Due to not being on 'unlimited' internet, I dare not face the wrath of me bill-paying father. When I...
Due to not being on 'unlimited' internet, I dare not face the wrath of me bill-paying father. When I'm back at uni I'll either have broadband or unlimited, so Ill be back then.... thanks. DAN
Member since:07.09.2000
Reviews:147
Members who trust:126
Is it me, or are the number of films with good reviews out at the mo declining? Tomb Raider, JPIII… others. Didn’t fancy Shrek.
Blah! Anyway, saw the advert, thought it was OK, my film reviewing website place I go to said it was OK, and if it was sh…ockingly bad, it is only a short film.
Likened to ‘Babe’ because of the talking animals (not the fantastic storyline) this film is about cats and dogs. (I am pretty sure that is where the title of the film came from, confirmation would be appreciated) Bit like Titanic I suppose. (Can you tell yet that I’m not going to review the movie with a great deal of seriousness?)
COMPUTERS are obviously involved. As far as I know, the cats and dogs in the film do not talk in ‘real life’ (although there are rumours, or cross-genetic experimentation) and so the computer had to move their lips around for us. This is done very well, and I was impressed for a good fifteen minutes before I thought about how the special affects are actually basic compared to other films which have been made… i.e. the novelty wore off quite quickly.
Dog
chases cat, cat escapes, dog looks silly…. Bit like Tom and Jerry really, I won’t explain how, you can work it out. This is how the film starts. With a great scene actually, butt-clenching almost, (tone that ass) we see the cat whipping around the place with the dog scampering after, trying to catch up.
Some nice camera work follows, and introduces us to the family where the dad, (Jeff Goldbum… I mean blum (unhealthy addiction) from JP) is quite a strange and slightly scatty scientist, trying to formulate a vaccine for humans who are allergic to dogs. The cats want to stop this happening, (as dogs would then become more popular) and so the dogs protect the house and the scientists lab. ‘Toto Annihilation’ is what he wants to be called, but the family’s new dog is called Lou instead… and was mistakenly picked for the house dog… anyway, he is meant to be a secret agent, he isn’t, but is thrown into the action anyways. It will make sense when you see it.
What then follows is basically the scrap between the cats and the dogs. The cats, lead by Mr Twinky (! That’s what some blokes call their…) try to get the secret formula and destroy the research, and the dogs try and protect it all, with both sides using some great technology.
The plot is… within a safe distance of being good. In fact, the initial idea of the formula and protecting it etc. is actually a good idea, I do not think that there are many great storylines which can be made-up concerning cats and dogs really. But, inevitably, the film falls into the hands of those film people who have to add meaning and moral worth to the film, and it becomes one for the younger generation. The predictable ending is seen from half way through the film, and another moral stance from about ten minutes in. The average ten year old will enjoy the film, and will understand a great deal of it and all the jokes.
Failure. I do not want a film where ten year olds are going to understand the whole film. I want dirty undertones, sexual innuendo’s and some (in this case) saucy doggie action ( ; - ) ) OK, too far with the saucy dog action, but I want to think about some of the jokes. The one I remember most which was the most complex was probably, the comment "Son of my mum" of course, the youngsters would probably not get this, and seriously, this is as complex as the jokes got. I laughed very loudly at that joke because of all the built up tension of expectancy I had waiting to get out of me. (No comments about me being single thankyou).
The film does have many funny moments (dogs and cats smacking into windows and sliding slowly down is old but still a fairly good one) which will make you wonder if the ten year old will need to go back to nappy’s with the amount of laughing they will no doubt do (think about it) but you yourself will be safe in your normal undies.
The action is good. There is enough of it to keep an adult happy, a lot for the kids.
The soundtrack was traditionally an orchestral one at THOSE moments, but was otherwise pretty good.
I really do not know what it is with females/women. I went with one, and she basically loved it, although seemed pretty reluctant to admit it when she saw my half mardy face when we walked out into the cinema lobby. Perhaps it was because she found the dogs quite cute… and so the whole ‘aaahhh’ thing was a factor for her liking the film. Not me. I found the ending predictable and boring, with no twists or pondering thoughts being produced. MAYBE I expected too much from a kids film. Some kiddy films have adult jokes knitted into the script, some don’t. This one does NOT.
As there are not a LOT of other films around at the moment, I would have to say that this film is definitely worth a look at. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was worth a watch (not one you wear on you’re wrist, they cost more than the £3.50 I paid to watch the film) but not a second. Swordfish is still the film to see, and the soundtrack (recently purchased) is also great.
In a sentence Cats and Dogs is "A film for the pre-teens who enjoy a bit of action, and parents should not go expecting any undertones, but a film with morals."
Ta
DAN
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Production Year: 1993 - Family - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Michael Caine, The Muppets, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, David Rudman, Steve Whitmire
Superbly detailed as always, this op certainly up the usual high standard. Shame about the film, cheers, Timmy.
offy 01.09.2001 22:52
Oh dear, I am not pre-teen but I still fancy this one anyway. Why don't you think you'll enjoy Shrek - it's bl**dy brilliant!
Freddydog 29.08.2001 12:03
Dan - have returned yet again to see if I can rate - alas not, the powers that be at Ciao allow me to log on see my account but will not allow me to rate anyone (a new sign in box pops up and then tells me I have to re read the op!) so I give this a very helpful if only in the comments. I am off to see this film tonight you never know I might be compelled to write an op! Maria
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![Cats And Dogs [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78521214.jpg "Cats And Dogs [DVD]")
![Cats And Dogs [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78545313.jpg "Cats And Dogs [DVD] [2001]")
Aug 24th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
