Rango
(2011)Like Pixar on drugs, this is an animated tale about Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp), a sheltered pet chameleon with an identity crisis. Winner of Best Animated Film at the 2012 Academy Awards.... More
Rango finds himself outside his terrarium and, after taking the advice of an amardillo, arrives in Dirt - a town stuck in Old West times, a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily creatures. He woos the townsfolk with tall tales of his "heroic" past, and is quickly promoted to the position of Sheriff. Tasked with controlling Dirt's rampant bandits, the less-than-courageous Rango now has to live up to his own lie.
Rango is notable for being the first animated feature from George Lucas' special effects company, Industrial Light & Magic.Hide
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Best Animated Film winner at 2012 Academy Awards and BAFTAs.
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Directed by Gore Verbinski
Starring Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Isla Fisher, Claudia Black, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Root
Written by John Logan, Gore Verbinski, James Ward Byrkit
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Rango
BY Taylor-Wallis grader
I love all types of lizards & reptiles so this was an enjoyable movie for me all the more so because of johnny depp as rango. he did the character justice in his own weird way & the other characters in the movie were very interesting as well. overall a bit of fun for the afternoon
BY bigspendakev superstar
BY RexH superstar
But mainly it's Chinatown. The bad guy who is monkeying around with the water supply even looks like John Huston - certainly the mannerisms of his Noah Cross character... More are there. And is there a barest hint of Faye Dunaway in Rango's love interest?
Then there is the incredible detail and mouthwatering visuals. There were moments when I found it hard to believe I was watching an entirely digital creation. The lighting was first rate. And the cast of characters - flawless! This film deserves more than one award from the Academy.Hide
BY steveisatree superstar
An excellent film. Hopefully it will change the face of kids heroes. All the characters were, odd, different yet fantastic. Rather than the normal hero and heroines.
Plus, a slight mention of 'Fear and loathing in loss vagas" and the man with no name. Neat
Thanks Gore Verbinski.
BY Hastley lister
Well that's why i took the kids hehe. They thought it was pretty good and understood the conservation message so the makers will prob be happy with that. Wait till DVD I say!
Showing 5 of 13 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
88%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
A seriously funny and smart film, with a way of moving between its layers that should keep the kids and late night crowd as happy as each other. Full Review
A certain percentage of the audience will instantly sieze on this as their favorite movie of all time, and a small, but not insignificant demographic will have nightmares. Verbinski and Depp probably like it that way. Full Review
Most exceptional is the visual style, which makes even the best animated 3D look like a poor cousin. Full Review
Rango, which may take place entirely within its hero's head - that kind of ambiguity worked in "Inception" and "Black Swan," so why not here? - is about the appetite for myths and stories, whether or not they make sense. It is about the worlds we dream inside our fishbowls, helped by the weird reflections on the walls. Full Review
It ain't perfect but this is one crazy cartoon, unpredictable and with an enjoyable showdown Full Review
The strangeness is off the scale in a kooky concoction that might have been hatched at the bottom of a bong. Then again, what do you expect with Johnny involved? Full Review
The strangeness is off the scale in a kooky concoction that might have been hatched at the bottom of a bong. Then again, what do you expect with Johnny involved? Full Review
Johnny Depp isn't the sort of star to blend in, so it's saying something that his turn as the world's most conspicuous chameleon in Rango is so full-bodied, you forget the actor and focus on the character. Full Review
BY Andrew Hedley Flicks Writer
Whilst expectations of animal antics might pitch Rango towards kids, the story of a chameleon (Johnny Depp) with existential issues is perhaps more appropriate for an older crowd. With the feel of something that a bunch of enthusiasts have put together for their own amusement, the result is a lightweight but entertaining mescaline-fuelled trip through the Nevada desert.... More
Visually, Rango is a treat. Cinematographer Roger Deakins (True Grit) is on board as a visual consultant (he did the same job on WALL-E and How to Train Your Dragon) and his mark is invaluable in creating sun-baked, heat-warped desert photography. Populating the parched surrounds are dozens of creatures, from rats to snakes to tortoises, each meticulously detailed and individually voiced.
Even if the story about a dust bowl town’s diminished water supply isn’t quite thrilling enough, the film makes up for it with wacked-out dream sequences and a general oddball tone. Director Gore Verbinski is back on form, cutting loose to indulge his irreverent sense of humour (well utilised in his first Pirates of the Caribbean even if lost in later instalments).
It might not become a hugely memorable animated effort, but Rango is weird enough to be valued in a marketplace that often plays it too safe. Leave the very young kids at home, there’s plenty here for adults too (yes, that’s Hunter S. Thompson and, as you’ll see, this is bat country). Try it out; it might surprise you.Hide
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