Frostbiten - Frostbitten

Frostbiten - Frostbitten
Sweden (2006)
Starring:  Petra Nielsen, Carl-Ake Eriksson, Grete Havenskold
Awards: International Fantasy Film Award (Fantasporto 2006):  Best Film; Festival Trophy (Screamfest 2006):  Best music Score

Frostbitten is a slightly twisted vampire movie.  When I say twisted in this case it's because it is a uniquely strange vampire movie (as far as vampire movies go).  There is little about the movie that can be taken seriously; it is slightly off balance fusion of horror and comedy.  I guess if you're a vampire movie lover check it out... if you're not a vampire movie lover, I'd walk right by it at the movie store.

Goemon

Goemon
Japan (2009)
Starring:  Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Ohsawa, Ryoko Hirosue

I'm just going to open this up with the fact most of Goemon was visually stunning.  Between the scene settings whose detail was amazing to match the period, the fight scenes, and some pretty good CGI this movie was one of the most impressive that I've seen in a while.  With that said there were some periods of the movie where I caught myself thinking, "just get on with it."  All in all though it was phenomenal.

The story itself is based off of a mythic legend from the 1500's in Japan.  Goemon was somewhere between a simple thief, a runaway ninja, or the son of a samurai family.  The story of Goemon is mirrors that of Robin Hood.  He was a man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.  His fighting skills have grown to nearly super-legendary levels over the past few hundred years.  In truth little is really known about hit, but that doesn't change the fact that his legend lives on.  Today a round cauldron like bathtub is still named after him Japan.

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
USA (2010)
Starring:  Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley

Based on a series of books I haven't read since I was about five, I found this installment of C. S. Lewis's books to be what I expected.  The details of the story I had long forgotten so most of the movie was not as familiar as you might expect of someone who had read the book.  It seems like there are some occurrences that weren't in the book and of course many that were in the book that weren't in the movie.  Still, all in all, I was pleasantly surprised by what I watched.  If I was my little brother's age I would have loved this movie, I am sure.

While the classics aren't represented in their entirety I am enjoying the surge of movies written with a classic literature or historic background that have been coming out in the past 10 years.  This one especially so.  For everyone who can remember being a kid and reading this book by flashlight or candlelight long after you should have been asleep I thoroughly recommend allowing this movie to take you back to the times when magical things were possible in your mind.

Valhalla Rising

Valhalla Rising
Denmark (2009)
Starring:  Mads Mikkelsen, Maarten Stevenson, Alexander Morton
Awards:  International Fantasy Film Award - Special Mention ( 2010 Fantasporto); International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award (2010 Fantasporto)

The first thing that I noticed about this movie was the scenery which was consistently stunning all the way though.  The film itself was dark and not just in story, but in the actual brightness as well.  There is limited dialog and so much is inferred through the actions, travels, and cinematography.

I enjoy the concept of Viking, Nordic, and other Scandinavian tales so I decided to give the one a whirl.  I'm pretty sure I won't do that again - just wasn't my type of movie or storytelling.

There is a fair amount of blood and some fight scenes for those of you who are after that.  There is also a good underlying tale and moral to the story about trying to conquer lands that aren't yours.  I really enjoyed the part of humans acting on behalf of God or in his name.  The superstition that is projected from those in the native land of this movie from  a millenia ago was fairly amusing, for about 5 minutes.  If you find something you like in this movie I'd enjoy hearing about it.

Stardust

Stardust
2007
Starring:  Clarlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Ben Barnes, & Michelle Pfeiffer

Stardust begins in a small English village that lies just beyond the outer edge of a fantasy kingdom.  The only way between the two different worlds is over a wall at the edge of the town.  Beware of the guardian!  This movie is a tale replete with magic, comedy, lost family, falling stars, witches, kings, spirits, adventure, the struggle between dark & light, and love.  It will be enjoyed by nearly everyone.

For the fantasy genre lovers out there Stardust is a must see; I thoroughly recommend it.

Quote:  "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?"

Mr. Nobody

Mr. Nobody
2009
Starring:  Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, and Diane Kruger

Mr. Nobody has a misleading title.  For a while the title sounded kind of depressing, but don't let that scare you off; the movie is phenomenal in its own rights.

The movie continuously uses Schroedinger's Cat theory as a base for a temporal exposition that left me in awe.  I am a fan of the movie on two parts.  The first is because of a foundation of physics used through the movie and the second is the story itself.  This in essence is another movie on life, but it portrays it in a very entertaining and easy to follow manner.


About all I can tell you without spoiling the movie is that it begins in the year 2092 and Nemo is the last mortal on earth.

Mr. Nobody received awards at the Catalonian, Stockholm, and Venice film festivals.

Quote: "Nothing is real, everything is possible."

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