Intro: When you’re a hugely successful bodybuilder from a small village in Austria, and you’ve not only managed to successfully make the transition from pumping iron to pumping lead pipes into Aussie bad guys, the world is seemingly very much your oyster. Or so they say. As you’ll no doubt know nothing was standing in the Austrian Oak’s way when he set his mind to prove people wrong. Nobody, especially the studios, were convinced that he could win audiences over as a believable comedy performer, yet his unlikely partnership with the diminutive and awesome Danny DeVito in Twins proved that not only could Arnie bring the gags, but that he could also bring the box-office numbers to satiate the stuffy studio heads.
So, just where did his career go next? Now that Arnie had proved to people that he was box office gold for comedy, as well as action and sci-fi,...
So, just where did his career go next? Now that Arnie had proved to people that he was box office gold for comedy, as well as action and sci-fi,...
- 9/25/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
After eight live-action Spider-Man movies, the most recent of which made unbelievable profits, the webhead is well and truly established as an icon of the superhero genre. We all know how things started, with Sam Raimi's 2002 "Spider-Man" giving us our first proper live-action Spidey film. But things could have looked very different if James Cameron's Spider-Man movie ever got made.
There's been a lot written about the director's ill-fated "Spider-Man," which would have been a much more adult, R-rated experience than Raimi's effort. The script was peppered with profanity and featured a love scene between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, who were supposed to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Nikki Cox respectively. Cameron was working on the project after the now-shuttered Carolco, which produced multiple blockbusters including Cameron's own "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," acquired the rights to Spider-Man in 1990. Had the director followed through with the project,...
There's been a lot written about the director's ill-fated "Spider-Man," which would have been a much more adult, R-rated experience than Raimi's effort. The script was peppered with profanity and featured a love scene between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, who were supposed to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Nikki Cox respectively. Cameron was working on the project after the now-shuttered Carolco, which produced multiple blockbusters including Cameron's own "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," acquired the rights to Spider-Man in 1990. Had the director followed through with the project,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The story of Basic Instinct begins with the writer, Joe Eszterhas. At the time, he was one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood, known for writing provocative films like Flashdance, Jagged Edge and Betrayed. Eszterhas had written three movies in a row where his male lead had emotionally manipulated the woman who loved him, so the writer wanted to flip the dynamic, to write a thriller where an evil woman controlled a man effortlessly through mind games and sex. He was fascinated and frightened by the notions of thrill killings and homicidal impulses, and delved into writing the thriller, a combination film noir and detective mystery. Three weeks later, he was done, a script he called “Love Hurts” until changing the title to Basic Instinct the day he sent it to his agent.
His agent was knocked out by it, and soon enough they were holding an auction for every major studio in Hollywood.
His agent was knocked out by it, and soon enough they were holding an auction for every major studio in Hollywood.
- 4/19/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
When it comes to John McTiernan's 1987 action classic "Predator," there's no shortage of unforgettable moments or images. There's the design of the titular alien, a camouflaged, green-blooded beast (Kevin Peter Hall in full makeup and prosthetics) on the hunt. There's the military unit's fraught arrival to a Central American jungle set to "Long Tall Sally." There's a shootout that seemingly borrows from Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch."
But it could be argued the most quoted and memorable moment from the whole movie comes from its opening act, where Vietnam War vets Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon (Carl Weathers) are reunited after many years. As Dutch calls his old friend a "son of a b*tch," they clasp hands, each man revealing cartoonishly massive biceps.
Both actors had gotten their start as athletes. Schwarzenegger had found fame as an Austrian bodybuilder before being rejected to play TV's Incredible Hulk...
But it could be argued the most quoted and memorable moment from the whole movie comes from its opening act, where Vietnam War vets Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon (Carl Weathers) are reunited after many years. As Dutch calls his old friend a "son of a b*tch," they clasp hands, each man revealing cartoonishly massive biceps.
Both actors had gotten their start as athletes. Schwarzenegger had found fame as an Austrian bodybuilder before being rejected to play TV's Incredible Hulk...
- 4/15/2023
- by Anthony Crislip
- Slash Film
The year is 3042, and the Earth has been destroyed. 15 years ago, humankind unveiled a mysterious and powerful technology called the Titan Project. Its true nature is not revealed immediately, but a species of envious aliens made of pure energy, the Drej, fear it and have destroyed humankind in defense. Now, the galaxy's remaining humans roam the cosmos as outcasts, forced to take odd jobs on freighters. A young human named Cale (Matt Damon) has taken a job on a vessel called the Valkyrie, where he works alongside a smarmy bat alien named Preedex (Nathan Lane), a kooky frog-like scientist named Gune (John Leguizamo), a bitter and angry kangaroo-like engineer named Stith (Janeanne Garofalo), a human pilot named Akima (Drew Barrymore), and the heroic Captain Korso (Bill Pullman). Together, they travel the stars avoiding Drej and following an obscure map to the location of the Titan, the ship that still contains Earth's technological breakthrough.
- 12/18/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Most would agree that Paul Verhoeven‘s Total Recall is one of the best two or three Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. It’s definitely up there in the pantheon of great action movies, with it standing the test of time very well over the years, with not even a lousy remake taking the shine off this gem. Ultra-violent and often hilarious, it’s Verhoeven at his most unhinged, with Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Douglas Quaid, an ordinary guy who just might be a secret agent from Mars named Hauser.
Verhoeven directed Total Recall from a screenplay by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, and Gary Goldman (Jon Povill also receives a story credit), based on the novelette “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. The film has the following synopsis:
Douglas Quaid is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting the colonized Mars. He visits “Rekall,...
Verhoeven directed Total Recall from a screenplay by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, and Gary Goldman (Jon Povill also receives a story credit), based on the novelette “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. The film has the following synopsis:
Douglas Quaid is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting the colonized Mars. He visits “Rekall,...
- 12/7/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
There is no animated love interest, from Disney or any other studio, as attractive and compelling as Dimitri from Don Bluth's "Anastasia." The 1997 musical directed by Bluth and Gary Goldman is about the last survivor of the Romanov family who escapes but gets amnesia and only knows herself as Anya the orphan. She meets Dimitri, a con man auditioning women to trick the dowager empress into believing that they are the missing Anastasia. What Anya does not know is that she is the real Anastasia.
John Cusack's fantastic performance adds some color to Dimitri. His warm, familiar voice captures Dimitri's wry humor and underlying sensitivity. Cusack puts a lot of emotion into his vocals that really brings out the internal conflict Dimitri goes through. There are several other reasons why the floppy-haired, dark-eyed dreamboat captures viewer's hearts.
He Isn't A Typical Disney-Style Prince
"Anastasia" naturally drew comparisons to Disney,...
John Cusack's fantastic performance adds some color to Dimitri. His warm, familiar voice captures Dimitri's wry humor and underlying sensitivity. Cusack puts a lot of emotion into his vocals that really brings out the internal conflict Dimitri goes through. There are several other reasons why the floppy-haired, dark-eyed dreamboat captures viewer's hearts.
He Isn't A Typical Disney-Style Prince
"Anastasia" naturally drew comparisons to Disney,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
The “Entourage” cast is getting back together for a new series from Doug Ellin, called “Ramble On.”
“Ramble On” will reunite “Entourage” cast members Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, plus frequent guest star Mark Cuban. It will also star Charlie Sheen, Kimiko Glenn, Bre-z, Ana Ortiz, Emmanuel Chriqui, and Martin Sheen.
