The Cannes Film Festival has named the eight members of its main Competition jury who will join previously announced president Greta Gerwig in deciding the Palme d’Or and other key prizes at 77th edition running from May 14 to 25.
They are Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, U.S. actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor and producer Omar Sy.
The wife and long-time collaborator of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, screenwriter and photographer Ceylan co-wrote 2014 Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep and also took co-writing credits on Cannes selected films Three Monkeys (Best Director Prize 2008), Once upon a time in Anatolia (Grand Prix 2011), The Wild Pear Tree (2018) and About Dry Grasses (2023).
Ceylan also appeared as an actress and took art director credits on her husband’s early films...
They are Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, U.S. actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor and producer Omar Sy.
The wife and long-time collaborator of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, screenwriter and photographer Ceylan co-wrote 2014 Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep and also took co-writing credits on Cannes selected films Three Monkeys (Best Director Prize 2008), Once upon a time in Anatolia (Grand Prix 2011), The Wild Pear Tree (2018) and About Dry Grasses (2023).
Ceylan also appeared as an actress and took art director credits on her husband’s early films...
- 4/29/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
With the back-to-back blockbuster combo of "Jaws" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," Steven Spielberg had firmly established himself as a sui generis Hollywood visionary when, in 1978, he chose to make "1941." Most people consider this a near-disaster of a decision. The anarchic World War II comedy, set in panicked Southern California in the immediate wake of the assault on Pearl Harbor, was a 180-degree turn from the spirited adventure and childlike yearning of his previous two films. It was silly, vulgar and more than a little mean. And, most audaciously, it was making light of the country's understandably crazed reaction to an attack that killed thousands of U.S. military personnel.
Spielberg's co-conspirators in this juvenile affront to one of the worst days in 20th century American history were screenwriters John Milius, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale — and, really, all you have to do is watch "Used Cars...
Spielberg's co-conspirators in this juvenile affront to one of the worst days in 20th century American history were screenwriters John Milius, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale — and, really, all you have to do is watch "Used Cars...
- 4/27/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Clockwise from top left: Vera Drew in The People’s Joker, Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again, and Jay Underwood in Fantastic FourPhoto: Altered Innocence, Screenshot: YouTube, YouTube
We live in a world dominated by intellectual property. Save for Oppenheimer and The Sound Of Freedom, last year’s 10 highest-grossing...
We live in a world dominated by intellectual property. Save for Oppenheimer and The Sound Of Freedom, last year’s 10 highest-grossing...
- 4/9/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
Happy Halloween! Also, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! The long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s afterlife comedy, Beetlejuice, is close to being completed. The combination of the writers’ strike and actors’ strike has since put the film on pause, but Burton has insisted that Beetlejuice 2 is 99 percent done. “I feel grateful we got what we got. Literally, it was a day and a half…We know what we have to do. It is 99 per cent done.” The writers may have put an end to their strike, but talks for the actors resume this week. Burton returns to the sequel along with Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton returns as “the ghost with the most.”
Burton’s newest collaborator, Jenna Ortega, has been added to the sequel, and the movie has a lot to catch audiences up on. According to ScreenRant, Colleen Atwood, a costume designer on the film, has revealed that the...
Burton’s newest collaborator, Jenna Ortega, has been added to the sequel, and the movie has a lot to catch audiences up on. According to ScreenRant, Colleen Atwood, a costume designer on the film, has revealed that the...
- 10/31/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Disney+ is flagging its own content for racial stereotyping.
This week the streaming service began putting up a content advisory warning for some of its older films like “The Aristocats,” “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan” and “Swiss Family Robinson” that Disney says feature “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.”
The graphic will run for 12 seconds at the beginning of the flagged content:
“This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit www.disney.com/StoriesMatter.”
Disney goes further,...
This week the streaming service began putting up a content advisory warning for some of its older films like “The Aristocats,” “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan” and “Swiss Family Robinson” that Disney says feature “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.”
The graphic will run for 12 seconds at the beginning of the flagged content:
“This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit www.disney.com/StoriesMatter.”
Disney goes further,...
- 10/15/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Sky, the Comcast-backed pay-tv broadcaster in the U.K., has added “outdated attitudes” disclaimers to a batch of films, including the original animated “Jungle Book,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “The Last Samurai.”
Upon searching for Disney’s “The Jungle Book” on movie service Sky Cinema, a description now reads, “This film has outdated attitudes, language and cultural depictions which may cause offence today.” The same warning has been applied to Jon Favreau’s 2016 re-imagining of the classic movie.
A check of nascent streamer Disney Plus, whose content is also available on Sky under the companies’ output deal, shows that that service already makes clear that films such as the original “Jungle Book” “contains outdated cultural depictions.” As previously reported, Disney had the warnings in place around the 2019 launch of the streamer.
Altogether, some 16 films on Sky Cinema now have an attached disclaimer, including Disney’s 1941 animated film “Dumbo;” kids...
Upon searching for Disney’s “The Jungle Book” on movie service Sky Cinema, a description now reads, “This film has outdated attitudes, language and cultural depictions which may cause offence today.” The same warning has been applied to Jon Favreau’s 2016 re-imagining of the classic movie.
A check of nascent streamer Disney Plus, whose content is also available on Sky under the companies’ output deal, shows that that service already makes clear that films such as the original “Jungle Book” “contains outdated cultural depictions.” As previously reported, Disney had the warnings in place around the 2019 launch of the streamer.
Altogether, some 16 films on Sky Cinema now have an attached disclaimer, including Disney’s 1941 animated film “Dumbo;” kids...
- 6/21/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Tim Burton’s live-action “Dumbo” launches March 29, a remake of the Disney classic that opened Oct. 23, 1941. That film is remembered as one of Disney’s shortest (64 minutes) and sweetest. It should also be remembered as the animated movie that launched Disney’s studio in Burbank — and one that was completed in the midst of a tense animators strike. In the 1930s, Disney animators were working at five Los Angeles locations; on Dec. 2, 1940, Variety said the high cost of the studio’s first three animated movies was due to a “lack of facilities to properly push production.” The cost of “Dumbo” was estimated at $1 million, about half of the earlier pictures. The film’s brief running time may have been due to budget or the fact that animators staged a five-week walkout during production. “Dumbo” was completed when some animators crossed the picket line; after the Labor Dept. ended the strike,...
- 3/15/2019
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
This week, Disney released the teaser trailer for its latest live-action adaptation of an animated classic: Dumbo. Based on the beloved 1941 film, this new version sees director Tim Burton take on the unique challenge of bringing the flying baby elephant to life.
Disney’s recent string of live-action reinterpretations of its animated library have found recent success with Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Jungle Book (2016), Cinderella (2015) and Maleficent (2014). But the film that helped kick off Disney’s renaissance of live-action hits — those not involving superheroes, Jedi or pirates — was Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Dumbo sees Burton return to ...
Disney’s recent string of live-action reinterpretations of its animated library have found recent success with Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Jungle Book (2016), Cinderella (2015) and Maleficent (2014). But the film that helped kick off Disney’s renaissance of live-action hits — those not involving superheroes, Jedi or pirates — was Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Dumbo sees Burton return to ...
- 6/15/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This week, Disney released the teaser trailer for its latest live-action adaptation of an animated classic: Dumbo. Based on the beloved 1941 film, this new version sees director Tim Burton take on the unique challenge of bringing the flying baby elephant to life.
Disney’s recent string of live-action reinterpretations of its animated library have found recent success with Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Jungle Book (2016), Cinderella (2015) and Maleficent (2014). But the film that helped kick off Disney’s renaissance of live-action hits — those not involving superheroes, Jedi or pirates — was Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Dumbo sees Burton return to ...
Disney’s recent string of live-action reinterpretations of its animated library have found recent success with Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Jungle Book (2016), Cinderella (2015) and Maleficent (2014). But the film that helped kick off Disney’s renaissance of live-action hits — those not involving superheroes, Jedi or pirates — was Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Dumbo sees Burton return to ...
- 6/15/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
This article originally appeared on travelandleisure.com.
Visiting Walt Disney’s first-ever theme park is the ideal day trip outside of Los Angeles—if you know what you’re doing, that is. With a little help, you’ll be able to skip the lines, eat the best Mickey-shaped snacks and master Disneyland like a pro, even if you’ve only got a few hours. From the must-eat (and must-photograph!) foods and insider secrets to tips for enjoy alcohol just steps from the park, consider this your personal tour guide for the perfect day trip to Disneyland.
Arrive early.
The sooner you arrive,...
Visiting Walt Disney’s first-ever theme park is the ideal day trip outside of Los Angeles—if you know what you’re doing, that is. With a little help, you’ll be able to skip the lines, eat the best Mickey-shaped snacks and master Disneyland like a pro, even if you’ve only got a few hours. From the must-eat (and must-photograph!) foods and insider secrets to tips for enjoy alcohol just steps from the park, consider this your personal tour guide for the perfect day trip to Disneyland.
Arrive early.
The sooner you arrive,...
- 2/10/2017
- by Carlye Wisel
- PEOPLE.com
One of the last icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Debbie Reynolds, died on Wednesday at the age of 84 — just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died after suffering a heart attack.
Reynolds, who was among the top actors of her generation, left an enduring mark on cinema, beginning with her breakthrough role as Kathy Selden in the classic 1952 musical Singin’ in the Rain, starring opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.
At age 19, Reynolds stole the show playing a chorus girl with a voice of gold, who dubs over the voice of actress Jean Hagen’s character, Lina,...
Reynolds, who was among the top actors of her generation, left an enduring mark on cinema, beginning with her breakthrough role as Kathy Selden in the classic 1952 musical Singin’ in the Rain, starring opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.
