MirrorMask

Dave McKean is a genius and a phenomenal artist with a very idiosyncratic style. Unfortunately this doesn’t apply to when his job is director. Visually, Mirrormask is unarguably an original work, but the limited budget is all too obvious and prevented McKean from letting loose his creative spirit. It’s not that he hasn’t got ideas, but without being able to rely either on the actors or the screenplay, written together with the big man Neil Gaiman, he hasn’t got many options open to him. The result is therefore a glut of more or less good scenes which occasionally lack atmosphere, but together do not form a consistent whole that is interesting, let alone something that would suck you into this fantasy movie. (15/07/2007)

A film with a beautiful story that is guaranteed not to suit everyone. Someone may find it disgusting, so they will appreciate it above all for originality. The possibly disgusting thing here is the rendition, because it’s different from any other fantasy movie. Here, digital effects are replaced with unique set designs and impressive characters and their rendition. The appearance of each character is based on its dominant character trait. That’s why the film is experimental mainly in its visual aspect. After a while, I managed to get used to this story and, together with a likable female protagonist, managed to enjoy it to the fullest. I can say that I have not seen such a strangely dreamy and melancholic film for a very long time. (07/07/2013)

This film may have a surrealistic style, but the question is whether it possesses a surrealistic spirit. It's not that the story is incomprehensible; in my opinion, it's too comprehensible for a similar type of film. Its plot is simplistic, delivered in a somewhat clumsy and simultaneously sentimental manner. If Neil Gaiman truly contributed to the screenplay, then this is his weakest piece of work. One wouldn't recognize it as the creation of someone responsible for dozens of fantastic works that captivate readers worldwide. Worst of all, MirrorMask didn't evoke any interest in me regarding the fate of the main protagonist or the other supporting characters, and her struggle for identity and her mother's fate left me completely indifferent. I acknowledge that visually, the film is intriguing, but I'd rather visit a gallery than waste time in front of a television screen. Overall impression: 40%. (20/11/2011)

The approach to the girl growing up, trying to define her relationship with the world and her mother, suddenly finding herself at a turning point is strikingly artful. It takes place in a dream. However, it was too depressing for my taste, the visuals didn't appeal to me, it was all one big mess and under all that dark ochre visual ballast it was a rather dull story, which was much better (and more crazily) described in Alice Through the Looking Glass and depicted in Pan’s Labyrinth (with much greater logic and narrative courage not to pawn to the viewer). IN A NUTSHELL: A depressing Alice in a dark hole. (27/03/2023)