Happy Feet

[Stella]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... Why all the hype?


Okay, so SO and I rented this and watched it last night. It was awful! We usually love the animated movies - Over the Hedge, I think so! - but this was just terrible. Plus, we couldn't figure out the message. It was kind of overtly sexual too! Cat calling, comments, and music lyrics (Let's talk about sex, baby! in the first two minutes! etc) - I just can't imagine my kids watching this!

Did you guys feel differently??

1/5 stars. Big let down.

[madeintaiwan]

Oh my gosh.. my kids LOVE this movie, especially my 2 year old. She dances through the whole movie. Aside from Nicole Kidman's Marilyn Monroe/Moulin Rouge character being annoying, I thought the movie was totally cute. The music is great and the concept that everyone has their own heart song that only they can find themselves. And I think it opens up dialogue for accepting differences.

I love it in the beginning of the movie when Mumble hatches and is scuffling around and he exclaims that he's happy and his dad asks what's up with his feet and he exclaims that they're happy too. And they left out the sex in "let's talk about sex." They say let's talk about x. I've seen this movie literally 1-2 times a day since it came out on DVD. And it's one of those balances between making the movie entertaining for parents too. My 2 year old and even my 6 year old don't even blink when they say that line. It goes by so fast. That song is so old, my six year has no clue that it should be sex. A child a little older might but it would be normal as kids that age are wondering about sex and animals having babies in the spring.

And the presence of sexual undertones would probably be because the movie is about finding that lifetime mate. That perfect penguin who feels your heart song. Their soul mate. Emperor penguins keep the same mate for their entire lives.

And ofcourse the movie is about conservation. That what we humans do (as in depleting the fish in that region) impacts the wildlife there. And the movie is optimistic (in the same fashion as Steve Irwin's beliefs) in that they believe that if you can teach people about wildlife, they'll want to save it.

I think that they took heavy issues (indifference, intolerance, being true to yourself, pollution, conservation) and put them into a fun lighthearted film for kids [and adults]. It's not the best movie ever, but we like it. The music is great but maybe I'm biased because I know all the words to most of the songs in the movie.

[Stella]

And the presence of sexual undertones would probably be because the movie is about finding that lifetime mate. That perfect penguin who feels your heart song. Their soul mate. Emperor penguins keep the same mate for their entire lives.

I don't think there were sexual undertones, I think I'd call it sexual OVERtones. In particular, the scene with the Lovelace (a porn reference) penguin gathering his harem of 6 girlfriends to retire to the "perpetual pleasure couch" and asking, "Which one of you girls want to go first?" Is that about finding your soul mate? Not so much.

And ofcourse the movie is about conservation. That what we humans do (as in depleting the fish in that region) impacts the wildlife there. And the movie is optimistic (in the same fashion as Steve Irwin's beliefs) in that they believe that if you can teach people about wildlife, they'll want to save it.

I don't think it was optimistic at all. Humans are aliens that are trying to kill off a species by eating fish? The second half of the movie was bad and obvious propoganda.

I think that they took heavy issues (indifference, intolerance, being true to yourself, pollution, conservation) and put them into a fun lighthearted film for kids [and adults]. It's not the best movie ever, but we like it. The music is great but maybe I'm biased because I know all the words to most of the songs in the movie.

Regarding the issues, I have a few points. First, why must they touch on a hundred different issues? It didn't flow. The movie was scattered and all over the place. I don't think it talked about intolerance and staying true to yourself in the right way. Hispanics are the "other side of the tracks" and they made fun of them, I thought. They catcalled at the female penguins which disgusted me. I thought it was biased and narrow-minded and inappropriate.

I'll step off my :soapbox: now.

[houseelf]

Wow, I didn't think about it as deeply as Stella, but I can definitely see her points. (Of course, I also was in the minority thinking that The Incredibles were on the violent side).

From a less erudite point of view, I hated watching two hours of penguin kareoke. I'm a simple girl, really.

Kelly

[Momo]

Of course, I also was in the minority thinking that The Incredibles were on the violent side

What we were in the minority??!! I'm w/ you on The Incredibles!
As far as Happy Feet we took a pass on it, because the kids absolutely love the March of The Penguins and I think National Geographic films trump animation anyday!