In the scripted dramedy series, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon star as themselves — Hollywood veterans looking to reinvent their voices alongside up and comers looking to establish their own.
“This idea has been spinning in my head for years and seeing it come to life is incredible,” said Ellin. “I feel beyond grateful that so many of my ‘Entourage’ crew and cast members, along with some of the most talented, comedic forces in the industry, have joined us on this exciting new journey. We cannot wait to share this with the world.”
“Ramble On” is...
“Ramble On” will reunite “Entourage” cast members Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, plus frequent guest star Mark Cuban. It will also star Charlie Sheen, Kimiko Glenn, Bre-z, Ana Ortiz, Emmanuel Chriqui, and Martin Sheen.
In the scripted dramedy series, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon star as themselves — Hollywood veterans looking to reinvent their voices alongside up and comers looking to establish their own.
“This idea has been spinning in my head for years and seeing it come to life is incredible,” said Ellin. “I feel beyond grateful that so many of my ‘Entourage’ crew and cast members, along with some of the most talented, comedic forces in the industry, have joined us on this exciting new journey. We cannot wait to share this with the world.”
“Ramble On” is...
- 3/3/2022
- by Katie Campione
- The Wrap
Charlie Sheen is heading back to television.
The Two and a Half Men star has teamed up with Entourage creator Doug Ellin for a new dramedy series set in Hollywood.
Ramble On will star Sheen and Entourage’s Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon as themselves about Hollywood veterans looking to reinvent their voices alongside up and comers looking to establish their own.
It will also feature Sheen’s father Martin Sheen, Kimiko Glenn, Bre-z, John C. McGinley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Zulay Henao, Mark Cuban, James Hiroyuki Liao, Harvey Guillén, Ana Ortiz, Sara Sanderson, Mikaela Hoover and Adam Waheed with a guest appearance by Entourage alum Emmanuelle Chriqui.
Ramble On is produced by Angry Lunch, a new production company founded by Ellin and Ted Foxman, a former semiconductor testing equipment exec and real estate developer, in association with Action Park Media. The pair will exec produce alongside Gary Goldman with Jeremy Alter producing.
The Two and a Half Men star has teamed up with Entourage creator Doug Ellin for a new dramedy series set in Hollywood.
Ramble On will star Sheen and Entourage’s Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon as themselves about Hollywood veterans looking to reinvent their voices alongside up and comers looking to establish their own.
It will also feature Sheen’s father Martin Sheen, Kimiko Glenn, Bre-z, John C. McGinley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Zulay Henao, Mark Cuban, James Hiroyuki Liao, Harvey Guillén, Ana Ortiz, Sara Sanderson, Mikaela Hoover and Adam Waheed with a guest appearance by Entourage alum Emmanuelle Chriqui.
Ramble On is produced by Angry Lunch, a new production company founded by Ellin and Ted Foxman, a former semiconductor testing equipment exec and real estate developer, in association with Action Park Media. The pair will exec produce alongside Gary Goldman with Jeremy Alter producing.
- 3/3/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
“Entourage” creator Doug Ellin is returning to Hollywood for his next series. Ellin has recruited Charlie Sheen and several of his “Entourage” stars — including Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon — to play themselves in “Ramble On,” a scripted dramatic comedy about established stars looking for career reinvention, alongside aspiring performers looking to make their own name.
The show, which is currently being shopped to potential distributors, comes from Angry Lunch, a new shingle recently formed by Ellin and Ted Foxman, in association with Action Park Media. Foxman and Ellin will executive produce and finance “Ramble On,” while Gary Goldman is also an EP. Jeremy Alter is producer.
Ellin created the show, which, according to its press release, will also include Sheen’s father, Martin Sheen, as well as Kimiko Glenn (“Orange is the New Black”), Bre-z (“All American”), John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”), Zulay Henao, Mark Cuban, James Hiroyuki Liao...
The show, which is currently being shopped to potential distributors, comes from Angry Lunch, a new shingle recently formed by Ellin and Ted Foxman, in association with Action Park Media. Foxman and Ellin will executive produce and finance “Ramble On,” while Gary Goldman is also an EP. Jeremy Alter is producer.
Ellin created the show, which, according to its press release, will also include Sheen’s father, Martin Sheen, as well as Kimiko Glenn (“Orange is the New Black”), Bre-z (“All American”), John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”), Zulay Henao, Mark Cuban, James Hiroyuki Liao...
- 3/3/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Continuing our series of writers standing up for loathed films is a defense of an unusual, risk-taking animation from 2000
Earth explodes into smithereens within the first few minutes of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman’s animated sci-fi adventure Titan Ae. Erroneously targeted at young audiences, since it features the near annihilation of the human species as its inciting incident, as well as other mature elements, the film raised some eyebrows upon its release in 2000. The directors were making something distinct, a departure from the dominance of Disney fables during the 90s but right before other studios, such as Blue Sky and DreamWorks, found success with more satirical storytelling throughout the early noughties. Bluth’s career, in particular, had been unconventional and based on reinvention. With Titan, that artistic approach reached its riskiest, most pattern-defying form.
Related: Hear me out: why Confessions of a Shopaholic isn’t a bad movie
Continue reading.
Earth explodes into smithereens within the first few minutes of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman’s animated sci-fi adventure Titan Ae. Erroneously targeted at young audiences, since it features the near annihilation of the human species as its inciting incident, as well as other mature elements, the film raised some eyebrows upon its release in 2000. The directors were making something distinct, a departure from the dominance of Disney fables during the 90s but right before other studios, such as Blue Sky and DreamWorks, found success with more satirical storytelling throughout the early noughties. Bluth’s career, in particular, had been unconventional and based on reinvention. With Titan, that artistic approach reached its riskiest, most pattern-defying form.
Related: Hear me out: why Confessions of a Shopaholic isn’t a bad movie
Continue reading.
- 6/28/2021
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Guardian - Film News
Company to distribute roster of completed titles in US.
Vertical Entertainment continues to grow its international business and is in talks on a virtual Cannes market slate led by thriller Last Survivors starring Alicia Silverstone and civil rights drama Son Of The South executive produced by Spike Lee.
Head of international sales and distribution Ryan Keller and his team have been taking meetings this week on the international sales roster, which includes sci-fi thriller Risen, horror Shook, thriller Stalker, and The Resort. All titles are completed and Vertical will distribute in the US.
Drew Mylrea directed the thriller Last Survivors,...
Vertical Entertainment continues to grow its international business and is in talks on a virtual Cannes market slate led by thriller Last Survivors starring Alicia Silverstone and civil rights drama Son Of The South executive produced by Spike Lee.
Head of international sales and distribution Ryan Keller and his team have been taking meetings this week on the international sales roster, which includes sci-fi thriller Risen, horror Shook, thriller Stalker, and The Resort. All titles are completed and Vertical will distribute in the US.
Drew Mylrea directed the thriller Last Survivors,...
- 6/25/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Program Description
Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic gets the ultimate high-definition treatment when Total Recall arrives as a 3-disc 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) and Digital 4K Ultra HD December 8 from Lionsgate. Restored in 4K from a scan of the original 35mm negative, the visionary film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Oscar® nominee Sharon Stone, and Michael Ironside.
Undertaken by Studiocanal, the restoration was supervised by Paul Verhoeven himself. The restoration crew paid particularly high attention to preserving special-effects continuity, as Total Recall was one of the earliest films to use computer-generated images for special effects winning the Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the 1990 Academy Awards®.
