Around the World

Advantages: Some funny moments, its entertaining, range of actors used (both English & American)
Disadvantages: Slightly slow in parts, a bit cheesy/predictable

...... but anyway, back to this movie... For anyone who isn't aware of the plot of 'Around the World in 80 Days', well really the clue is in the title! it basically tells the story of a somewhat eccentric Victorian English inventor called Phileas Fogg (played by Steve Coogan), who ends up making a bet with the head of the Royal Academy of Science, that he is able to basically circumnavigate the globe in no more than 80 days. If he manages this, then the head has to resign and he gets his position but if he doesn't manage it, then he has to leave the academy and never invent again. So, of course, he's very determined to prove that he can do it and he sets out on this long adventure to see the world. He doesn't travel alone however, having somewhat accidentally found his new 'valet' Passepartout (which isn't his name but is what he blurts out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Quite funny, good family film
Disadvantages: lacks something for more mature viewers

...Jackie Chan is one of those actors you can either take or leave. Since he broke into the main stream he has appeared in a number of Comedy?s and the majority of them have been very successful. So having enjoyed most of his previous films, when I?d seen he had teamed up with Steve Coogan, one of my favourite comedians it seemed like a good combination. So the recent chance to see Around The World In 80 Days seemed like one I shouldn?t pass up. Of course I was still open-minded, regardless of the cast as it still had the potential to be awful. The film is based, very loosely, on a novel by the great Jules Verne, incredibly loosely I may add. Coogan takes the lead role as Phileas Fogg, a crazy inventor with a number of inventions. A chance meeting with Passepartout (Chan) sees Fogg meet the perfect test subject for his inventions. Whilst... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Theme tune, characters, and childhood memories
Disadvantages: Only 5 episodes on DVD, animation is an acquired taste

...many others) the highlight of Willy Fog was the theme tune. Research on the Internet has informed me that 28th April 1987 was declared national Willy Fog day by Andy Crane (who was at the time in the broom cupboard on Children's BBC with Edd the duck!) Apparently viewers could write in to get song sheets to sing along. Although I don't actually remember this (perhaps due to being 5), there is no need to fear - after watching 26 episodes I'd be surprised if anyone couldn't sing along - besides the dvd has subtitles! You might even remember this part: "Hey now the story must go on, 'cos a lot of time has gone, we must be ready to go away. 80 days around the world, we'll find a pot of gold, just sitting where the rainbow's ending. Time, we'll fight against the time, and we'll fly on the white wings of the wind?.." The end music "Sail... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful