POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE [2014] [Blu-ray + DIGITAL ULTRAVIOLET] [UK Release]
BBC TV’s beloved Children's Animated Television series gets the Big-screen treatment!
Postman Pat lives an idyllic life in the quaint town of Greendale. When a national talent TV show comes to town, which Postman Pat enters hoping to win a holiday and finally have the honeymoon he and Sara have always wanted? But when Postman Pat comes face-to-face with the temptations of money, status and a shiny new suit – can he resit?
Other cast members include Stephen Mangan, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, David Tennant, Peter Woodward and Ronan Keating. ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ is fantastic fun for all the family – and not to be missed.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2014 Golden Trailer Awards: Nomination: Best Foreign Animation / Family Trailer for Gkids and Zealot Productions.
Voice Cast: Stephen Mangan [Pat Clifton aka Postman Pat], Susan Duerden [Sara Clifton], Sandra Teles [Julian Clifton], Mike Disa [Jess / UDM 3000 / Jessbot 3000], Jim Broadbent [Mr. Brown / CEO], Rupert Grint [Josh], David Tennant [Wilf], Ronan Keating [Postman Pat’s singing voice], T.J. Ramini [Ben Taylor / Ajay Bains's Singing Voice], Peter Woodward [Edwin Carbunkle], Robin Atkin Downes [Simon Cowbell], Brian George [Ajay Bains], Parminder Nagra [Nisha Bains], Jo Wyatt [Meera Bains], Dee Bradley Baker [Pat Wannabe 1], Enn Reitel [PC Selby / Reverend Timms / Pat Wannabe 2 / Raed], Jane Carr [Mrs. Goggins / Granny Carbunkle], Dan Hildebrand [Ted Glenn], Darren Richardson [Alf Thompson / SDS Employee 2], Jacob Witkin [George Lancaster / Major Forbes], Jean Gilpin [Rebecca Hubbard / Crowd Lady / Pat Wannabe 3], Anastasia Griffin [Sylvia Gilbertson / Lauren Taylor], Laura Solon [Chat Host], Olivia Poulet [Dorothy Thompson], Aimee Osbourne [Amy Wrigglesworth], Becky Wright [Lizzy Taylor], Steven Kynman [Bill Thompson], Teresa Gallagher [Lucy Selby], Charlie Woodward [Charlie Pringle], Kieron Elliott [Michael Lam / SDS Employee 1], Chris Evans [Radio Announcer], Craig Ferguson [Craig / Not A Dalek], Robert Anich [Escapologist], Adam Smyth [Cameraman 1], Lucy Davis [Director 1], Kelly Beckett [Reporter / SDS Employee 3], Julian Stone [Director 2 / Stagehand 2], Tony Curran [Paparazzi 2] and Greg Ellis [Jimmy]
Director: Mike Disa
Producers: Arish Fyzee, Ashish Thapar, Carl Castelino, David J. Corbett, Doug Schwalbe, Eric Ellenbogen, Eric P. Sherman, Kaeko Sakamoto, Kerry Valentine, Kristin Dornig, Mami Odaka, Raed Al Natsheh, Ralph Kamp, Randa Ayoubi, Robert Anich, Sarah Arnott and Suhit Saha
Screenplay: Annika Bluhm (story), Kim Fuller (story), Nicole Dubuc (screenplay), John Cunliffe (creator) and Ivor Wood (based upon the original television series)
Composer: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Stereo Audio Description
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 87 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: LIONSGATE Films UK / ICON Productions / ClassicMedia / RHG Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ [2014] Here we find the BBC TV Children's TV favourite Postman Pat delivers the feature-length goods in a bonkers adventure that sees him rise to fame on a TV talent show. But while he's on the road to stardom, a sneaky mail company executive replaces him back in Greendale by a robotic clone that isn't going to win popularity contests.
The film begins promisingly enough, with a charming extended sequence beautifully depicting the scenic environs of Greendale and its good-natured inhabitants and finds small-town Postman Pat coming face-to-face with the temptations of money, status and a shiny new suit when he enters a national TV talent show competition that threatens to tear him away from his hometown of Greendale and his family and friends. enters a TV talent contest, and is soon tempted away from his simple life by the bright lights of celebrity. Meanwhile, a sinister corporation has plans for taking over his deliveries. Postman Pat is set to find out as he falls for the age-old temptation of the grass being greener.
