Great Film overall

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

This film is only 1hr 20min long but it felt like I'd been sat watching it all day. Talk about dull. Yes, the animation is pretty and it's nice to look at but that's just about the only thing going for it.It moves at a tediously slow pace, taking an eternity for any kind of development in the storyline. Perhaps this is because they needed to pad out such a shallow story to make it into a movie? It could have been over and done with in 15 minutes, instead the viewer is made to sit through one pointless scene after another and then another...I found myself dozing off 2 or 3 times during the film, and as soon as it finished I was out like a light. Anybody who can stay awake after watching this can consider it an achievement.

Famous french director Jacques Tati (1907-1982) wrote the script for this animated film for his daughter who also died in 2001. An aged magician finds himself struggling in a modern world, where the old fashioned varieté artists have more and more trouble to find work in order to survive. He's not a man of many words but with a great heart who's trying his luck in Edinburgh, Scotland. This lovely movie was directed by the guys who made "Les Triplettes de Belleville". The story is intense and I have to say there is a lot of sadness and hopelessness, although always represented in a charming "french" way. The only similar anime must be "Die Letzten Glühwürmchen". This is a fine approach to Tati's work, whose movies have this interesting relationship between the muteness of the main characters, the eye for details, society and the social interaction between different people. Interesting and entertaining for all ages. 8/10

A reoccurring theme of my negative reviews is my attack on novelty. Just because a movie has unique, brilliant aspects doesn't make it a great film. It needs to use its assets and ideas to build its plot, world, and characters. It shouldn't go halfway. Yet so many times I've seen films declared as masterpieces when I felt they were hollow. The Illusionist is the best film to display my point. The Illusionist's animation is beautiful, detailed, colorful, and stylized. But when you judge it on writing, The Illusionist is garbage.Yes, The Illusionist lacks dialog, but that doesn't mean elements of plot and character aren't present. These are people, and there is a story to be told. The main character suffers from the problem of the starving artist, following his dream even when the world barely cares. He has an interesting, noble motivation...until he decides to adopt a daughter. I'm sorry, but this character is a complete ditz. She looks like she should be in her tweens or early teens, but has no understanding of the world around her. She believes in the magic of cheap parlor tricks. She seems to have no idea of the illusionist's poverty. Yet he showers her with gifts he could never afford, with no awareness on her part. She's immature, and he only acts as an enabler.The illusionist could have provided her a humble home, with simple pleasures any child can enjoy. He even gets a solid job! After working hours upon hours on odd jobs, he finally finds one where his skills at magic earn him a decent living. Happy ending? Wrong! He finds the job demeaning, and quits! And without enough money to lavish the young girl like she's a princess, he just leaves her with her boyfriend. Hope they don't break up!This is a sacrifice? BS. This is giving up on someone you supposedly love. Its shameless. Its refusing to grow up, and take responsibility for your actions. In real life, he'd be a deadbeat dad. But we are emotional creatures. And with the right visuals, the right music, and the right angle, we can be believe he's some misunderstood genius, who only wants best for his little girl. I could not care, or even respect, these two characters. It doesn't help this film is horribly paced. Its too slow. There's too little plot. There's not enough personality. And I don't hate silent films! Heck, The Triplets of Belleville was fun, and it was by the same directer! It feels like a 2 hour plus sit...and its only 79 minutes long.I love animation. I'm even giving this movie a star for its wonderful beauty. I can't fall for this film's illusion. It sucks.

"L'Illusioniste" is a hand-drawn animation guaranteed to touch your heart in a highly infant, childish manner. The film's photography is simply stunning, kept simple but full of emotion in every line and color combination. Europe is comically portrayed in its stereotypes and particular habits and cultures.The storyline is touching, portraying the hard life of those who pursuit a living through the ways of art. The silver lining, though, is brightly highlighted, as the main character gets to travel through lots of places, as well as meeting new people. Parental love is later introduced, when the magician allows a little child to embark on his journey through Europe.Highly recommended, L'Illusioniste is a masterpiece that will bring your mind back to the early years of your childhood.