Available for the very first time in this absolutely stunning format, the Total Recall 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will include a never-before-seen exclusive documentary feature as well as two brand-new featurettes. Experience four times the resolution of...
Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic gets the ultimate high-definition treatment when Total Recall arrives as a 3-disc 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) and Digital 4K Ultra HD December 8 from Lionsgate. Restored in 4K from a scan of the original 35mm negative, the visionary film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Oscar® nominee Sharon Stone, and Michael Ironside.
Undertaken by Studiocanal, the restoration was supervised by Paul Verhoeven himself. The restoration crew paid particularly high attention to preserving special-effects continuity, as Total Recall was one of the earliest films to use computer-generated images for special effects winning the Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the 1990 Academy Awards®.
Available for the very first time in this absolutely stunning format, the Total Recall 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will include a never-before-seen exclusive documentary feature as well as two brand-new featurettes. Experience four times the resolution of...
- 9/6/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
It’s a relatively quiet week for home entertainment releases, but Tuesday is playing host to one of my favorite films of the year, Ready or Not, which makes December 3rd feel like an early Christmas to this writer. Scream Factory is showing some love to John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China with multiple editions (including the standard Collector’s Edition as well as the absolutely gorgeous limited edition Steelbook), and Konga, one of my favorite cult films (thank you Terror in the Aisles!) is headed to Blu on Tuesday, courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for December 3rd include Boar, Christmas Presence, Game of Thrones: The Complete Eighth Season, Game of Thrones: The Complete Series, and 1 Must Fall.
Big Trouble in Little China: Collector’s Edition/Limited Edition Steelbook
Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a...
Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for December 3rd include Boar, Christmas Presence, Game of Thrones: The Complete Eighth Season, Game of Thrones: The Complete Series, and 1 Must Fall.
Big Trouble in Little China: Collector’s Edition/Limited Edition Steelbook
Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a...
- 12/2/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
While John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China is infinitely quotable thanks to Kurt Russell's performance as the imperfect protagonist Jack Burton, every great reluctant hero needs a great villain, and James Hong's portrayal of the evil Lo Pan gave us a character who is just as memorable as his truck-driving counterpart. With Big Trouble in Little China coming to Blu-ray like never before in a new Collector's Edition on December 3rd from Scream Factory, we've been provided with an exclusive bonus feature clip featuring Hong to share with Daily Dead readers!
Taken from "The Soul of Lo Pan" bonus feature on the Big Trouble in Little China Collector's Edition Blu-ray, our exclusive clip below features Hong reflecting on some of his most memorable moments playing Lo Pan, including how Carpenter and his crew used practical effects and ingenuity to pull off Lo Pan's glowing transformation and floating ability.
Taken from "The Soul of Lo Pan" bonus feature on the Big Trouble in Little China Collector's Edition Blu-ray, our exclusive clip below features Hong reflecting on some of his most memorable moments playing Lo Pan, including how Carpenter and his crew used practical effects and ingenuity to pull off Lo Pan's glowing transformation and floating ability.
- 12/2/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
From VancouverFilm.Net, here is the Vancouver Film Production Update for May 2018, including "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina", "Project Blue Book", "Van Helsing" and a whole lot more:
Feature Film
Airborne
Local Production Company: Siberian Productions Ltd.
Producer: Michael Bederman
June 18/18 - Jul 27/18
Red Snow
Local Production Company: Zhoh Daatsik Pictures Inc.
Director: Marie Clements
Producer: Lael McCall, Michelle Morris, Jonathan Tamuz
Mar 20/18 - May 28/18
The Art Of Racing In The Rain
Local Production Company: Tcf Vancouver Productions
Director: Simon Curtis
Producer: Patrick Dempsey, Neal H. Moritz, Tania Landau, Joannie Burnstein
Apr 30/18 - Jul 23/18
Untitled Ali Wong/Randall Park Project
Local Production Company: Anaheim Productions
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Exec. Producer(s): Ali Wong, Randall Park, Nathan Kahane, Erin Westerman, Ali Wong, Randall Park, Brendan Fergusen
May 29/18 - Jul 21/18
TV Pilot
Search And Destroy
Local Production Company: Bell Red Road Productions
Director: Carrie Brownstein
Producer: Ron French
May 07/18 - May 16/18
TV...
Feature Film
Airborne
Local Production Company: Siberian Productions Ltd.
Producer: Michael Bederman
June 18/18 - Jul 27/18
Red Snow
Local Production Company: Zhoh Daatsik Pictures Inc.
Director: Marie Clements
Producer: Lael McCall, Michelle Morris, Jonathan Tamuz
Mar 20/18 - May 28/18
The Art Of Racing In The Rain
Local Production Company: Tcf Vancouver Productions
Director: Simon Curtis
Producer: Patrick Dempsey, Neal H. Moritz, Tania Landau, Joannie Burnstein
Apr 30/18 - Jul 23/18
Untitled Ali Wong/Randall Park Project
Local Production Company: Anaheim Productions
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Exec. Producer(s): Ali Wong, Randall Park, Nathan Kahane, Erin Westerman, Ali Wong, Randall Park, Brendan Fergusen
May 29/18 - Jul 21/18
TV Pilot
Search And Destroy
Local Production Company: Bell Red Road Productions
Director: Carrie Brownstein
Producer: Ron French
May 07/18 - May 16/18
TV...
- 5/1/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Fans of “All Dogs Go to Heaven” might not recall a scene in which one of the gone-too-soon pooches descends into the fiery belly of hell and narrowly escapes taking up permanent residence among the other condemned souls. And that’s apparently for good reason, as the full sequence in question was cut. It’s made its way online, as all such things eventually do, and is now available to retroactively ruin your childhood on YouTube. Watch the entire uncut scene below if you dare.
Read MoreDon Bluth Goes Kickstarter for “Dragon’s Lair: The Movie”
The film was directed by the underrated Don Bluth, who provided a darker alternative to Disney fare throughout the 1980s and ’90s: “The Secret of Nimh,” “An American Tail,” “The Land Before Time,” “Rock-a-Doodle,” “Anastasia.” This chthonic sequence, although found in low quality, finds canine hero Charlie B. Barkin (voiced by Burt Reynolds) sucked...
Read MoreDon Bluth Goes Kickstarter for “Dragon’s Lair: The Movie”
The film was directed by the underrated Don Bluth, who provided a darker alternative to Disney fare throughout the 1980s and ’90s: “The Secret of Nimh,” “An American Tail,” “The Land Before Time,” “Rock-a-Doodle,” “Anastasia.” This chthonic sequence, although found in low quality, finds canine hero Charlie B. Barkin (voiced by Burt Reynolds) sucked...
- 7/29/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
There’s something inherently remarkable about the field of animation: that, with just a paper and pen, one can use infinite imagination to create a world unbound by physical restrictions. Of course, in today’s age it goes far beyond those simple tools of creation, but it remains the rare patience-requisite medium in which a director’s vision can be perfected over years until applying that final, necessary touch.
With Pixar’s 17th feature arriving in theaters, we’ve set out to reflect on the millennium thus far in animation and those films that have most excelled. In picking our 50 favorite titles, we looked to all corners of the world, from teams as big as thousands down to a sole animator. The result is a wide-ranging selection, proving that even if some animation styles aren’t as prevalent, the best examples find their way to the top.
To note: we only stuck with feature-length animations of 60 minutes or longer — sorry, World of Tomorrow, and even Pixar’s stunning Piper — and to make room for a few more titles, our definition of “the 21st century” stretched to include 2000. We also stuck with films that don’t feature any live-action (for the most part) and that have been released in the U.S. thus far, so The Red Turtle and Phantom Boy will get their due on a later date. Check out our top 50 below and let us know your favorites in the comments.
50. The Lego Movie (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller)
Admit it: When The Lego Movie was announced, you did not expect it to wind up any best-of-the-year lists. But, against all odds, Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s first smash hit of 2014 is an unadulterated pleasure. This bold, original film has a wildly clever script (by the directors) with a message of creativity that made it a glorious surprise. It is also well-cast: Lego is the first movie to fully make use of Chris Pratt’s essential sweetness, and offered Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman their freshest parts in years. It is not often that a “kids” film entertains adults as much as their children, but The Lego Movie is far more than a piece of entertainment for the young ones. What could have been a headache-inducing, cynical creation is instead a pop treat. Everything is, indeed, awesome. – Christopher Schobert
49. 5 Centimetres per Second (Makoto Shinkai)
Makoto Shinkai’s emotional tour de force is the embodiment of the Japanese term “mono no aware,” which describes a wistful awareness of life’s transience. In the way its characters are haunted by bygone moments in the face of a vast and shapeless future, 5 Centimetres per Second could function as a spiritual companion to the oeuvre of Wong Kar-wai, but whereas Wong’s lovelorn protagonists are stuck in the past, Shinkai’s move forward, steadily, in a state of melancholic acceptance. Time is itself a character here, a fact brought to our attention by shots of clocks, the evolution of technology alongside the characters’ aging, and scenes where narrative stakes ensure that the passing of each second is palpably felt. And yet it is precisely the ephemerality of these seconds that lends them elevated significance —fittingly, the film’s animation is breathtakingly detailed and tactile, allowing us to identify with the characters by having us inhabit each, vivid moment before it vanishes. – Jonah Jeng
48. The Adventures of Tintin (Steven Spielberg)
Leave it to Steven Spielberg to eke more thrills out of an animated feature than most directors could with every live-action tool at their disposal. The Adventures of Tintin is colored and paced like a child’s fantastical imagining of how Hergé’s comics might play in motion, and the extent to which viewers buy it depends largely on their willingness to give themselves over to narrative and technical flights of fancy. Me? Four-and-a-half years later, I’m still waiting for a follow-up with bated breath. – Nick Newman
47. Titan A.E. (Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Art Vitello)
It’s the movie that took down Don Bluth, netted Fox a $100 million loss, and starred the young voices of Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore. From a script by Joss Whedon, John August, and Ben Edlund, Titan A.E. is a swashbuckle-y tale with stirring visuals and moments of sheer originality that now feels like a more-accomplished precursor to something such as Guardians of the Galaxy. If you’re going to go down, this is an impressive picture to sink with. – Dan Mecca
46. Metropolis (Rintaro)
Metropolis has more than a little in common with the apocalyptic orgy of violence of 1988 anime touchstone Akira, as the story follows the tragic inevitability of mans’ relationship with overwhelming power. But Rintaro’s Metropolis — which is based on Osama Tezuka’s manga and Fritz Lang’s canonical film — is also a story of overwhelming kindness in its central relationship between Kenichi, a well-intentioned and naïve child, and Tima, a cyborg capable of immense destruction. Distinguished by its washed-out watercolor character designs and its inventive cast of characters, Metropolis is a distinctly lighter take on the characteristically dreary dystopia genre. – Michael Snydel
45. Song of the Sea (Tomm Moore)
Animation has never shied away from grief. It’s the bedrock of everything from Grave of the Fireflies to the majority of Pixar’s filmography, but it’s rarely been as unbearably beautiful as in 2014’s unfairly overlooked Song of the Sea. Animated with a mythic tableau style, steeped in Celtic folklore, and filled with a cast of characters worthy of Hayao Miyazaki, Tomm Moore’s work is the rare heartwarming family film that knows it doesn’t need to compromise genuine emotion with fake-outs or Hollywood endings. – Michael Snydel
44. The Secret World of Arrietty (Hiromasa Yonebayashi)
While much of Studio Ghibli’s popularity focuses on the adored writer-director Hayao Miyazaki, some works from other directors deserve equal praise. One of them — which, yes, cheats a bit because Miyazaki scripted it — is The Secret World of Arrietty by first-time helmer Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The film follows a little boy’s fascination with the Borrowers — small humans that live in our world — and weaves the story of him and his family with Arrietty, one of the Borrowers. There are intensely dramatic moments as the Borrowers are constantly striving to survive amidst this world of luxury and easy life that the larger humans enjoy. Much like some of the best of Ghibli’s work, the film works on multiple levels and layers and thus becomes one of the studio’s most beautiful, enjoyable, and enduring works. – Bill Graham
43. ParaNorman (Chris Butler and Sam Fell)
A story of bullies and the bullied, Laika Studios’ second stop-motion film, ParaNorman, was unfortunately overshadowed by their astounding previous effort, Coraline. But time has been kind, and ParaNorman feels ahead of its time in both the exploration of darker themes (witch hunts, child murder, bigotry) and its juxtaposition of a Puritan New England ghost story and a vividly supernatural present. Buoyed by Jon Brion’s characteristically thoughtful score and an inventive reconfiguration of horror movie iconography, ParaNorman is a coming-of-age story that recognizes that even the “bad guys” have their reasons. – Michael Snydel
42. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (Nick Park and Steve Box)
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit, Aardman Animation’s second feature collaboration with DreamWorks, brings Nick Park‘s brilliant claymation series about an absentminded inventor and his mute canine companion to the big screen. Working as humane pest removal specialists, Wallace and Gromit have hatched a plan to brainwash every hungry rabbit in town to dislike vegetables, preventing Gromit’s prized melon from being ruthlessly devoured. But the experiment backfires and the Were-Rabbit, a monstrous beast with an unquenchable appetite for veggies, is unleashed on the lush gardens of Tottington Holl. On par with the most uproarious shorts of Park’s career (working this time out with co-director Steve Box), the film slyly evokes fond memories of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in never treating its goofy leads as seriously as its surprisingly effective scares. It’s a shame that Park has announced the titular duo are likely retired, due to the failing health of voice actor Peter Sallis. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit is a light-hearted and whimsically clever gem that also works as a charming introduction to the horror genre for young cinema-lovers. – Tony Hinds
41. Lilo & Stitch (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois)
What other film can pull off starting with an all-out sci-fi adventure and transition into a heartful ode to culture and family? Before they delivered an even more impactful variation on a similar sort of creature-human bond with How to Train Your Dragon, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois created this touching tale. Featuring a return to watercolor-painted backgrounds for Disney, as well as a reliance on 2D animation, it’s one of the company’s last in this era to have that long-missed tangibility. As often repeated in the film, “Family means nobody gets left behind,” and, by the end credits, you’ll feel like you’ve added a few new members to your own. – Jordan Raup
Continue >>...
With Pixar’s 17th feature arriving in theaters, we’ve set out to reflect on the millennium thus far in animation and those films that have most excelled. In picking our 50 favorite titles, we looked to all corners of the world, from teams as big as thousands down to a sole animator. The result is a wide-ranging selection, proving that even if some animation styles aren’t as prevalent, the best examples find their way to the top.
To note: we only stuck with feature-length animations of 60 minutes or longer — sorry, World of Tomorrow, and even Pixar’s stunning Piper — and to make room for a few more titles, our definition of “the 21st century” stretched to include 2000. We also stuck with films that don’t feature any live-action (for the most part) and that have been released in the U.S. thus far, so The Red Turtle and Phantom Boy will get their due on a later date. Check out our top 50 below and let us know your favorites in the comments.
50. The Lego Movie (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller)
Admit it: When The Lego Movie was announced, you did not expect it to wind up any best-of-the-year lists. But, against all odds, Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s first smash hit of 2014 is an unadulterated pleasure. This bold, original film has a wildly clever script (by the directors) with a message of creativity that made it a glorious surprise. It is also well-cast: Lego is the first movie to fully make use of Chris Pratt’s essential sweetness, and offered Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman their freshest parts in years. It is not often that a “kids” film entertains adults as much as their children, but The Lego Movie is far more than a piece of entertainment for the young ones. What could have been a headache-inducing, cynical creation is instead a pop treat. Everything is, indeed, awesome. – Christopher Schobert
49. 5 Centimetres per Second (Makoto Shinkai)
Makoto Shinkai’s emotional tour de force is the embodiment of the Japanese term “mono no aware,” which describes a wistful awareness of life’s transience. In the way its characters are haunted by bygone moments in the face of a vast and shapeless future, 5 Centimetres per Second could function as a spiritual companion to the oeuvre of Wong Kar-wai, but whereas Wong’s lovelorn protagonists are stuck in the past, Shinkai’s move forward, steadily, in a state of melancholic acceptance. Time is itself a character here, a fact brought to our attention by shots of clocks, the evolution of technology alongside the characters’ aging, and scenes where narrative stakes ensure that the passing of each second is palpably felt. And yet it is precisely the ephemerality of these seconds that lends them elevated significance —fittingly, the film’s animation is breathtakingly detailed and tactile, allowing us to identify with the characters by having us inhabit each, vivid moment before it vanishes. – Jonah Jeng
48. The Adventures of Tintin (Steven Spielberg)
Leave it to Steven Spielberg to eke more thrills out of an animated feature than most directors could with every live-action tool at their disposal. The Adventures of Tintin is colored and paced like a child’s fantastical imagining of how Hergé’s comics might play in motion, and the extent to which viewers buy it depends largely on their willingness to give themselves over to narrative and technical flights of fancy. Me? Four-and-a-half years later, I’m still waiting for a follow-up with bated breath. – Nick Newman
47. Titan A.E. (Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Art Vitello)
It’s the movie that took down Don Bluth, netted Fox a $100 million loss, and starred the young voices of Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore. From a script by Joss Whedon, John August, and Ben Edlund, Titan A.E. is a swashbuckle-y tale with stirring visuals and moments of sheer originality that now feels like a more-accomplished precursor to something such as Guardians of the Galaxy. If you’re going to go down, this is an impressive picture to sink with. – Dan Mecca
46. Metropolis (Rintaro)
Metropolis has more than a little in common with the apocalyptic orgy of violence of 1988 anime touchstone Akira, as the story follows the tragic inevitability of mans’ relationship with overwhelming power. But Rintaro’s Metropolis — which is based on Osama Tezuka’s manga and Fritz Lang’s canonical film — is also a story of overwhelming kindness in its central relationship between Kenichi, a well-intentioned and naïve child, and Tima, a cyborg capable of immense destruction. Distinguished by its washed-out watercolor character designs and its inventive cast of characters, Metropolis is a distinctly lighter take on the characteristically dreary dystopia genre. – Michael Snydel
45. Song of the Sea (Tomm Moore)
Animation has never shied away from grief. It’s the bedrock of everything from Grave of the Fireflies to the majority of Pixar’s filmography, but it’s rarely been as unbearably beautiful as in 2014’s unfairly overlooked Song of the Sea. Animated with a mythic tableau style, steeped in Celtic folklore, and filled with a cast of characters worthy of Hayao Miyazaki, Tomm Moore’s work is the rare heartwarming family film that knows it doesn’t need to compromise genuine emotion with fake-outs or Hollywood endings. – Michael Snydel
44. The Secret World of Arrietty (Hiromasa Yonebayashi)
While much of Studio Ghibli’s popularity focuses on the adored writer-director Hayao Miyazaki, some works from other directors deserve equal praise. One of them — which, yes, cheats a bit because Miyazaki scripted it — is The Secret World of Arrietty by first-time helmer Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The film follows a little boy’s fascination with the Borrowers — small humans that live in our world — and weaves the story of him and his family with Arrietty, one of the Borrowers. There are intensely dramatic moments as the Borrowers are constantly striving to survive amidst this world of luxury and easy life that the larger humans enjoy. Much like some of the best of Ghibli’s work, the film works on multiple levels and layers and thus becomes one of the studio’s most beautiful, enjoyable, and enduring works. – Bill Graham
43. ParaNorman (Chris Butler and Sam Fell)
A story of bullies and the bullied, Laika Studios’ second stop-motion film, ParaNorman, was unfortunately overshadowed by their astounding previous effort, Coraline. But time has been kind, and ParaNorman feels ahead of its time in both the exploration of darker themes (witch hunts, child murder, bigotry) and its juxtaposition of a Puritan New England ghost story and a vividly supernatural present. Buoyed by Jon Brion’s characteristically thoughtful score and an inventive reconfiguration of horror movie iconography, ParaNorman is a coming-of-age story that recognizes that even the “bad guys” have their reasons. – Michael Snydel
42. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (Nick Park and Steve Box)
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit, Aardman Animation’s second feature collaboration with DreamWorks, brings Nick Park‘s brilliant claymation series about an absentminded inventor and his mute canine companion to the big screen. Working as humane pest removal specialists, Wallace and Gromit have hatched a plan to brainwash every hungry rabbit in town to dislike vegetables, preventing Gromit’s prized melon from being ruthlessly devoured. But the experiment backfires and the Were-Rabbit, a monstrous beast with an unquenchable appetite for veggies, is unleashed on the lush gardens of Tottington Holl. On par with the most uproarious shorts of Park’s career (working this time out with co-director Steve Box), the film slyly evokes fond memories of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in never treating its goofy leads as seriously as its surprisingly effective scares. It’s a shame that Park has announced the titular duo are likely retired, due to the failing health of voice actor Peter Sallis. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit is a light-hearted and whimsically clever gem that also works as a charming introduction to the horror genre for young cinema-lovers. – Tony Hinds
41. Lilo & Stitch (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois)
What other film can pull off starting with an all-out sci-fi adventure and transition into a heartful ode to culture and family? Before they delivered an even more impactful variation on a similar sort of creature-human bond with How to Train Your Dragon, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois created this touching tale. Featuring a return to watercolor-painted backgrounds for Disney, as well as a reliance on 2D animation, it’s one of the company’s last in this era to have that long-missed tangibility. As often repeated in the film, “Family means nobody gets left behind,” and, by the end credits, you’ll feel like you’ve added a few new members to your own. – Jordan Raup
Continue >>...
- 6/16/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
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From Flushed Away and Hunchback to Titan A.E. and Sky High - the family movies that don't get the love they deserve...
When I sit through a film such as Zootropolis, Rango, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, Eddie The Eagle or Coraline, I can’t help but be thankful somebody has bothered. As a parent as well as a movie lover, I’ve grown to really dislike family movies that just turn up to act as a surrogate babysitter for 90 minutes, with no intention of becoming anybody’s favourite film. The films I'm going to talk about are the family movies therefore that I think both try and do something a bit more, yet continue to fly under many people's radar.
