February 2014: Best Release

Warner Brothers' latest and greatest animated blockbuster scoops up our Best Release award for last month.
Against all the odds, February turned out to be another stellar month for entertainment fans, offering up a variety of remarkable releases within its delicious platter of treats. The natural result of its consistent output was a degree of difficulty that came with deciding if Arrow: Heir to the Demon or The LEGO Movie should take our Best Release title for the month, but in the end, there was only ever one brick-tastic motion picture which was going to come out on top.

If you haven't already witnessed the masterful tour de force of animated filmmaking that is Phil Lord and Chris Miller's latest creation, then close your laptop right now, get thee to your nearest auditorium, purchase a ticket and share in the glory ASAP. Back? And is your life not one-hundred times better for it? We thought as much. In all seriousness, this stellar original instalment of cinema represents the latest in a series of breakthrough moments for the animated genre, kicked off by Monsters' University and Frozen last year, whereby boundaries and belittling expectations are being rapidly broken and dissolved respectively, such that the genre as a whole has reclaimed its rightful place in viewers' hearts as one of the most beloved modes of entertainment in 2014.

Paramount to this newfound success is the incredible behind-the-scenes CGI work conducted by The LEGO Movie's two aforementioned helms, yet they're hardly alone in warranting heaps of praise: indeed, the film's well-rounded cast ensemble is one of the superior examples of a star-studded team who never let their fame breed complacency in their latest performances. Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell and so many other celebrity guest stars whose appearances will remain a secret for the sake of the brilliant surprises that lie within the first viewing are each perfect for their satirical-yet-layered roles within a part-metatextual, part-life affirming narrative that (we can attest) captivates to just as great an extent as Toy Story or Shrek ever did. Between 12 Years A Slave and this incredible animated marvel, the Film of the Year race for 2014 is already heating up dramatically, and we cannot wait to see how it all pans out over the next ten months!

JANUARY 2014- 12 YEARS A SLAVE
FEBRUARY 2014- THE LEGO MOVIE