MISFITS Video Pick Of The Week

"Run Lola Run" pick by Tim Wick

A hip German film with a driving soundtrack and a stylish story line. Lola has twenty minutes to get a lot of cash so her boyfriend won't be killed by some drug dealers. The film uses photo montages, animation and pounding industrial music to keep your heart beating at the same breathless pace Lola does. At it's heart, this is a movie about love, and the strength of the human will to overcome the most desperate circumstances. It left me breathless. This movie was just released on video and was largely overlooked in the theatres despite making many critics year end top ten lists.

"The Iron Giant" pick by Chris Jones

This brilliant film is now on video, and may be the best film of the year that most people never saw. It is on-par with Toy Story 2 as not only the best animated film of the year, but simply one of the best films of the year bar-none. Director Brad Bird and his collaborators at Warner Brothers Animation bravely abandoned the Disney-esque trappings of musical numbers and cute animals and delivers a compelling story of self-determination with a nostalgic '50's sci-fi flavor.

Sadly, Warner Brothers' marketing department didn't understand the appeal of this film. Poorly promoted, The Iron Giant spent only a few weeks at the box office, languishing mostly unnoticed in afternoon-only showings.

Make the effort to seek out this gem now that it is available on video. It is one of the most delightful, engaging, and enjoyable films of the year, and an example of what American feature animation can be.