Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Version of Wallace and Gromit on DVD, December 19, 2007
This has to be the best DVD of Wallace and Gromit out there today.
When the version that was released to promote the Were-Rabbit movie came out, I was dissappointed to see that none of the behind the scenes features were not included. However, it had the Cracking Contraptions shorts, which the first DVD did not have. As a result, I didn't get either version.
So I was shopping at Wal-Mart when I saw this disc. Imagine my elation when I saw that is combined the best of two previous releases: the behind the scenes of all three films, with two that are specific to the latter two shorts of the first release, plus the Cracking Contraptions shorts of the second release. Plus, there are two episodes of the Shaun the Sheep series. I definitly had to pick this up.
Want one more reason to get this disc? How about the fact that, despite not being made with the fancy animation of computers, these shorts are golden. I recommend these shorts to anyone who likes to be entertained. I personally prefer The Wrong Trousers to the other two, but all three are beautiful cases of great story-telling and animation acting. (Don't believe me on the animation acting part? Then you tell me how else a clay dog can be the most expressive animated character ever with only a pair of eyebrows at his disposal.)
This is the ultimate disc to go with Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Widescreen Edition), not the other one. I highly recommend getting this release, plus Were-Rabbit to get the full Wallace and Gromit experience.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
make sure of edition, February 7, 2008
There is little question that Wallace & Gromit are the best animated duo out there. Gromit is a very intelligent canine who always has to bail out his partner, Wallace, from every contraption mess.
Be careful what version you order. This collection has been released a couple of times, and there are differences. The soundtrack changes bteween them (e.g., "Happy Birthday" vs. "He's a Jolly Good Fellow", and "How Much is that Doggy in the Window" vs. generic instrumental). It fits much better with the older version.
No matter what, this is still excellent fun for the parents and the kids!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"No Cheese, Gromit!", June 3, 2008
In 1989, Nick Park partnered with Aardman Animation and released a twenty-five minute short film that created a worldwide phenomenon. It featured as its protagonists an eccentric inventor, named Wallace and his mute dog, Gromit. Wallace (lovably inept) and Gromit (silent but emotive) would become the cornerstone of Aardman's style of stop-motion animation. Their popularity can be credited to the witty comedic writing, the quaint design of the plasticine models and most importantly to the brilliant animators, whose talents are virtually unlimited. Although Gromit never actually speaks, his facial expressions communicate all of his thoughts and emotions giving testament to the skills of the animation team. Since their conception Wallace and Gromit have starred in three short films, a series of "mini-shorts", a feature-length film, not to mention countless advertisements and commercials (mostly in the U.K. and in Japan).
A Grand Day Out - 1989
Wallace, all out of cheese, decides that his holiday should be at "a place where there's cheese". He decides, rather impetuously, to go to the moon because as he says, "Everybody knows the moon's made of cheese." What follows is an hilarious montage sequence showing Wallace and faithful Gromit designing and constructing a rocket ship in the basement. After its completion he and Gromit take off and eventually land on the moon. There they encounter a patrolling gas oven (who for some reason has an antenna on his head and a police baton) that dreams of skiing. As you can tell, there's little logic or reason in the story but that's what gives it its charm.
The Wrong Trousers - 1993
It's Gromit's birthday and Wallace has spent the last of his money buying Gromit a ridiculously extravagant present. The "Techno Trousers" (a mechanized pair of legs that can take Gromit for "walkies") seem harmless enough but if they were to fall into the wrong hands, they could become a tool for evil. And of course they do. Wallace lets out a room (Gromit's, in fact) to an unscrupulous penguin that turns out to be a professional jewel thief. With the "Techno Trousers" at his disposal, the penguin uses Wallace, involuntarily and unwittingly, to carry out the heist. In the end only Gromit can save the day. This is easily the best of the W&G series.
A Close Shave - 1995
Wallace and Gromit have recently established a window-washing service, which leads them to Wendolene, the owner of a local wool shop. As the country faces a wool shortage and sheep keep disappearing, Wendolene and her dog, Preston are revealed to be more than they seem. Meanwhile Wallace finds an escaped sheep has been hiding in his home and dubs him Shaun (shorn). But when Preston frames Gromit, Gromit is held responsible for the sheep napping, and Wallace and Shaun must break him out of prison. The film reaches its climax with an incredible chase sequence, which concludes in a final showdown between Wallace and Preston. This is technically the most complicated of the W&G shorts but it still has the simple charm of its predecessors.
It's no wonder Wallace & Gromit are beloved characters around the world.
There have been two recent DVD releases of these classic short films. The first DVD release was put out by Dreamworks and features all three short films as well as ten Cracking Contraptions "mini-shorts", a behind the scenes look at Cracking Contraptions and a sneak peek at The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The second DVD release was put out by 20th Century Fox and Hit Entertainment. It includes the three short films and all ten Cracking Contraptions, an audio commentary track for each of the original three short films, two Shaun the Sheep episodes, The Amazing Adventures of Wallace & Gromit featurette, Inside The Wrong Trousers featurette, and much more.
Also recommended:
Chicken Run
Creature Comforts: The Complete First and Second Seasons
Wallace & Gromit: Aeroplane, Motorbike, Sidecar & Gromit Figures
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