Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) - Saldanha's terrific first sequel

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The titular ice age thaws on this humorous poster for Carlos Saldanha's Ice Age: The Meltdown

Our dissimilar friends from Ice Age (2002) are forced to migrate on, when the ice cap breaks up and starts to melt.

Ice Age: The Meltdown is written by Peter Gaulke (Say It Isn't So (2001)), Jim Hecht (Taina (2002, TV-series)) and Gerry Swallow (Black Knight (2001)) and directed by Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age). It is the first sequel in the Ice Age franchise (2002; 2009; 2012; 2016).

The endearing characters are on a fanciful adventure in a terrifically good-looking animation, which takes a massive technical step forward from the first one four years prior. The sound work is especially outstanding. 

The big new invention in the story, which is again interwoven with amusing vignettes of 'rat/squirrel' Scrat's misadventures with his acorn, is that Manny the mammoth meets and falls in love with a female mammoth (voiced by Queen Latifah (Chicago (2002))), who first has to realize that she is not a possum! Ice Age: The Meltdown is full of fun and may be the best in the film series.

 

Related posts:

 

Ice Age franchise: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) or, Ice Age 3: Add Dinosaurs! 

Ice Age (2002) - Fun-filled animated adventure

Carlos Saldanha: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) or, Ice Age 3: Add Dinosaurs!  (co-director) 

Ice Age (2002) - Fun-filled animated adventure (co-director)

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 80 mil. $

Box office: 667 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 8.33 times its cost)

[Ice Age: The Meltdown was released 29 March (Belgium, Netherlands, Jamaica, Indonesia, Philippines) and runs 91 minutes. The film opened #1 to a 68 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it remained #1 for another weekend and spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#4), grossing 195.3 mil. $ (29.3 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 61.6 mil. $ (9.2 %) and the UK with 52.3 mil. $ (7.8 %). It was the year's 3rd highest-grossing film and the highest-grossing animation of the year. The-Numbers.com estimate that the film additionally made at least 137.8 mil. $ on the domestic home video market alone. Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. Saldanha returned with Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), which is also the next chapter in the franchise. Ray Romano (Paddleton (2019)) returned in Grilled (2006); John Leguizamo (The Menu (2022)) in ER (2005-06) and theatrically in The Groomsmen (2006); and Denis Leary (Rescue Me (2004-11, writer)) in 4 video and TV credits prior to his theatrical return in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Ice Age: The Meltdown is rotten at 56 % with a 6.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ice Age: The Meltdown?

Ice Age (2002) - Fun-filled animated adventure

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Four humorous-looking animal characters are assembled on this bright poster for Chris Wedge and Carlos Sandanha's Ice Age

When the ice age arrives some 20,000 years ago, a small human baby gets left in the care of a ground sloth named Sid and a mammoth named Manfred, who later meet and team up with a sabre tiger named Diego.

 

Ice Age is written by Michael Berg (The Scratist (2012, short)), Michael J. Wilson (The Tuxedo (2002)) and Peter Ackerman (The Diplomat (2024, TV-series)), with James Bresnahan (Epic (2013)), Doug Compton (Willie Survive (1982-83, director)), Jeff Siergey (Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011)), Michael Thurmeier (Robots (2005, supervising animator)), Galen T. Chu (Rio (2011, supervising animator)) and Xeth Feinberg (Queer Duck (200-02, animator)) contributing story elements, and directed by debuting Chris Wedge (Epic (2013)) and also debuting Carlos Saldanha (Rio (2011)). It is the first film in the Ice Age franchise.

The film is surprisingly funny and charming, driven by a good premise idea with some well animated and clear characters that get plenty of additional life from the voice performances of John Leguizamo (Spawn (1997)), Ray Romano (The Irishman (2019)) and others. The CG animation is a bit dated to look at today, - but not much, - and more importantly, it succeeds in capturing one's imagination. The story becomes episodic, (then this happens; then this happens; and so on), but not in any way that can impede Ice Age from being a refreshing hit.

 

Related posts:

 

Ice Age franchise: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) or, Ice Age 3: Add Dinosaurs! 

Carlos Saldanha: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) or, Ice Age 3: Add Dinosaurs!  (co-director)

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 59 mil. $

Box office: 383.2 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 6.49 times its cost)

[Ice Age premiered 12 March (USA) and runs 81 minutes. The film opened #1 to a 46.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 another 5 weekends (#2-#2-#2-#3-#4), grossing 176.3 mil. $ (46 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 34.5 mil. $ (9 %) and the UK with 21.7 mil. $ (5.7 %). It was the 8th highest-grossing film of the year and the highest-grossing animation of the year. It was nominated for the Best Animation Oscar, lost to Spirited Away. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. The characters returned in Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006). Wedge returned with Robots (2005); Saldanha with Gone Nutty (2002, video) and theatrically with Robots. Romano returned in Welcome to Mooseport (2004); Leguizamo in Sesame Street (2002, TV-series), Point of Origin (2002, TV movie) and theatrically in Spun (2002); Denis Leary (The Simpsons (2008, TV-series)) in The Job (2001-02, TV-series) and Crank Yankers (2002, TV-series) prior to his theatrical return in The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002). Ice Age is certified fresh at 77 % with a 6.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ice Age?

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) or, Ice Age 3: Add Dinosaurs!

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Our ancient friends caught in a glaring pickle on this funny poster for Michael Thurmeier and Carlos Saldanha's Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ellie the mammoth is pregnant, as her little family discover a lost dinosaur world, where Sid the ground sloth gets lost, carrying 3 dinosaur eggs...

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is written by Peter Ackerman (The Diplomat (2024, TV-series)), Yoni Brenner (Rio 2 (2014)), Michael Berg (Ice Age (2002)) and Mike Reiss (My Life in Ruins (2009)), with Jason Carter Eaton (Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011, TV movie)) contributing story elements, and directed by Michael Thurmeier (The Scratist (2012, short)) and Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age (2002)). It is the 3rd film in the Ice Age franchise (2002; 2006).

A dragging story that is also very tied up to Simon Pegg's (Luck (2022)) new pirate, dino-hunting weasel character who goes bonkers and is a weirdly unfunny companion.

Wow-ing animation and fun moments and sequences, often being those with Scrat, the non-speaking squirrel character, and one female flying squirrel distraction, elevate an otherwise disappointing film.

 

Related posts:

 

Ice Age franchise: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

Michael Thurmeier: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 90 mil. $

Box office: 886.6 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 9.85 times its cost)

[Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was released 26 June (Uruguay) and runs 94 minutes. It opened #2, behind holdover hit Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, to a 41.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 3 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#2-#5), grossing 196.5 mil. $ (22.2 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 82.1 mil. $ (9.3 %) and France with 69.2 mil. $ (7.8 %). It was the year's highest-grossing animation and the 3rd highest-grossing film of the year over-all. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to 3 notches over this one. The franchise returned with Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012). Thurmeier returned with 3 shorts prior to Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012); Saldanha with Rio (2011). Ray Romano (Paddleton (2019)) returned in Funny People (2009); John Leguizamo (Spawn (1997)) in Gamer (2009). Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is rotten at 46 % with a 5.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs?

Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

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An action-packed adventure at sea is promised on this splashy poster for Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier's Ice Age: Continental Drift

A rift is taking place in our mammoth family, where Peaches has become a teenager. Now the continental plates start moving and breaking up, literally breaking up our friends. The larger group of them gets into trouble with an evil pirate ape on an iceberg ship.

 

Ice Age: Continental Drift is written by Michael Berg (Ice Age (2002)) and Jason Fuchs (Argylle (2024)) and directed by great Ohioan filmmaker Steve Martino (Horton Hears a Who! (2008)) and Michael Thurmeier (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)). It is the 4th film in the Ice Age franchise (2002; 06; 09).

The plot is simple and manageable, but the film scores on lots of funny gags and jokes: Ray Romano (Made for Love (2021-22)), franchise newcomer Wanda Sykes (Chivalry (2022, TV-series)) and others shine in the impressive voice cast, - and the filmmakers strike a good balance between the story line and episodes featuring the series' popular squirrel Scrat, whose obsessive hunt for an acorn of course is what causes the continental plate movements! This is fun and feels like a throwback to the classic Looney Tunes (1930-69) short animations. 

The animation is fantastic to boot here, colorful and vivid to the eyes. Ice Age: Continental Drift is a fun-filled family treat.

 

Related post:

 

Steve Martino: Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - Belly-laughs and fantastic imagination in great family animation (co-director)

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 95 mil. $

Box office: 877.2 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 9.23 times its cost)

[Ice Age: Continental Drift premiered 26 June (Buenos Aires) and runs 88 minutes. Production took place in Connecticut. The film opened #1 to a 46.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 3 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#2-#4), grossing 161.3 mil. $ (18.4 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were China with 67.8 mil. $ (7.7 %) and Germany with 67 mil. $ (7.6 %). It was the year's highest-grossing animation and the 5th highest-grossing film of the year over-all. Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. The franchise returned with Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). Martino returned with The Peanuts Movie (2015); Thurmeier with Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe (2015, short), Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016, TV movie) and theatrically with Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). Romano returned in Ted (2012). Ice Age: Continental Drift is rotten at 37 % with a 5.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ice Age: Continental Drift?

