Nov 9th Reviews

This week in reviews, two animated movies that are really fun to look at, Megamind and The Secret of Kells. Note: Each movie poster links to Rotten Tomatoes, which allows you to look at more than just my opinion. In addition, if the movie is available through Netflix, there's a button below the movie's description that allows you to add it to your queue... a handy feature, to be sure.
Megamind Brief:  "The Town" is the tale of four men -- thieves, rivals and friends -- being hunted through the streets of Boston by a tenacious FBI agent and a woman... Megamind is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known... and the least successful. Thwarted repeatedly by his nemesis, the caped superhero known as "Metro Man," the fate of Metro City and the love of a renowned reporter, hangs in the balance of Megamind's struggle with the indestructible hero. My Take: Dreamworks animated films can be incredibly hit or miss and it's not always easy to tell from the previews which will be their winners. Aliens vs. Monsters looked hilarious in trailer format and fell very flat. Then How to Train Your Dragon seemed silly at best, but was a surprise hit. With Megamind, I went into it expecting another Aliens vs. Monsters experience, with the added "bonus" of Will Ferrell's shrill voice (I'm not a fan of his crazier characters). Fortunately, the film isn't as bad as the trailers made it seem. There are additional layers going on with the plot not immediately apparent (not Inception-layers, but enough that I didn't know what was going to happen right away). Will Ferrell was actually rather enjoyable and his voice worked well for the part (ala Jack Black as Po). The animation was quite good and the 3D elements not over-the-top. My biggest gripe with the film was my dislike for Jonah Hill. Sure, his was also a voice that fit the part, but... there wasn't a single scene his character was in where I could forget who was voicing him. Add to that the lack of truly likeable characters (everyone is, at best, misunderstood) and relatively low level of actual laughs and it definitely fell below some of Dreamwork's best. It was not, however, as bad as the trailers made it appear and a vast improvement on Aliens vs. Monsters. Should You See It: If you're a fan of the cast or thought the trailer had any promise, sure. You will not miss anything (other than the 3D experience) by waiting for it to come to video. Should Kids See This: Sure. The movie is on par with other Dreamwork's animated films in the appropriate-for-kids department.
The Secret of Kells Brief:  Two astronauts awaken in a hyper-sleep chamber aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft. It's pitch black, they are disoriented, and the only sound is... The Secret of Kells follows the story of Brendan, a young boy who must face the evils that lie outside the walls of his home and fortress. Set in medieval Ireland, in an outpost run and built by a domineering abbot and the local monks and illuminators (book writers), Brendan must learn the ways of a famed illuminator, tame the wild and enchanted forest around his home and face off against the dreaded "northmen." My Take: The animation in this film is spectacular and unique and was well worth the watch for that reason alone. While the story itself is relatively meager, the characters, mood and overall themes are quite good as well. The Irish mythology and rather odd dream-like elements do feel a little bit like Alice in Wonderland on acid, but again, everything is so pretty, it doesn't really matter. This is a must see for animation fans, and makes for a quick and enjoyable watch. Should You See It: If you really love animation for animation's sake, find the Irish mythos intriguing, or just want to see something very different, I highly recommend this movie. Again, the story isn't its strong point, but it's unique enough you definitely won't feel you've seen it all before. Should Kids See This: Sure. Though the "north men" and "dark creature" might be a little intense for the young ones, the movie is very much aimed for younger audiences.