General Cycling Discussion - The Triplets of Belleville

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View Full Version : The Triplets of Belleville


khuon
02-03-04, 04:20 PM
Has anyone seen this movie yet?

Here's the synopsis from RottenTomatoes

IN THEATRES: NOVEMBER 26, 2003 (NY/LA)

In this animated French film, a boy named Champion trains relentlessly for the Tour de France, with the help of his loyal grandmother and overweight dog, Bruno (who loves to bark at passing trains). When the big race comes, Champion and a few of his fellow racers are kidnapped by some box-shouldered thugs who spirit them off to Belleville (a surreal impression of 1930s-1950s Manhattan) where they are forced to peddle as part of a clandestine gambling operation. Bruno and grandma set out across the sea in a paddle boat to rescue their boy, but once ashore they soon become lost, hungry and penniless, that is until the frog-eating Triplets of Belleville, former scat singing jazz prodigies turned experimental musicians, come to their rescue.

Filled with inspired, twisted imagery, this nearly dialogue-free film is a crowd-pleaser of unusual power, with the strange, measured pacing of a dream, and a great soundtrack of bizarre alternate-reality '30s jazz. It also has offers a touching and believable evocation of a dog's life. A great throwback to the time before animation became dominated by CGI effects, TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE is a very strange, very loving French salute to obsession, affection, and persistence.


shecky
02-03-04, 04:49 PM
I'm gonna see it tomorrow before it leaves town. Looks to have a bicycling tie-in. :)

Allen H
02-03-04, 05:00 PM
I have it on my DVD rental list with Netflix.
Saw a preview of it in the theater, and have read a review about it and its creator - it's a VERY quirky story with unusual characters, and there IS a cycling tie-in. (The soundtrack alone makes it worth viewing once, IMO.)


Kodama
02-03-04, 05:40 PM
I saw it a couple weeks ago at the Egyptian in Seattle. Great movie, fantasitic animation and brilliant parody. All the americans in the New York city parody are gigantic, even the statue of liberty praises excess consumption. Not to fear the French are roasted just as well. The cyclists all have grossly deformed calves and thighs and just seem to endlessly suffer. The best training sequence ever. A great comedy, with inspired music and virtually no dialog. A must see for animation fans and cyclists.

khuon
02-03-04, 05:48 PM
I saw it a couple weeks ago at the Egyptian in Seattle.

Thanks. Do you know if it's still showing anywhere in the Seattle area? I'm hoping to see it this upcoming weekend.

RacerX
02-03-04, 06:08 PM
Yes it is great! The music stays with you and all the imagery and story are great!
They show a little cycling and the yellow jersey winner looks just like Anqueitel. I thought it was great.
The exaggeration of a cyclist, my g/f thought it was spot on!

roadfix
02-03-04, 06:19 PM
My nephew was watching it at home on tape (academy loaner copy) and these weird looking characters racing up the steep switchbacks caught my attention. Great animation and some of the racing scenes are funny. I ended up watching the whole film.

George

MichaelW
02-04-04, 03:30 AM
I really looked forward to seeing it, but was underwhelmed.
Pretentious art-house hype. Give me Wallace and Grommit any day.

Jay H
02-04-04, 06:26 AM
Wensleydale! ;)

http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/mini2.htm

Jay

chewa
02-04-04, 06:38 AM
A.K.A "Belleville Rendezvous". I saw it when it was released. I found it enjoyable, but my wife found it a bit dark.

I liked the TdF references and the Tati ones too.

Kodama
02-04-04, 01:48 PM
Thanks. Do you know if it's still showing anywhere in the Seattle area? I'm hoping to see it this upcoming weekend.

It seems to be only playing at the Landmark Harvard Exit on Capital Hill right now. Still worth the trek IMO, if don't live on the Hill.

DieselDan
02-04-04, 08:33 PM
Any word on a wider release to us in smaller markets?

prevail24
02-04-04, 08:34 PM
I saw the previews this past weekend. I really want to go see it. I think the G/F may think I am strange.

RacerX
02-04-04, 10:17 PM
DieselDan,
Your sig
"If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass.
If you don't trail ride and road ride, you miss half of the secenery.
Why do you need a mountian bike? There aren't any mountians here.
Off season? What off season? "

It should be:
If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass a hoppin'

-Nathan Arizona, Raising Arizona

khuon
02-05-04, 12:15 AM
It seems to be only playing at the Landmark Harvard Exit on Capital Hill right now. Still worth the trek IMO, if don't live on the Hill.

Excellent! I don't consider going to Cap Hill that much of a trek. I've gone there for less.