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Eric Lowe
Issue date: 3/31/06 Section: Voices
Stepping Through the Mirrormask
I'm going to cover something this week that I haven't covered before.
I'm going to review a movie.
First off, let me assure you that it's a fantasy movie, written by Neil Gaiman, author of 'Neverwhere' and the Sandman comic series, and that, while not directly related to gaming, most gamers would enjoy it.
The movie I want to talk about is called 'Mirrormask,' and it was recently released on DVD.
The movie was produced by the Jim Henson Company.
You might remember Jim Henson as the mastermind behind the Muppets.
His company has produced numerous movies of exceptional quality.
Among the most notable are 'Labyrinth,' 'The Dark Crystal' and the many Muppet movies.
When I first heard of the concept, before production had even begun, I knew that it would be either really, really bad or really, really good.
Fortunately, it turned out to be good.
Neil Gaiman is a fantastic writer and artist, and his drawing can be seen throughout the movie.
If you have ever read any of his work, you can instantly see his influence on the movie.
The plot involves a teenage girl who gets sucked into the strange world of her drawings.
She has to find the charm, the Mirrormask, to bring balance back to the world she has created.
It is an extremely surreal experience.
One of the greatest attributes of this movie is that you won't be able to tell what will happen next.
Most movies being released now are very predictable, and so there are no surprises.
In 'Mirrormask,' there are constant surprises.
The music is also to be noted.
It mixes what sounds like smooth jazz with a little blues and, sometimes, even a little techno.
It's an odd mix that feels right at home with the movie.
It might seem strange at first, but it grows on the watcher.
As most works of art are, this movie has numerous influences.
It has many similarities to 'The Wizard of Oz.'
While in the drawing world, she sees and interacts with people she knows in the real world, but they are different.
Her mom shows up, as does her father and her friends from the circus she works for.
It also has a few nods to 'Labyrinth,' 'Dark City,' 'The Princess Bride,' 'The Never-Ending Story' and even to Tool's video for 'Sober.'
While this movie isn't for everyone, anyone who has read any of Gaiman's work or likes the Henson Company's work will feel right at home.
I'm going to cover something this week that I haven't covered before.
I'm going to review a movie.
First off, let me assure you that it's a fantasy movie, written by Neil Gaiman, author of 'Neverwhere' and the Sandman comic series, and that, while not directly related to gaming, most gamers would enjoy it.
The movie I want to talk about is called 'Mirrormask,' and it was recently released on DVD.
The movie was produced by the Jim Henson Company.
You might remember Jim Henson as the mastermind behind the Muppets.
His company has produced numerous movies of exceptional quality.
Among the most notable are 'Labyrinth,' 'The Dark Crystal' and the many Muppet movies.
When I first heard of the concept, before production had even begun, I knew that it would be either really, really bad or really, really good.
Fortunately, it turned out to be good.
Neil Gaiman is a fantastic writer and artist, and his drawing can be seen throughout the movie.
If you have ever read any of his work, you can instantly see his influence on the movie.
The plot involves a teenage girl who gets sucked into the strange world of her drawings.
She has to find the charm, the Mirrormask, to bring balance back to the world she has created.
It is an extremely surreal experience.
One of the greatest attributes of this movie is that you won't be able to tell what will happen next.
Most movies being released now are very predictable, and so there are no surprises.
In 'Mirrormask,' there are constant surprises.
The music is also to be noted.
It mixes what sounds like smooth jazz with a little blues and, sometimes, even a little techno.
It's an odd mix that feels right at home with the movie.
It might seem strange at first, but it grows on the watcher.
As most works of art are, this movie has numerous influences.
It has many similarities to 'The Wizard of Oz.'
While in the drawing world, she sees and interacts with people she knows in the real world, but they are different.
Her mom shows up, as does her father and her friends from the circus she works for.
It also has a few nods to 'Labyrinth,' 'Dark City,' 'The Princess Bride,' 'The Never-Ending Story' and even to Tool's video for 'Sober.'
While this movie isn't for everyone, anyone who has read any of Gaiman's work or likes the Henson Company's work will feel right at home.