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Technical Information
Studio: Paramount
Home Video
Year of Theatrical Release: 2001
Disc Format: 1
single-sided, dual layer
Image Format: Anamorphic
(16x9 enhanced) and full-frame pan and scan
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Region Encoding: 1
Sound Format: Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 (pro logic)
Running Time: 82
minutes
Director: John
A. Davis
Stars: (voices)
Patrick Stewart, Martin Short, Debi Derryberry, Rob Paulsen
MPAA Rating: G
Disc Supplements:
- The Making of Jimmy Neutron
- Music videos: "Leave It Up To Me" Aaron
Carter, "Kids in America" No Secrets
- 12 promotional spots
- 7 DVD-ROM games
- Teaser trailer
- Theatrical trailer
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Jimmy, as the title of the film suggests,
is a genius.
The before school routine for your typical
kid might consist of protests against getting out of bed, a
struggle to find some clothes, a little breakfast and maybe
time for a couple of cartoons before rushing to catch the bus.
Maybe there's the occasional scramble to finish some last minute
homework, too. For Jimmy Neutron, a typical morning consists
of building a rocket and blasting off into space in order to
place a homemade communications toaster--er, satellite, into
orbit.
Jimmy is constantly inventing things, from
his robotic dog, Goddard, to a shrinking ray, to the aforementioned
rocket and satellite. Like any genius, some of Jimmy's inventions
work spectacularly well, while others fail in equally spectacular
fashion. All of this is almost too much for Jimmy's parents,
who try to understand Jimmy's eccentricities, but also worry
that their son will get hurt (although they do have to admit
that Goddard is pretty darn cool). Meanwhile, Jimmy is picked
on by the kids at school because not only is he smart, but he's
also a bit of a runt. Further complicating the issue is Cindy
Vortex, Jimmy's arch rival at school. She's a smart girl and
Jimmy isn't quite sure whether to like her or hate her for it.
The communication toaster / satellite Jimmy
launched into orbit actually works and broadcasts a message
to an alien species. These aliens are, perhaps, the strangest
aliens to ever appear on film. They are, in essence, blobs of
goo that live in egg suits. Their space ships resemble giant
rubber chickens and they worship a god-monster that looks like
a massive plucked chicken. These aliens aren't interested at
all in Jimmy, but his parents intrigue them. They decide to
come to Earth and abduct all of the parents and sacrifice them
to the giant chicken.
With all of the parents gone, it's party time
for the kids. This doesn't last long, however, as they all realize
that not only is there a lot they just can't do for themselves,
but they also miss their parents terribly. They turn to Jimmy,
who puts a plan together to go rescue the adults. He builds
space ships from amusement park rides and the kids all blast
off into space.
All in all, Jimmy Neutron is an enjoyable
film not only for kids, but for adults as well. The adult humor
isn't as edgy as that in other recent animated efforts (such
as Shrek and Monsters, Inc.), which is just as well, as some
of the humor in those other films nearly cross the line of appropriateness
for a kids movie.
The film maintains a very unique visual style
and even contains moments of pure imagination and wonder. The
best part of the film is when all of the kids take off in their
amusement park space ships. The creativity involved in this
sequence of scenes is inspired and a offers up some great visual
moments. Overall, the film isn't quite as complex visually as
some other recent computer animated films, and this may be in
part due to the fact that Jimmy Neutron was originally intended
to be a television pilot.
The pacing is just about right for a kids
film and although the aliens intend to make human sacrifices
of the parents, the whole process is absurd enough that it shouldn't
be disturbing for the little ones.
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top |
First off, we're given both a widescreen and
a full-frame pan and scan version, which seems to be an appropriate
choice for a kids film. I know that my girls actually prefer widescreen,
but that probably won't be the case for all kids.
One of the great things about computer animated
films is that they exist entirely in the digital realm. They have
to be converted to film for their theatrical run, but that isn't
necessary for DVD, which is also a digital medium. The direct digital-to-digital
transfer has become the standard for CG films and for the most part,
it produces images on the DVD that look better than the theatrical
release. Such is the case with this disc. Although the transfer
isn't quite as good as, say, Pixar's releases, it's still decent
in its own right.
Colors a beautifully rendered on the disc -- and
believe me, this is a very colorful film. Black levels are dead-on,
with deep, detail-filled shadows. Since this comes directly from
a digital source, there are no instances of dust and scratches or
grain in the transfer. I noticed no digital artifacting and edge
enhancement, sometimes a problem on Paramount discs, was no where
to be found.
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Like the video, the audio portion of the disc
is first-rate. For all of you DTS snobs out there, I say there's
still life in Dolby Digital yet -- and this track proves it.
Sound effects are an important element to an animated
film and this soundtrack is an example of how to do it right. Left
to right and front to back panning is clear and precise. Dialog
remains rooted to the screen, but the rest of the sound elements
make full use of the entire listening arena. Still, the sound effects
and music never overpower the dialog. The bass response is tight,
clean and natural sounding. You can safely turn up the volume of
this one without worrying about the kids being scared by overly
aggressive booms and bangs.
:::back to top |
The extra content may be a little on the light
side, but it's probably just about right to hold the attention of
the target audience -- kids.
First up is The Making of Jimmy Neutron featurette.
It runs just over 15 minutes and does a fairly decent job of covering
the technical aspects of making a CG film, while not getting so
bogged down in details as to bore the tears from the little ones.
Personally, I would have like to have been given a little more about
t he CG production, but that's just me. For what it is, this feature
is well done and appropriate.
Next up are two music videos. We get Aaron Carter's
Leave It Up To Me and a cover of Kids In America by No Secrets.
Neither of these videos are anything special, but again, we must
keep in mind the target audience.
Also included are a series of promotional spots.
First are the Interstitials. There are seven of these and the quality
suggests that they were produced when Jimmy Neutron was still expected
to be only a television project. Still, these minute-long shorts
are amusing in their own way (my favorite is New Dog, Old Tricks
short). The five cliffhangers each, as one might expect, end in
a cliffhanger that leads into the next short. Together, these five
spots act almost as a prequel to the film, with the last one ending
right where the movie begins.
Finishing things off are a theatrical and a teaser
trailer and some DVD-ROM games. The trailers are amusing in their
own right and contain some material that wasn't in the final film.
As for the games, they are kid-friendly, though may not hold much
in the way of repeat playability.
:::back to top |
I have to admit that I wasn't all that excited
to see this film. It initially didn't appeal to me in the way that
other recent CG films have. Now that I've watched it, however, I'm
a fan. This is a clever, cute and fun picture that holds entertainment
value for the entire family. The DVD presentation isn't groundbreaking,
but it is worthwhile for the material and has a place in any collection
of family films.
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| Jimmy Neutron is pefectly
suited for the entire family. |
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| -- By Robert Wurth. Copyright
© 2003. |
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