Today, thanks to Sky Perks, I attended a sneak preview showing of the new Puss in Boots 3D movie at the fabulous Odeon cinema in Manchester's Trafford Centre. My three girls (aged 9 to 20) and I donned our 3D specs and settled down to enjoy this Dream Works' Shrek prequel, telling the story of what Puss got up to before he met Shrek, Donkey and Fiona. How he becomes a legend!
Antonio Banderas's Puss is on great form as the sword fighting, lady loving feline. Salma Hayek plays his love interest and partner in crime Kitty Soft Paws. Other characters include the terrifying bandits Jack and Jill and the scheming dreamer Humpty Dumpty. The story is about betrayal, revenge and redemption and is action packed, filled with dancing, adventure and excitement. It hinges around a plan to steal golden eggs from the Giant's Castle in the clouds, accessed via a beanstalk grown from some very elusive magic beans.
The movie has the flavour of a Spaghetti Western. It is peppered with gags, many appealing to the adults only! There were laugh out loud moments for both the kids and the grown-ups.
The quality of 3D just gets better and better. The landscapes are rich and colourful and the characters are vivid and detailed. Split screen imagery is used to good effect. It really is a sumptuous visual feast.
If you like Shrek you will love Puss's new film. However it completely stands alone as a film in its own right with enough action, laughs and cute moments to keep everyone entertained.
My girls enjoyed it. 20 year old Megan was not sure about going to a kids' film, but afterwards said she was glad that she came as she really enjoyed it. Some of the risque moments had her giggling! Kizzy is already planning to add it to her DVD collection in the future!
If you want to take the kids for a Christmas treat to the cinema, the film is released on the 9th of December in the UK.