Rango - A Fun Animated Movie with Johnny Depp

This animated movie is one I wasn't sure I wanted to see at first.  I have enjoyed many movies that starred Johnny Depp, but I just wasn't sure about this.  I like the setting, oddly enough, even though it was in the heart of a hot and deadly desert setting. 

The only down side to this movie that I could tell, was that it may not be the #1 pick for take a much younger child to.  Its ok to do so, but based on what some of the reactions were of the kids in the theatre, it was just something I wanted to mention.  Part of the reason it may be a little scary is also a reason why the movie is so great.  I mean, the artistic license, the realism of animals, even rather grotesque features being fully and blatantly shown.  There are a few parts that may not make sense to a young child as well. 

Still, I would definitely recommend this fun movie to everyone else!  It started out a little slow for me, and I wondered just how weird, odd, and random it could get!  It generally picked up pace and never stopped until the end, however.  There was actually a moral to the story, and lots of little general lessons included.  Plus, for an animated show, a plot that was somewhat interesting and not too predictable!  You really wanted to know what happened later. 

The casting was fun, even if some of the creatures weren't particularly pleasant to see up close. There were some startling images, that were a little surprising at times. Some were just downright gross, sorry! True to life though, just as if you had run into these characters that had been without water a long time in the desert.

Still, there were a few favorite things. I loved the music playing owls, and how the incorporated those classic screeching bird sounds and had some fun with that too. I liked the chameleon of course, Johnny Depp, in part because he overcame such odds and circumstances. He even made some poor choices that he regretted, but overcame and made up for later on. There is a message of survival, and never giving up despite great evil as well desperate situations.

Isla Fisher did great at Beans, loved her character! Abigail Breslin, Ned Beaty, Alfred Molina, and Bill Nighy did great as Priscilla, The Mayor, Roadkill, and Rattlesnake Jake. Love them all and all the rest.

To be fair, my husband got a little bored part way through, but I think he may be tired. My 12 year old and I loved the movie. My husband did like it, and can't deny how funny it was at times, and the owls were just the best! I LOVE the owls, and if you see the movie you will know what I mean.

Hans Zimmer did the music for this movie as well, and my older son noticed that first, and he is a huge fan of his.

The artists had a great deal of fun with this one, the realism or life like nature of the animals was just amazing. Its a true work of art, and if you are trying to decide whether to see this or not, whether in the theater or when it comes out on video, I say to go ahead and see it. Its one of those movies I tried to not laugh too hard out loud, because I enjoy a good laugh, but try to be sensitive to my 12 year old at the movies with his mom, lol. The point being, I laughed often, and got a kick out of the movie many times over. The art at the end during the credits was so interesting.

My son is still talking about little things that made him laugh, and I evidently missed a couple things here and there, it was great fun, filled with twists and turns and unlikely villians and heroes as well. John Logan, and Gore Verbinski, the writer and director, thank you for a fun movie.  There was some care taken to creating a good and fun story and direction to have it play out for us to see on screen. Go see it!