| Wednesday, 26 December 2007 |
| mr magorium's wonder emporium |
'Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium' is a film that is not for the ordinary masses. It is an acquired taste that you either enjoy, or you don't. It is ridiculous and illogical; but in a way that makes it ridiculously fun and illogically great. While it bombed at the box office (and in the critics' mind), it is an utterly heart-warming and meaningful movie, one that is infinitely better than the last movie I had watched (the one with those blasted chipmunks).
It features a stellar cast, from the ever talented Dustin Hoffman as the infectiously eccentric Mr Magorium, to the stunning Natalie Portman as Molly Mahoney, the insecure manager/heir of the emporium; from the adorable Zach Mills as the earnest little boy Eric, who spends most of his time in the store, to the straight faced Jason Bateman (of 'Arrested Development' fame!) who is so convincing as the dour accountant/mutant Henry.
It takes a very talented cast to take something so ludicrous and turn it into something that believable, so believable that it made me delirious with delight.
Kudos to 9 year old Zach Mills, who reminds me so much of my youngest male cousin currently in the USA, not just in his eccentric mannerism, but in looks as well. I felt so proud watching him, because he made me think of that intelligent, quirky little boy in the US, whom I am very proud of and whom I dote upon. It gave the movie an added sense of realism and closeness, which was something sorely lacking in my life for the past month of so.
Critics have deadpanned the movie's script and storyline, calling it 'inert and self-doubting'. I think, while far from perfect, it is a story that has an amazing child-like heart.
It is a film with a message, a message that resonates with anyone struggling to rediscover their place in this world, anyone trying to reassert their worth and anyone who struggles to believe.
It reminds us of the need to believe in oneself, to believe in others, to believe in the power of imagination. Very often, in life, we worry about too much and forget that we, as human beings, as individuals, are gifted with the ability to do amazing things! We have the means to overcome lots of hurdles, lots of challenges.
But because of our sterile and hectic lives, we lose than little bit of child-like heart in all of us, and we forget that the gifts we had since young; of believing in the impossible, of not being afraid to try to do the impossible, of the delights of imagination, of the powers of creativity, are very often the very tools we need to survive in our very modern lives.
In the words of Mr Magorium himself, 'Your life is an occasion, rise to it.'
Very often we worry about the most insignificant things. For example, that clinicals will be tough, that the road ahead can only get tougher, that I have to mug my pants off until my ass explodes before I can even pass, much less become a good doctor.
But the truth is, all of these worries are all unfounded, because they are founded upon the beliefs and impressions of others.
What others go through, will be what you go through, ONLY if you decide to let it be. We have the powers to change our destiny, to make clinicals as easy as a breeze, to make life ahead as relaxing as a stroll in the park, to mug smart and also end up as a smart, good doctor.
Yes, it is simple to just follow the path set out by others. But the truly great ones, no they don't simply do that. They rise my friends, by simply being different.
This is a wonderful film. As magical and whimsical as can be. I loved it.Labels: movie |
posted by voldemort33 @ 23:24  |
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