Month: September 2022

Today’s quick review: Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. One night while trying to sleep, Little Nemo (Gabriel Damon) is summoned to Slumberland by King Morpheus (Bernard Erhard) to play with his daughter, Princess Camille (Laura Mooney). But Nemo accidentally puts all of Slumberland in danger when the roguish Flip (Mickey Rooney) convinces him to open a forbidden door and release the imprisoned Nightmare King (Bill Martin).

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is an animated fantasy adventure based on the classic comic strip by Winsor McCay. Little Nemo follows a little boy as his vivid dreams take him to a fantastic world beyond the clouds. The movie features an inventive art style, lovingly crafted animation, and a breezy tone. However, its surreal setting, thin story, and overly childish characters give it less staying power than other family adventures.

Little Nemo is a flight of fancy from start to finish. The premise is an excuse to explore the imaginative world of dreams, a playhouse for Nemo and his friends. Castles and courts, ruined cities, lavish gardens, and gloomy dungeons are just a few of the places that Nemo visits on his journey. Each new scene brings with it lavish backgrounds and kinetic animations, a cavalcade of evocative visuals that perfectly captures the spirit of a child’s dream.

Little Nemo embraces this concept a little too readily, though. The dream logic of the plot leads to disjointed scenes, uncertain stakes, and situations that are one-dimensional. Nemo’s quest to save Slumberland doesn’t have the depth of other fantasy adventures. Although the story hits the beats it needs to, it is lacking in build-up and cohesion. The characters are similarly shallow, capable of fun antics but not much emotional breadth or growth.

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is a gorgeous movie whose story does not take full advantage of its creative setting. The care put into its world and animation will make it an enjoyable watch for any fan of the genre, but it remains outclassed by fantasy adventures with richer stories to tell. Those hoping for something a little more well-rounded or mature may want to give it a pass.

For an animated fantasy adventure in the same vein, try Peter Pan, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, or Inside Out. For a classic live-action movie with much of the same appeal, try The Wizard of Oz.

7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for impressive visuals coupled with a thin story.

Today’s quick review: Constantine: City of Demons. John Constantine (Matt Ryan), a magic practitioner with a checkered past, agrees to help his friend Chas Chandler (Damian O’Hare) recover his daughter’s missing soul. Tracking her soul to Los Angeles, Constantine and Chandler find it in the hands of Beroul (Jim Meskimen), a loathsome demon who offers Chandler his daughter back in exchange for Constantine’s help conquering the city.

Constantine: City of Demons is an animated horror movie based on the DC Comics characters. City of Demons steps into a hidden world of magic and demons, where a sarcastic detective named John Constantine fights on behalf of humanity. The movie combines a noir-style mystery with overt fantasy horror and a dash of action. City of Demons’ rich world and solid animation give it a good foundation to work with, but its story suffers from some notable issues.

Constantine: City of Demons strikes a skewed balance with its tone. The movie is packed with disturbing imagery and extraneous gore that go beyond what is needed to establish Beroul as a loathsome, inhuman villain. The extra serving of horror will be a strong turnoff for sensitive viewers, while even for horror fans, the imagery is more repulsive than darkly engrossing. Some viewers won’t mind, but some will find the horror elements to be excessive.

Constantine: City of Demons also makes some missteps with its story and characters. John Constantine gets a few good moments where he uses his wits to defeat enemies that are much more powerful than him, but he spends the ealy part of the story in a passive role. In terms of Constantine’s personality, his cynicism works well enough in a vacuum. But because the supporting cast is just as bitter and sarcastic, it’s hard for him to stand out.

Constantine: City of Demons does have a few things going for it, including a clever protagonist, a fully developed urban fantasy world, and a couple of decent action scenes. These will be enough to win over some viewers, especially those who enjoy movies with an unflinchingly dark tone. But the horror imposes a steep barrier to entry, while the character dynamics keep the story from clicking the way it should. Most viewers should approach with caution.

For a more accessible, live-action take on the character, try the movie Constantine starring Keanu Reeves. For another animated movie about DC’s occult characters, try Justice League Dark. For action horror with a similar attitude, check out any of the Hellboy adaptations.

7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a decent setup held back by poor taste and a few story issues.