Crystal Forest

This is probably my favorite richard Bevis movie.

The first scene starts off in the forest and I already know this is going to be a beautiful movie. Richard combines amazing visuals, and cinematography in a way that leaves the viewer breathtaken.

Specific things I loved about the visuals:
1) the way depth to the forest was emphasized with the lighter shaded trees.
2) The extremely light blue water
3) the red mushrooms were cool too, but I think they stood out too much when they had nothing to do with the story. I guess the overused symbolism of a singular red object in the shot having a major significance in the story, had me confused me a bit with this.

There's two things that I've come to associate Richard's films with. The first thing is, of course, is the extremely beautiful visuals. But the second is an annoyingly obscure way of delivering the storyline. I know it's suposed to be like that but, in this particular movie at least, it feels like it's not going in the same direction as the writing. This is a short story with a mysterious beginning, a powerful and terrifying climax, and a sad but eerie resolution.

But the audience would never know because it just has a single "mysterious-what's-going-on" score giving the same emotional aspect throughout the entire film. I would have liked it more, if there were terrifying sound effects (like a distant scream as the boy was running away), and actual grusome images to contrast the beauty like it was narrated. I heard "a shrowded figure" but didn't see anything of the sort. I could definitely see how the image of a shorded figure creeping up on kids could leave a lasting impression. There was a shot of an old man reaching down to the girl, but the only think even slightly scary was the blood river (which made me think of the bible).

I thought the narration was pretty good, up until the end when the movie was most in need of a darker element, and the voice, who revealed himself as the surviving boy seemed too indifferent about it.

The movie ended way too abruptly. That combined with the wrong musical direction, the movie ended without me really knowing what to think about it. I had to watch it again to fully understand teh storyline. But the visuals and art direction were spectacular.

[Tony Chop]

In fact, I love the scenery

Hahaha. So there you go,