Libretio ALL THE LITTLE ANIMALS Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (2.35 Research)Sound format: Dolby DigitalUntil it takes a darker turn during its latter stages, there's a quiet dignity at the heart of this unusual drama, the directorial debut of producer Jeremy Thomas, based on a novel by Walker Hamilton. Christian Bale - a long way from EMPIRE OF THE SUN and two years from American PSYCHO - plays a mentally impaired young man who runs away from his creepy stepfather (Daniel Benzali) in the wake of his mother's death and ends up in Cornwall, where he befriends an eccentric hermit (John Hurt) whose fondness for animals strikes a healing chord within Bale's damaged psyche. Together, they set out to bury the dead creatures they find around their ramshackle home in the forest, many of them killed by traffic on lonely country roads.Characterized by its magical performances (Bale is utterly convincing as the 10 year old boy trapped in a 25 year old's body) and eye-popping, panoramic vistas of the English landscape, the film offers a gentle reminder of mankind's place in the natural scheme of things, though Thomas makes his point without stooping to preachiness or obvious metaphors. In an amusing turnabout from standard Hollywood practices, this UK-lensed film features an American actor (Benzali) playing a Brit villain, the catalyst for a late-breaking plot development which some may find overly melodramatic. By turns humane, frightening and beautiful, this isn't a movie for all tastes, but adventurous viewers will be rewarded for their patience. A possible cult in the making.

rebtris My son and I really liked this film. If you are into shoot 'em up, no thinking or feeling required movies, then this one is not for you. For those who like animals and like to see the little guy win once in awhile, this is a great film. The stepfather, DeWinter, is a typical "nothing matters but money" type person and his unfortunate stepson, Bobby, gets caught in the line of his ruthless fire. As fate would have it, Bobby meets an eccentric and oddly lovable old fellow, Mr. Summers, who is into giving the poor creatures who have been flattened on the road a decent burial and a little compassion for what their little life once was. I know in this steam roller over everything that isn't human world that we live in, a lot of people aren't concerned in the slightest with what befalls those who are not so fortunate as them, particularly when it's a non-human unfortunate. But I found it very refreshing that someone took the time to write a book and do a film about the "underdogs" of life on this planet. I found myself cheering Bobby on when he finally finds his backbone and deals with his stepfather appropriately. For those who love animals and maybe even detest the cruelty that some people just feel they have to exhibit towards the helpless, this is a one in a million movie where the little guys win.

zu20 I think this was a film well worth watching most importantly for an extraordinary performance by Christian Bale. I found it harsh that another user had criticised it for it's sentimentality I agree but in reality how else could a story like this be filmed? I also found it a testament to the film that even with it's flaws the implausibilty of certain incidents and the cheap looking production values along with the fact that it isn't always the best most interesting film that I found it so heartwarming. If you are not extremely cynical or can turn that part of yourself off sometimes (like me)this film does hold something worthwhile.

DorsiaRes i was expecting this to be an awful movie but it sounded interesting so i watched it anyway. i was pleasantly surprised and never bored... i thought the acting was excellent, christian bale and john hurt are great in their roles. the thing i like about bale's character is the fact that he's not overtly "mentally disabled" but instead, it's very subtle. i thought that the love and respect for animals that they both shared was beautiful and the people that REALLY need to see this movie are ones that feel they're superior to animals. no, we never get close to the animals themselves but we can still feel for them. i don't think there's anything ridiculous about mr. summers wanting to bury roadkill, afterall - would you leave a PERSON out in the open after they'd been killed for all to see? no, and even though mr. summers doesn't care for humans much, we can still see he's a caring person on the inside. he respects life and is upset with humans for thinking that they're the only ones that matter.i can't believe people bash this movie, i didn't find ANYTHING wrong with it!