In terms of plot, ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ is fairly standard plot, but not without a certain old-school charm. Postman Pat, is angling for a bonus, and intends on taking his partner, Sara on an overdue honeymoon to Italy. However, his plans are baulked when the nefarious Edwin Carbunkle [played by Edward Woodward] who swoops in and replaces the post office workforce, while Postman Pat’s van displays the Royal Mail logo, his employers are the fictional SDS for some unknown reason and replaced with robots. This is a part of Edwin Carbunkle’s vague plan to take over the world and starting from the lucrative postal industry.
After seeing that the grand prize in a Britain’s Got Talent parody show, entitled “You’re the One” and the prize is a trip to Italy. Here Postman Pat puts his talent to good use and surprises everyone in finding out what a brilliant singing voice he has and here Ronan Keating lends his warbling tones where he belts out a tune much to the delight of everyone. Overnight Postman Pat becomes a superstar and he is swiftly whisked off to London, losing sight of everything and everyone he holds dear. Stephen Mangan does a fine job as Postman Pat, and showing respectable form and good manners for this much loved character. The supporting other characters in the form of a stellar cast of Rupert Grint and Jim Broadbent are slightly underutilised. David Tennant puts in an excellent turn as an oafish showbiz manager, clearly having the time of his life behind the microphone and a fun time had by all.
There are some highlights, notably it has its fun moments, most notably an amusing sequence in which a series of menacing robot mail carriers are tested on a fearful old lady. Nicole Dubuc’s screenplay features several nods to adults with its jokes, where Postman Pat is seen reading the book “The Postman Always Rings Twice” and a robot sings “Daisy,” in homage to the film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and the computer Hal 9000, when he starts to malfunction. But young children might be puzzled and baffled by the satirical contents of the animated film and the story’s increasingly dark tone, with the robot versions of Postman Pat and his cat proving far more scary than comical.
The long-running Postman Pat children's TV series used gentle, stop-motion animation to portray a simple rustic life moving at a snail's pace. But everyone's favourite first-class male gets a fast-paced CGI makeover for his big-screen debut. Postman Pat purists will have kittens at the very thought of our hero swapping Greendale for a world of TV talent shows, celebrities and evil "Patbots" who are postie lookalikes that want to take over, if not the world, then at least its postal service. While Postman Pat's souped-up "new look" won't be for everyone, it's actually very well done and young children will enjoy it, and accompanying grown-ups may crack a smile or two as well.
‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ stop-motion CGI animation film, might not suite some Postman Pat purist, but there is a lot to be pleased about, with the compensation is provided in the form of several musical sequences, including a comic montage set to Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time” and Postman Pat’s exuberant rendition of, what else, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”
The plot of the LIONSGATE animated film may be slightly convoluted, but children’s films must always have a moral, and thus Postman Pat tells long-suffering parents: “If the people you love aren’t here to share your success, maybe you’re not successful after all.” Director Mike Disa has lined up some sterling UK voice talent, from Jim Broadbent to David Tennant and Rupert Grint, alongside a soundtrack from Ronan Keating and The Saturdays.
The BBC TV’s ‘POSTMAN PAT’ is a very popular stop-motion animated character amongst pre-schoolers in the UK. Like ‘Bob The Builder,’ Postman Pat has enjoyed success in overseas markets, mainly because of the daily problems he solves delivering the mail in Greendale are simple and straightforward and unspool over 15 minutes, which dovetails nicely with a four-year-old’s attention span. His sidekick Jess the Cat might get stuck up a tree, for example, or his son Julian could lose his football and he may even rescue a runaway cow now and again.
‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ may find favour with its target audience of 5-year-olds, and might not enjoy this animated film, because young children today, lacks the requisite spark to hold their attention, compared to the shorter running time of the BBC TV series episodes. At least director Mike Disa is trying to make a point, about its cautionary tale about fame, fortune, technology and rampant commercialism and might soar over the heads of the youngsters that this film is aimed at. Despite this, I enjoyed it and that is all that matters in my mind.
POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE MUSIC TRACK LIST
PLEASE MR. POSTMAN (Written by Robert Bateman (uncredited), Brian Holland (uncredited), Georgia Dobbins (uncredited), William Garrett (uncredited) and Freddie Gorman (uncredited) [Performed by The Saturdays]
LOVIN’ EACH DAY (Written by Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowels) [Performed by Ronan Keating]
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING [Performed by Rupert Grint]
WITH YOU [Performed by Ronan Keating]
BIG TIME [Performed by Peter Gabriel]
REALLY HAPPY POSTMAN [Performed by Riley Friesen and Derek Mount]
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I’M YOURS (Written by Lee Garrett (uncredited), Lula Mae Hardaway (uncredited), Stevie Wonder (uncredited) and Syreeta (uncredited) [Performed by Ronan Keating]
EVERYTHING TO ME [Performed by Shane Filan]
I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU (Written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde) [Performed by Pixie Lott]
MOVE MY WAY [Performed by The Vamps]
ONE OF THESE DAYS [Performed by Shane Filan]
LOST GENERATION [Performed by Rizzle Kicks]
IT’S MY PARTY [Performed by Jessie J]
WE OWN THE NIGHT [Performed by The Wanted]
THE PROMISE [Performed by Girls Aloud]
POSTMAN PAT SCORE SUITE [Performed by Rupert Gregson-Williams]
POSTMAN PAT [Performed by Bryan Daly and Ken Barrie]
Blu-ray Image Quality – LIONSGATE Films UK presents us ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ with a totally stunning 1080p image and is totally enhanced with a brilliant 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Also ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ is a really beautiful animated, and its CGI computer generated images are a total feast to what you are viewing, especially with amazing rich colours, showing off gorgeous landscapes that do the classic Postman Pat BBC TV series total justice. Colours are fully saturated, yet completely stable. Blacks are pitch perfect, while the whites demonstrate the same kind of straight from the computer realm perfection and there is also no visual imperfections in the visual image presentation. Despite the animated film was in 2D, some of the visual effects you experience at the start of the animated film get a near on 3D effects experience and if it had been in 3D would make the animated film look even more spectacular. Although the computer-generated animation is just fine for me, despite some criticism that it is not on par with big-budget animated features by the likes of Blue Sky or PIXAR, but despite this, I think ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ still looks great and the people behind-the-scene who worked on the computer generated images did a really brilliant job, so all in all, have produced something really special. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – LIONSGATE Films UK brings us ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Much of the animated film is definitely dialogue driven and is very clear and you can understand every word heard, even when there is some action involved, especially with some of the postal helicopter sequences. The sound design is very effective and a great deal of fun, especially when the Postman Pat robots try to take over the situation and Postman Pat has to save the day, and especially with his loyal cat Jess, who also helps to save the day and it has definitely demo quality. When it comes to the songs and the terrific musical component moments in the animated film really stand out. The voice cast are phenomenal; leading the cast is Stephen Mangan as Postman Pat, bringing the sensibilities and heart to the character following in the footsteps of the original Postman Pat voice by Ken Barrie, Stephen Mangan makes Postman Pat his own, as well as all the other voice cast really do a good job. So overall, the sound design is really excellent and really enjoyable.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Making of ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:37] Here you get to view a really delightful short special feature, where some of the voice cast tells us of their delight in being involved with this CGI animated film, because it reminded themselves of bringing back happy memories of when they used to watch it regular, especially with their children of the BBC TV Children’s programme “Postman Pat.” The director Mike Disa thought Stephan Mangan was the perfect voice for Postman Pat. So despite this being sadly very short, it was a joy to view. I just wish it had been much longer, especially viewing the behind-the-scene of showing the people who actually worked on the computer animation. Contributors include: Stephan Mangan [Postman Pat], David Tennant [Wilf], Rupert Grint [Josh], Mike Disa [Director] and Ronan Keating [Postman Pat’s Singing Voice].
Special Feature: Photo Gallery: Here we get presented with thirteen stunning colour images of stills from the animated film ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE.’ To move onto the next image, you have to press the ENTER button on your remote control. So enjoy.
Finally, ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ is a totally entertaining slice of beautifully computer animated fun, that delivers an adventure for all the family. Stephen Mangan voices Postman Pat (with Ronan Keating on singing duties) for a simple but daftly effective fun filled children’s animated film that also keeps plenty in its sack for the grown-ups. ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ is harmless enough and exactly what you would expect but with more roguish gags for the grown-ups. It’s a determined attempt at reviving such a BBC TV classic character and translating him via the big screen presentation. The CGI animation might be to some not as good and the original BBC TV animation series, but as a bonus we have some surprisingly good A-list voice cast, who a lot of critics felt were underused. But for once the poster got it right; ‘POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE’ does deliver the goods first class. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
