Back in the early ’90s, a New Jersey-based company called GoodTimes Entertainment carved out a place for itself in the home-video space churning out straight-to-video knockoffs of Disney animated features. While “The Lion King” was in theaters, there was GoodTimes’ “Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle” on retail shelves, packaged (for maximum mix-uppability) in Disney’s signature white clamshell case. From a copyright perspective, GoodTimes’ strategy was super-sketchy, but as far as parents were concerned, it was easy to get confused — and most kids probably didn’t know the difference.
That bait-and-switch phenomenon crossed my mind when I saw that Netflix was making “The Monkey King,” which — like GoodTimes’ “Aladdin” or “The Little Mermaid” — was certainly fair game, since the source material (the 16th-century Chinese classic “Journey to the West”) was squarely in the public domain. The cynical part of my brain instantly imagined that the streamer was churning...
That bait-and-switch phenomenon crossed my mind when I saw that Netflix was making “The Monkey King,” which — like GoodTimes’ “Aladdin” or “The Little Mermaid” — was certainly fair game, since the source material (the 16th-century Chinese classic “Journey to the West”) was squarely in the public domain. The cynical part of my brain instantly imagined that the streamer was churning...
- 8/18/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The 16th century literary classic Journey to the West is the mother of all Chinese fantasy. The mythological saga has spawned countless adaptations in various media across Asia and beyond, from the cult late ‘70s Japanese TV series to Peking Opera, videogames, graphic novels and a stage spectacle with a score by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and design elements by Gorillaz illustrator Jamie Hewlett.
Prominent among the innumerable film versions is the 2013 blockbuster Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, directed by Stephen Chow. A similar livewire action-comedy energy infuses Netflix’s The Monkey King, a children’s animated feature based on the sprawling novel’s most popular strand, on which Chow serves as executive producer.
Following well-received originals like Klaus, Over the Moon, My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood — plus such smart acquisitions as The Mitchells vs. the Machines...
Prominent among the innumerable film versions is the 2013 blockbuster Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, directed by Stephen Chow. A similar livewire action-comedy energy infuses Netflix’s The Monkey King, a children’s animated feature based on the sprawling novel’s most popular strand, on which Chow serves as executive producer.
Following well-received originals like Klaus, Over the Moon, My Father’s Dragon, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood — plus such smart acquisitions as The Mitchells vs. the Machines...
- 8/15/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Writers Lab, supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, has revealed its ninth annual batch of participants.
With a devotion to developing scripted content written by women over the age of 40, the Lab, produced with New York Women in Film & Television, is known for its commitment to elevating the work of women screenwriters through mentorship, advocacy and exposure.
The participants of The Writers Lab 2023 are Louisa Kendrick Burton (“The Charge”), Shari Lynette Carpenter (“Translate”), Helena Cho (“The Last Buddha”), Marya Cohn (“Hurricane Season”), Lesley Fera (“Inconceivable”), Brooke Hemphill (“Apotcalypse”), Justina Ireland (“Bleeding Kansas”), Tricia Lee (“Good Chance”), Betsy Nagler (“Priceless”), Lisa Ramirez and Michele Noble (“Fifty”), Sarah Sinclair (“The Stratford Wife”) and Jill Twiss (“Bee”).
“Women over 40 make up 25% of the world population, and women over 50 control $19 billion, yet this demographic remains ignored by Hollywood and streamers. AI won’t change that — only women will,” said co-founder Elizabeth Kaiden.
With a devotion to developing scripted content written by women over the age of 40, the Lab, produced with New York Women in Film & Television, is known for its commitment to elevating the work of women screenwriters through mentorship, advocacy and exposure.
The participants of The Writers Lab 2023 are Louisa Kendrick Burton (“The Charge”), Shari Lynette Carpenter (“Translate”), Helena Cho (“The Last Buddha”), Marya Cohn (“Hurricane Season”), Lesley Fera (“Inconceivable”), Brooke Hemphill (“Apotcalypse”), Justina Ireland (“Bleeding Kansas”), Tricia Lee (“Good Chance”), Betsy Nagler (“Priceless”), Lisa Ramirez and Michele Noble (“Fifty”), Sarah Sinclair (“The Stratford Wife”) and Jill Twiss (“Bee”).
