I couldn't help but be immediately drawn to the thought process and core concept behind director Raul Garcia's Extraordinary Tales. Capturing the art of five different Edgar Allan Poe stories, Garcia brought them each to life via an entirely unique style of animation. The mere idea is impressive beyond words, and Garcia's talent undeniable; however, the final product doesn't bear the appreciation it should.
My biggest issue with the film lies in its cohesive nature"”or lack thereof. Its stagnant presentation, combined with its truly diverse animation styles, prevents the film from ever gaining momentum. Instead of standing as one bonded unit, audiences are greeted with a feature that is merely the sum of its individual parts. The short scenes that separate the five stories are a valid attempt to tie it all together, but the end result is still the same"¦the film reads like a short story collection rather than a proper anthology.
That being said, if it were a shorts disc, I wouldn't object to Garcia tackling a few additional stories and offering us up a few more moments of brilliance. The man, without a doubt, deserves a wealth of praise for his animation skills and overall imagination. His ability to give a unique physical presence to some of Poe's most well known stories should not be overlooked. And you can't help but feel like as if each of the segments were completed by an entirely separate artist. That, in and of itself, is mind boggling"¦and I only wish that the entire film had resonated so strongly.
The film boasts a rather short runtime, and the lack of an interesting central story doesn't hamper much from the overall enjoyment of the film. It is merely the perception that you enter with that must change. The film, at its core, is never bad"¦it just isn't as tight as it could be. And once you are introduced to Garcia's work, you will find yourself engrossed by some of Poe's most popular stories and will be satisfied with your time spent watching"”not overjoyed or elated"”but satisfied.
When the film comes to an end, you find yourself in a catch twenty-two. While you don't necessarily need more of Extraordinary Tales, you wouldn't mind sitting through a bit more of Garcia's creations. It's a rare situation to say the least, and one that Garcia can use as motivation for his next project.
