Valiant

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From the producer of Shrek and Shrek 2, Valiant is the UK's first CG animation, made in the lot of the historic Ealing Studios, London, whilst being developed in Los Angeles by Vanguard Animation.

Set in London during World War II, the film tells the story of a lowly wood pigeon, Valiant, (voiced by Ewan McGregor) who has big dreams. He, along with his misfit friend Bugsy (voiced by The Office star Ricky Gervais) attempt to join the very elite Royal Homing Pigeon Service to serve their country, with a little help from some friends they make along the way, namely the lovely nurse Victoria (Olivia Williams, Sixth Sense and Rushmore) they become part of the team.

The aim of the RHPS is to help the troops by flying vital messages about enemy movements across the English Channel, whilst evading attacks from the evil enemy's Falcon brigade. Against all odds and adversity, Valiant and his friends triumph where their better equipped and overly qualified colleagues have failed. It is Valiant's sheer determination, coupled with his unbridled courage that enables him not only to overcome his small size but turns this country pigeon into an adventurer and, finally, a hero.

An animated comedy for all the family, backed by a cracking British cast which also includes John Cleese, Hugh Laurie, Rik Mayall and Tim Curry as arch nemesis General Von Talon, Valiant is a film that stays true to its British roots. Some pigeons eat crumbs, others make history.

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Critics' Reviews

Halliwell's Film Guide

An animated movie that seems completely out of touch with the present day, being a quaint throwback to the British war films of the 50s, with stiff-upper-beak attitudes and corny gags. Vaguely based on the true-life exploits of carrier pigeons, these bug-

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France is scary!

JediSi JediSi [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/09/2007

Set in WWII, this animated movie portrays the life of a little pigeon with a big heart named Valiant. Wanting more out of his life he decides to leave the nest and join the Homing Pigeon Service. But life was never going to be easy for the little pigeon but he proves that spirit and heart is all one needs to be a hero!

Valiant doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t unlike so many other animations, and comes jam packed with a great sense of British humour. McGregor, Gervais and Cleese are the perfect voices for their respective parts to make this an all round good British animation that holds it own. It does have a certain charm that most of its competition fails to comprehend. It may not be the fanciest, most exciting animation, but its solid, and most of all British.

49 out of 74 people found this review helpful

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Bird Brained Cartoon

kmcca5 from East Sussex , 11/04/2005

I was looking forward to this and thought with the sterling cast it could not fail. Wrong, this was dyer, the jokes might have been funny if the comedic timing wasn’t so far out. It was as if all the voices had been recorded separately and no one knew what the other person was going to say. Ewan McGregor was an awful choice for this film. You wanted to put down poison pellets for that pigeon.

The only saving grace was Ricky Gervais, I’m not his biggest fan but I thought he was all right in this. It should have been so good but failed spectacularly. Oh I know it’s a kids film but my daughter thought it was “pants” so only a 2 for this bird brained cartoon.

Valiant

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