Movie reviews

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY

Recommended. This sci-fi trip into the game world builds on latest mobile technologies to attract the most discerning geek. Mind-blowing CGIs and optical effects will lure you even if you have no clue who LeBron James is. Steven Yeun was more familiar to me - he's got an episode as one of Warner Bros. executives. WB features heavily, together with HBO, partly to build their future audience but adults will be entertained too. Characters from "Game of Thrones", "Harry Potter", "It", "Matrix", "A Clockwork Orange", "The Wizard of Oz", "Mask", "Batman & Robin", "Batman Returns", "King Kong", DC universe, name it, make appearances. The two basketball teams are called Squads. Al-G at some point dons large glasses in round silver frames like Steve Jobs. Surfaces reflect colours, spatial geometric figures give the impression of 3D. Excellent music accompanies the wonderful visuals. Lots of action, a heartfelt ending without being sappy. The post-credit is just a voice telling you it's the end.

I got to the movie a few minutes late due to Cinema City having a joint ticket and bar check-out and insufficient staff. During the time one lady was serving a bunch of kids, at least three other people managed to buy their tickets at a different check-out - once the extra person arrived. 

3RD WARSAW ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL

I'm going to watch the rest online, on e-kinopodbaranami.pl - a very friendly place, they respond via their Facebook fanpage immediately and try to help if you experience any problem. Now I have 10 more film sets available to watch so, instead of stopping and reviewing each individual animation, I'll review full sets in my attempt to see as many as my time allows.

ARS ELECTRONICA 2020

8 watchable: "Recursive Truth", "The Entropy Gardens", "Serial Parallels", "This Means More", "In Her Boots", "Bodyless", "Thicc Seams", "Time o' the Signs", 3 recommended. The set diversifies animation styles and techniques, created worlds and subject matter. Each film is interesting in its own way. The first four combine surreal scenery with captivating music, the next two are on the quiet side - not counting human voices, the last five are each different. Some of the films deserve a special mention due to their utter creativity - whether achieved through complexity or simplicity:

INFINITELY YOURS

Recommended. This film writes into the environmental subject as a pregnant woman wonders what world she'll bring her baby into. Top-notch electronic music means it watches like a music video clip, without moralising.

UNDERGROUND CIRCUIT

Recommended. Large Chinese blocks of flats flash in front of your eyes till you feel entrapped. Memorable.

BODYLESS

Watchable. It's a bit all over the shop but the finale with weightless bodies in a derelict building and an exterminator fumigating the ground is chilling.

COMING HOME

Recommended. A tongue-in-cheek tale of Americans returning where they all originate from.

TIME O' THE SIGNS

Watchable. On how signs: an alarm, badges, pedometers etc. rule our world nowadays -some food for thought, sadly with rudimentary animation and annoying sounds.