Tag Archives: Animation

Review: Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)

This may well be the cleverest and most subversive film Warner Bros Animation have ever made, and it’s an animated followup to 1960s BATMAN TV show. I’m an Adam West fan and an appreciator of “camp” as an aesthetic for … Continue reading

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Review: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

It becomes clear very quickly that KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS is a thematic title rather than a literal one, pretty much from the very first time you see the said instrument. The writers and animators at Laika know how … Continue reading

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Review: Sausage Party (2016)

Sorry, DEADPOOL, you’re going to have to return your 2016 bad boy award. SAUSAGE PARTY is even filthier, more anarchic and childish, but actually turns out to be about a bit more as well. That’s not a slight on Deadpool, … Continue reading

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Review: Ratchet & Clank (2016)

I’m a big fan of Insomniac Games’ RATCHET & CLANK series. I played through them all on the PS2 and grew very attached to the characters, the high-octane action and the knowing sense of humour throughout. This year the original … Continue reading

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Review: Zootropolis (2016)

ZOOTROPOLIS (which has the much better title of ZOOTOPIA in the States) is not only the best film of 2016 so far but also may well be the most important. It’s the usual pristine, vibrant and peppy animation from the … Continue reading

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Review: Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

This review contains spoilers for the 1988 graphic novel THE KILLING JOKE. By Batman’s underpants, they almost fixed The Killing Joke! The iconic, but overrated and problematic comic by Alan Moore had Barbara Gordon appear, get shot and paralysed then … Continue reading

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Review: Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

More-or-less following on from the iffy SON OF BATMAN, BAD BLOOD is straight in with a well-staged brawl between Batman, Batwoman, and multiple C-Grade villains from the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery. In less sure hands, this would be a messy … Continue reading

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We Need to Talk About Disney

Indulge me if you will to have a bit of a rant. Walt Disney Studios is flying higher perhaps than ever before, owning as it does the box office bulkheads Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. Needless to say Disney’s acquisition of … Continue reading

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Review: Big Hero 6 (2014)

The latest from Disney is a colourful and undemanding superhero romp. Much like the film’s main draw Baymax, BIG HERO 6 is bouncy, endearing and funny, but perhaps doesn’t offer much extra once its fairly limited aims have been satisfied. … Continue reading

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Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 comes agonisingly close to bettering its predecessor. It’s not quite the pitch-perfect intimate adventure the first film was, but there’s still humanity here (not to mention dragonity) as this world of Vikings and flying … Continue reading

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