Below Zero

Below Zero (2011)
Directed by Justin Thomas Ostensen

Furlong (Jack) sitting at laptop getting upset by the typewriter sounds he's hearing.

About a writer, Jack (Edward Furlong), who gets locked in a walk-in meat freezer in the boonies at the orders of his agent. He's supposed to be locked up for 5 days to help him get out of his writer's block funk. He sort of describes his writing methods as method writing (a play on the term method acting) so his involvement in his story of course leads his imagination of absorb him completely in some Inception-type action. He's in this disabled meat locker at a chicken-killing house, complete with meat grinder, meat hooks, and electric bath. Great fuel for a story right? So he type, but then his laptop is mysteriously replaced with a typewriter in his sleep. His ideas he writes and the film gets lived out in his vivid imagination. He writes himself in and kind of breaks the fourth wall doing so. I know this is a pretty weak description but it's a film about a writer writing a film, who gets sucked into his idea about a writer sucked into a writer writer a film so it's wiggly. As a character Jack goes between being him and a Frank, the enigmatic missing husband of the woman's chicken slaughter house he's staying at.

Anyway, the woman whose property he's being locked up at and her son come back (whether it's been 5 days or a night isn't clear) for Jack. In Jack's mind a million crazy things have happened in the time he's been in his room. But the main one being he's decided not to write. Instead Jack the Hack takes the girl's manuscript, which she left with him to try to get some feedback, planning to claim it as his own. When the girl comes in to give him coffee he steps out and closes her in the freezer, takes her son, and leaves her for dead.

This film got my interest because Edward Furlong stars in it. I like that he is a great actor that dabbles in drama and b-movies. I enjoyed him in American History X and Arachnoquake XD
In spite of my superficial reasoning, I was pleased with the film. It's got pretty bad ratings on IMDB, but it wasn't as bad as IMDB claims. It was definitely... different.

The editing is kind of second rate for the firs third of the film. There's a lot of little inconsistencies between camera angles and you notice em with some scenes cutting from one angle to the other. I really also hate that Jack's friend is eating when he get's the message from Jack that says he's in trouble. The friend calls the number back and mentions how his friend called and he's fracking eating?! What kind of friend is that? His homie has been missing for hours and he's just eating. Then the friend somehow finds the place with the phone number and ends up dying for Jack. Weird relationship... 'I'll die for you but I gotta finish this slice first.'

However Michael Berryman and Edward Furlong are in it so I forgive. Berryman is an amazing actor who has been in a good chunk of anything you've seen—The Lords of Salem, The Devil's Rejects, The Crow (2005), Spy Hard, The Crow, Tales from the Crypt, Star Trek IV and V, and tons more. He's got an amazing face. It's crazy awesomely distinct and riddled with amazing wrinkles and creases. The tight shots on him in the movie looked great.

Just look at those amazing features! On screen is where Berryman belongs. Thank you, Mr. Berryman, for being so awesome!

Zambezia

Zambezia (2012)
Directed by Wayne Thornley

I mentioned in a prior post other animations popping up from studios other than the usual suspects (Disney and DreamWorks). This is one of them--Triggerfish Animation Studios. And the movie is great!

