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418 of 448 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A DVD disappointment for three great movies..., September 21, 2005
First off, I'm a crazy Wallace & Gromit fan. I love all the films that Nick Park and Aardman have made for these characters. This DVD, however, does not do justice to the movies.
This is the third DVD release of the Wallace & Gromit films, and I can only assume that they did this now to tie into the approaching release of the new feature film. It doesn't seem like much effort has been put into the creation of this disc. The menus are very bland, the movie selection displays the films out of order (with A Close Shave in the middle) and there isn't a chapter selection option.
In terms of the films themselves, The Wrong Trousers has been altered, and that's what really bugs me. I think it has something to do with copyright laws, but several music tracks have been replaced with terrible-sounding substitutes. Gromit's birthday card plays a very non-birthday-card-sounding version of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" instead of "Happy Birthday To You". When the Penguin is listening to the radio, the songs "Happy Talk" and "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" have been replaced with terrible, generic organ music that completely takes away the mood of the scenes. Consequently, the sound of Wallace humming "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" the next morning has also been removed.
This bit may not bother most people, but for some reason all the soundtracks for the shorts are a semitone flat. I can only assume this is because the film was transferred at a slower rate.
The only really redeeming quality about this disc is the inclusion of all ten Cracking Contraption shorts, which have never been available on region 1 DVD before.
The bottom line: Get this DVD if you want the Cracking Contraption shorts. Otherwise, stick to your old VHS copies.
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73 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be on any animation fan's top 10 list., January 4, 2000
By A Customer
First, the basics. Nick Park: British clay animator and all-around brilliant chap. Wallace: Kindhearted but hapless inventor known for gently hairbrained ideas. Gromit: Long-suffering but intrepid dog whose facial expressions say it all. A Grand Day Out: Despite some immensely funny sight gags, this is ultimately kind of a lightweight. Pleasant, but weird and not as focused as the other two. The Wrong Trousers: If Hitchcock made a claymation movie, it would be this. A perfect blend of suspense and comedy involving a mysterious penguin, a model train set, a daring jewel heist, and a pair of mechanical pants. Arguably one of the greatest short films in animation history. A Close Shave: Not quite as brilliant as its predecessor, but still well-done and tons of fun. An action-adventure romp in which Wallace and Gromit discover a dastardly sheepnapping scheme. Includes an ingenious parody of a well-known American action film (to say any more would be telling.) All in all: Well worth its high price. Pure entertainment you'll want to watch over and over.
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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!, September 13, 2000
This set includes all three Wallace And Gromit films, which have won a slew of well-deserved awards. The animation is charming, and the attention to detail is impressive. As you watch the videos again and again you keep noticing more little details you missed before--most are witty or inside jokes or references that you'll catch if you pay attention. The characters are beloved for a reason--Wallace is neurotic and obsessive in charming Brit style, and Gromit is brilliant, sarcastic, and parental. 'The Wrong Trousers' and 'A Close Shave' are my favorites--these two have the best plots, the funniest twists, and the best character development (the evil penguin and bully bulldog had me rolling!). You can't help but fall in love with Wallace And Gromit, and you'll probably join the rest of us addicts begging for another installment and buying up every piece of witty merchandise you can get! If you do end up liking these videos, you should definitely get 'Creature Comforts' by Aardman productions--it's got a great Nick Park short, and three other great pieces. Plus, Chicken Run was great, too (though it was no Wallace and Gromit!)
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