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Reviews
Rabbits (2002)
Fun
Maybe I'm just a nut, but I rarely find myself in either of the usual camps regarding Lynch flicks. Rabbits is a good example: I have not desire to "figure it all out," nor do I think it's drivel. It's an interesting experience just as it is.
The best analogy I have for watching a Lynch film is hearing a song in a made-up language: the vocabulary might be lost on me, but the mood is crystal clear. I don't puzzle over the words. Since I have no reference point for intellectualizing them, I don't distract myself by trying. Instead, I sit back and let the nuances of emotion transcend the sound. Really, isn't that the power of art? That same philosophy applies to film. It would be silly to design a film that totally rejects convention to be the vehicle for one specific, decipherable message. You just kinda "feel" the movie the way you feel music.
With that purpose in mind, I waited until night, turned off the lights, and watched Rabbits. In a few places I got bored, but mostly it was great. It's creepy, it's dream-like, it's surprising. I don't want to "understand" what's happening. To me, a good mystery isn't one where I go "oh" at the end - it's one where I feel like turning on all the lights in your house at the end. On that count, Rabbits delivers. What else could you want?
Atama-yama (2002)
Acquired taste
I fell in love with this film the first time I saw it, and it remains one of my absolute favorite animated shorts. I can entirely understand why a lot of people dislike Atama Yama - it's slow-paced, eccentric, and the story is kinda nonsensical. But for me it works. Amazingly so.
The art is very original. Its unique design is quite different from the typical anime style, and much more expressive. The animation is very lively as well. Though rough, it has a wonderful sense of weight, space, and movement. Complementing the visuals is a narration sung by a minstrel, who also plays the shamisen.
When it all comes together, the result is beautiful. For me, Yamamura creates an evocative, humorous mood in every scene. Can't wait to see what he does next.
Grinning Evil Death (1990)
Very interesting short
Even as a kid I found this film disturbing and intriguing. I think it has to do with the whole ambience of the piece. Certainly, the 3D animation is not the best, and the story isn't ground-breaking in any way; what I really like is the bizarre environment it creates, this moody dystopianism meshed with irreverant humor. Simple as it may seem, this animation provokes a complex response.
I wasn't really surprised to discover that Bob Sabiston (animation director for "Waking Life") was behind this film. Of course, I can see why a lot of people would hate "Grinning Evil Death," just as I can see why a lot of people hate Waking Life, but regardless of whether or not it appeals to everyone, there is definitely something very interesting going on here.