RavenclawGlenn's stats
- Review count9
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewApril 20, 2008
- Last reviewDecember 30, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
RavenclawGlenn's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
How Christmas works in the 21st century
PostedDecember 30, 2011
This film from the folks behind Wallace & Gromit is the next in a line of computer animated (rather than stop motion) movies. The premise is well thought out and clever, showing how it's possible for Santa to deliver all the gifts in one night. The movie has a heart in Arthur, second son of the "current" Santa and how his determination in seeing that one last gift is delivered. The humor is mild and not too corny. The only problem we had with the voices was some were hard to understand.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Cute and fluffy
PostedJuly 12, 2010
Gru is supposed to be this evil genius but his character as the filmmaker's efforts just don't seem to have their heart in it.
We saw this in 3D but I am convinced that except for some funny stuff during the credits, you don't need to see it in 3D.
This is a cute movie and we did enjoy it and I laughed out loud on several of the jokes, but the producers shot themselves in the foot by releaseing too much of the movie's good jokes as trailers, so we had seen a good portion of the movie beforehand and it did reduce the comic impact.
Making a movie like this takes a lot of work and skill but it also takes heart and although we did like the movie, it still lacked something intangable that a Pixar movie would have captured...soul.
We saw this in 3D but I am convinced that except for some funny stuff during the credits, you don't need to see it in 3D.
This is a cute movie and we did enjoy it and I laughed out loud on several of the jokes, but the producers shot themselves in the foot by releaseing too much of the movie's good jokes as trailers, so we had seen a good portion of the movie beforehand and it did reduce the comic impact.
Making a movie like this takes a lot of work and skill but it also takes heart and although we did like the movie, it still lacked something intangable that a Pixar movie would have captured...soul.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Dreamworks gets it right
PostedApril 25, 2010
Making animated movies is more than just computer software, some famous voices and some topical jokes. Dreamworks Animation has been heavy handed in it's production of animated movies in the past but With the directors of "Stitch" - Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (the info bar for this movie has it wrong) the characters are much more subtley controlled and more expressive. This is important because thankfully, the dragons don't talk. The story is nicely paced and the characters are well rounded. Having this on IMAX 3D makes the flying sequences more majestic but the film would be just as good in 2D. This is one of my favorite movies of the year. Good fun for the whole family.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
An Immersive Experience
PostedJanuary 19, 2010
My wife and I were not sure about seeing Avatar. However we decided that if we were going to see the movie, we should get the as much of it as we could, so we chose to see the IMAX 3D. We were amazed by the experience. I found the 3D a bit disorienting at first, but that might just have been because the screen is SO BIG! I quickly settled in and really it was like being transported to Pandora. The plot was not rich or complicated, but if it had been it would have made it hard to take in. The performances of Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington were really well done considering that all the lush scenery was not there when they did their acting.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
No up to Disney Standard
PostedDecember 27, 2009
My wife and I are big fans of Disney romance. Our first date was to see Beauty and the Beast. We had high hopes for this "return to hand-drawn animation" from the Disney Studios, but it was not to be. The backgrounds and effects were very good (and computer aided) but the characters - especially the frogs - lacked any soul. They were flat and un-expressive. The musical numbers were okay, but were too similar to music from Aladdin and others to be called original. A stylized number in the middle really didn't belong. We really WANTED to like this movie, but felt that we weren't given the best the studio can do.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Pixar Sets the Standard Higher with UP
PostedJune 8, 2009
A sweet story of love and friendship it follows Carl Frederickson and his quest for adventure all his life. When the powers that be close in on him he hooks balloons to his house and escapes to South America. Inadvertantly taking Winderness Scout Russell with him. The movie is full of beautiful animation and characters to warm the heart. This is a movie for the whole family without any catchy pop-references. UP will be just as fresh ten years from now. Available in 3D, it is well done, but not necessary. This movie would be just as good in 2D.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Aliens vs Monsters
PostedApril 5, 2009
Great fun for the whole family. Be sure to see it in 3D because the 3D is done exceptionally well and adds to the experience. The story is entertaining, the voice acting is great and the humor is good for parents as well as kids.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Pixar Shows why it's the best Animation Studio
PostedJune 28, 2008
The reason that everything PIXAR does is gold is they pay attention to three things: The story, The Characters and The Animation. This may seem basic, but many other enjoyable animated movies will fall short on one or more of those points and it will bring the whole thing down. With WALL*E the story is one of love and longing and also about taking care of what you have before it's gone. The characters of WALL*E and EVE have minimal dialogue so their emotions and actions are all up to the tour-de-force animation from PIXAR. This combination of pure and concentrated story, character and animation makes WALL*E an instant classic. Even little kids around me in the theatre "got it" even though it meant following a story with more action than words.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
They had fun with this one!
PostedApril 20, 2008
This film is not as epic or elegant as the "Crouching Tiger.." "House of Flying Daggers" or "Hero" but it is a lot of fun and really beautiful in it's scenery and production design. The interaction of the main characters is wonderful and the fight sequences are both skilled and at times, funny. Jet Li and Jackie Chan work really well together. I didn't find anything in the movie that felt "wrong": Acting, Story, Direction and Cinematography all were excellent. I highly recommend Forbidden Kingdom to anyone who is a fan of the "Kung Fu" genre of movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.