“Women over 40 make up 25% of the world population, and women over 50 control $19 billion, yet this demographic remains ignored by Hollywood and streamers. AI won’t change that — only women will,” said co-founder Elizabeth Kaiden.
- 8/3/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
“Enchanted” will always be known as the movie that introduced most of the world to Amy Adams, whisking her from the darling of indie films like “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and “Junebug” to one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors.
But a large part of the reason audiences fell in love with Amy Adams is because they fell under the spell of “Enchanted” as a whole. In director Kevin Lima and writer Bill Kelly’s 2007 film, Adams plays Giselle, a maiden of the mythical Andalasia who sings to forest critters and dreams of falling in love. She finds what she’s looking for in Prince Edward (James Marsden), but before they can go live happily ever after, his nefarious mother Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) sends her flying through a portal to New York City. There, Giselle crosses paths with cynical divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). Soon,...
But a large part of the reason audiences fell in love with Amy Adams is because they fell under the spell of “Enchanted” as a whole. In director Kevin Lima and writer Bill Kelly’s 2007 film, Adams plays Giselle, a maiden of the mythical Andalasia who sings to forest critters and dreams of falling in love. She finds what she’s looking for in Prince Edward (James Marsden), but before they can go live happily ever after, his nefarious mother Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) sends her flying through a portal to New York City. There, Giselle crosses paths with cynical divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). Soon,...
- 6/19/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Oriental DreamWorks has appointed industry veteran Peilin Chou as its Chief Creative Officer, and unveiled a slate of key development projects at the Shanghai-based studio. They include animated features from such talent as Master Of None‘s Alan Yang, Sex And The City writer Jenny Bicks, Toy Story 2‘s Rita Hsiao and Audrey Wells who wrote A Dog’s Purpose which barked up $88M at the Chinese box office. Already on deck for release by Universal in 2019 is the Yeti-themed Ever…...
- 9/26/2017
- Deadline
Singer-songwriter Sia has joined the voice cast of "My Little Pony: The Movie" for Hasbro and Lionsgate. The announcement was made at a panel at Comic-Con Friday.
The "Chandelier" singer will play pony pop star Songbird Serenade and will contribute two original songs to the film's soundtrack. She joins a cast that includes Uzo Aduba, Emily Blunt, Kristen Chenoweth, Taye Diggs, Michael Pena and Liev Schrieber.
Rita Hsiao and Meghan McCarthy are writing the script for the project which Jayson Thiessen is helming. The film opens October 6th next year.
Source: Heat Vision...
The "Chandelier" singer will play pony pop star Songbird Serenade and will contribute two original songs to the film's soundtrack. She joins a cast that includes Uzo Aduba, Emily Blunt, Kristen Chenoweth, Taye Diggs, Michael Pena and Liev Schrieber.
Rita Hsiao and Meghan McCarthy are writing the script for the project which Jayson Thiessen is helming. The film opens October 6th next year.
Source: Heat Vision...
- 7/22/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Hasbro, Inc. and Lionsgate are welcoming Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan and Spotlight) and Taye Diggs (Murder in the First and Best Man Holiday) to the official cast of My Little Pony: The Movie. The two are the latest additions to theA-List ensemble cast of the film, which is slated for theatrical release on October 6, 2017
Schreiber and Diggs will both voice characters that are brand new to the franchise, joining the established “Mane 6” from the award-winning My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV series on their first journey to the big screen. They will be joined by previously announcedGolden Globe®-winning actress Emily Blunt (Into the Woods, Gnomeo & Juliet), Tony® and Emmy Award®-winning actress Kristen Chenoweth (Rio 2, The Peanuts Movie), Emmy Award®-winning and Golden Globe®-nominated actress Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) and Michael Pena (Ant-Man, The Martian).
Fan-favorite writer and producer for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic...
Schreiber and Diggs will both voice characters that are brand new to the franchise, joining the established “Mane 6” from the award-winning My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV series on their first journey to the big screen. They will be joined by previously announcedGolden Globe®-winning actress Emily Blunt (Into the Woods, Gnomeo & Juliet), Tony® and Emmy Award®-winning actress Kristen Chenoweth (Rio 2, The Peanuts Movie), Emmy Award®-winning and Golden Globe®-nominated actress Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) and Michael Pena (Ant-Man, The Martian).
Fan-favorite writer and producer for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic...
- 5/16/2016
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Academy invitee Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything.' Academy invites 322 new members: 'More diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered membership to 322 individuals "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." According to the Academy's press release, "those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2015." In case all 322 potential new members say an enthusiastic Yes, that means an injection of new blood representing about 5 percent of the Academy's current membership. In the words of Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (as quoted in the press release), in 2015 "our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization." In recent years, the Academy membership has...
- 7/1/2015
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©Studio Pali Fekete architects/©A.M.P.A.S.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
- 6/27/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Strangely dropping a press release on a historic day where the nation's attention is elsewhere, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed their annual list of new member invitees this morning. For those who criticize the makeup of the Academy there was some good news and the stark realization the organization still has a long way to go. The Academy has spent the last eight to 10 years attempting to diversify its membership and this year's class mostly reflects that. There are significantly more invitees of Asian and African-American descent, but the male to female disparity is still depressing. Out of the 25 potential new members of the Actor's Branch only seven are women. And, no, there isn't really an acceptable way for the Academy to spin that sad fact. Additionally, It's important to realize the 322 people noted in the release have only been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club.
- 6/26/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Sony has been working on a big screen adaptation of the "I Dream of Jeannie" TV show for years. Rita Hsiao ("Mulan") attempted writing the script back in 2008 and Sheila Callaghan ("The United States of Tara") tried in 2010, but nothing ever materialized. Now comes word that the studio is once again trying to get the film off the ground and is now looking at Katherine Heigl (Killers, Knocked Up) to play the title character. Several years ago, Lindsay Lohan was rumored to star. Many believe that an "I Dream of Jeannie" movie will never happen since in 2005 the similar-themed "Bewitched," which starred Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, flopped in theaters. Click here to read more about "I Dream of Jeannie."...
- 8/1/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
With Gilligan's Island getting a new pack of 3-hour tourists, there's not much '60s TV fare for Hollywood to revisit ... except for the long-gestating I Dream of Jeannie. Five years ago, the project boasted Jessica Alba and Jimmy Fallon. Two years ago, there was a new pitch. Now, The Los Angeles Times reports that Sony has grabbed The United States of Tara scribe Sheila Callaghan to give her twist on the story.
We've been here before. That new pitch from Rita Hsiao in '08 was said to have "a terrific, bright, fresh approach," so has the project really moved forward? Here's the thing -- Hsiao's pen hit paper for Mulan and Toy Story 2. Callaghan, on the other hand, has got the Diablo Cody show and no features under her belt, but she did make a name for herself as a New York playwright who has tackled a retelling...
We've been here before. That new pitch from Rita Hsiao in '08 was said to have "a terrific, bright, fresh approach," so has the project really moved forward? Here's the thing -- Hsiao's pen hit paper for Mulan and Toy Story 2. Callaghan, on the other hand, has got the Diablo Cody show and no features under her belt, but she did make a name for herself as a New York playwright who has tackled a retelling...
- 4/21/2010
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Over the last year or so, Pajiba has managed to amass a few industry sources who, for whatever reason, like to share information with us. We are thankful. Some of it we report; some of it we don't. We try to get, if not confirmation, at least some sense of whether the wind is blowing toward the truth in each instance. In the last several weeks, our sources have provided a few items that we feel are worth noting, despite the lack of track record. However, unlike the scoops we get from the Hollywood Cog, which have been confirmed so often now that we've come to consider him completely reliable, the following items should be treated as rumor, as they come from so-far unproven sources (although one insider source was accurate about a very big project we reported a few weeks back).
