I finally get around to writing the third review of a major Luc Besson flick.

French punk chick turned assassin? Yes, please! I love Luc Besson; he is one of the best movie makers out there. His films might not be the most provocative or the most suspenseful and intriguing, but his storytelling style is unique in just the right kind of way–nothing Spielberg about it!

This isn’t some crappy series on USA

So this cold hard bitch kills a cop when her gang tries to rob a store, and ...]]>

I finally get around to writing the third review of a major Luc Besson flick.

French punk chick turned assassin? Yes, please! I love Luc Besson; he is one of the best movie makers out there. His films might not be the most provocative or the most suspenseful and intriguing, but his storytelling style is unique in just the right kind of way–nothing Spielberg about it!

This isn’t some crappy series on USA

So this cold hard bitch kills a cop when her gang tries to rob a store, and rather than receiving the expected sentence, she is handed over to a secret organization in the government to be trained as an assassin. Resistant to everything at first, she slowly realizes her life up till now has been a complete waste, and she matures into a beautiful and sophisticated lady. But her true purpose since given the second chance at life has been hidden from her. As the story unfolds, Nikita falls in love and tries to live a normal life but can’t escape her duties as an assassin and her loyalty to Bob, the man who saved her.

This isn’t even a movie seen in the USA

Oh, and did I mention this is a French movie? You’ll have to read subtitles if you don’t understand French, or if you can’t read, the voice-over is done well enough that it doesn’t interfere with the experience. So on that note, the acting is good either way. French actors, especially the veteran Tchéky Karyo, just have a certain flair that is rarely seen in American actors. Whether you listen to his voice and read the subtitles or wimp out and listen to the voice actor in English, the performance is powerful and gripping. Having said that, there are also parts I just don’t fully understand; I guess knowing French is vital for them. Like when Nikita gives a present to the computer expert and starts singing (screaming), I have no clue what is going on. But overall, each of the main actors (Anne Parillaud, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Tchéky Karyo, and Jean Reno) does a wonderful job. Wow, I almost forgot to mention Jean Reno and his part. His character’s name is Victor, but I’ll be damned if he wasn’t the inspiration for Leon in the Professional.

La Femme Nikita demonstrates to its greatest Luc Besson’s storytelling ability. Characters are developed so well and dialog is so well planned that you can’t help but be wrapped up in it. Then there are moments of humor, action, and sensitivity that are perfectly balanced and timed, creating a movie anyone can enjoy. The soundtrack by Eric Serra further enhances the movie by always being where it needs to be. Not for an instant is the music offbeat, and every bit of it serves a purpose.

But this is on DVD in the USA

I question those who watch Luc Besson movies and don’t love them immediately. What’s so great about them is they reinforce your love of his other movies. La Femme Nikita is an essential in my opinion, and Leon the Professional and the Fifth Element I enjoy just as much, if not more. But if you are stubborn and just can’t stand subtitles or dubbing, there was an American remake of La Femme Nikita called Point of No Return. I don’t make any promises about that one, but I can promise Nikita is a 4 out of 5.

Here’s a movie that I forgot to review a long time ago, and one that is certainly due for it’s additional fifteen minutes in the spotlight (as if this review could be considered the spotlight, right?) I can only review this movie on the basis that it is quite possibly the best animated movie of all time. Right up there with Emperor’s New Groove (review coming soon, my minions).* Shrek really dazzles the audience with original humor, excellent voice over and even very believable animation, right from the ...]]>

Delightful

Here’s a movie that I forgot to review a long time ago, and one that is certainly due for it’s additional fifteen minutes in the spotlight (as if this review could be considered the spotlight, right?) I can only review this movie on the basis that it is quite possibly the best animated movie of all time. Right up there with Emperor’s New Groove (review coming soon, my minions).* Shrek really dazzles the audience with original humor, excellent voice over and even very believable animation, right from the very beginning of the movie to the very end. Plus it entails a wonderfully original love-story-adventure-quest plot that is not only easy to follow, but fun as well. Starring such huge names as Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow, and Cameron Diaz, this 2001 film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vickey Jenson will astonish viewers of all ages.

*Editor’s note: you don’t have minions King, you ARE the minion.

Plot

Reclusive ogre Shrek goes on an epic quest to remove a spattering of fairy-tale creatures dumped onto his swamp by the evil dictator “king” Lord Farquad only to be sent on a further quest to retrieve the lass Farquad wishes to marry in order to become king. Damn that was a weird sentence. But anyway, after embarking on an additional quest to save the princess, Shrek finds himself hopelessly in love with the lovely Princess Fiona who hides a terrible secret. This love then balloons into a frantic situation and a slight plot twist right at the very end. And although the plot does seem slightly cliché every now and then, there is not a single point where it disappoints. Plus, right when you start thinking you know where the movie is going, something new comes along and changes it all. Most excellent plot development.

Visual

The CGI really made this movie fantastic. Although still obviously CG, it is so well developed that you can really see the time and effort the animators placed into every scene. The lighting is exceptional and really requires mention. From the breath of the fire-breathing dragon lighting up the castle walls to the sun setting over the kingdom of Duloc, every bit of light beautifully interacts with all other aspects of the particular scene.

Audio

The theme song is beyond catchy here, it’s actually contagious. You’ll find yourself humming the song for days afterwards. Even during the actual movie, the music never takes on a point where it seems to not fit. Every part of the music fits exactly the way it should into every scene. Even though most of the music is an adaptation of the same theme song, it is adapted so well you barely even notice it’s the same song.

Acting

Here is where the movie really shines–for an animated movie anyway. When I watch an animated movie, I don’t want to spend the entire flick trying to figure out the name of one of the actors doing the voice over. But I also don’t want to only think of that actor during the movie, I want the voice to seem fitting with the character that is being portrayed. This is where many animated movies go astray when they enlist huge name actors–it’s far to difficult to forget that someone had to voice that character. In Shrek, however, the huge name actors blend so beautifully into the character being acted out that you actually forget who is doing the acting and enjoy just the characters. Just the way it should be.

Script

I have to add this little extra part in here to give some props to the writers in this movie, they did such an excellent job on the script that it’s originality is sure to become the standard by which all animated movies should be created. The humor is outright fantastic, and the movie actually sports jokes and melodrama suited not only for the young children, but also even more so to adults. So congrats to the writers of Shrek, because they did such a great job that I actually broke my template for movie reviews. Kudos.

Summary

If you haven’t yet seen this movie, you must be a caveman, or perhaps Amish. But if you’re Amish then you shouldn’t be reading this review on a webpage then should you? So anyway, if you haven’t seen it then go buy it right now. Don’t rent it first, don’t borrow it, just go buy it. The re-watch-ability is excellent and I don’t know of a single person who doesn’t love this movie. So in conclusion, the plot is great, the script is stunning, the acting is perfect, and CGI is just the way it should be. So all in all is this movie really worth your time? Absolutely. Is it worth 5 stars? You better believe it.

5 “You didn’t slay the dragon?!?!?” out of 5