Mirrormask
Stephanie Leonidas, Gina McKee, Jason Barry; Directed by Dave McKean
More than anything, Helena wishes she could leave her life at the circus and join the 'normal world'. But during a regrettable falling out with her mother, the resentful Helena is once again reminded that because her father runs the show, she is obligated to stay. A few hours later, her mother collapses and is rushed to the hospital, leaving Helena to lament the harsh words she had exchanged with her. A few nights later, Helena wakes to find herself in an extraordinarily strange world, a place populated by bizarre beings, flying books, and fish that swim through the streets. Here, everyone wears a mask, and it is here that Helena meets Valentine, an aspiring juggler who warns her about the deadly Shadows that are coming from across the borders of the land. She also learns that a lady known as the White Queen has fallen asleep, and that she will not wake unless the 'charm' is found that will wake her. The world will be engulfed in darkness unless it is found. Helena takes it upon herself to find the charm, and embarks upon one of the most outlandish, beautiful, and terrifying journeys ever taken, with Valentine at her side.
What is it like to be inside one of Neil Gaiman’s dreams? The sci-fi/fantasy master who scripted this film invites us into the imaginary world in his head, and no one who visits is likely to soon forget what they see. There didn’t seem to be an end to the storylines and film devices I saw that were reminiscent of other works. It was like Terry Gilliam, Dr. Seuss, Frank L. Baum, the Grimm Brothers, and Guillermo Del Toro all got together for a nightcap and then started telling each other’s stories to one another. The cinematography was wondrous, and the CGI effects (courtesy of Jim Henson’s Studios) were fantastic. The landscapes were sometimes so horrifically creepy to watch, but in that sort of ‘peek-through-your-fingers’ kind of way, so that you looked in case you missed something. The acting was great all across the board, with Stephanie Leonidas providing us with an edgy, almost sardonic heroine, who was yet endearing and genuine. A refreshing alternative to your average angel-faced Alice in Wonderland. The imagery and symbolism too was ingenious, with Helena’s mother fulfilling the roles of both the warm, pure White Queen, and the nefarious, possessive Dark Queen, who spewed black liquid from her mouth, forming tiny spiders that would go to spy on Helena. The wonderful Gina McKee portrays these parts, whose villainess seems to be channeling both the Borg Queen and the White Witch at the same time.
The pacing did drag a little in the middle, and the dialogue (while often clever) did try a bit too hard to get a laugh out of us at times, namely through quips from the Valentine character. But these are small, nitpicky trifles in comparison with the rest of this beautiful film. It should, however, be warned that many of the images are going to be way too scary and disturbing for younger kids. But like The Neverending Story, this film had a lot to say in regard to the worth, power, and beauty of the imaginative mind, and it remains an equally potent point to anyone of any age. This is a must see for anyone who professes to be a fan of good science-fiction and/or fantasy.
Grading:
Story = A
Originality = A-
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = A
Enjoyability = A-
Visuals = A
Overall = A-
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