Being
not exactly a kid anymore, its not common for me to watch movies that
are aimed at our younger audiences anymore, although I do still enjoy
them. However, when I was asked to review the french directed Mia and
the Migoo, I was really intrigued by its different style of animation
seeing as how these days most modern kids films are 3D, whereas Mia and
the Migoo is created from an awesome 500,00 hand painted frames. Not
only that, it also has some very well known actors in it too such as
John DiMaggio (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Bee Movie), Whoopie
Goldberg (Sister Act, Ghost), Wallace Shawn (Toy Story 1,2 and 3, The
Incredibles, Monsters Inc.) and some others too! The
film follows the story of Mia who must overcome her fears on a quest to
find her father, while at the same time helping the Migoo, who are
innocent, bumbling forest spirits that change shape as they please,
morphing from small, childlike beings into petulant giants. The film
carries a very strong eco-friendly message with beautiful art inspired
scenes.
I really loved this movie, it made me chuckle with some of Mia's and the Migoos' antics and sense of humour. It could be very dramatic at times too and all the colours used set the scenes beautifully, I especially loved the scenes that are in antarctica, I truly thought that the night sky with the southern lights shown were gorgeous. I am a little concerned however, about the audience that this film targets as I feel that some of the scenes really would scare some of the younger audiences, despite it saying on the dvd case that it is family approved.
Overall I would highly recommend that you guys watch this movie, it definitely earned it's European film award for best animated feature. I would say it may be an idea to watch it with your younger kids though so that they have a shoulder to hide in if they find a scene a bit too scary to watch though.
From the distributors of the Academy Award®-nominated The Secret of Kells, comes MIA AND THE MIGOO,
the gorgeous second feature from renowned French animator Jacques-Rémy Girerd. A fable-like journey of a young girl who must overcome her
fears on a quest to find her father and save the world from destruction,
MIA AND THE MIGOO was created from an astounding 500,000 hand-painted
frames of animation. A stunning work of art, breathtaking to behold,
with backgrounds that invoke Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne, it also
features the voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Modine, James Woods and
Wallace Shawn.
Following
a premonition, Mia sets out on a cross continental journey, though
mountains and jungles in search of her father, who has been trapped in a
landslide at a construction site on a remote tropical lake. In the
middle of the lake stands the ancient Tree of Life, watched over by
innocent, bumbling forest spirits called the Migoo, who grow and change
shape as they please, morphing from small childlike beings to petulant
giants. The Migoo have been disrupting the construction to protect this
sacred site – and now together with Mia they join in a fight to find
Mia' s father and save the Tree, with the future of life on Earth hanging in the balance.
CAST
· John DiMaggio (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Little Fockers, Bee Movie)
· Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, For Colored Girls, Sister Act)
· Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Married to the Mob, Cutthroat Island)
· Wallace Shawn (Toys Story 1, 2, 3, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc.)
· James Woods (Once Upon a Time in America, The Virgin Suicides, Casino )
BONUS FEATURES
· “Making of” Featurette
that is up to you!
Disclaimer: I did receive
a sample of this product so I could write my review. Even so I would
never say I liked something if I did not, nor would I tell my readers
about something if I felt it would be harmful to them.
