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Chicken Run [2000]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

As warming as a nice cup of tea on a cloudy day, Chicken Run is that charming singularity, a commercially successful British family movie that has near-universal appeal without compromising its inherent British pluckiness (that will be the first and last poultry-pun in this review). It invites us into the Plasticine-world of Tweedy's farm, a far-from-free-range egg factory ruled with an axe of iron by greedy Mrs.Tweedy. One intrepid chicken, Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha) sets her sights on breaking out the whole flock, a cast of beautifully individuated chicken characters including ditsy Babs (voiced by Jane Horrocks), matronly Bunty (Imelda Staunton) and practical-minded Mac (Lynn Ferguson). Each effort is thwarted, and Ginger repeatedly reaps a spell in the coal bunker for her troubles, prompting the first of many allusions to The Great Escape, one of several World War II films name-checked throughout. (Grown-ups will have a ball playing Spot-the-Allusion Game here.) When an American rooster named Rocky (Mel Gibson) literally drops in from the air, the hens are set all a-flutter with excitement thinking he'll help teach them to fly away at last. But Rocky is not all he seems.

Although the action sags just a fraction around the 40-minute mark, it's the set pieces that really lift this into the realm of cartoon genius: the montage of inept flying attempts, Rocky and Ginger's narrow escape from Mrs Tweedy's new pie machine (an horrific contraption of chomping steel and industrial menace) and the magnificent, soaring climax. Despite the fact British animators (such as the directors, Nick Park and Peter Lord, themselves) regularly scoop Oscars for their short films, our record in full-feature length cartoons has been scrappy at best. There have been a few highlights--Animal Farm (1955), The Yellow Submarine (1968), Watership Down (1978)--and, er, that's about it really, unless you count The Magic Roundabout: Dougal and the Blue Cat. ChickenRun, made by the Aardman production house who produced the delightful Wallace and Gromit shorts among many other treats, has proved that Britain can compete with the most calculated, merchandised and screen-tested Disney production and win. --Leslie Felperin

Editorial
Special Features

1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Teaser Trailer
Regular Trailer
Chicken Impossible Trailer
Chicken Run Game Trailer
Fowl Play The Making Of Chicken Run
Chickens Go In Pies Come Out
Aardman Archive Clips
Directors Commentary
Audio Described
DVD ROM Material
Interactive Moving Menus
None

Editorial
Synopsis

Facing imminent death while laying eggs at Tweedy's English farm, a group of chickens led by the determined Ginger (Julia Sawahla, BBC-TV's ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS) plan to escape their prisonlike coop. The situation goes from bad to worse when the sinister Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) decides to stop selling eggs and use the hens as the main ingredient in chicken pot pies. However, some hope literally falls from the sky in the form of Rocky (Mel Gibson), an American rooster who promises to teach the chickens how to fly. As the hens begin their struggle to get airborne, the monstrous pie-making machine arrives, giving the chickens precious little time to make their great escape.
Aardman Studios' first full-length feature film is a stunning showcase of stop-motion animation. Utilizing the unique Plasticine designs of the acclaimed WALLACE & GROMIT and CREATURE COMFORT shorts, CHICKEN RUN features vibrant visuals and colorful characters that are immediately endearing. (The naive and constantly knitting Babs, voiced by Jane Horrocks, is particularly hilarious.) With its clever writing, witty film references, and pitch-perfect combination of comedy, drama, and romance, CHICKEN RUN is one of those rare movies that genuinely appeals to viewers of every age.
Editorial
From the Back Cover

Trapped behind barbed wire, fearing for their very lives, Ginger, Bunty, Babs and Fowler are chickens with a mission. Ginger and her fellow flock are determined to make a break for freedom but every escape goes "fowl" when they are caught by the evil Mrs. Tweedy and her oafish husband who want to turn them into chicken pies. When an all-American rooster named Rocky lands in the farm, Ginger sees her chance - these chickens won't cross the road; they'll fly the coop. Together they prove that chickens are anything but, as they escape in a daring and spectacular escape.

Chickens' Great Escape
Review date: 2007-05-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

The chickens are tired of life on the farm, and fed up with being eaten when they get too old to produce eggs. They hatch various plans to escape , but none succeed. Then Rocky the Rooster (voiced by Mel Gibson) lands among them, and they think that he can fly and will help them to escape. But can he really fly?

This film is very amusing and the children love it. I enjoy it too. I do however always find myself rather cynically wondering (at the end of the film, when they have escaped to their life of freedom), how they are going to fare the first time they encounter a fox, or when it gets cold and food is scarce and they find themselves longing for their nice warm hen-house back on the farm. Stifle such doubts, just enjoy it.


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Reviews


A classic!
Review date: 2007-02-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

I got this DVD for Christmas even though i have seen this film umpteen number of times. With most films i would hate it if i got it after watching it loads but no, it is very difficult to get bored of this film. There are funny little bits that sometimes you miss and then next time you will spot them and think 'Genious!' This film is now widely regarded as a classic and so it should be! It is great fun for all ages! The animation is fantastic, when you see films using animation this well you think what is the point in films using special effects! The models are fantastic and the voicing is apsolutely second to none! If you haven't seen this film either you're just born or WHAT PLANET HAVE YOU BEEN ON?!! The ending maybe isn't for vegetarians! A must see for all ages 9/10.

Video
Review date: 2006-09-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

I watch this flim a few times. If you like Wallace and Gromit. You will like this flim. It is funny. My friends like this flim.

Clucking Family Entertainment!
Review date: 2006-06-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

From the "cracking" Wallace & Gromit animation artists, they have produced a new breed of film. CHICKEN RUN followes the classic tale of a young female chicken: Ginger, who dreams of escaping Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy's cruel farm.
The chicken lay eggs, day in and day out, but when they cannot lay anymore they kill them, and Ginger needs a miracle to get to the land of hope and glory she has always dreamed of.
Then, when an fired-out Circus rooster: Rocky, lands in on them in the farm, Ginger believes that Rocky is their ticket to freedom.
It's an unforgettable story that leaves very sly refrences to other classic movie milestones: Animal Farm, Indiana Jones, and second world war escape classics.
It also has world class of British/American voice talent including: Julia Swahalla, Mel Gibson, and Phil Daniels. It also has cute characters that the kids will love, and there are some wonderfully sly jokes for everyone to laugh at.
It is very off-key in it's tone, but still, it's a classic for all to enjoy.


Disappointing
Review date: 2006-03-04 Rating: 2 out of 10

I guess I expected something of Wallace and Gromet, sadly W&G it was not!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Mel Gibson
Lynn Ferguson
Tony Haygarth
Jane Horrocks
Phil Daniels

Creators:
Phil Daniels (Primary Contributor)
Lynn Ferguson (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Pathe Distribution
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution
EAN: 5060002830574
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2000-12-04
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 81 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2000-06-21
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)

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