WHITE SNAKE -- A Gorgeously-Animated but Narratively Inconsistent Exploration of Mythology12/28/2019 Review by Sean Boelman  White Snake, directed by Jiakang Wang and Ji Zhao, is a new Chinese animated film rooted in one of the most well-known legends of Chinese folklore. Although the story could have used a bit more polish, the film’s roots in tradition and gorgeous animation make it worthy of a watch nonetheless. The film tells the story of a woman experiencing amnesia as she tries to rediscover her identity and her past with the help of a snake catcher. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this film is that the narrative is surprisingly complex for a film aimed at children. There are quite a few more moving parts in the story than is typical. However, even though this makes the film more involved than the usual children’s animated film, it also creates significant problems with pacing. Granted, the film has an undeniable energy about it, and that is what keeps the film entertaining, but it does become overwhelming at times. Younger audiences may have trouble keeping up with all of the different storylines and characters. Additionally, since the story is so chaotic, it is difficult to feel truly invested in the characters and their individual arcs. There are one or two characters whose stories are very compelling, but more often than not, viewers will be underwhelmed by the characters, and as a result, the film doesn’t resonate particularly well on an emotional level.  The voice acting in the film is also relatively lackluster. As is the case with many foreign animated films, the voice actors are extremely over-the-top. With animated films, the actors do not have the benefit of facial expressions to convey emotion (that responsibility lies with the animators), so it is much harder for them to achieve subtlety. The cast fails at doing this.
That said, the film’s biggest strength is incorporating elements of Chinese mythology in an interesting way. While there isn’t a ton of depth to the film’s exploration of these ideas, the filmmakers introduce them in a way that will encourage younger viewers to take a deeper look into the foundations of the story. The animation from Light Chaser Animation is also very strong. The visual style of the film is very unique, each frame from the film feeling like a work of art in its own right. Even when the story isn’t as compelling as one would hope, the awe-inspiring look of the film is sure to keep viewers’ eyes locked on the screen completely. The script for White Snake could have used a bit more work, but its foundations in folklore are extremely compelling, and the animation is quite intriguing. It is certainly one of the year’s most unique animated films. White Snake is now playing in theaters. Rating: 3/5
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S1E8: "Chapter 8: Redemption"Review by Sean Boelman  Jason Sudekis and Adam Pally are Scout Troopers in THE MANDALORIAN, exclusively on Disney+. Picking up after the massive cliffhanger at the end of Chapter Seven, the season finale of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian delivers a thrilling, if somewhat overwhelming conclusion to the saga of the Star Wars universe’s new favorite bounty hunter. Thanks to excellent direction from Taika Waititi, this episode lands firmly on the higher end of the series in terms of quality.
One of the defining characteristics of this series is that it allows the directors’ individual voices to shine through. Since a majority of the episodes (the last two excluded) are relatively self-contained adventures, there is a lot of room for each filmmaker to bring their own style to the table. In Waititi’s case, this allows the series’s final episode to be the most comedic one yet. While there have been plenty of humorous quips throughout the series, the first ten minutes of this episode serve as a welcome comedic relief to the constant anxiety that the previous episode caused. That said, there is still some very impressive action in this episode. With a longer runtime than any other episode of the show, there’s a lot happening here, and part of it is that Favreau is trying to set up the future of the series. Although there are some developments in this episode that may come as a shock to fans, the quality of this episode fully implies that Favreau and crew have plenty left to explore in this story, if only they keep up the spirit of creativity that it has inspired. The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. Rating: 4.5/5 CHICHINETTE: THE ACCIDENTAL SPY -- A Compelling WWII Documentary with an Extraordinary Subject12/25/2019 Review by Sean Boelman  Chichinette: The Accidental Spy, directed by Nicola Hens, is a new documentary film focusing on an unsung hero from WWII. Although it doesn’t quite take full advantage of its extraordinary subject and her stranger-than-fiction story, it is still a relatively entertaining and inspiring documentary. The movie tells the story of Marthe Cohn, a now ninety-eight-year-old Jewish woman who served as a spy during WWII and has gone on to become a prolific speaker talking about her own story. Although there have been plenty of stories about spies during the war, and also plenty of stories about the Jewish people fighting back against oppression, very seldom are these stories told from a female perspective. Pretty much everything about Cohn’s story is extremely inspiring, from fighting for what she believed in to teaching others about compassion. People of all ages can see her story and how she made a positive impact on the world in which she lived and be inspired to leave their own mark on the people around them. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Cohn is that, even at the age of ninety-eight, she continues to help people in her own way. As is the case with many films about WWII, the main moral of this story is to treat others with humanity. By looking back at the darkest hour and those people, like Cohn, who remained a source of light, society can learn how to deal with the other troubles they may face.  As one would expect, Cohn is an extremely compelling protagonist. Although she doesn’t show a lot of growth over the course of the movie, she had already completed her emotional arc before the camera ever turned on her. All of the interviews with Cohn are absolutely captivating thanks to her magnetic personality that comes across very well on screen.
