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Movies / On DVD / Valiant
Valiant

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Valiant (2005)

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Reviews Counted:106

Fresh:33

Rotten:73

Average Rating:5/10

Consensus: Valiant has a good collection of voice talents, but the story is strictly by-the-numbers.

Rated: U

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Animated, Animation, True Story

Theatrical Release:25-03-2005

Synopsis: From the producer of "Shrek" and "Shrek 2," comes this high-flying computer-animated comedy-adventure tale of a brave-but-undersized pigeon named Valiant (voiced by Ewan McGregor), who dreams of... From the producer of "Shrek" and "Shrek 2," comes this high-flying computer-animated comedy-adventure tale of a brave-but-undersized pigeon named Valiant (voiced by Ewan McGregor), who dreams of joining the elite Royal Homing Pigeon Service (RHPS), and serving crown and country during World War II. Despite his small stature, Valiant’s ambitions are enormous as he keeps a stiff upper beak and endures rigorous training in preparation for a dangerous mission to deliver vital messages to troops behind enemy lines. With a shortage of wingpower in the royal fleet due to increased attacks by a brigade of vicious enemy falcons (led by the ruthless General Von Talon), the mission falls to Valiant and the unlikely heroes of "Squad F" to try and save the day. With a wing and a prayer, Valiant and his fine feathered pals fly into harm’s way and prove that it’s not the size of the wingspan that counts, but the size of the spirit. Filled with adventure, comedy and memorable characters, "Valiant" delivers great entertainment for audiences of all ages. John Cleese, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, and an all-star vocal cast of British favorites also add to the fun and excitement of this imaginative feature. The film was inspired by the fact that pigeons saved thousands of lives during the war, and 31 of the 53 top honors given to animal heroes went to pigeons. [More]

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hugh Laurie, Ricky Gervais, Tim Curry

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hugh Laurie, Ricky Gervais, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, John Cleese, John Hurt, Rik Mayall, Olivia Williams, Pip Torrens, Jonathan Ross

Director: Gary Chapman

Director: Gary Chapman
Producer: John H. Williams
Screenwriter: Jordan Katz
Composer: George Fenton
Screenwriter: George Webster, George Melrod
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Valiant

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81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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Valiant is sadly boring, and while its rote mechanics may function nominally on children, it's going to be a long 76 minutes for the adults.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
08/18/05
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Lightweight and easily forgotten about once it's over. While it last, though, it is congenial and pleasingly innocuous.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
08/18/05
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Too inoffensive to engender the hostility once reserved for Howard the Duck.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
08/18/05
Mike Clark
Mike Clark
USA Today

An unconscionably dreary and amateurish-looking thing, and the rote plot and annoyingly predictable script -- a compendium of bird puns, mostly -- don't work nearly hard enough to make up for the hammy awfulness of the images.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
08/18/05
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The presence of A-list British vocal talent... work wonders to make the film seem better than it really is.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
08/18/05
Wade Major
Wade Major
Boxoffice Magazine

[E]xactly as cozily silly and as charmingly touching as you'd expect from a nation that gives medals of valor to birds.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
08/18/05
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Too dependent on a knowledge of RAF-inspired cinematic derring-do like '633 Squadron' (or at least Hogan's Heroes) for the average tyke, yet too tepid for their taller counterparts, Valiant is ultimately one strange bird.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
08/18/05
Michael O'Sullivan
Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post

Valiant isn't up to the computer-animation standards of Pixar (Finding Nemo) or even Dreamworks (Madagascar).

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
08/18/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Poorly plotted, suspense-free film.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/18/05
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The animated feature Valiant, a story about the carrier pigeons that ferried messages from France to England during World War II, takes wing but never quite manages to soar.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
08/18/05
Jeff Strickler
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Valiant may not fly in the stratosphere of Pixar or the best of DreamWorks, but giving these plucky birds their due is not a bad way to wind up the summer.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
08/18/05
Nancy Churnin
Nancy Churnin
Dallas Morning News

Unlike the terrific claymation film Chicken Run (2000), here the jokes largely lay eggs.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
08/18/05
Marshall Heyman
Marshall Heyman
Christian Science Monitor

A mix of top-notch voice talents, standard computer animation and several missed story opportunities.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
08/18/05
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune

What Valiant does most is give pigeons a break from the nasty 'flying rat' reputation. Aside from that, it's doesn't ruffle any feathers.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
08/18/05
Kathy Cano Murillo
Kathy Cano Murillo
Arizona Republic

the animated tale of misfit recruits accomplishing a heroic mission lacks an integral component - humor.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
08/18/05
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Like its title character, this little animated film has heart and charm. What it will have trouble finding is an audience to appreciate it.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
08/18/05
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

The script is typical family-flick underachievement, with feeble puns and other stabs at birdie personification.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
08/18/05
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

Valiant seems built merely to distract and divert for a brisk hour-and-small-change.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
08/18/05
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday

[The vocal talents] and some meticulous period details make up for the film's unsurprising plot and occasional tepid stretches.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
08/18/05
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s not at all clear which audience director Gary Chapman has his eye on.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
08/18/05
Ella Taylor
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
 
 
81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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