Renaissance

Renaissance is a French black and white animated motion-capture film (that's a lot of adjectives) set in Paris, A.D. 2054. It is a little known film that was just released on DVD. The U.S. version is in English, with Daniel Craig playing the lead, Karas. Karas is a detective in search for a young scientist, Ilona Tasuiev. Tasuiev had been doing research for a mega-corporation, Avalon, who is in the business of making people healthier, stronger, happier, etc. Renaissance plays like a noir film. We follow ever move Karas makes as he slowly uncovers the truth about what Tasuiev was working on, and why it is so important. It is easy to tell that the film is highly influenced by one of the greatest sci-fi films of all-time, Blade Runner.
The theme of immortality begins to take center stage as the film progresses. Would we as humans want immortality? Avalon wants to make people "better" on the surface. So why not have people stay "pretty" forever? Yet an interesting point is made by one of the scientists who was working on the cure for death: "Without death, life is meaningless." Without an end, we would not value the life we have now. We would take everything for granted. There would be no need to savor this minute because we would have an infinite amout of minutes in the future. Another thought, what about having to give an account of our lives (judgment - it's not all bad)? If we never die then we are never held accountable for our actions. And, of course, there would be "no need" for heaven.
The plot is exciting and interesting, but what makes the film stand out is its stunning visual style. As I stated before, the film is black and white (no shades of gray at all). The world created by the style is engulfing. Sometimes I found myself forgetting what was going on just to watch the beautiful animation. It truly is a sight to behold, if you enjoy that sort of thing, completely different than any animation I have ever seen. Renaissance satiates that hunger for imagination and originality in an industry of copycats.

Ratatouille

No one makes animated films better than Pixar. They just don't make bad moives, and their newest is actually one of their best. Ratatouille is about a creature caught between two worlds. Remy is a rat, eating trash all day long. But he has a dream, to be a gourmet chef like the great Gousteau. One day a crazed old lady tries to kill all the rats with gas and a shotgun (I tried to find a picture but couldn't, so you'll have to see it for yourself). So Remy runs away, and loses his family in the process. But, as luck would have it, he ends up in Paris, right next to his hero's (Gusteau's) restaurant. Thus, Remy wants to try his hand in the kitchen, so he sneaks in and makes a great soup. Linguine, the trash boy, gets the credit. Eventually, Linguine realizes Remy made the soup and they become the most unlikely pair of chefs in Paris.
As I said before, Ratatouille is about a creature caught between two worlds. He is a rat, so he is supposed to act a certain way/eat a certain way/live a certain way. Yet, he has always had this yearning that usually only appears in humans. He wants to be different, he feels called to a world in which he cannot belong. He is out of place either way. He is having an identity crisis. But Remy does not give up on what he believes is his true calling in life. He will not settle for what those around him tell him to do. In a strange way, it reminded me of when the old testament prophets feel like their tongues are on fire and there is no way to keep it in. We must follow our calling too. Yet, sometimes we are deceived into thinking something is our calling but it is not (see Lady in the Water). We must have discernment and wisdom in finding our calling.
Another theme that my wife pointed out was the clashing of artist and critic. Remy is an artist, and his nemesis is a famous Parisian food critic. Yet in the end, they coexist. They appreciate each other. The critic truly appreciates Remy's greatness in the kitchen, and Remy appreciates the critic's eye for greatness. They seem to need each other to fully realize their potential. And not only do the artist and critic coexist in harmony, but Remy's two worlds end up at peace too. Which, if nothing else, reminds us that shalom is possible, even between the two most opposite worlds imaginable.
Brad Bird (The Incredibles) delivers a marvelous story in the beautiful world of Pixar's computer animation. The film, like it's predecessors, caters more to adults than kids. It even seems to more than the others. This may be Pixar's most adult film yet. And oh yeah, there are many great laughs along the way. The magic is still alive at Pixar.

L'Enfant (The Child)

Jean-Pierre Dardenne's L'Enfant, winner of the 2005 Palme D'Or (the top prize at Cannes), tells the story of a young couple in Paris. Sonia has just given birth to their first child. She is excited, but Bruno is not sure what to think. You see, he is the most irresponsible human being on the planet. He is a small time thief who spends every cent he gets within the first few hours of it being in his pocket. He rented out their apartment while Sonia was delivering, and now the child's (Jimmy) first few nights outside the hospital have to be spent under a bridge. Great guy, right? So now what do they do? While trying to find things for the baby, Bruno learns that people are willing to pay big money to adopt babies on the black market, with no questions asked. So Bruno considers this option. While Sonia is waiting in a line that could take hours, Bruno takes Jimmy for a walk. But in stead of Jimmy, Bruno brings back a wad of cash. Sonia passes out, and when she wakes up in the hospital she is understandably uber-pissed. He sold their son!
Bruno is a great study in our desire to be free from all responsibility and to never grow up. He wants to wander around and "be free" of everything that would hinder him. Even a child is an imposition upon his lifestyle. He merely wants to run around and have fun. And don't we all. Bruno is the epitome of selfishness. So how do we make the transition into maturity? What goes into that decision? I believe we all resist growing up to some degree, but why do some resist it so much more strongly than others? Remember Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up? It's a popular story for a reason.
So how could someone like that change? What would cause that? Does he change, does he experience redemption? I won't give it away, but the last scene of the film is at once beautiful, heart-breaking, and authentic.
Don't be scared of the film because it is in French. This study of human depravity is gut-wrenching and thought-provoking. It is shot in an extremely minimalist style, with little to detract from the main focus, Bruno, and his struggle to care about other people more than his own selfish desires.

