Robots DVD Review:

Rodney Copperbottem (McGregor) has always dreamed of been an inventor. Now that he is old enough, he decides to take best invention to Robot City and show it to his idol and the world’s greatest inventor, Bigweld (Brooks) and hope he offers him a job at his company. But the big city isn’t the same as it appeared on TV, as Rodney arrives to discover that Bigweld Industries has a new CEO called Ratchet (Kinnear), who just wants to make money and has no time for inventors.

After the phenomenal success of ‘Ice Age’, 20th Century Fox’s Blue Sky Studios had the chance to rival ‘Pixar’ and ‘DreamWorks’ PDI’ but is their next 3D animated movie up to the same illustrious standard? Definitely yes!

Successfully combining comedy, great characters and a decent story about acceptance and the importance of chasing your dream, ‘Robots’ has everything an animated feature should have. Add to this the fact that this is probably one of the most visually stunning and amazing realised animated creations to hit the silver screen and you have a sure fire winner on your side.

As with all successful animated films, you have to group of characters that you really care about and can easily get behind. ‘Robots’ is no exception to this rule and director Chris Wedge and his creative team have produced some truly memorable ones. Adopting an approach that has been so successful for Pixar over the years, the team behind ‘Robots’ have hired actors that will provide a vocal performance, not just an on screen version of themselves. While the vocal cast is filled with star names, each of these, with the exception to some extent of Robin Williams, create voice that drives the character and doesn’t just sound like Ewan McGregor or Halle Berry in cartoon form. The film is far better for this, as you now invest more time in the characters and are not distracted by thinking ‘which star is this?’

The characters draw you into the film instantly. As we watch Rodney Copperbottem ‘grow up’ in the first third of the movie you connect with the character and want him to succeed in his endeavours. When he grows up and makes the decision to go to Robot City, we are ready to follow his adventure and already care about his plight and circumstances. Voiced brilliantly by an unrecognisable vocal performance by Ewan McGregor, Rodney is a hero character that you can instantly get behind.

As well as our lead we have an abundance of supporting and secondary characters that are instant hits. Robin Williams brings this outrageous vocal style to Fender, a robot on the verge of falling apart as his model coming more and more outdated every day. Greg Kinnear’s Ratchet is a dastardly villain driven by greed and power but is also a complete mother’s boy. Jim Broadbent voices his mother, Madame Gasket, who wants all the old robot models to feed her fiery forge. Amanda Bynes is perfectly cast as the feisty Piper, Fender’s tomboy sister. Cappy, a Bigweld executive with a conscience, is a beautiful robot version of Halle Berry. When you add in Aunt Fanny (Jennifer Coolidge), Bigweld (Mel Brooks), Tim the Gate Guard (Paul Giamatti) and Crank (Drew Carey) plus many others, you have a collection of characters where everyone can find a favourite.

The design of the film is extraordinary. The attention to detail in both the character design and the world that they inhabit is astounding, making this arguably the best looking computer animated movie to ever hit the silver screen up to now. It is just the look of the film that will have you jaw hitting the ground, it is the attention to details that will astound you. From the little patches of rush to the reflections in the shiny chrome, the time, dedication and care invested is all there for you to see on the big screen.

‘Robots’ is a magnificent piece of family entertainment. With just the right blend of great characters and comedy that will appeal to all ages, this film proves that ‘Pixar’ and ‘DreamWorks’ don’t have a strangle hold on the computer generated animation market. Combining a good story, great characters and a world that a visual spectacle, ‘Robots’ is ‘riveting’ from start to finish.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented extremely well, as you’d expect from a computer-generated movie.

BONUS FEATURES

Audio Commentary
This is a Blue Sky Studios technical commentary by Tim Spletz (Lead Technical Director: Effects), Michael Eringis (Lead Technical Director: Materials), Kevin Thomason (Lead Technical Director: Layout), Robert Carbone (Layout supervisor), James Bresnaham (Animation supervisor), Matthew D. Simmons (Animation Technical Director) and David Esneault (Lighting Supervisor). The group talk about the technical advances from the last Blue Sky Studios movie, ‘Ice Age’. They also reveal how the world was created and how the characters were developed. This is an interesting commentary from a technical point of view.

Aunt Fan’s Tour of Booty (4.57 mins)

An animated short from Blue Sky Studios, that sees Aunt Fan take you on a tour of Robot City with hilarious results.

The Voices of Robots (7.29 mins)

Director Chris Wedge, producer Jerry Davis and vocal cast members Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Greg Kinnear, Amanda Bynes, Mel Brooks, Drew Carey, Harland Williams, Jennifer Coolidge, Jim Broadbent and Robin Williams come together to talk about the characters of ‘Robots’.

Discontinued Parts (7.37 mins)

Deleted scenes entitled ‘Tim from the TV show’, ‘Rodney and the Rusties’ and ‘Rodney’s visitor’. Each are made up of animated storyboards, unfinished animation and finished footage. Each have optional commentary from director Chris Wedge.

Meet the Bots

View the design galleries and a 3D turning model of Rodney, Big Weld, Fender, Piper, Cappy, Crank, Lug, Diesel, Aunt Fan, Ratchet and Madame Gasket. You can also read information on each of them.

The Robots Arcade

Interactive games including ‘Robot Dance’, which allows you create your own dance move combination with moves like ‘Robo-tut’, ‘Disco light’, ‘Bust it’ and the ‘Robot’, and Fender Photo Shoot, where you answer observation questions about pictures you have seen.

Ice Age 2 Teaser (1.42 mins)

A preview of the upcoming sequel to the Blue Sky Studios hit.

Ice Age 2 Sneak Peek (2.57 mins)

Director Carlos Saldanha, producer Lori Forte and vocal stars Ray Ramano, John Leguizamo and Dennis Leary talk about the sequel covering the new story and characters.

Coming Soon

Previews of ‘Strawberry Shortcake’, ‘Bratz: Rock Angels’ and ‘Ice Age 2’

OVERALL

As a single DVD presentation, ‘Robots’ is good. With an audio commentary and featurettes for the older viewer and fun games and features for the younger audience, Fox and Blue Sky Studios have covered all the bases but doesn’t go into as much depth as some enthusiasts may have wished. Even so this is still a good DVD package.



Jamie Kelwick