Feature Film Blog

The feature length I chose is “Fantastic Mr. Fox” an animated stop motion movie directed by Wes Anderson. Watching previous films of Anderson such as “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “Rushmore”, and “Life Aquatics with Steve Zissou” this one is a bit different. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is Wes Anderson’s first animated film ever and sure enough a real good one that was nominated for an Oscar. The film is an adaptation based on the book by Roald Dahl. The stop motion on this film is smooth and detailed in every way. From the nasty toes of the farmers to Mr. Fox’s tail being blown off. I believe that this film worked real well because the creativeness of stop motion combined with Wes Anderson’s style created such a great adaptation of Roald Dahl’s infamous book.

Each character had such a unique quality in them. Ash; Mr. Fox’s son is a example we can use. When Ash is mad he tends to cross his hands and spits. In the scene where Mr. Fox is discussing with Mrs. Fox how Ash is different at breakfast. Ash hears this while he is brushing his teeth. Ash looks at Mr. Fox and spits on the floor. Another character is Kylie; Mr. Fox’s partner in crime, he tends to have crazy eyes. Mr. Fox always brings it up every time he talks to Kylie how he needs Kylie to give him some kind of signal that he understands what Mr. Fox is talking about. The animation of Kylie’s crazy eyes are two eyeballs that are swirls rather than circle when he has a close up shot. The film tends to answer what the viewers might be thinking like how did Mr. and Mrs. Fox escaped in an impossible trap in the beginning of the film. THEY DUG THEIR WAY OUT!

One quirky thing Wes Anderson tends to do in his film is to come up with something clever. Since the film had a PG rating, it did not have any curse words. But, instead of using the “F” word they would use the word “Cuss” as a replacement. One scene was funny between Badger (Voiced by Bill Murrary) and Mr. Fox (George Clooney). Mr. Fox asked to Badger if he was “Cussing” at him. Badger asked Mr. Fox the same thing and they go into this savage like fight in Badger’s law firm office.

One of the messages “Fantastic Mr. Fox” brings up is how we’re all wild animals. Even the humans in the film are savage in how they will not stop trying to kill Mr. Fox. We see these animals have human like qualities like in any other cartoons. Where we see them all dressed up as humans, act like humans, talk perfect English, but yet they tend to have a wild side to them. It goes to show about animal instincts in certain scenarios like when one is mad or in a desperate situation, our animal instincts kicks in. For Mr. Fox, he growls and makes fox like noises. Mr. Fox even brings it up a lot especially at the end when he gives his epic speech. How we’re all wild animals, we all have some qualities in us that made us survive for so long. Then he goes ranting to each character their given Latin name for Badger, Mouse, and what not. Going back to the farmers and how they relate to the animals. They are seen as savages. Even at the end, they would not stop trying to kill Mr. Fox and his family. They waited with their guns in front of the whole. I thought it it was a bit too much when they ordered 500 rounds of ammunition and bulldozers trying to get Mr. Fox. It was weird how Mr. Fox spoke to the farmers and they understand what he said. All in all, the animation on this film is a victory for stop motion and Wes Anderson’s vision of this classic book is amazing!

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