Luc Besson is better known for his science-fantasy films of the past like Subway,  The Last Battle or The Fifth Element and for his recent producing role in a collection of violent actioners like the Taxi series, Unleashed and the 13th District.  To find him making a children’s film, a blend of live action and animation comes as something of a surprise.

It begins with Arthur, Freddy Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charley and the Chocolate Factory), a confident and genial young actor, and his grandmother, Mia Farrow, are trying to save their house from being reclaimed.  Grandfather has disappeared on expeditions in Africa.  With the possibility of finding gems that would solve all the problems, Arthur is reduced in size and finds himself in the land of the Minimoys under the ground.

This is the longer animated section which moves at a fairly rattling pace as the Minimoys are trying to defend themselves against the tyrant, Maltazard.  The adventures involve a princess and some characters who get themselves into tangles – only for Arthur to reappear just in time to save the day and Grandpa turning up again.

This is one for the younger audiences, though adults listening to the voices in the English version may be distracted with Madonna as the princess, David Bowie as Maltazard and an assorted supporting cast including Robert de Niro, Harvey Keitel and Emilio Estevez.

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