|
Post by MRHloco on Dec 24, 2008 23:57:00 GMT
I've been very surprised, upon searching the TV & Literature Board, to find that a certain Aardman product has not been put up for discussion as yet.
However, since I love Wallace & Gromit on a massive scale and think very highly of Nick Park, their creator, perhaps now's the time to start a thread up for the unbeatable duo!
Anyone got any remarks or favourite characters.
What do we all think of the brand new release?
A Matter Of Loaf & Death!
Warm Regards & Good Tidings, MRHloco
|
|
|
Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Dec 25, 2008 0:31:26 GMT
I'm a Wallace and Gromit fan too, Nick Park has made a wonderful saga about an inventor and his faithful dog.
My favourite character has to be Gromit, I don't know why I just like him more than Wallace. Peter Sallis is a wonderful voice for Wallace, but the only thing I often wonder is what would happen when Peter Sallis passes on (I don't want to be harsh or horrid in anyway, but he is getting on) who would be a suitable replacement, or even would Nick Park continue without his faith voice for Wallace.
As for the new release, A Matter Of Loaf and Death. I'll have to comment on that after I've watched it, and after the second part of Eastenders which is after it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2008 0:37:54 GMT
Why this (or Thomas come to that) didn't win the 100 Greatest Kids Shows a few years back, I'll never know!
I've been following the duo since I first saw them back in Xmas 1993 and although this upcoming special will be darker than the previous films, I'm sure it will still be magnificent.
From what I've read in my Xmas RadioTimes, it seems that future film prospects with Sony Pictures are in the pipeline. I'm so excited at the thought! ;D
|
|
|
Post by SaintC01 on Dec 25, 2008 10:18:26 GMT
Why this (or Thomas come to that) didn't win the 100 Greatest Kids Shows a few years back, I'll never know! I've been following the duo since I first saw them back in Xmas 1993 and although this upcoming special will be darker than the previous films, I'm sure it will still be magnificent. From what I've read in my Xmas RadioTimes, it seems that future film prospects with Sony Pictures are in the pipeline. I'm so excited at the thought! ;D Heres something else I read in the Xmas RadioTimes, according to Nick Park when they were making CotWR, Dreamworks sent notes to them saying things like " 'Wouldn't it be better if Wallace and Gromit had a more modern car, like a pick-up truck?' ", hmm... no. Thank goodness Aardman got away from them! Out of all of the shortfilms made so far, my favourate is "The Wrong Trouser's". The title inevitably makes me chuckle everytime! ;D Also to mention that for some, if not most, saw this first, including myself. Really looking forward to seeing both "Curse of the Were-Rabbit" again and "A Matter of Loaf or Death". ;D While I could, I spoiled myself to the first 20-30 seconds of it... don't hit the spoiler tab if you don't want to be spoiled! It start's off with a baker happily kneading bread (I said baking a cake before didn't I... ) as we see someone from behind pick up a rolling pin and snatch the bakers hat off his head, "Oh... it's you..! " he says before he is hit in head as his body landed -splat- on a piece of dough... Heres hoping that this'll never be the end of W&G's career! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Dec 25, 2008 21:45:32 GMT
Well what can I say, I enjoyed A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Nick Park has done a excellent return to the short films of his duo, quite more dramactic than the earlier 3 short ones.
I'd give this an oscar, and 5 stars. I hope Nick Park's next installment will be just as enjoyable as AMOLAD was.
|
|
|
Post by Halstead on Dec 25, 2008 21:52:21 GMT
As an Aardman fanatic I'd admit that A Matter of Loaf of Death was superbly excellent, controversally it's hard deciding which was better viewing that or Doctor Who.
It's still got all the magic of the previous shorts by Nick Park, my favourite bits were with Gromit's deadpan kicking in along with silly references alluding the absence of his mouth and whoever put Bagpuss in there deserves a chocolate gateau, another fitting tribute to Postgate but the most heartwarming part must be the intereaction between Gromit and Fluffles, Piella's poodle.
