Comments on: “Unicorn” whispers a butterfly passing by http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by musings of a cinematic mind Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:25:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Thorsten http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3412 Thorsten Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:19:46 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3412 Hey honey : ) I think "Bolt" is a good example of a typical modern family entertainment movie. It's like a big sundae - fun while it lasts but it basically has no nutritional value. While <em>The Last Unicorn</em> certainly isn't the best animated movie of all times it does touch on many emotional aspects such as growing older without seeing our dreams fulfilled, trying to find our way in a world that appears alien to us, dealing with feelings that we've never experienced before, showing compassion and understanding for others, believing in our own worth and our strength, learning to sacrifice things for the greater good and so forth. It's all presented in a very whimsical and nicely scored (musically) package (I have to add that it was partially a Japanese production as all the animation was subcontracted to Topcraft whose core members soon after became the famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli" rel="nofollow">Studio Gibli</a>; it definitely shows). Also, the author's involvement in the production of the movie tremendously added to the appeal. In my opinion Hollywood is lacking good writers these days. It has all become too shallow and FX driven. So yes, we definitely need more substance, more depth, less focus on production. Regarding "Bolt" I think Disney had a decent idea (though a bit overused) but the story, in it's execution, just really contradicted itself. Apparently Penny and her mother (who looked all too stereotypical, and where was dad?) do live out "the rest of their lives" (happily ever after?) in a quiet town with Bolt, Mittens and Rhino, escaping the "evil clutches" of Hollywood exploits. But given that Miley Cyrus voiced Penny really raises eyebrows for me, it couldn't run more polar opposite I think. Considering too that the movie had a production budget of about $150 million makes me wonder even more as to where all the money went (to). It certainly didn't have the lasting impact of a movie like <em>The Last Unicorn</em>. This is what I am personally looking for though, something that speaks to me, at any age, that moves me, touches me and transports me and in some respect even changes me. Not all stories can and will accomplish this (and they don't have to) but I certainly look for them. Hey honey : ) I think “Bolt” is a good example of a typical modern family entertainment movie. It’s like a big sundae — fun while it lasts but it basically has no nutritional value. While The Last Unicorn certainly isn’t the best animated movie of all times it does touch on many emotional aspects such as growing older without seeing our dreams fulfilled, trying to find our way in a world that appears alien to us, dealing with feelings that we’ve never experienced before, showing compassion and understanding for others, believing in our own worth and our strength, learning to sacrifice things for the greater good and so forth. It’s all presented in a very whimsical and nicely scored (musically) package (I have to add that it was partially a Japanese production as all the animation was subcontracted to Topcraft whose core members soon after became the famous Studio Gibli; it definitely shows). Also, the author’s involvement in the production of the movie tremendously added to the appeal. In my opinion Hollywood is lacking good writers these days. It has all become too shallow and FX driven. So yes, we definitely need more substance, more depth, less focus on production.
Regarding “Bolt” I think Disney had a decent idea (though a bit overused) but the story, in it’s execution, just really contradicted itself. Apparently Penny and her mother (who looked all too stereotypical, and where was dad?) do live out “the rest of their lives” (happily ever after?) in a quiet town with Bolt, Mittens and Rhino, escaping the “evil clutches” of Hollywood exploits. But given that Miley Cyrus voiced Penny really raises eyebrows for me, it couldn’t run more polar opposite I think. Considering too that the movie had a production budget of about $150 million makes me wonder even more as to where all the money went (to). It certainly didn’t have the lasting impact of a movie like The Last Unicorn. This is what I am personally looking for though, something that speaks to me, at any age, that moves me, touches me and transports me and in some respect even changes me. Not all stories can and will accomplish this (and they don’t have to) but I certainly look for them.

]]> By: decor8 Holly http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3411 decor8 Holly Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:54:21 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3411 I never read the book and hadn't even heard of The Last Unicorn until around 2003 and I've been a fan ever since. It's such a touching film which I think lacks in so many animated features today coming out of America. There are feelings of melancholy, pain, love, respect, admiration, partnering, longing, hope in this movie yet most of what is out there today seem to draw up on a limited range of emotions for me. The animation, while more impressive than perhaps what was on screen years ago, is not the end all be all for me personally. I wish animation and good story-telling would stay neck to neck vs. good story-telling usually 5 miles behind. Recently I watched Disney's "Bolt". It's such a cute film, the animation is gorgeous and the characters are comical and fun to watch. There is, however this lack of depth to the whole story and though I'm not knocking the movie because I now own it on DVD, the emotions it drew up in me were all pretty surface. I didn't walk away really THINKING about the life lesson learned. In retrospect I guess the only point in the movie was to show the love between a girl and a dog and that smoke and mirrors movie making is a pretty plastic world devoid of any reality with some pretty greedy agents pushing young actors to not be honest and authentic, rather to lie to those they love in order to maintain some image. In the end Bolt and his "person" ends up in what appears to be an "average" life in a house in what appears to be the midwest. I wish the ending would have been that the main character fires her agent and launches her own production company creating movies of her own according to "her" rules. I mean, why is it that mainstream culture teaches us that greed is the ONLY way and if we don't want to be part of that way then we should go live in a country house as a recluse and/or give up our career entirely? Hmmm. Sorry for rambling. What are your thoughts? Holly <abbr><em>holly´s last blog post..<a href="http://decor8blog.com/2009/03/24/toast-spring-09/" rel="nofollow">Toast {Spring 09}</a></em></abbr> I never read the book and hadn’t even heard of The Last Unicorn until around 2003 and I’ve been a fan ever since. It’s such a touching film which I think lacks in so many animated features today coming out of America. There are feelings of melancholy, pain, love, respect, admiration, partnering, longing, hope in this movie yet most of what is out there today seem to draw up on a limited range of emotions for me. The animation, while more impressive than perhaps what was on screen years ago, is not the end all be all for me personally. I wish animation and good story-telling would stay neck to neck vs. good story-telling usually 5 miles behind.

