Animation and Design

Posts Tagged ‘Megamind’

Two months after the premiere of ‘Gru, my favorite villain’ (‘Despicable Me’) of Illumination Entertainment has come to our screens ‘Megamind’, DreamWorks, another product of 3D animation that revolves around a very Similarly, a villain who aspires to be the best, most powerful and feared the face of the Earth, but in reality is more awkward, funny and kind of what you want to appear. It is not the first time you start up two projects with similar themes that are released around the same time, most recently happened with ‘Cop Out’ (directly to the domestic market in our country) and ‘The other two’ (‘The Other Guys ‘), and we all remember cases like’ Deep Impact ‘and’ Armageddon ‘in 1998,’ The Illusionist ‘(‘ The Illusionist ‘) and’ The Prestige: Prestige ‘(‘ The Prestige ‘) four years ago .

It always arrives before strikes twice, but here it has happened. The small margin between the release of these two productions has resulted in ‘Gru’ faster, achieved a spectacular box office, while ‘Megamind’, although successful, has had to make do with smaller numbers, not only because the public I had seen a film with a similar argument, but by competition from two titles like “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Part 1 ‘(‘ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Part 1 ‘) and’ Tangled ‘(‘ Tangled ‘), fighting for the same audience. In a battle of numbers, and now also award (‘Gru’ is one of five nominated for Annie Awards), winning the film comes out clearly inspired by the study Illumination, but if we come to appreciate the movie, I think the result is totally different, DreamWorks is funny, witty and exciting.

Directed by Tom McGrath (“Madagascar” and its sequel), the film takes us back to Metro City, a city protected by a perfect superhero called Metro Man (voice of Brad Pitt in the original), whose main mission is to thwart his nemesis, the evil “genius” of crime called Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell). The struggle between good and evil has become a routine for the two characters and the people of Metro City, especially for the reporter Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey), which sequesters Megamind constantly, since it is the hottest girl Man next to Metro City when the hero is thanking his dedication, the blue and stubborn villain arrives on the scene with a new plan that will have unexpected results.

In a successful and fun introduction to see how Megamind arrives wanting to become the greatest enemy of mankind, explaining that his rivalry with Man Metro began in infancy when their parents sent them to earth, desperate, before that the planets disappeared. While one ended in a wealthy family where he would have what he wanted, the other fell in the courtyard of a prison, being raised by inmates, which would help him develop his skills for crime. So, thanks to its incredible superpowers, Metro Man became the defender of justice, while Megamind, no more help than a thug inseparable (David Cross), would choose to be their greatest enemy, the terror of the city . Everything will shift when he finally defeats Metro Man, and has the need for another hero to fight for, Titan (Jonah Hill), which has its own idea of what they can run their powers.

will-ferrell-conResulta Megamind-comic-encouraging to see how it is expanding the way that cinema is approaching superhero (and supervillain), as its characteristics (action, powers, spectacular inventions) have an irresistible commercial potential , thanks a wider range of offerings. While Christopher Nolan’s Batman, realistic and serious, triumphant at the box office and earned criticism, generating all kinds of imitators, the proposals do not go away most casual (Iron Man) and fantastic (‘Wolverine’), the same time beginning to take shape a less mythification, focusing on the flaws, quirks and contradictions of the characters. ‘Watchmen’, ‘Kick-Ass’ or ‘Super’ (a prank seen in Sitges, in theaters yet unpublished) show that the public is also interested in seeing the less perfect side of the superhero.

‘Megamind’, whose origin lies in the question “What if Superman defeated Lex Luthor” (there are clear references to the man of steel, such as Louis Lane’s character or the “godfather” space), explores from a comic view the necessary relationship between hero and villain, and what would happen in the unlikely event that the second was successful, and what if the villain, and only, you will find a greater enemy. The film plays with the lure hook pose a different situation than usual, as did other products DreamWorks (Shrek), but as my companion pointed Jesus Leon is limited by their commercial claims and a script (written by Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons) which does not take full advantage of the characters and the disputes. Again, the study is content with little, resort to topical situations, referential jokes (‘Captain Marvel’, ‘Robot Monster’, ‘Donkey Kong’…), blows and easy jokes, seeking immediate returns rather than a story that remains in memory.

