It might look like a conventional Hollywood animated movie.
Its one of the best blockbuster films in years.
There are lessons inRangothat should be taken and absorbed by many modern directors.
And what about those who make animated films, and like to put in references and cultural nods?
After nearly two hours in the company ofRango, theyll rightly be sent back to the drawing board.
You get genuinely nasty, frightening moments.
You get rounded characters.
Characters indulging in, er, bad habits.
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In short, you get an ambitious, exceptional modern-day western.
One that just happens to be animated.
And then the pace and direction of the film changes, not for the last time.
And thats before Rango has taken the townsfolk into account.
But thats just part of the film.
Enter director Gore Verbinski.
Verbinski has directed a family movie before, with the massively underratedMouse Hunta real delight.
Hes best known, of course, for helming the first threePirates Of The Caribbeanmovies.
Yet, for my money,Rangois the best thing hes done to date.
For what he brings to the movie is a live action eye.
And not just for the sake of showing off.
So, a breathtaking aerial action sequence is played out,Apocalypse Now-style, to WagnersRide Of The Valkyries.
Theres a campfire with the beans being passed around, a laBlazing Saddles.
Youll get tinges ofFear And Loathing In Las Vegas.
OfThe Lion King, even.
At its best, its arguably as ambitious as anything even Pixar has put on the screen.
There are, nonetheless, small considerations that may hold the film back in some peoples eyes.
The pacing might not suit all.
And, if you really, really hate westerns, then you may find a reason to dislike this.
But its a small column of negatives, vastly outweighed by the list of positives.
Ultimately,Rangobegs a question: just what do we want from an animated film?
Do we want movies that keep anklebiters quiet for two hours, without ever excelling?
Do we want sequels, films that follow similar templates, cute talking animals, and twee songs?
Do we want them to play safe?
A film with genuine character, with real narrative surprise, and no eye whatsoever on making the sequel.
I know which I prefer.
Ill haveRango, thanks.
Rating:
5 out of 5
