{"id":1968,"date":"2012-03-31T10:44:18","date_gmt":"2012-03-31T10:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1968"},"modified":"2012-03-31T10:44:19","modified_gmt":"2012-03-31T10:44:19","slug":"the-pirates-in-an-adventure-with-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/the-pirates-in-an-adventure-with-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>There is an unquestionable deep respect for our British creative institution Aardman Animations<\/a>, and eager anticipation for their next project. Don\u2019t be put off by the fact that its geniuses have teamed up with Sony and added 3D \u2013\u00a0The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists!<\/em><\/a> is a quintessentially Aardman affair, bursting with fine detail that you can\u2019t possibly take in, in one viewing. In fact, it could be argued that this detracts from the plot, which has its lagging moments, if being totally honest \u2013 Aardman magic aside.<\/p>\n

Pirate Captain (voiced with expert comic timing by Hugh Grant<\/a>) is tired of not having any booty and being the butt of other captains\u2019 jokes. Revered by his faithful crew, he sets out to win the coveted Pirate of the year Award \u2013 defeating flash rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven<\/a>, voiced) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek<\/a>, voiced) in the process. However, a brush with a sea-faring Charles Darwin (David Tennant<\/a>, voiced) and a scientific discovery of an ornithological kind sets Pirate Captain and his band of merry misfits on a different path to raise the bounty, a quest that takes him to Victorian London and into the territory of pirate-loathing Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton<\/a>, voiced).<\/p>\n

Co-directors, Aardman guru\u00a0Peter Lord<\/a> and Chicken Run<\/em>\u2019s\u00a0Jeff Newitt<\/a> can be rightly satisfied in knowing that their swashbuckling creation is still a huge fan pleaser and as \u2018tactile-looking\u2019 as the trademark plasticine characters, Wallace and Gromit. The new 3D technology is actually only a small factor in the overall production value, adding depth of field rather than an immersive experience; each set and character has been painstakingly crafted in the traditional fashion. In fact, as with anything 3D at the moment, it could be argued that the film would be as enjoyable in 2D. The 3D merely feels like an Aardman experimentation that thankfully pays off. There is no Pirate Captain double vision.<\/p>\n

Once known, all the stars who lend their voices are gleefully and instantly recognisable, such as the hearty vocals of\u00a0Brian Blessed<\/a> as Pirate King,\u00a0Martin Freeman<\/a> recreating his weary Tim Canterbury tones from The Office<\/em> as Pirate Captain\u2019s right-hand man, Pirate with Scarf, and a shrill Staunton going slowly barmy as Queen Vic, like her many comedy roles of past. What isn\u2019t fully expected is exactly where the plot will go, and there is a bizarre and quite disturbing reveal for younger viewers concerning Queenie and her visiting dignitaries that is positively inhumane. However, with hindsight, it\u2019s not too far from the fate of other animals in the Aardman feature-film collection, and this film is based on the first two books in the Pirates! series by author \u2013 and screenwriter \u2013 Gideon Defoe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Pirates!<\/em> has so much loving attention invested in it, and there is a lot of naughty fun to be had. The downside is too much of a good thing \u2013 and too much information in a scene \u2013 can overload the whole experience, resulting in restless young kiddies at times. Still, visually, it\u2019s an awesome Aardman romp of plundering proportions.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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