Rating: Summary: Pre-Chicken Run Review: For many years - I thought Claymation was a lost art. Then along comes Nick Park and his creations: Wallace and Gromit. I first viewed these shows on PBS and was delighted to learn that they were available on DVD and video.The three episodes featured are: The Wrong Trousers, A Grand Day Out, and A Close Shave. Each of these episodes has enough humor in them to keep you and your family entertained for hours. I have spent several hours watching these films with children and adults of all ages and I still get a chuckle during each viewing. In The Wrong Trousers - we find our heroes becoming pawns in an elaborate scheme concocted by a cleaver Penguin. A Grand Day Out has our heroes searching for more cheese - their search takes them to the moon and they find more then they bargain for. Finally in A Close Shave - our heroes stumble onto a crime spree and one of our heroes discovers love. These films are short, but great. The humor is excellent as is the claymation.
Rating: Summary: The Matrix of Claymation Review: You have to see it to believe it!
Rating: Summary: Clay-mation at it's absolute best Review: This is pure animation perfection - great for kids and adults, and with Nick Parks feature length Chicken Run doing big business in the cinemas it's equally interesting to see where it all began! I have grown up with Aardman Animation's creative style on TV though The Amazing Adventures of Morph/Take Hart, the "Electricity" adverts and their work on the music video for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer and it's totally compelling to watch. A Grand Day Out has quite a dark story and may not be to everyones taste, but The Wrong Trousers (my personal favourite) is brilliantly conceived and executed and A Close Shave has an interesting story, but I feel lacks the excitement of TWT - However this is a must buy! (and if you like your clay animation just as funny but less slick try The Trap Door videos - not by the same animators but similar stuff for much younger children.)
Rating: Summary: Some of the best clay you'll ever see. Review: Aardman studios have been producing animated clay videos in Britain since the early 1970s. Over that period their reputation has steadily grown, financed by producing some excellent animated advertising for various clients. It is Nick Park's three Wallace and Gromit features though that put them on the world map, and justifiably so. In them, you can see the growth in ability and confidence of the producers. The first 'A Grand Day Out' is noticeably poorer animation quality compared with the other two. That is in no way a criticism but a natural result of the lower level of experience and lower budget they then had available. It doesn't detract from its entertainment value either, which is excellent. The relaxed humour and the extraordinary attention to detail of AGDO set the standard the following features, a standard they have constistantly raised. The speeds involved in the chase scenes from 'The Wrong Trousers' are amazing and are a match for anything that comes out of Hollywood. It seems almost impossible to believe that they were produced using 'stop motion' animation. I thought TWT would be nigh on impossible to match but 'A Close Shave' exceeded my expactations. The dialog, the storyline and the visual effects had me in absolute stitches the first time I saw it. In the UK these three features come on separate DVDs with no extras. In the US they are all on one DVD and with a host of extras to boot. You don't know how lucky you are! Buy it now.
Rating: Summary: Wallace and Gromit are TOPS! Review: This boxed set contains three adventures of Wallace and his dog, Gromit, by claymation wizard Nick Park. These are top-notch products, and at least one of them is an Oscar winner for best animated piece. The names of the three videos are: 1) The Wrong Trousers; 2) A Grand Day Out; and 3) A Close Shave. Each video runs for about 30 minutes, making them perfect options for times when you'd like to have the children watch something, but only for a short time. In THE WRONG TROUSERS Gromit faces the intrusion of a penguin boarder who takes over his room, but there are more sinister things afoot -- a heist in the works, all made possible by techno-trousers Gromit receives for his birthday. There is drama, sadness, suspence, and lots of fun in this offering. In the second video, A GRAND DAY OUT, Wallace and Gromit try to decide what to do with their holidays. Being cheese lovers they decide to build a rocket and go to the moon. You'll enjoy this space-age offering. I especially like the fact that Wallace went to the trouble of wallpapering the inside of their spaceship. In the third video, A CLOSE SHAVE, Wallace meets the lovely Gwendolyn, daughter of an inventor. During the course of the movie Gromit is framed for a devious caper he doesn't commit, but it's sheep and Wallace to the rescue. Move over James Bond, this video boasts plenty of high stakes action, technology, and adventure. These videos are engaging, creative, and fun! As you watch the videos you may wonder whether Wallace (the inventor) or Gromit (his dog) is the smarter. I do -- I think it's Gromit. These videos are totally watchable -- no offensive language, violence, or other things to worry about. Excellent family entertainment -- I sometimes slip one of these videos in the VCR after the kids are in bed. 5 stars, but only because I can't award 6 or more. From a long-time Wallage and Gromit fan, Alan Holyoak
Rating: Summary: Nick park's animation is second to none Review: After starting a few years a ago when I saw A Grand Day Out, I have had to see all ardman animation picyures they are simply the best at what they do. These are a must for any animation enthusiast.
Rating: Summary: Hysterically funny! Review: Tears and tears and tears of laughter from my second graders each year I show these! They are so very well done. Worth watching over and over! Buy these for hours of viewing pleasure - for kids and adults!
Rating: Summary: LAUGHED UNTIL MY SIDES HURT Review: I am so pleased that Nick Park is finally getting the attention he deserves. I have been a fan of his work since I was very little - watching Morph every week on a kids art program. Wallace and Gromit have been extremely popular here in England and it seems that they have finally made it over in the U.S. With the release of Chicken Run, interest in Nick Park's earlier animation shorts will definitely skyrocket. If you enjoyed watching these tapes (and I am sure you will) check out "Creature Comforts:- an animation short involving animals in a zoo being interviewed; and Aardman Animations' website (aardman.com) whereby you can read all about the animations, buy merchandise, send free web postcards and watch a new internet only animation entitled "Angry Kid." Released on a weekly basis, this animation although not suitable for children will make your face hurt from laughing so hard.
Rating: Summary: British humor for children, done in clay-mation? Review: Is there a better, more-apt definition of Hades? Or at least that's what I thought BEFORE I watched my first Wallace and Gromet movie. Now, I'm in love. Shorn (or is it Shaun?) the sheep now lives in our home. (a stuffed image and likeness - not the real thing...) Gromet is on my key chain and we have the movies in the front of our book case so we can watch them regularly. This is GREAT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT and I have bought these videos as gifts for friends and family. The characters, humor and story line are great for all kids - big and little - and when we watch these flicks as a family, EVERYONE laughs and has a good time. I highly recommend these videos. A pure delight!
Rating: Summary: Great animation Review: I love claymation and this is just that, but also good and funny. This has 2 main characters: Wallace, and Gromit. They live together, Wallace is an inventor, and Gromit is his dog. Gromit is always making expressions on his face that will make you laugh. The voices are another good thing, they are perfect and funny. In the Wrong Trousers Gromit gets a birthday gift he doesn't really like. They are big mechanical pants that give him walks. They are low on money so Wallace rents out a room, and a penguin moves in. Gromit gets jealous and moves out, and penguin takes over. The other 2 are also funny, but the Wrong Trousers is my favorite one. In a Grand Day Out they take a trip to the moon for some cheese, and find an unwanted robot. In a close shave one of Wallaces friends is stealing sheep to make dog food and wool. Gromit will mae you laugh with his actions, and Wallace will with his clumsiness. Great choice for young children, to some older people.
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