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1-20 of 80 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Cameron is recrowned King of the World
7 hours ago
| blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
| See recent Roger Ebert's Blog news
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The thing about James Cameron is, he can get his mind around a project the size of "Avatar" and keep his cool. If it requires the development of untested technology, he takes the time to work on it. If he wants to create aliens human enough to be sexy and yet keep them out of the Uncanny Valley, he test-drives them. If it costs $250 million, as reported, or $350 million, as rumored, you reflect: That's a lot of money, but after seeing the movie I guess I saw most of it up there on the screen.
It became a favorite sport in some Hollywood circles, and even among critics not a million miles distant from myself, to publicly doubt Cameron's claims. He took ten years, starting with a story he began writing years before that? He was determined to film in 3-D, but no 3-D was good enough, so he had
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- Roger Ebert
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Top Ten 2-D Animation Films
8 hours ago
| FilmShaft.com
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Disney’s The Princess and the Frog (see Alex’s review here ) heralds a return to the 2D hand drawn animation of yesteryear.
To celebrate the revival of an old art form we’re offering ten of the finest traditional animations for your delectation. This list represents our personal favourites so don’t be upset if your own doesn’t appear or go ahead and be upset, just keep it to yourself.
What are you favourite 2-D animations? Leave us a comment, suggestion, etc.
The Emperor’s New Groove (Mark Dindal, 2000)
A spoilt Emperor plans to bulldoze a village and replace it with a water park. He’s then transformed into a llama and gets to spend some time with the subjects he plans to displace in this neglected gem from 2000. Pixar’s success had put a ball and chain around Disney’s early nineties revival and dropped it down a well.
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- Ed Whitfield
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Should 'Avatar' Be Considered for Best Animated Oscar?
14 December 2009 9:56 AM, PST
| Rope of Silicon
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Zoe Saldana in Avatar
Photo: 20th Century Fox
I'm not going to ask why Avatar isn't on the Academy's short list for Best Animated Oscar because the answer to that question is obvious... it wasn't submitted. Perhaps that's just the problem though. Why not? And don't go jumping to a quick decision. Let me give you a little food for thought. I might be able to make a case that will have you considering it much more than you may think.
First off, let's look at a few details to help the discussion along. Here are four of the 20 films that were submitted for consideration in the Best Animated Feature Film category:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Disney's A Christmas Carol
Monsters vs. Aliens
Up
Keep those films in the back of your mind for a second while I ask (and try to answer) a few questions you may
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- Brad Brevet
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He Said – She Said … The Princess and the Frog
13 December 2009 2:20 PM, PST
| The Scorecard Review
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»
We are spoiled by Pixar, Dreamworks, and BlueSky (okay, for those guys, maybe sometimes). These animation titans are leading the charge when it comes to computer animation, with their vibrant worlds created with mouse clicks and keyboards. They may be inspired by the hand-drawn animation classics, but they have contributed in putting that form of entertainment to the wayside, or at least, to the straight-to-dvd arena.
This is not the fate with Disney’s latest movie, The Princess and the Frog, a 2-D animated film that echoes those classics that we can only experience when they’re released from the “vault,” like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. It isn’t in 3-D, it doesn’t have a cast with too many big names, and most importantly, it has a princess character that is (finally) African-American.
How would Disney fare with all of these elements in a Pixar/Dreamworks/BlueSky dominated cinema?
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- Nick Allen
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Christmas Blu-ray roundup
11 December 2009 4:08 PM, PST
| The Guardian - Film News
| See recent The Guardian - Film News news
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The prices plummeted this year, so Blu-ray players are likely to be under plenty of Christmas trees. Phelim O'Neill advises what to play on them
Blockbusters
Jj Abrams's rebooted Star Trek (Paramount) was not only the sole moment of unbridled fun in this year's blockbuster season but the best, full bells and whistles Blu-ray issue, too. With its sparkling HD visuals (not a given for Blu-ray), vibrant soundtrack and exhaustive supplementary material, it's ideal for showing to anyone who dares ask, "Why all the fuss about Blu-ray?"
Documentary
Let's not forget the educational importance of Blu-ray. Actually, let's do, as the picture quality on series like David Attenborough's Planet Earth and Life (BBC) is so gobsmackingly pristine that the senses are too overloaded to take in any useful information. Better to go for slightly lower-fi stuff, documentaries where the pictures do all the talking
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- Phelim O'Neill
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The Princess and the Frog Review — John’s Take
10 December 2009 5:11 AM, PST
| ReelLoop.com
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»
Disney’s animated films have always had a curious way of reflecting the time period they were produced in. The thought is rather obvious, but struck me last week as I revisited 1977’s The Rescuers. The film seems to have come from the darkest decade in the Mouse’s history: within the opening credits, a bottle containing an Sos note drifts out to sea over a song declaring its own loneliness and desperation. The tale of two mice rescuing a little girl from an abusive hell-hag is drawn in a sketchy and spastic style that reflects its subject material greatly — it’s unique in its vicious nature, as dark as Bambi’s classic scenes are chalked up to be.
Thirty-two years later, times have certainly changed. The Princess and the Frog, the first classically hand-drawn animated film since President Obama’s step into the limelight, reflects a sense of sterling
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- John Cooper
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DVD review: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo-Choo Express
7 December 2009 8:11 PM, PST
| ReelLoop.com
| See recent Reel Loop news
»
It’s amazing that after 80 years, Mickey Mouse and company are still able to retain that patented Disney family fun. In the latest DVD edition from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo-Choo Express, Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy and the rest of them are back just in time for winter.
Professor Ludwig von Drake has invented snow that doesn’t melt, but what good is this snow if it can’t be played with during the blistering heat of summer? Soon our Disney gang hops aboard a train, put together through educational interaction with its viewers, in order to retrieve the snow from atop Mistletoe Mountain. Like most edu-tainment tales, travels are not easy and our troupe encounters obstacles on their way to the mountain top: pigs in the way, a wheel coming off the train and puzzles to solve. But have no fear; Mickey and the younglings watching the program finally reach their destination.
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- Erik Buckman
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The Princess and The Frog Interviews
30 November 2009 8:00 PM, PST
| MoviesOnline.ca
| See recent MoviesOnline news
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MoviesOnline sat down with executive producer John Lasseter, directors Ron Clements and John Musker, and composer Randy Newman to talk about their new film, “The Princess and The Frog.” The film is a return to the timeless world of hand-drawn animation at Disney from the revered team who created “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” and features music by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman.
“The Princess and The Frog” is an ageless fairy tale, but with a fresh twist that combines everything we look for in great stories: comedy, adventure, music – and most of all, the kind of heart that always sets Disney animation apart. In this telling of the story, the girl still kisses a frog, but the result is quite different. It’s only one of dozens of surprises in this mix of wacky humor, thrills, melody and emotion. The film features Disney’s newest princess, its next great fairy
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Page 2
26 November 2009 4:00 AM, PST
| Slash Film
| See recent Slash Film news
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Page 2 is a compilation of stories and news tidbits, which for whatever reason, didn’t make the front page of /Film. After the jump we’ve included 36 different items, fun images, videos, casting tidbits, articles of interest and more. It’s like a mystery grab bag of movie web related goodness.
We Love You So has found some great Where The Wild Things Are graffiti mural in Los Angeles.
What happens when Deadpool meets The Smurfs? [confined]
AMC lists the top 14 fake movies from real movies.
Artist Prudence Staite recreated a number iconic scenes from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs using 14 different varieties of apples.
So I Married an Axe Murderer is now available for free stream on Hulu.
Iron Man 2 graces the January 2010 issue of Empire magazine.
We've featured Olly Moss' art on /Film in previous editions of Cool Stuff. Here is his awesome poster for A Life Well Wasted.
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- Peter Sciretta
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This Week on DVD: Funny People, Angels & Demons, Gomorrah
24 November 2009 9:48 AM, PST
| FilmJunk
| See recent FilmJunk news
»
Tom Hanks is back as the almighty all-knowing symbologist Robert Langdon this week as Ron Howard's Angels & Demons hits DVD and Blu-ray, along with Judd Apatow's underperforming Funny People and the Robert Rodriguez family adventure flick Shorts. Also this week, Criterion releases the acclaimed mafia film Gomorrah, Uwe Boll's Far Cry video game adaptation goes direct to DVD, and Spike Lee's Kobe Bryant doc Kobe: Doin' Work finally hits stores. On Blu-ray we have Fred Dekker's The Monster Squad, Jackie Chan's New Police Story, and the first season of The Sopranos. What will you be renting or buying this week?
Angels & Demons [1] (DVD, Blu-ray [2])
Four Christmases [3] (DVD, Blu-ray [4])
Funny People [5] (DVD, Blu-ray [6])
Shorts [7] (DVD, Blu-ray [8])
Gomorrah: Criterion Collection [9] (DVD, Blu-ray [10])
The Golden Age of Television: Criterion Collection [11]
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [12]
Far Cry [13]
Three Monkeys [14]
Santa Buddies [15] (DVD, Blu-ray [16])
Taking Chances [17]
National
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- Sean
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Movieweb's 2009 Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide!
24 November 2009 5:51 AM, PST
| MovieWeb
| See recent MovieWeb news
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Listen up hi-def humbugs and Blu-ray Scrooges! This is the year you'll not just want, but need, to buy a new hi-def plasma screen and a shiny black Blu-ray player for Christmas (and/or whatever other holiday you choose to celebrate with lavish gifts). Why? Because this technology has reached its performance plateau. And it is finally at a reasonable price most of us can afford. Not only that, it serves as the one prefect gift the entire family can enjoy together. With more Blu-ray titles being released right now than ever before, there simply couldn't be a better time to dive head first into this leading technological platform.
But wait! There's one thing you don't want to overlook after all that exciting new equipment has been unwrapped. Without a stack of Blu-ray discs strategically placed in each family member's stocking with care, your gorgeous new HD flat screen becomes a delectable serving tray,
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This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: November 24, 2009
24 November 2009 1:32 AM, PST
| Rope of Silicon
| See recent Rope Of Silicon news
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DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed
Gomorrah (Criterion Collection)
I just published my review of this one and the film certainly holds up to repeat viewings and left an even greater impression on me than it did when I wrote my "B" review last year. The presentation is great and there is a wealth of supplementary material that can be a bit taxing, but, if taken in slowly, will open your eyes even wider. If you are interested check out my review here and you can read the included Chuck Stevens's essay "Gomorrah: Terminal Beach" available right here.
Angels and Demons
Nope, wasn't about to request this one for review. I watched it once and once was enough for me. You can read my "C+" review if you need further explanation as to my thoughts on this film, but I don't ever intend to revisit it,
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- Brad Brevet
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6 Movie Clips and a Featurette from Walt Disney’s The Princess And The Frog
18 November 2009 11:45 PM, PST
| Collider.com
| See recent Collider.com news
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“‘The Princess and the Frog’ is a return to the timeless world of hand-drawn animation at Disney. It’s an ageless fairy tale, but with a fresh twist that combines everything we look for in great stories: comedy, adventure, music-and most of all, the kind of heart that always sets Disney animation apart.”
~ John Lasseter, Executive Producer and Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Opening on November 25th, in limited release, is Walt Disney’s return to 2D animation, The Princess and the Frog. After years of focusing on computer animation, The House That Walt Built is returning to its roots and I couldn’t be more excited. While I don’t know if The Princess and the Frog is going to be a classic like Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast, I know there is a place for traditional animation alongside what Pixar does so brilliantly with computers.
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- Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub
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Here's Why Roger Corman Deserves That Honorary Oscar
18 November 2009 10:33 AM, PST
| Cinematical
| See recent Cinematical news
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In 1939 the Academy gave an honorary Oscar to Edgar Bergen for creating a funny puppet. Some people may have thought that was silly. They also may have found it silly that a strange little "cartoon" called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earned itself an honorary Oscar. The legendary Bob Hope was given a fistful of honorary Oscars over the course of his amazing career ... and I don't remember anyone calling Bob Hope a brilliant actor or influential filmmaker.
In other words, these "honorary" awards that are handed out by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) can be given for any old reason they feel like -- and I for one am thrilled that they've decided to give one to Roger Corman this year. My illustrious colleague Eric Snider clearly doesn't feel the same way, and I'm here to tell Eric he's dead wrong. Wonderfully funny and a snappy dresser,
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- Scott Weinberg
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Here's Why Roger Corman Desrves That Honorary Oscar
18 November 2009 10:33 AM, PST
| Cinematical
| See recent Cinematical news
»
In 1939 the Academy gave an honorary Oscar to Edgar Bergen for creating a funny puppet. Some people may have thought that was silly. They also may have found it silly that a strange little "cartoon" called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earned itself an honorary Oscar. The legendary Bob Hope was given a fistful of honorary Oscars over the course of his amazing career ... and I don't remember anyone calling Bob Hope a brilliant actor or influential filmmaker.
In other words, these "honorary" awards that are handed out by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) can be given for any old reason they feel like -- and I for one am thrilled that they've decided to give one to Roger Corman this year. My illustrious colleague Eric Snider clearly doesn't feel the same way, and I'm here to tell Eric he's dead wrong. Wonderfully funny and a snappy dresser,
…
- Scott Weinberg
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Mickey Mouse Moving Back to Disney Forefront
3 November 2009 4:30 AM, PST
| Atomic Popcorn
| See recent Atomic Popcorn news
»
I don’t think it’s going too far out on a limb to say that this is one of the most interesting marketing moves I’ve heard in a long time:
The Mouse House will reintroduce its famous mascot in “Epic Mickey,” a videogame due late next year that will revive several of the character’s key personality traits that have been dulled or forgotten since his introduction in the late 1920s.
Be honest now. When someone says “Disney,” what’s the first thing that pops into your head? In some regard or another, Mickey Mouse is likely to be associated with Disney. However, what does anyone really know about Mickey anymore?
If you’re like me, you simply think of Mickey Mouse as the squeaky voiced mouse with gloved hands and shorts with large buttons on them. I’m fairly sure that Mickey is supposed to be a pretty good guy,
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- Carly
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Snow White scenes depicted in apple art
3 November 2009 4:01 AM, PST
| Boxwish.com
| See recent BoxWish news
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We all know that films can give you the munchies. There’s no getting through Julie & Julia without your belly rumbling, you can practically taste the food in Ratatouille and don’t let’s get started on Chocolat – it’s too early in the day for a chocolate binge (check out our top ten movie chefs for further mouth-watering examples, see Related Content, right). But marrying the tasty treats depicted in the film with art is a leap we haven’t often taken, that was until food artist Prudence Staite came along. Along with her Food Is Art team, Staite “creates anything you can think of in any food stuff from chocolate to gravy” and has applied this food theory to Disney masterpiece Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, re-creating famous stills from the fairy tale with apples.
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Giveaway: Disney's Magic Mirror iPhone App
29 October 2009 10:51 AM, PDT
| BuzzFocus.com
| See recent BuzzFocus.com news
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Hey BuzzFocus readers, just in time for everyone's favorite dress up and eat candy holiday, we teaming up with Disney to bring you a giveaway of their Magic Mirror iPhone App!
Of course, you remember the Queen's mirror from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This app allows you to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into the all-knowing Magic Mirror by speaking or typing into your device.
This one is simple to enter, all you have to do is tell us which is your favorite Disney movie (or Pixar) and why. You can either fill out the comment box below (make sure to put in a valid email) or you can friend us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/Buzzfocus) and leave a message on our wall. (2) winners will receive a code to download the Magic Mirror App from iTunes for free!
Official Rules:
Entering is simple. You’ve got to be 18 years of age,
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- Buzzfocus Staff
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‘The Gloomers’ Draws Hanna Barbera Style To Web
28 October 2009 11:55 PM, PDT
| Tubefilter.tv
| See recent Tubefilter News news
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IImagine if Eeyore, Oscar the Grouch, Scrooge McDuck, and Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were related. Throw in a dash of the Addam's Family and you'd be at a good place to start understanding the concept behind The Gloomers. With the tagline "No matter how bad your day has been, The Gloomers day is always worse.", the family greets you with slick flash-animation, a catchy theme song, and the promise that this won't be all gloom and doom...there is a lot of laughs to be had as well.
Behind The Gloomers are some veteran broadcast TV vets. Charles Mechem, the former CEO of Taft Broadcasting, which owned animation studio Hanna Barbera from 1967 until 1990 serves as the outfit's 'Chairman.' His son Dan serves as CEO and penning the series is senior writer Neal Barbera, son of the late Joe Barbera. Neal often wrote or co-wrote episodes
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- Jenni Powell
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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Dominates DVD and Blu-ray Charts
28 October 2009 11:30 AM, PDT
| MovieWeb
| See recent MovieWeb news
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With a home-video industry that badly needs a boost, some robots in disguise gave it just that. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen destroyed any and all competition on the home video charts this week, sweeping all three charts in its first week.
If a clean sweep wasn't enough, it only took a week for the Michael Bay film to become the highest-selling disc of the year, with a staggering 7.5 million copies sold in the first week. 1.2 million of those sales were in the Blu-ray format, making it the top-selling Bd disc of the year to date. The film also set year-high marks with 2 million units sold in the first day of sales, with 500,000 of those units sold in the Bd format.
The blockbuster faced hardly any competition this week, knocking last week's top seller and rental The Proposal down to second place on both charts,
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