Last night I watched the movie I have been anticipating since I first heard of its existence on Neil Gaiman's blog: Mirrormask. It didn't get a theatrical release, so I was hoping it'd be in the Film Festival. Unfortunately it wasn't so I had to wait for the DVD.
I was unable to get a copy of the DVD at the big Video Ezy sale like Seraph but then delightful Muggle sent me a link to a guy selling it on trademe. The same guy she bought it off. (She has had it for many weeks but her partner is using it for a design paper so she couldn't lend it out.) So, I ordered, paid and recieved it Wednesday (super-fast, this guy sends out DVDs before the payment's cleared which is pretty awesome. Don't think I'd be that brave!).
Storywise it was quite derivative with elements of Alice in Wonderland, Coraline, the Neverending Story, Paperhouse and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen making the plot familiar if not predictable. None of this mattered however because the movie is all about the look and the girl and both are excellent.
Dave McKean is the director as well as designer and his vision was pretty astounding. Just lush and gorgeous and creepy and weird, totally immersive and clever. The girl is the central character and her ability to hold your eye and your attention despite what Lee called a lacklustre accent was perfect. She is a wonderfully beautiful girl, like a mixture of Helena Bohnam Carter and the girl who played Violet in Lemony Snicket. She was at that "not a girl, not yet a woman" stage, but that's the whole point. Sometimes she looked like a kid, sometimes like a young woman...beautiful.
The movie also featured the single most creepy makeover scene I've ever seen, set to a haunting rendition of "Close to You" by the Carpenters. Scary stuff. (I've had the song stuck in my head ever since.)
PoF: today I am wearing my new fuschia socks with black ink lines. They are over the knee in length, lovely and snug fitting although they like to creep down to a knee sock. I am really liking the vertical stripes look and I can think of a few people who will be getting them for Christmas.
CO: nearly the weekend