mike[space] dot net

On Saturday, Ro and I went and saw Speed Racer, the latest effort from the Wachowski brothers (those of Matrix fame). I was in the perfect frame of mind for it, I wanted a fast moving, loud, brash and fun adventure, and that's exactly what I got. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so bright, and it has a cartoon styling to it that works exceptionally well - a live action take on Japanese cartoons. It's absurdly fast, but unlike some of the money shots from the later Matrix films (the Burly Brawl for example), it never goes beyond the reach of the technology, or drags on for so long that you get bored. It's impossible to be bored by it, it's too bloody fast. Of course, you might find the story itself a little lacking, but this is not the film to watch if you want sophisticated twists and turns in your plot. Only if you want sophisticated twists and turns in your race cars. Disengage the thinking part of your mind, engage the inner child who simply wants the cinema to be exciting, and go enjoy yourself!

And then last night it was the turn of Jo to provide us with a movie for our regular film night, and she chose Garden State, starring, written and directed by the very cool Zach Braff (the narrating character from Scrubs). It's certainly a demonstration of his skills, as he produces a great looking, subtly performed film with plenty of heart and good humour. It basically follows Braff's character as he returns home after a 10 year absence to bury his mother, and work out what's been going wrong with his life. Natalie Portman is his guide through all this, and their relationship develops in a satisfyingly quirky way, backed up by the slightly odd friends that Braff still has. Backed up by a fantastic soundtrack, this is a good film that avoids being overbearing whilst still having something to say. Highly recommended ...