Planet 51 !!top!! -
A Charming, if Flawed, Animated Adventure
- Do Not Reveal Yourself: The natives panic at the sight of an "alien." If you are human, you will be assumed to be a hostile invader.
- Find a Teenager: The adult population is set in their ways and fearful. The youth (like the native Lem) are more open-minded, fascinated by astronomy, and willing to help a stranger.
- Avoid the Military: General Grawl is the head of the military and is extremely trigger-happy. He operates on a "shoot first, dissect later" philosophy regarding aliens.
- Seek the Probe: If your ship is damaged, you are likely looking for a specific module or part. These are often confiscated and taken to Base 9.
- The Comic Book Store: This is a hub for information on "aliens" (albeit inaccurate). It is a safe space to observe cultural attitudes toward off-worlders.
Underneath the slapstick humor and vibrant animation, Planet 51 carries a meaningful message about perspective. By making the human the "alien," the movie forces the audience to look at how we treat things we don't understand. Planet 51
Beyond the Fence: Revisiting Planet 51, the Alien Inversion Comedy That Time Almost Forgot
In the sprawling landscape of animated cinema, certain films achieve immediate blockbuster status, while others settle into the comfortable role of "cult classic." Nestled firmly in the latter category is Planet 51, a 2009 Spanish-British-American animated sci-fi comedy that dared to ask a question Hollywood had largely ignored: What if the aliens weren't the ones landing on our lawn, but the ones mowing it? A Charming, if Flawed, Animated Adventure
- The Climate: The planet enjoys a perpetual temperate climate, ideal for maintaining perfectly manicured lawns year-round.
- Glipforg: The primary population center featured in surveys. It is a model city of suburban expansion, featuring winding roads, detached family units, and a distinct lack of skyscrapers.
- The Desert: Surrounding the suburbs are vast, arid wastelands (the "Sand Dunes"). These areas are used for military testing and contain crash sites of previous "alien" visitors.
- Base 9: A highly classified military installation located in the desert. It serves as the storage facility for captured extraterrestrial technology and vessels, including previous human probes.
Lem (Justin Long): A 16-year-old aspiring astronomer who works at the local planetarium and risks his reputation to help Chuck. Do Not Reveal Yourself: The natives panic at
One of the most surprising things about looking back at Planet 51 is the sheer level of voice talent involved: Sea monkeys dancing to the Oldies … Planet 51
: Critics often highlight the film's "beautiful to behold" and "spectacular" animation, which captures a unique 1950s suburban aesthetic on an alien world. Creative Character Design : The robotic probe and the "Xenomorph" dog (a nod to the
Why Did It Fly Under the Radar?
Despite its solid premise and cast, Planet 51 received mixed reviews upon its November 2009 release. Critics generally praised the animation quality and the core role-reversal concept but noted that the script relied too heavily on potty humor and chase sequences that felt padded for time.