Films of 2012
Jan. 6th, 2012 09:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fyre#2 - Puss in Boots
This was my back-up film. I intended to see 'The Lady' with Michelle Yeoh, but all the screenings that were scheduled for today were inexplicably cancelled when I went into the cinema this morning. The next film showing was Puss, so decided to wander into it for some brainless silliness, and went for the 3D option.
On the whole, I wasn't expecting great things when I went into this film which is a spin-off of a sequel of a satire. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised. It was never going to be a work of art, but it's a fun little film, with plenty of humour for adults as well as kids. Also, if you like cats, you are very likely to enjoy this film, given the number of cat-behaviour jokes.
It's sort of a version of Desperado-for-kids meets grumpy fairytales, with a heck of a lot of references to Latin american dance and culture. The design could have been taken out of any cliche image of Mexico in the late 1800s, but all the same, the design work was great. Given that the lead characters are cats, this meant lots of fantastic roof-chases. Normally, I'm not a fan of 3D, but for those scenes alone, it was worth it.
The character of Humpty Dumpty was a bit meh for me, but I really liked Jack and Jill as the villains-for-hire, especially Jack being so keen to retire and start having babies, even to the point of arguing how they could manage it, and that he would be a stay-at-home daddy. Given the character design and characterisation, it was so incongruous and a lovely touch compared to most villains who don't even get so much as a second-dimension.
The plot was basic (hero was once betrayed by a friend, but decides to give him a second chance, and is - what a surprise - betrayed again, only for friend to help him save the day to make amends) but since this is meant to be a kids film, you can't expect huge things. Kitty Softpaw (voiced by Salma Hayek) was basically a female equivalent of Puss, and the obviously placed love-interest for him. Like Puss, she was fun to watch, but really, it was predictable.
The things that really got me enjoying the film were the designs, the layer upon layer of texture in everything: the clouds, the beanstalk, the giant's castle, the little towns, the prisons. Actually, even the details on the fur and the clothing was so realistic that it looked almost touchable. CGI animation has come so far in such a short time.
In conclusion, it's not ever going to be my top choice of animated film, but it's still a fun hour and a half, with some good giggles and two sassy, booted kitties.
This was my back-up film. I intended to see 'The Lady' with Michelle Yeoh, but all the screenings that were scheduled for today were inexplicably cancelled when I went into the cinema this morning. The next film showing was Puss, so decided to wander into it for some brainless silliness, and went for the 3D option.
On the whole, I wasn't expecting great things when I went into this film which is a spin-off of a sequel of a satire. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised. It was never going to be a work of art, but it's a fun little film, with plenty of humour for adults as well as kids. Also, if you like cats, you are very likely to enjoy this film, given the number of cat-behaviour jokes.
It's sort of a version of Desperado-for-kids meets grumpy fairytales, with a heck of a lot of references to Latin american dance and culture. The design could have been taken out of any cliche image of Mexico in the late 1800s, but all the same, the design work was great. Given that the lead characters are cats, this meant lots of fantastic roof-chases. Normally, I'm not a fan of 3D, but for those scenes alone, it was worth it.
The character of Humpty Dumpty was a bit meh for me, but I really liked Jack and Jill as the villains-for-hire, especially Jack being so keen to retire and start having babies, even to the point of arguing how they could manage it, and that he would be a stay-at-home daddy. Given the character design and characterisation, it was so incongruous and a lovely touch compared to most villains who don't even get so much as a second-dimension.
The plot was basic (hero was once betrayed by a friend, but decides to give him a second chance, and is - what a surprise - betrayed again, only for friend to help him save the day to make amends) but since this is meant to be a kids film, you can't expect huge things. Kitty Softpaw (voiced by Salma Hayek) was basically a female equivalent of Puss, and the obviously placed love-interest for him. Like Puss, she was fun to watch, but really, it was predictable.
The things that really got me enjoying the film were the designs, the layer upon layer of texture in everything: the clouds, the beanstalk, the giant's castle, the little towns, the prisons. Actually, even the details on the fur and the clothing was so realistic that it looked almost touchable. CGI animation has come so far in such a short time.
In conclusion, it's not ever going to be my top choice of animated film, but it's still a fun hour and a half, with some good giggles and two sassy, booted kitties.