Recently I watched Disney’s “Bolt”. It’s such a cute film, the animation is gorgeous and the characters are comical and fun to watch. There is, however this lack of depth to the whole story and though I’m not knocking the movie because I now own it on DVD, the emotions it drew up in me were all pretty surface. I didn’t walk away really THINKING about the life lesson learned. In retrospect I guess the only point in the movie was to show the love between a girl and a dog and that smoke and mirrors movie making is a pretty plastic world devoid of any reality with some pretty greedy agents pushing young actors to not be honest and authentic, rather to lie to those they love in order to maintain some image. In the end Bolt and his “person” ends up in what appears to be an “average” life in a house in what appears to be the midwest. I wish the ending would have been that the main character fires her agent and launches her own production company creating movies of her own according to “her” rules. I mean, why is it that mainstream culture teaches us that greed is the ONLY way and if we don’t want to be part of that way then we should go live in a country house as a recluse and/or give up our career entirely?

Hmmm.

Sorry for rambling. What are your thoughts?

Holly

holly´s last blog post..Toast {Spring 09}

]]> By: Thorsten http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3408 Thorsten Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:35:32 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3408 Thank you Emily. I've never fully read the book myself (I will one of these days) but I did read quite a lot about Peter himself (authors generally interest me). He is currently working on a full length novel sequel to the Last Unicorn, which I am very intrigued by (and he's written quite a few other interesting stories). He also published a coda to the original story called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Hearts_(story)" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Two Hearts</a>. I learned a few years ago that he's struggling financially due to marginal royalties and certain people that didn't fulfill their contractual obligations (for The last Unicorn movie as well as The Lord of the Rings animated feature he was involved in). The Last Unicorn is one of those childhood stories that stayed with me because of it's beauty and sensitivity (similar to The Neverending Story, which I read cover to cover). Here is some more information: <a href="http://www.conlanpress.com/youcanhelp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.conlanpress.com/youcanhelp/</a>. He's also been trying for years to get a live action version of the movie put into production (here is the website: <a href="http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/intro.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/intro.htm</a>). I think he deserves better than that, especially considering the enormous success of fantasy writers and movie producers who have been inspired by him. I like to provide whatever humble support I can offer. To me it's all about imagination and writers like Peter really "get it". Thank you Emily. I’ve never fully read the book myself (I will one of these days) but I did read quite a lot about Peter himself (authors generally interest me). He is currently working on a full length novel sequel to the Last Unicorn, which I am very intrigued by (and he’s written quite a few other interesting stories). He also published a coda to the original story called Two Hearts.
I learned a few years ago that he’s struggling financially due to marginal royalties and certain people that didn’t fulfill their contractual obligations (for The last Unicorn movie as well as The Lord of the Rings animated feature he was involved in). The Last Unicorn is one of those childhood stories that stayed with me because of it’s beauty and sensitivity (similar to The Neverending Story, which I read cover to cover). Here is some more information: http://www.conlanpress.com/youcanhelp/. He’s also been trying for years to get a live action version of the movie put into production (here is the website: http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/intro.htm).
I think he deserves better than that, especially considering the enormous success of fantasy writers and movie producers who have been inspired by him. I like to provide whatever humble support I can offer. To me it’s all about imagination and writers like Peter really “get it”.

]]> By: mchen http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3407 mchen Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:48:08 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3407 What a gorgeous shot, and yes, I think I understand that feeling you describe here. I have to admit I never read the book, but boy, I loved the animated Last Unicorn movie as a kiddo. Thanks for stirring up a couple of nice memories! <abbr><em>mchen´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.mchenwears.com/blog/?p=471" rel="nofollow">The Art of Self-Publication (times three)</a></em></abbr> What a gorgeous shot, and yes, I think I understand that feeling you describe here. I have to admit I never read the book, but boy, I loved the animated Last Unicorn movie as a kiddo. Thanks for stirring up a couple of nice memories!

mchen´s last blog post..The Art of Self-Publication (times three)

]]> By: Thorsten http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3391 Thorsten Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:52:34 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3391 Thank you for your comment Richard. As a storyteller I am constantly concerned with the "as if" and "what if", just like in this particular story. It was just a white horse, but what if? This attitude can turn any ordinary encounter into something more, a real experience. And isn't it often more about how we experience something rather than how it "really" is? That's what makes life so interesting to me, those personal experiences, perceptions, imaginations. I know what's real but I enjoy experiencing that which my imagination can add to it. Thank you for your comment Richard. As a storyteller I am constantly concerned with the “as if” and “what if”, just like in this particular story. It was just a white horse, but what if? This attitude can turn any ordinary encounter into something more, a real experience. And isn’t it often more about how we experience something rather than how it “really” is? That’s what makes life so interesting to me, those personal experiences, perceptions, imaginations. I know what’s real but I enjoy experiencing that which my imagination can add to it.

]]> By: Richard Reeve http://alternatewords.com/blog/prose/%e2%80%9cunicorn%e2%80%9d-whispers-a-butterfly-passing-by/comment-page-1#comment-3389 Richard Reeve Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:48:25 +0000 http://alternatewords.com/blog/?p=1023#comment-3389 The "as if" attitude is a sure fire way to gain access to the imaginal, where encounters do occur. Just try to tell me I didn't have last nights dream. My day is changes by it, and though it exists in the margins awareness, it changes the course of today's choices. The “as if” attitude is a sure fire way to gain access to the imaginal, where encounters do occur. Just try to tell me I didn’t have last nights dream. My day is changes by it, and though it exists in the margins awareness, it changes the course of today’s choices.

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