Rango - a movie review

an enjoyable film that was just shy of extraordinary.

the expressiveness and emotion of the hardened desert critters was superb, which is likely thanks to the use of a new form of motion capture animation. it was like watching live actors in masks or makeup instead of PC-borne animated characters.

along with a mature vocabulary, there were a number of nightmare-inducing scenes that seemed to push this film from its rating of PG into a 14A: the hillbilly rodents climbing zombie-like out of the sand; the sinewy, unpredictable movements of Rattlesnake Jake; and certainly the violence and explosions of the obligatory chase scene. but even more adult than these grown-up frights was the pacing of the movie and truly, its overall message.

among the theatre-goers of that late show were a couple and their 4 or 5-year-old little lady. the visuals may have been captivating for her and the drawling creatures charming, but Rango was paced for an adult audience. foreshadowing and character-building abounded the film, and the storyline refused the frenetic speed of today's films for the ADD audience. two delightful cameos were absolutely intended for viewers that can vote or even viewers who have children that can vote (but i will not spoil those here).

the social commentary was not earth-shattering but it was shared in a contemplative manner that invoked equal amounts of discomfort and admiration. thus Rango joins the ranks of other eco-related calls to action...but it sidles into that line quietly, clicking its dusty spurs over an era that may be out of reach.

may be.