Adam Foidart "Mosaic" has some good ideas but the story is a mess and any discriminating audience will find it banal. this animated film tells an original story by Stan Lee, a brand new superhero from the man himself! When Maggie Nelson (voiced by Anna Paquin) gains chameleon-like super powers, she decides to investigate a mysterious murder at a New York City museum. While piecing together the clues, she uncovers a plot to take over the world.The film really feels like a television pilot, with animation that isn't terrible but never really warrants any special mentions, a plot that is predictable and filled with clichés and a lot of confusion on the script level. There is a reveal about a young man named Mosaic (voiced by Kirby Morrow) and his relationship the big bad guy that is totally predictable for Instance. It MIGHT have been a twist back in the 60's, but nowadays its cliché. There are also a lot of unexplainable; I'd even say "bad" decisions from a script level. Although it appears to be clear that "Maggie" inherits her powers from a magical artifact, there are constant hints that her pet chameleon is also involved, despite numerous references to a prophecy explaining exactly what is going on. Characters only show hints of a personality (which once again gives the impression that their traits would have been developed over time) and a lot of stilted dialog that is not only badly written but makes no sense (a scene where healing abilities are described as "shapeshifting" comes to mind).I am tempted to say that if there had been a sequel, this could have been the start of an interesting female series. The more I think about it though, the more this feels more like a dated concept, or a knockoff of a classic superhero story than anything else. There's no doubt that with time this character could have become a classic, but that's because this story Is written as if there are no other superhero comics in existence. As is, "Mosaic" is only good entertainment for pre-teens. (Dvd, November 22, 2012)

xamtaro Oh the irony.The basic premise of this show is "change and adaptability". Maggie's special powers to change her physical appearance to mimic others along with her natural talents as an actress, all play around this theme of adaptability winning over the obstinate and unwillingness to change. The latter is personified by the ancient Chamelia race who are so grounded in their overconfidence about their own natural superhuman abilities).It is ironic that in a show revolving around the themes of "change" and adaptability, the creative team shows none of those traits.Stan Lee manages to bring some very human and very well fleshed out characters, akin to his classic work on Spiderman in the 60s. THe problem is that although the characters were interesting and easy to relate to, Stan Lee's characterization of them are straight out of 1960s comics. Mosaic is littered with some of the most unoriginal concepts that seem plucked from a variety of sources.( THe shape changing powers, girl next door protagonist, ancient race of super-humans, and magical artifacts etc). Yes it would have been a very original concept, had it come out back in the 60s. But For an "original creation" by Stan Lee, it is possibly one of the most unoriginal combination of concepts there is in existence today.Scott Lobdell, the writer, brings some entertaining dialog and fun, witty lines to this show. However, he too seems to be stuck in "the old days". His script is laden with unnecessary exposition in the dialog and even some campy monologues(like when Maggie talks to herself, out loud, about her new powers)that would not seem out of place in a 1980s children's comic book. I accept that some exposition is required in comics since a writer only has 22 to 30+ pages each month to tell a continuing over-arching story, but this is a single animated movie, not a bunch of 30 page comic issues. Not to mention that most of the dialog comes across as being rather juvenile.So we have Unoriginal concepts, juvenile story and writing that seem to be stuck in the days of care bears and cotton candy. Take that and top it off with some of the best animation of the early 90s.But oh wait! It's not the early 90s anymore.Even the look and feel of this show is dated. The character designs are very simplistic with minimal art detail aside from the inconsistent shadows. This looks like a lost cartoon series pilot movie from the era of Captain Planet that Film Roman dug up, added some digital effects and colors and passed it off as a new product. The animation is only mediocre compared to today's TV series standards which is seriously dismal when compared to other Direct-to-DVD animated features like Ultimate Avengers and Superman:Doomsday.Mosaic had a great premise but could have been so much more if it had been left in the hands of a better creative team who can adapt to the changing times and deliver a product that people would want to watch. Not one who's members are each stuck in their own dated style of their respective heydays.

