Mulan
Without comparing this to the 1998 film, there is merit in the story and the
spectacle and it’s an uplifting tale of bravery and honour BUT because this is
a live action Disney film, the fact that characters are very much
altered/added, there are no songs and Mulan’s character is changed beyond
recognition. The agency of our heroine’s character is about saving her father but
here, she’s a tomboy, has some special power and is already a warrior. The
development of Mulan’s being is all off balance which makes the film off centre.
This was such a missed opportunity. 3/5
Babyteeth
Full review can be read over at Filmhounds
HERE. 3/5
Freaky
Just when you thought that body swapping films were dead and buried, you’re
hit with a gory as hell comedy(ish) horror where Vince Vaughn plays a teenage girl.
Beginning with usual slasher deaths and intrigue including a special knife that
allows you trade bodies. Then the film launches into a blood bath with revenge
deaths handled by the serial killer while the heroine is trapped in a man’s
body running around town with her friends trying to catch said killer. It’s
very entertaining. 4/5
Undertaking Betty
With cast that features ‘award nominated/winning’ before their names
deserves a watch especially as the cast features Christopher Walken as a funeral
director with outlandish ideas and yes, he does dance at some point. Betty and
Boris (the other funeral director in the small Welsh town) are in love but they
can only be together if they fake Betty’s death, apparently. There are so many
bizarre things in the film it was pleasant surprise of a film that could have
easily been terrible. 3/5
Soul
Pixar has a way of breaking into your mind, heart and now, soul too. A
beautifully illustrated story about a musician who's been looking for his big
break, obsessed with Jazz and focused not much else. Joe looks back at his life
and it’s not filled with great memories or achievements or at least this is
what he sees in himself so instead of thinking of taking stock of his life, he
continues to obsess about his one big shot which he was so close to before he
ended up in the great beyond. The detour he takes is trying to convince another
would be soul to take the journey but of course this soul doesn’t want to go.
The clashes between characters is very clear and from this meeting you can
predict what happens next which doesn’t take away the heartfelt moments but it
does make for a less exciting story. I also wonder, as did most people, how was
this aimed at children? There is practically nothing that young children could
enjoy. Most of the existential discussions will go far over most children’s
heads. But if this was really for adults to enjoy then, it makes sense. 3/5
