A Trifecta of Holiday Blockbusters!

As the holiday season ends and the New Year begins, three of the most anticipated blockbusters of the season are continuing to dominate the box-office. The first is a 15 years in-the-making science fiction epic; the second, the long awaiting revival of a beloved detective; and the third, a rockin’ and rollin’ Squeakquel.

Written back in the mid-1990s but delayed until film technology was primed, James Cameron presents his first film since 1997’s Academy Award™ Winner Titanic. AVATAR transports us to a bleak future where the only hope for mankind is to mine the distant planet of Pandora, a vast world of jungles and forests home to ten-foot tall, blue humanoids called the Na’vi.

From a purely technical level, AVATAR is an astonishing achievement. The world of Pandora is immensely beautiful and completely immersive. When seeing the film in 3D (truly the best way to experience it) the viewer is pushed straight into the action. Cameron developed a special 3D camera to shoot the film, and the result is nothing short of a visual feast. Another achievement is in the detail of the CGI. While promoting the film Director James Cameron boasted that it would contain effects so believable that viewers would be unable to distinguish reality from the visual effects. Today’s sophisticated audience may not completely agree, but the movie certainly shows that the next great advancement in visual effects has hit mainstream. Pandora is unlike anything ever seen on film. The artistic direction that went into the creation of the world will blow your mind and surely worth an artist’s investment in an edition of the Art of Avatar.

With a relatively simple story told by James Cameron – the master of action, pace, and emotion – there is a wealth of cliché’s in the film, but Cameron presents them in the best possible way, never leaving the film feeling amateur. The performances are also fairly well done. Zoe Saldana is a major standout. Her motion captured performance of Netiryi packs an emotional punch that hasn’t been seen since the likes of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Sigourney Weaver reunites with Cameron for the first time since Aliens to provide the role of Dr. Grace Augustine, creator of the “avatar” program and lead researcher on the Na’vi culture. Unfortunately, our hero Jake Sully (portrayed by Sam Worthington), is the most underwritten character in the film and many audience members may not find themselves connecting emotionally or rooting for our hero. The character seemingly acts without consideration to the consequences of his actions, which takes some of the drama away.

Despite these minor hiccups, AVATAR is a major, major achievement in film and with over $1 billion in gross revenue in a mere 2 weeks at the box-office. It’s a phenomenon no one could have predicted or should miss.

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Now, if you’re looking for something a little more down to earth, Sherlock Holmes is right up your alley. The first major film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary detective in over 20 years, Guy Ritchie’s update is a fast paced, deduction spewing adventure that doesn’t let up one second in its 134 minute runtime. Like AVATAR, Holmes has all the fine tuning of a rousing, entertaining, adventure of a movie and offers escapism into another, albeit former world. Add in the brilliant casting of Robert Downey, Jr. and Holmes is an elementary choice at the movies.

While the film is definitely a more modern take on the Holmes character, with a bit of amplified action, the film stays true to the characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. Holmes’ quirky, almost superhuman analytical and observational reasoning, his boxing and sword fighting skills, and his distinct lack of personal hygiene is truly the character at his roots. The charisma between Downey and Law is unmistakably great, so much so that they carry the film when the plot turns to mulch in the third act. While the plot for the film is well written and is quite witty at times, the overall payoff simply boils down to the villain’s desire to “take over the world” – seemingly a little generic for a film about the world’s greatest detective.

As with most action movies, the writing of the female character has been undervalued. Irene Adler is touted as the one person in the world that has outsmarted Holmes, but Rachel McAdams is underwritten in her character, unconvincing in her role and undeniably present to set up a sequel. Granted, Downey is so brilliant in the role that it’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone able to match him.

Visually, the audience becomes captivated by the deductive reasoning of our genius detective as they are literally thrown into the mind of Holmes through fascinating slow motion camera work and editing. Add to the brilliant cinematography the slick, Tim Burton“esque” production design complimented by Hans Zimmer’s score of bizarre banjos & violins, and Sherlock Holmes becomes one of the most distinct and memorable films of the year.

Finally, for us designers, be sure to stay around for the end credits. They are truly an artistic achievement! If you want to learn more about the process of the design on these end credits, click HERE.



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To round out our trifecta of blockbusters, if you’re looking for just a “little” escapism with your movie going experience, climb aboard with Alvin and the Chipmunks as they head back to school and into a whole new world of adventure and...you guessed it...love!

Through another inevitable series of pratfalls, misguided intentions and overactive imaginations, our lovable munks Alvin, Simon and Theodore wind up in the care of Dave Seville’s twenty-something nephew Toby (Zachary Levi). The boys soon after find themselves tasked with saving their school’s music program in a battle of the bands when they unexpectedly meet their match with The Chipettes... Hellooooo Ladies!

Although the audience doesn’t see much of Dave (Jason Lee) in this film, Zachary Levi fills the role of the newly-appointed caregiver quite charmingly. Toby let’s the boys pretty much run amuck until Alvin, Simon and Theodore teach him a few unsuspecting lessons in commitment, responsibility and love. David Cross returns as Ian Hawke in a performance truely fitting of his character’s surname! Reduced to residing on the rooftop of Jett Records in a robe and slippers, Hawke receives an unexpected visit from what promises to become the next pop sensation...The Chipettes. Against his first impulse to “jett”ison the girls off the building, Hawke eagerly sees dollar signs in his eyes again and assigns himself their manager.

The Squeakquel is definitely a film for the family! Kids will laugh at the antics and be singing during the ride home. For parents, it’s a fun-loving movie you can feel good about taking the youngsters to see. If you’re looking for an emotionally packed story, rich cinematography, and ground breaking special effects, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Alvin and the Chipmunks offers a low dose of cinematic ingenuity but a high dose of good clean fun.

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The New Year promises something for every film enthusiast! If you love action, thrills and an unbelievable visual experience catch AVATAR. If you like your action movies with a little more intellectual flavor, Sherlock Holmes is your man! And, if you’re looking for a couple hours of saccharine induced antics, Alvin and the Chipmunks are ready to spin you round, round like a record baby! Those of us movie lovers here at Menagerie, are rarely satisfied with seeing any film just once so next time you’re at catching one of these blockbusters, look around, you may just run into us at the popcorn bar – extra butter please!

Written by Jeff Butler and Cheryl Savala