Starring: Jason Barry, Dora Bryan, Rob Brydon, Stephen Fry, Andy Hamilton Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Sony Pictures Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 99 Release Date: February 14, 2006 Running Time: 104 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Amazon.com: This visually stunning film is the product of a collaboration of award-winning graphic novelist Neil Gaiman (creator of the much-lauded Sandman series), his frequent collaborator Dave McKean (Cages), and The Jim Henson Company, themselves no strangers to elaborate fantasies such as The Dark Crystal. and Labyrinth. As with the latter film, MirrorMask focuses on a young woman unhappy with her daily existence; here, the artistically inclined Helena (Stephanie Leonides), is at odds with her circus performer parents. When a careless insult appears to send her mother (Gina McKee) into a coma, Helena withdraws into the dark and elaborate world of her drawings, in which a scenario very similar to her predicament in the real world is unfolding. Gaiman and director McKean create arresting images to populate Helena's world, and the Henson Company brings them vividly to life with CGI; though the story is occasionally murky, the fantasy elements are imaginative enough to enthrall what will undoubtedly be the film's toughest customers--younger viewers. --Paul Gaita
Description: MIRRORMASK is the story of Helena, who works for the family circus, and wishes--quite ironically--that she could run away and join real life. But such is not to be the case, as she finds herself on a strange journey into the Dark Lands, a fantastic landscape filled with giants, Monkeybirds and dangerous sphinxes. Helena searches for the Mirrormask, an object of enormous power that is her only hope of escaping the Dark Lands, waking the Queen of Light and returning home.
The long-awaited DVD boasts more than an hour of exclusive extra features. Fans can go Behind the Scenes with Dave McKean, have a conversation with Neil Gaiman in the Neil Talks feature, or watch the Flight of the Monkeybirds in the special featurette, along with many more exclusive features and scenes.
A missed opportunity When I first saw a teaser trailer for Mirrormask, I was stoked. The film itself looked amazing and had so much potential to be on par with some other great films in the fantasy genre. Given that I love fantasy-type stories (Pan's, Wizard of Oz & the sequel, LOTR, Princess Bride, and many others) I figured that this movie was definately for me. Then the actual trailer for the movie came out - which increased the excitement, as the movie looked as if it had a lot of depth to the story. So I managed to view the film, feeling that when it was over Mirrormask would probably be added to my list of well-done fantasy movies.
I could not have been more wrong. I really tried to like the film, believe me on that. I even sat through it twice to see if it would grow on me. That didn't work either.
I don't even know where to begin...
Well, the first thing that comes to mind is the lack of depth in the entire film. "Everybody wears a mask" is about as deep as the movie gets on a metaphorical level and there could have been so many other themes the film could have explored in depth. (Mother-daughter relationships, for one.) Then take into account that the world Helena is thrust into is just as flat. So many things could have been explored in that world - the different cultures and creatures inhabiting it, for example. Instead, everything is just rushed by to keep the plot moving. For example, when Helena is looking for the mask, there happens to be a mask shop around where she can ask questions - used mainly as a convenience to keep the plot moving. None of the information she obtains is helpful or interesting to the plot. Books can fly when Helena needs an escape, and so on. None of the events that happen to Helena have any sort of significance other than to keep the story progressing. Now, I'm not asking for a movie that offers a profound plot. I would just rather watch something that actually seems as if the director cared about the movie at all by actually fleshing out the world he has created somewhat.
Now, visually the movie is stunning. But everything else isn't. The director has focused on the CGI over the storyline. As a result the plot becomes loose. The events in the film, as mentioned, are just there to make the plot progress, which makes the whole story feel uninspired. When the director is creating a world, but has the characters rush by everything in it, unless it can be used as a plot device, the movie falls flat on its face.
When watching Mirromask, I honestly found myself bored by the constant one dimensionalism of the movie, which carried over to the progression of the film. The movie is so dull that the plot feels slow. Even the action sequences fall apart. I couldn't find myself caring what happened next in the movie because everything felt so uninspired. Moments of supposed tension don't give the viewer that feeling at all. There's a monotone atmosphere throughout the film that doesn't bode well with me.
