Sherlock Scribbles: The Great Mouse Detective

The 'Sherlock Scribbles' series continues with Disney's take on the Great Detective. So, of course, everyone is now an anthropomorphised animal...

Monthly Mini-Reviews: July - Animated Film Special

Our running feature Monthly Mini-Reviews is back for July - and it's a little more lively than usual. Lively? you ask. Well, imaginary reader, I say, it's lively because this month is dedicated entirely to animated films. So if you're a fan of all things not-real, put your hands together and read on. Although if you are anything like the characters from our first film, you might need to put your hands on first...

The Lego Movie

In the highly successful first cinematic outing for the age-old popular toy franchise, ordinary Lego Man Emmett discovers that he is the prophesied Special, the one who will stop the evil Lord Business from ending the world.
As has been said elsewhere, The Lego Movie is breathless fun. The cameos of favourite characters in Lego form proved to be one of the highlights of the film, everyone from Stars Wars to Superman made an appearance with, in my eyes, Lego Batman even stealing the film. However, The Movie's greatest achievement is surely the fact that it completely makes you forget that you are essentially watching an hour and a half advert for a multi-million dollar corporation by delivering a hilarious adventure with heartfelt themes of imagination and individuality. In other words, it could be said that all the pieces of The Lego Movie come together to form a wholesome family film.

Coraline

Neil Gaiman's modern classic of a children's novel Coraline - which sees the uniquely-named little girl stumble into the otherworldly lair of the button-eyed Other Mother - could potentially be a hard one to adapt for the big screen: how scary should it be? How kid-friendly? Thankfully, in the hands of Henry Selick (director of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach) this stop-motion film is a triumph and should entertain viewers young and old without sacrificing the weird heart of the original story. With all the elements of production working, the voice acting, the music and not least the wonderful animation (stop-motion films have long been a love of mine), Coraline presses all the right buttons and is definitely the finest adaptation of Gaiman's work. Here's hoping Selick and Gaiman team up again some time in the future.

Frozen

I'm a little late to the party with this one (actually, I'm so late the party's already over and I'm the only one there surrounded by the vestiges of a fun time I never experienced, all alone without - ahem, that's enough with the painful reminiscing). In fact, the only experience I'd had of the once-ubiquitous 'Let It Go' song was this parody version by Doctor Who Arthur Darvill. This month, however, I finally caught up with everyone's new favourite film Frozen - and was left a little cold. I applaud its attempts to - potential spoilers ahead - invert the usual Disney tropes of 'true love' but generally had more fun watching the House of Mouse's last fairy tale effort Tangled (despite Frozen's endearingly chirpy snowman Olaf) and did not get invested in the characters as I much as in my favourite Disneys (The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, if you're wondering). So while many are calling this the Second Disney Renaissance, I'm putting that idea on ice until we see what happens next.

Princess Mononoke

On the exact opposite end of the scale of animated films from the syrupy Frozen we have Hayao Miyazaki's at-times unflinchingly violent Princess Mononoke; while Olaf the Snowman's head may come off I don't recall it doing so with quite the level of viscera displayed here. An epic fantasy in terms of both the scope of the story and the breathtaking visuals, the film is set in feudal Japan as an ancient war is brewing between Gods, Demons and Humans for control of nature -and on the front line is feral child San (to whom the title refers), raised by the Wolf God. While it's long running time results in the occasional loss of momentum, the grand sweep of the film makes for a beautiful spectacle with a serious environmentalist message, leaving Mononoke one of Studio Ghibli's absolute best.

Vids of the Month!

Yes, it's that special time again!

It's time to drop everything and watch some youtube videos (like you weren't doing that already)!

It's time... for VIDS OF THE MONTH!

*Cheap gameshow music*

Yes, ladies and gentlemen we have a great collection of short videos for you to enjoy today. Let's start the countdown!



5. THE SIMPSON PUPPETS!

For a long-term Simpsons fan and childhood Muppet fan, this segment from a Simpsons Christmas special from a couple of years ago meant lots of laughs. I think it's a good example of how, in my opinion, the Simpsons is still just as funny as it used to be - I'll always prefer it to Family Guy. Warning: contains Katy Perry.

4. BEING HUMAN'S 'LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.'

A fun scene for you all that was posted on the Being Human website showing Tom the werewolf telling a pro-wolf version of the fairy tale to baby Eve. Aw

3. 'A HEAD, SHERLOCK?!' 'JUST TEA FOR ME THANKS!.'

I just had to include a scene from Sherlock. From the opening of Series One finale 'The Great Game' this is one of my favourite moments from the whole series. It shows no matter where you dip into the show the characters of Sherlock and John and their relationship come through; the careless, lazy but brilliant detective and his put-upon everyman best friend. I particularly like the bit where Sherlock virtually insults John and then seems suprised and a little hurt when he walks out. A cracker. 

2.  THE AVENGERS TRAILER

As this blockbuster behemoth is being released soon, I thought I'd post the trailer here. Bound to have comc book fans across the world salivating for the duration of the film, it will famously bring the majority of Marvel's superheroes together in one film. I myself am not overly eagerly awaiting its release - Spiderman, the only Marvel superhero I particularly like is absent from the film - but it is written and directed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon who will surely make a good job of it.

1. TIM BURTON'S VINCENT

Here is something a lot more up my street. While he was still working at Disney in the 80s, Tim Burton made this short film of a boy who prefers spending time wallowing in his macabre imagination than play with other children out in the sunshine. It's pure Burton gold from when he was still new and fresh and Vincent Price's narration gives it exactly the right tone. Magic.

That's your lot for this month. Tune in again soon for more Youtube raidings! Guh'night!