Certainly 10/10
|
|
thommob1987
Goods Engine
You're the best in the world - Richard Burns 1971-2005
Posts: 148
|
Post by thommob1987 on Dec 25, 2008 22:12:16 GMT
A Matter Of Loaf & Death was classic Wallace & Gromit gold!! My fave bit was when Fluffles was on the forklift & Wallace thought it was Gromit.
FACT: Did you know Nick Park wanted to orignally call this adventure Trouble at t'Mill? But he decided against it simply everyone world-wide (except us British) wouldn't be able to pronounce it!! Plus it was planned & filmed in 7 months.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2008 22:22:09 GMT
I actually found AMOLAD to be darker than the previous films, but enjoyed it nevertheless. When they visited the zoo, I was a wee bit gutted that we didn't get a glimpse of our fiendish penguin friend. Oh well! Still, if you were Wallace (and I know he's as thick as a block of wood), whose side would you have taken in the matter when that bird accused Gromit of biting her? Hat off to Gromit for not hitting the bottle already!
|
|
|
Post by SaintC01 on Dec 25, 2008 23:07:58 GMT
I absolutely adored AMOLAD, probably one of the best beside... well... all 4(+Cracking Contraptions and CotWR) are all equally good. There was just one [whisper]wee[/whisper] thing that bugged me a bit - Tunnel Mailboxes in Britain?! That's new I guess... It didn't even show the fact it was kind of a rush job(!).. well except the fact we saw some fingerprints on the puppets, but that just gives you the feel of the hard work in craftsmanship and they did say on an interview about the CC shorts that they didn't mind if they were fingerprinted. I also felt that the relationship between Gromit and Fluffles (just 'aw' at them, you know you'd want to..! ;D) seemed alot cuter than Wallace's and Piella's relatoinship... Seems kinda logical that Wallace seems more upset when she intially broke up with him than when she got eaten... let alone her going against him! After that, I think it's safe for me to say that this is better than the Doctor Who special this year... But that's just MY oponion.
|
|
|
Post by OJ on Dec 26, 2008 13:13:24 GMT
I actually found AMOLAD to be darker than the previous films, but enjoyed it nevertheless. When they visited the zoo, I was a wee bit gutted that we didn't get a glimpse of our fiendish penguin friend. Oh well! I saw a wanted poster of him just as the bike goes into the zoo. I thought Matter of loaf and death was very good although it was very predictable. I did hear Fluffles could get her own show if the fans liked her that would be good. Peter Sallis does a very good job as Wallace and I really can't imagine anyone else going him. I also like to see the policeman (who was voiced by Peter Kay) from Curse of the wererabbit to appear again. he was funny.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2008 13:35:03 GMT
I did hear Fluffles could get her own show if the fans liked her that would be good. I'm hoping that Fluffles stays on with the duo but then again the films do go under the title " Wallace & Gromit" so this might not be the case.
|
|
TurboJ
Passenger Engine
Get Corrected
Posts: 543
|
Post by TurboJ on Dec 26, 2008 17:02:34 GMT
well except the fact we saw some fingerprints on the puppets... I remember hearing somewhere that the fingerprints on the puppets is very common in Aardman's work, as it shows that everything is done by hand. As for AMoLaD, I too notices how dark it was. I thought it was great though. I too loved Gromit's Bagpuss toy. As for Feathers McGraw? I did see some penguins near the crocodile pit at the end... Nah, the poster early on ruled that out.
|
|
|
Post by captainmodesty on Dec 26, 2008 18:48:47 GMT
I swear one of the penguins at the end in the enclosure was Feathers.
I thought it was good although the one niggling bit was how suddenly piela snapped at wallace. that part of the plot moved too quickly for me and felt like it was rushed, if the film were 5 minutes longer and had other attempts on wallace's life before that point it might have gelled a bit better.
