Friday, March 27, 2009

Monsters vs. Aliens Reviews


Today is the release for DreamWorks’ latest animated film, Monsters vs. Aliens. It was written by a slew of writers based on a story by co-directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon. Letterman previously directed Shark Tale for DreamWorks, while Vernon’s best-known directing credit (he’s well versed in other departments) might be co-directing Shrek 2 for the company in 2004. The present film, given these credits, is a thoroughly DreamWorks project—and it seems just a little bit to me like another stab at Disney/Pixar, specifically by combining components of Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, and even Chicken Little.

Of course that doesn’t mean this will be a bad film, or even a good one for that matter. Today I’d just like to include a trailer, below, and some other reviews of media folks who unlike me have been able to see it. Please note various venues will show it in 3D, continuing the uptick in that medium over the past few years—Pixar’s next film, Up, will have a 3D release as well—and this is a major component of most of these reviews.




The fact that this trailer has two vulgar comments (and unfunny ones at that) reminds me to mention that the film is PG; I know I'm in the conservative bunch in this regard, but those comments alone would be enough for me to keep a child under ten out of the theater. Anyway, here are a few articles to browse: 

The New York Times by A. O. Scott

The L.A. Times, with a feminist critique, by Betsy Sharkey

A Variety article by Pamela McClintock on the new 3D tent pole films as well as an article by David S. Cohen comparing it to Watchmen, a similar yet unsimilar recent adult film.

The Village Voice by Robert Wilonsky.

The Guardian, again on 3D, by Jeremy Kay

And, for those who really want to get into the production nuts and bolts, an article by Bill Desowitz for Animation World Network

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