Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > Special Interest > Character Study > Biography > Toys > Dolls > Art > Magical Universe (2013/MPI/Sundance Selects DVD)

Magical Universe (2013/MPI/Sundance Selects DVD)


Picture: C Sound: C Extras: A Documentary: C+



For over 20 years, Al Carbee has been hidden away from the world creating his Magical Universe (2013), him and his house full of Barbies. An artist and recluse from the world he has spent the last few decades making dioramas and taking pictures as if Barbie was a real person. Profiling Al Carbee is Jeremy Workman and his wife Astrid. Vacationing in Maine one day, they discovered Al and over the next ten years begin a relationship and an unlikely friendship with him as they share Al and his Barbies with the rest of the world; Al's story of art and passion.


Most people who find an 80-year-old man with a houseful of Barbies would think he is a perverted/crazy old man (showing how wide-ranging fanboy cultures really are), but it takes a rare soul to be still so passionate about something they love, and even more so to then turn it into art. I would say it is like the Andy Warhol of Barbies by him and from him. It is just mind blowing to see how much, how many he has collected and how many pictures he has taken. You can feel the passion and his love for Barbie, as he takes one of the world's most iconic toys and creates a world of Barbies. It's not like Barbie is not extremely popular and some on the collector's market are very expensive, yet Al is not in it for the money. You'll have to see this one for yourself.


The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is soft and mixed at times, while the lossy Dolby Digital sound has many flaws and location audio issues, so the combination can be challenging to sit through at times. Extras include featurettes, teasers and a trailer.



- Ricky Chiang


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com