That being said, the characters themselves are just as uninteresting as the plot. To be fair I must first say: Stephanie Leonidas and Gina McKee do attempt to add some depth to their roles. But, with a paper-thin story and script this is difficult. The characters in the film feel like just cliche characters thrown into it - Valentine is the random sidekick, Helena is the initially selfish heroine, the White Queen is good, the Dark Queen is bad, other creatures like the Sphinx cats are just there to antagonize our protaganist until their use has been exhausted. The giants are only in the story to give the key to Helena, etc. The list goes on and on. Character's motivations or reasons for doing anything is just for the plot and not to make the viewer interested in what is going on. Therefore, I didn't find myself caring that Helena was captured by the Dark Queen, that Valentine returned to save her, that the Stork creatures "arrested her", or any of the dialogue between all the characters in the movie. It didn't matter what happened because none of the characters were likeable.
After watching this, I also discovered that another problem is that the creativity well has dried up. I took the liberty of watching Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal after seeing this (made by the same company). Every single character in Mirromask, and sometimes events, is modelled after one of the past projects. Helena = Sarah, Valentine = Hoggle, Dark & Light must balance = Dark Crystal being healed, Queen's Spider Spies = Skeksis Spies, you get the idea. Now, I have no problem with a company re-using a couple of characters from past projects. But when the entire plot and characters within the story are re-used, it's just obvious that they've run out of ideas and want to make money with this movie.
There's no soul in Mirromask at all. At least in the previous two films, you could see the amount of depth they put into creating a new world and the story that went with it. But in Mirromask there is none. It's a real shame too as the film had potential. Unfortunately, all we get is pretty visuals and badly written story.
I'd recommend watching something else if you're interested in a good fantasy film. There are plenty of titles out there that surpass this one. Don't waste your time or money on Mirromask. It's not worth it.
Lush images, gorgeous music, and an enchanting story A girl who's fondest desire is to run away from the circus falls into her own drawings as her mother lies dying. Wait, what? Helena performs in her parents' circus, but deals with the same issues as most teen girls. Her mum passes out in the middle of a performance and Helena's world turns, well, more topsy turvy than it already was. She had been drawing to escape from her extrodinary adolescent angst, and falls into the world that she had created. She meets exotic people and beasts as she explore her own drawings, then it gets weird.
The Dadaesque world of Helena's drawings is rich with the most powerful and complex imagery rendered, mostly, in black and white. It is visually overwhelming, with subtle and sublime symbols of good and evil.
Normally, soundtrack music doesn't blow wind up my kilt, but "Mirrormask" had a brilliant mixture of jazz, african style strains, and circus riffs that really caught my attention. It complimented the visuals and story perfectly.
I'll make the mandatory comparison to "Labyrinth" - after the basic theme of the angst of a teenage girl and the brilliance of execution, there is none. They're both incredibly well executed, but after that, their lives took different paths.
"Mirrormask" is a treasure of the cinematic arts and if there is any justice in the world and any sanity in academia, it will be held as a shining and exemplary study in how to get it right for centuries to come.
E.M. Van Court
Stunning I really enjoy watching this movie. It's visually stunning and completely immersed in imagination. The concept behind it is also very interesting, as it's like being caught in a dream world that is directly affecting the real world. The score behind the movie is amazing as well, it adds to the overall beauty and dreaminess.
Beautiful looking film This beautiful movie that has the magnificent quality of looking like a dream and a graphic novel at the same time. It also looks a bit like a mix between The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (the remake) and The Cell in style. Neil Gaiman has created an amazing story, but the filmmaker, photography people, costume and set designers, CGI and all those involved in the creative process have created a movie and a world that is amazing and beautiful to watch. The complexity and the greatness of this great world make it alluring and enticing, on in which you would get lost in an attempt to solve a great mystery.
The story? Oh yes, there is one. But honestly, I was happy enough just looking at the movie. The movie is about Helena and the world which she has created through her drawings. One night the border between the real and the created world are crossed and Helena is trapped. To return to her world and wake up the Queen of Light she must find the charm.
The movie is full of symbolism and discusses the idea of duality: good and evil, light and dark, dream world and real world. In fact, the dream world is quite the allegory for the real world. Touching on doubles, dreams and even a bit of psychology, this film is great. The cinematography, the story and the look of the movie were all excellent.
The DVD includes the making of, subtitles in 9 languages, commentary, trailers and a poster gallery.
Interesting This movie is very interesting in many aspects, including the layout and story. Though this may never be a super hit or blockbuster, it will most certainly become a cult classic or old favorite in the years to come.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
