The Corner - Heather Reviews The Avengers

Where can I start? Where can I possibly start? Starting at the beginning would require delving back to 2008, when Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk were released. These two films were the beginning of a Marvel-lous work of cinema. Following the aforementioned films came Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011, also). This was the beginning of the Avengers… It was here the Avengers were to, indeed, assemble.

Directed by Joss Whedon (who helped write the Toy Story 1 script; produced hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Firefly) meant that great things were expected. And boasting a cast of incredibly talented actors – Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man); Chris Evans (Captain America); Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk); Chris Hemsworth (Thor); Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow)… etc, put a lot of pressure onto what was already expected from this film: wonders. It definitely delivered. Another point worth making: so many superheroes. In a one-superhero film it seems perfectly… perfect, seeing them take the limelight. In The Avengers, so many heroes – who was to dominate? Chris Hemsworth (Thor) was interviewed by Empire Magazine and quoted saying “It’s not an easy mix. They [the characters] all have some friction”. However, Whedon pulled it off…

I must say, I expected action-action-action-serious-save-the-world. Instead, there were genuine moments in which the whole cinema-audience were laughing: the children, the teenagers, the grandparents… It was brilliant. Of course, even Whedon has the One-Liner illness, but it was very much appreciated in this case. Of course, being the witty, handsome, rich, ex-weapon-maker, Tony Stark (Downey Junior) was given most of these. The occasional “guys, I’m bringing the party to you” and “I don’t play well with others” was much appreciated. The Hulk, terrifying at times, also proved to be a character that could inspire hilarity to the point of hysteria – unfortunately, Loki found out the wrong way that the Hulk could indeed “bully” a God.

The camera work was stunning; the acting was stunning; the music was stunning. There is so much to praise.

 The Avengers follows another of Earth’s plights – honestly, will we ever not be the target of an alternate race?! – this time the product of Loki’s unwanted administrations. Loki steals the Tesseract (an object creating a portal from Asgard to Earth) and uses it to unleash an army unto Earth, hoping – in typical villain style – to conquer Earth with his army and allies. However, one thing Loki couldn’t possibly have foreseen: The Avengers. All of the superheroes gathered to make a team, a rescue-mission for Earth. Or, as The Hulk (Ruffalo) put it: “not a team, we’re a time bomb”. Sure, the crew have rough patches – which friendship groups don’t? Friendship groups. Yes. That’s what they are like: there’s the one who acts like a prat, and in doing so, becomes wittily charming – that would be Tony Stark (Downey Jr.). Then there’s the one who doesn’t get on with him – Captain America (Evans). Then you have the geek, who they use for science as well as credit – Hulk. The two assassins, which friendship group doesn’t have assassins? – those being Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Johansson). Then there is Thor.

Confession time: I love Thor. There we go. Deep breaths. I am limiting myself to that little smidgen of adoration. Be thankful.

And of course, the leader of this rag-tag gang? It could only be Nick Fury, played incredibly well by Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson has this character down to a ‘T’. He masters the brooding, commanding Fury, rocking the eye-patch all the while. It is hard not to appreciate acting like his, where he has obviously thought long and hard about his character, and it shows.

I’m going to stop ranting and raving now, because it could get out of hand, especially if I start on Thor again… He is wonderful, though. Acting skills, heroic-abilities and all. Sorry. I digress.

Ten out of ten. Nothing less. If there was an eleven, it would be that. Highly amusing, but not too much, filled with action, likeable characters – and legitimately unlikeable characters – brilliant acting and directing. High standard.

I wouldn’t expect anything less.

The Corner - Week 7 - Heather Reviews Balto: Wolf Quest

Awooooooo-nderful film? Perhaps not...

I suppose I have some explaining to do, on this one. One of the reasons I bought this film was because wolves are my favourite animals. Admittedly, I was not searching for this film when I got it; I was looking for ‘Alpha and Omega’ which is, by the way, a pretty darn cool film-watch it if you get the chance. When Alpha and Omega was not available, and after much cursing under my breath, I spotted this film, wedged under a pile of Polar Express-es and Nanny McPhee-s. It didn’t look as good as A&O, didn’t sound as good and I was certain it wouldn’t please me as much. However, I was craving a wolf-orientated film, and so I made an impulsive £6 purchase.

