oner in what truly looks like a cartoon version

oner in what

truly looks like a

cartoon version of the concentration1 camp, guard towers, guard dogs with spiked collars, barbed wire and padlocks. They continually produce eggs, until they don't and them, Gulp, it's off to the chopping block.

Ginger, the psychological support of the flocks, is continually trying to engineer an escape, but try after try ends in failure. One day, a Circus escapee dubbed the "Flying Rooster” from the USA (Rocky, the voice of Mel Gibson) lands in the yard after being shot out of a cannon, and the hens begin to pin their escape hopes upon him, since he seemingly knows how to fly. Upon his arrival, the old, retired RAF rooster notes: "Those Americans are always showing up late for the War." And he gripes, "Bah, American^ overpaid, oversexed and over here!"

Mrs. Tweedy decides egg production isn't making enough money, and decides to turn the farm into a chicken pie processing plant. The piemaking equipment is just genius, Park's creative and animation skills just shine here.

Escape attempts among the chickens continue at q breakneck pace. The last ditch effort is the building of an airplane, made out of entirely weird and adapted materials gleaped at the Farm, to be piloted by Rocky the Flying Rooster.

In case you haven't seen this great video, we re not telling you the ending, but it is a happy one!

Herb and I have seelh almost everything made by Nick Park, and will continue to do so, he is a creative force in the visual arts. This film gets a well deserved A.

These and other fine films (as well as DVDs) available at Cinema Paradiso Video Rental, Packing Shed Corner, Porter & Gay Streets, Washington, 675-3410, Wednesday-Sunday 12:30 until 6 p.m., Friday until 7:30 p.m.

A special note: The video store is also open Tuesdays during the month of December and has a fine collection of holiday films.

* Naomi and Herb, aging but Hip movie buffs, live in Rappahannock County, and prefer to remain anonymous.