Although it may seem contrary to the designs of the characters, there are ‘Megamind’ impressive animated sequences, the few action sequences there are spectacular, and although the characters are more gullible than desired, there are times that shows them as human and near, that he stumbled friendly, especially the clumsy and quirky Megamind, who steals the screen from the beginning. The work of DreamWorks still far from what we do at Pixar, where much care the creative process (‘The Incredibles’ and the first sequence of’ Toy Story 3 ‘overwhelming battle between heroes and villains, far outweigh’ Megamind ‘), but no doubt, considering also the most successful’ How to Train Your Dragon ‘(‘ How To Train Your Dragon ‘), which are improving. Aware of his limitations, ‘Megamind’ is an effective entertainment that can satisfy viewers of all ages, and title for fans of the subgenre of superheroes.

Megamind 1

The Dreamworks animated film has a label clearly marked in a movie where the entertainment is its maximum, the stories turn seek a more or less original in its execution schedules and trite technique is of great bill. Still, although comparisons are odious, but inevitable in cases like this, live in the shadow of Disney / Pixar. Not so much for being behind in terms of artistic results, which are complicated but it’s something to match, but because they choose stories whose draft is usually lower.

In ‘Megamind’ are a true reflection of ‘The Incredibles’ (which do not hide the writers Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons.) A vision of the superhero from Dreamworks wanted to give back than usual. Try this duality (and rivalry) between the hero and the villain and show that the presence of one is meaningless without the other and how they feel, think and raise their relationship in the imaginary world of superheroes. Although in this case come from a distant galaxy.

The film achieves its greatest success in this very approach. It’s interesting how shows where the good, the hero whose boredom finally affected to the point of considering a withdrawal. And the evil whose only motivation and execution passes through the loser in every fight. Until the time, this scenario takes a turn and both reflect on their role. It is when we see that other side, the intimacy of the villain and the hero and his conclusions. As we say, this is very well presented, is the most original and remarkable, but to achieve the effect is to give up a blistering pace and increase the scenes full of dialogue, where the stresses based narrative scenes situation dilated.

Megamind 2
‘Megamind’ and irregular rhythm

Here again the comparison fits. Because where Dreamworks (or Tom McGrath, the director) needs, and not just what we have seen in this ‘Megamind’ several minutes, plenty of scenes and dialogues abusing stressed in Disney / Pixar solve it in one fell swoop, with simple scenes , strong and sublime narrative synthesis.

Here is where the adult viewer extracts the maximum essence of ‘Megamind’ and children are restless in the chair waiting for the long-awaited confrontation, action and fun you expect from an animated movie (in 3D). Although a bit late in coming and dilate over the arrival of the show. Well done in the last third of the film.

But ‘Megamind’ despite its successful resolution, without disappointing but did not reach the brilliance, suffers from lack of faith. Little faith when sharpening to parody, to impose on the action scenes throughout the essence (they are not exactly the best) and the presence of a weak character who provides a point of weakness, interest, and whose resolution is too “articial” bringing out the cadences of the cinema conceived as an industrial product, the mainstream with a lack of risk, daring and, as noted, faith in the issues raised and cross the line from the conventional.

Megamind 3
Good characters except for the girl

The clearest example is found in Roxanne Ritchie, reporter, that character is merely a parody of Lois Lane (and one of the many tributes to ‘Superman’, his main reference), and is by far the weakest of Side Gallery. It shows little faith or little inspiration perhaps, in time to include this character whose sosez hampers the film, like the scenes of blue with her protagonist, a love story so sappy and dull and lazy.

We cannot say the same about the rest, that nice Minion, faithful partner or tubestations cocky hero, and all a showman. Characters whose presence gives the film richness and comic moments and fun. And of course Megamind, friendly, recurrent, deep and original hero status for his forced to be the bad guy (although we have only recently Gru).

However, the bill serial product, should not overshadow the great successes: the universe multireferential, winks moviegoers properly installed (great parody Brandon half the father of Superman, half Godfather) and to gain the empathy of the viewer, and some dialogs and comic situations that manage to give luster to the whole (despite the choice of music and underused desarcertada). Whole also gains when it becomes histrionic, wild and let the fun flowing with that point of riot to the delight of many.