A brief synopsis: Aleu is part-wolf, part-dog, and the only one of her litter who looks more wolf-like than pet material. Of course, what ensues is her quest to find out who she really is- old-school stuff, to be honest. As the blurb of the DVD says, it has the right ingredients to become a “spectacular, heart-warming adventure of courage, self-discovery and excitement that will live in [your] hearts forever”. However, like a cake-gone-wrong, to stick to the cake-baking theme, something goes wrong.

The characters are loveable, and established well. Aleu particularly struck a nerve for me: a young person rarely knows what’s going to happen in the future, and as a wolf, she seems to feel the same things I feel every day. For all the parents, Balto feels anguish and worry that’s almost palpable, and displays all the reluctance to let his daughter go that any father or mother would feel. The characters are one of the things that save this film from going down the drain it teetering over the edge of.

Produced by Universal Studios, I couldn’t possibly be expecting something as beautiful as Despicable Me (2010) because that’s too recent. Balto was released in 2001. Shoddy animation, especially when the sea is shown- they alternate between decent-looking-waves and absolutely rubbish excuses for waves. Seriously, I was appalled. But I soon got over that, because the wolves were so pretty. Yeah, pretty. Leave me be. I happen to know everyone has a weakness: WILLIAM’S IS PENGUINS, but shhh.

Having indirectly slated this film, it must have done something right, because there are three films: Balto, Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002) and Balto III: Wings of Change (2004). I have half a mind to watch the other two, not just for my love of wolves, but because in spite of how cheesy and badly put-together it is, there is something about the storyline that does capture the attention. Something that does appeal to that youthful side of me… I know that they say curiosity killed the cat, but… I want to compare the three movies!

If you're a sucker for all that gooey heart-warming stuff, go for it. Watch it, and try to ignore how bad the animation and picture actually is - I managed to after a while. It's relatively short, so there isn't too long to endure. If you're not all for animal-happy-happy-fun-time then never watch this- it may be the end for you.

The Corner - Week 6 - Heather Reviews The Lion King

I would like to begin by saying: anybody who has not seen The Lion King is deprived. Since a rather young age (we’re talking two or three years old), The Lion King has been my all-time, most-magnificent, favourite film. So, excuse me if this review is a little biased- although, in retrospect, all reviews are opinionated articles, are they not? I digress…

The story is set on the prosperous African land: Pride Rock. Enter a young lion cub, Simba, future king of Pride Rock and its surrounding lands, son to the revered current king, Mufasa. The story is essentially, a “coming-of-age adventure” (as says the blurb of the Diamond Edition box, which, for the record, sits proudly at the forefront of my DVD collection). An assortment of likeable friends, joviality and seriousness, and never-ending hilarity help Simba come to terms with his destiny, and, more importantly, himself.

I could waffle on about how amazing and encapsulating The Lion King is, and win a prize for it-or if there was no existing prize for waffling, I could invent one and win that. However, I doubt a siege of paragraphs hailing this movie would interest anybody except myself, and possibly my fellow A113-ers. Therefore, I am going to have to try and back-off and gain a moral high-ground. Says the person who was given a badge with a picture of Simba, and her own name on it, for Christmas. Nobody said reviewing was easy.

Character-wise, The Lion King thrives. There is, and of course there would be, a certain glee to be had from the friendship between a meerkat and a warthog. Timon (aforementioned meerkat), and Pumbaa (warthog) make quite a pair of comedians, who show themselves to be quite the help when Simba loses his way. Beneath all the jokes and witty comments, the two show what it is to be a friend: loyalty and the willingness to help each other. Soppy? No, they make all their help quite the opposite. Of course, as, in my opinion, there should be in every good film, there is a budding romance. From the start, the naiveté of a young king’s attitude to love is clear: what can be no more than a minute’s dialogue between Zazu (the king's right-hand hornbill-a bird. Yes, you would have thought he'd be eaten, yet apparently his annoying demeanour is a quality Mufasa admires) and Simba outlines how Simba is too young to even consider falling for his best friend, Nala. Cute.

