The Book of Life features the voices of Zoe Saldana and Channing Tatum and gives Cinderella a run for her money

REVIEW: Don’t be fooled by the cutely-drawn characters in The Book of Life. With Zoe Saldana and Channing Tatum, this film is more ambitious than it appears.

The Book of Life (PG)

Director : Jorge R. Gutierrez (feature debut)

Starring : the voices of Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum Ron Perlman.

Rating : ***

Quite a page-turner

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Don’t be fooled by the cutely-drawn characters on the poster promoting The Book of Life.

For this is one of the more original and ambitious (in storytelling terms, at least) animated offerings of recent times.

In fact, if some kids aren’t on their best form, they may lose track of a rather complicated tale - rooted firmly in traditional Mexican folklore - and struggle to catch up again.

Celebrity voices ... the animated movie Book Of Life.

It does help knowing in advance that the tale spans distinct and beautifully rendered dimensions : the Land of the Living, the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten.

The action commences in the first realm, with a lover’s triangle taking shape between a troubadour bullfighter (voiced by Diego Luna), a decorated soldier (Channing Tatum) and the most beautiful woman in the village (Zoe Saldana).

Stunning scenes .... the film The Book Of Life offers more than what you might think.

How and why the film will move into the other two dimensions is not for me to reveal here. However, it must be put on record that heaven and hell look like drab shacks of the afterlife compared to the Lands of the Remembered and the Forgotten.

The visuals on display in The Book of Life are absolutely stunning at times, giving its current box-office rival, the unyieldingly pretty Cinderella, a real run for her money.

Originally published as The Book of Life features the voices of Zoe Saldana and Channing Tatum and gives Cinderella a run for her money