A bonus mention before we get going, and number 26 in the list, much to my surprise: Alvin & The Chipmunks 4. I was expecting next to zero from it, courtesy...
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From Flushed Away and Hunchback to Titan A.E. and Sky High - the family movies that don't get the love they deserve...
When I sit through a film such as Zootropolis, Rango, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, Eddie The Eagle or Coraline, I can’t help but be thankful somebody has bothered. As a parent as well as a movie lover, I’ve grown to really dislike family movies that just turn up to act as a surrogate babysitter for 90 minutes, with no intention of becoming anybody’s favourite film. The films I'm going to talk about are the family movies therefore that I think both try and do something a bit more, yet continue to fly under many people's radar.
A bonus mention before we get going, and number 26 in the list, much to my surprise: Alvin & The Chipmunks 4. I was expecting next to zero from it, courtesy...
- 5/26/2016
- Den of Geek
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Don Bluth and Gary Goldman just moved one step closer to making a Dragon's Lair movie...
Don Bluth and Gary Goldman may well have got another movie off the ground, with the news that their Indiegogo appeal to bring videogame Dragon's Lair to the big screen has hit its funding target. That said, it's still the first step in a fairly lengthy adventure.
The crowdfunding appeal launched just over two weeks ago, and still has over a month left. However, over $260,000 is in the pot already, and that's going to be spent to put together a teaser presentation. Said presentation will then be used to pitch the film to investors, as the pair need $70m to actually get the film made. Which is a little beyond the reach of a crowdfunding campaign.
Bluth and Goldman have worked on films such as All Dogs Go To Heaven, Thumbelina,...
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Don Bluth and Gary Goldman just moved one step closer to making a Dragon's Lair movie...
Don Bluth and Gary Goldman may well have got another movie off the ground, with the news that their Indiegogo appeal to bring videogame Dragon's Lair to the big screen has hit its funding target. That said, it's still the first step in a fairly lengthy adventure.
The crowdfunding appeal launched just over two weeks ago, and still has over a month left. However, over $260,000 is in the pot already, and that's going to be spent to put together a teaser presentation. Said presentation will then be used to pitch the film to investors, as the pair need $70m to actually get the film made. Which is a little beyond the reach of a crowdfunding campaign.
Bluth and Goldman have worked on films such as All Dogs Go To Heaven, Thumbelina,...
- 12/16/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The budget for a modern animated movie starts in the neighborhood of $75 million, so the crowdfunding campaign for a movie version of video arcade game Dragon's Lair is not intended to raise that kind of money. No, the intention here is to create a pitch video first in order to secure funding for the complete movie, which would revolve around a knight seeking to rescue a princess. Filmmakers Don Bluth and Gary Goldman enjoyed good success in the 1980s and 1990s (The Secret of Nimh, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven) but before the former Disney animators got their movies going, they created Dragon's Lair, which become available in arcades in 1983. As an occasional player, I can testify that it looked...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/29/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Animation veterans Don Bluth and Gary Goldman are collaborating once again - this time to try to create a pitch for a prequel movie to the 1983 video game cult classic Dragon's Lair.
The title was one of the first games to blend the lines between movies and games, introducing quick-time events before the term had even been coined.
For many fans though, it felt like it would have worked better as a movie, and if it reaches its $550,000 Kickstarter goal, we could finally see if that's the case.
Obviously this modest target is nowhere near enough to make a fully animated movie, with the best animated films costing anywhere from $55 million to $240 million to produce - and that's without taking marketing costs into account.
Luckily, Goldman and Bluth have plenty of industry experience - working on movies such as The Secret of Nimh, An American Tail, The Land Before Time,...
The title was one of the first games to blend the lines between movies and games, introducing quick-time events before the term had even been coined.
For many fans though, it felt like it would have worked better as a movie, and if it reaches its $550,000 Kickstarter goal, we could finally see if that's the case.
Obviously this modest target is nowhere near enough to make a fully animated movie, with the best animated films costing anywhere from $55 million to $240 million to produce - and that's without taking marketing costs into account.
Luckily, Goldman and Bluth have plenty of industry experience - working on movies such as The Secret of Nimh, An American Tail, The Land Before Time,...
- 10/27/2015
- Digital Spy
All Dogs Go to Heaven is one of the classic also-rans of the quote-unquote "golden age of animation." While its theatrical release was pre-empted by an unassuming Disney flick called The Little Mermaid, the film found a second life on home video, eventually becoming one of MGM/United Artists' highest-selling video titles. The film turned 25 on Nov. 17, and in celebration, we're taking a closer look at its production and legacy. 1. All Dogs Go to Heaven was produced by Don Bluth, who also made The Land Before Time, An American Tail and The Secret of Nimh.Bluth enjoys a kind...
- 11/17/2014
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Mike Cecchini Jun 7, 2019
Dark Phoenix is the 12th movie starring Marvel's merry mutants. But not every X-Men movie has made it to the screen...
The current incarnation of the X-Men franchise has finally come to an end with Dark Phoenix. And while this final entry hasn't been particularly warmly received, it's good to remember that it's kind of amazing that we ever even got this far in the first place.
After almost 20 years and eleven installments, it's becoming hard to envision a world before X-Men movies. But getting the X-Men from the page to the screen for the first time took years, and there were a number of potential X-Men films from notable Hollywood talent that stalled before making it to production. Then there are projects like X-Men Origins: Magneto (which became something else entirely), Deadpool (which was long dead before we finally got it), and Gambit (which is...
Dark Phoenix is the 12th movie starring Marvel's merry mutants. But not every X-Men movie has made it to the screen...
The current incarnation of the X-Men franchise has finally come to an end with Dark Phoenix. And while this final entry hasn't been particularly warmly received, it's good to remember that it's kind of amazing that we ever even got this far in the first place.
After almost 20 years and eleven installments, it's becoming hard to envision a world before X-Men movies. But getting the X-Men from the page to the screen for the first time took years, and there were a number of potential X-Men films from notable Hollywood talent that stalled before making it to production. Then there are projects like X-Men Origins: Magneto (which became something else entirely), Deadpool (which was long dead before we finally got it), and Gambit (which is...
- 5/26/2014
- Den of Geek
Odd List Ryan Lambie 28 Apr 2014 - 06:21
From Japanese anime to Disney via stop-motion, here are 18 animated films that are mystifyingly unavailable on Blu-ray...
Not all movies need to be seen in HD, but if there's one type of filmmaking that regularly benefits from the Blu-ray format, it's animation. Let us cite one example at random: My Neighbour Totoro. Until fairly recently, the only copy we had on the shelf was an early, imported version on DVD, which was grainy and a little washed-out.
When Studio Canal issued Totoro on Blu-ray in 2012, the difference in image quality was little short of a revelation: Hayao Miyazaki's colours and fluid lines positively shimmered. In short, it was like seeing this fresh, sun-drenched film again for the first time.
The same could be said for so many other animated films, no matter what country they come from: in high-definition, we can truly...
From Japanese anime to Disney via stop-motion, here are 18 animated films that are mystifyingly unavailable on Blu-ray...
Not all movies need to be seen in HD, but if there's one type of filmmaking that regularly benefits from the Blu-ray format, it's animation. Let us cite one example at random: My Neighbour Totoro. Until fairly recently, the only copy we had on the shelf was an early, imported version on DVD, which was grainy and a little washed-out.
