"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is... well, fantastic!

Rating: 10/10 (19 October 2014)

Back in 2009 when this movie was first in cinemas, I turned a blind eye to this film. I didn't really watch many kids movies then. I was an all- action person. I loved action films, and still do, mind you. But over recent years (last two years?), I've found myself getting more in touch with my younger side; the side that loves animated films.
I'm going to try and keep my review spoiler free, but I will mark it for having spoilers just in case something slips out.
The premise follows the same as the book; Mr. Fox steals food from three wealthy and dangerous farmers, and in an attempt to kill him, they dig up his home, forcing him and his family to dig deeper and deeper underground.
That's a rough outline of the storyline. There's more, I can assure you, but I'm only filling in the necessary plot details.
Right off the bat, the stop-motion animation is smooth and effectively used. The characters, despite it being stop-motion, move smoothly. Acrobats and quick movement are actually quite entertaining to watch and you don't have to wait long to see some good use of stop-motion.
The cinematography in this movie is used very well, making some awesome scenes. You could have one thing happening on one end, and another thing on the other end, all in one scene. And it's not just subtle. You can clearly see two things are happening at once. When they're digging away from the farmers, it gives you a side view to show you what's happening above and below. This is used really, really well!
The humour in this movie can get a few chuckles out of you, even if you're the type who only laugh at adult comedies and not family comedies (note: I said family and not children's).
The characters we can certainly relate to. We all know an Ash. We all know a Mr. Fox. We know that one kid who picks on anyone for being different. This makes the emotional aspect of this movie carry that extra punch.
Speaking of the emotional side of things; despite it being more comedic, the film does have a lot of touching moments. These moments make this movie even more forgettable than it already is.
Am I glad I watched this in the end? You're cussing right I am! Great movie for not just children, but for any movie-lover really.