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From Amazon.co.uk
First released in France, Luc Besson's Arthur and the Invisibles is a touching computer animated adventure that makes up in look and in character for what it lacks in narrative originality. As a direct hybrid of Excalibur and A Bug's Life, Arthur stars a heroic ten year-old, Arthur (Freddie Highmore), who draws a sword from a stone to fight a miniature battle in the garden before finding treasure valuable enough to save his grandfather's farm from purchase by developers. Arthur's grandfather, Archibald, having long ago discovered the miniscule world of Minimoys, garden gnome-like elves that lived in his yard, shrunk himself in order to hunt elusive rubies that were hidden in their evil Mecropolis, headed by Maltazard (David Bowie). Now Arthur must assist the benevolent Minimoy clan, ruled by The King (Robert De Niro) and Princess Selenia (Madonna), in challenging Maltazard for possession of the jewels. Shots taking the viewer down through grass blades into the microscopic, yet gigantic yard world readjust one's sense of size, as do scenes, for example, in which a small, elven Arthur fights mosquitoes with catapulted tomatoes. Meanwhile, live action scenes of Arthur's worried grandmother (Mia Farrow) provide respite from a completely computerized world. Bowie, as he did in Legend, steals the show, bringing to life his Darth Vader-like character who chose evil over good in a past adventure. Corny one-liners sometimes spoil the mood, but overall the film's thematic blend of fantasy and environmentalism, like Princess Mononoke, will delight children with its positive message. --Trinie Dalton
Product Description
Children's fantasy adventure follows a little boy with a big imagination and the creations he conjures up in his mind. Arthur lives with his granny in the country. His grandfather has recently died and his parents don't get in touch much. His grandma entertains him by telling stories of the Mimimoys - a race of miniscule, elf-like beings who live in her garden. According to these stories, the Minimoys hold a wondrous and expensive treasure of rubies given by an African tribe to Arthur's grandfather. When a ruthless property developer threatens to evict granny unless she comes up with a tidy sum in two days, Arthur decides the Rubies must be worth enough to cover the payment and sets about tracking down the Mimimoys to relieve them of the jewels. From there, he becomes involved in a fantastic imbroglio with the wee folk who have a cruel foe of their own - the Evil M. The Evil M, it seems, holds Arthur's grandfather prisoner, and the rubies form his throne. Arthur decides it's The Evil M or him but soon finds himself in jail where, happily he meets his Grandfather who's also been shrunk to Minimoy size. Along with the beautiful Selenia, they set off to conquer the evil one and snatch the rubies.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By T. Saunders
Format:DVD
I must agree with Nanahuatzin, this film is good but the international edit is much better. I got the UK DVD on sale in Zavvi (sadly the closing down sale) and after watching it found a few bits confusing, so as I generally do I checked it out on IMDB. There I learned that the distributors in the US decided to cut the love scenes out for the US and UK films. So I looked around, having not spent much money on the UK cut, and found an international DVD with full uncut English soundtrack. 9 minutes of footage doesn't sound like much, but suddenly so many scenes make more sense! So buy the international film and watch it as it should be seen. Oh, and it's real name is "Arthur and the Minimoys", not "Arthur and the Invisibles".
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Nanahuatzin
Format:DVD
This film is the biggest european animation so far. Besson spent 5 years on it, and while it failed in the english speaking market it went fairly well in the international marke, enough to secure the two sequels already in production.
Why the diference?
When Besson casted Maddona (a long time friend) whe did not know the problems involved.
A lot of the problems in pace and plot of the US edition of the film are result of the eforts of the Weinstein company in removing half of the plot: The love story of Arthur and Selenia, which due to Maddonas voice, became "inapropiated". In the international editions all this was left and the film has received good notes.
So the falling in love, kissing and marrying of Arthur and Selenia were cut, along other sections that were considered inapropiated for small kids. This left some plot holes and the motivation of the characteres became unconvincing.
I recomend to try the French DVD editions (it includes the undedited enlgish version) and also inlcudes a beautifull "making of" of the film, in french.
