Of Mice and Cavemen and Trolls and Unicorns and Other Animated Musings...

Very soon I will be settling into a seat at my nearest theatre to see Aardman Animations' latest film Early Man. No matter how old I get, I believe I will always be drawn to animated movies. Like most of us, I am sure this can be chalked up to Disney's extensive, well made and popular body of work. No one can really deny that they set a standard in storytelling and design that is unmistakable. Also their work in Pixar has certainly bumped them up to another level. 

However if you look past the dominating filmographies of Disney and Dreamworks (who are next in line), you can find some very precious gems. I could never make an exhaustive list of other animated companies and films out there, but when I think about some of the great animated movies out there, several enthralling options come immediately to mind. 

For me there's the eerie and riveting The Secret of NIMH by Sullivan Bluth Studios which has given so many children nightmares. I think anyone who has seen that movie remembers some scene with a mixture of awe and unease.  The same goes for evocative and wistful Watership Down film. One of the most riveting story of rabbits you will ever find. 

There's also the ambitious and haunting works of Rankin/Bass. Their animated Lord of the Rings is not perfect and it's understandably eclipsed by the more recent live action version, but there are still scenes that spring to my mind years later and haunting songs that ring in my memory. Their The Last Unicorn is magical and strikes deep at your heart, a worthy adaptation of the book.  Surely no one who's seen it can forget seeing the Red Bull running in the wake of all the unicorns in the world. 

Aardman Animations rivals Disney in their creativity and consistent quality. Their stop motion claymation work is already hilarious to look at (just think of those signature prominent teeth in everyone from people to chickens!), but they don't even consider getting by on those skills alone. They're committed to producing original stories full of wit, physical comedy and charm. Their first feature film Chicken Run is perfect in my mind, rivaling many live action adventure movies in heart, cleverness and suspense. Of course, I've already chattered at length about how much I like their Shaun the Sheep Movie.

There are also the spectacular movies of Laika studio. Every one of their feature films have been nominated for Academy awards, and I think they are well deserved. There's the chilling adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Coraline and the mixture of supernatural horror and childhood pain of Paranorman. There's the mischievous and charming fun of The Boxtrolls as well as the beautiful breathtaking adventure of Kubo and the Two Strings. (I waxed poetic on the latter on The Silver Petticoat Review in  "Follow the Breathtaking Journey of Kubo and the Two Strings")

There are of course so many other options out there. My limited knowledge of the unlimited world of animated movies is not sufficient to cover the wonders available, but I find that taking a step or two away from the mainstream can yield so many treasures. I haven't touched on anime for instance or many of the foreign film options which fly under my radar. There are many creative people out there experimenting and pushing the limits of what's been done before.  People who are delightfully heedless of the idea that animation is "just for kids". 

I hope to always keep an open mind about animation when I can, and I'm ready and available for the discovery of new wonders.

What's your favourite animated film that you think deserves to be more well known? Let me know so I can add them to my never ending "To Watch" list. 

Get to Know this Classic Hero: The Scarlet Pimpernel

Every book lover has experienced pure joyful discovery. This is not only the moment you discover a good book, but the slow dawning realization that you've found a really great book. A great book that will stay with you for years to come. This sensation actually doesn't occur very often, so it is an experience to be treasured.

One of my favourite Pimpernel book covers. 

I don't recall the exact moment I picked up Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel from our school library, but I still remember the sensations of utter delight I felt while reading it. To say the least, I was captivated by Orczy's suspenseful adventure of the mysterious hero rescuing people from the guillotine during the French Revolution. I couldn't understand how I had apparently never heard of this engrossing, unforgettable and dashing hero before. I am still surprised that more people don't love the adventures of this enigmatic man who well preceded Batman as a modern day hero in disguise.

Fortunately enough people loved the character so Orczy's stage play about him was turned into a novel. Her style might seem a bit too dramatic for some, but she handles her characters masterfully and builds wonderful suspense. Her ability to incorporate twists and surprises is spectacular. Just what you need in a beguiling adventure. 

I am so glad the love of the character ensured that there were many more books. The sequels I've read so far have not been as good as the first one, but they are worth it for more adventure and further scenes of the character. 

Anthony Andrews in Pimpernel mode. 

My fascination with the book led me to explore it in my enthusiastic review "Seek Out the Scarlet Pimpernel for Unforgettable Romance and Adventure" on The Silver Petticoat Review.

The character's popularity has also prompted filmmakers to put the Pimpernel in tv series, films and radio plays. (I recently finished listening to an excellent adaptation starring James Purefoy.) 

If you read the book, you should definitely have a look at the tv series starring Anthony Andrews. My review " 'They seek him here, they seek him there' - Find the Best Scarlet Pimpernel Right Here!" details some of the great delights in this one. You should also seek out the film version starring Leslie Howard as I believe I prove in "Experience the Allure of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)" It is not often a book you love has not one but two excellent adaptations. It's very difficult to choose between the two productions mostly because the lead actors inhabit the character so well. But this is a wonderful dilemma to have. 

If you're looking for a new hero to root for, new adventure and a story that truly engrosses you. No need to seek further. 

Leslie Howard plays the Pimpernel with style.

“They seek him here, they seek him there

Those Frenchies seek him everywhere

Is he in heaven or is he in hell?

That demned elusive Pimpernel”

Northanger Abbey 1986 - My Not-Guilty Pleasure

You might like Northanger Abbey more than you think!

Recently I was engaging in an online discussion about our favourite guilty pleasures. For me the term guilty pleasure can be rather problematic. I'm not the sort who buys in to the "it's so bad it's good" type of entertainment. I'm allergic to cheese. Things that are unintentionally funny can give me secondhand embarrassment. I don't watch horror movies, but if they're not frightening I'm not sure what is the point of watching them.

However I am aware that I enjoy movies that other people think are not very good. Sometimes I can see all the flaws in a film (or book!) yet there's something there that just appeals. It's part of the whole subjective experience of films of course. Of course this then undermines the whole idea of a guilty pleasure. No one should really feel bad about liking some form of entertainment, and we shouldn't look down on those who like the media we don't. We're all guilty of it at some time though. I know for one I do the latter a lot. Don't worry I'm aware of my failing though I am not sure if I'll ever overcome it.

Anyway when I do concede that I have a guilty pleasure one of the first examples that come to mind is the Jane Austen movie Northanger Abbey. In fandom discussions over the years I have often heard people malign this film, but I have adored it since I first came across it by chance in the wee hours of the morning. As you see in my review "A Case for Enjoying Northanger Abbey (1986)",  I really think there's lots to enjoy in this film. Instead of feeling guilty about it, I say be prepared for some oddities and go in with an open mind.

As I mentioned in the review

Expect a quirky, unusual adaptation with some excellent characters and a dreamlike story and sit back and indulge in this offbeat journey.

                                                                ~ "A Case for Enjoying Northanger Abbey (1986)"

What are your favourite "guilty" pleasures whether it be books, TV or film?

Photo credit: BBC