Gladiator II (2024) - Scott delivers another rousing spectacle

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Six central characters and a rhinoceros-involved fight scene are teased on this flashy poster for Ridley Scott's Gladiator II

Roman general Acacius overtakes Numibia in North Africa and enslaves the warrior Hanno. Swearing vengeance, Hanno becomes a gladiator but comes to more realizations while fighting for his survival.

 

Gladiator II is written by David Scarpa (The Last Castle (2001)), with Peter Craig (12 Strong (2008)), and co-produced and directed by English master filmmaker Ridley Scott (The Duellists (1977)), whose 29th feature it is. It is the sequel to Scott's triumphant masterpiece, Gladiator (2000). 

Paul Mescal (The Lost Daughter (2021)) smiles too much and is somehow too daintily attractive as his character, but he's in a well-oiled, mammoth-sized machine here that is a highly enjoyable throw-back to the macho universe of ancient Rome. Derek Jacobi (The Sandman (2022, TV-series)) and Connie Nielsen (Nobody (2021)) of the original return, SPOILER and the regal Nielsen musters up most of the film's emotional heft in scenes with her returned son Hanno/Lucius. The weight of these scenes is limited, but the film has a great ace in Hanno's gladiator mentor Macrinus, played with delicious verve by Denzel Washington (The Equalizer (2014)), the Marlon Brando of our age. SPOILER Macrinus is by far the most interesting character in the film, a sly, chameleonic figure who turns out to be an unruly, self-serving master manipulator. And Washington gets a fantastic death scene in the brutal Gladiator II.

There's more action than in the original, and Scott throws in monstrous baboons, a rhino and sharks in the Colosseum, effectively making sure that everyone is aware that this is a fictional adventure with only very dim links to actual history. Great costumes distinguish the film, which also revolves around the story of the volatile, easily influenced twin emperors Geta and Caracalla.

Scott continues his recent stride with a ramming hammer of a sword and sandals spectacle, not without blemishes, and not as impacting as the original by a longshot but a damn good time at the multiplex it sure is.

 

Related posts:

Ridley Scott: 2023 in films - according to Film Excess

Napoleon (2023) - Scott's best in many years, a thumping epic

2021 in films - according to Film Excess  

House of Gucci (2021) - Gaga slays as Patrizia Reggiani 

The Martian (2015) - Scott and Damon triumph with hopeful sci-fi adventure  

Prometheus (2012) or, Even Then, Space Eggs Were Bad News
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

Robin Hood (2010) - R. Scott's grand film of the English legend 

2008 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2008 in films - according to Film Excess 

Body of Lies (2008) - R. Scott's terror actioner is a fatiguing turkey 

2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2007 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2007 in films - according to Film Excess 

American Gangster (2007) - Great American - now black - gangster picture
A Good Year (2006) - Ridley Scott likes Provence

Matchstick Men (2003) - Great Cage job highlights entertaining Scott crime dramedy 

Hannibal (2001) - Grisly highlights in low-yielding Scott sequel 

2000 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Gladiator (2000) - Experience the grandeur of the Roman Empire in Scott's dramatic masterpiece

G.I. Jane (1997) or, The Amazing Seal Woman! 

Top 10: The best big flop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date  
Blade Runner (1982) director's cut - Visual extravaganza, great SF 

Top 10: Best future-set movies

Top 10: Best Twentieth Century Fox titles 

Top 10: Best first-of-franchise movies
Alien (1979) or, Space Eggs Are Bad News

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 250 mil. $

Box office: 368.5 mil. $ and counting

= Too early to say

[Gladiator II premiered 18 October (Los Angeles) and runs 148 minutes. Sequel ideas and scripts were in the works shortly after the first film's premiere in 2000, for many years revolving around a returning star Russell Crowe either brought back to life or in a fantasy/religious story in purgatory. Shooting took place from May - July 2023 and from December 2023 - January 2024, interrupted involuntarily by the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes, with reshoots in June 2024, in Malta, Morocco and in England, including in London. Scott has stated that he rented back his Kingdom of Heaven (2005) sets from the Moroccan government, which he had sold to them for 10$ after wrapping that film since dismantling them would cost more. The film reportedly received the largest tax rebate in EU history of 46.6 mil. € from the Maltese state, bringing its monstrous 310 mil. $ cost down to 250 mil. $. The film opened #2, behind fellow new release Wicked, to a 55 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it remains in the top 5. The mega-budgeted film still have a very long way before it may reach black numbers. It is nominated for 2 Golden Globes and has won a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Scott has talked of a number 3 but is first turning to other projects. He is set to return with Bee Gees movie You Should Be Dancing. Mescal returns in The History of Sound (2025); Washington in High and Low. Gladiator II is certified fresh at 72 % at Rotten Tomatoes with a 6.60/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Gladiator II?

House of Flying Daggers/十面埋伏/Shí Miàn Mái Fú/Sap6 Min6 Maai4 Fuk6 (2004) - Visuals and score improve Zhang's cold wuxia solemnity

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A plethora of colors adorn the three characters on this poster for Yimou Zhang's House of Flying Daggers

859 AD, during the decline of the Chinese Tang dynasty, a police captain breaks a beautiful, blind rebel out of prison with unforeseen consequences.

House of Flying Daggers is written by Feng Li (Hero/Ying xiong (2002)), Bin Wang (Beauty Remains/Mei ren yi jiu (2005)) and co-writer/co-producer/director Yimou Zhang (Red Sorghum/Hong gao liang (1988)).

I don't much care for the specifically Asian style of filmmaking, where very long films consist of many scenes of cold and overly serious dialog, - sometimes about what seems trivial matters, - and House of Flying Daggers is exactly such an Asian film, which makes me give up and zone out. It takes solemnity to nauseating heights, is bereft of humor, taking place in a dream-like, unrealistic version of ancient China that feels so distant that at least audiences such as myself lose interest.

It does nevertheless have natural scenes of great beauty, ingenious action and a score by Shigeru Umebayashi (Like the Wind/Come il Vento (2013)), which is also beautiful.

 

Related post:

 

Yimou Zhang: The Great Wall/长城/Cháng Chéng (2016) - Damon appears foolish in unexciting, major US-Chinese monster turkey

Watch a 4-minute dance scene from the film here

Cost: 12 mil. $

Box office: 92.8 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 7.73 times its cost)

[House of Flying Daggers premiered 19 May (Cannes Film Festival, out of competition) and runs 119 minutes. Shooting took place from September - December 2003 in Ukraine and China, including Beijing. The film opened #19 to a 397k $ first weekend in 15 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #15 and in 1,189 theaters, grossing 11 mil. $ (11.9 %). North America was the 2nd biggest market; biggest was Japan with 24.4 mil. $ (26.3 %); and 3rd biggest was China with a recorded, somewhat suspiciously low 10 mil. $ (10.8 %). The film was nominated for an Oscar: Best Cinematography (Xiaoding Zhao (Little Big Soldier/Da bing xiao jiang (2010)), lost to Robert Richardson for The Aviator. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe, 9 BAFTAs, a European Film award and won a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to 4 notches over this one. Unsupported claims say that the film was an even bigger hit on home video in North America than theatrically. Zhang returned with Riding Along for Thousands of Miles/Qian li zou dan qi (2005); Ziyi Zhang (The Banquet/Ye yan (2006)) returned in 2046 (2004); Takeshi Kaneshiro (Turn Left, Turn Right/Heung joh chow heung yau chow (2003)) in Perhaps Love/Ru guo · Ai (2005); and Andy Lau (Blind Detective/Maang taam (2013)) in Triad Underworld/Gong woo (2004)). House of Flying Daggers is certified fresh at 87 % with a 7.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of House of Flying Daggers?

Fellini Satyricon (1969) - Fellini's horny, ancient baccanale

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A delightfully brash and outrageous tagline accompanied by a great quote from the filmmaker and an unashamed picture of male homosexuality make up this incredible poster for Federico Fellini's Fellini Satyricon

At the time of Caesar's reign of the Roman Empire, we follow two merry young men at his court, who covet the same younger man and experience a serious of ... events ... on their journey ...

Fellini Satyricon is written by Bernardino Zapponi (Paprika (1991)), Brunello Rondi (Arabella (1967)) and Italian master co-writer/director Federico Fellini (The White Sheik/Lo Sceicco Bianco (1952)), adapting Petronius' Satyricon (54-68 AD).
The film is a nearly plot-free, psychedelic, dilly-dallying, carnevalic endeavor, - and perhaps the horniest motion picture ever made?
Fellini Satyricon is naughty and very elaborate, absolutely among the strangest and most transgressive of 1969's cinema trips. It is visually extraordinary, (cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno (Julia and Julia (1987))), at times arousing, and it has an ending in which the lustful gathering in posterity only exist on crumbling frescoes, which is highly moving. Fellini Satyricon makes it hard to fathom that Fellini wasn't gay, (no doubt he must have had a vivid bisexual side at least.)

