Name: Katya Chu
Category: 7-11
School/College: Bute House Prepatory School.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Made possible by the efforts of director Wes Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox is the animation adaptation of Roald Dahl's book and with the voices of George Clooney (Mr. Fox) and Meryl Streep (Mrs Fox) it is the ultimate interpretation.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is all about the life of animals as we don't know it. When the Fox family move into an old oak near three farms, trouble starts brewing. Slipping into his old ways once more, Mr. Fox leads some daring exploits to steal from the farms. But even when it all goes to plan there is danger. The farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean stop at nothing to get their revenge. When the victims of their plot become refugees underground it is only when all work together and become their wild selves - not animals that wear clothes or have jobs - that they outsmart the 'bad guys' and Mr. Fox can rescue his nephew.

I particularly enjoyed this movie as it was so different to many other films. The title and the characters seem childish yet it was excellent for me as a ten-year-old. The music too was very inspiring - guitars and soft lilting tunes relate to the setting of the countryside. There is also the way in which the characters change through the film: Mr. Fox's grumpy son Ash becomes more peaceful and calm while his father learns to take things more slowly.

However, sometimes the camera seems to be at strange angles and it takes a few seconds to work out where you're looking. The film is also a little slow-paced. Yet all those little doubts count for nothing when the film stares you right in the face. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of the most exceptional and thrilling films and I will certainly watch it again.

 

Judge's comments:

"Some excellent observations – about, for instance, the fine use of music and the less-fine visual style/pacing - lifted this review well above the ordinary"

Name: Lizzie Daniels
Category: 11-14
School/College: Prior Park College.

Le Quattro Volte

In the tranquil Calabrian village of Caulonia, an elderly goatherd (Guiseppe Fuda) draws close to his death, clinging to life through his faith in a potion of dust swept from the church floor. During his last hours, his faithful goats enter his house and keep vigil over him until he dies. Shortly afterwards, a kid is born, only to soon wander from the herd and die beneath a magnificent fir tree, which stands tall through the winter until it is felled in the spring and eventually burned for charcoal, the trade upon which Caulonia depends.

Michelangelo Frammartino's second feature film, Le Quattro Volte has won acclaim in several festivals, including Cannes; a remarkable feat for a film whose cast consists of three accredited actors, extras, and a large herd of goats.

Gentle in atmosphere, exquisitely filmed shots vividly and naturalistically capture daily village life, while the skilfully composed soundtrack of natural noise, most memorably the regular, heartbeat-like thud of spades on charcoal pyres, accompanies the rich visual feast. The absence of dialogue focuses attention on this stunning detail, deliberately loosening the directorial hold on the narrative, and allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions, which makes viewing this film a refreshing, liberating and captivating experience.

Beautiful and deeply moving, this film leaves you with a distinctive, lingering taste of Caulonia. Pure, almost primal unsentimentality puts human life into true perspective. By understatement, this film makes a huge statement about life, death and rebirth.

 

Judge's comments:

"Kudos for, first, picking a ‘difficult’ film and then compiling such a mature and readable assessment"

Name: James Kyne
Category: 15-19
School/College: Wilson's School

Johnny English Reborn

It's a shame isn't it? Rowan Atkinson, one of the great comedy actors of his time now seems to be stuck with this Mr. Bean identity, a bumbling fool who thrives on his blunders and slapstick comedy. Would many people not simply prefer a return to the Blackadder wit and intelligence?

At least Johnny English is not just Bean, right? Wrong. UnfOliunately for Atkinson he even seems to have confused himself as to whether he is now Bean or Bond, slapstick or suave, farcical or focused. For a film such as Johnny English: Reborn would a comical plot not be funnier? Rather than still trying to desperately retain some ofthe 'cool' that made the original such a smash hit.

It is clear that it needs to be one or the other because the absurdity of Bean simply does not fit Bond at all, the original managed to blend the two perfectly but as it seems with an increasing number of films in recent times; this is just another sequel that can't live up to the original.

Although they may not fit, humour is humour and I can't deny that this film does manage to survive on its comical set-pieces. With a film such as this the overall aim is to induce side-splitting laughter in order to frantically cover up the other major downfalls.

Do not fear, in seeing this film I can assure you that you will be spared your sides.

A small chuckle is as far as it went. I promise.

 

Judge's comments:

"A well judged review that is maturely expressed and eminently readable."

Name: Caleb Pollitt
Category: 4-7
School/College: St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School

Rango