When you look at the plot synopsis for Elio, you would find it hard to believe that this is an original story: a lonely boy looking for friendship finds it in an alien. Immediately, your thoughts go to E.T. Yet this is a Pixar movie, and even though the animation may be inspired by several…
Tag: animation
Flow
Recently, we had the fabulous The Wild Robot, which captured a world of beauty and innocence with an animation that was a treat for the eyes and all the senses. Now we have Flow, another animation from Latvia that would make for a perfect companion piece to the Dreamworks feature, for this simple yet incredibly…
Moana 2
Disney’s Moana was the surprise hit that no one saw coming. A delightful and impressive tale set in ancient Polynesia with a strong female lead who wasn’t a princess, taking on an incredible journey with a demi-god. While the film was an enormous cinema success, it found its audience on the streaming service Disney+. We…
Transformers One
Let’s face it: Michael Bay’s live-action versions of the popular toys of the 80s were a mess. Loud, incoherent and most of the time confusing, especially for those who are not familiar with the mythology of the series. The series picked up when he walked away from behind the camera to just producing. Bumblebee was…
The Wild Robot
When Dreamworks entered the animation world with Antz in 1998, they were considered a competitor to Disney. Over the years, they have had various degrees of success with movies like Shrek, How To Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda, but they have never managed to capture the same magic that the mighty animation giants…
Despicable Me 4
Animated franchises are a bit of a hit-or-miss affair. Some, like Toy Story, get it absolutely right, even if they should have stopped at number 3, whereas Ice Age started off well but became overcrowded with far too many characters and lost that original charm. Despicable Me started with a massive boom, a hilarious, inventive…
Inside Out 2
Things haven’t been great for Pixar in recent years. Three of their best films (Soul, Luca, and Turning Red) were sent straight to Disney+ due to the pandemic, while their recent cinema releases, Lightyear and Elemental, failed to ignite that flame they used to have. Now, they have turned to one of their best films,…
Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget
Aardman Animation has always been at the forefront of clay animation, but what puts them at the front of the filmmaking process is their ability to use whimsical humour, something that suits the Britishness of the products. In 2000, they produced Chicken Run, an affectionate pastiche of The Great Escape but with chickens. Twenty-three years…
Wish
It’s Disney’s 100th anniversary. Since 1923, one of the biggest and most successful film companies has produced family-friendly entertainment. And so, this, their centenary year, they wanted to give us something memorable, something exceptional that will go down in the history books alongside Pinocchio, Bambi, The Jungle Book, The Lion King and Frozen. Instead, they…
Elemental
One thing Pixar has been very good at is dealing with issues that young people may face daily in a way they can understand. For example, Soul dealt with death and grief, Turning Red dealt with puberty, and Inside Out dealt with emotions. Their latest film, Elemental, covers several issues. While they can be commended…
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
It’s not often that you leave a cinema almost breathless, having experienced something special, but I have to say Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is very special. This is more than just a cinematic experience. This work of art is more than just an animated action film. This has humour, excitement, heart, and emotion. In fact,…
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
It has been a staple of the video gaming world since Nintendo produced the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. In 1992, a live-action version of the game was made starring Bob Hoskins, and it is still regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. Now, co-produced by Illuminations, the creators of the Minions, The…
Stu Loves Film 