James' Movie Blog

When it comes to discussing animation studios, many people bring up companies like Disney or Pixar. However, the British animation company Aardman is rarely talked about. This is most likely because the main work that they are known for the most is Wallace and Gromit, and their other works do not get that much recognition. This all changed in the year 2000 when Aardman released their first feature length film “Chicken Run” to popular success from everyone. A co-production with DreamWorks, the movie was hit in both the United Kingdom and United States, and ultimately becoming the highest grossing stop motion animated movie of all time. And the film deserves this recognition. From spectacular animation, to memorable characters, the movie is a special retelling of the classic film “The Great Escape”, but for a much younger crowd. Although there is one minor complaint that deters the film greatly, the rest of the movie is quite good. “Chicken Run” is a magnificent production, showcasing on...

Jim Henson was a man who revolutionized how puppets were portrayed in the media. He helped create programs for television and movies that were aimed at more kid-friendly and family-friendly audiences. Things like 'Sesame Street', 'The Muppet Show', and others had a specific audience in mind. Only on the rare occasions like “The Dark Crystal” and “Labyrinth” did Henson go into more older crowd with its content. That is until now. With “The Happytime Murders”, we get an R-rated feature from Jim's son Brian that gives us a more mature look at puppets. And the end result is... bad. While it's definitely not the worst, the film is just bland, uninteresting, and more importantly, boring. “The Happytime Murders” is not what Jim Henson wanted, but also not what he needed. The story is set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist, however, puppets are mistreated and considered as objects rather than people. One puppet, Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta), is a for...