Mirrormask

October 3rd, 2005

10/03/05 – “MirrorMask“

Starring: Stephanie Leonidas, Gina McKee, Robert Brydon (II), Jason Barry, Dora Bryan

Directed by: Dave McKean, Screenplay by Neil Gaiman

Rating: Totally Off the Rag

Plot Summary: Helena is a fifteen-year-old girl working for her family circus, who wishes–quite ironically–that she could run away from the circus and join ‘real life’. But such is not to be the case, as she finds herself on a strange journey into the Dark Lands, a fantastic landscape filled with giants, Monkeybirds and dangerous sphinxes.

This movie is a whole-mind experience. The visuals are awe-inspiring (though it’s a bit disconcerting to step inside Dave Mckean’s head after seeing his work on the page for so long.) The score is perfect. Brilliant. Perfect. Love it. The story is very simple, yet full of characters you feel as if you know, or want to know more of. Monkeybirds? I want a whole documentary just about their lives. The gatekeeper sphinx? He wants a short story all about him. And I would *dearly* love a really useful book. And the visuals… wow. Also the costuming and creature work. The actors were wonderfully cast and did a great job. I could listen to Valentine speak for the rest of my life – but maybe that’s just my American fetish for Scottish accents. :)

Well – obviously I just can’t say enough good things about it. As a long-time Gaiman fan I couldn’t wait for Mirrormask to hit the theatres, and now I can’t wait to go back and see it again. Kudos to Gaiman and Mckean on the realization of this project.