Who Framed Roger Rabbit firstly is a stunning technical achievement. Considering it was filmed way back in 1988 when I was just 3 and had just been introduced to those weird moving pictures on the tv screen called cartoons makes it even more so. Secondly the movie is crackling good entertainment.
So what is it that makes the movie so special. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is remarkable blend of live action film and hand drawn animated characters. Yes hand drawn characters since this is 1988 we are talking about. In this day and age of of expensive computer generated 3D imagery the movie still manages to hold its own. Thanks in no small part to its remarkable attention to detail in every frame. The toons and real life actors mesh so smoothly in each and every scene you will actually begin to believe such a world can exist. Nothing seems out of place . I was hardpressed to find any scenes where the actors seemed to converse or interact with empty space which was how it really was when the movie was actually filming. Also the physical interactions between the actors and toons are unbelievably authentic. I never once got the feeling that anytime the actors threw or smacked about or punched a toon or vica -versa there was anything but a real toon. Every unreal element in the movie had a very real sense of weight , size and proportion. When a toon collides with any object specks of dust realistically fly about. Every animated element casts realistic shadows on the ground.
Anyway techno – wizardry aside it is still a brilliant movie. The script and dialogues are top notch. Though light on actual plot it makes up for it line after brilliant line. Top notch one liners and gags , and brilliant cameos by our favorite cartoon characters. Also top notch performances by the real actors , but ofcourse its the toon stars that steal the show.
“And also after watching the movie , if the term ” booby trap ” takes on a whole new meaning for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you”
An Excursion Through The Mind 