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This is, somewhat surprisingly, a Disney/Sony movie that is about the old, creepy house inhabited by a crotchety old man that every older city neighborhood has. The story stars neighborhood kids that start seeing odd events happen around the house when the old man screams irately about people on his lawn, making it seem that the house is haunted, or perhaps, alive.
This is NOT a film for young children, which should be indicated by the title, although it is made by Disney/Sony and in a computer animated format. There are scenes that, while not really in the "horror" category, would just be too scary for younger children. Older children should be fine.
The computer animation itself is really good, showing an incredible amount of life-like motion and detail in human and object actions. Watch the extras on the disc for "how it was made", and you'll see why--the movie was actually filmed live-action with the actors, using lots of computer sensors on their faces and bodies. Computers then used the sensors to create computer characters duplicating the actors' movements and facial expressions. The result is very nice.
Of course, as you know, all the computer graphics and cinematography doesn't matter a bit to me if the acting, and most importantly the STORY, isn't solid. Here, both of those elements are pretty solid. There is an all-star cast of Steve Buschimi, Maggie Gyllenhall, Kevin James, Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) Kathleen Turner, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, and others that make it really enjoyable, and the story is cute and compelling in the fantasy sense. My only complaint might be that the house could be overly scary for the purpose of the story and movie.
Not the best film of the year, but an enjoyable watch, and recommended. :4: out of :5:
This is NOT a film for young children, which should be indicated by the title, although it is made by Disney/Sony and in a computer animated format. There are scenes that, while not really in the "horror" category, would just be too scary for younger children. Older children should be fine.
The computer animation itself is really good, showing an incredible amount of life-like motion and detail in human and object actions. Watch the extras on the disc for "how it was made", and you'll see why--the movie was actually filmed live-action with the actors, using lots of computer sensors on their faces and bodies. Computers then used the sensors to create computer characters duplicating the actors' movements and facial expressions. The result is very nice.
Of course, as you know, all the computer graphics and cinematography doesn't matter a bit to me if the acting, and most importantly the STORY, isn't solid. Here, both of those elements are pretty solid. There is an all-star cast of Steve Buschimi, Maggie Gyllenhall, Kevin James, Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) Kathleen Turner, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, and others that make it really enjoyable, and the story is cute and compelling in the fantasy sense. My only complaint might be that the house could be overly scary for the purpose of the story and movie.
Not the best film of the year, but an enjoyable watch, and recommended. :4: out of :5:
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