animation tagged posts

June 22, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: Josh Cooley

Writers: Andrew Stanton, Stephany Folsom (screenplay and original story), Josh Cooley, John Lasseter, Valerie LaPointe, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, Martin Hynes (original story)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Christina Hendricks, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Keanu Reeves

Cert: U

Running time: 100mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: With Woody (Hanks) increasingly becoming sidelined during Bonnie’s playtime, he wonders what the future holds. When the young girl’s homemade toy Forky (Hale) is lost during a family holiday, he takes it upon himself to reunite them.

What’s the verdict: As we currently reside in the darkest timeline, trepidation about a Toy Story 4 is understandable.

Toy Story 3 tied an Osc...

July 17, 2018, Posted in  Podcast Comments: 2 comments

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of The Dark Knight’s theatrical release, episode 47 of The Electric Shadows Podcast has gone big. Across four hours, Robs Daniel and Wallis and Bat-expert Ian Bird discuss Nolan’s landmark trilogy. Plus, a wider discussion of the Caped Crusader in comic books and on the small screen, both animated and live action.

Our trio delve deep into the Bat cave, covering a range of Bat chat. From Nolan’s career, to the making of the trilogy, Nolan’s influences, the impact of Christian Bale’s Batman, Heath Ledger’s Joker and Tom Hardy’s Bane, and the difficult-to-repeat legacy the films left behind.

Not that the discussion is just a rhapsody. Ian and the Robs discuss some of the brickbats thrown at the trilogy, particularly the divisive The Dark Knight...

July 1, 2018, Posted in  Reviews Comments: One comment

Director: Brad Bird

Writer: Brad Bird

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Samuel L. Jackson

Cert: PG

Running time: 118mins

Year: 2018

What’s the story: Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl (Hunter), is recruited by brother and sister tech tycoons (Odenkirk and Keener) to rehabilitate public perception of superheroes. Leaving Bob Parr, aka Mr. Incredible (Nelson), to deal with kids Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack. But, supervillainous trouble looms in the shape of the mysterious Screenslaver.

What’s the verdict: The Incredibles was such a delight that despite climaxing with a cliffhanger (or, more accurately, a threat from below) a follow-up never felt necessary.

Writer/director Brad Bird clearly shared this opinion for years...

June 23, 2015, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Directors: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin

Writer: Brian Lynch

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Geoffrey Rush, Pierre Coffin

Cert: U

Running time: 91mins

Year: 2015

The lowdown: It’s Minions Begins in this prequel to the outrageously successful Despicable Me franchise. The DM formula, a simple story is merely the clothesline on which to hang a series of gags, is again stuck to, but it’s these gags you’ll remember when the lights go up. All good fun, beautiful to look at and frequently chucklesome, with Sandra Bullock giving good panto in her first villainous role as the fiendish Scarlett Overkill. While never reaching the giddy heights of Despicable Me 2, your kids are still gonna love it.

The full verdict: They may look like early Simpsons concept drawings, but m...

January 25, 2015, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams

Writer: Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson, Jordan Roberts

Cast: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J. Miller, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Maya Rudolph, Genesis Rodriguez

Cert: PG

Running time: 102mins

Year: 2014

The lowdown: A superhero movie based on a Marvel comic book almost as obscure to filmgoers as Guardians of the Galaxy works a second time around in this sci-fi family adventure. When tragedy strikes teenager Hiro, his big brother’s robotic “health care companion” Baymax is there to help him pick up the pieces. But, a mysterious masked man begins terrorising the city San Fransokyo, meaning Hiro, Baymax and their goofy robotic engineering pals must suit up to protect the city...

November 26, 2013, Posted in  Reviews

Director: Jimmy Hayward

Writers: Jimmy Hayward, Scott Mosier (screenplay). David I. Stern, John J. Strauss (story)

Cast: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei

Cert: U

Running Time: 91 mins

Year: 2013

The lowdown: Reel FX Creative Studios force feeds you its first animated feature. Reggie and Jake are time travelling turkeys attempting to change the Thanksgiving menu for good. Despite the vocal talents of Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and the delightful Amy Poehler, this awful offering deserves a thorough roasting.

The full verdict: Thanksgiving is a quintessentially American holiday. Traditions such as the President pardoning one turkey each year are largely unknown outside the U...

June 23, 2013, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, Benjamin Bratt, Ken Jeong, Russell Brand

Cert: U

Running time: 98 mins

Year: 2013

The lowdown: Steve Carell’s reformed supervillain returns with minions and triumvirate of cute moppets in tow for a riotous sequel to the surprise 2010 hit.  What plot there is revolves around Gru’s investigation into the theft of an experimental serum that transforms animals (and people, and minions) into ravenous, psychotic (purple-furred) beasties.  But, as with producer Chris Meladandri’s Ice Age series, the story is a mere launch pad for inventive comic skits guaranteed to tickle your inner minion...