If the Academy is willing to qualify it as animation, then so am I (although I do acknowledge the grey area it falls into). Regardless, this is one of the most enjoyable adventures in years, signalling the start of a promising franchise.
This stylishly animated (and sparingly brisk) family thriller is a delightful diversion to take in when you've got an hour to kill. The story may be formulaic, but visuals are consistently engaging, like the pages of a picture book come to life.
(Tonno Errando, Javier Mariscal, Fernando Trueba):
A sensual romance between a jazz pianist and his female singing star that spans decades and continents; It's a lovely little movie spiced with vibrant colours and sultry latin rhythms (courtesy Cuban bandleader Bebo Valdes).
As much as I despair
the relative lack of originality emanating from Dreamworks these days,
it's at least a bit refreshing to see Puss carry his own story without
the interference of other Shrek characters. This stand-alone adventure/comedy is enjoyable enough, and beautifully animated, as one would expect of the studio.
Assuming the traditional definition of "animation", Gore Verbinski's surreal Western homage is the best domestic animated production of the year. It's hard not to respond affectionately to the unbridled imagination with which the film brims.