Live Free Or Die Hard

John McClane is the greatest action hero of all-time (duh), and here he comes for another round. I was scared at first because this fourth installment had two strikes against it (McTiernan was not directing, and it was only PG-13). Yet, Live Free does not disappoint. In fact, it is just about as fun as a movie can possibly be. In the great vein of Die Hard tradition, this film takes on a wild ride well worth your $9.
Live Free Or Die Hard focuses on a cyber-terrorism plot in which a group of bad guys execute a "fire sale" (they destroy all computer infastructure in America). That would suck, a lot. So who could possibly stop these mega-bad guys? McClane, idiot. He enlists the help of a cyber-nerd (Justin Long) and they are the only two guys who can get the job done. It's over the top action (McClane destroys a helicopter with a car), and hilarious one-liners (Die Hards are pretty much the only movies that do it well). How could anyone not have fun at this movie.
The terrorist plot brings up a great point, and an interesting theme. What do we place our trust in? Today, in America, it would seem that we trust computers (and the people who are in charge of them) more than anything. Is technology our god? What would we do without it? McClane is an "analogue guy in a digital world," and that is what ends up saving the day. He does things the old-fashioned way, without all the high-tech gadgets. We always have to be careful of falling into traps of trust and worship, lest we unknowingly worship idols.
McClane is an icon. He is the Lone Ranger. His personal life is a mess, he isn't the nicest guy, but he gets the job done. He is the only one that gets the job done. There is something captivating about a cowboy-type Lone Ranger who does it all on his own with his own rules. And he does it because it needs to be done, end of story. He doesn't want fame, fortune, etc. He wants to fix things. So in a sense McClane is a Christ-like servant. But on the other hand, he kills a whole bunch of people. The ends don't justify his means. But growing up I wanted to be McClane more than any other hero.
The film rocks on so many levels and does not disappoint the Die Hard franchise. The only drawback is the bad guy played by Timothy Oliphant (he just sucked). Kevin Smith had a great cameo, lots of stuff got blown up, lots of cars got totalled, and lots of evil dudes got their butts kicked. I am still a loyal fan of the greatest action franchise of all-time.

Transformers

Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, and a bunch of other crap) is the world's most horrific director, he makes me want to vomit all over myself. But if I wanted one movie to be over-the-top Hollywood, it would be Transformers. This film totally rocks.
Yes, a lot of it has to do with the fact that I played with them as a kid. If you don't know the toys/show from the 80's, the movie will probably suck. This is a big budget nostalgia-fest for children of the 80's, and it does that job very well. I had a great time. Optimus Prime's voice is so soothing, it takes me back to first grade, sitting in front of the television on a Saturday morning. Ah yes, Bumblebee, Starscream, Jazz, Megatron, the list goes on.
Of course the film lacks any depth whatsoever. It is here to entertain, and boy does it ever. Transformers is fun to watch, but also hilarious. So many great lines. Good times had by all. It does exactly what we expect it to do.
On the drive home, I actually thought that the film does a pretty good job of exemplifying an ancient religious system, Zoroastrianism (I am sure it is purely by coincidence). Zoroastrianism surfaced in the Ancient Near East about 500-700 bc. Zoroaster taught that the world was at war. This war was between the good god and the bad god (Ahura Mazda and Aura Manyu). Everyone on earth must choose a side, but the ultimate battle is really fought between the gods. In Transformers, the humans participate, but really they are just there because humans are the ones buying the tickets. The battle is really between the gods/robots. It is a cosmic battle, and only one side can win. The fate of the world hangs in the balance. So there you have it, an extremely simplified version of Zoroastrianism: Transformers.
But back to the explosions, car/robot chases, and one-liners. Shia LaBoeuf rocks in his role as the pathetic but eventually heroic teenager. Turturro is great. The rest of the cast is alright. There were a few disappointments, like the lack of "transforming" sounds from the original show (only one), the obnoxious product placement, and a few other nit-picky things. But all in all, Transformers delivers the entertainment goods to all of us who long to be nine again, if only for a few hours.