Okay, okay. First off, it's a kids movie. And the fact that the director used his kid to help make this movie is pretty cool. If you think about it, for a movie like this a kid running the show makes quite a lot of sense. Considering most of the movie takes place in a child's mind and seen through a child's eyes I think the way the movie is filmed is pretty accurate. Things don't always make sense in a kid's mind and the jokes are what a kid would find hilarious. It's full of cool stuff like motorbikes, superpowers and crazy worlds. Sure, older audiences for the most part will just notice the tacked on stuff and the crappy CGI but if you get down to it, kids dreaming wouldn't think about that stuff. They wouldn't want it to be realistic; they'd want it to be fun and adventurous with heaps of bright colours and wickedly cool moves. Which is what this film does.
Another main problem that is brought up is the Narm factor and I understand. The cheesiness in this film would make lactose-intolerant audiences break out into hives. But I gotta say, I'm more on the Narm Charm side of the scale on this. Its cheesy jokes and catchphrases are amusing to me and they're exactly what kids would respond to. The grimacing parents being forced to watch the movie, maybe not so much.
It has many flaws but really, I like this movie. I think its message and the representations of Shark-Boy and Lava-Girl as his feuding parents is very clever and actually kind of symbolic if you think about it. I can totally see how kids would translate that into their subconscious. Tell me you haven't had an imaginary friend once who (even if you didn't know it) represented something or someone in your life. It's not for everyone and the more cynical viewers will probably loathe it. It's not a deep, meaningful movie but it isn't totally forgettable either. The morals are there, under the terrible CGI and implausible plotline.
For kids and for kids-at-heart like me, it's a simple, fun adventure movie to watch and enjoy.
Cheesily fun movie
Okay, okay. First off, it's a kids movie. And the fact that the director used his kid to help make this movie is pretty cool. If you think about it, for a movie like this a kid running the show makes quite a lot of sense. Considering most of the movie takes place in a child's mind and seen through a child's eyes I think the way the movie is filmed is pretty accurate. Things don't always make sense in a kid's mind and the jokes are what a kid would find hilarious. It's full of cool stuff like motorbikes, superpowers and crazy worlds. Sure, older audiences for the most part will just notice the tacked on stuff and the crappy CGI but if you get down to it, kids dreaming wouldn't think about that stuff. They wouldn't want it to be realistic; they'd want it to be fun and adventurous with heaps of bright colours and wickedly cool moves. Which is what this film does.
Another main problem that is brought up is the Narm factor and I understand. The cheesiness in this film would make lactose-intolerant audiences break out into hives. But I gotta say, I'm more on the Narm Charm side of the scale on this. Its cheesy jokes and catchphrases are amusing to me and they're exactly what kids would respond to. The grimacing parents being forced to watch the movie, maybe not so much.
It has many flaws but really, I like this movie. I think its message and the representations of Shark-Boy and Lava-Girl as his feuding parents is very clever and actually kind of symbolic if you think about it. I can totally see how kids would translate that into their subconscious. Tell me you haven't had an imaginary friend once who (even if you didn't know it) represented something or someone in your life. It's not for everyone and the more cynical viewers will probably loathe it. It's not a deep, meaningful movie but it isn't totally forgettable either. The morals are there, under the terrible CGI and implausible plotline.
For kids and for kids-at-heart like me, it's a simple, fun adventure movie to watch and enjoy.