When Studio Canal issued Totoro on Blu-ray in 2012, the difference in image quality was little short of a revelation: Hayao Miyazaki's colours and fluid lines positively shimmered. In short, it was like seeing this fresh, sun-drenched film again for the first time.
The same could be said for so many other animated films, no matter what country they come from: in high-definition, we can truly...
- 4/25/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Joss Whedon is about to have a very good week. The writer/director/producer has, until recently, been best known for his work on television: he turned his poorly-received screenwriting debut "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" into one of the most beloved cult series of all times (which itself got a long-running spin-off, "Angel"), and followed it up with the short-lived but passionately followed sci-fi Western "Firefly," a show that lasted a single season, but managed to get its own cinematic sequel, "Serenity," which marked Whedon's big-screen directorial debut.
Until now, "Serenity" has been the director's best-known entry into the movies, but that's all about to change. He wrote and produced the inspired, raucous horror flick "The Cabin In The Woods," which hits theaters on Friday, and tonight sees the world premiere of "The Avengers," the Marvel superhero team-up movie that is one of the most keenly anticipated films of the year,...
Until now, "Serenity" has been the director's best-known entry into the movies, but that's all about to change. He wrote and produced the inspired, raucous horror flick "The Cabin In The Woods," which hits theaters on Friday, and tonight sees the world premiere of "The Avengers," the Marvel superhero team-up movie that is one of the most keenly anticipated films of the year,...
- 4/11/2012
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
A fairly odd circumstance of the movie world is that people generally presume that animated films stand up over time. The idea is naturally buoyed by the fact that people often bring to mind Disney spectaculars, which obviously do hold up, and lump all of the animated world into the same bin.
Of course, this is only an odd circumstance if you really look at all the animated features to come out... let's say... from 1970 to the early '90s, and consider not only watching them again, but watching them repeatedly. Even films that may hold a place in our hearts don't necessarily stand up today as being the supremely watchable adventures they once were.
Not on such a list is The Secret of Nimh. As magic and mysterious as the day it was first released, the Don Bluth adaptation of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh is as live,...
Of course, this is only an odd circumstance if you really look at all the animated features to come out... let's say... from 1970 to the early '90s, and consider not only watching them again, but watching them repeatedly. Even films that may hold a place in our hearts don't necessarily stand up today as being the supremely watchable adventures they once were.
Not on such a list is The Secret of Nimh. As magic and mysterious as the day it was first released, the Don Bluth adaptation of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh is as live,...
- 6/30/2011
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Pitch a children’s movie to a studio about a mouse, a secret order of superintelligent rats, a bumbling crow, and their adventures on a farm and chances are they might go for it. Such was the basic premise of The Secret of Nimh, except the tone and imagery within makes it a bit too much for most children; this might explain its poor box office performance back in 1982. It’s not the idea that doesn’t work, as many children’s stories have centered on rodents and their adventures, and something similar in plot and theme was the basis of Brian Jacques’s Redwall books which would follow The Secret of Nimh four years later. No, The Secret of Nimh sits in its own corner because it attempts a tone and style most weren’t and still aren’t looking for in a film for kids.
Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman...
Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman...
- 4/5/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Durham, Nc - The hard truth of cinema takes place at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, Nc from April 14-17. That’s four solid days of movies that don’t feature Natalie Portman’s face being digitally inserted on other bodies. Four days of real people doing real stuff. And you can get some great BBQ.
This years line up has enough goodness to make me have to make painful choices as what to watch. There’s only one screening unless a movie wins a major prize. It’s be there or miss out. Choice wisely. Here’s a few of the films I’m looking to catch:
The Hangman (Thursday 10:20 a.m.) appears to be a creepy classic as it probes the man who executed Nazi Adolph Eichmann. What’s he do now? He ritually slaughters animals. Windfall (Thurs 4:20 p.m.) takes us to Meredith,...
This years line up has enough goodness to make me have to make painful choices as what to watch. There’s only one screening unless a movie wins a major prize. It’s be there or miss out. Choice wisely. Here’s a few of the films I’m looking to catch:
The Hangman (Thursday 10:20 a.m.) appears to be a creepy classic as it probes the man who executed Nazi Adolph Eichmann. What’s he do now? He ritually slaughters animals. Windfall (Thurs 4:20 p.m.) takes us to Meredith,...
- 4/5/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
The Movie Pool checks out the Blu-ray release of the 1980s animated classic The Secret of Nimh!
Blu-ray Specs
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 enhanced for widescreen TVs
Running Time: 83 minutes
Rating: G
Audio: English 2.0 Surround DTS-hd, Spanish Stereo, French Mono
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, Spanish, French
Audio Commentary: Participants include Director Don Bluth and Producer Gary Goldman
Special Features: "Secrets Behind the Secret" Featurette, Original Theatrical Trailer
The Set-up
A country mouse enlists the help of some mysterious rats to save her son. Based on the Newberry Award-winning novel by Robert C. O'Brien.
The Delivery
The Secret of Nimh is one of the great underrated animated films of all time. This Don Bluth masterpiece from 1982 managed to outdo Disney with innovation and a love for the art. At the same time, Disney was releasing films like The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron, which didn't quite live up to the Disney standard.
Blu-ray Specs
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 enhanced for widescreen TVs
Running Time: 83 minutes
Rating: G
Audio: English 2.0 Surround DTS-hd, Spanish Stereo, French Mono
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, Spanish, French
Audio Commentary: Participants include Director Don Bluth and Producer Gary Goldman
Special Features: "Secrets Behind the Secret" Featurette, Original Theatrical Trailer
The Set-up
A country mouse enlists the help of some mysterious rats to save her son. Based on the Newberry Award-winning novel by Robert C. O'Brien.
The Delivery
The Secret of Nimh is one of the great underrated animated films of all time. This Don Bluth masterpiece from 1982 managed to outdo Disney with innovation and a love for the art. At the same time, Disney was releasing films like The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron, which didn't quite live up to the Disney standard.
- 4/4/2011
- Cinelinx
For the week of March 29th, 2011 we have five noteworthy blu-rays being released. Two are new releases: Black Swan & Tangled, and three are old classics being put out on blu-ray for the first time: All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Secret of Nimh, and Teen Wolf. I would suggest picking up all of this week’s new blu-ray releases, as they are all well made films and will make excellent additions to your collection.
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s masterpiece that was nominated for multiple awards and also helped Natalie Portman to land her first Oscar win. It is is available on Amazon for $19.99 or Target has an exclusive edition of the film that comes with a DVD & digital copy that is also $19.99. Look for my full review on the site very soon.
Tangled
Disney’s 50th animated feature and Oscar nominated film (Best Original Song) starring the voice talents of Zachary Levi & Mandy Moore.
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s masterpiece that was nominated for multiple awards and also helped Natalie Portman to land her first Oscar win. It is is available on Amazon for $19.99 or Target has an exclusive edition of the film that comes with a DVD & digital copy that is also $19.99. Look for my full review on the site very soon.
Tangled
Disney’s 50th animated feature and Oscar nominated film (Best Original Song) starring the voice talents of Zachary Levi & Mandy Moore.
- 3/29/2011
- by Marc Vibbert
- FusedFilm
[Our thanks to Mathieu Li-Goyette of Panorama Cinema for the following interview.]
For the 14th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival, programmers had the great idea of bringing up Don Bluth and Gary Goldman to given them an honorary award and to speak about the future of traditional animation. We had the honor to meet them, the creative team behind such classics as The Secret of Nimh (1982), An American Tail (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), Stanley's Magic Garden (1994), Titan A.E. (2000), etc. For the occasion, a real history lesson on how animation evolved and what, in 1979, made them quit the Disney studios in search of a renaissance of the Golden Age of animation was given to us. An interview with the last milestones of commercial animation: two geniuses that still have kid's hearts.
Panorama-cinéma: So you are here in Fantasia to present The Land Before Time and to receive an honorary award.
Gary Goldman: It's what we've been told! (laughs)
Panorama-cinéma:...
For the 14th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival, programmers had the great idea of bringing up Don Bluth and Gary Goldman to given them an honorary award and to speak about the future of traditional animation. We had the honor to meet them, the creative team behind such classics as The Secret of Nimh (1982), An American Tail (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), Stanley's Magic Garden (1994), Titan A.E. (2000), etc. For the occasion, a real history lesson on how animation evolved and what, in 1979, made them quit the Disney studios in search of a renaissance of the Golden Age of animation was given to us. An interview with the last milestones of commercial animation: two geniuses that still have kid's hearts.
Panorama-cinéma: So you are here in Fantasia to present The Land Before Time and to receive an honorary award.
Gary Goldman: It's what we've been told! (laughs)
Panorama-cinéma:...
- 7/28/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Several press releases went out today featuring some huge news coming out of Canada's Fantasia Film Festival including the first batch of films that will be populating this massive three-week long event. Pull up your chair, kids! You're gonna be here for a while!
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
- 6/29/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
You want the best of genre film from Canada, the Us and around the globe? Fantasia is the place.
Montreal, June 29, 2010 - For its fourteenth edition, the Fantasia Film Festival is proud to present over 50 titles from Asia. Once again, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China are widely represented, demonstrating the great quality and diversity of their industries. And, as always, the programming team is also dedicated to exposing several hidden gems hailing from emerging national cinemas. Through these, audiences can discover new visions and new sensibilities. Therefore, the public will be privy to works hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and - a first for the festival - Indonesia. The filmic multicultural feast prepared by the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival promises to satisfy film lovers of all kinds.
Fantasia's 2010 occidental lineup of World Cinema is once again on fire with an astounding kaleidoscope of styles and sensibilities.
Montreal, June 29, 2010 - For its fourteenth edition, the Fantasia Film Festival is proud to present over 50 titles from Asia. Once again, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China are widely represented, demonstrating the great quality and diversity of their industries. And, as always, the programming team is also dedicated to exposing several hidden gems hailing from emerging national cinemas. Through these, audiences can discover new visions and new sensibilities. Therefore, the public will be privy to works hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and - a first for the festival - Indonesia. The filmic multicultural feast prepared by the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival promises to satisfy film lovers of all kinds.
Fantasia's 2010 occidental lineup of World Cinema is once again on fire with an astounding kaleidoscope of styles and sensibilities.
- 6/29/2010
- Screen Anarchy
If you've never been to or heard of Canada's Fantasia Film Festival, do yourself a favor: Become acquainted quickly and get your asses up to the Great White North as it's an event that's not to be missed! Now for a look at what's to come this year!
From the Press Release
While we’re still several weeks away from announcing our full 2010 festival line-up, the 14th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is making an early announcement to highlight several special events planned for this summer’s fest, including a stage play, multiple lifetime achievement awards and a gala performance/screening premiere revolving around one of the most significant silent-film restorations in the history of moving images.
The Complete Metropolis – A Gala Event At Place Des Arts
Seldom has the rediscovery of a cache of lost footage ignited widespread curiosity as did the announcement, in July 2008, that an essentially complete...
From the Press Release
While we’re still several weeks away from announcing our full 2010 festival line-up, the 14th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is making an early announcement to highlight several special events planned for this summer’s fest, including a stage play, multiple lifetime achievement awards and a gala performance/screening premiere revolving around one of the most significant silent-film restorations in the history of moving images.
The Complete Metropolis – A Gala Event At Place Des Arts
Seldom has the rediscovery of a cache of lost footage ignited widespread curiosity as did the announcement, in July 2008, that an essentially complete...
- 5/5/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
While we're still weeks away from the unveiling of the full programme of this year's Fantasia Festival in Montreal, the good folks over at festival central have given us a sampling of some of the things we can expect from this year's edition. - While we're still weeks away from the unveiling of the full programme of this year's Fantasia Festival in Montreal, the good folks over at festival central have given us a sampling of some of the things we can expect from this year's edition. Director Ken Russell (Altered States, Tommy, Lair of the White Worm) will be there to receive a lifetime achievement award. On the same night, the provocative and daring auteur will present a rare 35mm copy of his 1971 masterpiece The Devils. With Russell on hand for an entire week, the evening will kick off a week-long career retrospective in Montreal's repertory cinemas. Not content...
- 5/4/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
While we're still weeks away from the unveiling of the full programme of this year's Fantasia Festival in Montreal, the good folks over at festival central have given us a sampling of some of the things we can expect from this year's edition. Director Ken Russell (Altered States, Tommy, Lair of the White Worm) will be there to receive a lifetime achievement award. On the same night, the provocative and daring auteur will present a rare 35mm copy of his 1971 masterpiece The Devils. With Russell on hand for an entire week, the evening will kick off a week-long career retrospective in Montreal's repertory cinemas. Not content to hand out a single lifetime achievement award, the Fantasia Festival will also see legendary animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (The Secret of Nimh, An American Tail) honored for their work. There'll be a screening of The Land Before Time, as well as...
- 5/4/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
The most anticipated trade show in the animation epicenter of the world, Burbank Calif, is now only 6 weeks away. The Creative Talent Network Animation Expo (Ctn-x).
For the first time world class professional talent in the animation industry will converge for 3-days during “Animation Week” in Burbank, Ca. Get connected and more during an intense weekend full of educational programs, demonstrations, technology showcases, recruiting events, parties and after-hour networking.
“If you don’t like what’s happening at the event now, just wait 30 minutes because something else really great will be happening” says founder and 30 year animation veteran Tina Price. Everyone will walk away from this event with more than the walked in with whether an idea, a job opportunity or a career mentor. Ctn-x is 3-days of talent 2 talent privileged access from Friday November 20th – Sunday November 22nd. We are proud to announce the following signature events:
· The most influential cartoonist of this century,...
For the first time world class professional talent in the animation industry will converge for 3-days during “Animation Week” in Burbank, Ca. Get connected and more during an intense weekend full of educational programs, demonstrations, technology showcases, recruiting events, parties and after-hour networking.
“If you don’t like what’s happening at the event now, just wait 30 minutes because something else really great will be happening” says founder and 30 year animation veteran Tina Price. Everyone will walk away from this event with more than the walked in with whether an idea, a job opportunity or a career mentor. Ctn-x is 3-days of talent 2 talent privileged access from Friday November 20th – Sunday November 22nd. We are proud to announce the following signature events:
· The most influential cartoonist of this century,...
- 10/23/2009
- by Barrett
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
CritterPix six: Ani studio gets ready for 'Ollie'
Fledgling computer animation studio CritterPix has added a handful of animation pros to its roster in preparation for Ollie the Otter, its first production. Gary Goldman, a veteran animation producer and a Don Bluth Films alumnus, has joined CritterPix as producer and board member. "Gary will play an instrumental role in managing the complex production and motivating our animators," CEO Kelly Williamson said. "Gary is also masterful at minding a budget," citing the budgets for An American Tail ($9.5 million) and The Land Before Time ($12.5 million).
- 5/12/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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