Archive for the ‘Cartoon’ Category

Igor (2008)

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Evil genius assistant looking for monster for long walks along a desolate countryside in a turbulent thunderstorm! Ok, so that is more interesting than the movie. Evil Igor is left to create an evil invention for the evil science fair after his evil master, evil mad scientist; Dr. Something or Other dies in an evil accident. His evil invention is to create LIFE! The Monster, Eva, isn’t all that evil. After a failed attempt to make her evil, she decides she’s an <> actress! The only characters that were entertaining were Igor’s assistants (assistant’s assistants?), Scamper and Brain. Brain is a brain in a jar and Scamper is a suicidal undead bunny (really, not making this up).

I have to admit I had high hopes for this movie, but was very disappointed. I was hoping for a fun play on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, but was left feeling like the writers just didn’t try. The Igor character seems allot like a similar Igor character from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels (which are more entertaining than this movie). The movie spent too much time talking about being evil (it’s a kid’s movie) to the point that I started to think it was a bad idea for my kids to watch it. The moral of the movie, everyone has a good side (Didn’t they do that in Return of the Jedi?). I think whoever was responsible for making this movie may have missed a chance to do something new and exiting, but blew it.

When they were planning the toy tie in, did anyone think of creating a plush Scamper?

Not recommended.

Memorable Line: Would you like to see this face on a 60 foot screen?

Igor – John Cusak (America’s Sweethearts, Grosse Pointe Blank, Better Off Dead)
Dr. Glickenstein – John Cleese (Monty Python and too many funny movies to name)
King Malbert – Jay Leno (Scooby Doo and the Goblin King, Cars, Ice Age 1 & 2, Robots and some late night TV show)

Wall-E (2008)

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Spunky little trash compactor (Wall-E) falls for a Mac like robot (Eve). The main characters have a cute simplicity to them. This simplicity is what makes them lovable and fun to watch. Wall-E and Eve aren’t very talkative and thankfully don’t break out into song (as some Pixar/Disney films tend to do). Actually, I think they only said a few words, but used them allot. Eve expressed just about every emotion available, just by saying “Wall-E” in different tones.

The story is compelling, fun and doesn’t push its “moral” to hard. Trash has overrun the Earth and mankind has headed to the stars to wait for the Wall-E’s to clean up. Centuries later, probes are sent back to Earth to checkup on the progress. The probe Eve soon meets the lovable Wall-E. Finding what Eve was sent to find, she heads back into space followed by our love struck Wall-E. And their adventure begins…

It’s appropriate for little ones and teens may enjoy it as well. The characters were fun, cute and likable. The story was interesting enough to keep all ages from children to adult interested.

Memorable Line: Wall-E. Eveee. WALL-E!!!

Recommended!

Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Andrew Stanton
Wall-E: Ben Burtt
Eve: Elissa Knight