The Little Prince (2015)

Original Title

Le Petit Prince

Genre

Animation | Fantasy

Director

Mark Osborne

Country

France

English Voice Cast

Mackenzie Foy, Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Riley Osborne, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Benicio del Toro, Paul Giamatti, Bud Cort, Albert Brooks, Ricky Gervais, Jacquie Barnbrook, Marcel Bridges, Jeffy Branion

Storyline

A little girl (Mackenzie Foy) lives in a very grown-up world with her mother (Rachel McAdams), who tries to make sure she is prepared for it, only to be interrupted by her eccentric, kind-hearted neighbor, The Aviator (Jeff Bridges), who introduces her to an extraordinary world where anything is possible.

Opinion

I wasn't much of a reader when I was a kid, so I never read the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince". I've heard of it though. It's a well-known classic literature, after all. I've also heard a lot of positive things about this film that opened in my country about a week ago, and I told myself this should have been my first approach to the story. Well, after seeing this heartwarming, emotional and inspiring film, I do not regret it at all. It actually made me want to read the book.

There are a lot of animation films with a message aimed at children. The Little Prince is one of the few that addresses issues such as detachment, life and death through a stunning animation, a great story and characters depth.

The great ability of Mark Osborne, director of "Kung Fu Panda", is turning this commercial film supposedly for kids into a stunning motion picture capable of making also a grown-up audience think. 

Even though I did not read the book, it's pretty obvious the screenwriters added a small parallel contemporary story. The girl protagonist of this modern tale lives in a cold, schematic and competitive world, headed by her super-efficient mother that leaves no room to affection and imagination. Then, of course, there is the most important story, that of the same little girl and an old man who will teach her to enjoy life, and to let go. 

The pace of narration is a bit rushed in the beginning, but then it is just perfect after the character of The Aviator is introduced, and the 108 minutes just fly by - including the closing credits that must be seen.

The animation is stunning, and the combination of CGI and stop-motion works perfectly, placing some sort of barrier between reality and fantasy.

The voice acting is quite well done. Mackenzie Foy does a good job in the leading role of The Little Girl. Jeff Bridges gives a brilliant performance as The Aviator. Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Ricky Gervais, Bud Cort and Albert Brooks also do a good job.

It is only with heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. - The Little Prince

Annie (1982)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | Musical

Director

John Huston

Country

USA

Cast

Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Edward Herrmann, Geoffrey Holder, Roger Minami, Toni Ann Gisondi, Rosanne Sorrentino, Lara Berk, April Lerman, Robin Ignico, Lucie Stewart, Lois de Banzie, Peter Marshall, Irving Metzman, I. M. Hobson, Colleen Zenk Pinter, Lu Leonard, Victor Griffin, Jerome Collamore, Jon Richards

Storyline

Annie (Aileen Quinn) is a fiery young orphan girl who lives in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). Her seemingly hopeless situation will change when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of billionaire industrialist Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney).

Opinion

I didn't grew up watching Annie, and I've never seen the popular Broadway play. This film has been my very first approach to this world, and if the stage play is anything like this film, I really don't get what made the musical a classic. 

Annie does have few good musical numbers, but isn't much engaging, lacks comedy, and feels rather wooden.

The main problem here is the plot. Besides the fact that the course of events is very predictable, it is when the story turns into a search for Annie's real parents followed by a kidnapping that the film really hits the bottom.

The characters look fake and cartoonish, and some of them are almost pointless. I don't know what was Punjab's role in the comic strip, but he hasn't any reason to be in this film.

Also there are several things in the film that, in my opinion, are not very appropriate for a family movie. I don't get why Miss Hannigan is transformed into an alcoholic vamp - I read she wasn't like that in Broadway's version, and orphans and maids showing their underwear during musical numbers may please fathers, and perverts but are not family material.

As for the acting, Aileen Quinn is dreadful to watch, her reactions seem prompted by someone out of the camera range, and she doesn't look like an orphan of the 1930's, but like a sitcom orphan. Albert Finney is completely wasted in this film. Ann Reinking seems too cold, and you can't feel the maternal warmth she is supposed to deliver. Carol Burnett is a huge disappointment.