Playing like a candy-colored hybrid of Fritz Lang’s film of the same name and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis borrows its plot liberally from numerous legendary sci-fi sources (despite the fact that the original manga was released in 1945, certain cinematic aspects can’t help but appearing overly familiar), all the while dazzling viewers on the same cutting-edge visual level as such anime classics as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. The common anime practice of combining amazingly rendered backdrops and more traditionally hand-drawn characters continues here, though with such nuances as beautifully flowing hair and soulfully expressive faces, it becomes obvious that painstaking detail was paid to making the characters both visually and emotionally involving. However, as expressive as some of the central characters may be, it’s the elaborate tri-level industrial labyrinth that encompasses the world of Metropolis that forms the film’s central character, and it is a kalidescopic animated marvel to behold. Director Rintaro’s beautifully composed visual design is so awe-inspiringly colorful and complex that, from the opening frames, the viewer is fully absorbed in the environment, with plot and characterization almost coming as an afterthought. And that is precisely where the film’s ultimately forgivable main weakness lies. In between scenes of wide-eyed, jaw-dropping visuals, the story of human and android tension set against the backdrop of a futuristic city borrows from so many sources that it borders on clich
The first official trailer for ‘The X-Files: I Want To Believe’ debuted on Monday and as excited as we are for its return, the trailer has left us with more questions than answers. Different from the bootleg WonderCon teaser, the new trailer is superior in quality and content revealing a few new facts about the movie.
We take a look at the trailer, in search of clues for what’s to come…
BILLY CONNOLLY!?
Ok, we knew he was in it, but he still seems like an odd person to cast. Comedian Billy Connolly appears, at least from the trailer, to be a pretty significant figure. We’re not quite sure, but we think he’s playing a psychic (though this could of course be Chris Carter sending us wild goose chase). For Battlestar Galactic fans, we also noticed a scene with Cylon Leoben (pictured below). We aren’t sure how significant he’ll be to the story, but it’s good to see Number Two is getting some work!
MISSING GIRLS
What would X-Files the series have been without missing girls to drive the plot and this movie seems no difference. The trailer begins with Connolly’s character narrating about the captive girl, who may or may not turn up in ice later on…
LADY IN THE WATER…
It’s a Laura Palmeresque girl encased in ice. How did she get? Your guess is as good as ours. The clip also reveals that there will be no shortage of bizarre medical experiments in the film (thank goodness for that).
LIGHTS, BLUR, ACTION!
Why are including a blurry shot of almost, well, nothing. Cause its so typically X-Files of course! It’s at this point as the light shines directly into the camera that the accompanying X-files whistle begins, and it still sends shivers down my spine… As with the series, the movie, with a PG rating, relies on what you don’t see and this is just a prime example!
THE X-DUO
No mention of romance, the clip reaffirms Fox Mulder’s (David Duchovny) continuing quest for that pesky truth and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is dragged along for the ride – so no change there then.
You can check out the trailer below.
DISCUSS: Notice anything else about the trailer? Are you excited about the film. Tell us!
X-Files: I Want To Believe is in Irish Cinemas Friday, August 1st.