French and Fantasy Films, Movie Review Example

Gandahar, directed by René Laloux was produced in 1988 and distributed by Miramax Films. The plot of this science fiction movie is about a war between the people of Gandahar and the Men of Metal. It follows the adventures of a hero named Sylvain, who travels across time in order to defeat the innocent yet antagonistic Metamorphis. The film itself is a work of art that contains some of the defining characteristics of French animation style; there is more dialogue in this film than one would expect in an animated film from another country and the images resemble art derived from the surrealist movement. The theme of this movie is the negative impact of irresponsible human inventions and ignorance of their impact. The theme and style are connected because the director aims to teach the audience this lesson using an alien setting. Fantastic Planet is another scientific fiction film by René Laloux. Like Gandahar, the art in this movie is also surrealist. This movie also deals with a fictional war and was meant to teach a lesson to humanity; the battle between the Traags and Ohms represented the Civil War, which was in progress during the time of the movie’s release. It aimed to teach us that any groups can find peace and mutually benefit if their leaders work to take the required steps. Gwen, and the Book of Sand is another science fiction movie that is drawn to resemble the surrealist movement.

In The Tripletts of Belleville, a majority of the story is told through song and pantomime. Kirikou and the Sorceress, another French film was meant to be drawn using a flat two-dimensional effect; the colors used were inspired by French painter “Le Douanier” Henri Rousseau. The film contained some criticism for the sexuality it contained.

Fantasy Films

After watching The Hobbit, Tales from Earthsea, and Fantastic Planet, I have concluded that an appropriate definition of fantasy is a genre that primarily involves magic and supernatural themes; pure fantasy differs from science fiction in that it avoids scientific ideas.

The Hobbit and Tales from Earthsea are films that are both based off of books. All three films involve epic journeys that the main character must face in order to resolve a problem. In the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins learns of Lonely Mountain and the treasure it contains; he joins Gandalf on this mission to help acquire the riches. Tales from Earthsea follows a young wizard named Ged who was prophesized to have the ability to defeat an evil force known as the Nameless Ones. Fantastic Planet is about the journey of a Traag child, Tiva, and an Om during a war between the Traag and Om people. The theme of all three movies deals with the growth and development of the characters during their journeys; throughout their trials and difficulties, they are able to learn things that help them overcome their ultimate flaw. This ability to overcome adversity ultimately aids them in achieving their goals.

The Hobbit can be considered a fantasy movie because it involves both magic and supernatural themes. Gandalf the wizard uses his magic to assist Bilbo’s journey at times and the main characters are all non-human species. Likewise, the Wizard of Earthsea is a film that is about wizards. Fantastic Planet is a fantasy movie because the main characters are non-human species.

Works Cited

Festival de Cannes: Fantastic Planet. festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

Gwen, ou le livre de sable. Film and TV Database. British Film Institute. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

Kirikou et la sorcière. Les Armateurs. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

Legend of Earthsea. Moria: The Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review Retrieved 8 August 2013.