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== Reception == |
== Reception == |
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Redwall was met with mixed but mostly positive reviews from critics. They praised the animation, voice acting, landscape art and Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori's soundtrack. Criticism was mainly against it's darker, dramatic tone that Martin Rosen had used for his earlier efforts in animation, with similar criticisms meeting Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Critics were concerned that it would traumatize younger viewers the same way the other two films did despite it being rated PG-13. The film contains just as much blood and violence as in the other two films, but it is based on a Children's novel. However, some critics praised the dark and violent scenes, such as professor Susan J. Napier, saying, "Redwall outright proves animation is not just for kids, but animation can be for everybody." Critics praised Clint Eastwood in his role as Martin the Warrior. |
Redwall was met with mixed but mostly positive reviews from critics. They praised the animation, voice acting, landscape art and Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori's soundtrack. Criticism was mainly against it's darker, dramatic tone that Martin Rosen had used for his earlier efforts in animation, with similar criticisms meeting Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Critics were concerned that it would traumatize younger viewers the same way the other two films did despite it being rated PG-13. The film contains just as much blood and violence as in the other two films, but it is based on a Children's novel. However, some critics praised the dark and violent scenes, such as professor Susan J. Napier, saying, "Redwall outright proves animation is not just for kids, but animation can be for everybody." Critics praised Clint Eastwood in his role as Martin the Warrior. |
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Latest revision as of 03:59, 30 October 2024
Redwall is a 1989 British/American animated fantasy film directed and written by Martin Rosen and based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Brian Jacques. It
features the voices of Christopher Daniel Barnes, Michael Kilgarriff, Keith David, James Woods, Kerri Green, Helen Mirren, Billy West, Jim Cummings, Angela Lansbury, Sigourney Weaver, River Phoenix, Michael Gough, Clint Eastwood, Joe Pesci, Bob Hoskins, David Bowie, Jeremy Irons, Charles Dance, John Hurt, Cree Summer and Jonathan Winters. In the film, the citizens of Redwall Abbey must stop the attacks of Cluny the Scourge (Kilgarriff).
With animation directed by Tony Guy (who also did Rosen's adaptations of Watership Down and The Plague Dogs), the film was produced by Nepenthe Productions and released and distributed by Orion Pictures. Despite being a based on a children's novel, the film was rated PG-13 by the MPAA for mild blood and some mature themes. The film's score was composed by Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori, with original songs by David Bowie and Michael Jackson.
The film was released internationally on September 15, 1989, receiving mixed to positive reviews from mainstream critics, with praise for it's animation, landscapes, voice acting and music, with criticism mainly towards it's dark, dramatic tone similar to Rosen's Watership Down and The Plague Dogs, concerned it would traumatize children the same way Watership Down did 11 years earlier despite it's PG-13 rating. Over the years the film, like many of Rosen and Nepenthe Productions' animated films, developed a cult following on home video. It is also considered one of the greatest animated films ever made.
Plot
A young mouse named Matthias is a novice monk at Redwall Abbey, where he was adapted. He dreams of a more adventurous life, inspired by the legends of Martin the Warrior, Redwall's founder.
One summer, Redwall is surrounded by the army of Cluny the Scourge, a ruthless one-eyed Rat. Matthias is guided by visions of Martin the Warrior, while the Abbey inhabitants prepare for war due to Cluny's inevitable attack in the settlement. Matthias seeks the sword of Martin, supposedly hidden in the Abbey, helped particularly by Brother Methuselah, an ancient and grizzled Mouse who serves as the historian of Redwall.
Cluny attempts to gain entrance and murders a defector of his army, Sela the Fox. Sela's son, Chickenhound, seeks refuge in the settlement, but he accidentally kills Brother Methuselah after being caught stealing. Driven from the Abbey, Chickenhound is maimed by the savage Adder, Asmodeus Poisonteeth, a local terror of the forests that surround Redwall, Mossflower Wood. Clues to the location of Martin's sword and even his shield have been built into Redwall, allowing Matthias to recover the shield, but finds that the sword was stolen by tribe of wild and hostile House Sparrows called the Sparras, who dwell on Redwall's roof. Matthias learns from the violent tribe that the sword was stolen from them in turn by Asmodeus. The tribe's king attacks Matthias, but dies when the two plummet off the Abbey roof. Matthias recovers and ventures into Asmodeus' lair with his new allies Log-a-Log, a Shrew and the Sparra queen, Warbeak. The retrieval of Martin's sword is successful and Matthias slays Asmodeus. Alerted by the fall of the Abbey by the Sparras, Matthias rushes back home to save Redwall.
After many attempts to repeal Cluny's army, including boiling water, oil, fire and barrels of hornets and wasps, Redwall finally falls when Cluny threatens the family of the gatekeeper, allowing his massive army, consisting of Bowmen, Berserkers, War Rhinos, War Dragons and Horseback Riders, as well as a massive war machine with a canon, to have access to the Abbey. Matthias and his allies begin a long war against Cluny and his army. Cluny strikes his poison barb tail at the father abbot Mortimer, but Matthias avenges his injury by dropping the Abbey's bell on Cluny, killing him, bringing Redwall to victory. Mortimer proclaims Matthias as Redwall's warrior as he dies.
Matthias is married, and Matthias and his wife Cornflower have a child, Mattiemeo, and the bell has been re-shaped into two bells named after Matthias and Methuselah. Martin the Warrior's spirit watches on with a smile on his face, and Matthias thanks him as the credits begin to roll.
Voice cast
- Christopher Daniel Barnes as Matthias
- Michael Kilgarriff as Cluny the Scourge
- Keith David as Brother Methuselah
- James Woods as Shadow
- Kerri Green as Jess Squirrel
- Helen Mirren as Queen Warbeak
- Billy West as King Bull Sparra
- Jim Cummings as Asmodeus Poisonteeth
- Angela Lansbury as Dunwing
- Sigourney Weaver as Sela
- River Phoenix as Chickenhound
- Michael Gough as Basil Stag Hare
- Clint Eastwood as Martin the Warrior
- Joe Pesci as Log-a-Log
- Bob Hoskins as Guosim
- David Bowie as Squire Julian Gingivere
- Jeremy Irons as Captain Snow
- Charles Dance as Friar Hugo
- John Hurt as Abbot Mortimer
- Cree Summer as Cornflower
- Jonathan Winters as Brother Mordalfus
Production
In 1987, it was announced that Orion Pictures had purchased film rights to Redwall and a film adaptation would release sometime between 1989 or 1990. Originally, Orion wanted either Wolfgang Peterson or Don Bluth to direct, but Peterson was not available and Bluth was busy with The Land Before Time (1988). Having completed Stacking (1987), Watership Down (1978) and The Plague Dogs (1982) director Martin Rosen was hired as director and announced as an animated feature.
Production of the film began in mid 1987, with animation directed by Tony Guy, who also helped with Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Though the style of both Watership Down and The Plague Dogs returned, Sei Young Animation helped with animation occasionally. Casting was "mildly difficult." Jack Nicholson was offered to voice the villain, Cluny the Scourge, but declined as he was busy as the Joker during the filming of Tim Burton's Batman (1989). Orion then offered James Woods the role of Cluny, but after reading the script, woods requested to play Shadow instead. Tom Cruise was offered the role of Matthias, but declined, and was brought to Christopher Daniel Barnes instead. Clint Eastwood was hired as the voice of Martin the Warrior, who founded Redwall.
Tab Murphy, the film's writer, wanted to add more fantasy elements to the film. Cluny and his allies like Shadow, as well as Cluny's army and weapons were all designed by Shinji Nishikawa, famous for his work on this film and his work on several Godzilla films.
Music
The score of Redwall was composed by both Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori. Kawai composed for the battle scenes and scenes featuring Cluny the Scourge and/or his army, while Hattori composed additional music. Kawai used Classical Japanese for the vocals of many of his tracks for the film, especially when Cluny shows up. He wanted to give Cluny a "surreal and haunting kind of villain theme." Kawai would later take elements of his score for Redwall for his score of Ghost in the Shell (1995). The End Credits song is "Life and Death," and it was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett and performed by Michael Jackson. A promotional soundtrack was released in August 1989, featuring "Life and Death" as well as additional songs by Jackson and David Bowie, with the last track being a suite from Kawai and Hattori's score. The score was met with critical acclaim.
Track listing (score)
- The Beginning
- Enter Matthias
- Dreaming of Martin
- Cluny the Scourge
- Visions of Martin
- Wise Brother Methuselah
- Murder
- Chickenhound
- Asmodeus Poisonteeth
- Shield of Martin
- Sparras
- Truth
- Death of the Sparra King
- Sword of Martin
- War - Part 1
- War - Part 2
- Happily Ever After
- Life and Death (performed by Michael Jackson)
Songs from the promotional album
- Life and Death (Michael Jackson)
- Safe and Cozy (David Bowie)
- Dreams and Nightmares (Michael Jackson)
- Martin the Warrior (David Bowie)
- Breakin' In (Michael Jackson)
- The Last Hope (David Bowie)
- Fight! (David Bowie and Michael Jackson)
- Redwall Suite (Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori)
Release
Redwall was released internationally on September 19, 1989, exclusively in theaters. The film is rated PG-13 for mild blood and violent scenes and mild language despite being based on a children's novel.
The film had it's first home media release in January 1990 and it's first television airing was in 1991. The film was a success, earning $79 million against it's $4 million budget. However it was beat by Tri-Star's Look Who's Talking. The film's first DVD release was in 1998.
Reception
Redwall was met with mixed but mostly positive reviews from critics. They praised the animation, voice acting, landscape art and Kenji Kawai and Takayuki Hattori's soundtrack. Criticism was mainly against it's darker, dramatic tone that Martin Rosen had used for his earlier efforts in animation, with similar criticisms meeting Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Critics were concerned that it would traumatize younger viewers the same way the other two films did despite it being rated PG-13. The film contains just as much blood and violence as in the other two films, but it is based on a Children's novel. However, some critics praised the dark and violent scenes, such as professor Susan J. Napier, saying, "Redwall outright proves animation is not just for kids, but animation can be for everybody." Critics praised Clint Eastwood in his role as Martin the Warrior.
Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel both praised the film, with Ebert giving the film four out of four stars, stating that it is "just as good" as My Neighbor Totoro (1988). The film has an 93% approval rating based on 69 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The consensus reads, "A very, long, very dramatic, very good fantasy epic with much great effort put on it." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 97 based on 32 reviews.
Legacy
The film was met with a cult following when it released on home video in January 1990 and airings on Television starting in 1991.