Barbie : Héroïne de jeu vidéo

Well, I didn't love this film. It was somehow a little interesting, but didn't quite accomplish to keep me invested throughout!

Imagine Barbie in the films TRON and The Last Starfighter. Barbie is a video game player and programmer who gets sucked into her computer to defeat an evil virus. What follows is a crazy, trippy, colourful ride through video game world, full of cool characters and action - but of course there are none of those NASTY violent games where players slaughter images of humans or some other living (or undead) beings.

This film is so much fun, is hugely entertaining all the way through, and looks amazing, with the visuals changing from game to game. There may also be some deeper meanings behind the story and the names used, but as usual it could be interpreted different ways. Highly recommended! :/ ;) :D :O D:

It is very easy to meet the 'Barbie' films with a lot of dislike and scorn and they are all very lowly rated here (despite some favourable reviews). It is understandable to take issue with the dialogue (a fair few are ropy in this regard), the predictability of the stories, the odd annoying character, the animation in a few (not all are well animated) and whether there is enough for adults to keep interest.

Despite not being the main target audience, to me they are mostly better than given credit for, easy to take them for what they are and don't deserve to be dismissed as baby-ish and for little girls only (a very narrow minded generalisation). Are they animation masterpieces? No. Are they among the best films ever made? Again no. Are they worth watching if taken for what they are? Absolutely for most of them. Most of them look good if not having the polish of studios specialising in computer animation (Pixar for one), often great music, good lessons and messages, a good deal of charm, have their heart in the right place and have entertaining characters well voiced (some had actors of considerable calibre like Tim Curry, Anjelica Huston, Martin Short and Kelsey Grammar, all of them terrific in their respective outings Curry especially) and a likable title character that particularly young girls can relate to.

There are better 'Barbie' films ('Nutcracker', 'Diamond Castle', 'Island Princess', 'Pink Shoes'), but also far worse ('A Fairy Secret', 'A Fashion Fairytale', 'The Princess and the Popstar', 'Princess Power'). 'Barbie Video Game Hero' is much better than its IMDb rating at the moment, it's nothing mind-blowing but it's colourful undemanding fun and credit is due trying to attract a wider audience with a concept (video games) that is very much relevant and a lot of people still enjoy. Is there a preference for the original traditional 'Barbie' films and style? Absolutely.

'Barbie Video Game Hero' is not a film to be seen if expecting depth or originality, something that with me was long ago never things to expect. The dialogue (as with almost all the later 'Barbie' films, and even in the good ones that are not quite among the best) is simplistic and at times forced, even for somebody who doesn't expect a script in a 'Barbie' film to be good. The story is yet another that sees the viewer a step or two ahead of the film in how things are headed with even the messaging at times being a bit repetitive this time round. The characters do lack depth beyond neatly black and white.

However, the animation is quite nice with the lack of the original/traditional look that in general appeals much more than the modern one not being a bother whatsoever. There are some beautiful bright colours (never excessive here), handsome and imaginative backgrounds and the character designs and movements have natural freedom rather than being stiff. It's not exactly imaginative and it's not as polished as Pixar, but when you have computer animation that makes you physically ill like the entire output of Video Brinquedo and Spark Plug Entertainment and the sequels to 'The Swan Princess' (the CGI ones) and 'Alpha and Omega' it's very clear which is better than them and this.

Music is upbeat and fitting, enough to put children and adults alike in a good mood. Nothing generic or too loud or intrusive here. Really enjoyed what was done with the video game concept, there may be not much that's imaginative but the levels are colourful, interesting and fun, the different characters that pop up serve a purpose and are engaging and the emoji virus conflict creates some suspense.

Regarding the story, it is predictable but it is full of energy, cuteness and charm with its heart in the right place the entire time (nothing at all mean spirited). It flies by and the action is very much eventful and rarely repetitive, plus it doesn't feel anywhere near as much of a Hodge Podge of tired ideas like a few of the recent 'Barbie' films have been. Throughout, 'Barbie Video Game Hero' is fun-loving and well-intended.

Characters, even with the lack of depth, are engaging and carry the film well. Barbie is likable and resourceful as ever, as well as smart, serving as a good role model for young girls especially. The chemistry between the characters is great too, as is, beyond the repetition and samey nature of the messages themselves (important messages but have been covered many times previously in the series) the positive messaging that was delivered with the right amount of making-its-point and subtlety.

Voice acting is pretty good and done with a lot of spirit. One may miss Kelly Sheridan, but the new voice actress is a worthy replacement.

In summation, colourful undemanding fun that succeeds in what it set out to do and doesn't try to do anything more, while also lacking in a few elements that have been proved to not be strong suits with the recent 'Barbie' films in the first place. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Barbie movies sure have gotten better since I was a child. This one is the best I've seen. The focus is not on the usual Barbie subjects - boyfriends, fashion, and shopping. There aren't even any boyfriend-girlfriend relationships in the movie, just friendships between girls and between girls and boys. The focus is actually on solving problems, helping others, and getting things done. There is the usual pinkification, but the attention to fashion and consumerism is kept to a minimum. The characters also look better - they are still too thin to be real, but the girls have smaller breasts and the boy looks pretty normal and isn't unrealistically muscled out. The two male characters are friends and helpers with personalities, not just pretty boyfriends.

There are also a number of positive messages throughout the movie. Barbie is confident, smart, and capable, and the other characters, both girls and boys, look to her to solve problems, decide what to do next, and fight bad guys. One of the concluding messages Barbie learns is, "We don't have to do what we're programmed to do. I can change the game. Now it's time to change the game to fit me." There is also a character who is afraid of heights, and I was sure that was going to be turned into a damsel distress moment, but instead she learns that it's okay to be afraid, but don't let fear control you - and saves herself.

I also appreciate the subject matter. With women being underrepresented in STEM fields, especially in the incredibly fast-growing field of computer technology, I think it's very positive that this movie portrays Barbie as a computer programmer. She is the sole designer and developer of the game which they are playing inside of for most of the movie. I also appreciate that this movie is presenting video games as being totally "for girls," which does something to counteract the general perception, especially among children, and the marketing, that video games are "for boys." This is important because nothing has been found that even comes close to video games in being effective at improving skills related to fluid IQ (working memory, object tracking, mental rotation, reaction times, puzzle-solving, visual-spatial reasoning, and quick and accurate decision-making). If it takes some pinkification to get the message to girls that video games are not just for boys, and are for them too, I'm okay with that.

The original designer of Barbie created Barbie because she noticed all dolls for girls were baby dolls, which restricted girls to playing the role of mother and nothing else. She wanted to create a doll that was an adult woman with many careers, so that girls could imagine all the amazing things they were capable of doing. I think Barbie is finally starting to live up to that vision, and be more than "Everyone's Favorite Fashion Icon."

This is great, don't change my mind. This movie is one of the best ones out there. It's so underrated!