n roll lifestyle.

[10/10 · 11 August 2003]

This rockumentry is not like most. It is far more honest about the rock and roll lifestyle, showing that, like anything else that pays, it is still a job. The only downside is that it will encourage people who always accuse radiohead of being depressing to continue. It has, however, got a lot to offer radiohead fans, although not so much now. The DVD contains several songs which were, or still are, unreleased. Including 'how to disappear completely' (2000), 'I will' (2003), 'life in a glasshouse' (2001), and songs which are still unreleased such as 'follow me around' and 'big boots (man-o-war)'. another downside with the dvd itself is that the whole dvd is just one scene. however, this is a definate must for radiohead fans.