![]() ![]() The English-only Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix is solid and generally quite active, though small portions of the dialogue could've used a bit more punch. The film's warm but natural color palette is bold and bright, image detail is strong and there are no major digital problems to be found. Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for 16x9 displays, this mishmash of live action footage and digital animation looks very good from start to finish. The Weinstein Company's DVD package follows suit, boasting a solid technical presentation but little in the way of bonus material. ![]() Despite the mild charm and solid visuals, it's simply too generic for its own good-and if there's one thing that a family film shouldn't be, it's generic. The animation is certainly well done, but there's no point to it if the story doesn't follow along smoothly.Īs such, Arthur and the Invisibles can't help but feel like a hundred other half-baked kiddie flicks: distracting enough for one viewing, but forgettable in the long run. This would be especially evident if we were given both to compare as it stands, viewers will simply have to keep up with some of the fast-paced dialogue. As the film's original French language track is missing from this DVD release, the English dub feels cramped and scattershot during many sequences. Still, a major red flag pops up during the film's breezy 94-minute lifespan: the relatively slipshod voice dubbing and frenzied pace that results from it. It's charming on the surface, so there's no doubt that some youngsters may be entertained by the colorful goings-on. Of course, the good guys have their own set of problems, brought upon by the dastardly M (David Bowie) and his brutish band of baddies.Īlong the way, you'll wonder why the Minimoys look so much like Treasure Trolls.and, of course, you'll see if Snoop Dogg can resist the urge to swear during his limited screen time. Eventually, he locates the creatures, including-but certainly not limited to- the King (Robert De Niro), Princess Selenia (Madonna) and her obnoxious younger brother, Betameche (Jimmy Fallon). Arthur takes it upon himself to find the treasure and pay the rent, so off he goes in search of clues to find the secret world of the Minimoys. The treasure, of course, is quickly becoming a necessity for the quiet country-dwellers, who just happen to owe a large sum of money to a ruthless land developer. She often tells Arthur about the Minimoys-a group of small, elf-like creatures living under the grass in the garden outside-and the treasure they still hold, which originally belonged to Arthur's grandfather. Based on the French children's book series (written by Besson), we follow the exploits of young Arthur (Freddie Highmore), who lives alone with his grandmother (Mia Farrow) in a secluded country home. What should be a breezy thrill-ride turns into a frenzied rush to cram it all in, causing a number of the films seminal moments to become anti-climatic.It's certainly not the first live-action/animated hybrid in cinematic history, but Luc Besson's Arthur and the Invisibles (AKA Arthur and the Minimoys, 2006) still reminds us that films need more than pretty visuals to make a lasting impression. There is simply too much exposition and backstory to effectively accommodate the running time. ![]() This goes doubly so for Highmore, who does awesome turns in both live action and cartoon form. Better yet, the winning characters responsible for voicing these gems are piped by celebrities who-although overly marketable (Madonna, Snoop Dogg, David Bowie)-perfectly fade into the beautifully-animated elfin landscape. Though not wholly original (think The Secret of Nimh meets TVs The Littles), Bessons Minimoy world is buoyed by the writer/directors laudable infusion of his signature smart-alecky humor. Fantastically inventive, Arthur and the Invisibles certainly demonstrates a richness of these impressive trappings, meaning it has the potential to delight even the brattiest of children but it ultimately proves to be an over-abundance of riches, a wealth that could potentially make the audience a bit bratty.īased on Bessons childrens book ∺rthur et les Minimoys, this PG-rated story follows a ten year boy (Highmore) who, in an effort to secure a treasure that will save his grandmothers (Marrow) house from being demolished, ventures to a world where the inhabitants are a tenth of an inch high. Served well by his inspired lunacy in crafting the deliciously intoxicating sci-fi/fantasy guilty pleasure The Fifth Element, director Luc Besson has smartly honed his obvious gift for designing trippy alien landscapes and their unique backstories on a family franchise. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |