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VALIANT This animated feature clocked in at 109 minutes during its recent run in England, and for once, I'm glad of the short attention spans of American tots, as the movie has been mercifully chopped down to 76 minutes for its stateside engagement. The most interesting moment in this turgid film is the revelation at the end that of the 53 Dickin Medals given to animals for bravery during World War II, 31 of them went to pigeons. That sounds like a compelling subject for a live-action documentary (March of the Pigeons?), but instead, the topic has been tossed away on a rigidly rote cartoon that features the usual mix of audience condescension, uninspired computer-animated graphics, obvious morals aimed at small children and, oh yeah, flatulence gags. Ewan McGregor, in his second 2005 tour of duty in a mediocre cartoon (following last spring's Robots), provides the voice for the title character, who gets to prove his mettle by delivering important messages as part of the Royal Homing Pigeon Service. 1.5 stars.

OPENS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9:

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson.

JUNEBUG: Amy Adams, Embeth Davidtz.

THE MAN: Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene Levy.

AN UNFINISHED LIFE: Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez.