After watching the animated The Ant Bully (2006-also reviewed)with a visiting former school friend,I decided to search for a Czech flick to view for the ICM Eastern European challenge. Having found Ukradena vzducholod (1967-also reviewed) very memorable, and in the mood of seeing another feature involving animation, I turned on the deadly invention.
View on the film:
Inspired by the sight of woodcut illustrations in the original publication of Jules Verne's novels, co-writer/(with Frantisek Hrubin and Milan Vácha) directing auteur Karel Zeman continues his seamless blending of live action,in-camera tricks and quirky animation. Backed by composer Zdenek Liska's early dip into a electronic and classical blended score, Zeman boils up a decades ahead of its time Steam Punk atmosphere with a "mysti-mation" method of animation, which give the drawn backdrops a almost handmade Victorian era touch, by them creating a eye-catching depth of field on the submarine and the volcano. Travelling from Verne's lesser-known novel Facing the Flag, the writers continue to superbly explore the line between magic and live action that runs across Zeman's work, via Artigas idea to use a super-explosive device slyly flying close to the threat of nukes in the Cold War, which is perfectly balanced with the Fantasy Steam Punk delight of Artigas's proto-007 volcanic lair and displaying Professor Roche (played by a fantastic Ernest Navara) array of Victorian inventions which sparkle as attempts are made to stop the deadly invention.
View on the film:
Inspired by the sight of woodcut illustrations in the original publication of Jules Verne's novels, co-writer/(with Frantisek Hrubin and Milan Vácha) directing auteur Karel Zeman continues his seamless blending of live action,in-camera tricks and quirky animation. Backed by composer Zdenek Liska's early dip into a electronic and classical blended score, Zeman boils up a decades ahead of its time Steam Punk atmosphere with a "mysti-mation" method of animation, which give the drawn backdrops a almost handmade Victorian era touch, by them creating a eye-catching depth of field on the submarine and the volcano. Travelling from Verne's lesser-known novel Facing the Flag, the writers continue to superbly explore the line between magic and live action that runs across Zeman's work, via Artigas idea to use a super-explosive device slyly flying close to the threat of nukes in the Cold War, which is perfectly balanced with the Fantasy Steam Punk delight of Artigas's proto-007 volcanic lair and displaying Professor Roche (played by a fantastic Ernest Navara) array of Victorian inventions which sparkle as attempts are made to stop the deadly invention.