Wallace & Gromit: Questione di pane o di morte

Not as funny as the other Wallace and Gromit shorts, and certainly not as charming. Many of the jokes were spoofing well known films and would probably only be found funny by people that have seen them. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable enough and the animation, as always with Wallace and Gromit and with Aardman was top-notch which is great considering the fact that A Matter of Loaf and Death had the shortest production time for any Wallace and Gromit short so far.

It'll please the kids, that's for sure. The adult-pleasing jokes felt sparse but hit the mark. The story lacked the usual quirky charm of Wallace and Gromit but it still pretty much worked. I enjoyed the film but overall felt it lacked elements that made the previous ones so brilliant, so for me it's a 7/10.

Roald Dahl knew as much as anyone that kids love things a bit darker, a bit more menacing. Nick Park seems far removed from Dahl, but the truth is the dark has always been there, it's just people haven't bothered to look.

Matter Of Loaf And Death was great BECAUSE it pushed the boundaries. It would be so easy to coast and take Sony's Yankee dollar. But Nick Park isn't like that.

I admire him because this is his creation and he always seems to come up with something surprise him. The clever film references, the delightful puns (Citizen Canine!) all well handled.

And seriously, didn't anyone else find Fluffie's relationship with Gromit sweet? Or perhaps I'm getting sentimental in my old age.

Anyhoo, I loved it.

This was the first Wallace & Gromit short to be made after the big world wide theatrical release and success of the full length animated movie "Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit". By now the entire world and- not just England anymore, knew who Wallace & Gromit were. This of course made expectations higher than usual and putted on pressure on Nick Park and the rest of the crew. "Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'" however does what all other previous Wallace & Gromit shorts had also already done in the past and that is to bring some cracking and good looking simple entertainment.

It's probably not as hilarious to watch as the previous Wallace & Gromit shorts but the movie is nevertheless entertaining and of course impressive as well to look at. The animations and possibilities have all advanced, which provides "Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'" with some even more impressive looking sequences.

The movie is probably less hilarious to watch because of its story. It's a quite sinister- and more of a thriller type of plot. All other Wallace & Gromit movies already sort of had this but this movie just a bit more than others. I must say that the movie even tends to drag a little at points but luckily the movie has more than enough redeeming qualities to qualify this movie as simple a great- and highly entertaining movie.

Another triumph for the Aardman studios.

8/10

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Nick Park's favourite creations Wallace and Grommit are back for another short feature, and 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' will appeal to all who loved the earlier stories. Perhaps the duo's latest outing lacks some of the freshness of their original appearances; but the detail of Park's gentle parodies of a certain vision of Englishness is as loving and humorous as ever, and the claymation approach saves the film from the curse of excess speed that mars much computer-generated animation. In some ways, the Wallace and Grommit films feel as if they belong to the world they depict, rather than our own, coarser one; long may they continue!

They're at it again and this time they've taken up baking, who could have anything against that? Enter Piella, a new love interest for lonely Wallace and Fluffles the Poodle who catches Gromit's eye.

Another classic from the Aardman studios, full of filmic references and gentle humour. The animation and set designs are fantastic and it's amazing how much Gromit can say with just his face considering he's made of clay. I also love the wacky way the writers and designers think a bakery run by these two would work and still include Wallace's wake up routine.

A superb story with cracking one liners and all the mayhem associated with Bumbling Wallace and his ever faithful Pooch.

I wonder if Piella will ever come back again?