I loved fluffles interaction with gromit and the record titles made me chuckle. Her getting gromit's stuff out of the bin was the biggest "awww" moment apart from perhaps the end
|
|
|
Post by ringo86 on Dec 26, 2008 20:51:29 GMT
I enjoyed A Matter of Loaf and Death. Very humorous, especially with their take off on Ghost, but definitely much darker in tone. Oh, Nick Park, you haven't let us down again.
|
|
|
Post by MRHloco on Dec 26, 2008 21:25:33 GMT
Re: 5 Stars AND AN OSCAR?!I'll second that! Re: A Matter Of Loaf & DeathI've now watched it twice, having had the product recorded, and I can't begin to tell you just how much Nick Park has impressed me this time. As the Radio Times tells us, no one at Christmas could ask for very much more than this - apart from Doctor Who and Blackadder of course. The whole plotline was a fantastic, fresh idea with a brand new challenge for the unbeatable duo. In terms of voice acting, Peter Sallis is at full quality playing Wallace and Sally Lindsay makes a good cameo as rather controversial new love interest Piella Bakewell. Actually, I rather thought there was something suspiciously unlikely about the pairing of her and Wallace but maybe that's due to the fact that, compared with Wallace, she's something of a pudding! A wonderful new development comes forward too: Piella's poodle Fluffles - with whom who should have a romantic involvement but - *Peter Sallis Voice* GROMIT?! Actually, I'm delighted! This is definately something Nick Park really should do. I mean, it's not just Wallace who finds love to be full of vanilla slices! Interestingly, this short is surprisingly dark compared with The Wrong Trousers & A Close Shave. Twelve bakers have been killed in rapid succession, Fluffles appears to have been suffering from animal cruelty at Piella's hands - And I haven't even mentioned Piella's censored but rather gruesome demise at the hands of a zoo crocodile! I think, if we cross-reference this technique to Roald Dahl's work (and especially the content of The BFG), we can almost see where Nick Park got it from. It's got the same spunk! I can't say I know what to think of such a nasty demise but it does seem logical in its own way. Especially after her framing Gromit earlier over the biting. And what a shock that Wallace, gullible though he is, should fall for that falsehood hook line and sinker! When he's known Gromit all the poor hound's life! He must having one of his "daft-as-a-brush-innocense" moments then! Still, I think he realises his mistake in believing Piella when the sack of flour changes her completely. Anyway, after such a bit of indepth, I should say this is probably the best I've seen so far. I'm a bit of a classical person to tell the truth so I'm still fond of the earlier ones. Especially The Wrong Trousers because I rather grew up with that one! However, with this piece of television, there's still room for more and I know that, whatever comes next, Nick Park will continue to amaze us with his techniques and will never let the British public down for anything. Re: Back In Business!It's wonderful to see that Nick Park is his own boss at long last, after all the pains he went to with Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. Just as much fun this time but shorter. And no more stuffy American producers telling him that his target audience will hardly ever understand him. No offense to any memeber of Dreamworks involved! Re: Future ProductionsInteresting thoughts, ladies and gentlemen. I'd be quite happy to see PC Mackintosh reappear myself, if Peter Kay can find the time. We certainly need some more verbal gymnastics for the future. Maybe we could do with seeing more of The Reverend Clement Hedges: he too seems ideal to use in a future short. He seems more Anglican than Roman Catholic (which is a religion generally associated with Lancashire and other Western counties in the British Isles, if what I learnt for history A-Levels is anything to go by). As for Peter Sallis voicing Wallace, this certainly won't be his last appearance as a voice artist, I'm sure. There truly isn't any other actor currently living who could spell such magic. In fact, personally, if ever Sallis were to pass on, I'd happily audition for the voice of Wallace myself. Wouldn't you? Perhaps it's better for Fluffles to have her own Aardman stage to take, with her cruel mistress deceased. They must make sure she keeps reappearing in the Wallace & Gromit films though - I don't think it would be right to keep her and Gromit separated for too long, not after the scene at the end. Re: Jokes & Cross-ReferencesAs usual, the play-on-words magic of Aardman comes back to life, with a lot of confections forthcoming! There's many a bread joke to see throughout - one of the best amusing being Wallace's trousers overloaded with dough to cushion the explosion. It saved his pasta alright but it bares his backside to us as well! "Buns" as you might put it! I was also particularly touched to see a nice little tribute to the recently deceased animator Oliver Postgate. Obviously Nick Park must have grown up with Ivor The Engine and Bagpuss - I don't think he could have forseen the great man's death this year though... Re: Conclusion A fantastic Christmas present for the public and I've no doubt that there'll be more still to come! Anyone else liked it? What about the other films? Warm Regards As Always & Bakewell Tarts To You All, MRHloco
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2008 22:28:11 GMT
Ah, yes. Bagpuss. I forgotten about that scene! A nice tribute to the program/creators as said in the post above. I also thought Gromit trying to throw the bomb at the Yorkshire border very funny, seeing as there might be a rivally between Lancashire and the former for the scene to be written and shot.
