The storyline begins with a friendly lunch between two friends and quickly transforms into a clash of epic proportions as their appetite grows for more than just food. What begins as a friendly fight escalates until they are kicking and dodging and rolling on the floor - for what?
This student made animation is created using stick figures - one red, one green - whose hidden aggressions emerge to a frightening level in less than 2 minutes. The batter begins with chopsticks, then dumplings, then full body contact as they kick and punch across the screen, stabbing and jabbing with the chopsticks until - it seems that perhaps the dog winds. It's an interesting study in human behavior and more interesting because the humans (and dog) are all stick figures - or line drawings. The background music sounds familiar, and I question whether or not the filmmaker has a license to use it. (We will ask). The music definitely adds to the crescendo of the action, as do the quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War which are used at the beginning and the end. The control that 16-year-old Jake Andrew Yun has over the digital animation is quite extraordinary and makes for an enjoyable watch.
The message of the film is about the art of war, how a simple skirmish can escalate to a full out confrontation.
I give Battle for the Dumpling 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
The storyline begins with a friendly lunch between two friends and quickly transforms into a clash of epic proportions as their appetite grows for more than just food. What begins as a friendly fight escalates until they are kicking and dodging and rolling on the floor - for what?
This student made animation is created using stick figures - one red, one green - whose hidden aggressions emerge to a frightening level in less than 2 minutes. The batter begins with chopsticks, then dumplings, then full body contact as they kick and punch across the screen, stabbing and jabbing with the chopsticks until - it seems that perhaps the dog winds. It's an interesting study in human behavior and more interesting because the humans (and dog) are all stick figures - or line drawings. The background music sounds familiar, and I question whether or not the filmmaker has a license to use it. (We will ask). The music definitely adds to the crescendo of the action, as do the quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War which are used at the beginning and the end. The control that 16-year-old Jake Andrew Yun has over the digital animation is quite extraordinary and makes for an enjoyable watch.
The message of the film is about the art of war, how a simple skirmish can escalate to a full out confrontation.
I give Battle for the Dumpling 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
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