Lady Anna

I didn't expect this as much as I did. The most major flaw I have is the editing. The cuts are way to fast and there are some real unnecessary. There's a lot of great shots here with their composition and the lighting, along with the colors, are great. It's really cool to see the change in colors based on where you are. I think this film would benefit from holding way longer on shots, it really annoyed me how I didn't get the time with them. It gets better later on with the editing and there are some times the quick cuts work like at the start of the games with all the chaos, they did that well. I think a big strength and downside of this movie is Rue. She steals the spotlight here for me but we don't get enough scenes with her. I think she is especially important considering the film's themes. The capital utilizes their control partly due to having the districts be divided and pitted against one another, similar to how in our capitalist society the elite and rich make us fight over issues that don't matter compared to the real issue being the inequality between 1% and 99%. The film does a really good job at showcasing how bad capitalism is and how we aren't that far off from this. I mention Rue because of a few reasons. The first reason for Rue is that having a sister character for Katniss really ties well into her motivation to join in the first place. The second reason is that having a found family dynamic is real powerful in how they come from different districts and ultimately the division is meaningless. The third is that Rue's death is the catalyst for the rest of the series and the start of rebellion. Her death is incredibly well done and shot and emotional. I wish we got more time with her to explore this found family dynamic. I think it would've been better to cut some Katniss and Peeta relationship stuff because the point of theirs is that it's a debate if they really love each other and having less time would make that debate greater and have us be more questioning. The performances are also like mostly good I would say, not incredible but I wasn't super sold by some stuff. Baseline capitalism bad exploration but I still enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the survival aspect and the tension, even if the editing fucked it up sometimes.

My 400th entry One of my favorite films of all time. Very few things make me feel like this. It gets better and better every time I watch it. I remember the first time I watched, I didn't get it. The second time I watched it, I could start to understand. The third time was magical even if it ended terribly with a friend after. Mostly importantly, the fourth time. I was recovering from something terribly traumatic that had happened right after the third time. I watched it at a queer bar with my community. I felt healed, I felt recovered to a degree. "Life is suffering. It is hard. The world is cursed. But still, you find reasons to keep living." The scene at the end where all the greenery comes back, is so touching to me. I have to resist crying, seeing how after something so devastating, that something so beautiful could come back. "Even if all the trees grow back, it won't be his forest anymore. The Forest Spirit is dead." "Never. He is life itself. He isn't dead, San. He is here with us now, telling us, it's time for both of us to live." The film is right, I have to continue living. Despite all the suffering. And that song that plays, that song is so incredibly beautiful. "Ashitaka and San". It's so incredibly powerful, the way it builds up more and more and yet remains so calming. I listen to it now and it's so overwhelming beautiful to me. The fifth watch finally let me close the door on that trauma. I had someone beautiful next to me, someone who cares for me. The film begins as it had some many times. I enjoy every moment despite how much I just can't wait for my favorite scene at the end. I used to be critical of some of the dubbing and dialogue but now I have fully accepted them. It makes so much sense that Ashitaka talks like that. I learned to accept that is intentional, that he speaks direct and to the point. I like to joke how autistic he is. I love him, more men need to be like him. He's so incredibly caring and vulnerable. He adds so much to the film. I love San too, she's one of my favorites. She's so strong without needing to be more traditionally masculine and I look up to her despite how hot headed she is. I love everyone in this movie, actually. Such as Lady Eboshi who is someone I can understand and someone who isn't just evil for the sake of it. I love her personality, it clashes so much against Ashitaka. A great antagonist. The conflict between humans and nature in this film is just perfect. As someone who deeply loves the environment, I deeply celebrate this film. (more to add later)