Change Your Image
BillyGoat3
Reviews
Hoodwinked! (2005)
Story and delivery overcome animation flaws
This is a very fast paced movie that plays to the two levels successful animated films play to: The kids are entertained, but so are the parents. There are zingers that come out of nowhere, some but not all of which are shown on the trailer. Some of those zingers will only catch the attention of the adults in the house, but don't detract from kids' enjoyment. But some will get all generations to laugh, like the "Run!!!" sequence from the trailer. A four second bit.
I was at a screening attended by families in the business, but mostly kids. Hard laughter throughout the movie. As for quality of animation, which was clearly done on the cheap, you don't notice it. The basic story quality is there. I think it is also possible that this film may nab a best song nomination. Some very catchy original tunes, well orchestrated and well sung. All in all, worth the trip to the theater, and worth buying the DVD.
Sequel probable.
Rollerball (2002)
Ugh
The original had something to say, even if sophomoric (with a big point being that in the future, governments will become irrelevant, yielding their purpose to private corporations). But this??
Just rented it. Really bad. Much of it makes no sense whatsoever, in that there is no motivation for, or reason behind, much of what happens during the story. The "owner" who has much, much financial incentive to keep this game going turns unexpicably maniacal in the climactic scene. He didn't get to be who he was by being that nuts, such that he gloats over the killing of the goose (the game) who would otherwise be dropping golden eggs for him. Small things: two people, travelling together from point A to point B. How do they get there? one drives a car, the other a motorcycle. Why did they not go together in one vehicle? So the car can be torched by an angry mob at point B. So they brought the motorcycle to get back to point A, I guess. Other small thing: High Greek Orthodox priest happily arrives in what is WWF type entertainment, and acts pleased to be in owner's box? Why? So he could walk out in disgust as things fall apart, to show us that what the owner staged is a bad thing.
Film assumes audience is very, very dumb.
Just looked at grosses. The original (made 25 years before the remake) outgrossed the remake, with 1975 dollars. I guess the audiences weren't so dumb to attend this bad film.