Animated

Animated Category: 19th September

	Title	Rachel’s Score (/5)	James’ Score (/5)	Total Score (/10)
1	Monsters Inc	3	3	6
2	101 Dalmations	3	3	6
3	Spirited Away	3	3.5	6.5
4	Lady and the Tramp	3	2.5	5.5
5	Robots	3	3	6
6	Alladin	3.5	3.5	7

Average: 6.2/10

Reviews

• Monsters Inc: All of these animated movies seem to carry messages about life and morality presumably to be a good influence on children. The message from this movie I believe is that making people laugh is far better for a society of monsters/Earthlings/Americans than making them scream and cry. Thats okay, probably true. This movie is okay, some laughs, some touching moments, but it won’t blow your mind or anything.

• 101 Dalmations: This is very much a war movie. Although its a childrens cartoon, and as such I’m unsure what they were trying to tell them, this has every aspect of a story about war: POW’s, rebels, an evil war machine, a desperate escape. The puppies are the POW’s and Cruella DeVille and her nasty cronies are the war machine and Pongo, his love, and a variety of other animals around the city serve as the resistance. I’d guess this story echo’s a particular war time story exactly but I couldn’t tell you which one. Its a good movie for kids too.

• Spirited Away: I can’t describe how odd this movie is other than to throw a little bit of its creepy weirdness right at you: The spirit of parsnip, a six armed man commanding soot to do his dirty work, and a dragon that is actually a river. If you can hang in there its quite good though, so give it a chance.

• Lady and the Tramp: I really didn’t get this one, in fact I fell asleep in the middle of it. The Lady is a wussy pampered rich girl and the tramp in my opinion is a trouble making sleezy jerk. Snoring boring and there’s a thousand better examples of good romance. I know its a kids movie but honestly I don’t think they’d be interested either.

• Robots: The message from this movie is that you can achieve your dreams and overcome the challenges between you and them if only you try. I don’t like Robin Williams but I do think its sad that his career ended with Mrs. Doubtfire (which I liked) and he’s up to his usual junk in this movie. Its a good movie and its funny but there were some moments where the filmmakers stopped taking it seriously and threw in some really dumb jokes, like the Britney Spears bit for example, and they lost me with that. Otherwise its okay, just okay.

• Aladdin: I was hooked into this movie, totally enthralled and ready for it to turn out to be the best movie on this list and a really good movie. Then, of course, Robin Williams showed up and ruined everything. After the genie came I was actually sad because Williams constantly does the same thing, makes stupid jokes, does impressions, and is generally just really annoying. Like I said, I don’t like him, but I do think that he’s very talented and I guess there’s a place for him in the world of kids movies. Alladin only just survived Robin Williams and did turn out to be the best movie on this list, but I wish it had been better. Really good adventuring and romance etc. but too much Robin Williams.

P.S. Raja rules.

Reviewed by James