My First Movie Review

Brainstorming: Mirrormask
1. Well written-Neil Gaiman
2. Great score
3. Good special effects
4. Setting made to look like a drawing
5. Takes place in a dream--not very original
6. Family owns a circus so everything is related to circuses
7. Small-budget British film
8. No well-known actors
9. Themes such as hiding behind a mask/being true to yourself
10. Contrast between light and dark in the plot and in setting
11. Combination of real set pieces and computer-made things; sometimes hard to tell which is which
12. Reference to Oedipus with the sphinx
13. Actress who played Helena was okay, but not as good as the rest of the cast
14. Mood was very important-whole movie is meant to feel like the end of the world, or like it took place inside a drawing
15. Contrast between the bleak real world and the ever-changing, colorful dream world

Review: Mirrormask
Mirrormask is an enjoyable film primarily because it is so different than typical American blockbuster movie. The plot tells the story of Helena--a girl who hates her life revolved around her family's circus, but later learns the importance of family after her mother becomes extremely sick and she dreams about a parallel universe that takes place in her own drawings. Though the storyline is a little unoriginal, the film focuses on the artistic atmosphere of Helena's dream world: swirls of gold dust are constantly floating in the air, random items in the streets glitter unexpectedly, and strange creatures that look like combinations of chickens, flamingoes, dogs, beetles and many other animals are constantly roaming in the background of every scene. Everyone in this dream world besides Helena wears a mask, and is fleeing the slimy darkness that is slowly taking over the dream world. All these elements combine to give the film an end-of-the-world-type tone, if that makes any sense. The setting is beautiful, but it feels as if something dark is lurking in the background. Because this film was created by writer Niel Gaiman and artist Dave McKean, it is no surprise that the eerie tone is the focal point of the film. This is even further emphasized by the score; which is again, magical but dark. Gaiman's writing adds a touch of humor. For example, Helena provides us with a riddle: "What's green, hangs on a wall, and whistles?" Don't even try to guess, because you'll never get it.