Cartoonreviews I have two problems with this movie. First, as my title indicates, it is boring. It is ungodly, irredeemably boring. There were times in the movie where I had to fast forward as I couldn't take the nothing that was going on. They seem to not like speaking too much in this film so a lot of the film is bathed in awkward silence with barely any music, which only punctuates how flat and boring it is. I mean, yeah the finale was...okay, but that doesn't excuse over an hour of nothing.The second biggest thing is the animation. Dear god is this film ugly. Yeah, I know it's stylized, but that does not excuse the fact that the style is UGLY. Just because you MEANT it to be ugly, doesn't make it any less ugly. The characters are bland, and as they hardly talk they are made even MORE bland, and the backgrounds don't help with their surreal blandness.This is one of those movies where when you are watching you go 'man...I could be doing something else right now' and that is the number one sin a movie can possibly make. Questioning why you are watching it.Is it the most painful and horrible animated movie ever? ...no, it's just ungodly boring. I don't care how different it is, or how it took a chance, or how surreal it is. If it is boring, it's still boring no matter what kind of bow you put on it. Not for kids, not for teens, not for adults...I would say the only time you should watch this movie is if you are an art student and need a film to write a report on. Other than that...give this one a skip.

Sean Lamberger Quirky, standout French animation about a boy, his grandmother, his dream of competing in the Tour de France, and his kidnapping midway through the race. Somewhere along the way, they latch onto a trio of retired songstresses (the titular triplets) and from there, the ride grooves to a catchy, incessant makeshift beat. A free-flowing adventure in every sense, it's never half as serious as the premise seems to imply - even when the crew is dodging bullets in New York aboard the equivalent of a parade float. The artwork is wonderful; organic and over-exaggerated in the very best ways, and all-too willing to poke fun at its own eccentricities. Stylish, funny and emotive, with a colorful soul and a restless spirit, I was especially impressed by its ability to convey the story without a shred of essential dialog. No subtitles necessary, just enjoy the show.

rbn_lrk-1 For 10 years ago this animated movie had been released.This is a movie about a woman, her son and a dog.Not much is said through the movie, but you get some strange songs and whistles instead.The boy grows up to be a Tour De France star, but some American gangsters kidnaps that boy.That makes the woman and the dog sail to America.We see a parody of steam punk technology America with overweight people, large cars and burgers.The woman is teaming up with three older ladies that chases down the villains.At the climax cars are blown up under a chase through the city.If you are in love with Paris, parodies on America and strange European movies I recommend this.There are things for action movie and classic cartoon fans too with the wild chases in this movie.Japan are having Miyazaki, America Disney and France a cartoon likes this.If you hunger for more delicate French speaking animation a lot had been released last decade.10/10

Raquel Norales Madame Souza's Super Powers Two scenes are analyzed here form a brilliant short film about a Grandmothers journey to getting her grandson to the Tour de France bicycle race and eventually saving him after he is kidnapped by a group of mob men. In the first scene, the tiny kitchen looks even smaller with the over the top clutter that fills it. Along the walls: plates, tea sets, wine bottles, a bike frame, pots, and pans all line wooden board panels. An antique, rusty record player stands in a corner. In the opposite corner, a full trash bin accompanies an aged steel heater. The already overcrowded walls hold picture frames that tilt to one side. In the center of the room above a round kitchen table, there is a brittle light fixture. The light sways back and forth lighting the room with dull light bulbs. Madame Souza is standing on top of her table. The old woman is elf- sized and plump. She hovers over her grandson, Champion, who is on his hands and knees on top of the table too. His feet dangle over the edge of the table as she vigorously scrubs his shoulders after a long day of bike riding. Champion's eyes are closed. His back arches with hunched shoulders. As the night grows, the scene ends Madame dragging the giant to bed. Later in the film, the second scene is positioned mountainside during the Tour de France race. The driver and Madame Souza have pulled over on the side of the road due to a tire malfunction. Madame Souza is standing with one foot forward supporting her body as she leans over the older man that drives her van. She has both hands on her rounded hips, and constantly blows a whistle cradled in her mouth. With furrowed eyebrows, the driver bends over- focused on trying to fix the popped tire. She is anxious to get back on the road to keep track of her grandson during the race. In both of these images from Les Triplettes de Belleville, Sylvain Chomet portrays a distinct gender role switch- empowering the female role and diminishing the dominant male perception. The two scenes are in direction toward a group of outer-directed consumers. Many people have very set views of the male and female roles in our society. Both of these scenes portray a reversed dominance in the traditional view of leadership by a male and following logic from the female. While Madame Souza stands in her kitchen with Champion, she is above him, even though he is three times her size. Her gaze is looking downward onto Champion. His eyes are closed. His body in a prayer position with his shoulders arching down. He shows reverence to his grandmother as she scrubs his back. Similarly, Madame stands a whole head above the the truck driver when they are on the side of the mountain. Both of her eyes are looking through her nose at the old man. Obediently, he looks down at the task that Madame is urging he finishes. Her nose points upward in a posh shrewdness. The driver keeps his head below his shoulders in compliance with her orders. In both scenes however, the angle of the camera is at eyelevel. This angle gives the viewer a rhetorical perspective of equality with the characters, therefore creating equilibrium between the audience and characters. In the kitchen scene with Champion and Madame Souza, we are overwhelmed with a feeling of clutter and chaos. In traditional views, the role a woman is to keep and maintain the house. This observation includes the idea of keeping the home clean and neat at all time- at least to try. Madame Souza does not show this characteristic. Her objective is inclined to training and coaching Champion for the race. The imagery of "coaching" replicates in the second seen with the driver as well. Normally the word "coach" associates itself with a male. However, Madame Souza takes the role of the coach and blows the whistle at the old man in this scene. Chomet uses color and specific detail in the animation to represent the ideas intended for a parallel audience. The driver is wearing scruffy overalls that infer is a lower class worker. Madame Souza wears worn out clothes, a sweater that has patches on her elbows. The colors and wardrobe of the cartoons evoke an idea that they belong to a lower middle class group. The detail by Chomet effectively demonstrates his point of view concerning the female role in the film. She and her assistants in the film are the "heroes." Throughout the film, Madame Souza carries a tremendous character of leadership, which completely contradicts our view of an elderly woman in society today. She exceeds the role of a woman demonstrating: power, will, nurture, and protection for her loved ones. I believe this short film is inspiring to try the hardest one can at any given point and time in life. The grandma instructs no one should give up no matter how tough any situation may seem. The human anatomy is only flesh and bones. The soul is the strength and will that comes from within.