Monday 28 March 2016

Zootropolis - Film Review





Took my daughter to see Zootropolis and we both enjoyed it.  For a children's animation it is quite different as it takes the form of a buddy cop movie.

It focuses on farm bunny Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) who lives on a farm with her parents and about 200 brothers and sisters.  She dreams of being a cop which everyone laughs at because she's a small Rabbit.

Eventually she goes to police academy and passes and moves to the huge animal city of Zootropolis which is spilt into four sections including jungle and Iceland.

When there her enthusiasm drains as she moves into a tiny room and her boss Chief Bogo (voiced by Idris Elba) puts her on traffic duty and the rest of ghe animals are sent looking for missing mammals.

Whilst on duty Judy meets a sly fox who is running an ice lolly scam by the name of Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman).
Together they get embroiled in a conspiracy to turn the predators of Zootropolis back to there original state and killers.

I thought it was a great film with some excellent animation and voiceovers with a message as well.  Later on in the film the Prey animals are scared to be near predator animals like tigers ect due to a few going savage and I saw a contrast with what's happening in the real world and the terrorist attacks.  It was saying don't tarn everyone with the same brush.

It had some great and funny scenes including Mr Big a crime boss shrew and Flash the Sloth.

Overall a great film for the kids and subtle message for adults as well.

Bels score   -  9/10

My score  -     9/10

Monday 14 March 2016

Book Review -Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings


Book two of the Belgariad - Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings is an improvement on book one - Pawn of Prophecy (7/10 - slow starting adventure setting up the characters. )

In this second outing for Garion who in book one was a humble farm boy,  Sorceress Polgara and her father Belgareth.  Plus an assortment of friends to help along the way we see more of the world and there is more action  including more fights, snake people and magic.

The characters are well drawn particular Garion who has magic growing inside of him which he doesn't want.  Also the Princess Ce'Nedra who has run away from home.

Without giving too much away I really enjoyed this second book in the Belgariad series and wish I had read it way back some twenty years ago when I first got the series from the Fantasy and Sci-fi Book Club.  Now I am going to steam ahead with the third book - Magicians Gambit.


Score  8/10 - a great fantasy (road trip) book with plenty of adventure.