Toys in the Attic
Director: Jirí Barta, Vivian Schilling
Cast: Vivian Schilling, Forest Whitaker, Cary Elwes, Marcelo Tubert, Douglas Urbanski, Joan Cusack
In a secret world of magical everyday objects, the power of friendship can defeat even the most malevolent of foes. When a beautiful doll named Buttercup (Vivian Schilling) is abducted from her home in an attic trunk by a sinister entity known only as “the Head”, she is taken to the Land of Evil. When they discover her fate, Buttercup’s friends, Sir Handsome, a brave, pencil wielding marionette, Teddy Bear, and Madame Curie, a mechanical mouse, along with a host of other comrades, must join together to save her.
Friendship is one of the most powerful themes in this film. In the beginning, Buttercup is painted as a mother figure for the other toys. She cares for them with maternal tenderness, and in return, they regard her almost as a princess. When Buttercup is taken by “the Head’s” minions and cast into the unfamiliar surroundings away from her home, her courage rests in the knowledge that her friends will come to save her. Even when she is trapped in the clutches of her enemy, Buttercup’s devotion to her friends is apparent – she must go home so she can care for her friends. In turn, the other toys, guided by Sir Handsome, Teddy Bear, and Madame Curie, are bound by their love for Buttercup to rescue her from the Head.
The Head, while being nothing more than an animated bust, is also a truly creepy villain. When Buttercup refuses to submit to the Head’s plans for her, he locks her in a cage and even tries to trick her friends by replacing the true Buttercup with imitations of their lost friend in order to keep Buttercup for himself. While the other toys considered Buttercup a cherished friend, the Head seemed intent on possessing her. It was almost as if despite all of his power and control, he lacked the maternal warmth that was enjoyed by Buttercup and her friends, and he felt the need to subjugate her in order to experience the same caring she gave freely to her friends.
Toys in the Attic is a film rich with imagination and a clever story. The marriage of stop-motion animation entwines perfectly with real life elements and paints a tapestry of memorable characters and creative environments that the audience can truly believe while also be entranced by. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Jirí Barta, Vivian Schilling
Cast: Vivian Schilling, Forest Whitaker, Cary Elwes, Marcelo Tubert, Douglas Urbanski, Joan Cusack
In a secret world of magical everyday objects, the power of friendship can defeat even the most malevolent of foes. When a beautiful doll named Buttercup (Vivian Schilling) is abducted from her home in an attic trunk by a sinister entity known only as “the Head”, she is taken to the Land of Evil. When they discover her fate, Buttercup’s friends, Sir Handsome, a brave, pencil wielding marionette, Teddy Bear, and Madame Curie, a mechanical mouse, along with a host of other comrades, must join together to save her.
Friendship is one of the most powerful themes in this film. In the beginning, Buttercup is painted as a mother figure for the other toys. She cares for them with maternal tenderness, and in return, they regard her almost as a princess. When Buttercup is taken by “the Head’s” minions and cast into the unfamiliar surroundings away from her home, her courage rests in the knowledge that her friends will come to save her. Even when she is trapped in the clutches of her enemy, Buttercup’s devotion to her friends is apparent – she must go home so she can care for her friends. In turn, the other toys, guided by Sir Handsome, Teddy Bear, and Madame Curie, are bound by their love for Buttercup to rescue her from the Head.
The Head, while being nothing more than an animated bust, is also a truly creepy villain. When Buttercup refuses to submit to the Head’s plans for her, he locks her in a cage and even tries to trick her friends by replacing the true Buttercup with imitations of their lost friend in order to keep Buttercup for himself. While the other toys considered Buttercup a cherished friend, the Head seemed intent on possessing her. It was almost as if despite all of his power and control, he lacked the maternal warmth that was enjoyed by Buttercup and her friends, and he felt the need to subjugate her in order to experience the same caring she gave freely to her friends.
Toys in the Attic is a film rich with imagination and a clever story. The marriage of stop-motion animation entwines perfectly with real life elements and paints a tapestry of memorable characters and creative environments that the audience can truly believe while also be entranced by. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.