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I’m not entirely sure how to review this movie. Knowing Tim Burton, who wrote the story and characters, there has to be some underlining message beneath all the weirdness. All I can tell you is that I enjoyed it years ago and even more so yesterday.

Jack is the Pumpkin King in this stop-motion animated musical. He’s the popular one in Halloween Town where the occupants plan for their one day throughout the whole year and once over they commence planning for next year as there is only 365 days to go. Jack seems to have it all but is tired of the same routine and wants something more. Something new. He stumbles upon Christmas Town where the stark differences appeal to him. So much so that he devises a nasty plan where he gets to become Santa Clause. With the help of all the occupants of Halloween Town he kidnaps Santa and sets off to deliver presents in his stead. Jack is not well received by the kids who find chopped off heads and all manner of gruesome presents instead of the nice toys they had hoped for. With Christmas a mess and Santa fallen under the evil hands of the Oogie Boogie man Jack must risk it all and do the right thing.

The characters are just wonderful. Their gruesome nature is underplayed by the stop-motion medium and becomes quiet comical instead. I’m not really a musical fan but this one was a delight. I gave it 8/10.

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Today I heard from Rachel at the Cancer Council office. My application for a fundraising event has been approved! Really happy to be finally accepted and receive some support  from them so that I can raise more funds to aid the fight against cancer.

Couple of other developments over the last two weeks. I received an email from a girl in the Philippines who wants to use the idea behind Dollar Portraits for a local charity, Rock Ed. I was very excited for her and we will be working together in the future. More photographers are welcome! I’ve also received some financial support from a film lab which will enable me to take more photos. Another business has donated business cards which are going to the printers any day now. It’s all happening I tell ya.

What a surprisingly delightful but morbid romcom.

Harold is a disturbed teenager seeking attention from his mother by pretending to carry out elaborate suicide attempts. His only hobby is going to funerals of strangers where he meets Maude, a vibrant carefree elderly woman. They make an unlikely couple but are drawn to each other and through various events create a unique and strong friendship.

I really enjoyed this movie. It has great elements of surprise and interest that modern romcoms seem to lack. It keeps you interested in the characters and they are very believable albeit eccentric. Harold and Maude are quirky and you love them for it. Who else but Harold would take an E Type Jag and turn it into a hurst? A picnic in the middle of a junk yard anyone?

I watched it without knowing anything but the title and was pleasantly entertained throughout and the ending was heart warming and hopeful. I rate this movie a 9/10 and will return to it.

Harold & Maude (1971)

The list, IMDb’s top 250 movies at 14 December 2008 and my list for 2009. I will start at the bottom and work my way to the top. All reviews will be posted here. The list will change by the end of 2009 so I thought I’d post it here. It will be interesting to look back in a years time and see how much it has changed.

Let the fun begin…

I’m a bit of a movie buff. I love watching movies but I don’t watch enough of them. With this in mind I wanted to resolve to watch at least 200 movies in 2009. Roughly 2 movies each 3 days. It’s certainly not hard by any means but it does require some dedication for me as I do not spend time in front of the TV. I am in front of a computer all day though and I do own an iPod touch which can help me achieve my goal. I commute for 1 hour each day where I read most of the time but I can make the effort to at least start watching the movie on the way home and finish it later. I’ll worry about the how later…

Rather than just watching any 200 movies I thought I would catch up on some classics and bookmarked movies of mine. This led me to the IMDb Top 250 list. It contains most of the movies I have wanted to see and I have seen a small fraction of the list which should leave me with about 200 movies thus fulfilling my resolution. The only problem now is sourcing some of the older movies. I’m armed with various membership cards to local video shops but even so, it will not be easy.

I will make an effort to review most if not all of the movies I watch. The reviews will be brief and most likely opinionated. I’m weary of giving reviews after only one watch as I believe mood has a lot to with how you rate a movie. In any case, it should be fun and I’m looking forward to seeing them all. I might even re-watch the ones I’ve seen for the sake of the review.