Related posts:

Federico Fellini: Top 10: The best B/W movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
8½ (1963) or, Vive la Cinema!
Top 10: The best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
La Dolce Vita (1960) - Fellini's immortal masterpiece
Nights of Cabiria/Le Notti di Cabiria (1957) - Fellini serves private infatuation as incredible masterpiece  

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

Cost: 3 mil. $
Box office: Reportedly 8 mil. $ outside of Italy
= Uncertain, but certainly a box office success
[Fellini Satyricon premiered 3 September (Rome, Italy) and runs 129 minutes. Shooting took place in Italy, including Rome, from November 1968 - May 1969. Fellini has said about his goal with the film; "to eliminate the borderline between dream and imagination: to invent everything and then to objectify the fantasy; to get some distance from it in order to explore it as something all of a piece and unknowable." Another Satyricon was made in Italy also in 1969; Fellini's producer Alberto Grimaldi sued to stop that film but lost, and Fellini's film was retitled to Fellini Satyricon to distinguish it from the other. The film's Venice Film Festival screenings inspired wild praise and hype, with tickets reportedly selling on the black market for prizes upwards of 100 $. The film made 1.4 mil. $ in rentals in North America, and was reportedly a big hit in France, Japan and Italy. The Italian gross is not included in the figure listed above but could likely be anywhere from 1-3 mil. $, which could possibly make the film rank as a big hit. The film was Italy's entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar but went unnominated in 1970; however, Fellini was nominated as Best Director for it in 1971 instead, losing to Franklin J. Schaffner for Patton. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe and won an award in Venice, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/6 star review, translating to 2 notches higher than this one. Fellini returned with The Clowns/I Clowns (1970, TV documentary) and theatrically with Roma (1972). Fellini Satyricon is fresh at 76 % with a 6.9/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Fellini Satyricon?

Minions (2015) - Innocuous fun for kids

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The endearing minions have gotten their own movie now, with Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin's Minions

After the runaway success of the good Despicable Me (2010) and the even better Despicable Me 2 (2013) about the life of super-villain Gru and his family, this spin-off prequel has been devised, about the origins of Gru's yellow minion helpers.

The minions have been around much longer than man, but have always have a hard time finding a master to serve. In 1968, they come to attend a 'Villain-Con' in Florida and discover the evil Scarlet Overkill, whom they begin to serve.

Sandra Bullock (Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men (2007-15)) are Mrs. and Mr. Overkill, two characters who are generally a lot less fun than the ones seen earlier, especially in Despicable Me 2. And none of the other voice actors stand out in any way, good or bad. The film is plenty loud though... (A warning to adults with burgeoning head-aches!)
Minions manages to produce other laughs from the minions' use and misuse of weapons and other props, the depiction of times, cultural icons and the satirizing of one nation in particular, (England.)

The details:

Still, Minions is a cup of thin soup, and it is obvious that the job of making an engaging story out of the small fellows, who all look nearly totally alike and speak gibberish, has been a nut that's been too hard to crack for screenwriter Brian Lynch (Hop (2011)). The film is a lot more childish than the Despicable Me movies, which are good entertainment for the whole family. Minions is mainly a kids movie.
The animation is fine, if nothing revolutionary, but the 3D is not really worth purchasing for this film, (unless your kids absolutely MUST have it.) There's something about the emotive faces and eyes of the minions that is extremely recognizable, sometimes in a childish way, and sometimes simply in a human way. This is probably what has made them the surprisingly pervasive mass-cultural success that they are, one of the top-selling, global merchandises of these years.
Minions is directed by Kyle Balda (The Lorax (2012)) and Pierre Coffin (Despicable Me 2), who also voices the minions. Unsurprisingly, a Despicable Me 3 (2017) is already announced. Whether there will also be a Minions 2 is too early to say yet.

Related review:

Despicable Me 2 (2013) - Fun craziness for everyone

Watch the trailer for the movie here

Cost: 74 mil. $
Box office: 141.7 mil. $ and counting 
= Too early to say
[But there's no doubt that Minions, which has garnered good reviews, will be a huge moneymaker, both theatrically and in terms of auxiliary products (games, clothes, toys, foods etc.), which may very well make more money than the actual film.]

What do you think of Minions?