Well up to the usual Tim Burton standards—in almost every respect:

• Atmosphere moody, gothic and sinister? Check.
• Stars Johnny Depp? Check.
• Features an adorable array of character designs which will be making their way onto goths’ backpacks near you soon? Check.
• Preoccupation with death? Hello? Did you read the title?
• Happy ending? Check.

Animation is top-notch. Comedy is mostly spot-on. A few scary bits, but it’s not like you’re going to be showing a film called “Corpse Bride” to your 5-year-old, now, is it?

Top movie.

The original (1933 King Kong) is probably the classic monster movie, and I’m guessing that you know the plot already. (Ape meets girl; empressario ships ape to New York; ape carries girl to top of Empire State Building; girl loses ape.) So watching this film is a bit like watching Titanic, or The Empire Strikes Back: you know that the ship sinks and that Luke’s dad is the one with the breathing difficulties… but, in a way, that just adds an extra dimension of tragedy. You know that Kong is doomed, and Peter Jackson knows that you know. And you know that he knows that you know, and that only makes it more poignant. Continue reading →

Raaaarr, I’m a computer-generated lion, and I’m today’s guest movie reviewer!

The short summary is that if you’re in the mood for some outstanding art direction and lovely special effects, go see this film. And the computer-generated lion is pretty good too.
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Yes, it’s smashing magical goodness.

Go and see it, though not if you have already read the book 8 times, and will wince inwardly when the film omits a plot-point—because the film cuts out a lot. And because really, that’s no way to enjoy a film.

Basically the story this year at the magical Mallory Towers is that the Tri-Wizard Tournament is being held at Hogwarts. It’s a game of danger and skill and 3 magical trials, played by 3 randomly selected participants from 3 magical schools. (The 3 schools being Hogwarts, a French lot and a school from Bulgaria.) Strangely (though not surprisingly), Harry Potter becomes selected, magically, in addition to the 3 formal contenders. Equally unsurprisingly, his schoolmates turn against the righteous little git. Anyway, I give nothing away by telling you that he completes the three tasks and beats all the other contenders. (I spoil the story for real in the next paragraph.) Predictably everybody loves little Harry Potter by the end. Continue reading →