The first two items come from someone who...
The first two items come from someone who...
- 4/9/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
Chicago – If you don’t at least like the “Toy Story” movies, you’re probably kind of a jerk. Personally, I adore them both and have seen them multiple times on DVD; the standard go-to when babysitting nieces and nephews. And yet watching them again in glorious Disney HD, they still felt new. I’m blinded by love for Pixar, but these are must-owns for anyone with a Blu-ray player.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Sorta. With “Toy Story 3” coming out this summer, it makes perfect sense that “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” were chosen as the next two Pixar films to hit Blu-ray and the HD transfers alone make these fantastic releases on their own, but you might not want to get rid of your standard sets yet. In 2003, Disney released a fantastic set called “The Ultimate Toy Box” and not all of the bonus material from that release has been imported to Blu-ray.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Sorta. With “Toy Story 3” coming out this summer, it makes perfect sense that “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” were chosen as the next two Pixar films to hit Blu-ray and the HD transfers alone make these fantastic releases on their own, but you might not want to get rid of your standard sets yet. In 2003, Disney released a fantastic set called “The Ultimate Toy Box” and not all of the bonus material from that release has been imported to Blu-ray.
- 3/25/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
As if screenwriters don't have to deal with enough discouragement, scribes Paul Wernick and Rita Hsiao have a uniquely dispiriting situation looming.
When Columbia Pictures moved the wide release of its horror-comedy "Zombieland," which Wernick wrote with Rhett Reese, up to Oct. 2, it was just taking advantage of an attractive fall date. But that same day, Disney/Pixar will rerelease "Toy Story 2" in a 3D version. That mega-hit was co-written by Hsiao.
Normally, this would just be two screenwriters competing for attention at the boxoffice. Happens every single weekend. Except that Wernick and Hsiao share a bathroom, a bank account and two kids.
"I'm no different than most people in Hollywood," Wernick said. "Except this time I'm rooting against my wife, not my friends."
Added Hsiao: "It would be wonderful for Paul to experience what it's like to be No. 1 in something."
Hsiao worked in television before writing on several Disney projects,...
When Columbia Pictures moved the wide release of its horror-comedy "Zombieland," which Wernick wrote with Rhett Reese, up to Oct. 2, it was just taking advantage of an attractive fall date. But that same day, Disney/Pixar will rerelease "Toy Story 2" in a 3D version. That mega-hit was co-written by Hsiao.
Normally, this would just be two screenwriters competing for attention at the boxoffice. Happens every single weekend. Except that Wernick and Hsiao share a bathroom, a bank account and two kids.
"I'm no different than most people in Hollywood," Wernick said. "Except this time I'm rooting against my wife, not my friends."
Added Hsiao: "It would be wonderful for Paul to experience what it's like to be No. 1 in something."
Hsiao worked in television before writing on several Disney projects,...
- 9/24/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mulan writer Rita Hsiao will pen a film version of popular '60s Us sitcom I Dream Of Jeannie. Producer Sid Ganis praised Hsian's ideas for the film, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "She has a terrific, bright, fresh approach to Jeannie's story, with a twist and turn along the way. She captured all of our imaginations in the telling of it." A movie remake of I Dream Of Jeannie has been in development for several years, most recently with Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, but Ganis admitted (more)...
- 6/12/2008
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
If the world of I Dream of Jeannie really existed, Sid Ganis could just ask a genie to "blink" a new script.
Instead, Ganis is bringing aboard Mulan scribe Rita Hsiao to rewrite the script for the big-screen adaptation of the 1960s series. Ganis is producing through his Out of the Blue Entertainment shingle along with Alex Siskin. Bob Simonds and Phoenix New Millennium's Michael Viner are exec producers.
