lifeoflemski

 One of the most popular movies in cinemas today is Happy Feet. Well, there are practically numerous reasons why. First, it's nearing Christmas, and the heartwarming story fits the season quite well. Second, it has somehow received good marketing promotions knowing that no less than Warner Brothers (with Animal Logic Productions) produced the entire animation film. Then of course you can never "discount" the voices behind the characters. And maybe we can also take into consideration that with the year almost coming to an end, we deserve to breathe a little and enjoy lighthearted moments, a reward for all hardworking individuals. 

I could have loved to share a synopsis of the movie but then again I assume that you have an inkling of how the film goes. On the other hand, I am not really good at summarizing stories, and so I might just end up giving spoilers (which you shouldn't know just in case you haven't seen the movie). 

So what am I going to do? Let me give my own reflection then. 

First, Happy Feet is a fun movie. It may not equal to Toy Story 2 (which actually belongs to Top 100 Movies of All Time in Rotten Tomatoes), but it's still fun to watch, along with its superb special effects and animation. You cannot also take away the fact that the use of songs, usually contemporary ones, definitely added to the overall children and adult appeal of the movie. Instead of depicting the usual animal-looking-for-some-purpose plot, like Winnie the Pooh, those twists made the movie closer to the hearts of all generation. 

Second,  penguins are cute--and practically no one can ever deny it. They are so cuddly and so endearing that I could definitely stare at their images for a very long time. Plus the fact that they danced so well (or that's what the animation is trying to tell us). It's like watching a high school musicale, only you don't have an excuse to hate it simply because you are smitten by the characters. Let me also give my credence to the "voices." It could have been better, though, if Nicole Kidman (Norma Jean) made use of a little more modulation. I find her a little less audible and voice so soft that it sounds so unnatural. Furthermore, we also learned tidbits of the penguin way of life. It might not be a common fact that it's actually the fathers who keep the egg warm and the mother who will look for food. This will actually go on for about three months before the egg hatches and the father gets to do his job: to "hunt" for sustenance. 

Third, the plot is interesting, to say the least. It tackles some common issues addressed (or not properly addressed) by the world, one of which is the captivation of animals. This inclusion provided the human side of the story, and the audience is not only served with a film that's loveable but also sensical. But the downside is contexts such as these may not be readily absorbed by the young kids. Who could properly explain how mass fishing destroyed the food chain in Antarctica? If these areas are not carefully expressed, then the movie might just end up a drag to these children. Thus, it would be advisable that adults too should listen and analyze the movie intently so whatever important lesson is implied, they could immediately share these to the youngsters.

The film was overall poignant, happy, vibrant, quiet, and reflective. You cannot expect to be laughing your hearts out all the time, but if you want some balance between the real and the unreal--without losing the magic of animation, storytelling, and humor--then you better get one cinema ticket and watch a Happy Feet. Bring along someone. It's nice to share a laugh with a good friend.