Rango

"It only takes one bullet". Rango! A strange, animated venture into the wild west. A film by the director of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, animated in almost a stop motion style and about an animal society headed by a fish out of water lizard. Nothing about it should work but everything here does, and it works well. So well in fact that it took home Best Animated Picture at the academy awards, beating such classics as the great Kung Fu Panda 2 and similarly western Puss in Boots. What an achievement, and it deserves it so. This is truly a fantastic film. The most notable thing about it is the unique style of animation. The viscerally dirty and mildly uncanny animation looks absolutely incredible, with amazing 3D designs for all the characters involved. Unlike any other animated film, the voice cast assembled on practical sets to record their dialogue, being able to play off each other the way other films of this nature can't. It's to this film’s credit that it does this, helping make the dynamics of all the characters and their conflicts click all the more. A seriously entertaining story occurs as well, exploring themes of becoming who you want to be as well as corruption and globalisation's effect on natural habitats, all set within this anthropomorphised western town of dirt. As is said in this film, "No man can walk out of his own story", and you should not walk away from this fantastic film at WSC.

Tom Blakey

Littered with clever wit and western spoofery, Rango is a must-see. While much of the humour flies over the heads of children, this truly is a cartoon for adults, featuring hilarious references to other westerns, and even incorporating some slapstick. Sheltered house-pet Rango finds himself in gritty desert town, Dirt, sticking out like a sore thumb. An identity crisis of sorts, Rango recreates himself as Dirt’s last hope - the sheriff that can hopefully solve their drought problem. Storyline aside, the animation is fantastic. The textures of the desert animals and the colours of the beautiful western backdrop are just perfect for this wannabe Western animation.

Louise Formby