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Chicken Run (2000)
Runtime: 84 mins
Synopsis: Facing imminent death while laying eggs at Tweedy's English farm, a group of chickens, led by the determined Ginger (Julia Sawahla, BBC-TV's ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS), plan to escape their prisonlike coop. The situation goes from bad to worse when the sinister Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson)... Facing imminent death while laying eggs at Tweedy's English farm, a group of chickens, led by the determined Ginger (Julia Sawahla, BBC-TV's ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS), plan to escape their prisonlike coop. The situation goes from bad to worse when the sinister Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) decides to stop selling eggs and use the hens as the main ingredient in chicken pot pies. However, some hope literally falls from the sky in the form of Rocky (Mel Gibson), an American rooster who promises to teach the chickens how to fly. As the hens begin their struggle to get airborne, the monstrous pie-making machine arrives, giving the chickens precious little time to make their great escape. Aardman Studios' first full-length feature film is a stunning showcase of stop-motion animation. Utilizing the unique Plasticine designs of the acclaimed WALLACE & GROMIT and CREATURE COMFORT shorts, CHICKEN RUN features vibrant visuals and colorful characters that are immediately endearing. (The naive and constantly knitting Babs, voiced by Jane Horrocks, is particularly hilarious.) With its clever writing, witty film references, and pitch-perfect combination of comedy, drama, and romance, CHICKEN RUN is one of those rare movies that genuinely appeals to viewers of every age. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, Jack Rosenthal
Story: Nick Park, Peter Lord
Producer: Aardman Animations
Reviews
, it’s a remarkably well-sustained spin on the popular P.O.W. camp movie, with a touch of The Squawkshank Redemptions about it, too.
It's The Great Escape as performed by chickens and is every bit as good as you could imagine.
Park's love for all his characters, good and evil, is literally palpable: These characters have been forged of clay, fussed over, posed, photographed over a period of years.
It's a wonder to know that each frame of this film was handmade, not orchestrated by a computer.
Something about Nick Park's characters is intrinsically hilarious... Maybe it's those teeth.
The lavish coops, detailed pie machine and realistic lighting are just a small thread in a beautiful canvas of stirring images.
Pictures
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