The Writer's Poke

Compared to Castle in the Sky (1986), Howl's Moving Castle feels like Hayao Miyazaki at his full power. What makes the film for me is the characters, in particular, Calcifer (the fire) and Turnip Head (the Scarecrow). Good English voice casting, too, if you like listening to the English audio: Billy Crystal as Calcifer -- my favorite line: "She likes my spark!" (very Mike Wazowski-like in delivery) --, Christian Bale as Howl, Lauren Bacall as the Witch of the Waste, Jean Simmons as the old Sophie, etc.  Sophie is an interesting character. She's supposed to be a little Jane Eyre-like, plain and unlovable. But she's cursed by the Witch of the Waste even so. None of that matters. Howl is still her true love, and even though she kisses a Prince (under a spell) in the end, she still ends up with Howl. That's a little odd, as the Prince promises he will be back later because she is his true love, and he knows how love is capricious -- in other words, he's nice a...

I guess I never realized that Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) was the soldier on the movie poster. This re-viewing hit me in a way that past viewings haven't. I'm not sure why. Why would a college student, Chris (Charlie Sheen), drop out of school to enlist as a grunt? Maybe he was looking to be treated like one of the boys, because we certainly see that low-ranking officers, like the Lieutenant, aren't respected at all.  It's the grunts who fight, and it is the grunts who basically make the war happen.  Oliver Stone gives us just about everything we need to understand the war in four simple "acts": 1. The Ambush. Chris has only been in-country a week when he's on his third nighttime patrol. No one has taught him anything about patrols, and on this patrol, they're ambushed.  In films like this, you see the Americans going out to find and engage the enemy. The enemy must be doing the same, but this film, like most American war films, doesn't show us the e...

Are we meant to be able to figure out who Jerry (Nick Nolte) is? 1. He can play the piano.  2. He can recite Hamlet. 3. While he's at lunch with Dave (Richard Dreyfuss), he's identified by a publishing agent as a famous writer. Beyond that, he's an enigma. He has some sort of charisma or animal magnetism -- he beds Dave's wife -- Barbara (Bette Midler), daughter -- Jenny (Tracy Nelson) and maid -- Carmen (Elizabeth Pena). How? Before he charms the ladies, however, he charms Dave. Why? At the opening of the film, somehow Jerry ends up in Dave's backyard. He's lost his dog, and his idea is to drown himself in this random Beverly Hills pool. Dave ends up saving his life, and then like some fable, he takes responsibility for the life he's just saved. He lets Jerry stay at the house, gives him a makeover, clothes, a credit card. And tries to give him a job, either in one of his factories or as a manager of one of his trailer parks.  Jerry's not interested in ...

I've liked Miyazaki films for 25 years now, and the ones I always tend to think about are My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo. There's nothing wrong with Castle in the Sky, or any of the other Miyazaki films, but I just don't think about them as much. In fact, it's been quite a while since I've seen this one, and after re-watching it, I'm still thinking that this is pretty good, but in terms of Miyazaki good, just below top tier.  I noticed that some reviewers had an issue with Captain Mom's pirate sons. They're all probably in their 30s, but they all -- jokingly or not -- have a crush on Sheeta. Well, I don't think the kitchen scene is meant to be taken all that seriously, but the pirates are mentally closer to Sheeta's age than their "biological" age. This is a very asexual movie.  Anyway, the pirates are interested in finding the lost island for the treasure. The military and t...

For a fun drinking game, take a shot every time the film uses the word "psychiatrist."  The look of the film is great. Brad Pitt (Jeffrey) and Bruce Willis (James) act their butts off. And yet, when I finish the film, I feel unsatisfied.  I'm not happy with the ending. The virus has been released. The future hasn't been able to stop the past from happening. Well, I don't want to get into a time travel debate, but if the future fails, can't it just keep trying? This is one of those movies that has the cool idea, but then it never shows how it works. Which is fine. We get the idea that time travel is dangerous and inaccurate. The scientists use "volunteer" inmates because, I assume, they're disposable. James and Jose (Jon Seda) are two of the inmates we see, but there are other anonymous future folks keeping watch on James, too.  Ultimately, I guess much depends on that end scene. It's been referenced a number of times. James dreams it, because...

Immediate jumpstart. Seth (Jeff Goldblum) and Veronica (Geena Davis) at a party. He's about to do something world changing, he says, and she believes him enough to go back to his apartment.  At first, Veronica comes off as an opportunist. She just wants the story. But it doesn't take long for us to sense that she's into this guy. Why? He's a complete nerd with a bugged-eyed face, and that's before he blends his DNA with a fly.  For purposes of the plot, however, Veronica and Seth need to hook up quick, because he won't be human for long, and we need the drama of "Will she keep his bug baby?" Goldblum will likely be remembered solely for this role. I'm sure we could point to other good parts he's played, but honestly, this was the role he was born to play. The 1980s costume and make-up work is incredible. You could never replicate the feel with CGI or AI.  And just like the way the movie begins, it ends just as quickly. Did she decide to keep th...