Score: 10
"An Objective Beauty..."
date: August 4, 2005
Many of the comments I make right now I may have mention to you AITD before, but I would like to mention again, as well as get into some other things.
First off, the actual animation: The animation was amazing. AITD you get better and better with each movie. Your anatomy gets better, and your movements get better. Your running still gives me a chuckle, but I can’t do it at all, so I can’t judge.
The backgrounds were all awesome and subtle enough to not take my eyes off the focal points, yet at times, the small details did, but I loved that about it.
Oh, and before I forget… the ‘camera’ work and the split screen et cetera were just awesome. It really added to the movie in the end.
Speaking of small details: the little things really got to me like the ‘Natural Born Killers’ (and the NBK on the map) and ‘Taxi Driver’ posters. As a NIN fan, I loved the Trent Reznor poster as well. I didn’t catch the significance of the D (heart) L in the bathroom though. Considering so many people blamed this on Manson, the backpack was an awesome touch as well. Oh, and I love beamers.
The fact that you didn’t want to reconstruct the whole thing, but kept real the truth is awesome. It keeps it creative, but still portrays the original emotion. Like you told me AITD, the letter was real – for an example.
Your music choices were so very perfect that I actually got shivers at points throughout the movie. It wasn’t jus the music, but a combination of things, and I know for sure the music played a part.
I didn’t quite understand why their names were changed, but that really isn’t relevant to the quality of the movie.
Just to say: the voice actors were great; they deserve a round of applause. Also, the script was awesome. I loved the subtle things like, ‘Heh - Nah, get the fuck out of here.’ It seemed so real, because these two guys were on a high, and a line like that made him feel tough, powerful, godly – it was just something that you know was all in their head. ‘Natural Assault Killers’ I think it was that was said… things like that were just perfect. I am not going to go quote them all, but the script was very keen. The only thing I found odd was that you had their mouths moving while reading the map (plan). It felt weird, I would have left out their mouths moving, because you were correct in them not talking yet (it wouldn’t have felt right), but it seemed weird that there was a conversation going on… it was still at the point where I felt the ‘silence’ was stronger.
Overall, it is fantastic. You showed their pain, but you showed their mercilessness. After seeing it, I don’t really gather that you guys have a formed opinion, which you really shouldn’t – not knowing them or being there, but this objective view is perfect for me as the viewer.
The ending was powerful as well, mostly because of Alex laughing at the conformity. The girl didn’t have a good reason to believe - whether she was under stress or not - she followed society and its views... which is a statement on its own.
Like we discussed before AITD, it is like a documentary without any glorifying or subjective goals, and this in itself is very powerful and open-minded. The whole thing is seems to just be missing anything and everything… like the lives of the teenagers.
In all honesty, I don’t think this story could have been told in a better way… and I am taking into mind other columbine movies.
The line: “May this world make sense one day.” Was so powerful, and such a perfect line to tribute to those who died from this tragedy – as well as everyone in this world who has suffered at some point in their life. I love how general this film could be perceived.
I want to thank you guys for putting me on your ‘Special Thanks’ list. That meant a lot to me, though I didn’t do a whole lot to deserve it.
I have to go back and go through your entire menu now, but in conclusion I just want to say that it amazed me the first time I saw it, and now seeing it complete, it is even better than the first time. I caught so much more, and felt so much more. It was 12 minutes of beauty.