| Film and DVD Reviews FILM REVIEW
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit
By Marc Savage
It started in 1989 when Nick Park, fresh from college, created a bizarre
animated short called A Grand Day Out starring a man who loves cheese. When
the world runs out of his favourite dish he and his dog build a rocket and
fly to the moon which is — as we all know — made of cheese.
The man was Wallace (Peter Sallis) the dog was the loveable Gromit and
a cultural phenomena was born.
Two more shorts followed with The Wrong Trousers in 1993 and A Close
Shave in 1995 and Wallace and Gromit popped up as toys in cereal packets
and there was hardly a kid (teen or adult) that didn’t have a Shaun the
sheep cuddly toy on their shelf or bed.
Then Park distanced himself from his popular characters and went on to
the silver screen with Chicken Run in 2000 which did great box-office —
helped by Mel Gibson’s leading role.
But having proved he can do cinema Park has returned to Wallace and Gromit
— and what a return.
When their home village’s vegetable growing contest is threatened by
the scary wererabbit W&G set out to protect the greens while Wallace falls
for Lady Campanula Tottington (Helena Bonham-Carter) and tries to avoid
the dastardly Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes).
The movie works on so many levels — it will amuse fans of W&G and newbies
alike and it will entertain the children and the adults: PC Mackintosh:
“This looks like arson.” The crowd reply shocked: “Arson?!” “Aye,” replies
PC Mackintosh, “Someone arson around.”
And as the movie rolls on it never lets up until the very end — chases,
laughs and the world’s greatest dog. Who could ask for more?
Oh and look for the “may contain nuts” gag in the last reel — I nearly
choked on my popcorn.
A grand day out indeed.
Starring (voices): Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham-Carter.
Dir: Steve Box and Nick Park.
Out nationwide now.
House Of Wax
DVD REVIEW
By Phil Savva
Remaking a classic (who can forget the great Vincent Price) hasn’t always
been the most successful way of getting a hit movie — see Get Carter, Stepford
Wives etc.
But this time around The House Of Wax takes a fair stab at it (groan!)
and succeeds with coming up with a quirky and at times highly original hit.
Two nutty Siamese twin brothers — Bo and Vincent — have inherited their
family’s wax museum. Trouble is it’s in a town that is deserted and being
nutty they have an original take on coming up with new exhibits.
Yes you’ve guessed it — they murder unsuspecting travellers and cover
them in wax for their exhibitions.
Enter six unsuspecting teenagers on their way to a big football game
when one of their cars breaks down.
While a little slow setting the scene when the action starts the scares
come thick and fast.
The old horror movie adage of “if you have sex then you’re going to die”
holds true as Paris Hilton meets a grisly end. And just as well too after
seeing her acting!
So as the body count rises it’s left to brother-sister duo Carly and
Nick (Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray) to try to escape with all
limbs intact.
It’s not Shakespeare but it is entertaining and a clever play on the
House Of Wax actually being completely made of wax makes for a spectacular
pyrotechnic ending.
Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki,
Jon Abrahams, Brian Van Holt, Emma Lung, Damon Herriman.
Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra.
On sale now.
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