Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

Well, what can I say about this movie that will shock you? Not much really you will be shocked enough when you see the movie.

The studios way of thinking …

One way of looking at the movie is that it is a cute fun loving account of some very funny (and furry) chipmunks that make it big in the music industry causing much hilarity along the way.

My way of thinking …

<rant mode on>

Another way of looking at it is that it shows how the commercialization of Christmas leads to habitat destruction (Christmas trees) causing rodents (the Chipmunks) to find refuge in human surroundings. It also shows how the music industry exploits their stars and in this case leads to child labor (the Chipmunks are kids). It also shows how children are fed with media to get them to want more material things rather than the simple things in life.

<rant mode off>

Cute to the extreme …

Apart from that the movie was fine, standard fare for this type of movie, you know that everything will be alright in the end it’s just what happens in between that makes it entertaining (or boring). The animation of the characters is very good indeed, we come to expect a lot more from the animation studios these days and this one does not disappoint. The only thing that I can think of that was a problem (till about a third into the movie) was that the chipmunks all looked the same, it wasn’t until Simon got glasses and Alvin got a shirt with a big A on the front did I get to know one from the other.

The good guy is just OK …

The main human character is played by Jason Lee of My Name is Earl fame, he plays a musician who is down on his luck until he finds the guys. He is a pathetic shell of a man who is pushed around by the excellent David Cross who plays the hard nosed (and a bit creepy) music executive. He also has an (ex) love interest Cameron Richardson who thinks he is mad when he says that he is being haunted by talking chipmunks. She changes her tune very quickly to accept them when she gets the contract to take photos of the little stars, and she thought that Jason Lee was weird.

I liked the bad guy …

I first came saw David Cross in Small Soldiers where he played a kind hearted geek but he is much better in this movie. Evil to Jason Lee from the outset which is just the beginning, he then proceeds to take advantage of the chipmunks by working them to exhaustion. One of the funniest scenes in the movie was the chipmunks being given coffee during a recording session and they start (literally) bouncing off the walls, seeing one of them slide down the window in a caffeine induced stupor is classic.

The music (if that is what you call it) …

This is where the younger kids will enjoy the movie but the adults will just squirm. Bad is an understatement to the extreme, how these tracks make money is a mystery to me. You have no idea what they are singing about and the high pitch is just painful.

Bottom Line …

Not a waste of an hour and a half but having a few drinks before seeing the movie would make the experience a lot better (and if you pass out it will be even better).

Ratings
Overall rating:	5/10
Special effects:	5/10
Acting:	3/10
Music:	2/10
Where seen:	Movie Theater and DVD at home
Perceived length:	Medium

//*Eggbox

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)

I saw this movie again this week at home and enjoyed it as much as I did when I saw it at the movie theater with my son. The basic plot is that a lonely boy finds an egg on a Scottish Loch (now what could the name of Loch be ….. hmmmmmm …. Ness), it hatches and hilarity ensues as the young Nessie (named Crusoe for some reason) reeks havoc on the household.

Maybe he was called Crusoe because like the character in the novel he is also stranded in a strange place.

Set during the second world war the arrival of an army unit adds to the mix, it just so happens that these soldiers are preparing for a submarine attack by the enemy and they setup a net across the Loch and a couple of large guns. It is obvious that these elements will play a large part in the story.

Do I look like I’m bothered, well I am …

The major thing that bothered me about the plot is that Loch Ness does not have access to the sea in any way so how a German submarine could get into the Loch is a mystery to me; they would have to be some very clever subs. That aside, the plot device is there to add tension and a great final reel.

The good old day, buzz bombs, rickets …

One of the other things I found interesting was the recreation of 1940’s Scotland, they did a good job with the sets, costumes and hardware (military and civil) and captured the essence of the time using period music. The supporting cast added a lot to the movie, the mother (Emily Watson), sister (Priyanka Xi) and the handyman (Ben Chaplin) all helped in getting you into the story in a way that was not forced or sugar coated.

The main character could be the young boy (Alex Etel) or the computer generated Water Horse (make up your own minds). Alex Etel was perfectly cast, he looks like he was ill through the whole movie (Scots do look like they are near to death most of the time due to their lack of access to sunlight and nutritional food), the boy should get a medal for being such a good method actor.

You sick Nasty …

There are a couple of nasty characters that are there to drive the plot forward, Churchill (the army cooks dog) goes from being the aggressor to being put in his place, Joel Tobec plays the evil private (they lit him from below and he gives a stare that would leave you having to change you underwear), excellent. David Morrissey plays the Captain and he is tough enough and also caring enough so that you don’t hate him at the end of the movie; although you want to kick his butt during the mid section because his is such a pompous twit.

I liked Ben Chaplin in this movie, he plays the handyman (war hero) who has a healthy disrespect for the captain. He helps the main characters throughout the film by keeping the Water Horse under wraps from the mum. Ben is an underestimated actor, he has been around the block a while now and has never really made it big.

The bottom line …

Anyway, the bottom line is that Crusoe gets away and everyone is happy, there are a couple of twists at the end of the movie, not too big but both will put a smile on your face.

Highly recommended where you just want to feel good and get transported to a fantasy world, even if it’s set in Scotland!

Ratings
Overall rating:	8/10
Special effects:	8/10
Acting:	7/10
Music:	7/10
Where seen:	Movie Theater and DVD at home
Perceived length:	Medium

//*Eggbox