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Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Gil Kenan
Mitchel Musso (Hannah Montana (TV) )
Sam Lerner (Envy)
Spencer Locke (Phil of the Future (TV) )
Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs)
Supplied By : Sony Pictures
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Nov. 1, 2006
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| PLOT Even for a 12-year old, D.J. Walters has a particularly overactive imagination. He is convinced that his haggard and crabby neighbor Horace Nebbercracker, who terrorizes all the neighborhood kids, is responsible for Mrs. Nebbercracker's mysterious disappearance. Any toy that touches Nebbercracker's property, promptly disappears, swallowed up by the cavernous house in which Horace lives. D.J. has seen it with his own eyes! But no one believes him, not even his best friend, Chowder. What everyone does not know is D.J. is not imagining things. Everything he's seen is absolutely true and it's about to get much worse than anything D.J could have imagined. |
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| THE REVIEW Since Pixar opened the gates as to what can be achieved in animation psychically and visually by means of the computer years back when creating their hits such as TOY STORY, many other films of the like are not so much unique anymore, but rather typical. In all truthfulness so many have been released, it is often that I see an advertisement for a film's DVD release that had been released theatrically, yet I have never really even heard of it - that's how run-of-the-mill they have become. But Monster House was an exception as I did see it's coming soon trailer and it really caught my eye, something that rarely happens to me when it comes to animated features - this one really stuck with me, why you ask? because it seemed to have a competent story on it's hands and it stuck to realism, we didn't see any talking bears or hyena....or what have you. The filmmaker's have taken what's real and exaggerated it just a little, just enough to separate it from your average real time movie (the animation is so in credible it is almost like watching real people on screen) The setting would be your typical suburban neighborhood yet vividly colorized and over-drawn. The character's in MONSTER HOUSE are all very distinct, and one thing they all have in common is that they are all very likeable. The primary character's are set up like the typical coming-of age kid flick, like a GOONIE'S or a film along the lines would be. coincidently. We have DJ, he is our hero in the film, he had always been afraid of old crabby Nebbercracker and his old house across the street, and when he sees strange things going on around the house, no one believes him. The first of those non-believers is his closest and best friend, the slightly overweight Chowder - that is until he along with DJ, witness the old house swallow Bones, the Boyfriend of the babysitter, the rebellious Zee. Later in the film the two boys are joined by a beautiful redheaded girl named Jenny. Jenny, a young schoolgirl whom is selling candy for her all girl Prep School, looks to have been the house's next meal, that is until the adventurous DJ and Chowder rush to her aid - from there....they befriend her. It is then when the youngsters begin the conjure up ideas to prove that what they see is indeed real, and when their primary plan fails, it sees them in a Police car that in the end is swallowed by the old house, they do manage to escape however which leads to there exploration of the house, where they find answers to questions they have had for many years about Nebbercracker, MONSTER HOUSE's story is like what every young kid has ever thought of or dreamt up in their head brought to life on screen. The story is adventurous, clever and witty and has just enough comedy to keep distinguishable from the others of it's kind, as adults such as myself can enjoy this on just as much as the kids will. To me, the Motion capture animation here is just brilliant. If you watch the Special Features included on this disc, you will learn that all of the character movements are done by the actor voicing their characters while they are wearing special suits and motion capture points on all of their moving parts(ie jaws etc.). In doing the animation this way, the actors got a more hands on feel, and were able to convey realism as they normally would. The main actors as well as everyone else in the cast, all put in enjoyable work, the characters are so charismatic and real, that you really find yourself forgetting that they are computer generated. Some fans may look at MONSTER HOUSE and blow the whistle on it before giving it a chance, but it is truly something unique and different. From it's monstrous(no pun intended) 3d animation, to it's highly imaginative story, it is truly a film that you will most likely find yourself enjoying no matter your age! |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 6/10 The score really surrounds the action on screen and really makes the house seem that much more nasty and vile, as well as intimidating. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I actually liked this film a lot better than I expected. The trailer for the film does suggest a basic plot, but when seeing it you see that it is actually a lot more meaningful then that - as there is a touching story about Nebbercracker introduced that the younger audience probably won't understand but the older audience will appreciate. I do Highly recommend seeing MONSTER HOUSE to everyone! |
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