This afternoon I finally bit the bullet and went out to the theater to see Disney's latest animated film, Frozen. I knew a lot of my friends (many of whom do not have children, it should be pointed out) really loved this movie, and at the time of this writing it has just received a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Rumors are swirling that it will be headed to Broadway soon, although that isn't so much a benchmark of a quality film as it is a somewhat expected pattern from Disney. I had seen … [Read more...] about Is It Time to Ask for More from Animation?
animation
Cars 2 and the Future of Movie Reviews
Over the past week, I have read two absolutely scathing reviews of Cars 2: one of which claimed the movie was setting Mater up as a terrible role model for children, and another which went so far as to say that Pixar was now in a free-fall due to the "critical failure" of this movie. Seriously? I just saw Cars 2 with my family, and we unanimously enjoyed it. Obviously a continuing story doesn't have the same kind of feel as when you meet new characters for the first time. The bloom is a bit … [Read more...] about Cars 2 and the Future of Movie Reviews
Addendum to “Alice”
Well, as you might have expected, I did go watch Alice again - this time without the 3D trappings. The colors were in fact noticeably deeper and richer, particularly in the flowers and other surroundings of Wonderland. It wasn't day-glo 70s garishly colorful (which I nearly expected), but it was definitely an improvement. And a lot of the camera angles were so oriented to 3D on their own, that I found I didn't miss the added depth very much at all. Since the 3D effects were so much more subtle … [Read more...] about Addendum to “Alice”
Alice in Wonderland!
Oh my gosh, I have lost track how many months I have been waiting for this movie! I am a huge--dare I say, rabid--fan of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Both separately and together, these two have produced so many movies which I have loved...well, I'm not a huge fan of the Pee Wee movie, but that was early Burton. But I digress.... Having been home from the theater barely half an hour after seeing this, I will confess that my mind is racing a bit and I am fighting to stay relatively organized. … [Read more...] about Alice in Wonderland!
Cars
Ever since The Little Mermaid gave me permission to enjoy cartoon movies as an adult, I've been impressed by the sheer beauty of Disney animation. From the classics to (most) current films, they are simply gorgeous to watch. It was my husband who told me the history of the multiplane camera -- invented by Walt Disney himself, and used to open nearly every Disney film since Snow White. It's due to my exposure to so many Disney films that I study their opening scenes so carefully. With the … [Read more...] about Cars