80s Movie Review - When Harry Met Sally...

Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 1989
Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford, Lisa Jane Persky, Michelle Nicastro, Gretchen Palmer, Robert Alan Beuth, David Burdick, Joe Viviani, Harley Jane Kozak

Description: Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) have known each other for year, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin their friendship.

Review: Harry and Sally meet for the first time when they travel to New York together. It doesn’t really click at first, but over the years they keep crossing paths and even become good friends. But Harry claims, during their first meeting, that men and women can’t be friends because one of them always ends up wanting to have sex with the other. Can Harry and Sally actually remain friends without sex being an issue?
“When Harry Met Sally” is one of the films that set the foundation for the modern romcom and one of the few in the genre that I can really appreciate and call a favorite. Because let’s be honest, most of them are sugar sweet and way too predictable. The film is famous for the scene in which Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm in a crowded restaurant and it’s one of the best scenes in a comedy, ever. Although it’s clearly a movie from the eighties, looking at the cloths and hair, the film is timeless and still holds up to date. “When Harry Met Sally” is a classic within the genre, it’s funny, romantic and has a big heart. Because the focus is on the comedy here, not the romance. And without absurd situations or sex jokes. It’s not sugar sweet, so it’s no your typical chick-flick. I can actually safely say that this is one of the few romantic comedies that men will also enjoy.
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are a great couple, they work well together and have great, believable chemistry. Even if you’re not a fan of romcom, this movie is a must-see. I have seen it over and over again and I generally dislike the genre, but this is actually one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s one of the best films made in the genre and it will always be.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Howl's Moving Castle

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Romance/ Fantasy

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Christian Bale, Jeanne Simmons, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, Lauren Bacall, Josh Hutcherson, Jena Malone

Description: When an unconfident young woman (Emily Mortimer) is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch (Lauren Bacall), her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard (Christian Bale) and his companions in his legged, walking castle.  

Review: Within the field of Japanese animated film or anime there is an enormous variety of genres, and a dazzling difference in quality. While Foxkids daily bombards youthful viewers with yet another uninspired Pokémon clone, films from the renowned Studio Ghibli are screened at prestigious film festivals. Hayao Miyazaki is considered the master within the anime world, and rightly so. “Howl’s Moving Castle”, an adaptation of the book by British fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones, will not achieve a classis status, but is again a wonderful animation.

“Howl’s Moving Castle” is set in an imaginary Central European kingdom at the beginning of the 20^th century, a fairy tale variant of Austria or Hungary. The worlds of magic and industry are still intertwined: while people are already moving by steam train and flying machine, the enigmatic wizard Howl hides his walking castle amidst the misty mountains. That castle is a true piece of Miyazaki’s art: a giant, pulsating huddle of metal and wood, held together and propelled by a demonic force.

The timid young seamstress Sophie accidentally comes into contact with Howl himself, and is therefore transformed by his enemy, the Witch of the Waste, into an ancient female. To break the spell, she sets off in her new form on her way to the mountains: to find Howl, or another magician who can break her spell.

As an old Sophie finds out that although her body no longer cooperates, she has suddenly become a lot more balanced and is no longer surprised by a lot of things. She finds Howl’s castle and in no time at all makes herself a housekeeper. Together with the little boy Markl and the fire demon Calcifer, she forms the entourage of the charming but freaky Howl, who sets off at night to face the advancing war in the region. Little by little, Sophie finds out what magical powers are at work in the kingdom and what the alliance between Howl and Calcifer means. And as always with Miyazaki, hardly anyone is who he seems at first sight.

Another ingredient in every Miyazaki movie are the wonderful and often funny characters, and in “Howl’s Moving Castle” too. An absolute favorite is Calcifer, the mighty demon that sees itself reduced to a cozy fire. He is hilarious and endearing at the same time. But the contrast withing the main characters is great. Especially Howl remains a sketchy figure who does not really come to life, even though he is provided with a complex background story. Why he cares so much about the war and what all this has to do with his monstrous side, remains in the dark. There are many elements and characters in the film that are not really well-executed. This makes the story more obscure. The film loses a bit of logic towards the end.  

All this does not alter the fact that “Howl’s Moving Castle” is still worth watching. It’s not a masterpiece, like many of Miyazaki’s films are, but it can still easily enchant an audience with its beautiful animation and images.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 67: The Princess Bride

Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Romance/ Fantasy
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 1987
Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chis Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Peter Cool, Mel Smith, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane

Description: While home sick in bed, a young boy's (Fred Savage) grandfather (Peter Falk) reads him a story called The Princess Bride.

Review: “The Princess Bride” is a story that is told by a grandfather to his sick grandson. It’s about a beautiful farmer’s daughter Buttercup, who is madly in love with farm boy Westley. When they admit their love for each other, Westley leaves to earn money for their wedding. On his journey Westley is ambushed by pirates and Buttercup knows her love died. Years later Buttercup is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck. Right before the wedding, she is captured by three men who plan on declaring war to another kingdom. But the trio is chased by a masked stranger.
“The Princess Bride” is highly praised, as a fantasy film, but also as a romance and for its comedy. It has something for everyone. The people who dislike this film, take it way to seriously. There is a parody feel to this film and it’s very aware of itself. I love the combination of fantasy, action, comedy and romance.
“The Princess Bride” had been on my watchlist for a long time. Now that I finally saw it, I will definitely rewatch it many times. I’m a fan of “The Princess Bride”.

Rating: 5/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "Monsters Inc."

Oh how I love this Pixar movie. Basically because it's full of great jokes coming from the fantastic characters. If you read my blog frequently, you might already know who my favorite is, but here are the characters from "Monsters Inc."

Mike Wazowski
Voiced by: Billy Crystal
Mike is a proud and confident monster, mostly because of his friendship with top scarer Sully. He’s is an assistant and he leads a strict exercise. Mike also has a romantic side, because he’s madly in love with Celia.

James P. Sullivan aka. Sully
Voiced by: John Goodman
Sully is the best scarer for the company Monsters Inc. Everyone looks up to him. He is good-natured, hardworking and confident and he loves his job as a scarer.

Randall Boggs
Voiced by: Steve Buscemi
Randall is Sully and Mike’s direct rival. He’s a more vicious scarer and he’s very jealous of the fact that Sully is always the top scarer. To get that title himself, Randall cheats by scaring outside office hours.

Boo
Voiced by: Mary Gibbs
Boo is a toddler who steps into the monster world and becomes friends with Sully, although everyone in Monstropolis thinks humans are toxic. Boo is a sweet and naïve little girl.

Celia Mae
Voiced by: Jennifer Tilly
Celia is Mike’s girlfriend. She is very loving, but can be aggressive when she is mad.

Henry James Waternoose III
Voiced by: James Coburn
Mr. Waternoose is the big boss of Monsters Inc. He has a gentle and fatherly appearance, but that’s just a mask. He becomes more villainous as this drive and desperation strips away his morals and he is determined to not let anything stop what he thinks will be the best way for the company to keep going.

Roz
Voiced by: Bob Petersen
She is the manager of the scarefloor and always very synical, suspicious and crabby. Especially towards Mike, who is always trying to win over her sympathy.

Yeti aka The Abominable Snowman
Voice by: John Ratzenberger
Yeti also worked for Monsters Inc. but he got banished. Although he got banished, he seems like a cheery and kind monster, but we really don’t want to know why does snowcones are yellow.

George Sanderson
Voiced by: Samuel Lord Black
George is one of those monsters that can’t catch a break. He’s kind and friendly, but very clumsy.



Favorite Character: Mike Wazowksi

Oscar Predictions 2012

I'm going to predict the winners for this years Oscars again. A though year, because of all the different winners during all the other award ceremonies. I'm only pretty sure about the supporting actor/ actress category. Here is my list of who should and would win this year.



Best Motion Picture of the Year
Should Win: "The Help" or "Midnight in Paris"
Would Win: "The Artist"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Should Win: Brad Pitt for "Moneyball"
Would Win: Jean Dujardin for "The Artist"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Should Win: Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn" or Viola Davis for "The Help"
Would Win: Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Christopher Plummer for "Beginners"
Would Win: Christopher Plummer for "Beginners"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Jessica Chastain for "The Help" or Octavia Spencer for "The Help"
Would Win: Octavia Spencer for "The Help"

Best Achievement in Directing
Should Win: Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris"
Would Win: Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist"

I'm looking forward to the show, because Billy Crystal is returning as a host. It's already a garantuee for an entertaining night.

Movie Tip #24 - When Harry met Sally...

Director: Rob Reiner

Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

Description: Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet when she gives him a ride to New York after they both graduate from the University of Chicago. The film jumps through their lives as they both search for love, but fail, bumping into each other time and time again. Finally a close friendship blooms between them, and they both like having a friend of the opposite sex. But then they are confronted with the problem: "Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?"

Review: This is, without a doubt, one of the best romantic comedies ever. It has wonderfull quotes, coming from Crystal most of the time. And one memorable scene: when Sally fakes an orgasm in a crowded lunchroom. Classic! But it's Crystal at his best, because every single line that comes out of his mouth is hilarious! He's a funny guy. And Meg Ryan... those where her best times, when she did romantic comedies. Her serious films never became a big succes. So, for the ones that haven't seen it yet, don't waste time and go see this one!!!