A Christmas Carol is Robert Zemeckis' 3D adaptation of Dickens' eponymous classic novel.
With stories as well-known as this, which have been adapted so many times for the big and small screen, any director faces the challenge to offer something that is new and attractive, still capturing the message and spirit of the novel. Zemeckis really has made an effort trying to revive the book story, adding some elements that are in the novel and are not usually shown in other adaptations: the depiction of the spirit of the present Christmas, the persecution of the black carriage, and the "trip" on the bullet over the city, among others. The eagle views of the city are extremely painterly, realistic and beautiful. The attention to the details of the daily life of the characters, especially of the street life and inner door of the working class are great, too, and they give an idea of what real life was in 19th-century England. The animation is very realistic, created by "mocap", a 3D computerised filming technique in which the actors voice, movement and facial expression serve as a basis for those of the animated characters.
Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer mean Scrooge and the three spirits of Christmas. Gary Oldman is the good-hearted but poor clerk Bob Cratchit and Scrooge's former business partner. Robin Wright Penn plays young Scrooge's fiancée, Colin Firth plays Scrooge's nephew, while Fred Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins, Ron Bottitta and other supporting actors give their voices and physique to multiple secondary characters.
Despite the all-star cast, the movie does not work as an ensemble and there is something indescribable missing from it. The fact that we see the actors quite realistically reflected in the faces of the animated characters leaves little to the imagination, as it does not create enough detachment between the actors and the character they play. If that was the aim, filming a non-animation movie would have been more appropriate. On the other hand, Carrey is not especially inspired in this performance, and we see the more sardonic mime-ish Carrey instead of the good serious dramatic actor he can be; I did not see Scrooge anywhere in this movie, but Jim Carrey's caricature of the character. The rest of the cast is OK in their respective performances, and only Gary Oldman shines in his sweet portray of Scrooge's clerk.
At another level, the tone of the movie is far from being "Christmassy" or dramatic as it is action packed, with the most important dramatic moments of the story just sketched and the action ones delightfully focused on. By doing so we lose the most important thing of Dickens' novel - its soul.
The movie is likeable, but never memorable, and will not move or touch anybody. To do so, the stunning visual animation should have been paired with a more dramatic touch, with a little bit of Christmas magic, which is not the case.
A wasted attempt to revive the magic story of Dickens' novel. Still enjoyable.
Pacific Regency Hotel Suites
KH Tower, Jalan Punchak,
Off Jalan P. Ramlee.
50250 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Tel : 603 2332 7777
Fax : 603 2031 2492
http://www.pacific-regency.com/
info@pacific-regency.com
reservation@pacific-regency.com
The Hotel is in the heart of the city, at walking distance from shopping malls, sights and transport nods. The KL Tower and the Petronas are minutes away, and so are the Pavillion and Suria Shopping Malls, the restaurant, coffee and pub strip, the Hop-on Hop-off Bus, the monorail and the metro. Location Location!
My apartment-room was huge, and had a separate lounge and bedroom, a complete kitchen, a huge bathroom with a decent selection of amenities, a king-size hard bed, two plasma TVs, a good selection of international channels, the newspaper delivered daily for free, among other things - A litte home away from home.
The staff (at reception, housekeeping and tour-desk) were super-friendly, always ready to help. I thought they guys at reception desk were flatted out sometimes and that they needed a bigger desk and at least two extra hands to attend cues, and also an extra hand to attend to in-house guests going out or coming in with their keys and queries. The same pleasant impression I got from he taxi-drivers that work at the entrance of the hotel, although I did used them rarely. They were courteous, never pushy, and informative if you want to walk around. If Saita is available, let her take you around.
I booked a room for
non-smoker but this was not available and I was given one in a smoking
floor. However, my room was sprayed and no odour was perceptible;
however, the external corridors smelled a bit. The room was also sprayed for pests during my stay; I thought that they should have done so when the room was empty; although there was no smell after the spray, this could spark all sort of allergic or poisonous reactions.
The kitchen barely had a few items of crockery, cutlery and glasses, which were not enough to cook basic stuff in the apartment, so I had to contact Housekeeping. I expect a hotel like this to provide guests with basic kitchenware without the guest having to call the housekeeper for it. Moreover, there was no microwave! I mean, this is a four-star hotel and we are in the 21st century.
There is a one restaurant, café-bar and night bar in the hotel, but I did not visit them. I found more interesting wandering the surrounding area or heading to posh Suria Mall and finding my treat of the day there.
One of the main downs of the hotel is the level of noise in some rooms - namely mine. The aircon is old and rattles a lot, especially during the night if you leave it on, or if your neighbours do so, as the hotel has ducted aircon, not individual pieces. Moreover, my apartment was close (almost at arm's reach!) to a huge crane doing demolition/construction works, and the noise bas a bother sometimes, especially at night.
Overall, this is a very good hotel, good-priced and good-serviced, but needs to be updated to provide the guest with a better selection of kitchenware and a silent air-con system. The new wing is already refurbished and open, and I hope the old rooms, like the one I stayed in, are updated by now.
Stayed December 2011
Tracey Berkowitz is a 15y.o. girl on a night bus, covered by a curtain shower, talking directly to you - nonsense. Her memory is fragmented, chaotic, fancy, and on a loop. She has left home, is looking for her missing little brother Sonny, and she is in trouble.
We are drawn into Tracey's chaotic mind and soul, but also towards her path of growth from child to woman, from fairy-tale worlds to harsh reality and acceptance of the self. This is a very interesting story about a teenager that is not pretty, cleaver or happy. Although this is a movie about teenagers, there is nothing sweet about it, as presents very hard topics: rape, bullying, loneliness, lack of self-esteem, confused self-image, delusional thoughts, insecurity, and mental trouble.
Tracey's memory fragments and thoughts appear in mini-screens within the screen and on split-screen images, which show different angles of the same scene or different scenes altogether. The non-linear narrative is very challenging. Pay extra attention to the first 15-20 minutes of the film, because they are the most difficult and the ones that really give clues to understand many of the things that happen later on.
The film is more complex, visually, at the beginning, when Tracey's mind and emotions are more confused, and becomes simpler and more linear at the same pace that Tracey's mind clears up, to be completely linear at the end, when she accepts herself and the events related to Sonny. In other words, Tracey's troubled mind and emotions are directly linked to the way the movie is visually organised. The movie is also full of symbolic psychoanalytical elements, from the gender of Tracey's psychiatrist and the settings in which the consultation happens, to the appearance of different animals (a crow, a horse, and "a dog"), to the way the scenes have been patched and shown to the viewer.
Ellen Page is fantastic, despite the dramatic demands of her character. She was 20 y.o.a. when the film was shot, but she is believable as a 15y.o. girl. That is thanks not only to her baby face and childish physique, but mostly to the great actress she is. The rest of the cast are OK in their respective roles: Ari Cohen and Erin McMurtry as Mr & Mrs Berkowitz; Zie Souwand as sweet Sonny; Toronto Songwriter and performer Slim Twigg as jerk Billy Zero, Julian Richings as Dr Heker, among others.
A few important flaws ruined what could have been a great movie. The main idea is brilliant but, since we get mostly Tracey's subjective approach to reality, the rest of the characters are somewhat pointless and can't be trusted by the viewer; in fact they are just hinted.
I did not like the end, not the way it ended, but how the end was presented and how we get there - what triggers Tracey's epiphany? That is so because the mood of the movie and, most importantly, its tempo were not the right ones.
This is one of those movies that are a challenge for the viewers, that need of their full awareness and attention, that have a difficult knot to untie, but also one of those movies that can be interpreted in different ways and make your brain produce sparks. One of those movies that you get or you don't, nothing in between. To me, one of those movies that, the more I think about it, the more I want to watch again.
Are you ready for it?
Cameron Highlands Resort
Tanah Rata 39000, Malaysia
+60327831000
http://www.cameronhighlandsresort.com/
Cameron Highlands Resort is a beautiful hotel that provides an unforgettable experience to the visitor. The friendliness of the staff, the attention to the detail in the room service, the beauty of the rooms and the hotel make you feel like a noble.
The rooms are beautiful, classy colonial style, very spacious for two people, awesome furniture, huge balcony with a big table and seats, and very comfortable. The bathroom is gorgeous and very spacious, with a divine set of good-quality toiletries. The shower is huge! The smell of the bed linen is also wonderful. They are really generous with their room's tea & coffee making facilities and with their mineral water refills.
My room was facing the inner courts, in front of one of the restaurants, and it was very quiet. The restaurant finishes business at a decent time and, therefore, they will not disturb your sleep unless you go to bed at 9pm. I found the hotel very quiet in general, although many reviewers have complained about the noise.
There are four restaurants in the hotel, but they are a bit overpriced for the quality of food they offer. I really liked the food in the Japanese restaurant Gonbei, as well as its chill-out ambience. The other ones are too old-style for my taste, but the service is still fantastic. I missed a Malaysian good quality restaurant, instead of the western and Japanese ones, after all this is Malaysia!
Their Koi pond is beautiful, mesmerising actually, and you will want to wander around or stand by there to relax or take photos before heading to their small but well-equipped gym or spa, or just afterwards.
A visit to the Spa Village is a must, really!, because of the treatments, the great ladies working in it and the fantastic facilities. It is a bit pricey, but truly worth it.
This hotel is perfect for couples looking for a romantic escape and for families travelling with children, not as much for independent travellers willing to move around freely or for young people looking for lots of night life and fun around. Still, it is worth the visit.
TIP 1
The hotel is very expensive, but if you book months in advance you can save 70% of their usual rates. Surf the net thoroughly before booking.
TIP 2
Before booking mind that, if you are not driving a car or don't want to rely on taxis, the hotel is located between the towns of Brinchan and Tanah Rata, the first at 20 minutes walking distance, and the second at 45 minutes. If you are not a walker, have mobility problems, or don't want to rely on taxis for going out, this might be out of the beaten track for you. On the other hand, during local holidays, the traffic jams can reach several kilometres, so being in a car does not mean you are going to reach destination sooner than a walker!
TIP 3
If you don't feel like expending much money in the hotel restaurants, walk 20 minutes to Brinchan and you will find lots of cheap local eateries, a KFC, and some supermarkets. Take the opportunity and visit one of the beautiful Buddhist or Hindu temples around!
TIP 4
The hotel has a excellent selection of tours you can join in, they are quite good but pricey, and you are picked up and dropped by at the hotel. However, if you want to save some money or just have a wider choice, go to Tanah Rata and shop around, as there are many small tourist offices offering the same services at cheaper prices, all English-speaking operated, and willing to do business.
Visited December 2011
66 Angove St
North Perth Western Australia 6006
(08) 9328 2823
http://kalmbodyworks.com.au/
KALM Wellness Centre, recently relocated from Fiztgerald St to a more convenient location on Angove St, is one of those small practices where the attention to the client is personalised, prices competitive and the quality of the service terrific.
I have known some of the staff for a few years already, and they are not only friendly, but terrific therapists, who always help me with my constant back problems.
They offer a range of remedial and pain-relief massage techniques, as well as relaxation massage, coaching, hypnotherapy and osteopathy, among other services.
Their new place on Angove is really beautiful, welcoming and calming, and really close to some good coffee shops, pubs and restaurants.
You can see the profile of each therapist, and book online through their website.
This is one of those practices that, to me, sets an example what a private-boutique practice should be.
47 James St
Perth Cultural Centre
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9492 6600
Facebook
Website
Youtube
One of those places you must visit in Perth. Why? It is free! It is good!
The permanent exhibitions (colonial painting, classic painting and Aboriginal gallery) alternate with yearly free exhibitions, the Year-12 students being a must as it showcases the great talent of the emerging Perthian Artistic Community.
Now and then, the gallery also holds International exhibitions showcasing overseas pieces, but they are somewhat downgraded, never the super-duper ones. Even the super-duper ones are somewhat adjusted to the gallery and never the whole thing you can see elsewhere. The last example being the Picasso to Warhol, with a uneven selection of pieces, the pices by Picasso, Matisse, Miro or Deschamps under-represented and being secondary pieces in general, not the super-duper ones. Even the guides of the exhibition were mediocre, but at least people had the recorded comment of the pieces, which is something.
Although you cannot compare this gallery to the interstate ones (I thought that Darwin's or Adelaide's were better! just to mention two little cities that are poorer than Perth), European or American ones, it is a good place to visit. If you are a foreigner you will enjoy the Aboriginal area. The permanent collections are terrific, with wonderful pieces by Australian and International artists, that might surprise you. Some of the free exhibitions by local artists are also great, not so popular with the general public, perhaps, but at least the real thing. I still remember the terrific sculpture exhibition by Gabriella Piccini, that let me wow.
The gallery also has a mini-theatre where some functions are somewhat held, and artists talks. Check their website to see what is going on.
The AGWA is alive, that is a good thing. The bad thing is that it does not renovate or re-invent itself as much as it would be needed for the gallery to become a first-class gallery. All comes down to money and demand for Art exhibitions in Perth, and it seems that the new well-off people in Perth are more into designer-brands shops than into Art; they invest in the stock-market but they are not patrons of anything that is not themselves. If I was a millionaire I would be donating to the AGWA. Give me the millions! Each time I pass by the "Gucci Plasticucci" shop I think of this. All comes down to what the people or Perth want or are interested in, and the demand for true art in Perth seems limited, so our gallery is, how to put it? a bit parochial. Cultural and Education institutions do not promote free culture or free talks about Art, so the general knowledge is minimal or non-existing. People know big names, but do not know, understand or appreciate why they are masters or well known. This being so, they will rarely go beyond the obvious jewels of the past and show any interest on contemporary Art that is not conventional in forms or languages, and are satisfied with the "famous" artists and pieces of art, and not even with those if they are not "beautiful".
Young Lola (Franka Potente) is in love with Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). He needs the 100,000 Marks he has lost or he'll be killed by the Mafioso he has to pass them on in 20 minutes. Lola has a plan to find the money, and take it to Manni on time so he lives. She's on the run.
The movie starts with two quotes selected by director Tom Tykwer. The first, by poet T. S. Eliot, says, "We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time". The second, by German soccer coach S. Herberger, says, "after the game is before the game". Unlike other movies, these are not pedantic quotations, but are really directly linked to the way the story is presented and filmed.
The story is shot three times, with slight differences regarding the positioning of the actors, slightly different timing in the action, and changes in the possible scenes, which produce dramatically different endings and future predictions for all the characters. Only the scene regarding Lola's mum, shot in pastels while she's talking on the phone, does not change in the movie. Unlike other movies of the sort, this is not a pre-deterministic movie. The message of the movie, to me, is that the fact that you ran faster doesn't mean that you're going to get there earlier. For that to happen, you'll need to run in the right direction, at the proper pace, and have a bit of luck. Life is a game, a net of chances, and minor changes bring dramatic different endings. Lola has three different ways of approaching the same challenge, and has three lives, like in a video-game, to succeed.
Although the movie is action-packed, its core is grounded in the deep love the couple has, which is explained in infra-red coloured flashbacks with both characters in bed talking about their relationship. Without that, the movie would have been just another ran and catch story. Another great thing is that the roles are reversed in this film: the hero is a woman trying to rescue her man from trouble, not the opposite; she takes the lead, she is the one running and making things happen.
The movie was shot in three different formats, steady video-cam for the running action scenes, 35mm movie cam (colour, BW and infra-red) for the settled steady scenes, with an important animated clip that serves as credits opening but then becomes part of the story. The movie contains present, past and future action, and uses split screens effectively to show relevant events happening to both Manni and Lola.
Colour is very important in this movie, but not overwhelmingly so. There are very bright colour enhancements that break the visual monotony of the urban settings and the settled interior scenes: Lola's red-orange hair perfectly matches her blue-green pastel outfit, the orange ambulance, the men in yellow carrying the big glass, the blood-red telephone, and the infra-red scenes, among others. Moreover, the flashbacks are shot in B&W, while the flash-forwards of the secondary characters are shot in subdued colours, very much like a worn out movie of the 1970s would look like.
I loved the OST and selection of songs, whose lyrics perfectly describe what is happening in the story, and the mood of the characters and scene at the precise moment it is playing. The beat of the movie, the one that gives its pace and rhythm to it, is the techno-song sung by Potente, a catchy powerful and repetitive piece that also matches perfectly Lola's determination and angst; it has also something of video-game music, in a way, as the running without the music would look somewhat deflated.
Franka Potente honours her surname and has a great energy in this film. She runs with a great easiness and power. She is also able to stop and act dramatically, be sweet, nasty, crazy - always fresh and believable. Moritz Bleibtreu shows a great dramatic talent to showcase his character in the few minutes that he has on camera. The rest of the cast are also good in their respective roles (Herbert Knaup as Lola's father; Nina Petri as Frau Hansen, the mistress of Lola's father; Armin Rohde as bank security guard Schuster, and Ludger Pistor as Mr Meier, among others).
Two main flaws. The opening of the movie after the credits, with hundreds of people moving around and some questions being posed to the spectator, is really pretentious, and I thought does not add anything to the script or the movie in general, especially because the two initial quotations already establish the concept around which the movie revolves. There is a goof, too, in the scene of Lola talking to Manni through the glass window of the supermarket, which has no verisimilitude; however, the mood and energy of the film is such at that moment that this does not matter or bother the viewer, who believes it.
A great action movie, super-entertaining, with more depth that one can think at first sight.
