I love Mark's reviews, even when I disagree with him. But, I don't think films should be judged on whether or not the target audience will like them; they should be judged on what the person reviewing them thought. It shouldn't matter to Kermode if kids will like the film because he isn't a kid.
Watched it with my eleven-year-old brother. He loved it. I loved it.
Empirical evidence that this comment is bullshit.
'Course, perhaps it's just because my brother's pretty sharp. In which case it only doesn't appeal to stupid kids. In which case that's really just a compliment to the movie- it's smart.
I read the book as a kid in school and the way the farmers speak with the funny yorkshire accent , that was the best part! It made the story come to life.
So to see the americanized version just took all the charm out of the story.
Just because its american money , why do they have to turn it into an american story. Its an iconically british thing, its like making wallace and gromit from California....
I think Kermode has misunderstood Wes Anderson's intentions here. Firstly, The Fantastic Mr Fox was published in 1970. I'm not convinced that this animated film was created for children. Do kids today know who Roald Dahl is?
The main theme, which seems to run through all of Wes Anderson's films is nostalgia and i don't think that The Fantastic Mr Fox is an execption.
The film is [like most Wes Anderson movies] just fine, it's not amazing. I never got the feeling that there was any real danger. None of the farmers seemed scary at all and it just wasn't dark enough for me.
Also [like most Wes Anderson movies] the characters began to annoy me and by the end I wasn't that interested. On the plus side, the animation is wonderful and the voice acting is solid
This film was, as the title suggests, FANTASTIC. I loved the book as a child, and though it is very different, enjoyed this equally. It is witty, smart, and doesn't dumb itself down like many films do. The humour works of many levels, including physical, but doesn;t become crude or crass. It's refreshing to have a star studded film that doesn't sell out, and to know that despite the end og toy story, animated films are still classy and crisp.
This is the first time when I have thought that Kermode is wrong wrong wrong. I love his reviews and have agreed with him on most of them. This is a great film and it is a kids film, if you have smart kids. (Sorry, I bet that sounds smug) I dont have children, I dont want children but I am sure a lot a parents would agree with me and they will show their kids this film.
A film obviously exists outside of its release date and its run in theaters. I didn't understand it at first, but it has definitely grown on me over repeated viewings and that might be because I see it as a Wes Anderson film and not a kid's film. It's making me happy, Mark.
enjoyable enough movie but pretty forgettable. I don't think kids should have a problem with it. things like Peannut and Charlie Brown are regarded as classic cartoons and it's also slow, downbeat and talky. the more cerebral kids should like it.
Most of his worries seem to be about whether this, animated and thus falsely assumed to have been made for the kids, feature would go down well with toddlers or attention-deficit teenagers. It may very well not. Which DOESNT make it worse in any way. It's a PT Anderson movie, which is fine, and it's told with intentionally badly animated puppets, which makes it great. Smugness is quite intentional (and funny) considering the title. I'm not alone in saying it was one of the year's best films.
@notsukutsu I think you're right in saying the fact that the film doesn't sit well with its 'intended audience' doesn't make it any worse a film. Although I've been slighted irritated by the 'smugness' in past Anderson films, I actually didn't mind Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Saying that, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was one of 2009's best films.
I agree with Kermode. I couldn't stand this film.
drplbiftin 1 month ago
I love Mark's reviews, even when I disagree with him. But, I don't think films should be judged on whether or not the target audience will like them; they should be judged on what the person reviewing them thought. It shouldn't matter to Kermode if kids will like the film because he isn't a kid.
jwdeming 1 month ago
It's good to know that the good doctor is out there proving that I'm not crazy for disliking this movie.
PenguinInc 2 months ago
"No a kid's film."
Watched it with my eleven-year-old brother. He loved it. I loved it.
Empirical evidence that this comment is bullshit.
'Course, perhaps it's just because my brother's pretty sharp. In which case it only doesn't appeal to stupid kids. In which case that's really just a compliment to the movie- it's smart.
MrEdLoop 2 months ago
I was so disappointed with the film.
I read the book as a kid in school and the way the farmers speak with the funny yorkshire accent , that was the best part! It made the story come to life.
So to see the americanized version just took all the charm out of the story.
Just because its american money , why do they have to turn it into an american story. Its an iconically british thing, its like making wallace and gromit from California....
SuperYellow1989 3 months ago
I think Kermode has misunderstood Wes Anderson's intentions here. Firstly, The Fantastic Mr Fox was published in 1970. I'm not convinced that this animated film was created for children. Do kids today know who Roald Dahl is?
The main theme, which seems to run through all of Wes Anderson's films is nostalgia and i don't think that The Fantastic Mr Fox is an execption.
Another brilliant piece of work Mr Anderson.
judgenutmeg1977 3 months ago
Kermode - A typical offender of the Animation Age Ghetto.
aquapendulum 3 months ago
I was bored during Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and I love Wallace and Grommit. Maybe I need to revisit that...
orkavorn 3 months ago
I would actually watch Mark on screen as animated fox.
AdamPPrice 4 months ago
The film is [like most Wes Anderson movies] just fine, it's not amazing. I never got the feeling that there was any real danger. None of the farmers seemed scary at all and it just wasn't dark enough for me.
Also [like most Wes Anderson movies] the characters began to annoy me and by the end I wasn't that interested. On the plus side, the animation is wonderful and the voice acting is solid
WAAAAAAAAAAAY 5 months ago
This film was, as the title suggests, FANTASTIC. I loved the book as a child, and though it is very different, enjoyed this equally. It is witty, smart, and doesn't dumb itself down like many films do. The humour works of many levels, including physical, but doesn;t become crude or crass. It's refreshing to have a star studded film that doesn't sell out, and to know that despite the end og toy story, animated films are still classy and crisp.
Zowds 7 months ago
This is the first time when I have thought that Kermode is wrong wrong wrong. I love his reviews and have agreed with him on most of them. This is a great film and it is a kids film, if you have smart kids. (Sorry, I bet that sounds smug) I dont have children, I dont want children but I am sure a lot a parents would agree with me and they will show their kids this film.
trexguy 7 months ago
A film obviously exists outside of its release date and its run in theaters. I didn't understand it at first, but it has definitely grown on me over repeated viewings and that might be because I see it as a Wes Anderson film and not a kid's film. It's making me happy, Mark.
BunnyMan456 8 months ago
enjoyable enough movie but pretty forgettable. I don't think kids should have a problem with it. things like Peannut and Charlie Brown are regarded as classic cartoons and it's also slow, downbeat and talky. the more cerebral kids should like it.
skinwalkerxxx 1 year ago
Most of his worries seem to be about whether this, animated and thus falsely assumed to have been made for the kids, feature would go down well with toddlers or attention-deficit teenagers. It may very well not. Which DOESNT make it worse in any way. It's a PT Anderson movie, which is fine, and it's told with intentionally badly animated puppets, which makes it great. Smugness is quite intentional (and funny) considering the title. I'm not alone in saying it was one of the year's best films.
notsukutsu 1 year ago 5
@notsukutsu I think you're right in saying the fact that the film doesn't sit well with its 'intended audience' doesn't make it any worse a film. Although I've been slighted irritated by the 'smugness' in past Anderson films, I actually didn't mind Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Saying that, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was one of 2009's best films.
ealeigh 1 year ago
@notsukutsu
Wes Anderson.
frytechnician 1 year ago
@notsukutsu wes, not pt
jonasHM 3 months ago
@notsukutsu *Wes Anderson
If PT Anderson ever made an animated movie it'd destroy this. ;)
RockBottomRiser21 3 months ago 2