Hsiao is the latest to take a stab at the script for the long-planned project. At least five others have penned scripts, including husband and wife writing duo Cormac and Marianne Wibberley.
Ganis said the writer delivered producers a pitch that seemed as if she had been living with Jeannie's family of characters.
"She has a terrific, bright, fresh approach to Jeannie's story, with a twist and turn along the way," Ganis said of Hsiao. "She captured all of our imaginations in the telling of it."
Hsiao created a Jeannie that is "smack in the middle" of contemporary times and circumstances, he added.
Instead, Ganis is bringing aboard Mulan scribe Rita Hsiao to rewrite the script for the big-screen adaptation of the 1960s series. Ganis is producing through his Out of the Blue Entertainment shingle along with Alex Siskin. Bob Simonds and Phoenix New Millennium's Michael Viner are exec producers.
Hsiao is the latest to take a stab at the script for the long-planned project. At least five others have penned scripts, including husband and wife writing duo Cormac and Marianne Wibberley.
Ganis said the writer delivered producers a pitch that seemed as if she had been living with Jeannie's family of characters.
"She has a terrific, bright, fresh approach to Jeannie's story, with a twist and turn along the way," Ganis said of Hsiao. "She captured all of our imaginations in the telling of it."
Hsiao created a Jeannie that is "smack in the middle" of contemporary times and circumstances, he added.
- 6/12/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rita Hsiao has been tapped to adapt A Guy Not Taken for DreamWorks. Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald and Chris Bender are producing the romantic comedy, which is based on a short story written by best-selling author Jennifer Weiner. First published in Glamour magazine in October, Taken is a wish-fulfillment fantasy that explores a married woman's life had she chosen a different path. Weiner is the author behind such books as Good in Bed, In Her Shoes and Little Earthquakes. Benderspink's JC Spink and the company's president of production, Jake Weiner, are exec producing. David Beaubaire and Ashley Brucks are shepherding the project for DreamWorks, and Aditya Sood is overseeing for Parkes and MacDonald. Hsiao, repped by Endeavor, has won Annie Awards for her writing work on Toy Story 2 and Mulan. She also has worked on 13 Going on 30, Hitch and Enchanted, which goes into production next month.
- 2/27/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Busy director Adam Shankman, who helmed the breakout hit Bringing Down the House, has signed for Enchanted, a Disney romance that will mix both animation and live action, Variety reports. Starting out in animation, Enchanted tells the tale of a poor young girl who meets and falls in love with a prince, and is promptly banished from her cartoon kingdom by the evil queen. Landing in New York, she falls in love with the Big Apple . but complications ensue when both the prince and the queen follow her, for very different reasons. Originally written by Bill Kelly, the script has been reworked by both Rita Hsiao (Toy Story 2) and Todd Alcott (Antz). Shankman is already set for the Disney remake of Topper, starring his House man Steve Martin, as well as a Warner Bros. version of The Jetsons, for which no start date has been set.
- 4/3/2003
- IMDbPro News
Endeavor has upped motion picture literary department heads Spencer Baumgarten, Philip Raskind and Jason Spitz to partner status. The move follows the trio's promotion 18 months ago to head the department (HR 6/11/01). They join Ariel Emanuel, David Greenblatt, John Lesher, David Lonner, Steve Rabineau, Rick Rosen, Tom Strickler, Brian Swardstrom, Adam Venit, Richard Weitz and Patrick Whitesell in Endeavor's partner ranks. Collectively, the three represent such clients as Joe Carnahan, Michael Caton-Jones, Frank Coraci, Jan de Bont, Tom Dey, Andrew Dominik, David Dorfman, Jon Favreau, Todd Field, Terry Gilliam, John Hamburg, Rita Hsiao, Asif Kapadia, Matthieu Kassovitz, Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Michael McCullers, McG, Kevin Smith, Hank Steinberg, Gore Verbinski, John Woo and Joel Wyman. Baumgarten, Raskind and Spitz praised the current Endeavor partners for the move and discussed what it means for the agency's feature film lit side.
- 11/19/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Toy Story 2" is a triumph at every level. In its third feature film -- following the totally delightful "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life" -- Pixar Animation Studios has raised the bar considerably in terms of wit, character development, storytelling and computer technology. Pixar and its partner Walt Disney Studios can look forward to a tremendous worldwide success with this very funny, clever and original film.
"Toy Story 2" does what few sequels ever do: Instead of essentially remaking an earlier film and deeming it a sequel, the creative team, led by director John Lasseter, delves deeper into their characters while retaining the fun spirit of the original film.
The film begins in a familiar setting: young Andy's upstairs bedroom, where his toys come alive only when their owner is absent. Woody, the cowboy doll (voiced by Tom Hanks), is now best buddies with his rival from the first film, the high-tech space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The story springs to life when Woody gets "kidnapped" by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), a toy store owner who recognizes Woody's value as a collectible.
This launches the toys into adventures in many new environments: bustling downtown streets, Al's cavernous toy store, his 23-story high-rise art deco apartment building including its forbidding elevator shaft and, in perhaps the wildest set, an airport baggage-handling area whose myriad conveyer belts act like a gigantic amusement park ride.
Woody's kidnapping opens up a whole new world to him: He discovers he was a toy that derived from a 1950s black-and-white TV show called "Woody's Roundup". And he has a previously unknown family in Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack), his horse Bullseye and Stinky Pete the prospector (Kelsey Grammer).
So while Buzz and the other toys -- Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) -- plunge into various escapades to rescue their purloined pal, Woody must decide whether he wants to return to Andy's room (with the full knowledge that Andy will one day grow up and get rid of his toys) or remain forever with his new family as collectibles in a Japanese museum.
So, as with the original film, "Toy Story 2" is a meditation on the value of friendship and fears of abandonment -- things that concern children and adults alike.
The design of the characters and their interactions with their world is infinitely more sophisticated than it was a mere four years ago. The camera is more fluid, with less cutting to express movement. And the rendering of human characters -- in particular Al and the Cleaner (Jonathan Harris), who restores old dolls -- represents a quantum leap in computer technology.
Humans have always been the most difficult to portray with computer animation. Pixar's animators, who began experimenting with humans in their 1997 Oscar-winning short "Geri's Game", have now succeeded in creating human figures with realistic facial and muscle movements.
The screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao and Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb never lets up in its action or humor. (Most appealingly, one tends to feed the other.) In the toy store sequence, for instance, Andy's gang joy rides in a toy car, Buzz Lightyear has a startling encounter with a vast wall of Buzz Lightyear dolls, some very hip Barbie dolls swing into action, and Buzz's nemesis, the evil Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton), gets activated.
The action only slows once, for a ballad by Jessie (penned by Randy Newman and performed by Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan) that may cause young children to grow a tad restless.
Pixar's animators have once again drawn characters that fit their voice artist to perfection. (Is Hanks starting to look like Woody, or is it the other way around?) Given the wealth of toy characters and a 93-minute running time, it's amazing how swiftly the audience becomes familiar with all these personalities and their idiosyncrasies.
Add to this the army of artists needed to produce such a film, and you can't help being impressed at how seamless the unity of purpose is behind this film.
At the close of the century, it's certainly fair to say that in terms of feature animation, "Toy Story 2" is as good as it gets.
TOY STORY 2
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
a Pixar Animation Studios film
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Director: John Lasseter
Co-directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb
Story: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain & Chris Webb
Executive producer: Sarah McArthur
Director of photography: Sharon Calahan
Production designers: William Cone, Jim Pearson
Music: Randy Newman
Editors: Edie Bleiman, David Ian Salter, Lee Unkrich
Supervising technical director: Galyn Susman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Woody: Tom Hanks
Buzz Lightyear: Tim Allen
Jessie: Joan Cusack
Prospector: Kelsey Grammer
Mr. Potato Head: Don Rickles
Slinky Dog: Jim Varney
Rex: Wallace Shawn
Hamm: John Ratzenberger
Bo Peep: Annie Potts
Al McWhiggin: Wayne Knight
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
"Toy Story 2" does what few sequels ever do: Instead of essentially remaking an earlier film and deeming it a sequel, the creative team, led by director John Lasseter, delves deeper into their characters while retaining the fun spirit of the original film.
The film begins in a familiar setting: young Andy's upstairs bedroom, where his toys come alive only when their owner is absent. Woody, the cowboy doll (voiced by Tom Hanks), is now best buddies with his rival from the first film, the high-tech space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The story springs to life when Woody gets "kidnapped" by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), a toy store owner who recognizes Woody's value as a collectible.
This launches the toys into adventures in many new environments: bustling downtown streets, Al's cavernous toy store, his 23-story high-rise art deco apartment building including its forbidding elevator shaft and, in perhaps the wildest set, an airport baggage-handling area whose myriad conveyer belts act like a gigantic amusement park ride.
Woody's kidnapping opens up a whole new world to him: He discovers he was a toy that derived from a 1950s black-and-white TV show called "Woody's Roundup". And he has a previously unknown family in Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack), his horse Bullseye and Stinky Pete the prospector (Kelsey Grammer).
So while Buzz and the other toys -- Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) -- plunge into various escapades to rescue their purloined pal, Woody must decide whether he wants to return to Andy's room (with the full knowledge that Andy will one day grow up and get rid of his toys) or remain forever with his new family as collectibles in a Japanese museum.
So, as with the original film, "Toy Story 2" is a meditation on the value of friendship and fears of abandonment -- things that concern children and adults alike.
The design of the characters and their interactions with their world is infinitely more sophisticated than it was a mere four years ago. The camera is more fluid, with less cutting to express movement. And the rendering of human characters -- in particular Al and the Cleaner (Jonathan Harris), who restores old dolls -- represents a quantum leap in computer technology.
Humans have always been the most difficult to portray with computer animation. Pixar's animators, who began experimenting with humans in their 1997 Oscar-winning short "Geri's Game", have now succeeded in creating human figures with realistic facial and muscle movements.
The screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao and Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb never lets up in its action or humor. (Most appealingly, one tends to feed the other.) In the toy store sequence, for instance, Andy's gang joy rides in a toy car, Buzz Lightyear has a startling encounter with a vast wall of Buzz Lightyear dolls, some very hip Barbie dolls swing into action, and Buzz's nemesis, the evil Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton), gets activated.
The action only slows once, for a ballad by Jessie (penned by Randy Newman and performed by Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan) that may cause young children to grow a tad restless.
Pixar's animators have once again drawn characters that fit their voice artist to perfection. (Is Hanks starting to look like Woody, or is it the other way around?) Given the wealth of toy characters and a 93-minute running time, it's amazing how swiftly the audience becomes familiar with all these personalities and their idiosyncrasies.
Add to this the army of artists needed to produce such a film, and you can't help being impressed at how seamless the unity of purpose is behind this film.
At the close of the century, it's certainly fair to say that in terms of feature animation, "Toy Story 2" is as good as it gets.
TOY STORY 2
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
a Pixar Animation Studios film
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Director: John Lasseter
Co-directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb
Story: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain & Chris Webb
Executive producer: Sarah McArthur
Director of photography: Sharon Calahan
Production designers: William Cone, Jim Pearson
Music: Randy Newman
Editors: Edie Bleiman, David Ian Salter, Lee Unkrich
Supervising technical director: Galyn Susman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Woody: Tom Hanks
Buzz Lightyear: Tim Allen
Jessie: Joan Cusack
Prospector: Kelsey Grammer
Mr. Potato Head: Don Rickles
Slinky Dog: Jim Varney
Rex: Wallace Shawn
Hamm: John Ratzenberger
Bo Peep: Annie Potts
Al McWhiggin: Wayne Knight
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 11/18/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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