Showing posts with label Children's film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's film. Show all posts

Toy Story 3

Posted by Should I See It on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 , under , , , , , , , | comments (0)





Film: Toy Story 3
Director: Lee Unkrich
Starring: (the voice talents of) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Michael Keaton.
Plot: With Andy headed to college, the toys are donated to a local Day Care Centre.


Usually, by the time film franchises have reached their third instalment, they have grown tired, old and generally overstayed their welcome. Luckily for us, Toy Story 3 is as fresh as the first time around; we feel as though we are being reunited with old friends.

Toy Story 3 sees Andy (the owner of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and co.) all grown up and headed off to college. The Toys, already suffering from a serious lack of playtime, are faced with either the attic or, their worse fear, the trash. A series of events sees them donated to Sunnyside Day Care centre, that’s ruled by the evil strawberry scented teddy bear Lotso.



So much of the characters come from the actors that voice them. Performance wise, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen deliver what they always have. Michael Keaton is in his element as the “I’m not as girls toy, but I love my wardrobe more than life itself” Ken. Barbie and Ken’s first meeting is almost worth the price of admission alone.

The opening sequence is a particularly charming, effortlessly capturing the imagination of a child during playtime. In what other world but a child’s imagination could a cowboy and an astronaut save a runaway train, apprehend special shield slinky dogs and become victims of an evil space lord money box pig?



But the real standout is the ending that’s handled with such poignancy that just might have you reaching for the tissues.

The film is a little overlong. The trash sequence at the end was unnecessary. Also unnecessary was the 3D Transfer as it didn’t do anything to enhance the visuals or the story, it seemed to be merely buying into the 3D hype.

Toy Story 3 is not just for the kids, it’s a hit for the parents as well.


Should I See It?

Yes!!!!!



Toy Story 3 Official Site here.

How To Train Your Dragon Review

Posted by Should I See It on Sunday, April 11, 2010 , under , , , , | comments (0)






Film: How to Train Your Dragon
Director: Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders.
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
Plot: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.



How To Train Your Dragon is the first film that I have seen in a long time that I actually really enjoyed. From start to finish I was enchanted, captivated by the charm and the general open-heartedness of the film.

The hero, Hiccup [a very strong and manly name, meant to instil fear at the thought of it] (voiced by Jay Baruchel) is suitably endearing. In many ways Hiccup reminded me of Zac Efron, and I’m not just talking about the shaggy hair that always seems to sit perfectly, but some of Baruchel’s inflections, but some of the mannerisms in the animation of the character recall those of Zefron.



The Dragon, Toothless, is adorable. He’s like a puppy, but way cooler. I have decided that I only want a pet if I can have Toothless the Dragon. The developing friendship between Hiccup and Toothless gives the film its warmth.

The designs of the dragons are unique and vivid. Of course these dragons are the kind that could ONLY exist in an animated film, but that is half (well, maybe three-quarters) of their charm!


As in any film, Hiccup also gets a kick-ass love interest, Astrid. Though I will say that America Fererra, who voiced the role, is perhaps a little too one-note in her interpretation.



I also applaud the genius who decided to cast Craig Ferguson as Gobber, the Viking in charge of training the young’uns in killing dragons. Ferguson is a great addition to the cast. It was also nice to hear Gerard Butler, as Hiccup’s father Stoic (what did I tell you about the Viking names?), with his native Scottish accent.

One thing that I didn’t understand about this movie: why did the adults have Scottish accents and the adolescents have American accents? Actually I do know why but I can’t be bothered writing a massive rant on the Americanisation of EVERYTHING!



The scene where Hiccup takes Astrid for a ride on Toothless is magical. Imagine a combination of Harry Potter and the Hippogriff, the ‘I’m the king of the world’ moment from Titanic and ‘A Whole New Wold’ from Aladdin (minus the singing) and you basically have that scene.

The designs of the dragons are wonderful, unique and vivid. Of course these dragons are the kind that could ONLY exist in an animated film, but that is half (well, maybe three-quarters) of their charm!




The score by John Powell is wonderful, never overpowering, but just enough to compliment the film (as any good score should do).

The pacing is tight, there is never a dull moment, and the script is funny. It never becomes preachy or overly sentimental, as so many films of this genre, or at least aimed at this audience, tend to do.

Don’t be put off by the fact that this is a ‘kid’s movie’. Even if you don’t have kids to take to see it, it’s definitely worth seeing. Watching How to Train Your Dragon is a very enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half, and it will leave you feeling all sunny inside.



Should I See It?



Yes! You should DEFINITELY SEE IT!









How to Train Your Dragon Official Site here.

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Review

Posted by Should I See It on Monday, April 5, 2010 , under , , , , | comments (0)





Film: Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
Director: Susanna White
Starring: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes.
Plot: Nanny McPhee returns to the screen, this time helping a harried mother, Mrs Green, whose husband is away fighting in the war. Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach Ms Green's three children and their two cousins visiting from the city five very important lessons.


Sheeeeeeeeeee's BA-ACK.


Yes, the world’s fourth favourite nanny, (behind Mary Poppins, Fraulein Maria and Super Nanny’s Jo Frost), is back again to transform terrible children into angels!


Well, not that all of the children in Nanny McPhee are really terrible. The Green children aren’t all that bad, really. They saved their sugar coupons to make their father some jam for when he comes home from the war. In my opinion, the Green children (Norman, Megsie and Vincent) are unfairly punished by Nanny McPhee. It’s the city duo, Celia and Cyril that need ‘whipping into shape.’ Anybody who turned down their nose at my house, made fun of me, and ruined my father’s special jam all within the first five minutes of meeting, would not be welcome. There really is no wonder that the Green children don’t like their cousins. If they weren’t so funny in their snobbishness, the audience wouldn’t like them either.


Performance wise, the kids are actually very good: Eros Vlahos and Rosie Taylor Ritson as city cousins Cyril and Celia fare best, particularly Vlahos who mastered the spoilt brat swagger. Oscar Steer as Mrs. Green's youngest son Vincent is simply too cute! Asa Butterfield (from The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas) is probably the weakest, but even he has his moments.

By the calibre of the guest actors, you know that Emma Thompson is a pretty influential name (or she has really good friends). Ralph Fiennes and Ewan McGregor make cameos as the children’s fathers and Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans round out the adult cast. Maggie Smith in particular is charming as the slightly dotty Mrs Docherty (who is in some way connected to Nanny McPhee, but I won’t spoil that for you here).
 

But it's Maggie Gyllenhaal who disappoints. Unfortunately she must have caught a major case of the overacting bug. I know Nanny McPhee isn't exactly an exercise in subtlety, but Gyllenhaal's performance is so over the top that it detracts from the film.

I also enjoyed the period detail of the film. In particular, Vincent and Cyril’s trip to the War Office in London was particularly well done. It was interesting to see the film makers approach their presentations of the war office from a child’s perspective.
 
For the most part Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang is fairly entertaining, but the script is incredibly uneven. There are some genuinely funny lines, and it includes one of the best speeches about poo that has ever been written, but when it comes to pigs that not only fly but do synchronised swimming, and an unfortunate sub plot about kidney removal, you know that the ideas were running a little thin.


The homage to Mary Poppins is perhaps more obviously this time around than in the first.

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang has its charms, but they aren't quite as sweet the second time around.
If only all parents could have Nanny McPhee’s special powers then the world would be a much better place!

Should I See It?


Only if you have kids to take to see it.




Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Official Site here.