Coraline

At the beginning I considered Coraline as Tim Burton's movie, but after finding information on the Internet I knew I was wrong. This movie is directed by Henry Selick, who is the director of "The Nightmare before Christmas." Thought this movie wasn't created by Tim Burton, the style is very like Tim Burton's arts. I like this movie!

The story begins with a three-member family, Mom, Dad, and a girl. They move to an old house and the little girl find a door with a wall behind it. At night the girl open the secret door again and find that there is another similar world behind the door and better parents and friends. The only different thing is that their eyes are buttons....

The reason I consider this movie as Tim Burton's art is that the color of this movie is very grey, and the music of this movie is very dark and creepy. The story is very attractive and you even don't know how the story would end. I recommend this movie very much!

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Miyazaki Hayao had a new anime movie on 1/23. It's a pure love story of a mermaid Ponyo and a little boy Sousuke. One day Ponyo got trapped by a bottle and Sousuke saved her. Ponyo was well protected by Sousuke so that she liked Sousuke and wanted to be with him. The first step was to become a human. Ponyo's father tried to stop her from being a human but finally he didn't make it. For being with Sousuke, Ponyo made a tsunami(?) which damaged Sousuke's town unintentionally. At last Ponyo's parents recovered the town and helped Ponyo become a real little girl. Ponyo and Sousuke can be together forever!

There are a lot of negative comments on the Internet. They say this movie has a lack of contents. It's only for five-year-old children. In my point of view, I consider this movie as a relaxing anime. All you need to do is to feel the cuteness of Ponyo and to learn about the pure love between Ponyo and Sousuke. We don't need to think about the future of them. They are just five years old! Maybe someday Ponyo doesn't like Sousuke or Sousuke doesn't like Ponyo but it doesn't matter. It's hard now for a man or a woman to say "I will protect you and love you forever and ever." Even if one said that words, the other wouldn't believe it. The promise of the children is more natural, sincere, and without any bad intention. I feel comfortable to watch the movie. It makes me feel like a child to re-think about what's love.

By the way, I still love Hisaishi Joe's music!

Sweeney Todd--The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

I love Tim Burton's movies. I like the strong contrast in his movie. He usually uses black and white to construct his scenes, like "Corpse Bride", "Edward Scissorhands", and "The Nightmare before Christmas". This movie is no exception. I haven't watched the musical version of "Sweeney Todd", but I knew it when I watched a movie called "Jersey Girl", in which the little girl wanted "Sweeney Todd" to be her musical homework. This movie let me enjoy the story and the music.

The main actorleading actor is Tim Burton's old partner, Johney Depp. He successfully acted Sweeney Todd, who is a barber losing his wife and daughter and wanting to revenge to the evil judge. The main actressleading actress is also Tim Burton's old partner, Helena Bonham Carter. But she is not so famous as Johney Depp. If you have watched some Tim Burton's movies, you can find her appearances, like the witch in "Big Fish", the mother in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I think she is also a skillful actress. Totally this movie is a good movie, especilly its music! Though the movie is bloody and scary, it's strengh of story showed up wonderfully. I can feel the sorrow and regret of Sweeney Todd when he killed his crazy wife unintentionally. In the end of the movie, he was willing to be killed by Toby without any resistance and died with his beloved wife. I also feel lethal love of Mrs. Lovett. She loved Mr. Todd but finally was killed by him. Her dream was vanished at last...

I highly recommend this movie, if you won't be frightened by a lot of blood :)