Into the Blu

The first Tinker Bell movie was the infamous film that stirred so much controversy due to the fact that the production was halted many times due to quality control. The original film was deemed “unwatchable” by the head of Pixar and many redrafts were done to try and get a product that was up to Disney’s standards. Has Disney decided to put profit before artistic integrity or have they learned their lesson and continued to put just as much T.L.C. into their smaller releases such as Tinker bell and the Great Fairy Rescue?    Continue Reading

As I am constantly bombarded with trailers, posters and ads for Cats & Dogs: The Return of Kitty Galore, I found it interesting to go back and review the original film in order to make an educated guess on whether or not I should spend some money to see the sequel. I love animals and if the Pixar films have taught me anything, don’t judge a film just because it looks like a kid’s flick, so I figure there may be a chance I will enjoy this. Let’s see how the experience went.

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The release of just about every Disney animated film on Blu-ray is eagerly anticipated, especially the old classic films. As far as this writer is concerned, the folks at Disney set the bar real high when it comes to their older venerated catalog with the simply stellar release of Pinocchio earlier this year. An even more eagerly awaited release is the classic film Snow White, which underwent a total restoration as did Pinocchio in preparation for its release on Blu-ray. Well, Snow White has finally arrived on Blu-ray. Was it worth the wait? Will it meet or possibly even exceed the quality of the Pinocchio release? Continue Reading

If you haven’t already seen Gulliver’s Travels I imagine you have at least heard the title, at least in passing. Not that the film has garnered so much attention, but the fact that the title is synonymous when regarding classic literature. Cue another history lesson, this time dating back to 1726 and across the pond. Jonathan Swift a Dublin born satirist and poet wrote the appropriately titled Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships. Almost sounds like the ramblings of a crazy old man, but it’s very highly regarded and an early form of satire on human nature, still relevant in this day and age. Continue Reading

Let me set the record straight. I don’t like to “move it move it”. That song and irritating beat is one of the most obnoxious sounds I’ve heard in a film in a long time. Unfortunately, not only is it included in this film as well, but it’s also repeated over and over again during the menu options. I’ve never been more motivated to make my selection this quickly before. You might want to familiarize yourself with the options presented for this film via my handy review. I promise you it has life saving properties. Even a second less of listening to that inane chant might be the second that keeps you from going into “Move It Move It” rage. The damage to your screen could be considerable. With that slight tirade out of the way, there is a lot to Madagascar’s second outing to recommend here. It’s a sequel every bit as good as the original film. Continue Reading

At first glance this computer animated feature film looks very much as if it came straight from the diabolically twisted imagination of Tim Burton. The style is highly influenced by such classics as A Nightmare Before Christmas. Even the idea of a culture that thrives on horror and evil traditions appears uncannily familiar to Burton’s fans. You’ll find the characteristically almost stick figure designs and lifeless large eyes eerily and comfortably reminiscent of Burton’s morbid leanings. The differences are there, but they are at first quite subtle. This world is a bit brighter, and due largely to the difference in medium it displays more color and sharpness. And, of course, there’s no Johnny Depp to give life to these undead machinations. Still, there can be no denying the influence on this work. If imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery, somewhere Tim Burton must be feeling pretty flattered. He may get the homage, but we get a delightfully devilish film to enjoy before the next Burton stop motion feature. Continue Reading

Disney has been entertaining the masses for as long as most of us can remember, from classics like Sleeping Beauty all the way to Pirates Of The Caribbean. Some more entertaining than others, but not often dropping the ball. With an excellent track record, I find myself wondering if they can stay above the line of parity with a movie centering on space traveling dogs. Then again, it couldn’t be a lot worse than some of Disney’s latest musical adventures, could it? Space Buddies is the third installment of the franchise, following Air Buddies and Snow Buddies, all of which were released straight to DVD. Continue Reading

Did you ever judge and neglect a book by its cover, only to be pleasantly surprised later by its content?  That is the case with Open Season 2 and myself.  Not only is the movie a direct-to-video release, but also the cover art looks like a film only a kid could possibly love.  The truth of the matter is that I actually liked the film after my initial viewing.  Like most animated releases of the modern day, the subject matter is much more adult than the studios will ever admit.  I am afraid most of the inside jokes and content will go completely over a kid’s head.  It makes me wonder just how many animated features, growing up as a kid, that I missed out on the true meaning of them because I was not old enough to understand.  Anyway, let’s move on and discuss the animated film, Open Season 2, in greater detail.  Shall we? Continue Reading

Our dreams are often distorted, sometimes twisted recollections of past experiences.  In other cases they are the work of our subconscious wandering down an unfamiliar path, conjuring events that have not yet occurred.  MirrorMask is a very unique and artistic film that combines both such concepts into this PG-rated work.  In the beginning of the film, we find a woman running the ticket booth of a circus she and her husband own and operate.  In a bit of haste before showtime, she abandons the duty to seek out her daughter Helena, a juggler in the show.   Continue Reading

The CG animation craze has no shortage of lovable and cute animals these days. It seems that the animal kingdom has become the greatest fodder for these family animated blockbuster films. Dreamworks might be in the lead with these kinds of efforts. They’ve given us bears, penguins, and lions among others. Now they deliver perhaps one of their better ideas in a lovable Kung Fu Panda. As much as anything else, you really have to give most of the credit for the film’s success to Jack Black and the wonderful voice cast that support him here. Honestly, the script is pretty simple, and like most children’s films it tends to be oversimplified and rather silly throughout. But give a cast like this an even average script and you can pretty much sit back and watch them go. Okay, maybe sit back and hear them go. Continue Reading

Tinker Bell has been a Walt Disney icon almost since its inception. The character has gone way beyond her appearance in Peter Pan. In the decades since, she has come to represent the magic of Walt Disney and its many incarnations. Seen at the beginning of every Disney title, Tinker Bell is likely as recognizable as Mickey Mouse and his many friends. John Lassiter and the animators of Disney’s new CG animation studios take on this monumental character in the first of at least 5 announced films to feature the little fairy. Continue Reading

For decades there has been some speculation about a certain Scottish loch and the prehistoric creature or creatures that might inhabit the deep waters. There have been a few pictures, most if not all proven as fakes over the years, depicting something akin to a Plesiosaur. The creature appears to have a long neck and a large body supported by fin-like appendages. By now the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, as it is often called, is a staple of modern mythology. Whether truth or fiction, the small Scottish countryside has made a bit of a cottage industry from the fabled creature. Of course, it is as children that we are the most fascinated with such things. There’s that age when we’re apt to believe almost anything, especially if we want it to be true enough. Water horse: Legend Of The Deep is directed at just such an audience, purporting to unveil the true story of the Loch Ness Monster. Continue Reading