Austinn Says Hats On:
‘Isle of Dogs’: I Love Dogs? I Hate Dogs! (7/10)
While I typically do not support pro-canine propaganda films such as this, the premise and the animation seemed intriguing enough to give it a go. It’s definitely quirky and subtly funny, and I appreciated the stylization and cinematography. It also has a stellar cast of voice actors who do a great job. It’s a bit long though, and the story just didn’t quite do it for me. #lifeisruff #doggone #trashlanding #nothingtosneezeat #ivebeenspotted #eatadog #mayormaynot
Kelvin Says Hats Off:
Just saw “Isle of Dogs” – Dog’s Not Dead. Conclusion: 8/10. Wes Anderson certainly makes visually striking and unique pictures and “Isle of Dogs” is no exception. The stop-motion animation is gorgeous and the meticulous crafting that defines each scene is a pure delight. While his movies have had a certain doll house feel in the past, with “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and now this, more of the real-world has been seeping into his films. This movie centers around exiling of a city’s dog population set in Japan, but you don’t have to strain to see what Wes Anderson is speaking to in the real-world. Insofar as that goes, he is certainly successful and the pure affinity and love for the dogs is infectious. The only real struggles the movie runs into is its treatment of its human subjects. While I can see some of the artistic vision behind having the humans speak in their native tongues, it’s sabotaged by one character in particular. Greta Gerwig voices a well-meaning American exchange student who organizes a counter-movement to the exiling of the dogs. While we can understand her English clearly, it’s frustrating to have that juxtaposed to the frequent lack of subtitling or translating for the Japanese characters. In a movie that richly shows and celebrates so much about dogs and Japanese culture, the treatment of its human subjects left me a bit wanting. #DogEatDog #GoWesYoungMan #TheBarkKnight #HavingARuffTime #SpotFight #ThatWasSneezy
Adam Says Hats Off:
