Creature Shop in "Around the World in 80 Days"

Phillip

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 11, 2002
Messages
8,251
Reaction score
3,401
Disney's "Around The World In 80 Days" premieres this weekend. Be on the lookout for all of the special effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. We haven't heard much about JHC's involvement in this film, but it's getting some good reviews so far.

Review: 'Around The World In 80 Days' Fantastic Voyage

Do we really need a remake of "Around the World in 80 Days"?

When it is as funny and fantasy-filled as the one starring Steve Coogan, Jackie Chan and Cécile De France, why not take another whirl around the world?

With such a gifted physical comedian as Chan playing Passepartout, a lot of the tone of the movie is slapstick combined with killer fights and flights that hardly give you a chance to breathe.

Coogan, as the eccentric inventor Phileas Fogg, and De France, as lovely French painter Monique La Roche who goes along for the ride, are both beautifully cast. Coogan is easily able to combine a stuffy Englishman with a man who has a vision that anything is possible in a country where the scientists insist "We have discovered everything there is to discover." De France is winsome, sweet, seductive and manipulative when she has to be. She also has a mean punch.

The story is not exactly like the 1956 version of the tale, but the basics are there. Fogg is a constant thorn in the side of the men in the Ministry of Science. He's always coming to them with some new theory or what they consider a crazy invention that will never fly.

When Fogg boldly states that a man could travel around the world in 80 days, the sleazy Minister of Science makes a bet with him -- if Fogg can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, he will step down and let Fogg take his place. However, if he loses, Fogg must give up experiments forever.

Never having been out of England, Fogg is a bit nervous about agreeing to the deal, but with encouragement from his valet, Passepartout (who has his own secret), Fogg takes the bet. But you know the minister has no intentions of letting his trip be an easy one.

Their trip is a madcap series of misadventures in some of the most beautiful places in the world. The countryside is exquisite.

A side story regarding a stolen jade Buddha is weak and isn't set up very well, but it does give Chan a chance to let loose with his kung fu action.

Special effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop magically transport us from one location to the next, starting in reality and then morphing into a combination of what looks like high-tech animation. In many spots the scene looks like a painting in the style of the Masters coming to life.

The director's and the actors' comic timing are right on the mark and none of the scenes go on too long (except maybe a cringe-inducing performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a prince who has six wives and is looking for a seventh to complete the week.)

Right up to the high-flying ending, "Around the World in 80 Days" is a delight and it's hard to count all of the cameos by well-known actors.

Curiously there is an occasional off-color reference that doesn't seem to fit the spirit of the film --which is just the kind of high-spirited slapstick fun that kids really enjoy. For the more conservative family, those occasional moments may be uncomfortable, but they pass quickly.

"Around the World in 80 Days" is a film that the whole family can enjoy - no sex, no gruesome violence, no heavy themes -- just pure fun. These days, that is hard to come by in a movie theater, so saddle up and take a ride around the world with Phileas Fogg and his crew.

http://www.theomahachannel.com/entertainment/3420618/detail.html
 

Fozzie Bear

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2002
Messages
13,372
Reaction score
148
Who'd'a thunk it? I didn't realize they were doing that film.
 

Beauregard

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2002
Messages
19,240
Reaction score
1,239
Grrrrrr....

Bea:zany:{Who is very angry with something to do with this, but would rather not say what right now so don't ask}regard
 

MuppetDanny

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Messages
1,690
Reaction score
252
Very likely The Creature Shop will do the animal effects particularly the scenes in India where in the story Fogg rescues an Indian princess from being burned alive :confused: .

You can read a review on jc-news.net (Jackie Chan fan site) :smile:

Also from Kungfucinema.com there's a great review and over 80 pictures - check it out :cool:
 

KermiClown

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 15, 2004
Messages
215
Reaction score
0
Saw Around the World and loved it!

I saw Around the World in 80 Days yesterday and loved it. Although certainly inspired by the original book and film, it also deviates quite a bit. But it was a lot of fun and laugh-out-loud funny. Jackie Chan is delightful as always. His fight scenes are always clever and original. The movie is full of cameos.

I had no idea that the Creature Shop was involved until I saw them in the end credits, but I was thrilled that they were attached to this movie since I enjoyed it so very much.
 

MuppetDanny

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Messages
1,690
Reaction score
252
Just to let you know that a "Making Of" documentry of the movie will be screened on :

Time - 14:35 to 15:00 (2:35 to 3:00) (25 minutes long).
When - Saturday 26th June on ITV1

Sourse:mediabullet.co.uk

Maybe the Creature Shop will be mentioned :wink:
 
Top