Why the diference?
When Besson casted Maddona (a long time friend) whe did not know the problems involved.
A lot of the problems in pace and plot of the US edition of the film are result of the eforts of the Weinstein company in removing half of the plot: The love story of Arthur and Selenia, which due to Maddonas voice, became "inapropiated". In the international editions all this was left and the film has received good notes.
So the falling in love, kissing and marrying of Arthur and Selenia were cut, along other sections that were considered inapropiated for small kids. This left some plot holes and the motivation of the characteres became unconvincing.
I recomend to try the French DVD editions (it includes the undedited enlgish version) and also inlcudes a beautifull "making of" of the film, in french.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Dpt Barter
Format:DVD
I don't know what the above fella is on about. I'm fifteen and I went to see the film at the cinema with my father. Call me a kid but I just couldn't resist going to see a film with such a fantastic cast. Freddie Highmore, Madonna, David Bowie and Snoop Dog lead an impressive cast in a wonderfully glossy and beautifully animated fantasy adventure. My father's forty five and both myself and him throughly enjoyed it. Madonna is feisty and sassy as the beautiful princess/empowered female, Freddie Highmore is charming if scary-looking as the hero, ten-year old Arthur and even though he appears about three quarters into the film, David Bowie still manages to steal the show as the deliciously evil villain, Malthazar, ahem, sorry, Evil M. I've read the books upon which the film is based and they were equally brilliant although the film modernises it a bit more, exchanging the ancient tavern for a flashy night-club. 'I like this kid' declares the evil wizard as Arthur flatters his vanity in an attempt to save his friends lives. Of course it would have been good if at the end of the film, the Minimoys had gotten transformed into humans the same way Arthur had been turned into a Minimoy and Madonna and Snoop Dog had led the cast in a smash hit ending number ala Shrek. Furthermore on the subject of musical numbers I thought David Bowie's character should have gotten his own evil song. Something reminiscent of the Evil Fairy Godmother's Bonnie Tyler impersonation perhaps. Nevertheless, well worth watching and once the critics have spent their feeble arrows it will do very well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
brilliant film but I love all the arthur films would recommend to adults and kids its great got it at a good price too
Published 1 month ago by tee
4.0 out of 5 stars
great
this movie has been out ages but had to watch it again .. brilliant
makes me smile every time x
makes me smile every time x
Published 2 months ago by Ms Sonia Spalding
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic film
Fantastic film for children and adults alike. the children thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and wrote their own stories after watching it!
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Tracey L. Morgan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good
I found it ok, but not special. It is worth buying it if you like the genre. Also good for the money invested and the delivery. Watch with children.
Published 3 months ago by Brother Jung
2.0 out of 5 stars
arthur and the invisibles
I was very disappointed with this dvd there was so much animation which i was not a great lover of.I only purchased this as freddie highmore was in and he has a reputation of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by SUPER CUE
5.0 out of 5 stars
received
received the product quickly by post and are very happy with it and would like to send my thanks for it
Published 4 months ago by mark cato
3.0 out of 5 stars
Arthur and the Invisibles
I haven't watched it , but the kids did and were disappointed in the quality of the cutting .
I thought there was a problem with the disc at first until my daughter said that... Read more
I thought there was a problem with the disc at first until my daughter said that... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Katc
5.0 out of 5 stars
arthur and the invisables
Arthur And The Invisibles
Excellent viewing,a must for 5 years plus.
The adventure begins when Arthur is inspired by his grandfathers adventures long ago in Africa. Read more
Excellent viewing,a must for 5 years plus.
The adventure begins when Arthur is inspired by his grandfathers adventures long ago in Africa. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Pamela Somers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay
With the cast I expected more. The mix between film and cartoon is well done, but the story seems to jump (as though it's missing sections) and there's little humour that... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ianski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely film
This was a great film - I bought the sequel for my son for Christmas and didn't realise there was a film before it! So excited to discover as they love the 2nd film! Read more
Published 15 months ago by H-McC
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