The movie Rango is quite good, despite the fact that it is entirely peopled (with the exceptions of Rango himself) of very standard, cliche, but quintessential characters: the Wild West gunslinger, the fat banker, the old mayor, the Native American Tracker and the South-west shaman, Mexican mariachis, the damsel in distress. Hillbillies (with a blind pa). Clint Eastwood, for a second there. This all may be an intentional metaphor. The main character is an actor, and therefore endowed with the miraculous ability to do anything. He is also a director. Filling the story with obvious celebrity worship only heightened by plastering Johnny Depp's name across the top of every poster.
But in this movie, the Depp worship it is somewhat appropriate. In the beginning, I thought of this movie as something of a filmography for Johnny Depp. It seems to reference a few of his characters from the past. It moves out of that, quickly. It becomes a little more about story and it does story better than most films.
First of all, the movie succeeds in character development. Instead of instantly changing character 60-70% of the way thorough, everyone slowly evolves. Details are important. Attention to detail is handled very well.
Visually as well. The style is unique. The animals aren't caustically cute, they are rugged, ripped and gritty. They are all pretty hideous and the effect is a very pretty movie. The cinematographers prove them selves to be pretty well traveled, including little details such as blooming flowers and sand-slides on dunes. Either that or they come from the desert.
It is a movie that is worth it. It may not be the best computer animated film of all time or anything, but it stands out.
But in this movie, the Depp worship it is somewhat appropriate. In the beginning, I thought of this movie as something of a filmography for Johnny Depp. It seems to reference a few of his characters from the past. It moves out of that, quickly. It becomes a little more about story and it does story better than most films.
First of all, the movie succeeds in character development. Instead of instantly changing character 60-70% of the way thorough, everyone slowly evolves. Details are important. Attention to detail is handled very well.
Visually as well. The style is unique. The animals aren't caustically cute, they are rugged, ripped and gritty. They are all pretty hideous and the effect is a very pretty movie. The cinematographers prove them selves to be pretty well traveled, including little details such as blooming flowers and sand-slides on dunes. Either that or they come from the desert.
It is a movie that is worth it. It may not be the best computer animated film of all time or anything, but it stands out.
Rango is one of the most eccentric animated films you'll ever have the pleasure of sitting through. Its homage to westerns combined with its explosive action sequences, an endless amount of hilarity, tender and sentimental moments that actually make you feel sorry for a talking lizard, and even a little bit of romance pretty much has all your bases covered as far as genres are concerned. Rango is a dark, witty, and entertaining ride that's also fairly mature for an animated film. All in all, Rango is easily the best movie of 2011 so far.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteYou really like it.
It was a good movie. Perhaps one of the best of 2011, I cannot be sure. I enjoyed it, though.