Steamboy

[da]

I just saw Steamboy with the_infamous_j. The best part was the immersive surround-sound: why, when there were fireworks on the screen, we could just swear that we heard the fireworks coming from outside, too. Hm, could that have been the neighbours?

Anyhow: the film. I'm glad I saw it, but it only gets a weak thumbs-up.

I loved the Victorian steam-technology, the dark and brooding interior shots, and the main characters. The grandfather (voiced by Patrick Stewart) was over the top, and the plot was really over the top for the second half, and not in a good way. Not to mention the "huh?" moments every time they tried to explain the fake science. It would've been better if they'd been a bit less earnest about it.

I preferred Castle in the Sky, which is strikingly similar in theme, even more than the standard anime trope of "great power, mankind is too warlike to be worthy". They're also close in their settings and characters (impossibly advanced steam-power society, scrappy boy and girl turn out to be wiser than the power-mad adults). But I guess Aetherium works better than high-pressure steam to keep a story aloft.

J. brought by some nice lemongrass/fruit tea. I think I shall ask him again where it came from, as I bet they have more. :)

Comments

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

I just think it's funny that I saw the Magritte so recently after seeing Castle in the Sky.

There were fireworks here, too. And since I didn't know what was going on, and am in Jerusalem, that was mildly uncomfortable.

[the-infamous-j.livejournal.com]

I quite enjoyed the movie, but I have to agree, I think Castle in the Sky is still one of my favorites. You'll have to let me know when you want to watch the other one.

The tea place was called Teaopia, and they have a website: www.teaopia.ca. The tea in question is called Ice Age. There is another similar one, but I can't remember which.

[mynatt.livejournal.com]

I agree that Steamboy was just okay. What struck me was how similar the plot was to Akira, especially the ending, which seemed strange given the totally different settings.