I can’t wait to get the DVD!
I was so dissapointed when I realized that the Blu-ray would be out until this Friday. At my job, I have enough seniority to have Friday Saturday or Saturday Sunday off. People always ask me why do I like Tuesday Wednesday so much. I always tell them that I love to watch movies. I don’t go clubbing or partying, so I have no use for weekends off. And when a movie comes out in the theaters on Fridays, I have enough time to see it before work. But I love new movie release Tuesday. I love buying a bunch of DVD’s or Blu-ray’s, and be able to enjoy them during my off days. I hope the Friday releases don’t become a common thing. I remember being sad when I went to the store thinking that I was going to be able to enjoy How to Train You Dragon on my off day, only to realize once I got to Best Buy that it wasn’t coming out until Friday.
I don’t know why I keept putting off buying the Art of book for this movie. I’ve already looked through it, and the art work is stunning. I would love to own a copy.
I saw Rango at camp, and it’s a very nice movie! Awesome character designs, nice overall atmosphere, awesomely surreal, cool animals, and of course, Johnny Depp.
I kept spamming the whole ‘It’s not a kids’ movie!!1’ around all the time, but we still saw it. Half of the kids left halfway through. Pssh. They can’t appreciate good movies anymore. It was too awesome for them.
And Ride of the Valkyries on banjos omgwtfbbqawesome.
Rango was amazing, and it would be a deserved win, but I’m still rooting for TinTin even more. I hope it’s as good as its potential.
I have yet to see Rango but it is on my to do list.
I think it is between Rango and Winnie The Pooh for best animated film. WTP is getting slightly (say slightly) better reviews then Rango.
Yes, but probably it isn’t daring or innovative enough, so I think it may still go to Rango.
You could be right about that. But WTP has history on there side. It will probably go to Rango though.
Oh, I forgot this movie is on DVD! I wish I could get it, since it’s my second favorite animated film of the year, after Rio. I defintely recomend it.
EJE: Haha, when I get my own crib, this will be definitely be on my DVD shelf! I don’t buy physical copies of movies because we move houses a lot through my teenage years and they take up space and are a pain to transport (we used to buy bootleg copies when we were young, since movie piracy is normal in Malaysia, and we chucked 'em all out during our last moves). That’s why I visit the cinemas so often, firstly so I can enjoy the film on the big-screen and in a communal setting, and secondly so I can support the studios with my money. But yes, RANGO = MUST BUY.
theoutsider: I agree with you on the ‘Art of’ book. It’s absolutely magnificent and very inspiring. Again, once I move out from my folks and live on my own, I’d love to buy one to keep and read on my bookshelf.
Badger: Geez, your friends don’t know what they’re missing.
SoA: I don’t exactly have high hopes for Tin Tin since it still has Zemeckis’ ‘Uncanny Valley’ eyes, but who knows, they might improve the renders by the time of the film’s release. Like you, I also am praying TIn Tin will be good, since I loved the TV show as a kid and it really inspired a lot of my work when I was a budding cartoonist until even today.
That said, though, I’d be equally rooting for Rango. Heck, Rango, Rio, Kung Fu Panda 2, any one of these can win the Best Animated Ghetto and I’d be a happy man. Rango stands the best chance of a nom for Best Feature Film if there’s no outstanding Oscar Bait movies this year. Although I bet ‘Tree of Life’ or some Cannes darling will ultimately beat the ‘cartoon lizard’ for the coveted prize. No matter, I’ve learnt the whole ceremony is a farce anyway, since 2008 (Some might beg to differ, if they happen to like Slumdog’s Speech or The Hurt Network). I know I sound a little ‘sour grapes’, but I guess the most important judge is ourselves, and no one, not even a committee of old white men, can change what we like in our hearts.
I don’t really think Pixar deserves an Oscar Nom this year, anyway, but really, what’s the big deal if it doesn’t? There’s always Brave next year… 
Race&Animation: I think the Oscar folks choose provocative and daring stuff over feel-good, sentimental stuff. I know there are some exceptions, and this is very subjective, but personally, I feel that Rango might have the edge over Pooh this year. But I can’t be certain until I watch Pooh, I guess, which reminds me, I need to picket in front of the Disney distribution office in Australia to demand why they’re taking ages to release the honey bear here Down Under.
