Brilliant, Touching Tale

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2000)

Can it be that the best film of 1999 is....a CARTOON? I would have to say yes. This is perhaps the best animated feature in the past 10 years (or maybe even further back than that.) What makes it so great? First of all, it is a visual marvel. The film contained some of the smoothest animation ever, with CG elements flawlessly incorporated into the traditional elements. Vibrant colors and wonderfully expressive characters make the movie much more than a cartoon - it is merely animated life.	The story is a gem. The hypothetical question "what if a gun had a soul?" lies at the heart of the plot, and issues, of spirituality, redemption, and sacrifice make the plot much more substantive than anything Disney churns out to make a quick buck. There are parts where I actually teared up. Yes, I admit it, a strapping young man such as myself actually cries at films if they deserve it, and this one does. The fact that very few people actually saw this film is very upsetting to me. It is the perfect movie for parents to take their children to, because not only will their children be wildly entertained by the endearing, larger-than-life title character, but they as parents will also enjoy a rich movie experience - thanks to a script which pokes fun at Cold War hysteria and propaganda, among other things.	This review might ramble, but let's wrap it up like this: This is a fabulous movie for the young and old. If you are a parent, PLEASE show this movie to your children. And if you don't have kids, watch it for yourself. You won't regret it.