Image from www.zambeziamovie.com

Cabin fever is killing curious young falcon, Tai, but his father, Tendai wants the two of them to just stick to the area they currently reside in. Unfortunately for Tendai, a stork Gogo, her friend Tini and some eggs stop in breaking the monotony. Their sudden appearance makes Tai want to explore even more. The newcomers say they're going to an island called Zambezia, a safe heaven for all birds except for marabou. Weird thing is though Tai has never seen them before they seem to know Tendai.
When they leave, Tai decides to follow them, apologizing to his father but saying he has to do this. Tendai later decides to go after his son but overhears some marabou talking to Budzo, a large leguaan who eats eggs. They're teaming up and planning a coup d'etat over Zambezia! Unfortunately before Tendai can fly away to warn the citizens he's captured.
Meanwhile in Zambezia Tai is eager to join the Hurricanes, an elite group of flyers that patrols the city, offers citizens help, and keeps the area safe. He makes the cut to be a trainee and makes some new friends, Ezee and Zoe.
Zoe's father Sekhuru is informed of Tai's arrival in the city and asks Gogo if Tendai will be coming. Doesn't look like it.
On the day of Zambezia's Spring Celebration all the weaver birds are kidnapped by Marabou! Tai and the Hurricanes go after them. Thinking he can catch up with them, Tai breaks formation, but to no avail. Not being able to work with the team gets Tai in trouble. Then things get worse. Tai decides he'll go look around himself for the missing weavers. That night Ezee, Zoe and Tai sneak out even though Tai is grounded. They end up overhearing an evil plot between the marabou and Budzo about forcing the weavers to build a bridge across the water to Zambezia. The marabou will no longer be excluded and no one will be able to stop Budzo. It's a horribly evil team! Unfortunately Ezee gets hurt so Zoe flies back for help. This gets them in big trouble, and Tai is kicked off the Hurricanes.
Shortly afterwards a few more Maribou stop by. The Huriccanes leave in pursuit, however it's a trap!
They're caught in a net.
Meanwhile Tai is sulking and thinking of going back to his father's. Gogo is angry at hearing this and forces him to see Sekhuru. Gogo insists it's time for Tai to know the truth of his past, and his mother. Sekhuru agrees.
Long ago Tai's mother and father founded the Hurricanes to protect Zambezia. Zambezia came first. They were attacked by Budzo, who was stealing eggs. Sukhuru, Tendai, and Tai's mother gave it there all but were only able to save one egg. That eggs grew up to be Zoe. Sekhuru lost a wing, Budzo a toe, and Tai's mother lost her life. Tendai was overwhelmed by grief and left with baby Tai to find a new place to live. He wanted to live in a place where the strong didn't have to stick their necks out for the weak. He didn't want to have to suffer all these pains for what to him seemed like nothing. He wanted to be far from the island.
Inspired by the story, Tai insists they go search for Budzo's trail from the other night. Zoe, Tai and Gogo leave on their mission.  Tai and Gogo don't find Budzo, but they find the weavers and Tendai, caged. They break them out and hear that the marabou and Budzo left long ago to put the plan in motion. With everyone free they head back to Zambezia. When they arrive it's too late! The marabou have just put down the woven bridge and Budzo begins to cross. When Budzo meets on the bridge with marabou leader Cecil he explains it's not just a coup d'etat for Zambezia, but he's double crossing the marabou too! Leguanns all over are rushing for the bridge.
With the Huriccanes still gone, Tendai and Tai take it upon themselves to do what they can. Tai convinces the marabou to side with them against the leguaans since they now have a common enemy.
Still searching, Zoe hears distant cries. It's the Huriccanes calling from help from the net! She finds them and frees them, then they rush back home.
On the island the birds are panicking. Budzo is heading for the eggs! Tai tries to raise morale and encourage everyone to do what they can to help keep their home safe. The Hurricanes return and the battle is heated. Birds are chucking watermelon at the bridge trying to stop the other leguaans, and Cecil is frantically trying to chew through the bridge. Eventually he makes it, and the only problem left is Budzo. The whole community is giving it their all. The Hurricanes have brought back the net they were on and use it on Budzo. Everyone is pulling the net or pushing the structure Budzo is on, trying to make him fall off the island. Finally he gives, and tumbles down. But Zoe's foot is caught in the net! As she falls with him, Tai dives to save her. They get dangerously close to the water, beyond the point any other bird is able to pull up in time. Tendai and Sukhuru fear they've lost their children, when Ezee's amazing eyesight spots them in the mists rising up. They return victorious.
Zambezia now welcome the marabou as part of their paradise, and the Hurricanes induct many new recruits, including Morton, distant cousin of Cecil who after year of vying for Cecil's love and attention finally gets it. Every bird is safe and happy.

Image from www.zambeziamovie.com

Nice amount of detailing. Even in dessert scenes, the animation doesn't seem spartan and cheap because of little details, like the sun passing through feathers. So nice! Not as crazy detailed as Legend of the Guardians, but pretty nice.

I also personally love all the difference accents going on. It's really fun. The audio, dialogue, foley, and music is wonderful.

This South African film stars the voice talents of stars from all over, including Leonard Nimoy! Crazy, right? If you're not strictly on a live-action diet, this film is soooo so worth a watch. It's littered with awesome live-action celebs that are actually doing quiet well with voice acting.

Mr. Nimoy and his character Sekhuru. Images from IMDB and https://www.facebook.com/zambeziamovie

Here's something else crazy, this amazing film is this animation studio's first work! Triggerfish Animation Studios has done commercials in the past, but with the success of their first movie, hopefully it'll be feature lengths from here on out. Zambezia had been in the works for six years, and it turned out great. Their next film, Khumba, is set to release this year. This having been their first feature film doesn't make Triggerfish a threat to the big dogs, but I enjoyed this film so much I'll gladly watch the next one, and I wouldn't be surprised if their studio became a new household name in the US.

There's been a handful of entertaining bird themed animations over the last several years--Surf's Up, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga-Hoole, Happy Feet and more. If you enjoyed any of those films, this one won't dissappoint.