Did anyone else find the slow motion scene and the "Alien" references funny?
|
|
|
Post by OJ on Dec 29, 2008 12:36:41 GMT
It would be good to the the reverend as well. I hope more characters who live near Wallace should appear again just to show Wallace isn't the only man in the village. The Indian Man who appeared was called Mr Patel (his name wasn;t mentioned) he actually appeared on some of the books I have. He's Wallace's neighbour.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2008 16:49:06 GMT
I thought it was good although the one niggling bit was how suddenly piela snapped at wallace. that part of the plot moved too quickly for me and felt like it was rushed, if the film were 5 minutes longer and had other attempts on wallace's life before that point it might have gelled a bit better. Maybe Piela snapped at Wallace like that because of Gromit constantly interfering with her plans. That or she doesn't have much patience with people.
|
|
|
Post by Ian on Dec 31, 2008 12:49:39 GMT
She was a mass murderer / 'cereal killer'. I don't suppose they have much patience with anyone do they? ;-) Can't speak personally, don't think I've ever met one... So many little background details in the entire show, it needs watching a few times to catch all these little extras (a bit like CGI in Thomas lol). I'm sure if I sat and watched it again, I'd find something else... Top bit for me has to be Wallace throwing the loaf from his van when he first saw Piella on the hill... and knocking a women over a garden fence. Surely I wasn't the only person to howl with laughter?!
|
|
|
Post by MRHloco on Dec 31, 2008 15:15:27 GMT
As a matter of fact, Ian, I found that bit very amusing too. And since Geraldine McEwan appears in the castlist on IMDB (having played a certain Miss Thripp in "Curse Of The Were-Rabbit"), I suspect that's the unlucky person who gets a battering from Wallace. As for Piella suddenly rejecting Wallace after her encounter with the flour, "cereal killers" in general are portrayed as being short on patience. Most villains generally are, so it's perfectly realistic for Piella. And let us not forget that she hates bakers in the first place - being struck by a sack of pure flour is sufficient shock to wind her up and make her forget that she's meant to be all innocent. She's also, by the way, just been foiled in her latest attempt to kill him, something that for us heralds a glass of Lancastrian ales and Tetley's beer to the success of Fluffles. One thing we can be thankful for in this scene however is that, seeing her indignation and hearing her insults, Wallace seems to realise that she's been fooling him and framing Gromit. Hence the reason that he's so thankful for Gromit's support when she leaves, no doubt intent on bullying Fluffles into submission at home. For OJ, I reckon the return of Mr Patel would be good as well. In "Curse Of The Were-Rabbit," his character isn't particularly developed on the same scale as PC Albert Mackintosh and the Reverend Clement Hedges. Maybe he deserves a return later on, as Miss Thripp seems to have done in "Matter Of Loaf & Death". The Lancashire/Yorkshire rivalry by the way has just got me thinking - how's about having Wallace & Gromit have adventures elsewhere in the British Isles. This would potentially be very good for Nick Park, so that he's less likely to run out of inspiration prematurely. In particular, adventures in Yorkshire itself might help - remember, this is the pair who have saved Wensleydale cheese from going off the market in volatile times. I can just picture it now: a street in Hawes or Kettlewell with the two on a mission of somesort (perhaps in cheese delivery) with Wallace spotting yet another lass to fall for and Gromit wearily wondering if there's any hope of living a life that's far from dull but at least peaceful. And, then again, mystery solving on the Devon Riviera might be something worth trying, having seen MOL&D going down a storm. Anyone got any futuristic ideas for the next few productions? Warm Regards As Always, MRHloco
|
|