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^ Yeah, pretty much.

Another thing about those scenes: In Tolkien's books, Gandalf was never a prisoner in Dol Guldur.

To this day I still can't get over the idea of a six foot elf (first of all);
and that one can run so fast that he leaves no footprints in the snow.
That's fast.

First movie of 2015:

Big Eyes — Tim Burton's latest, the story of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), who painted those creepy pictures of waifs with big, sad eyes that were so popular in the '60s, and her husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz), who took all the credit for them.

I used to go to the Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco occasionally, back when it was on Market Street. After it moved across the street from Ghirardelli Square, not so much. This is my favorite of her works; I'll buy it when I win the lottery.

Norman Bates’s Senpai.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer


I did buy some SHISEIDO products for Christmas gifts. Hmmm …

Watched Hachi: A Dog's Tale a couple of days ago (I've seen it a thousand times already..) It's based on the true story of Hachiko. The story is so sweet, but sad at the same time. I always end up sobbing like a child.

As part of the YBCA's "New Anime!" series:

Patema Inverted (サカサマのパテマ) (2013) — A girl who lives in a post-apocalyptic subterranean complex falls down a deep shaft and finds herself in a world where everything is upside-down.

I was of course reminded of this passage in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:

"I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny it'll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downwards! The Antipathies, I think—" (she was rather glad that there was no one listening, this time, as it didn't sound at all the right word) "—but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please, Ma'am, is this New Zealand? Or Australia?"

I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this was in fact the inspiration for the Patema story.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL


I didn’t even know it is nominated for Best Movie. No way.
That’s how far out of the loop I am.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (夢と狂気の王国) (2013) — Sunada Mami's fascinating and often amusing documentary about the inner workings of Studio Ghibli. Mostly filmed during the production of The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, it also includes earlier archival footage and photos. Highly recommended.

Snowpiercer
I thought this movie sucked.
Just watch the trailer as bad as it is it's better than the movie.
http://youtu.be/nX5PwfEMBM0
The movie's redeeming quality was that it showed what happens
when Man screws around with Mother Nature. "Unforeseen
consequences."

Song of the Sea (2014) — A beautiful animated fantasy about a selkie, from Tomm Moore, director of The Secret of Kells.