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The
Incredibles
Cert:
U
Starring: Brad Bird, Spencer Fox, Holly Hunter, Samuel
L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Craig T. Nelson, Elizabeth Peña,
John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Sarah Vowell
Directed by: Brad Bird
Running Time: 121 minutes
RATING:
5 / 5
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Pixar,
the brilliant brains behind films such as Toy Story and Monsters,
Inc., have established themselves as being one of the most
important things to happen in the world of animation since
Walt Disney. And now The Incredibles, their latest ingenious
offering, showcases their talents with a slice of family life.
Well, a family of superheroes seemingly more interested in
everyday concerns than saving the world, that is. Until the
bully-boy baddie, a deranged former fan of Mr. Incredible,
decides to intervene…
Writer-director Brad Bird, a key member of The Simpsons writing
team, has used his own recent experiences of fatherhood to tremendous
effect with the family dad, Mr. Incredible, who constantly juggles
his priorities between super-hero duties and his more mundane
domestic chores. The interaction between him, his wife and two
kids is as realistic as any recently seen in other family-flavoured
movies, with each and every one of the characters bursting with
life and intelligence. The animation, as we have come to expect
from Pixar, is absolutely astounding, helping the family purport
an image of absolute realism.
As the film combines the necessary attributes of film-making
into place, the screen is awash with vivid flamboyance for the
wild action but quietens down with softer tones for the in-between
portions of family trouble. The look of the film is decidedly
futuristic, although still carries a retro feel, perhaps as a
homage to 1960’s animated shows such as The Jetsons.
Father, mother, daughter and son all have apt powers: strength
(there’s nothing that dad can’t lift), flexibility
(mum’s super-bendy arms!), invisibility (undoubtedly any
bashful teen’s super-trait of choice) and speed (how many
young boys ever sit still?).
Undeniable smart and wickedly fast, this may well be the most
enjoyable, action-packed, and certainly funniest flick of the
year—all hail Pixar! |
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Napoleon
Dynamite
Cert: PG
Starring: Efren Ramirez, Aaron Ruell, Diedrich Bader, Jon Gries, Jon
Heder, Shondrella Avery, Trevor Snarr, Haylie Duff, Tina Majorino
Directed by: Jared Hess
Time: 86 minutes
RATING:
4 / 5
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Concerning a group of Idaho inadequates trying their very
best to get through the day, the film centres on the ultra-geeky
Napoleon Dynamite, quite possibly the nerdiest character ever to
grace the silver screen. He
hasn’t got a girlfriend, a social life, or even a slight hint
of anything else going for him, for that matter. This is the kind of
guy that would make your most ardent Doctor Who fan seem to be a part
of society’s elite. Living with his computer-obsessed brother
and crazy Grandmother only adds further injury to insult, and when
she gets hospitalised, his get-rich-quick Uncle Rico comes into play,
paving the way for more misery on Napoleon’s part.
Of course, with a set-up like this thrown into the equation, there’s
one guaranteed outcome, and that’s going to be one helluva lot
of fun, for better or for worse. At times it does feel like a series
of set pieces rather than one smoothly running film, but that doesn't
mean one can't enjoy the experience of laughing at a cast that evokes
more pity than sympathy. The film is original and interesting enough
that you don't need to like the characters to like the movie. Or even
understand them, for that matter.
It’s extremely funny, featuring some of the most outrageous scenarios
seen this year. It’s not a classic by any means, but the little
bit of geek in us all will appreciate the everyday dilemmas of Napoleon
Dynamite. |
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