8:00 PM, 5th May, 2006
Wallace and Gromit (you know, the clay chap with the clay dog and the clay cheese) have made a name for themselves in their sleepy little hamlet. The name is Anti-Pesto, and it represents not an outfit that harasses Italian restaurants, but rather a security firm that specialises in the humane removal of rabbits. Not just for the sake of it, you understand, but because the annual Giant Vegetable Competition is approaching, and theres nothing sadder than having your enormous scary mutant cucumber chomped on by rampaging rabbits. Or so I hear.Anti-Pesto's modus operandi consists of an elaborate system of alarms, and a contraption called the Bun-Vac, which, though it sounds like an exercise machine worthy of Demtel, is actually a device to suck rabbits from the ground and into captivity. You'll see that for yourself; I just wanted to mention the Demtel thing.
Anyway, Things Go Awry, and a huge menacing were-rabbit stomps out into the night and wreaks all manner of havoc. Wallace and Gromit must put a stop to it humanely, before the bloodthirsty Victor Quartermaine shoots it dead. Chases abound (watch for the aerial one in particular, and bring someone to wallop you on the back when you choke). P.S. I'm amazed I've managed to get through this entire review without mentioning hare-brained schemes, describing anyone as 'hopping mad', or, in general, rabbiting on. I think I deserve some sort of prize.
Helena Sverdlin
10:34 PM, 5th May, 2006
Giant Ants!What more could it take to attract you to Them!? This is THE movie with giant ants. Its also one of the best cold war era sci-fi movies and I kind of feel a bit mean selling it as "the ant movie". You can probably imagine the basic set-up... Nuclear tests in the desert cause ants to mutate to colossal size and they proceed to terrorise the American South-West while a team of journalists and the army try to stop them. What you probably don't expect is how well Them! depicts the cold war era nuclear paranoia gripping the world at the time.Almost every sci-fi and horror movie released since has pinched something from Them! and many of them have a lot of trouble holding up as well today. See it on the big screen while you have the chance; I promise the ants will be even bigger there!
Adam Gould