The music, too, is something to behold. Written by the duo of Tim Rice and Elton John, the songs are catchy and quirky. Download them to your iPod or MP3 Player, for example, and you’ll have them on loop (yes, I am guilty of this). The score, likewise, is brilliant – written by acclaimed Hans Zimmer (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Inception, Gladiator). To pick out one particular instance: Timon and Pumbaa are being “live bait” at their future king’s insistence, and Timon performs a hula-dance. It’s rather hilarious, and one of the funniest bits of the film, in my opinion. However, I did show it to my younger sister the other night and I was almost lying on the floor laughing, yet she just stood there with one eyebrow raised… she just didn’t get it.

So: The Lion King. Now, to reign my enthusiasm in, and to sign off. The Lion King is a five-star film, for me. Full of music (so, if you don’t like music, perhaps not five-star, and more like three and a half- I really can’t go any lower), and jokes, and loveable characters, and a moral. Yes, a moral. It is impossible not to watch this film without cracking a smile, and once you have seen it a couple of times, it also becomes an obligation to sing along to the songs. Watching it more than once will not bore you, it will only become more enrapturing to you than the last time you watch it. I recommend it to all, with my highest endorsements.

The Corner - Week 2 - Heather Reviews Igor

It has ingenious evil scientists. It has Frankenstein’s monster-like creations. It has a miserable, depressing, scathing, suicidal rabbit. A brain without a brain. Hunchbacks. Annual Evil Science Fairs. And an “impossible” ambition: to create… life.

Igor (2008) was directed by Anthony Leondis and written by Chris McKenna. The story: behold the kingdom of Malaria, where evil inventions are the way to make money. Enter Igor, one of many insignificant igors (hunchback assistants to evil scientists) who is about to perform a feat not yet to be performed. Igor’s previous inventions have turned out to be successful… kind of: Scamper, a suicidal rabbit, and Brain, who is super-unintelligent. Igor’s life-long dream is to create the greatest invention the world has ever seen, and in doing so, winning first prize in the annual Evil Science Fair. However, fiendish Dr Schadenfreude has also made plans: to steal Igor’s creation from him, and, as the cliché goes, take over the world.

Voiced by John Cusack, Igor wins hearts from his very first, sociable phrase: “Nice weather we’re having, huh?” He befriends us, becomes allies with us, and inspires pity and allegiance with us through the medium of Igor-ness. Yes, that’s right, his deteriorating physical shape is a beacon of lost hope, and one we will scorn and laugh at. Yet there is something in this hunchback that is different from all his other hump-backed, indifferent kin. This Igor has spirit, he has heart, and most importantly of all, he has talent.

Alongside John Cusack stars Eddie Izzard (playing Doctor Schadenfreude), Molly Shannon (playing Eva) and Steve Buscemi (playing Scamper). Igor plays host to a wonderful cast and a fable full of likeable characters.  The plot, slightly clichéd, yet unique in presentation is encapsulating. Fun for children and adults alike, it is a little like Despicable Me (brought out in 2010) in that even the most sinister of evil scientists strive to impress their mothers!

And so Igor and his partially brainless, partially cheerless comrades take us on a journey through the life of an igor who makes a difference. The message? Be yourself! Yes, it’s that old corker, a message apparently we watchers never get tired of… well that’s debatable. Yes, it would be nice to see a film with a fresh message, one unvisited and surprising, but I, for one, am not going to hold my breath on that one. Igor does, however, tick a surprising amount of boxes for originality and holding our attention, and for that, I must praise it.

Overall, I'd give it 7.5/10.

The Corner - Week 1 - Heather Reviews Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

A belated review, by A113’s standards, but a review nonetheless, of DreamWorks’ Spirit…

If you were to ask a person to list their favourite animated films, chances are, this would not be listed. Why? Because, in my opinion, Spirit is massively undervalued; it’s funny, it’s quirky, and it’s the only animated film to be seen through a horse’s eyes…

Spirit (voiced by Matt Damon) is a wild, young Kiger mustang, curious by name and nature, and the determined leader of a magnificent herd of wild horses who roam the wilderness of the American Frontier. When Spirit spots something awry in hi herd’s territory, he inspects it, and is thrown tail-first into an adventure. Befriending a young Lakota, falling for a beautiful pinto mare (also known as a paint mare) and outwitting an unyielding squadron of soldiers does nothing to discourage Spirit as he fights to return to his herd.

