The Sheep Detectives review: No fleecing here
‘The Sheep Detectives’ is a distinct whodunit in which a clever ewe is the lead investigator in a murder case.
Bryan Cranston
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Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ leaves nothing to chance
‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is the bizarre tale of tycoon trying to secure the funds to change the world, while avoiding repeated assassination attempts.
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Review: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ understands what’s expected and delivers amusingly
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ follows another of Po’s adventures as he prepares to face-off against his most difficult and devious foe yet.
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Review: ‘Argylle’ spies many twists and turns
‘Argylle’ is an amusing fish-out-of-water picture in which a writer’s life starts to imitate her art when she’s ensnared in one of her espionage stories.
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Review: Wes Anderson’s style transfers brilliantly to ‘Isle of Dogs’ (Includes first-hand account)
Anthropomorphizing animals has been a common technique in fictional narratives for decades. It allows storytellers to convey tales in a manner that may be more effective or less jarring for viewers… and sometimes, it’s just more entertaining. Writer/director Wes Anderson has focused most of his career on live-action dramas featuring increasingly famous actors and developing a very distinct style, but he now appears to be embracing animation to deliver his unique stories with the latest being Isle of Dogs. Yet if audiences dig a little deeper, they’ll notice many of the same themes as seen in his other pictures — just in a different format.
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Review: ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ continues to inspire with its relatable hero (Includes first-hand account)
Animated films are often built around concepts to help viewers understand, accept and cope with things they may encounter in their lives. Fittingly, the movies about a seemingly clumsy bear have generally offered messages about self-confidence and achieving one’s potential via the protagonist, while encouraging tolerance and not judging anyone based on their appearance through the other characters. But once a picture has endeared audiences to its personalities, it has the opportunity to expand its sphere. In the sequel, they must conquer their fears and work together to face overwhelming odds. Now, in Kung Fu Panda 3, the characters tackle the more complex idea of nature vs. nurture and what constitutes family.
