Arthur et les Minimoys (2006)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Céline Garcia (written by) &
Luc Besson (written by) ...

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Adventure awaits in your own backyard.

Plot:

Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, goes looking for some much-fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, a tiny people living in harmony with nature.

Plot Keywords:

Dungeon | Local Blockbuster | Phonograph | Hero | Marriage

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Freddie Highmore	...	Arthur
Mia Farrow	...	Granny
Ron Crawford	...	Archibald (voice: English version)
Penny Balfour	...	Arthur's Mother
Doug Rand	...	Arthur's Father
Adam LeFevre	...	Davido
Jean Bejote Njamba	...	Massai Chief
Saul Jephcott	...	Police Officer #1
Lee de Long	...	Saleslady
Christian Erickson	...	Antique Dealer
Eric Balliet	...	Mover #1
Oxmo Puccino	...	Mover #2
Robert William Bradford	...	Baliff
Jerry Di Giacomo	...	Repairman (voice: French version)
Bienvenue Kindoki	...	Matassalai #1

Also Known As:

Arthur and the Invisibles (Philippines: English title) (USA)
Arthur and the Minimoys (Hong Kong: English title)
Arthur et les Minimoys (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG for fantasy action and brief suggestive material.

Runtime:

103 min (French version) | 94 min (US version)

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Australia:PG | France:U | Netherlands:6 | Germany:6 | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-7 | Hong Kong:I | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG (certificate #43224) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | Norway:7 | Denmark:7 | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Ireland:PG | UK:U | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | Brazil:Livre | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

The father mole's name "Miro" means "poor sight" in French slang, matching mole's poor sight reputation.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Arthur needs a rope and asks if Betameche would have one, Betameche says that he hasn't got any rope. In the next scene, when Selenia takes Betameche's Swiss army knife, he has a rope.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Arthur and the Invisibles: The Making of the Year's Greatest Adventure (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Disco Science

Touching, warming and imaginative fun ride

First of all, the rating of this movie doesn't do its justice. I just finished watching this movie and truly enjoyed the experience.

The story sets in the era of great depression in US. A brave young kid took upon himself the task of saving the family house from the aggressive developer . Though the backdrop of the story were presented in real world (verses animation), the main adventure and action took place in a fantasy realm done in computer animations. This contrast, while a unique and fresh take on movie making, brought its main criticism I guess. Some may find the plot defies logic and common sense because of the realistic premises. Others like me doesn't find it a hindrance but rather a nice change of pace and perspective.

Technically speaking, the animation was really nicely done and the world has a unique look and artistic touch to it. The flow of the story goes really fast and sometime I felt that things are all happening at too much an opportune moment. It is as if the big events in the world of Minimoys has been waiting just for the arrival of Arthur. It is the catch 22 of movie making I guess. On one hand you want to pack in all the stories and actions in less than 2 hours. On the other hand, you don't want audience feel like the world was just created in a hurry so you can tell the story.

The characters are all very likable. Especially the minimoys, even the bad guys has certain feel of cuteness to them. Some humor are lost in translation I guess consider it's done by a French director. Still there are nice touches in detail here and there that give the characters the kind of Charm and personality you may not find in the usual Hollywood characters. There are moments of awkwardness and disarray that made me burst out in laughters, which I find them to be a better kind of humor than most of the physical comedy in other animated movies.

In the end, this is the kind of the feel good movie that brings warmth and smile for the whole family. In the process, it takes you on a magical ride that filled with wonders and unexpected laughters. It defied some logics, broke a few physic laws, and filled some background stories in a rush. But it never dampened the infectious spirit, of a courageous young boy, who still wanted to believe in miracles and would never give up even in the most desperate moment. If you are like me, you would find yourself walk away with a little bit of that spirit in you.