eemodork

first of all, the fact that they actually translated the show into a film is a feat in its self. the show, i used to think, could only be viewed on stage, but not anymore. The movie makes it easier for the viewer to make personal connections with the characters.

The music, for the most part was great, (minus today for you, all the songs sounded amazing, i just liked the techno-ish version of the song from the Broadway show better). Rosario Dawson sings better than i expected, and man can Idina Mendel and Traci Thomas belt it out! Some of the cuts they made we uncalled for (hello they cut the whole Christmas song scene! i love that scene!) and they changed how April dies (the suicide was important part of the show that got cut out).

But the movie works so well. They didn't make it too flashy, (minus tango Maureen which was wonderful!! I liked how they showed it through Mark hitting his head.) I was so surprised how well the music numbers worked well in reality. It seemed kind of natural to have them break out in song.

I feel like the more I watch this movie, the more I will like it. And i like it a lot!

This movie is spectacular.

to start, the script is Andersons strongest and most imaginative work yet. I loved the dialogue, the slight swagger the words gave bill murray(who was awesome).

the directions was almost directed like a play... which works so well. The cutout for the belefonte, that follows from room to room was perfect for this movie.

the acting was extremely strong in this movie. This is an ensemble movie, but some performance that stood out were Bill Murray(he is the greatest living actor today, IMO) Owen Wilson( his death scene was so sad, yet Owen played it with such class and dignity, something i never have seen from him before) Angelica Houston( she was kind of bitchy but in a loving sorta way and was still able to come off classy), Willam Defou(effin funny... Anderson and him should do more work together), Jeff Goldblum(who is hysterical as well in this movie).

and the music was perfect... all the David bowie covers were great, and the ping island theme was so funny, when bill murray danced and it just fit the movie perfectly.

the only thing i would complain about is more of the music and the sea creatures... both were incredible, and i wanted more, especially from the observation hole... would have made this movie a bit more vibrant and fantasy like, but still its an awesome movie and I would still give it an A.

I didn't think if Anderson could top himself after the royal Tannenbaum's, but i was wrong.

Wow, was this film just effin hysterical.

I have to say that Napoleon Dynamite is an amazing. I have never watched such an awkwardly made movie be so funny, and i mean that in the most sincere way possible. If this movie didn't have the awkward feel to it, then it would have worked.

I give props to the writers and director. They created quite possible one of the most unique and weird characters ever to appear on screen. Every frame that they appeared in was just strangely amazing, and I found myself laughing out louder than anyone else, and believe me, everyone in the theater was laughing their asses off. I loved the guy who played Napoleon the best though. This performance was incredible. The way he moved, breathed, everything, was great. and the end, well, it was genius. It was such an articulate characterization. I wish Oscars were given out to performances like this. Noone else could have pulled it off so well. Props also go out to kip, who by the end is a totally different person... anymore than that and ill give it away, and i don't wanna ruin the surprise. And to deb- that girl was so cute and innocent and although had very little to work with, she made it all her own and brought out what could have been a small role, into probably the second most important, next to napoleon

I also loved how all the jokes related back thru out the whole movie. it was so great to see how it all works out, especially the stuff with rex hahaha that was so funny, and the "glamor shots" photo hahaha brilliant stuff.

What i think made the awkward comedy work was because it was well balanced between physical comedy and speech. The film manages, for the most part, to not overkill it. Yet once in a while, the movie talks a bit much, hence dragging on the length of the movie.

overall, this is a great debut film from the directors and actors, and i would love for them all to do more work along this line.

***1/2 outa ****