Through the Hedge

Right, I went to catch 'Over the Hedge' with D (don't know what nick to identify her and I don't use real names in my blog and od so, initials will do, ya. haha!) today. Pretty good animation film, almost all the qualities which an animation film should possess. Phew, that ought to erase the horrendous experience with my last animation film. Can someone please help me say, 'Chicken Little'? Argh, stupid Disney shouldn't bother to enter the animation industry. Anyway, that's another thing I'm gonna write about for another day. They should leave to the creators at Pixar and Dreamworks. Personally, I prefer Pixar productions but Dreamworks is all good too.

Mmmm... speaking about 'Chicken Little', got a little craving for chicken rice creeping up inside me. =Pp

On a side note, not that it's extrememly crucial to the movie or anything, but I was just wondering about the title as I was making my way home. Why is the movie called 'Over the Hedge'? I don't really recall they making their way over the hedge. For one thing, the whole cast is made up of tiny creatures of the forest. Oops, 'cuse me, I meant cute tiny creatures. The hedge is presented as a giant prison wall for them. Imagine, it's about a little taller than a full grown bear. Wow. A full grown bear that's standing on his two hind legs. Wowie. O.o Now that's a very tall hedge.

Anyway, most of the time, the animals make their way through (note, they bash their way through the greenery) to get over to the human edge. Haha! Over the Hedge? Should be Through the Hedge ba..?? I don't know, probably just one of those things again... Don't mind me, but think about it if you've caught the movie or will be planning to catch it. Just don't think so much about it and enjoy the imaginative world of 'Over a.k.a. Through the Hedge'.

Of course, in every animation film, there'll be characters where you simply can't help it but love. Oh, except for a certain animation film I've caught previously. *crowd chants 'Chicken Little'* Let's see... one thing bad about 'Over the Hedge' is, almost all the characters seem to be lovable on an equal level. There's the ulterior-motive-harbouring-and-smart Racoon; the artistic, Shakespeare-an Possums; the cautious and protective Turtle; the warm and prickly family of Hedgehogs; the crazy, not-so-smart, but fast, very very fast Squirrel; the supposedly stinky, low self-esteem but later gets turned into a gorgeous cat wannabe Skunk. I think that's about it for the main cast of cuddly creatures. But don't mind the Hedgehogs if they ain't too cuddly, ya.

I was kinda rooting for the Turtle 'cos if you've seen 'Finding Nemo', the little turtle, Squirt was real cute. But in 'Over the Hedge' er... his personality makes him rather boring, so yeah, I was kinda disappointed in that. Haha! But you know something, I think his versatile shell takes up more of the limelight than the actual Turtle himself. Pretty funny, if you ask me, just watch it and you'll know what I mean. ; )

So I guess they all stand on the same ground, ends up I don't have any special liking for the main cast at all. Right, let's go to the supporting cast of characters. I'm throwing the bear out straightaway 'cos he's a pure evil selfish bear. Boring, not worth my time. Haha! Okie, I like the retarded, playing-addiction dog and the fat ignorant handsome Persian cat. If ya wondering that how can fat and handsome go together? Well, they can sometimes and in this case, he just gave off this feeling.

The dog is extremely fun to be with as well. At first, you see a chain fastened strong to the ground, which leads all the way towards a dark and foreboding kennel. 1st impression, it's gonna be one of those really fierce, fangs baring, salivating, dark, black and strong dog with a sharp spikey collar. And you know the chains are just for display purposes and it's never gonna hold such a savage beast. The moment arrives and the dog notices our cuddly friends' presence gallivanting around in 'his' backyard. Die liao...

That's when he charges out...

To play!!! ~~~?! haha! Oh man, that was really hilarious. Well, the dog was black; he was strong; and he had something similar to a spikey collar. But he had no evil intentions at all. All he wanted to do was to play. Lol. Although the playing bit may end up being violent, after all, he doesn't know his own strength, but it's really funny to see this massive creature rush out, chanting 'play, play, play' when we expecting a 'kill, kill, kill' creature. Funny twist. ^^

Probably it hits closer to me, with me being with so many different dogs and all during my 2 years stint in dog wing. I can understand that dog's mentality in wanting to play. I had handled those dogs before too. It's really great fun having those dogs with so much interest in playing. Sometimes, they'll even forget their owner for a ball. But a few quick shouts will do the trick and he'll return to you with a sad look on his face. Or not. haha! Some dogs just love playing and eating. The greedy little mutts. ^^

Onto the fat cat. Oh, it rhymes. haha! Yeah, for starters, he's a proud, rich, heir of... I don't know, some king cat? He mumbled jumbled through some long royal name that I couldn't catch any of it. So, being 'royalty' (right, he's still a cat.), he doesn't like to associate himself with strays and the outdoors. Remember I mentioned the Skunk who gets turned into something more er.. presentable? Yup, that's where she comes in. Her role would be to 'seduce' while the adorable gang loot the house. So I suppose the cat is now the guard 'cos you can't really expect that retard of a dog to do that job, can you? haha! And also he owns a state of the art key to the house on his collar.

He falls for the Skunk eventually. Here comes the more beautiful scene... after he realizes she's a Skunk (right, I think he knew that from the start though..) and after she let's loose this 'bio-chemical' weapon from her erm... behind right in the house (poor house...). He still likes her all the same. Somehow, his love for her overrides all his other senses. Awww... haha! Isn't that sweet? ^^ As they are a pair of imaginary computer-generated characters, this is brought out in a more comedic way. But I have to emphasize the underlying elements are still there. It never changes, be it animated creatures or sexually-produced human beings.

Everything is done in good taste. Although, it may not be as impressive as 'Finding Nemo' or 'The Incredibles', but it touches well on the areas that all animations should possess. A fun and wildly imaginative world which we can believe in or provide us two-legged thinking beings another perspective into other living things' perspective and the creation of endearing characters which we can remember at the snap of our fingers. I think that's the basis of animation movies. It doesn't require a top-notch script to rival the other blockbusters hits but all the more, in its characters and environment they operate in. That's why people adore animations sometimes, simply 'cos it stimulates our imaginations when the repetitive society Life doesn't allow us that form of luxury. Hm. My 2 cents worth.

At the end of the credits, while I was making my way out of the theatre, I realized Bruce Willis was the voice actor for the Racoon. Haha! I was oblivious throughout the whole show. Honest. Probably the image of him being this strong attitude-oozing man just didn't quite fit into the image of a mere... racoon? For example, my image of him came from Lethal Weapon, Tears of the Sun etc, and who can forget the ever-popular, one of my faves, Armageddon? haha!

Oh, but I still don't know who did Avril Lavigne voice for. I saw her name at the starting introductions but not at the end credits. Weird.

That's about it for 'Over a.k.a. Through the Hedge'. Sadly, for some chicken out there. They failed terribly for a animation film. Probably if the chicken did not speak in the movie, I would have liked him more.

If you are wondering if I dislike that particular animation, 'Chicken Little' alot, hmmm...

Don't worry.

'Cos ya most probably right. haha! =Pp

Cheerios. End. ^^