Maybe Tintin suffers of the Uncanny Valley, but it can still be a good movie. Except for the eyes of some of the characters (mainly Tintin, as the others look better), I think it looks technically great.
But even supposing it has failed in the technical aspect, it can still be good. That’s not the only aspect to consider in a film, even an animated one.
Good point, Spirit. There has been many films which are stunning from a technical viewpoint, but narratively-famished. Final Fantasy: Advent Children is one example I can think of. I’m really hoping that if Tin Tin doesn’t climb out of that Valley, that a ripping good yarn would compensate for it. And like you, I’m eagerly awaiting it, although it’s more of a ‘Can They Pull This Off?’ kind of anticipation rather than a ‘This is Gonna Be Good!’ kind of confidence.
Rango, I feel, is a success both from a technical and narrative viewpoint. Some people were disgusted by the character designs - Spill (an animated Youtube movie review channel that is funny but pretty vulgar) unflatteringly described the average cast character as “covered in s***, ran over (him) with a truck, and shot (him) in the ***”. Then again, they also said “I guaranteed you that Pixar is wishing they could’ve worked on this film, wishing that their stamp was on this film.”
I thought there was an incredible amount of attention to detail, more so than even Cars 2. While Cars 2 certainly excelled at the construction of entire metropolises and grand action sequences, Rango quietly succeeds in the ‘devils in the details’, that bullet hole in a critter’s ten-gallon hat, the worn-out, grunty look of a gunslinger’s coat, the minute scratches and rust marks in a rattlesnake’s tail.
And of course, the story appealed to me on a personal level because it is both a spoof and a homage of the Western genre that manages to include a quixotic quest on identity and self-fulfillment, both very grand and deep themes for films of this medium. Of all the animated films I’ve seen this year, Kung Fu Panda 2 comes closest to something this introspective and meaningful.
I’m not overly confident, but it’s from some of my favorite filmmakers, and I actually know the source material (I’m a longtime fan of the books, and I’ve read them all), so I have the certainty that it will be good in that respect, unless they make too many changes.
About Rango, yes, the animation is really impressive (what do you expect from something made by the best digital artist on Earth, who work at ILM?), but I doubt Pixar would wish to have its brand on it. It doesn’t feel like a product Pixar would make. So it’s like saying that Pixar is wishing they had made The King’s Speech cause it’s a great movie.
I can’t compare it with the Cars 2 animation yet cause I haven’t seen it (!"$#·!%!$&), but watching the trailers I theorized it would be impressive.
Rango’s script is also good, but it’s the only aspect of that movie I found overrated. Sergio Leone is among my favorite filmmakers, and I loved the western homages, but I don’t think it succeed on having a very strong plot.
Anyway, I think it’s a great film, and the best alternative to win the Oscar this year thus far, at least until I can watch the upcoming animated films.
That saddens me. Since when is semi-realism “ugly” and everything that Spill reviewer bloke mentioned? Jeez! I liked the character designs, just by how faithful they were to the original animal designs, apart from adding some needed human characteristics as hair, clothes, and human-like teeth. Sure makes a change from multicoloured, big-eyed cartoony animals! (no offense to them, you know I love cartoony character designs, but you know what I mean.)
I liked Rango for most things people find it unappealing, it seems! It’s such a good movie…
And I mean, c’mon. It’s freaking Johnny Depp.
Saw it the other day, and is it just me or did the animation look half-finished at some points?
I didn’t get that feeling. Maybe it’s because the’re are some textures that are supposed to look a little crude. And did you watch it on HD?
I’m not really sure.
I must be one of the few who actually found the character designs kind of endearing once you got used to them. I admit I was freaked out by the teaser poster at first, but the characters really grow on you once you get acquainted with them.
I agree! Too many cartoon characters look ‘clean’ nowadays, so it was refreshing to see the cast of Rango all beaten-up and gritty like in a real-life Western.
Picked up Rango on Blu today already watched it 3 times did anyone see the extended Ending I enjoyed it.
Yes, I also liked the extended version (not only an extended ending, but also some extra scenes scattered throughout the movie).
A really excellnt film, with some jaw-dropping CGI - as for the Blu-ray, it is a thing of utmost beauty. Even those who don’t like the movie would be hard pressed to criticise the technical aspects of it or the Blu-ray.
Great commentary track too.
A most excellent and highly recommended purchase. 