The most significant shortcoming of the film is that it is a bit unevenly paced. Even though the movie is less than an hour and a half long, it does start to feel a bit repetitive at times. Some of these derivative sequences could have been cut out and the film as a whole could have been even more captivating. On a technical level, the movie is quite strong. Hens tells Cohn’s story with a combination of archive images, interviews with Cohn, and footage from some of Cohn’s speeches about her experiences. While this combination of methods is pretty safe and typical, it is effective nonetheless because it conveys the story in a relatively concise and aesthetically-pleasing way. Chichinette: The Accidental Spy may be made in a relatively by-the-book way, but the story is by no means average. Because the film’s subject is so fascinating, this documentary ends up being quite satisfying. Chichinette: The Accidental Spy is now playing in theaters. Rating: 4/5 Review by Sean Boelman  The fourth and final entry into the Donnie Yen-starring martial arts saga, Ip Man 4: The Finale concludes the story of the Kung Fu grandmaster who taught icon Bruce Lee. Although it isn't an entirely satisfying conclusion to the series, it is still another fun and stylish action flick with some great action sequences. The film follows Ip Man as he travels to the U.S. in the hopes of finding a school for his son to attend, only to find himself in the middle of a battle between the martial arts community and the unorthodox (and controversial) teaching style of Bruce Lee. Ultimately, this entry offers much of what fans have been waiting for from the series, as it contains the strongest connection yet to the protagonist’s (arguably) more famous protégé. However, perhaps the biggest issue with this movie is that there are way too many subplots. In addition to Ip Man’s main quest of making accommodations for his son after his passing and the prominent side quest of dealing with Bruce Lee’s impact on the martial arts community in the States, there are also subplots about a young girl being bullied and a military officer trying to prove that Kung Fu is an inferior martial art. Unfortunately, since there is so much going on, there is no way for all of them to feel fully-developed. Additionally, the film is very heavy-handed with the way in which it addresses its themes. A majority of the runtime is spent exploring the idea of inclusion, whether the American characters’ racism towards the Chinese characters or the Chinese Benevolent Association’s unwillingness to accept outsiders. From the beginning of the movie, it is clear that the filmmakers hope to promote inclusivity in all aspects of life.  As a martial arts film, this delivers a handful of very good action sequences that are sure to be memorable. Granted, the focus isn’t as much on the action, the main purpose of the movie being to pay homage to the grandmaster by telling the events of the later part of his life. Still, the conflicts that do happen are choreographed and shot in a way that is thoroughly entertaining.
On a technical level, the film is definitely a bit messy, but the flaws in the movie help lend it a greater sense of visual energy. The kinetic cinematography is aggressive but still works quite well. The chaotic editing goes a long way in making the film feel more urgent even though the movie is rooted in its character arcs. These things help preserve the narrative momentum that is chopped up by the messy narrative. Donnie Yen is obviously very comfortable in his role as the eponymous martial artist, and as a result, he is endlessly fun to watch. Without a doubt, Yen’s performance is the best part of the film and likely the main draw that keeps viewers coming back to the series. The rest of the cast, particularly the American actors such as Scott Adkins, are over-the-top and ineffective. Ip Man 4: The Finale may not be the best finale that this series could have had, but it is entertaining nonetheless. It isn’t necessary to have the context of the other entries to watch this movie, but those who are uninitiated into the series probably won’t find much to love in this messy sequel. Ip Man 4: The Finale is now playing in theaters. Rating: 3/5 Review by Sean Boelman  Taking its name from the Italian Christmas Eve tradition, Feast of the Seven Fishes is a new holiday romantic comedy sure to put viewers in the holiday spirit this season. Thanks to a witty script and great performances all-around from its talented ensemble, this is a charming and heartfelt indie comedy to add to the required holiday viewing list. The film tells the story of a large family preparing for their Christmas Eve celebration as they look back at their past and think about their future. Although this is a relatively simple set-up, there is something charming about the basic arc, hence why it is such a common one. Most people can relate to the hectic nature of the holiday season, and as a result, it is easy to feel endeared to these characters. However, unlike most Christmas movies, this movie is not overly reliant on a large ensemble. Even though the film focuses on a family getting together, there is a very clear protagonist and all of the rest of the characters function only to support his arc. A significant part of why this movie works so well is that the attachment that the viewer will form to the protagonist is so strong. As with any holiday-centric film, there is a very clear and direct message to be found in the script. That said, even though there isn’t much subtlety regarding what the movie has to say about love, writer-director Robert Tinnell handles it in a way such that the themes don’t feel overly saccharine, unlike many other romances set during the season.  Tinnell also paces his film in a way that is very enjoyable to watch. Since all of the actors in the ensemble have such great chemistry together, the lines have a natural bounciness to them that lends a tremendous narrative momentum to the movie. While the film is never outright hilarious, it is consistently funny.
It is great to see Skyler Gisondo (Booksmart) get a lead role after having been the funniest part of many of the movies in which he has acted in the past. This film also gives him room to prove his dramatic chops, as there are plenty of strong emotionally-driven moments to be found in the script as well. The supporting cast of the movie, especially Madison Iseman and Joe Pantoliano, are very good, but Gisondo frequently maintains the spotlight. On a technical level, the film is pretty strong, as Tinnell does a very good job of setting the atmosphere of the movie. The film is set in the early 1980’s, and as such, much of the movie feels very retro. This old-school energy that radiates throughout the film is frequently infectious, fueling it with the nostalgia that any generation will feel for their own childhood holiday experiences. As the holiday surprise of the year, Feast of the Seven Fishes is a charming little indie comedy full of the Christmas spirit. Hopefully this movie will catch on with those who see it this year and gain word-of-mouth to make its way into the rotation of essential Christmas films. Feast of the Seven Fishes is now available on VOD. Rating: 4/5 |