Lewis Punton Animation: Film Review

The 2016 film Kubo And The Two Strings is a feature length animated piece directed by Travis Knight, an animator from Laika Entertainment who has also worked on films such as The Boxtrolls and ParaNorman. Kubo And The Two Strings tells the story of Kubo, a young boy who sets out an adventure with two companions in order to defeat an evil spirit who has Kubo and his family in their sights. With the help of magical abilities past down from his family, Kubo takes on foes and challenges that out weigh his abilities greatly, making for a consistently interesting tale.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Kubo And The Two Strings

As far as traditions go in the states, companies across the country have always been extremely modern and often pushing to create the next big thing. With names like Disney and Pixar on their roster it is easy to see how this 'boundary pushing' attitude has affected their creations, with the first ever fully 3D animated feature coming from Pixar in the shape of Toy Story there is no doubt that studios have always had an eye on the future, and Kubo is no exception, pushing boundaries in all directions.

In terms of filmmaking, Knight has worked on features that have gone on to meet critical praise and capture the imagination of audiences all over the globe. Knight has previously worked as a lead animator at Laika on films such as The Boxtrolls and ParaNorman, making it clear to see just what Knight brings to a feature, a unique sense of movement and character that gives these films the potential to go out to audiences and deliver memorable moments and creations.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Kubo And The Two Strings

Kubo at its core is essentially a coming of age story, depicting the events that Kubo must go through in order to become a stronger character, whilst facing demons and monsters certainly changes Kubo, its the underlying messages of community and family that help the character become a stronger person. Audiences first meet Kubo as he is washed up on a beach with his mother, instantly making the character vulnerable, something that the film then picks upon and seeks to shape as the film goes on, as Kubo is continuously faced against strong opponents that test the young warrior. This idea of difference and vulnerability are what essentially make up the entire plot, casting characters in lights that highlight their individuality whilst enemies hover over them like vultures.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Kubo And The Two Strings

In the opening scenes alone audiences can instantly see a unique style of animation that effortlessly blends the techniques used in both 3D and stop motion animation. As shots play out in front of audiences that make it hard for them distinguish what is a physical prop and what isn't, the plot mirrors this style of unpredictability and constantly adds to characters personal development, meaning that both the story and the techniques constantly have the full attention of the audience.

As a feature with clear intentions to deliver a message, Kubo And The Two Strings definitely succeeded in showcasing this message, a message that celebrates difference and shows the lengths a strong willed person will go to in order to achieve their goals. With a combination of unique characters, a unique visual style and a story capable of wowing audiences, Kubo is definitely a must see.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Kubo And The Two Strings, http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/684055-his-quest-begins-the-final-kubo-and-the-two-strings-poster-is-here#/slide/1, Accessed on: 09.04.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Kubo And The Two Strings, http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/12/12450744/kubo-and-the-two-strings-movie-review, Accessed on: 09.04.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Kubo And The Two Strings, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/how-kubo-two-strings-merged-stop-motion-animation-3d-printing-a-400-pound-puppet-955406, Accessed on: 09.04.17

Monday, 3 April 2017

Film Review | Ireland | The Secret Of Kells

The 2009 film The Secret Of Kells is directed by Tomm Moore, tells the story of Brendan, a young boy who lives within the confines of his villages walls, a village dictated by his uncle Cellach. The tale follows Brendan as he learns of mystical tales from the visiting Brother Aidan, a man skilled in the art of calligraphy and script writing, and ventures into the surrounding forest in search of materials and items for his new found elder companion, meeting magical company along the way.

Fig 1: Screenshot, The Secret Of Kells

The story is a complete physical embodiment of Ireland as a country and the tales that surround the culture and its religions, an embodiment that is definitely mirrored in the films physical style and celtic aesthetic. This flat, celtic and almost personal style manages to give the film a constant 'Irish' look that keeps the story's roots on display even in times where its origins aren't so apparent. When compared to other films that have emerged from Ireland, The Secret Of Kells has certainly managed to stand out from its piers by using this specific and individual style, giving the film an aesthetic that keeps the audience from forgetting it.

Fig 2: Screenshot, The Secret Of Kells

In terms of other films, director Tomm Moore has seemed to always place this individual style into his projects, with follow up film Song Of The Sea most certainly making use of this technique, again adding a specific tone to the piece that ensures that viewers remember not only the film, but also the director himself.

As the story progress' in The Secret Of Kells, young Brendan continues to carry out dangerous tasks for his new found mentor Aidan despite warnings and discipline from his uncle Cellach, meeting a mystical friend by the name of Aisling as he goes. As Brendan continues to learn more about the magic that exists outside of the confines of his village walls, he simultaneously gathers more information concerning the mysterious book of Kells, a book that supposedly punishes any sinners who look upon any of the pages and is filled with imaginative illuminations that are a wonder to behold. As time progress' and it takes its toll on the elder characters who surround Brendan, the hero of the story takes it upon himself to finish the pages in the wondrous book, and ultimately deliver it to his weakened uncle in order to finish his quest. This tale not only depicts a classic Irish story, educating viewers along the way, but also tells a basic story of adventure and friendship that any audience could appreciate, teaching the value of life experiences and friendship.

Fig 3: Screenshot, The Secret Of Kells

In terms of achieving the supposed goals that the film set out to achieve, it would definitely seem that they were successful, delivering a charming story that illustrates ideas surrounding growing old, friendship and dedication, themes that any audience could appreciate.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, The Secret Of Kells, http://collider.com/trailer-poster-images-and-4-movie-clips-for-surprise-oscar-nominee-the-secret-of-kells/, Accessed on: 30.03.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, The Secret Of Kells, http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-secret-of-kells-2010, Accessed on: 30.03.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, The Secret Of Kells, http://thesecretofkells.wikia.com/wiki/The_Secret_Of_Kells_Wiki, Accessed on: 30.03.17

Sunday, 26 March 2017

Film Review | England | Ethel And Ernest

The 2016 film Ethel And Ernest, directed by Roger Mainwood, depicts the story of the Raymond Briggs novel of the same name, a story that surrounds the themes of love and loss, topics that global audiences can not only relate to but also appreciate. The tale its self is a true telling of Briggs' parents lives, Ethel and Ernest, a couple who lived through a world war and managed to live a mostly happy family focused life, however littered with the trauma's that came along with living through such events.

Fig 1: Film Poster, Ethel And Ernest

As mentioned before, Ethel And Ernest is a British film, not only in its story but also in its style choices. The entire film feels extremely personal, almost handmade, which gives the story a level of charm and relatability that without a doubt added to its potential to connect with an audience. Britain as a region has quite a large catalogue of animation history, with the likes of Aardman in books there is no question that British animation has had an impact on impact on animation worldwide. When compared with the films of fellow British animators Aardman, there are undeniable similarities, the literal handmade stop motion work of the Wallace And Gromit creators mirrors beautifully with the charming aesthetic of Ethel And Ernest, suggesting that within Britain there seems to be a desire to make animation feel personal and to almost make the hard work put into the profession shine through the piece, hiding behind little trickery.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Ethel And Ernest

In terms of previous filmmaking, Mainwood certainly has a recognizable style, with the film The Snowman And The Snowdog to his name there is an obvious aesthetic that runs through his creations, embodying the before mentioned handmade quality that gives the film its tone and personality, something that has really allowed the film to resonate with audiences and bring a tear to the eyes of most viewers.

The story itself follows that of the couple Ethel and Ernest, as they attempt to enjoy a loving marriage and raise a happy family amongst the turmoil that the world war brought upon England. As the pair grow older in their adorable family home, their son, Raymond, grows up and begins to live his own life, and as the wheels of time begin to set in motion the film takes natural but heartbreaking steps that mirror small fractions of anyone's life.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Ethel And Ernest

In terms of quality of film, Ethel And Ernest definitely sits well with most audiences, as difficult areas of life and death are touched upon with a delicate and charming style, resonating themes are to be witnessed throughout its entirety leaving viewers a welcome mix of delight and dread.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Film Poster, Ethel And Ernest, https://viewsfromthesofa.com/2017/01/03/ethel-and-ernest-2016-review/, Accessed on: 26.03.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Ethel And Ernest, http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-28/behind-the-scenes-of-ethel--ernest, Accessed on: 26.03.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Ethel And Ernest, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3907080/Christmas-s-TV-hit-Snowman-author-RAYMOND-BRIGGS-moving-tale-parents-marriage.html, Accessed on: 26.03.17

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Film Review | France | Persepolis

The film Persepolis follows the story of the director, Marjane Satrapi, as she travels from Iran to Europe in what can only be described as a difficult childhood filled with political change, cultural change and personal battles. The initial worldwide release of this film was met with positive reviews, even holding a 96% rating on rotten tomatoes, which is no easy task in this day and age that allows anyone's opinion to be published and taken into account.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Persepolis

Although the film does feature story telling based in Iran, it is at its heart a French animation, with a French cast and large heritage rooted in France. As a country, France does have a fairly large backlog of animated films but this one stands out amongst the rest due to its autobiographical style and almost edgy approach to the art style, often feeling extremely graphical (due to its graphic novel roots) and handmade whilst still maintaining its clean cut finish.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Persepolis

As an artist, Satrapi's work is mostly alive in a more illustrative style, boasting an impressive catalogue of previous books and graphic novels that also feature the same style of drawing that is apparent throughout Persepolis. As this film is autobiographical, Satrapi's art style choices could be seen as a direct reflection of how she feels about the life she has led, often adding trivial moments to the piece, potentially suggesting that the creator has a mature outlook on the events that have taken place in her life.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Persepolis

The film itself details the creators travel from Iran to France as political changes occur in her home country, forcing her to grow up as a rebellious teenager away from home and the comforts of her family, which as you can imagine has had lasting effects on the filmmaker and shaped the person she is today. It seems that what the film is attempting to convey to the audience is this idea of change and personal development even in times of internal stress and external trauma, the notion that good people can still remain good people and develop even in troubled times.

In terms of delivering a message within a narrative and getting a message across to an audience, Satrapi's 2007 film Persepolis most definitely achieves its goals, as viewers are left with a real sense of personal change and character development.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Persepolis, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_(film), Accessed on: 23.03.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Persepolis, https://www.amazon.com/Persepolis-Vincent-Paronnaud/dp/B000YAA68W, Accessed on: 23.03.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Persepolis, http://www.ionmagazine.ca/culture/film/marjane-satrapi-persepolis, Accessed on: 23.03.17

Waltz With Bashir | Israel | Film Review

Waltz With Bashir is a film directed by Ari Folman, who also wrote the piece, depicting the creators memories of events that took place when his country was at war with Lebanon, a war in which he served, making this film autobiographical. The film received a release in 2008 and was met with great reviews and high praise, being potentially the first feature film to emerge from its home country, since its release Waltz With Bashir has remained a well loved film which represents an artist telling of extremely personal and intense events.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Waltz With Bashir

In terms of animation tradition it is fairly difficult to find a film that predates Folman's creation which also shares a similar style, possibly suggesting just why Waltz With Bashir was met with such critical acclaim. Although Folman doesn't necessarily have the largest of filmographies, holding only a few films to his name, it is more than true to say his name will be remembered for this original telling of difficult subjects. As this was essentially the first film of its kind to originate from Israel, it is fair to say that its initial audience were new to this type of film, obviously audiences from this country could have potentially seen animated features from across the globe, the idea of a feature film being born in Israel and depicting issues directly concerned with their country would be completely new to them.

The story itself seems to exist to not only illustrate Folman's memoirs, but to also educate audiences across the globe potentially, depicting events that some parts of world and age brackets may not be familiar with. The story follows events that occurred when Israel were fighting with Lebanon, specifically massacres that Folman was exposed to. As Folman struggles to regain his memories of such events, the audience is taken on his personal journey through these episodes of time and how the creator managed to survive.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Waltz With Bashir

In terms of style, Waltz With Bashir boasts a graphically designed style similar to that seen in many graphic novels that would be recognizable to audiences all over the world. Because of this choice of style, some story telling featured in this piece come off as slightly tongue in cheek, almost sarcastic, making the events appear as extremely real, showing that Folman had no interest in showing a romanticized version of the events he witnessed, possibly being the reason that the film was met with such praise.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Waltz With Bashir

Whether or not Waltz With Bashir is viewed as realistic and educational piece or as an artist memoir with, the film will without a doubt deliver in one way or another, depicting real events in a style that enforces the ideal of realism due to its relativity, a style that definitely paid off in Folman's case.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Waltz With Bashir, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltz_with_Bashir, Accessed on: 23.01.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Waltz With Bashir, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL_2tc7uXco, Accessed on: 23.03.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Waltz With Bashir, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvh4asRIiz0, Accessed on: 23.03.17

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Sita Sings The Blues | India | Film Review

Sita Sings The Blues is an animated feature that received a global release in 2008, amongst copyright issues and other licensing problems the film had its fair share of drama whilst initially being delivered to audiences across the world. The film is written and directed by Nina Paley, a creative who has worked in the majority of areas that are present in the film making pipeline, and tells the ancient story that derives from the Ramayana, a tale that is extremely well known across India.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Sita Sings The Blues

India as a filmmaking country obviously has large ties to the Bollywood industry, an area of film that tends to have its own tropes and traditions when it comes to telling stories. Bollywood as film movement is extremely focused on depicting events and tales through the medium of dance and big performances, something that Sita Sings The Blues certainly also holds close to its core values, meaning that many events throughout the film are first described and then performed in a more dramatic manner via the characters of the story.

As a creative mind, Nina Paley has worked in a number of different areas of film and other methods of storytelling, not only writing and directing Sita Sings The Blues but also animating the entire production herself, an accolade that not many other filmmakers can boast. It seems that the fact that this film is an almost independently run production has had an effect on its visual style

also, as the film itself flips through a number of different animation styles, possibly due to the fact that Paley was conscious of producing an outcome that was solely formed in one persons mind, resulting in a film that attempts to please a number of different audiences in fear of being too self indulgent.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Sita Sings The Blues

The story itself revolves around Sita and her prince husband Rama, as he is exiled from his royal home and forced into the wilderness with his partner. After a short time living together amongst nature, Sita is captured and held hostage, meaning that Rama must become a hero and rescue his dearest. After the rescue of Sita, Rama soon begins to have doubts as his wife has fallen pregnant and he is unsure of the heritage of the child, after his doubt grows too strong he banishes his pregnant wife to the forest whilst expecting a child. After Sita has given birth to her children Rama discovers his children in the forest with their mother, however Sita demands another trial and the personification of mother nature takes her soul, leaving Rama wishing he hadn't been so cruel. It seems that the entire film actually exists to educate an audience, as not many viewers outside of India may be aware of the ancient tale, something that not many films take into account during production, possibly becoming a factor in the films almighty positive reception.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Sita Sings The Blues

The film is noticeably of Indian heritage and prides itself on it, the colours are extremely bold throughout the entire tale and the designs resemble a style and distinct aesthetic that audiences will instantly connect to its Indian background. Something that also helps make this film what it is resides inside the narration that runs through the entire story, as Indian voice actors discuss the different adaptations and versions of the story that they're explaining, giving the film an element of humor and familiarity that has helped audiences appreciate that remotely foreign story.

What Paley has managed to create in this solo voyage is something that audiences not only understand, but hold a dear level of appreciation for, a story that viewers all over the world can invest in and enjoy despite the fact that it could of concluded in an extremely foreign pulse. Sita Sings The Blues is an extremely charming tale told through a number of different animation techniques and styles, resulting in a film that can be adored for years to come, whilst simultaneously educating a variety of audiences.

Illustration

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Sita Sings The Blues, https://www.amazon.com/Sita-Sings-Blues-Annette-Hanshaw/dp/B002G50002, Accessed on: 14.02.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Sita Sings The Blues, http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/watch.html, Accessed on: 14.02.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Sita Sings The Blues, http://www.shadowdistribution.com/sita-sings-the-blues/, Accessed on: 14.02.17

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Spirited Away (2001) | Japan | Film Review

Studio Ghibli's 2001 animated goliath Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is widely credited as one of the first eastern animations to really take the western world by storm, captivating the hearts of foreign audiences with a charm and story that viewers adored and have lovingly kept relevant to this day. Countless characters and iconography have stood a serious test of time and remain in the mainstream even now, with characters such as the popular no face retaining iconic status sixteen years on.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Spirited Away

The story follows that of Chihiro Ogino, a young girl who moves to a new area with her parents only to stumble across what seems to be an old abandoned theme park. As the long trip to the new area has taken its toll on the moving family they decide to venture into the forgotten area and stop for what seems to be free food, only for Chihiro to discover that the innocent family have in fact wandered into a land inhabited by spirits. As Chihiro's parents are punished by the spirit world for their greed, she finds herself trapped in this dangerous new land fighting for her parents freedom, meaning that she must make friends and enemies of all kinds to grow as a character and free her family.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Spirited Away

At its core, Spirited Away a film that focusses on growing up or rather developing as a person, with multiple themes centered on aspects of change or growth, both within the cast of characters and the environment. The film magnificently juggles a number of different social issues with a good hearted and gripping story line, managing to maintain its grounded core whilst the plot travels in a number of different directions. The entire plot of Spirited Away somehow manages to feel reserved and quite contained, possibly because of the way its setting physically contains its cast, whilst simultaneously feeling elaborate and complex. Because of this the film at times doesn't feel like a feature length animation (despite its 125 minute run time)but rather a soap opera or reality tv show, containing elements of the plot within a physical building has given the film a sense of inclusion that forces the viewer to rather look in and observe the events that change Chihiro instead of a linear plot that revolves around a journey.

An aspect of Miyazaki's animated masterpiece that never goes unmentioned is the almost silent masked character No Face, a spirit that literally drifts through the plot absorbing the emotional energy around him and learning the traits of the environment he is in. Throughout the entirety of Spirited Away No Face seems to be the physical embodiment of the idea of youth, a young spirit roaming the land taking in the traits and energy of those around him, some positive traits and some negative traits. This idea of a wandering youth further lends itself to strengthen the idea of the bathhouse seeming like more of a reality tv show setting rather than a filmic environment, almost shifting into a playground type set with the different spirits and characters existing within the house learning to adapt and deal with each others differences. No mask also posses' the ability to create gold from thin air, a currency that is extremely valuable within the spirit world, almost making him seem even more like a youthful character who is simply seeking a friend, mimicking the traits of those around him whilst trying to supply them items that could win their affection.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Spirited Away

This idea of greed is a theme that runs throughout every moment of Spirited Away, from the very first act which sees Chihiro's parents taken captive due to their own greed right through to the bigger scenes which see No Face destroying the bathhouse due to the greed of the employees that work within it. This is potentially a piece of commentary focusses at audiences within its homeland of Japan, possibly commenting on the state of financial market at the time of its release, another aspect of this film that causes it to be remembered so fondly, Miyazaki seems to be able to craft cinema that not only captures the hearts and imaginations of its audience but also carries a strong message that viewers need to take away with them.

Studio Ghibli's 2001 animated hit Spirited Away has certainly managed to retain a certain sense of timelessness that not many other features can boast, ensuring that its sense of origin was never lost whilst still capturing the attention of foreign audiences. From its roots that shine through its scenes all the way to the issues that it intends to tackle or at least comment on, Miyazaki has ensured that audiences wont be forgetting No Face anytime soon.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Spirited Away, http://www.impawards.com/2002/spirited_away.html, Accessed on: 26.01.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Spirited Away, http://metrograph.com/film/film/138/spirited-away, Accessed on: 26.01.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Spirited Away, https://moviepilot.com/posts/2297900, Accessed on: 26.01.17

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Mary And Max (2010) | Australia | Film Review

Mary And Max is an Australian stop motion animation directed by Adam Elliot, released in the year of 2009. Elliot had previously directed shorts such as Uncle 1996), Cousin (1999) and Brother (2000) earlier in his long running career and gifted audiences with Mary And Max after he had built up a sizeable reputation as a director who knew how to work within the animation world.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Mary And Max

Mary And Max tells the story of Mary Daisy Dinkle, voiced by Toni Collette, an eight year old girl living a rather depressing life within a small area of Australia, depicting an adaptation of true events that took place within the real world. After giving audiences an insight into the home life of Mary Dinkle, the viewer is introduced to a number of the individuals that make up Mary's existence, including a repulsive mother and a cast of characters that bring a darker tone to the story, one of those characters being a father who practices taxidermy in the back garden shed. After a chance address book leads Mary to Max, a forty four year old man living alone in New York voiced by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the pair strike up a friendship via writing to each other and the remainder of the film tells not only the story of their friendship but intricate details of their individual lives.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Mary And Max

From the very offset Mary And Max feels extremely grounded to its Australian roots, not only in its environment design but from everything from its humor to casting choices. The physical design of the set and props within the film feel extremely Australian, they riff off of a dusty 'outback' vibe that is without a doubt associated with that area of the world and allow it to define the tone of Mary's world. This dusty filter that seems to cover a lot of the Australian side of the film is almost given free reign across Mary's side of story and is dialed back dramatically to a more noir influenced look when the narration is focused on Max's story, not only giving Max's narration a much darker tone but literally defining the time difference using black and white and subtle tones, highlighting the idea that Australia can often feel like a far away land due to the time change, adding to the idea that Mary has trouble connecting with people as her personality is potentially mirrored in the time change.

As for the humor that runs through the course of the film, it definitely feels Australian in that it focusses on a more dry style of comedy that at times relies on a level of shock value, again potentially creating a gap that intentionally separates a foreign audience from the cast, creating a detached tone that gives Mary an added feeling of isolation, this style of comedy is also mirrored in parts of Max's story. This fashion of humor lends itself so well to this particular film as at times it is clearly focusing on delivering a strong sense of seclusion and a bold idea of difference, something that is mirrored ten fold in the comedy, altogether leading to an extremely successful production that was met with critical acclaim.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Mary And Max

Mary And Max has used its origins roots to an extremely successful level within a number of elements of its core, using a tone that is relevant to its values and homeland to create a sense of difference and seclusion and a dry style of comedy that focusses on shocks to form a state of isolation from its audience, whilst still keeping the story at an extremely personal level so that the audience remains connected to the characters at all times, meaning that the film has sense of character throughout and maintains a message that is mirrored in its artistic choices.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie poster, Mary And Max, http://www.impawards.com/2009/mary_and_max.html, Accessed on: 24.01.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Mary And Max, http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0978762/mediaviewer/rm3857157632, Accessed on: 24.01.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Mary And Max, http://www.aceshowbiz.com/still/00005171/mary_and_max17.html, Accessed on: 24.01.17

Friday, 13 January 2017

Ace Ventura - Pet Detective | Comedy Film Review

The 1994 film Ace Ventura - Pet detective is widely renowned as being a got to comedy when an audience is in need of guaranteed laughter, Jim Carrey gives one of his most memorable performances as the lead character Ace and the film delivers a laugh a minute whilst being well thought out and interesting. Pet Detective is directed as Tom Shadyac and stars Jim Carrey and Courteney Cox, two actors who were well in their comedic prime during the 90's due to the likes of Dumb and Dumber and Friends being on their respective resumes.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Ace Ventura

The film follows the story of Ace, a detective who focusses on animal related crimes, meaning that his apartment is littered with exotic animals and caters for their every need. Cox plays the character of Melissa Robinson, a publicist for the American football team the Miami Dolphins, Robinson enlists the help of the trusty nature detective when the teams dolphin mascot snowflake is kidnapped, obviously leading to hilarious consequences as Ace now has to track down the missing bottle nose.

Pet Detective is widely focused on slapstick humor, it relies on numerous occasions on Carrey's sheer physicality to further the plot of the film and deliver some of the biggest laughs the film receives throughout. There a countless times when the film potentially begins to drag or the pace is slowed a little to much, only to be storming back to life by the physical comedy that audiences have no doubt grown to adore Carrey for, the same physicality that saw viewers fall in love with films such as Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty.

Fig 2: Screenshot, Ace Ventura

One of the strongest and potentially most memorable scenes of Pet Detective is in fact the opening scene, which sees Carrey in disguise delivering a parcel to an apartment. At this point the audience has little to no information regarding character set up, plot or backstory, and so relies completely on Carrey's ability to make any scene interesting, which he obviously achieves. The scene sees Ace walking down the road with a parcel in hand, a parcel which he then begins to throw across the street, jump on and generally destroy, leading to Carrey giving one of the most underrated scenes of his career, as not many actors could make an entire audience laugh uncontrollably with no set up or character development.

Another incredible scene that has gone on to be a staple of Carrey's career would definitely be the scene which takes place in the residential care home as the audience see's Ace impersonating a potential resident, acting out as someone who could live at the home. Again, Carrey delivers an amazingly physical performance that sticks with audiences for years to come. The scene itself bares witness to a now famous Carrey trait, the rewind, a scene that sees Ace perform an act and then reverse the steps he has just taken to replay the event that just happened in slow motion, something that has cropped up in other Carrey film since. This display of physical comedy is what fans have loved about the Ace Ventura films for years since, as Carrey delivers an incredibly memorable performance that transcends the likes of slapstick humor.

Fig 3: Screenshot, Ace Ventura

Not only is Ace Ventura - Pet Detective an incredibly funny film by its own rights, it can also boast the achievement of having one of the funniest leading men in film at its helm also, something that adds an entirely new aspect to the film as audiences can support a character played by an actor that has already won their hearts. In Pet Detective, Carrey gives one of his most iconic performances to date, delivering a blend of humor that exceeds the limits of slapstick and situational comedy.

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, Ace Ventura, https://uk.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-21786/Ace_Ventura_Pet_Detective.html, Accessed on: 13.01.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, Ace Ventura, http://screencrush.com/ace-ventura-then-and-now/, Accessed on: 13.01.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, Ace Ventura, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109040/mediaviewer/rm3617556224, Accessed on: 13.01.17

The Hunger Games | Adaptation Film Review

The Hunger Games is a 2012 film based on the 2008 young adult novel by the same name written by Suzanne Collins. The film was directed by Gary Ross and stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, two stars who have since gone on the appear in the rest of the series and have extremely successful careers. The film was met with widely positive critical opinion and has gone on to produce 3 sequels, splitting the final book into two films, potentially as the story was to detailed for one film as well as for some commercial benefit.

Fig 1: Movie Poster, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games follows the life of a Katniss Everdeen, a young adult who lives in the poorest district of the 12 that remain, each year the wealthy state known as the capital holds an event known as the hunger games, an event which sees two young residents from each state enter an arena and fight to the death, leaving only one victor. The idea of the hunger games existing as an event in this fictional world is to remind the citizens of the 12 districts of the extreme power of the capital.

As an adapted piece of material, The Hunger Games is widely successful, it keeps the majority of the story and characters fairly identical to that of the book and events occur in almost the same chronological order, meaning that a fan could follow the books as well as the films and not only maintain chronological sense but also follow the same events that result in the same outcome.

Fig 1: Screenshot, The Hunger Games

There are almost no differences between the book and filmic versions of The Hunger Games, an achievement that not many adaptations can boast they have accomplished, as often times in pieces of material that have adapted from novels or literature in films, different aspects need to be altered in order to suit the needs of cinema.

Now obviously there are slight differences in the descriptions of characters from the books and their physical appearance on screen as somethings are simply unachievable, also within film there will always be a priority for some actors to play certain roles in a directors vision, meaning that small compromises have to made in order for goals to be met and a cohesive film to be created.

Fig 3: Screenshot, The Hunger Games

One of the most notable changes that the director made when translating the book to a successful film was the addition of Wes Bentley's character Senenca Crane, a character who works within the control room of the hunger games arena, a character that didn't get much attention within the book. Jean Bentley states that "Since the book is told from Katniss’ point of view, we never entered Crane’s world outside of his interactions with the female District 12 tribute" (Bentley, 2012), a problem that often occurs when books are told from the perspective of the lead character.

As a whole, Gary Ross' filmic translation of the successful young adult novel The Hunger Games is extremely close to the details and events that are featured in the book with the addition of a few small characters that otherwise would never of been highlighted due to the nature of the narration of the book. Even with the addition of these small characters, Ross's adaptation of The Hunger Games is true to the novel and has gone on to spawn 3 successful sequels that have only grown in popularity.

Bibliography

Bentley, Jean, 'Hunger Games': The best book-to-movie changes (Seneca Crane, anyone?), http://screenertv.com/news-features/hunger-games-the-best-book-to-movie-changes-seneca-crane-anyone/, Accessed on: 13.01.17

Illustration List

Fig 1: Movie Poster, The Hunger Games, http://bookriot.com/2015/11/28/look-back-hunger-games-movie-posters/, Accessed on: 13.01.17

Fig 2: Screenshot, The Hunger Games, https://www.accesshollywood.com/galleries/scenes-from-the-hunger-games-3262/, Accessed on: 13.01.17

Fig 3: Screenshot, The Hunger Games, http://screenrant.com/the-hunger-games-trailer-teaser/, Accessed on: 13.01.17