bobducktrek Reviews

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)

Could use some work

[4/10 · 31 December 2023]

While some of the acting was good, and there is some promise within the idea of the premise, I think as a prequel it could have used more in the way of plot development alongside character development, which needed more fleshing out as well.

There was some decent performances here and there from some of the actors, but nothing unduly memorable, same with the Cinematography.

The scares range the same way from decent to serviceable depending on your tastes but nothing overly unique in that quarter given the weight of the Stephen King origin legacy behind it, which is not present here.

There is a beginning of possibilities but not much in the way of follow through. It needs a great deal of passion and attention to what came before it to work as a prequel.

Magical Girl Friendship Squad (2020)

A Bit Rough around the edges.

[5/10 · 14 December 2023]

This definitely has the feel of a low budget independent pilot season in the early days. The animation is rougher then the poster would suggest here, with the smoothest animation being during the transformation sequences and at odd points here and there through out the season run.

While there is definite need for polish here and there, certain aspects are worth noting as positive.

First, the concept of jaded urban millennial tropes being given magical powers utilized by a creator of the universe who is akin to that albatross around your neck relative that wont leave and wont help with chores was highly amusing, though needed to maintain consistency to carry the joke through, or pushed a little more to give that comedic punch.

Another positive is how the powers are utilized, which is perhaps where the highest point of humor and creativity in the series, and what kept me invested in watching.

For the Creators to keep in mind...

The girls themselves have the potential to be better characters, either as parody figures or something else if pushed further.

The antagonists need more development though as they were the weakest, and need more work on developing individual characterizations, dialogue, and believable establishment of motivations.

Once you have established better characterization it will help your story solidify and develop into something a bit more then the bare-bones for-the-sake-of-the-joke that it is, particularly when paired with a thoroughly researched point that you are trying to skewer.

The Day I Became a Bird (2023)

Beautiful, Thoughtful, Animated Short

[10/10 · 11 December 2023]

I recently watched this excellent short, and I am not surprised this is an award winner!

First the animation style: It has a beautiful, charming, storybook quality to the everyday life and perspective of a child, mixed with moments of semi-abstract design during one particularly impressively animated scene.

The Story: the narrative throughout is very relaxed, which works well with tone of the animation style. A fantastical-type desire exercised through the imagination of a child into the everyday, is done in a very honest way that teaches viewers well in accepting unique expressions, despite mockery of your fellows.

A good piece of artistic cinema that's worth its esteem, and something I would recommend for all ages.

Pivot (2021)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 10 November 2023]

This is an excellent animated short that tackles topics of gender expression and expectations placed on young girls and the relationship between these children and a parent(s) who has more traditional definitions of femininity and coming to understand that your child may not follow those expectations.

The style is akin to a children's illustrated book, beautiful colors and character design with the real creative flare tied to the metamorphic horror of the monster to be defeated the most catching of these animated sequences.

Another benefit to this is the near lack of dialogue. It plays into the sense of frustration the child character feels in relation to her mother's gender expectations, accented by the small noises of a voice cutoff.

Overall a satisfying, relatable, educational short that is a necessity for everyone of all ages.

Vincent (1982)

Tim Burton and Vincent Price have a Meta crossover...

[10/10 · 19 October 2023]

The short about a boy who is obsessed with Vincent Price, and being him.

It has an amazingly engaging atmosphere that sucks you into the surreal narrative; and the fact that Vincent Price did the narration (he is the only vocal center of the entire piece) gives it this multilevel engagement of art form, and the Burton/Price Auteur allure that has a strong meta commentary/vibe in its guts and garters construction and reception.

For any Tim Burton fans out there, this is a fascinating artifact from the early days of his career and a favorite, though perhaps not as known piece that has Price in all his Price-ian vocal glory.

The Brood (1979)

A great Cronenberg film for thoughtfull horror fans

[8/10 · 19 October 2023]

This very odd little number is a Canadian Science Fiction Horror about a single father raising his daughter while his wife is kept in a special house for the mentally disturbed run by a doctor who uses radical physiological techniques. In the process, all those whom his ex-wife has had some sort of negative history or ill fillings towards have suddenly been murdered by mysterious child-like creatures in colorful snow suits.

All around, this isn't a movie of multiple twist endings or anything more complicated than a retribution style story from the outside, until you watch it again and realize that there are several couched themes that can be gleaned from the narrative, though from the first onset as a regular viewer, its mainly how they go about the story that is unique and very strange, thanks to its imaginative construction and great cinematography particularly in the last scene making monstrous the very act of birth itself, disturbingly so.

Despite the fact that murders are not overly creative in their deaths, this isn't a slasher flick or a blood and guts horror, it's the horror of creation and utilization towards murder that makes this a riveting experience. The strange discombobulating atmosphere keeps you attached to seeing where this is all going, and you can't help but be impressed by the end, not surprising considering it's a Cronenberg film.

Trick or Treat (1952)

Another Donald Duck 50's Classic...

[8/10 · 19 October 2023]

This was a fun bouncy animation in all its Halloween shlock that can only come from Disney during that period and in any other context outside of a Disney Cartoon, would be utterly horrifying. It's a great little story that progresses smoothly with some enjoyable Halloween imagery.

The delightful voice talent of June Foray (the original Granny from Loony Tunes, Cindy Loo Who from The Grinch, Lucifer from Cinderella, and Rocky the Flying Squirrel, just to name a few) who owned the part of Hazel and made this fun character delightfully colorful, was the heart of this little number.

Over all a non-serious goofy little number with some standard fare music, great voice talent, and fun Halloween visuals.

Spirited Away (2001)

Even 22 years later, its still a timeless watch...

[9/10 · 19 October 2023]

Even after all these years since I first meandered into the theater to see a rare showing of it in my hometown, I still feel a sense of wonder every-time i watch this film over an over again, even years later on the smaller screen.

It is the epitome of animation crossed with folklore, one of Studio Ghibli's most impressive works, with a unique, atmospheric, character-rich atmosphere that gives you something new to contemplate no matter how many times you watch it.

I would recommend this film for all-ages, those studying animation, or simply looking for an example of an animated work of art and narrative.

The Other (1972)

Great Film classic worthy of a rewatch...

[7/10 · 19 October 2023]

Director Mulligan's purpose in making the film was to provide a subjective experience for the spectators from the point of view of a child, in this case Niles, which the film does quite well.

The movie does a good job in keeping it primarily in Nile's point of view both narrative and cinematically. There is a sort of stubborn innocence about him that carries through out, an intriguing refusal to move out of the imagination of the young protagonist for the most part, and the story does a brilliant job expressing the more dangerous qualities inherent in imagination.

There is of course a bit of choppiness here and there between scenes. Other than Ada, Niles, and Holland, the other characters didn't bring anything much to the film. This could be in part because there were scenes cut out of the film post-production.

Despite that, the beautiful summer atmosphere reflected Nile's perspective of the golden moments while people dropped like flies all around him, and the Udvarnoky brothers and Hagen did a good job with their characterizations within this environment.

In the end, it's mostly a film that uses the environment to reflect the theme of dangerous imagination combined with the folly of the matriarchal desire to preserve the child from grief. It certainly does a decent job of that, though the film can be a bit plodding her and there for those who are looking for a more brisk paced plot and visuals.