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Just Like Heaven, a review by Danae Cassandra

Film #5 of Scavenger Hunt #22
Task #24: Watch any film with the word "JUST" in the title (for the UK magazine Just Seventeen)



Just Like Heaven
Year of Release: 2005
Directed By: Mark Waters
Starring: Reese Witherspooon, Mark Ruffalo, Donal Logue, Dina Waters, Ben Shenkman
Genre: Romance, Comedy

Overview:
Reese Witherspoon stars in the spirited romantic comedy Just Like Heaven. When David (Mark Ruffalo) rents his new apartment, the last thing he wants is company. Then Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) shows up, insisting the apartment is hers...until she disappears right before his eyes. He's convinced she's a spirit. She's convinced she's still alive. As they search for the truth of Elizabeth's past, their relationship changes from resentment to romance. Also starring Jon Heder, Just Like Heaven is a delightful film that critics declare is "one of the best romantic comedies to come along in years" (JP Sarni, Sirius Satellite Radio).

My Thoughts:
This is an utterly predictable rom-com. It's also a cute, sweet little story about two lonely people finding each other in the sort of unconventional way that only happens in a fantasy. It's escapist fluff, but that's what you're generally looking for in this sort of film.

What I really like about this one, though, is that the two people are actually decent human beings. They're not being intentionally mean to each other and they're not screwing over anyone else to be together. There's way too much of that in the genre, and though it's played for comedy, I've never found that sort of thing funny.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Scavenger Hunt #22 on January 7th, 2017)

Book of the Dead, a review by Danae Cassandra

Book of the DeadOverview:
In this ravishing film of mystical beauty, master animator Kihachiro Kawamoto's tour de force adventure tale tells the story of a young noblewoman in 8th-century Japan who leaves her home to follow the apparition of an executed prince.

The Book of the Dead takes place as Buddhism is being introduced to Japan from China. Iratsume, a woman of noble desent, becomes obsessed with this mysterious new religion. One night, in a rapturous trance, she sees a luminous vision that she believes to be the Buddha, compelling her to leave home and journey to a sacred temple. Once there, she sees Otsu, a young prince who was executed 50 years earier. While Iratsume mistakes the prince's spirit for the incarnation of the great Buddha, the ghost mistakes Iratsume for the last woman he saw at the moment of his death. As an act of great devotion, she decides to make a giant shroud for the prince to heal his soul, after which he begins to haunt the young woman and those around her. The pair embark on an impassioned battle of wills, one longing for the material world, the other striving for the spiitual.

This strange story of outherworldly romance is the work of stop-motion animator and puppet-maker Kihachiro Kawamoto, a former student of the master Czech animator Jiri Trnka. Already a legend in his own right, with The Book of the Dead he has created an intricately detailed magnum opus, a summation of themes explored in all of his work: the transience of existence, the ambiguity of human behavior, and the search for perfection and beauty in an imperfect world.

One final note for animation buffs: The film also features the work by the acclaimed Russian animator and director Yuriy Norsheteyn, who was involved in The Book of the Dead as a "guest animator."

My Thoughts:
This would be a better film if any of the stories here got resolved. The model work, the stop motion animation, the visuals of the film are simply gorgeous. I mean, seriously beautiful. But the strands of stories here - the men who wish to court Irartsume, her quest for enlightenment, the desires of the ghost for release and an heir, none of this ever feels truly resolved. The closest any of them come is Iratsume - her weaving that depicts the Bodhisattvas feels like movement toward Buddhist enlightenment, but the ending doesn't really confirm this either. I'm guessing the filmmakers ran out of money, and rushed a finish. It's too bad, because there was so much potential here. Recommended for lovers of stop-motion animation - you'll want to see it just for the work put in. It's a beautiful but ultimately frustrating view.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 11th, 2016)

The 2013 Pilot Review, a review by DJ Doena

Super Fun Night

Super Fun Night @ IMDb
Super Fun Night @ Wikipedia

Synopsis: Non-laugh track comedy by and with Rebel Wilson who has declared Friday night as "Super Fun Night" where she goes out with her friends and tries to have fun. For this you need to know that these people don't exactly fit the "beautiful people" pattern and are awkward on top of it.

My Opinion: The most fun this show provides is the opening titles, singing "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. Not only are the characters awkward (on purpose I hope) but it's also awkward to watch and rarely funny at all.

(From The 2013 Pilot Review on October 10th, 2013)