Finally watched Treasure Planet last night for the first time since I was, like, seven? Despite some story/character-related flubs and how it’s part of an awkward period in Disney’s history, it’s still solidly enjoyable and well-told. The ending felt a bit abrupt though. B-
Oh, I like that one a lot more!
Yeah, Argo was really good. It was never boring, and it gets really tense in the second half. Admittedly they fudged the truth a bit, but to be fair the movie wouldn’t have been very interesting if they depicted what actually happened.
Yeah, the swearing is probably the main reason it got that rating, From what I recall, aside from one image [spoil]of a dead man hung from a crane (which the credits revealed was actually three dead people in real life)[/spoil] , the movie wasn’t all that violent.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: A
It was a quick, fun little movie. All of the voice actors did a good job. The writing was smart and it had a lot of jokes, which were all funny. The animation, oh the animation. It’s amazing to go from Pixar’s (mostly) realistic animation to Cloudy’s hyperactive, cartoony animation. It’s a real treat. Definitely recommend it.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit: It’s a fun film that stands the test of time. It’s gradually gotten better for me as I grow up more and understand the film’s more crude humor. The production values are amazing to look at, every actor is in top form, and numerous cameos all over the place which doesn’t overwhelm the story (think Wreck-It Ralph, which successfully did this format with the different cameos). There’s two classic scenes with two cartoon characters that still blow my mind knowing that it’s unlikely to ever happen again. I won’t spoil them, but I contest that the “Piano Duel” is one of the coolest things ever. Definitely recommend it. A-
I’ve even more excited to see it then!
I never tire of that movie.
I watched Walt and El Grupo. A documentary about Walt Disney’s trip to South America. I appreciate that they made a documentary about this subject, and I learned a lot. But I felt that some parts really lagged, and there was some unnecessary song numbers. I was also hoping they’d discuss more about the films that were produced by that trip.
pixarfan9099 and Nausicaa: Argo’s one of my top live-action films of last year. I’m so glad it won the Oscar, even though I have yet to see a few of the nominees. It just goes in, tells a great story, and leaves at the right time. I’m sure the [spoil]airport chase scene[/spoil] and a few other story elements were creative licence, but it sure kept me on the edge of my seat! And the fact that it is based on real life makes it even more remarkable. Another winner from Affleck, whose previous directorial effort, The Town, is also another fave of mine.
Baliboi: I remember watching WFRR as a kid and being traumatised by the cartoon shoe melting scene and the baddie being steamrolled over and yet surviving as a squashed pancake! That was unbelievable nightmare fuel, right there!
But I watched it a few years ago at a polytechnic I was studying at and it’s such a great tribute to animation. I also like the detective’s back story and how Roger ultimately teaches him to face life’s challenges with courage and a smile.
I really should watch it again, if only because I’m now a fan of crossovers and parodies.
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[size=85]Image by Chris Sanders.[/size]
Last movie I watched was Dreamworks’ new prehistoric adventure, The Croods, at a press screening. I’ll be writing a full-length review, but in a nutshell, I immensely enjoyed it, and I highly recommend any fans of Dreamworks, Sanders, or animation, period, to go see it.
I’ll be watching another press screening of the drama starring Channing Tatum, Side Effects, tomorrow. I’ll be writing reviews for both films for Thursday publication in my newspaper next week.
TDIT: I’m happy to hear that the review is positive, and makes me even more stoaked to see it.
Oh, you’ll love it EJE! I won’t say it reaches the heights of How To Train Your Dragon, but it’s still an excellent movie worth watching in cinemas - the visuals are gorgeous, the slapstick is hilarious (they take a lot of Looney Tunes-level abuse), the characters are endearing… and the climax will break your heart. [size=50]Gasp, sudden mood shift![/size]
I think I’ve said too much, but yeah, since you’re going to see it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 
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I will be attending a press screening of Side Effects tomorrow at 10am. I’m not a morning person, so I hope this apparent thriller will keep me awake. Steven Soderberg’s previous flick, Contagion, immensely bored my friends and I when we watched it in Sydney. I had more patience than my pals, and the ending was worh it (they show how the epidemic in the film spread across the world), but I felt it wasn’t worth watching in theatres cos’ it’s more of a slow-boiler than loud action blockbuster.
And the Spirits cried inside at that 
Sorry buds, but it’s true! 
This is not to say I have never supported an indie or dramatic film in a cinema before (I recently watched a double bill of Lincoln and Flight, as one example). It’s just that I lean to films which take full advantage of the cinema’s big screen and surround sound, while leaving the comedies and dramas for rentals or home-video purchases. I can pay attention to the nuances of the performances better that way in the privacy of my home, instead of straining to hear Philip Seymour Hoffman mumble over someone’s popcorn-munching.
Some, like Avengers and How To Train Your Dragon, remain memorable cinematic experiences for me. Others, like all three Transformers films and The Kingdom, were pretty awful for my friends and I.
I wish I can support all the films I love in theatres, but money is always a limited resource.
Oh, with that I already KNOW I’ll enjoy this movie very much!
Jude Law reacts to the Best Animated Picture announcement.
Well, the Spirits would be glad to know that I enjoyed Side Effects better than I expected. The beginning is really boring and looked like a standard “pharmaceutical companies are evil” morality tale, then something really shocking happens to Tatum’s character midway through, and then it starts getting really interesting. And the twist ending (well, more like the last fifth of the film)… I did not see that coming! 
Saw Madagascar 3 again yesterday. <3
I’m housesitting this weekend, perhaps I’ll rent it!
You should! It’s amazing. I hated Madagascar 2, so I was pleasantly surprised!
I remember decently enjoying the first and feeling iffy on the second, but I’ve heard you and at least a couple of other friends mention digging 3, so I’m thinking I’ll rent it sometime too!
I didn’t even like the first one! I want to see what all this talk is about!
I really would like to see Madagascar 3. I actually don’t mind the first one, and I can admit it’s sort of a guilty pleasure and probably only okay at best. But I wasn’t all that impressed by the second one and I only saw that once in the theaters. The third one has always looked the best though, and the most colorful (hint: this is very attractive to me in animated films!). I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind me getting it, either.
I think Madagascar 3 is a very good film mostly because you compare it to the other two, which are sub-par.
On it’s own, there’s not much to make it great.