Wow, looking at the Rotten Tomatoes rating for this film, I can only draw two conclusions: Either my taste in whimsical movies is terrible, or whimsy is one of more difficult things to capture on film.
Personally, I enjoyed it quite a bit. While it's far less cerebral and more mainstream than Stranger Than Fiction was, I felt the characters were endearing, and the actors portraying them gave excellent performances.
Especially Hoffman. He's more a Captain Kangaroo/Mr. Rogers type than the trailers suggested...more warm and soothing than wild and wacky.
The production values and design for the store were top notch.
But as I said, it may well be I just have terrible taste in whimsical movies.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
Hey Puffy, I loved this movie!!!!
I thought it would be awful, the previews certainly looked pretty terrible. It looked like a bad knock off of Willy Wonka or Babes in Toyland, but it wasn't!
I know you said no spoilers, so I'll stick to it, but I was incredibly impressed with this film. It was really REALLY funny and sweet and sad to me, but still had enough action to keep my 3-year-old giggling too.
Also, it may have just been me, but the kid in it WOULD have been PERFECT as a cast for Ender. Too late now!
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
I think you both have excellent taste.
I just saw it and loved it, too. Lots of really pretty movie magic. I'm taking my nephews to see it tomorrow.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Every review I've seen so far has thoroughly trashed it. I'll probably end up seeing it this weekend (unless I can convice my wife to see Beowulf instead; it's hard to sell her on a movie that contains Angelina Jolie naked).
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
The reviewers must have no sense of taste. It really was probably the best kids movie I've seen since "Cars". I like Bee Movie as well, but I thought this was of a much higher quality.
I mean, after all, sometimes the worst movies get high reviews. After all, "Titanic" won an Academy Award.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Point taken, especially considering Titanic won ELEVEN Academy Awards...
Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :
You know a lot of nine year old girls thought that was the best movie ever made (and saw it 14 times), right?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
*raises hand*
Although technically I was 12 or 13 at the time.
I do know that before it came out for home viewing I used to go over to my friend's house whose dad was a member of the Academy and watch it there-- after seeing it five times in the theater (with my mom, my friends, by myself...)
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
*Jaw drops*
Ketchupqueen was 12 in 1997, or whatever it was? Sheesh.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
My nephews (4,6&8) loved it and it made my mushy mother cry.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Okay, I guess 13 or 14.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Eric D Snider wrote a positive review, but he seems to be the only one out of reviewers I normally follow.
Edit: Check that, Ebert wrote a positive review as well.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
The characters are extraordinarily likable. There were many charming, half hidden details (plenty to discover on a second viewing) enough humour to provoke giggles, enough sweetness to make my mother cry, and enough really pretty "magic" to drop my nephew's jaws and have more than one of them whisper, "Aunt Kate, look."
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: Every review I've seen so far has thoroughly trashed it. I'll probably end up seeing it this weekend (unless I can convice my wife to see Beowulf instead; it's hard to sell her on a movie that contains Angelina Jolie naked).
But it's CGI Angelina, not the real her... Surely that would sell her...
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
It's out already!? I've been dying to see this for almost a year now!
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I consider myself very lucky to have a wife who shares my appreciation of Angelina Jolie's naked form.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I turned 12 around the time Titanic came out, so KQ was 14 or so. My friends printed scripts of it and read it every day.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I was 13 or 14 when Titanic came out, and I remember finally getting to see it and being entertained mostly by the Propeller Guy. That and having to use the washroom for about 3/4 of the movie.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Puffy, I think you will like this interview. let me know what you think...