crispy_comments Just saw this on TV, for FREE, thank goodness. If this movie was aimed at 12 year old girls, (as the juvenile characters and tone would seem to indicate) that's an insult to 12 year old girls. I'd like to think that even *they* would appreciate a well-written story that's smart and engaging. Mosaic was boring.The main character comes across as, well, a dumb 12 year old girl trapped in the body of a fully grown woman. She acts like a childish simpleton, with little-girly mannerisms, a vapid smile, and a terrible, superficial "what a fun sleepover!" vocal delivery, even during serious situations - the voice actress, Anna Paquin, SUCKS. Her tone is too fluffy and clueless and it sounds like she isn't paying attention to the meaning of the dialogue/scene, or really interacting with the other actors in a convincing way. I know in animation the actors are usually recorded separately, but *good* voice actors can overcome that disadvantage. Too bad they went for a Celebrity Name instead.It's more than a little disconcerting to see a character who behaves/sounds so young/immature, drawn with the body of a playboy model. I assume this was done to try to appeal to boys who might otherwise be bored silly by the slow-moving plot and lack of action? Well, good luck trying to make a movie for both little girls AND big boys. That makes for a squicky experience I like to call The Britney Spears Effect.The previous reviewer who said the main character wasn't overly sexualized, must've missed the scene where Maggie walks straight towards the "camera" until her chest completely fills the frame. There's no good reason for that...it's just plain gratuitous and tacky.What can I say about the story? Generic superpowers, generic villains-wanna-takeover-the-world plot. I'd like to see more female superheroes starring in movies, etc. But this one ain't exactly a great role model for girls. She only reinforces the stereotypical male fantasy object - a ditsy busty blonde, sweet and kinda dumb, more interested in romance and shallow pursuits than real adventure - who'll help out the men in her life, in a cute, non-threatening way, but always rely on her guy to lead the way and tell her what to do. Sure she has some heroic moments where she saves a few people, but it feels contrived, not triumphant.She has the ability to shapeshift and turn invisible, but persists in changing back to her normal form constantly, EVEN WHEN SHE KNOWS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HER AND EVEN WHEN SHE'S SPYING ON THE BAD GUYS (who, of course, catch her). It would be so easy to hide from them, but then I suppose the producers/animators wanted us to look at the purty girl as much as possible. It just makes her look...stupid. Plus, if I remember correctly (bored as I was), it's the Mosaic character who comes up with the plan to utilize her abilities at the film's climax. (Oh yeah, did I mention that - unlike every other movie about a superhero/ine - "Mosaic" is not even named after the main character? If you need more proof that she's useless...)And how about that whiplash at the end of the movie, when we're supposed to believe Maggie's mourning the death of someone she "loved", (would you believe they actually used the cheesy clichéd "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" scream?) and the next second she's all smiles again, perky and joking around, and reciting Shakespeare (badly) for her audition. There is no emotional honesty here. Consequently the viewer can't get emotionally invested.Bad writing, superficial characterization, clichéd scenarios, and really basic unimpressive animation. Waste of time.ETA: If I may reply to pharmstock's comments directed at me: Regarding "over-sexualization", I said nothing about "super-heroine garb", actually. And I have no problem with the way women are portrayed in Batman The Animated Series. I wouldn't compare that smartly written, stylishly animated series to "Mosaic" at all. As for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, maybe she acted a bit "ditsy" in the first season but the character was created to subvert the horror cliché of the dumb, helpless blonde. She was a Valley Girl...easy to understimate, but smarter and stronger than she looked. I don't see what that has to do with "Mosaic". You can't take Buffy's most superficial characteristics, omitting the *reason* for them, give them to another character for *no* good reason, and then try to justify it by saying, "well, Buffy did it."

briankb8man stan lee has a penchant for taking a ridiculous idea and turning it into something fairly entertaining. let's face it, spider-man was a ridiculous idea, but it has grown into an amazing phenomenon. mosaic will never get there; stan is way past his prime, but it is entertaining none the less. the main character is likable, but not as much as stan wants you to like her. one thing that makes no sense to me is that the movie is titled mosaic, when the character mosaic is neither the protagonist nor antagonist of the movie. sure, maggie would have been a stupid name for a superhero movie, but surely they could have done better than a secondary character for the title.it's more entertaining than some of the big budget comic book movies, worth the the hour and fifteen minutes or so required to watch it.