John P
03-05-2006, 03:18 PM
This film a freakin work of art!
Storywise, it's only your basic Through the Looking Glass plot, as written by Neil Gaiman - teenage girl has a fight with her mother, who moments later collapses and lands in the hospital. Teenage girl suffers angst and has a vivid fantasy Dream Quest that we all go along on (not unlike Labyrinth, also a Henson production, in fact).
The difference here? Dave McKean's art. McKean has been Gaiman's book illustrator for many years. His style is psycho-collage mixed with scratchy pen-and-ink. He was the art director on the film, so what we get is essentially a Gaiman/McKean graphic novel that moves. The young girl's dream world is 100% CG based upon McKean's art, and is completely astounding.
The young actress who plays the lead role is very personable. Her performance is bright and enjoyable, and, realizing she's in a dream early on, she takes in the whole thing with great humor and bemusement.
Highly recommended if you enjoy gaiman's writing and McKean's art, or if you just like a good visually-splendorous fantasy film.
Storywise, it's only your basic Through the Looking Glass plot, as written by Neil Gaiman - teenage girl has a fight with her mother, who moments later collapses and lands in the hospital. Teenage girl suffers angst and has a vivid fantasy Dream Quest that we all go along on (not unlike Labyrinth, also a Henson production, in fact).
The difference here? Dave McKean's art. McKean has been Gaiman's book illustrator for many years. His style is psycho-collage mixed with scratchy pen-and-ink. He was the art director on the film, so what we get is essentially a Gaiman/McKean graphic novel that moves. The young girl's dream world is 100% CG based upon McKean's art, and is completely astounding.
The young actress who plays the lead role is very personable. Her performance is bright and enjoyable, and, realizing she's in a dream early on, she takes in the whole thing with great humor and bemusement.
Highly recommended if you enjoy gaiman's writing and McKean's art, or if you just like a good visually-splendorous fantasy film.