It was Senior Supervising Animator James Baxter (The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, Beauty and the Beast) who oversaw the animation of Spirit, himself, and though the horses don’t physically speak, Spirit’s thoughts are conveyed to the audience through the mouthpiece of Matt Damon; songs by renowned singer-songwriter Bryan Adams play a prominent part also.

Little Creek, the Lakota boy, was played by Native American actor, Daniel Studi and It was Senior Supervising Animator Pres Romanillos (Mulan, Pocahontas) who oversaw the animation of this compassionate Lakota, who is captured by the cavalry, which is where he meets Spirit, who has also been caught.

Rain, fiercely loyal to Little Creek, her Lakota owner, is voiced by nobody, which could be seen as a weakness in the film…but instead it seems to add intrigue and mystery to the beautiful mare who bewitches Spirit. The animation of her character was overseen by Senior Supervising Animator William Salazar (The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado).

Enter: The Colonel-stern, determined, strong-willed… The Colonel quickly becomes Spirit’s most relentless adversary on his fight for freedom. He is voiced by James Cromwell (Babe, L.A Confidential), who perfects the short temper of his character, and holds just the right amount of dignity to make this ‘bad guy’ as ‘bad’ as he needs to be, yet still holding on to the last shred of honour. Supervising Animator Fabio Lignini (The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado) oversaw the Colonel’s animation.

One special character, neither horse nor human, is the landscape. It is the landscape of the American West itself, in the 1800s when the landscape was untamed, just like the mustangs who roamed it. To capture this beauty in this film, there were no books or films to compare enough to the actual thing, so a team of eight (including story supervisor Ronnie del Carmen, who, more recently, was the story supervisor on Pixar's Up) took a four-day tour of America’s most treasured national parks and incredible landscapes. The journey must have been successful, for in the many sweeping scenes in Spirit, the landscape is phenomenal and has been encapsulated perfectly, from the way the eagle soars through it, to the way the ‘camera’ pans across its brown and green floors.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron shows us some stunning animation, breath-taking in places, and has a storyline easy to be swept up by. Yet, if there was one gripe… for some it could be too musical. I suppose, this depends on preference. In my opinion, the music adds to the emotion of the film: sorrow in the heart-breaking scenes; laughter in the funny scenes.

For example, in one scene Spirit is shut up in a wide stall on a train. The music behind this particular scene is called “Sound the Bugle” (by Bryan Adams), and fits perfectly with the morose mood. The song has its ups and downs and keeps up with the animation like clockwork when Spirit’s moods heighten-when he believes he sees his family-and falls again. This musical aspect truly is a matter of opinion.

All in all… 8/10, for me; a memorable film with character, and one I’d recommend.

Luke's Corner Update - The Corner

Due to unresolved scheduling conflicts, Luke is unable to fully commit to Luke's Corner - many of you will have noticed the erratic posting of reviews - and his responsibilities for the blog will therefore be scaled back. Luke will still be posting reviews, but to a time-frame much more suited to his needs.

But this isn't to say that Luke's Corner will be no more, instead we now have a team of reviewers who will take it in turns to review a much wider variety of animated films - bringing more diversity to the blog. Luke's Corner will now be know as simply The Corner and we are very happy to welcome two new reviewers aboard to contribute their own reviews: Heather Medley and Sean Taylor.

Heather and Sean, who have now joined the team, will, like Luke, write reviews of as many animated films, from as diverse a background, as possible and will bring a much more diverse feel to the blog - in case you occasionally tire of my reviews. Heather and Sean, who are both very competent and diligent will, along with the originator of the corner, Luke, try and bring you a review every week or so.

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Now, Luke asked me to post the below message, to clarify his role on the site:

Hello followers of A113Animation. There is currently some dispute over the corner and from now on I am allowing a few other people to post blogs in it. Unfortunately it will no longer be called Luke's Corner, but I am still here and I'm ready. I hope everyone around the world had a great summer and there will be many more blogs to come, a lot more than I have produced in the past few months.

Thank you for reading this little note.

Luke

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So, keep your eyes out, Luke will bring you a review of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs this weekend, and the next few weekends after that will be reviews from Heather and Sean.