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Mary and the Witch’s Flower (Cinema Review)

4th May 2018 By George Elcombe

Starring: Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent
Directed By: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Running Time: 103 Minutes
UK Release Date: 4 May 2018
BBFC Certificate: U

Our Score

One Christmas afternoon a few years back I was surrounded by noisy nephews and other family members, so I retreated to the front room to watch a film that’s I’d heard very good things about called Spirited Away (2001). One by one my relatives came to join me and was captivated by what was on screen, even though they didn’t really understand what was going on.

This was my introduction to the wonderful films made by Studio Ghibli, and when I recommend any of their movies to those who have never heard of them I always say that they are the Japanese Disney. Since that Christmas I have seen pretty much every Studio Ghibli production and was saddened to hear that the studio was halting productions back in 2014, following the retirement of co-founder and director Hayao Miyazaki (although it hasn’t completely gone away).

But whenever one door closes another opens as Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura founded Studio Ponoc (Ponoc signifying midnight, for a new day) in 2015 with the aim to produce animated feature films with the look and feel of early Ghibli films. They have achieved perfectly with this their debut, Mary and the Witch’s Flower. For example, the Studio Ponoc’s logo at the start of the film has an image of the star of its first film, Mary, which is a homage to the image of Totoro used for the Ghibli films.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on the book The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, and tells the story of a young girl named Mary (Barnhill), who moves in with her Great Aunt Charlotte in the countryside. Bored and restless, she befriends local boy Peter (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) and his cats, Tib and Gib, who leads her to a glowing flower, and later to a broomstick that whisks her high above in the clouds to the Endor Collage for witches and warlocks. There she meets headmistress Madame Mumblechook (Winslet) and Doctor Dee (Broadbent) who have a history with the flower and will try to get their hands on it no matter the cost to Mary or anyone else.

On the surface this movie can easilt be compared to Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) as we have a young girl with a black cat on a broomstick, and, unsurprisingly, this film has a lot of familiar trademarks associated with the Ghibli films. For example, we have a strong-willed female protagonist, a call to adventure from the mundane and boring real world, the use of magic, an array of strange and wonderful creatures, a moving orchestral score, and above all spectacular 2D animation.

None of this is a bad thing and it by no means feels like a tick box or simple imitation. It truly feels like a continuation of Studio Ghibli and its heritage, yet sets the groundwork for what I hope are many other films to come. Indeed, it’s a must for fans of animation in general.

Also unsurprisingly, Studio Ponoc recruited many talented staff and animators from Ghibli and you can tell by the character designs, how they move, the beautifully detailed static backgrounds and the fact that some shots within the collage contain so much activity that you will have to re-watch them multiple times just to pick up on everything. I also found it hard to differentiate if any shots had been touched up with CGI animation, and I would be surprised to know if they had.

I feel I can’t write much more about this film unless I give away a lot of the plot and events, but as per a lot of children’s stories not all is as it seems and the audience gets sucked into the world and mystery through Mary’s eyes. There is a lot of fun and wonder in this film but also a bit of darkness – nothing that would traumatize a child, though.

Like Spirited Away (2001) and a lot of other children’s stories the film’s overall message is not to take some things for granted, and to be thankful for what you have. All in all this is a great film to watch for young and old, and especially if you’re a fan of magic and Harry Potter. It says something that the kids attending the preview screening were quiet throughout, captivated by what was on screen.

Overall Verdict: A strong debut from Studio Ponoc with all the elements that fans of Studio Ghibli know and love. There’s a captivating and magical story, great pacing and absolutely stunning 2D animation. This film is a must see for fans of Anime and Studio Ghibli, and a great introduction for those new to the genre.

Reviewer: George Elcombe

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent  DIRECTORS: Hiromasa Yonebayashi  

Wonder Wheel Trailer – Justin Timberlake & Kate Winslet get together for Woody Allen

4th October 2017 By Tim Isaac

With the likes of Manchester By The Sea, Amazon has shown that they can produce some interesting films. Now they’re teaming with Woody Allen for his next movie, Wonder Wheel, which is due to premiere soon at the New York Film Festival, before getting an Oscar-friendly December 1st, 2017 US release.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Four peoples’ lives intertwine amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s: Ginny, an emotionally volatile former actress now working as a waitress in a clam house; Humpty, Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey, a handsome young lifeguard who dreams of becoming a playwright; and Carolina, Humpty’s long-estranged daughter, who is now hiding out from gangsters at her father’s apartment.’

Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Jim Belushi, and Juno Temple star in the film. You can take a look at the trailer below. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Justin Timberlake, Kate Winslet  DIRECTORS: Woody Allen  

Kate Winslet Reteaming With James Cameron For Avatar Sequels

4th October 2017 By Tim Isaac

With shooting finally starting of James Cameron’s sequels to Avatar, a few new cast members are coming onbaord to join the likes of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Signourney Weaver (or at least their motion-captured forms). Now Deadline reports that one of the newcomers will be Kate Winslet, who’ll reteam with Cameron for the first time since Titanic.

The director says, “Kate and I have been looking for something to do together for 20 years, since our collaboration on Titanic, which was one of the most rewarding of my career. I can’t wait to see her bring the character of Ronal to life.”

What Cameron doesn’t reveal though is who Ronal is and how she fits into the movie. There have been few story details released, although it’s known he’s planning four sequels to be released between 2020 and 2025. The stories will introduce us to Jake Sully and Neytiri’s children, as well as other tribes of Na’vi such as the Metkayina, who live on oceanic atoll reefs.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Kate Winslet  DIRECTORS: James Cameron  FILMS: Avatar 2  

Kate Winslet & Jim Broadbent Join Mary And The Witch’s Flower

3rd September 2017 By Tim Isaac

If you put Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent in a movie, you’re probably on to a good thing. The two British acting luminaries are ser to be part of the English voice cast for Mary And The Witch’s Flower, alongside Ewen Bremner, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Lynda Baron, Rasmus Hardiker, Teresa Gallagher and Morwenna Banks. Ruby Barnhill (The BFG) will be titular Mary, according to Deadline.

The film is the first movie from Japanese animation house Studio Ponoc, formed by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, alongside director Hiromasa ‘Maro’ Yonebayashi (Arrietty). The film iself is about ‘the surprising adventures of Mary in a school of magic that is not quite what it seems’.

The film follows the Ghibli approach of taking inspiration from European stories, as the movie is based on the 1971 novel by Mary Stewart, The Little Broomstick.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent  

The Mountain Between Us Trailer – Kate Winslet & Idris Elba get stranded following a plane crash

31st May 2017 By Tim Isaac

Being in a plane crash would suck. However, if you get have to crash and then get stranded, being trapped with Idris Elba or Kate Winslet might make it a little more entertaining. However, neither of them seem to be having a lot of fun in the trailer for The Mountain Between Us.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. When they realise help is not coming, they embark on a terrifying journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, pushing one another to endure and igniting an unexpected attraction. The film is directed by Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad and stars Academy Award winner Kate Winslet and Idris Elba.’

The film is due in UK cinemas in October. Take a look at the trailer below. [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Kate Winslet, Idris Elba  

New Collateral Beauty Trailer – Will Smith is forced to confront his grief by a great cast

11th November 2016 By Tim Isaac

collateral-beautyThis one certainly looks like it might be a bit of Oscar-bait from Will Smith and director David Frankel (Dear Diary, The Devil Wears Prada), working with a very impressive cast. It may also be hoping to jerk some tears with its magical realism over the Christmas period.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘When a successful New York advertising executive (Will Smith) experiences a deep personal tragedy and retreats from life entirely, his colleagues devise a drastic plan to force him to confront his grief in a surprising and profoundly human way.

‘“Collateral Beauty” features an all-star cast, including Will Smith (“Suicide Squad,” “Concussion”), Edward Norton (“Birdman or [The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance]”), Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game”), Michael Peña (“The Martian”), Naomie Harris (“Spectre”), Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”), with Oscar winners Kate Winslet (“The Reader,” “Steve Jobs”) and Helen Mirren (“The Queen,” “Trumbo”).’

The movie is set to his UK cinemas on December 26th. Take a look at the trailer below [Read more…]

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Will Smith, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Michael Pena, Kate Winslet  DIRECTORS: David Frankel  FILMS: Collateral Beauty  
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