Right to start off with the usual, "Digimon ain't no Pokemon" rant. I saw the first episodes of Pokemon and thought it was an interesting idea but that was all, there is not plot minus the "Ash wants to be PokeMaster!" which I don't think they are going to resolve anytime soon. Decent enough for kids but not something you would call brilliant. Digimon sucked me in from the first episode; its plot is pretty clear from the off and has to be resolved- seven kids get sucked into another world and meet Digimon but really all they want to do is go home so thats what they try and do. I grant you the dub especially can be annoying- there are lines where you think, "they did not just say that, was that meant to be funny?" but some of it is a big laugh. For example when Tai tries to draw a map of the Island and its terrible, then they get attacked and Agumon accidentally sets it on fire and apoligises to which Tai replies, "thats OK, at least it didn't land into the hands of the enemy!". Still corny but quite funny. Also the digivolving sequences get annoying after the first few times until they get to the point of ridiculousness where it literally spends 5 minutes of the episode showing all the Digimon digivolving. Really annoying but we can bypass. If you look beneath all the corny jokes and pointless digivolving there is something really special there. The characters are really quite realistic. Tai makes mistakes but admits it and tries to fix them. Izzy is obsessed with his computer due to knowing secretly that he is adopted and its the only way he can deal with it. Even the comedic Joe has issues with his parents wanting him to be a Doctor when he doesn't really want to be one. Thats what is good about the show, the digidestined shine beyond most cartoon characters. The plot line is pretty good, especially the Myotismon arc but its pretty much, "defeat bad guy,". Season 2 has a better plot line in my opinion but the digidestined are handled really badly. Davis and Yolei appear to have no issues whatsoever, Cody's only become important near the end, Kari and T.K are just there and Ken remains the only one who comes up to par with the Season 1 cast. Season 3 is great; if you really couldn't stand the jokes in the last 2 then this one will be more your style. The digidestined are up to par again but the Digimon are as well (where before only Gatomon had any interesting development)it's a class season, but does get a bit slow at times where Season 1 is always pretty well paced. Season 4 is best left alone, I didn't enjoy it and wouldn't recommend it. So yes- don't judge Digimon off its name because you are missing out if you do. It might be childish and corny at times but at other times it matures way beyond the maturity of other children programs and into the realm of wondering who it was really aimed at. In my opinion its something I would show my children, it teaches great lessons about friendship and is colourful and fun for them- plus I don't think I'd get bored watching it if they were ^ ^.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Not just the best movie of the year but the best film all round..
8 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Let me start off by saying I'm a fantasy geek; I love the Harry Potter films and the Lord of the Rings films and was very excited when I heard Narnia was being made. Because of this excitement I was a bit sceptical about going in and being disappointed when I came out. I wasn't; I was surprised it exceeded my wild excitement.
The CGI is fantastic; much, much better then how it looks in the trailer. I forgot all about Aslan being CGI and he really became the Aslan you see in the book; and as if it couldn't get better Liam Neeson does a kick-ass job as his voice too. The four children were fantastic, much better then the usual fare of confused kiddies that are awed at but not applauded at. Skander was the best as Edmund I thought but Lucy was excellent too. They all did a brilliant job though and so did all the other actors (Tilda Swinton deserves an honourable mention for embodying the White Witch in all her evil glory).
The story flows really well and even if your a die-hard books fan you won't be disappointed. The only niggle was the part about the children being a lot more important then Aslan but it doesn't throw it in your face and Aslan is still a figure of much respect and awe.
The religious undertones are there and are as present as they are in the book; many Christians will find the Stone Table scene very heartbreaking as I did and its easily the best scene in the movie.
The music is sensational. I loved the Lord of the Rings soundtrack but this is much much better and different. Its all down to taste in the end but I found it more to my liking. The music at the start with the train is especially beautiful.
What else can I say? The beavers were a definite highlight for me being both funny and serious; the fox also was an excellent addition although he wasn't very present in the book but he fits in very well with the story and makes sense. The wolves had the best CGI, next to Aslan, and though Maugrim was menacing you will probably find yourself awing at them despite them being villains. If I had to put in any bad points it would be that some parts are a little odd; for instance the scene after Aslan pounces on the White Witch made me think Peter was having an acid trip of some kind and the White Witch's dwarf also said the strangest things which will probably have you wondering if you heard him right. These don't distract from the viewing though and the Dwarf's weirdness is actually quite funny at times. First Class film and definitely one I will be re-watching for years to come.
The CGI is fantastic; much, much better then how it looks in the trailer. I forgot all about Aslan being CGI and he really became the Aslan you see in the book; and as if it couldn't get better Liam Neeson does a kick-ass job as his voice too. The four children were fantastic, much better then the usual fare of confused kiddies that are awed at but not applauded at. Skander was the best as Edmund I thought but Lucy was excellent too. They all did a brilliant job though and so did all the other actors (Tilda Swinton deserves an honourable mention for embodying the White Witch in all her evil glory).
The story flows really well and even if your a die-hard books fan you won't be disappointed. The only niggle was the part about the children being a lot more important then Aslan but it doesn't throw it in your face and Aslan is still a figure of much respect and awe.
The religious undertones are there and are as present as they are in the book; many Christians will find the Stone Table scene very heartbreaking as I did and its easily the best scene in the movie.
The music is sensational. I loved the Lord of the Rings soundtrack but this is much much better and different. Its all down to taste in the end but I found it more to my liking. The music at the start with the train is especially beautiful.
What else can I say? The beavers were a definite highlight for me being both funny and serious; the fox also was an excellent addition although he wasn't very present in the book but he fits in very well with the story and makes sense. The wolves had the best CGI, next to Aslan, and though Maugrim was menacing you will probably find yourself awing at them despite them being villains. If I had to put in any bad points it would be that some parts are a little odd; for instance the scene after Aslan pounces on the White Witch made me think Peter was having an acid trip of some kind and the White Witch's dwarf also said the strangest things which will probably have you wondering if you heard him right. These don't distract from the viewing though and the Dwarf's weirdness is actually quite funny at times. First Class film and definitely one I will be re-watching for years to come.
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