The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus...(27/11)

The all-time formula on exploration of the imaginative world in front of the big scene of cinematography applies to blockbuster fans like me, as always. This one is more special - it is special because of the life and the death, or the snapshot and the eternity, and without the melancholic egoism, the clown was dancing in front of the theatre prop set, elegantly and colourfully... It is also about independent film production, an expensive purchase of invaluable imaginations. With a natural and peaceful mind to enter the off-realistic dynasty of mindful bubbles, it is a purification of ignorance and forgotten cruelness. Playing shadow, a trick of magician, a story-telling old man, a query-less absent-mind. This is the imaginarium of Dr Parnassus... make a choice not to choose now.

Baudolino says...(22/12)

Finished the work "Baudolino" of Umberto Eco in two weeks' time, and the first half of the story was a stunningly part which fully demonstrates the talent of Eco...It was a good plot having a story-telling character to tell a story from nowhere to a kaleidoscopic wonderland of Baudolino. We used to have the story of Marco Polo, Alice in the wonderland or the Chinese version's "Journey to the West", but then Eco's journey was a myth of labyrinth voyage of the Crusades. The propaganda holy grail in Da Vinci Code was also a designated mystery in Baudolino. The Prester John was the drive of the character to go through his decades of searching and actualising. I like the style of the story-telling, as stated by Baudolino, the story was true and fake. The second half of the story, though, pitched me an out-of-control space odyssey. There is a discussion on the location of Prester John's Empire during the middle ages, and seeing India as a probable destination is refutable and illogical. Some named Ethiopia as the other world of Christianity. When I was reading the novel of Eco, I did land on this piece of stereotypic land of unknown, spending a night in this country where tranquility favoured the silent starry sky. Stereotype and misunderstanding may not only exist in Babel or Baudolino's world, but ours. When people think Ethiopia is a state of nowhere or hunger or uncivilised, the Ethiopian may think that Hong Kong is a city of China where incubator is really in full blossom. Of course the cultural difference differentiates the definition of incubator. Rather than talking about our bankers' incubator, the Ethiopian I met did ask me the cost to buy an incubator which he thought is an important export from Hong Kong. I see the gadget.
In the mood of those magic journey plots in the Hollywood scene, I also visualise how Johnny Depp would take up the hat of Baudolino to preach his belief of Prester John in the coming years. Bonne chance!

Les Noces Funerbres...(26/10)

The new release of Tim Burton's work depicts an animated gothic world of a love story...Similar to his recent Chocolate Factory, he makes substantial use of musical way to present his story. Not with much surprise, the story consists of his typical type of characters and the distorted 'normal world'. A fusion of Edward the Scissor Man and the Mars Attack, the Corpse Bride simply differentiates the good and the bad guys, and as I am always fascinated, the nice little props design and scene set up are astonishing. The skeleton is no wonder the most attractive characters in the film.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...(21/7)

Watched the new work of Tim Burton, and Tim Burton never changes. Recently, the director is interested in telling us more about the love with the father...We have Big Fish, the recent work of Burton and now we have a story about Willy Wondka. The story itself provides large room for the director to develop, and he did, in his always legendary world of film. Johnny Deep is always a good partner of the film maker, and this time, he acted well the lonely chocolatier. Images are nice, and Burton keeps on expressing his thoughts about the individualism, hi-tech development and industrialisation, absurd growth path of new generation, sentiment of family love etc. in his story. A reflection of the modern world. There is no need to construct the development of story in detail, and in fact the storyline is quite straight forward and expecting...or even systematic I have to say. But the essence of the work is perhaps a satisfaction of the film maker to produce scenes of musical play (!?) like those in the Alice's World?? Without comparing this with other masterpieces of Burton, this is an interesting piece, yet lacks a bit cohesiveness and the element of pursuit to more the mystery and details of the character. The story of Willy Wondka can be more developable. This is actually a waste. If you are a fans of Burton, this may be a disappointing work, as there is not much new element we can find and the film just releases after the magnificent Big Fish...By the way, the chocolate looks very stunning in the film...(B-)