Unknown Specials Christmas Countdown #15: Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever

Ah, Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever (2014) from Lifetime. Yes, the most questionable entry on this list. Hear me out--the movie’s self-aware that it’s a cheap cash grab, which unifies the film by mocking itself for its apparent flaws. The plot’s nothing special, just a combination of Home Alone and any "save the animal shelter" movie, but sets it in a mall after hours. That different setting alone provides an amusing twist. 

The film tells the obvious plot competently enough while also making the bad guys clearly incompetent from the beginning so the child and cat besting them honestly works. The plot and effects feel stock, but it honestly works as the movie’s feline is a meme and the movie’s just a quick Christmas cash grab, and since the movie’s mocking itself, it feels in the right style. But Aubrey Plaza as the voice of Grumpy Cat makes it all worth it. 

Probably the best casting choice and the child actress she plays against isn’t bad either. The movie’s a fun waste of time and sarcastically unembarrassed of what it is which honestly makes the heart tugging moments shine greater. Not the greatest comedy or drama, certainly not special but at least good enough. Like a Garfield comic, expectedly okay.

Napping Princess vs. Paprika: Where Dream World vs. Reality Works and Where it Doesn't

Because you clicked on this article, I'm assuming you know something about either Paprika (2006) or Napping Princess (2017).  Either that, or you're an anime fan, or just looking to read something in your spare time. Whatever brought you here, welcome! ;) 

Napping Princess

Paprika

So, when it comes to these two films, I have to say that I like both and think both are generally well-made.  However, there are things about both films that are critically better and worse than the other.  I want to pull out one specific difference in the two films: the way they treat dream worlds and whether or not that treatment is effective.  In films sometimes, we jump into the dreams/imaginations of the protagonists, or supporting characters, and we either feel encompassed in a believable experience, or come out saying, "WTH was that??" I'm going to address this very treatment of dreams and imaginations and their relationship with reality in the movies Paprika (2006) and Napping Princess (2017) to see which one did it better.  But first, I'll give you a brief summary/evaluation of each of the films for background.

**Spoilers below**

Satoshi Kon's Paprika (2006)

If you like themes of insanity and artificial life all in one movie, this is the film for you.  Paprika somehow inserts the audience into the tricked-out imagination of a crazy person.  It's actually a really cool experience because you feel like you're exploring someone else's brain. That is, the movie isn't just taking Paprika's hand into the minds of mental health patients, but is a jump into the pool of insanity itself. And this insanity is contrasted by the brief moments of normalcy in the film.  

Probably the most iconic scene in the film is the parade scene, which (WOW), is something else, to say the least.  When you watch that scene with all the creepy dolls, quirky music, etc., I think that is when you decide if you like the film or not.  Or, simply put, if you can handle the parade scene, you can find it in you to put Paprika on your list of good anime movies.  I was one of these, despite the fact that this parade can be an unforgettable nightmare for years to come.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie, but I must warn that it is not for everybody. You have to be ready to deal with some really dramatic, potentially emotional moments when you see the characters suffer from mental illness.  Although this can be a problem for some, it is simultaneously a super interesting analysis of what it means to help someone with mental illness, or even to be hurt by them.  Either way you slice it, this movie does a great analysis on this touchy subject in general, which I thought was really cool.

Kenji Kamiyama's Napping Princess (2016)

This movie actually inspired me to write this article because it made me think a lot about dreams and about how movies can make us feel like we are truly experiencing someone else's thoughts, or emotions.  Napping Princess did a really good job mixing dreams with reality from the beginning to about 3/4 of the way through.  The scenery is done so well, both the world of reality and the world of dreams throughout the movie was fun to experience.  10/10 on that part.  

Also, I really liked that the dream world wasn't just a dream completely disconnected from the reality of the characters, but started as separate and then became fully integrated into reality.  At the same time though, for a film to really do this successfully, the dream and reality have to make sense together in some way, and I felt Paprika accomplished this better. 

Although there were many aspects of the movie that were great, there were parts that fell short and shattered the wonder created by the first and second acts of the movie.  That is, when the dream world and reality merged completely, it became confusing and, frankly, pretentious.  This was especially true near the end of the movie, because there was no visible line between dream and reality; it is not possible to fully understand without being told what actually happened to Kokone when she fell inside the building.  In many ways this particular scene and others like it could have been done better, but this scene bothered me the most.  In many ways, it ruined the film for me and robbed me of the whimsy I felt in the first part of the film. I think all of this could have been resolved with a simple shift in the ways in which reality and dreams were merged.

