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Shaun the Sheep Movie, a review by GSyren

Shaun the Sheep Movie (5-055201-827494)

United Kingdom 2015 | Released 2015-06-01 on DVD from StudioCanal

82 minutes | Aspect ratio Anamorphic 1.85:1 | Audio: English Dolby Digital 2-Channel Stereo, English Dolby Digital 5.1, Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2-Channel Stereo

Directed by Mark Burton, Richard Starzack and starring Justin Fletcher, John B. Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Richard Webber, Kate Harbour

When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.

My thoughts about Shaun the Sheep Movie:

I love clay animation (I won't call it claymation, because for me that means Will Vinton). I especially love Wallace & Gromit, because in my opinion those films combine excellent scripts with outstanding animation into nearly perfect movies. Shaun the Sheep comes from the same studio, Aardman, and is originally a TV show that was a spinoff off Wallace & Gromit. The show is, understandably, not as complex as the W&G movies. It has simple, yet funny, scripts and a bit limited animation. In order to make an enjoyable movie they had to break out of those limitations. So the story is no longer confined to the farm where Shaun & co. live, and the story is more complex with more advanced animation. The moral of the story is simple enough, though - "There's no place like home". I really enjoyed this movie. It doesn't reach the same height as the W&G movies, but it's quite good enough. It has something for kids and adults alike. There are some references that the kids will not understand (I hope), like the cat that does a Hannibal Lecter impression. But that doesn't matter. It's good fun and highly recommended.

I rate this title

(From Reviews and ramblings by Gunnar on September 3rd, 2015)

Under the Roofs of Paris, a review by Danae Cassandra

Under the Roofs of Paris (Sous les toits de Paris)
Year of Release: 1930
Directed By: Rene Clair
Starring: Albert Prejean, Pola Illery, Edmond Greville, Bill Bocket, Gaston Modot
Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical

Overview:Under the Roofs of Paris is an exhilarating celebration of filmmaking and one of France's most beloved cinematic exports.

My Thoughts:
This is an early sound film, so it very much comes off in style as a silent film.  Clair is sparing with his use of sound, but he uses it in interesting ways so as not to give up the freedoms of camera movement.  The filmmaking here is unique and excellent.  Clair's camera and vision make Paris the uncredited co-star here.

Sadly, the story isn't quite as good as Clair's filmmaking, as its a fairly conventional one of a beautiful girl and the men who vie for her attention.  The actors all do a good job, and don't come off quite as hammy as most silent actors.  I enjoyed the film, and it's an important work historically, but I'd only recommend it if you like silent cinema (even though it's a talkie).

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 8th, 2016)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Highlander: The Complete Animated Series (1994/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 960 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:
There can be only one! Seven hundred years after the Great Catastrophe, post-apocalyptic Earth is ruled by the evil Immortal Kortan. But now there has arisen a new champion, a young Immortal who will fulfill the ancient prophecy and bring peace to Earth: His name is Quentin MacLeod and he is the Highlander. The ultimate fight between good and evil begins as Quentin embarks on a perilous quest to regain the knowledge that will allow him to destroy Kortan, save the human race and restore peace to the world. Join the Highlander in his quest for peace in this complete animated series!


Highlander: The Animated Series
1.01 The Last of the MacLeods

This is the first time that I ever saw an episode from this series. Maybe it can be enjoyed by children but I didn't enjoy it. And again we have Ramirez in this one. He died in the first movie but for some reason appeared and the second one again, and dies again. And now he appears again in this series which is set some hundred years in the future.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on October 16th, 2011)