That was an excellent one.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

A chameleon of a film that borrows from Director Jean-Pierre Jeunets's adored filming bag of tricks but brings little fortitude by the films' conclusion. I am a huge fan of this director due to Amelie and A Very Long Engagement. Some of his other films, City Of Lost Children and the dark comedy Delicatessen, have left less of an indelible mark, but stayed inside their domain of post apocalyptic times. I bring these up as his last two, Micmacs, and The Young and Prestigious T.S. Spivet, certainly are related in their and-weapon statements but those messages are blooming in a comedic setting. Micmacs was irony that worked, but Spivet lost it's edge along the way. The former driven as "righting a wrong" and in Spivet, by finally talking about gun violence, even accidental, needed a reaction to T.S's story other than silly betrayal on live TV. As much as I want to love these movies, I am left unable to blend the message in the context of comedy. For me it was a futile attempt to mix oil and water. Both movies' messages get out through ironic media twists (humor) but the T.S. story feels too sad to leave up to a comedic actress playing a self important museum director. We wanted to care about T. S. but he's a rather stiff character and the young actor did not glow. The movie feels like it's going in a straight direction, like on his map of the United Staes. Once in Washington, the movies' strength, what's going on in T.S's mind, becomes something else. You can never allow for one actor or character to ruin your cin-experience, you can't ignore the sore thumb.

Movies told through the eyes of a child - movies that capture the joy and wonderment of childhood - simply warm me to the bone. I love 'em. Three of the best ever are Millions from 2005 and The Cure from 1995 and E.T. from 1982. With that said, T.S. Spivet tried hard, but just didn't do it for me. It was good, held my attention and moved along nicely, but there was just something missing. The story was rather silly and filled with plot holes, but I tried to excuse that because a kid was telling us the story. Judy Davis was very good, but Helena Bonham Carter was too old for her role. Kyle Catlett, our little brainiac T.S., was engaging, but came across as a bit irritating at times. The cinematography, sets and score were excellent, by the way. I would recommend this movie for kids - not their parents who may be trying to recapture the magic of growing up. (6.5 stars out of 10)

The film is about a young kid who loses his brother to a gun accident and how that pain and guilt affects him. However, the story is fun, original and happy. We go on a journey with a 10 year old that is obsessed with science, a kid who wants to get to the Smithsonian to get a science award everybody believes an adult will receive, but in the end we understand what he feels deep inside, beneath all the abstract thinking of a science geek.In some ways, the movie is charming and interesting to watch, in others it's a bit slow in that way movies are made about crazy people because when they do what is normal to them, to the viewer is new and exotic. It is clearly a good film, one that deserves a watch, however it sort of felt like the bastard child of Amelie and Budapest Hotel.

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2014):This is the new film from the French Terry Gilliam, Jean-Pierre Jeunet. You may best know him as the director of Amelie, City of the Lost Children and Micmacs. This time, we have a sweeter and simpler affair: a young prodigy in Montana, the titular Spivet, has invented a 'perpetual motion machine' thereby solving an enigma that has baffled scientist. The discovery is so hot that it even attracts the attention of the Smithsonian institute, who wish to present the boy with an award, unaware of his real age. So, leaving home and his oddball family behind, T.S embarks on a journey across America to receive his prize.The Short answer: It's really, really good! The Long? Well, where to start? Well given Jeunet pedigree, the visuals are up first, in all their vibrant, almost Technicolor-esque splendour. What's more, this is quite possibly the best use of 3D I have ever seen in a film. The depth of field is phenomenal, and really adds to the storybook feeling of the whole movie. It's sort of like a giant pop up book, which is fitting as that's how we transition between the different parts of the story. Whether it be out on the Montana ranch, looking out of a train or even in the Smithsonian itself, there is always something coming to the fore or floating out, and it's great fun.Of course, there are other areas. The cast is top notch, with a pretty solid youngster as our lead. He captures the quirks and brainpower of our inventive young lead, alternately able to sell inspiration, determination and even fear a few times, reminding us T.S, for all his brilliance, is still a child. In supporting roles we have the likes of Helena Bonham Carter as his bug-studying mother, Callum Keith Rennie as his cowboy pop, and even Jeunet regular Dominique Pinon as a lively hobo T.S meets on his travels. This is just a shortlist of the people here, but every one does well and their own vibrance and sort of exuberance contrasts nicely with T.S's very straight forward, matter of fact behaviour and logic.However, all this is but dressing without a decent script here, and well, we have a fine one. It's undeniably Euro-quirk, despite being a Canadian co-production, with a lot of visual gags and little sprinkles of off-quilter and slightly dark scenarios that are played with a slightly humorous bend (not many movies can make people shooting themselves, a cowboy with a lick fetish and even mourning trauma somewhat amusing, last I checked). However, amidst the silliness, there is a good deal of heart. For all his ingenuity, the film very much still presents T.S as a kid; he makes mistakes, he gets scared he misses his family as he goes on his adventure. The film wisely doesn't make him invulnerably just because he's our lead. What's more, there is a strong element here about dealing with death and letting go concerning a tragedy in the Spivet family, and while at first is somewhat there for amusement, the film does take it more seriously as it progresses, and once again, shows how people would react under that circumstance: some bottle it in, some cry and some regret and take blame. For a film with such a bright colour palette, it can get very dark and touchy a handful of times, and it's all the better for it.Naturally, how much oddball quirk you can take will affect your enjoyment, and there are a few times where the pacing does slow down a little more than needed. Regardless, if you're burnt out by X Men and Edge of Tomorrow, and need something smaller and more out there, give this a shot. It may even leave you a little teary eyed at points, but regardless, if you can get to it, check this film out. It's inventive, touching and refreshingly with a few surprises. Can't ask for more than that.