Arthur and the Invisibles (PG)
Uneven animation-live action combo may bore kids.
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Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Weinstein Co., Weinstein Co.
- Directed By: Luc Besson
- Cast: Mia Farrow, Madonna , Freddie Highmore
- Running Time: 094 minutes
- Release Date: 01/12/2007
- Video/DVD Release Date: 05/15/2007
- Genre: Family and Kids
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: fantasy action and brief suggestive material.
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated-live action film is muddled and a bit hectic. The movie's two realms feature two villains: a developer who wants to take Grandma's land and an underground bully who threatens to enslave the tiny, perky Minimoys. There's some stereotyping: A working-class mother worries that she's abandoned her son, African warriors appear only to help a white boy have an adventure, the girl Minimoy has pink hair, etc. The movie is based on series of children's books by director Luc Besson.
Families can talk about Arthur's underground adventure. Kids, have you ever imagined changing your size or changing your body? How? What's appealing about the Minimoys? How is Arthur able to help his grandmother? Why are Arthur's parents living apart from him? If your family has read the books the movie is based on, you can compare them. Which do you like better? Why?
Families can talk about Arthur's underground adventure. Kids, have you ever imagined changing your size or changing your body? How? What's appealing about the Minimoys? How is Arthur able to help his grandmother? Why are Arthur's parents living apart from him? If your family has read the books the movie is based on, you can compare them. Which do you like better? Why?
Message
Social Behavior:
Arthur doses his grandmother with sleeping drops so he can sneak after the treasure; Maltazard is villainous; mean developer wants grandmother's home; Arthur's mother worries that, in their absence, she and her husband are "horrible parents" stereotyping of black/"Rasta" characters; minor gender stereotyping (girl Minimoy has pink hair, though she's also tough and brave).
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
Some banging around and crashing into things as the Minimoys travel through tunnels and the lawn; evil Maltazard threatens to enslave the Minimoys and sics buzzing bugs on them ("divebombing" and swooping, some sense of "menace" in the music); Arthur's descent into the Minimoys' underground is stressful (fast, loud); African warriors initially appear as looming shadows with spears; Arthur must wield the "sword of power" a flood threatens Minimoys.
Sex
Some flirting between Arthur and Princess Selenia.
Language
"Royal pain in my keister," "butt."
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs
Ten year-old Arthur (Freddie Highmore) lives on a farm with his grandmother (Mia Farrow). Granny likes to tell stories about Arthur's grandfather, Archibald (Ron Crawford), who's lost in Africa, and she also worries that she'll lose their home to land developers. Arthur decides to help by following grandfather's clues, which supposedly lead to buried treasure. On his quest, Masai warriors shrink him to the size of the elves -- called Minimoys -- who live beneath Granny's lawn. He meets Minimoys princess, Selenia (voiced by Madonna). The malevolent Maltazard (David Bowie), wants to enslave the Minimoys, so Selenia's father (Robert De Niro) sends her, Arthur, and Selenia's brother Bétamèche (Jimmy Fallon), to find the treasure, in hopes that it will pay off the villains.
Is it any good?
Frenzied and disconnected, ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES (originally released in France as Arthur et les Minimoys) follows a human boy whose adventures lead him into a community of teeny-weeny, elf-like creatures.
The plot -- based on a series of children's books by director Luc Besson -- proceeds in a tizzy, cutting between above-ground scenes and below-ground scenes, though never quite establishing thematic or emotional links between the two realms.
Meanwhile, Bétamèche chatters on about nonsense and Highmore -- so charismatic as a live-action actor -- is here turned into a strangely punky figure with spiky white hair. Also distracting: the lackluster animation and the fact that the Masai seemingly come out of nowhere, simultaneously emblems of "mysterious Africa" and their own lack of context.
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Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 19 reviews.
Great adventure!
Age 5+
Posted on 07/29/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 07/19/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 01/27/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Adult Reviews
There are 16 reviews.
Great adventure!
Age 5+
Posted on 07/29/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 07/19/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 01/27/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 2+
Posted on 01/24/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 01/24/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 5+
Posted on 01/24/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Kids Reviews
There are 3 reviews.
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