| | | From the Producers of Shrek and Shrek 2.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Dolby Digital (5.1); Dolby Digital Surround Sound, Bloopers, Challenge Game, French, Spanish Subtitled
The whole world is looking for a hero, and it's up to a little pigeon named Valiant to step up and bravely serve his country. Valiant (Ewan McGregor) and his fine, feathered friends take to the sky on a wing and a prayer to prove that it's not your wingspan but the size of your spirit that truly counts. Together this rag-tag squadron of birdbrains engages in hilarious aerial adventures at a spitfire pace. From the first bumbling day of basic training through the final feather-raising mission, the flock of comical characters swoops their way toward victory. From the producer of Shrek and Shrek 2, Valiant delivers stunning animation, a top-flight voice cast, and an action-packed story loaded with laughs. It's a soaring family comedy that truly earns its wings.
Editor's Note
From Disney and the producer of SHREK and SHREK II comes this animated feel-good comedy about a small but heroic British homing pigeon during World War II. Though tiny, Valiant (Ewan McGregor) is gutsy, and he yearns to join the Royal Homing Pigeon Service to serve his country during its time of need, hoping to prove that what he lacks in wingspan he makes up for in spirit. Accepted into training, Valiant faces some ribbing by the other members of RHPS and is placed into Squad F, along with a host of other misfit heroes. However, with troops trapped behind enemy lines and a flurry of attacks by enemy falcons (led by General Von Talon, voiced by Tim Curry), it's up to Valiant and his comrades to save the day.Notably, VALIANT is based on a true story, as more than half of all medals awarded to animal war heroes went to homing pigeons. Children will appreciate this heartwarming tale of brains over brawn, and adult viewers will appreciate the film's voice cast, which features a wealth of British stars that also includes Jim Broadbent, John Cleese, and THE OFFICE's Ricky Gervais. Similar to other films that use humor to address the turbulence of war, such as HOPE AND GLORY, TEA WITH MUSSOLINI, and LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, VALIANT provides a classic tale of hope and heroism for all ages.
| Features | Widescreen Presentation | | Audio: English Dolby Digital (5.1); Dolby Digital Surround Sound | | Subtitles: French, Spanish | | Hilarious Bloopers | | Valiant Training Challenge Game -- Multiple Levels Of Fun! |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: Buena Vista (Disney) |
| Release Date: 12/26/2008 |
| Running Time: 76 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2005 | | Catalog ID: 4104903 | | UPC: 00786936293173 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew | Ewan McGregor - Voice Of | | Gary Chapman - Director | | George Fenton - Original Music By | | George Webster - Screenplay | | George Webster, et. al. - Screenplay | | Jim Stewart, et. al. - Editor | | John Byrne - Production Designer | | John Cleese - Voice Of | | John Fenner - Cinematographer | | John H. Williams - Producer | | Neil Braun, et. al. - Executive Producer | | Ricky Gervais - Voice Of | | Tim Curry - Voice Of |
|
| | Professional Reviews | James Berardinelli's ReelViews 5 of 10
Valiant is for the birds. Arguably the blandest of the burgeoning crop of big budget digitally animated films, Valiant aims to prove that the death of traditional animation has simply pushed lackluster screenplays into the digital realm. Until recently, digital animation had been heads-and-shoulders about its longer-lived counterpart because each film was lovingly crafted with an attention to detail. Over the past year, however, digitally animated films have begun to show an assembly line quality, and Valiant represents a new low. It's not as clever as it thinks it is, not as funny or exciting as it should be, and not as engaging as it needs to be to prevent kids from losing interest and parents from falling asleep. - James Berardinelli
San Francisco Examiner 6 of 10
While Valiant is computer generated, it feels distinctly different from the American-animated films. Much like most British films, many jokes are subtler, though the filmmakers don't shy away from a well-timed gas-passing joke.But while Pixar's films, such as Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo, tell a captivating story that is touching, Valiant is almost a throwaway story. The animation in the film isn't up to the Pixar level. It is certainly on par with the Shrek franchise, but it's nothing spectacular. What's impressive is the cast of voice actors in the film, which plays out like a best-of British actors parade. Besides, McGregor, Laurie, Gervais, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, John Cleese, John Hurt and Olivia Williams take part in what could possibly be the finest collection of voice actors an animated film has ever seen. - Scott Rosenburg
|
| |
|
|
|
