Battle for Terra - Theater
AndyO review: * * * 1/2
Metacritic score: 54/100 (mixed reviews)
Battle for Terra is one of the best animated films for children I've seen in a long time. It contains the same serious themes as a film like WALL-E, as well as some brilliant animation. (I saw the regular movie version, not 3-D version.)
The film begins on an alien world, where the inhabitants can fly like astronauts in zero-gravity, and also use flying devices to get around. This is a peaceful race. The children go to school. The people listen to the elders, who know what's best.
But then a strange object covers the sun, like an unnatural eclipse. The elders tell everyone to stay in their homes. Some of the inhabitants think that the Gods have returned. All is well.
But one of the inhabitants, Mala, who doesn't listen to what she's told to think, builds a telescope and sees that the object covering the sun is mechanical, a ship. By the time she figures this out, it's too late -- as an attacking force from the ship is on its way.
I don't really want to spoil the rest, as there are some great surprises as well as interesting themes. This is definitely one you'll want to see, with or without the kids.
Labels: film
