Fantastic Mr Fox/ Horton Hears a Who Double Pack [DVD]

Fantastic Mr Fox
The visually ravishing animated movie Fantastic Mr Fox follows a fox, voiced by George Clooney and dressed in a natty brown corduroy suit, as he cheerfully and recklessly takes his thieving ways a little too far and brings down the wrath of some sour-faced poultry farmers on his family and friends. Based on a book by children's author Roald Dahl (who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach), the movie is the work of Wes Anderson (writer-director of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums), who expanded and elaborated on the original story; the combination is inspired. Anderson's sensibility--his fondness for meticulous compositions, coordinated colours, and narrative filigree--can sometimes seem finicky and stiff in live-action movies, but it's exquisitely suited to the painstaking art of stop-motion animation. Every corner of the screen crackles with visual invention and whimsical humour. The top-notch vocal cast (which also features Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Owen Wilson, and others) create vivid personalities that perfectly mesh with the movie's lush colours and luscious textures. Fantastic Mr Fox is an off-beat gem, a giddy mix of adult emotional issues, wild animal behaviour, and childlike delight.--Bret Fetzer

Horton Hears a Who
Dr Seuss's classic 1954 book Horton Hears a Who has entertained generations of children and served as the inspiration for a 26-minute, 1970 television special Dr Seuss's Horton Hears a Who and the 2000 Broadway musical "Seussical: The Musical". This 2008, full-length animated movie features the voice talents of Jim Carrey as Horton, Steve Carell as the Mayor of Whoville, Carol Burnett as the Kangaroo, and Jesse McCartney as JoJo and promises to delight a whole new generation of children and their parents and grandparents. The technological wonders of computer animation have allowed 20th Century Fox Animation to bring to life the wacky, colourful Whoville with its minute inhabitants and the lush Jungle of Nool with its host of distinctive animals and the result is a rich, fantastical world of wonder worthy of Dr Seuss' own imagination. All the major plot elements of Dr Seuss' book are present, with Horton hearing the faint cry for help from a tiny dust speck atop a small clover and doing his best to protect the inhabitants of that small civilisation of Whoville despite the disbelief, disdain, and persecution of his fellow animals. The feel of Dr Seuss' original rhyming prose is partially preserved in the sparse narration by Charles Osgood that's interspersed throughout the film's dialogue and the overarching themes of staying true to one's convictions and the celebration of the power of perseverance, imagination and kindness come through loud and clear. Horton Hears a Who is a fun rendering of a classic Dr Seuss story that's sure to entertain viewers of all ages. --Tami Horiuchi

Fantastic Mr Fox
George Clooney and Meryl Streep lend their voices to this hilarious and heartwarming animated adventure from visionary director Wes Anderson. Mr and Mrs Fox (Clooney and Streep) live a happy home life with their eccentric son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and visiting nephew Kristopherson. That is until Mr Fox slips into his sneaky, old ways and plots the greatest chicken heist the animal world has ever seen. Based on the beloved, best-selling book by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Fantastic Mr Fox is family fun at its finest.

Horton Hears a Who
From the makers of Ice Age comes a hilarious and heartwarming adventure set in the Jungle of Nool. Meet Horton, a fun loving elephant who hears a cry for help coming from a speck of dust floating through the air. He soon discovers the speck is home to Who-ville a city inhabited by tiny people in big trouble. Horton must brave the dangers of the jungle to protect his new friends and save the day.