Animated Weekend: Two Cats, Multiple Movie Homages
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:25PM 
Jose here.
Last weekend I decided to catch up with some Oscar nominated films and realized I was doing terribly in the Animated Feature department having only seen Rango when it came out last year. Back in December after watching Arthur Christmas and The Adventures of Tintin I was sure I'd done my homework, as those were the nominees we were all expecting. However clever old AMPAS sneaked up on us delivering the weirdest lineup the category has seen in its young history. Not being a fan of Dreamworks animation, at all, I decided I might as well just get done with it and saw the 4 movies back to back.
I kept a journal to accompany me down this trip.
Puss in Boots
Initial thought: nothing could be worse than Shrek 4, right? Wait, was it number 4 or did I miss a couple sequels that came after it?
Halfway through the movie: this is SO bad, I miss Ken Jeong and all the other people from The Hangover, OK no, not really but Galifaniakis' voice keeps distracting me. Oooh, the monkey from the sequel would've been a nice inclusion. Wait! Isn't there some other movie about Jack and the beanstalk being made?
Final thoughts: I didn't buy Salma Hayek as a cat, she's always striked me as a much more aggresive animal and I really don't get why she and Banderas keep on contributing to this perpetuation of the Speedy Gonzalez stereotype when it comes to Hispanic characters...
Kung Fu Panda 2
Initial thought: what was the first one about? Hmmm *goes to IMDB*
Halfway through the movie: see now this Tiger lady is what Salma Hayek should be like in animated movies!
Final thoughts: wait, what was this one about?
A Cat in Paris
Initial thought: gotta love a nice Hitchcock homage!
Halfways through the movie: all this weird scratchy animation is making me dizzy. The color palette is stunning though. If the Oscars gave out awards based on similar themes, this would get their award for best cat ovie this year. I mean the only other one was Puss in Boots right?
Final thoughts: the animation is lovely but the film felt more like a student project, it lacks a bit more soul.
Chico & Rita
Initial thought: OK, so this was made by the guy who made Belle Epoque. I love when directors approach new mediums (I'm looking at you Spielberg, Jackson and Tintin, not so much at you Zemeckis and all the movies you've done during the past decade). OK so this guy kinda introduced Pé to worlwide audiences and already has a Foreign Language film Oscar (have any other directors been nominated in both categories before?)
Halfways through the movie: I feel weird watching animated characters have sex...ugh but the animation in this is so beautiful! I'm also digging all the cute little movie references...MUST make screencaps for Nathaniel!
It's Bogie!
and Brando!
and now Rita's doing a Dorothy Dandridge number!
Final thoughts: if I had a vote, this one would win the Oscar!
Have you seen all the animated feature nominees?
Reader Comments (8)
I think i'm the minority here who actually watched all the 5 films this year. This is my order of favourite:
-Rango
-Chico and Rita
-A Cat in Paris
-Puss in Boots
-Kung Fu Panda 2
I think the only films that could win are Rango and Chico & Rita, but they're not Oscar's usual 'materials' so i'm not so sure. It's actually a weirdest line-up in recent years (in any categories). But I'm happy they included 2 European hand-drawn animation.
Still think Arthur Christmas and Tintin should be on this list. But I think I'm happy with the nominees (it could be worse, right?)
Just don't give the Oscar to Puss in Boots or Kung Fu Panda 2 I will be grateful.
@ Jose,
CHICO & RITA is really beautiful. I'd love to see it win as well.
Chico and Rita is better than any of the other nominees this year, which is why it'll be another big disappointment when Rango wins...
I don't foresee a situation where Rango loses, but I'm just excited to see Chico & Rita next week, when it finally comes to my area. Still no word on that Parisian cat, though I've got my fingers crossed.
I didn't see Puss-in-Boots or Kung Fu Panda 2, but Chico & Rita easily gets my vote too.
Chico & Rita would also be my choice. A lovely film. But I'm fine with Rango winning too - it was the best of the big studio cartoons by far, even if claims that its Pixar level great strike me as... well, somewhat off the mark. Respectfully. :)
ugh. i'm dying to see chico & rita.
Funny short story about the Oscars: R.I.P. Oscar – A Hollywood Satire by Andie Heid
(includes: The Oscar Games, Movie Star Wars, Catwoman Rises, Battle of the Snow Whites, The Twilight Saga continues…)