A WORK OF GENIUS!
I've just (finally!) seen "The Illusionist" and I have to say it is a wonderful film of great, great beauty!
However, don't expect the usual loud and fast Hollywood stereotypical animated movie. This is instead a beautifully-observed, reflective, incredibly-designed masterwork of subtle storytelling that takes animation into brave - almost Zen-like - new worlds. Jacques Tati would be stumbling over himself to see this film and applaud! Its truly wonderful - and I can't wait to see it again!
At last, someone (beyond Miyazaki) is bringing 'art' back to the art-form! The backgrounds and lighting alone are superb. Breathtaking at times!
I'm sure "Toy Story 3" will win the Oscar this year - and that is indeed an accomplished film too. But for true animated innovation and genius, Sylvan Chomet deserves a special gong for simply bringing this masterwork into existence. And the analogy of a fading 2D world in the face of 3D is not missed here either! (Although I would insist that this film is yet another triumph for the untiring and undaunted "Animaticus Drawersaurus" - and just goes to prove that 2D is most assuredly not quite 'dead' yet!)
I'm glad it's not loud and fast and stereotypical Hollywood... we've had enough of that! I loved "The Triplets of Belleville" and am looking forward to seeing this one, too. I just preordered the Blu-Ray from Amazon!
Reply to this
Isn't it amazing how even 3D movies (in the main) are already boring and stereotypical. It took 2D many decades to be like that but CG has done it in one! I thought Chris Landreth's "Ryan" might open imaginations as to what 3D might achieve as a breakthrough art-form but so far we're still stuck on 'stand-up comedy with animation' for movies - or 'science fantasy special effects'. Ho-hum! Maybe Sylvan Chomet will mark a big seed change on what animation is capable of - although the distributors have to play their part by promoting (dare I say 'educating') the public on approaches that are not just predictable 'cartoon'!
Reply to this