I enjoyed storytelling of The Fantastic Mr Fox so much more than Avatar.
It's not 3-D, it's more exquisite collage brought to life with tickling humour, clear artistic vision and honesty.
I looked around at the faces of the children in the full cinema at the Balmoral's 10.30am session today.
They weren't laughing like I was laughing but their eyes were glued to the screen watching studiously waiting for the next turning point. I took my nephews, aged 9 and 4. Cast rundown
The nine-year-old's read all of Roald Dahl's books. He wasn't disappointed with the movie.
Writer-director Wes Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach have modernized the characters - Mr Fox (George Clooney) uses his Walkman for an instant soundtrack to his adventures, just like you see everyone everywhere doing today. The power of its charm is not only in the beautiful animation. The visual storytelling kicks it up a notch or two - you can't help but laugh when something finally makes Mr Fox's head spin and you see the same expression that's normally reserved for his chubby accomplice - a possum.
Kylie, this possum, has a trademark hypnotic spinning blank look in his eyes often - like when Mr Fox instructs him in the art of killing chickens.
Kylie, does quite unnatural things for Mr Fox who's a little like a scary charismatic leader of a sect in many ways.
Some of the funniest scenes are those where Mr Fox is challenged by the other animals - when they break out of their civilised human-like activities and behave like animals it's hilarious.
Giving the characters familiar 21st century mannerisms makes it easier for people to identify with the strange wild animals that walk around in suits and have express human desires and needs.
I think my favourite scene is the first raid on the chicken farm with Kylie (comedian Wally Wolodarsky)
The other highlight, apart from Kylie, is the young yogi cousin/nephew Kristofferson (Wes Anderson's brother Eric Chase Anderson).
</object>
They dig deep and win. ;)