From PASTO, COLOMBIA-Via: L. A. CA; CALI, COLOMBIA+ORLANDO, FL
-----------The Only TONY KISS CASTILLO on FaceBook!-------------------
1,000 Words? Not nearly enough to do this film justice. . Also, we'd be allowed more than 1K Words to discuss a cinematic marvel. The real title is "Chasseurs de Dragon".(Don't confuse this with "Dragon Hunter"!) Name any specific area for evaluating or critiquing a CGI film and "Hunters" is flawlessly top-notch. Every frame, quite literally, is a work of art!
Immediately after viewing my rental copy, I ran out and bought one. In areas such as creative/artistic design and rendering, conceptualization, technical precision and execution, music soundtrack, and sound engineering "Dragon Hunters" set a new CGI standard for 2008, and could have served as the yardstick by which all future CGI endeavors were measured.
In fact, at times, remarkably, I felt it was almost too good! The unparalleled meticulous attention to detail was almost distracting. One example: The nerdy little side-kick/manager character had faint acne scars on his face! Can you believe that?
After experiencing this surreal French production I'm prompted to issue this warning: Pixar and Dreamworks, you'd best stand up and take notice! "Hunters" from an artistic standpoint, has both great highbrow and lowbrow appeal. When Salvador Dali had dreams at age 10, I'm sure they were reminiscent of "Hunters". There is something in this movie for everyone. The acting, by the way, was delightful. Forrest Whitaker gave a firm but nuanced performance.
9********* .......ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!
Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!....
Plot summary
The world has become a vast conglomerate of islands of varying size and shape. This babbling universe is mainly populated with ruthless rogues, surly peasants and illiterate, petty lords. Their main concerns revolve around two fundamental rules: Eat and don't get eaten. For this new world has become infested with a terrible plague: omnipresent, monstrously famished, mutant creatures are wreaking havoc - They are known as the Dragons. Gwizdo and Lian-Chu are two dragon hunters, but are a long way from being among the best. Their only real talents: the size of the hulking brute with the heart of gold, Lian-Chu, and Gwizdo's talent for scams of all and any shape or form. Their sole ambition: to buy a little farm where they can relax and raise mussels, a creature that is a lot less unpleasant and difficult to hunt down than dragons. A few islands away rises the fortress of Lord Arnold. Arnold has a problem: he's living in terror at the thought of the return of World Eater, that horrible dragon that returns every thirty seasons to spread terror and destruction. Nobody has been able to conquer him. In fact nobody's ever returned alive to spread the news of how the fight went. Zoe, the grand-niece of the lord, has decided to take matters in hand, and has met Gwizdo and Lian-Chu. Persuaded that she has found the heroes of her dreams, she is going to drag them into the maddest of adventures.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
In a Perfect World, All CGI VISUALS Would of This Caliber!
Really good. Why isn't this getting a decent US release?
This is a CGI animated film based upon a French 2D animated series. The series ran briefly on Cartoon Network, but its run was so brief that its inclusion as one of the potential Oscar nominees for best animated film for this year left most people I know going "Huh?" This is the story of Lian-Chu, the kind heart muscle, and Gwizdo, the brains of the operation, who along with Hector their fire farting dragon,he's more like a dog. Travel the world offering up their services as dragon hunters but never getting paid. Into their lives comes Zoe, the fairy tale loving niece of a king who is going blind. It seems the world is being devoured by a huge monster and all of the knights the king has sent out have never returned or if the do return they come back as ashes. In desperation the king hires the dragon hunters to stop the world eater. Zoe of course tags along...
What can I say other then why is this film hiding under a rock? This is a really good little film that is completely off the radar except as unlikely Oscar contender. Its a beautifully designed, fantastic looking film (The world it takes place has floating lands and crazy creatures) that constantly had me going "Wow" at it. The English Voice cast with Forrest Whitaker as Lian-Chu (one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard) and Rob Paulson as Gwizdo (think Steve Bucsemi) is first rate. Equally great is the script which doesn't talk down to its audience, using some real expressions not normally heard in animated films (not Disney nor Pixar). Its all really well done.
Is it perfect? No, some of the bits go on too long, but at the same time its is damn entertaining.
If you get the chance see this. Its one of the better animated films from 2008, and is going on my nice surprise list for 2009.
One word; wow!
"Dragon Hunters" is without a doubt one of the best animation movies that I have ever come across. It is right up there with "How to Train Your Dragon".
The story told in "Dragon Hunters" is a classic tale of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and the unlikeliest of heroes emerging to save the day. And we, the watchers, are invited along for a ride of a lifetime.
From the very beginning, you are in for some visual treats. There are so many fine details and amazing work made here. From the floating chunks of rock and such, having a very chaotic limbo-like feeling to it, to the details on the characters and creatures. There is really a very unique style going on in the movie, and it works out so well.
The characters in "Dragon Hunters" are well thought up, though they are taken right out of the classical "how to make a fairytale" workbook. And the voice acting behind the characters supports and carries these animated characters so well.
I was genuinely surprised by the movie and it blew me away, instantly becoming one of my favorite animated movies of all time.
If you like adventure, animated movies and heroics, then "Dragon Hunter" is definitely a movie that you have to check out. It is so cool, that this review hardly does it any justice.