For example, if there would have simply been more flashes back to reality, the dream segments would have made more sense.  Specifically, the end scene is almost completely a dream, but then it rips you too suddenly back to reality, where the protagonist is suddenly falling down from a high-up floor in a tall building.  There were really two separate worlds here, rather than one cohesive reality; something I believe Paprika was able to accomplish.

Both Films Compared

I've talked already about the ways these films approach dreams/imagination/thoughts and reality, but here I'll compare the two works more directly.   Personally, I like the cuteness and comedy of Napping Princess slightly more than the jarring, and even anxiety-creating world of Paprika. That said, I think Paprika was a much better movie, critically speaking.  The way Paprika melded reality and dreams was just nothing short of masterful and fascinating, which makes me want to watch it again, just to provoke thought and reflection about the way life and human psychology really works.

From: Napping Princess

Napping Princess, on the other hand, though beautiful and generally a good movie, just didn't do it for me critically speaking.  Don't get me wrong, the art is great, the characters are relatable, and the concept for the story of great as well.  But the execution of the story did it in, and prevented it from being fully realized in its effectiveness as a work of storytelling art.  (It gave me more of a "WTH was that?" Moment, rather than the "Wow" factor I think it might have been going for.)

From: Paprika

Overall, I would recommend either of these films, even though I think one is better than the other critically.  However, please keep in mind that Paprika is definitely for adults, and Napping Princess is more geared towards kids (it is a GKIDS Movie).  So, go forth and watch, and let us know if you agree/disagree with us in the comments below.

Author: Corey Cherrington

Edited by: Logan Christensen

My Neighbor Totoro: The Movie Behind the Logo

Totoro Ghibli logo

Ever seen that cute, chubby, grey, cat-like dude pictured to the right?  That’s Totoro.  So many have seen this iconic character, not knowing who or what he is.  Well, Totoro comes from yet another memorable Ghibli classic and has effectively become the logo for everything Ghibli. The film he comes from is, you guessed it, My Neighbor Totoro, which I’ll review below.

My Neighbor Totoro is a fairly well-known classic that has touched countless hearts and triggered several “Aw, how cute!” reflexes.  The film is about a small family, the Kusakabes, who move to a remote town in Japan to be closer to their hospitalized mother.  At the beginning of the film, the two children, sisters named Mei and Satsuki, are a little frightened by the rural setting and they find some interesting creatures called “soot sprites,” who are terribly cute. As the film progresses, the girls find out what life is like in the country and discover a giant forest spirit named “Totoro.”  He can only be seen from time to time, but is always helpful to Mei and Satsuki. 

I left a lot out of the summary because you really have to experience the story for yourself to really get everything, but I think that about covers the major points.

So, my opinion about this film is that it is indeed a work of art.  The landscapes are gorgeous, the human characters are drawn well, and the non-human characters are drawn amazingly.  10/10 for visuals for sure.

The character development was also great, 10/10, because the kids are portrayed almost perfectly (Miyazaki is really good at creating child characters).  The dad is characterized well too; you get to know him as a good, playful father who can parent well, despite the challenges he faces with his wife always being away at the hospital.  The family also faces real-life challenges, which automatically makes them more relatable and likable.

The storyline was cute, but I wouldn’t give it more than 7/10.  It just didn’t reach the Ghibli bar for storylines because, really, not much happens over the course of the film.  I mean, the story goes:

Family moves to a new town—>They meet Totoro there—>Mei gets in trouble—>She is saved by Totoro and friends.  

Like I said, cute but a little simplistic.  However, it is a kid’s film, which is why I gave it no less than a 7.

The music at first seemed the same as the storyline—cute but simple.  But it ended up turning into an iconic soundtrack when the movie really got going (after the intro).  With that, the music is also super catchy.  In fact, I once showed it to a roomful of kids in a class I was teaching and they all started humming along at one point.  It was really cute and made me appreciate the soundtrack of the movie even more.  9/10 total score because it is amazing, but not necessarily perfect the whole movie through.

Overall, I give this adorable, iconic classic a 9/10.  It is nearly perfect in some ways and could be a little better in some others.  This is one of the best anime films of all time and I think it really deserves a watch.  I know I’ll be seeing it again sometime soon.  :)

Well, that’s all for the moment.  I hope you consider watching Totoro if you haven’t seen it already.  

Corey Cherrington