At age 19, Reynolds stole the show playing a chorus girl with a voice of gold, who dubs over the voice of actress Jean Hagen’s character, Lina,...
- 12/29/2016
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
This quick montage video from editor Bora Barroso does a great job of tracing the evolution of the Walt Disney Animation style from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (shouldn't that have been "Dwarves" instead of "Dwarfs?", Mr. Disney?) all the way up to this year's jaw-droppingly gorgeous Zootopia. It's cool to see the technological advancements and the way the studio has embraced new looks over the years, and I'm most surprised by how awesome the animation from some of those earlier movies still looks, especially considering the entire medium really hadn't been around all that long before Disney essentially mastered it. Makes me want to go back and rewatch things like Dumbo and Peter Pan, since I haven't seen those in decades. What's your favorite Disney animated movie of all time?...
- 12/8/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
It was the happiest birthday on Earth for Ashlee Simpson and her ex-husband Pete Wentz’s son, Bronx, over the weekend.
The singer and husband Evan Ross treated Bronx to a day at Disneyland for an early birthday celebration. He turns eight on Nov. 20.
Watch: Jessica Simpson’s Son Adorably Cradles His Cousin Jagger
Bronx’s adorable 15-month-old half-sister, Jagger, Ashlee’s mom, Tina and friends were also there for all the fun, which included stops at the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.
While Ashlee, 32, rocked a Mickey Mouse hoodie, Bronx wore the park’s must-have birthday badge and appeared to have bought some Disney swag, clutching a shopping bag in a snap shared by his mom on Instagram.
“@Disneyland love love love this place. Magical,” Simpson shared alongside a family portrait with Minnie Mouse.
Ross, 28, also took to social media to share his fun day out.
“My pretty girls!
The singer and husband Evan Ross treated Bronx to a day at Disneyland for an early birthday celebration. He turns eight on Nov. 20.
Watch: Jessica Simpson’s Son Adorably Cradles His Cousin Jagger
Bronx’s adorable 15-month-old half-sister, Jagger, Ashlee’s mom, Tina and friends were also there for all the fun, which included stops at the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.
While Ashlee, 32, rocked a Mickey Mouse hoodie, Bronx wore the park’s must-have birthday badge and appeared to have bought some Disney swag, clutching a shopping bag in a snap shared by his mom on Instagram.
“@Disneyland love love love this place. Magical,” Simpson shared alongside a family portrait with Minnie Mouse.
Ross, 28, also took to social media to share his fun day out.
“My pretty girls!
- 11/14/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
It's a big day for your Lord of the Rings fans, even if you don't know it. Read on.
On this day in history as it relates to the movies
1882 Bela Lugosi is born in what was then Hungary (and now Romania). He vants to suck your blood as the original big screen Dracula. A century later Martin Landau will win a justly deserved Oscar for playing him in Tim Burton's wonderful Ed Wood (1994).
1895 Rex Ingram, one of the earliest successful black actors in Hollywood was born. Credits include: The Thief of Baghdad (as the genie), Huckleberry Finn (as Jim), and Cabin in the Sky (as Lucifer Jr)...
1901 Frank Churchill is born in Maine. He wrote songs people still listen to today including "Baby Mine" from Dumbo and "Someday My Prince Will Come" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Tragically he committed suicide at age 40 mere months after...
On this day in history as it relates to the movies
1882 Bela Lugosi is born in what was then Hungary (and now Romania). He vants to suck your blood as the original big screen Dracula. A century later Martin Landau will win a justly deserved Oscar for playing him in Tim Burton's wonderful Ed Wood (1994).
1895 Rex Ingram, one of the earliest successful black actors in Hollywood was born. Credits include: The Thief of Baghdad (as the genie), Huckleberry Finn (as Jim), and Cabin in the Sky (as Lucifer Jr)...
1901 Frank Churchill is born in Maine. He wrote songs people still listen to today including "Baby Mine" from Dumbo and "Someday My Prince Will Come" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Tragically he committed suicide at age 40 mere months after...
- 10/20/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The icon-establishing performances Marilyn Monroe gave in Howard Hawks’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and in Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) are ones for the ages, touchstone works that endure because of the undeniable comic energy and desperation that sparked them from within even as the ravenous public became ever more enraptured by the surface of Monroe’s seductive image of beauty and glamour. Several generations now probably know her only from these films, or perhaps 1955’s The Seven-Year Itch, a more famous probably for the skirt-swirling pose it generated than anything in the movie itself, one of director Wilder’s sourest pictures, or her final completed film, The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston, written by Arthur Miller and costarring Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.
But in Don’t Bother to Knock (1952) she delivers a powerful dramatic performance as Nell, a psychologically devastated, delusional, perhaps psychotic young woman apparently on...
But in Don’t Bother to Knock (1952) she delivers a powerful dramatic performance as Nell, a psychologically devastated, delusional, perhaps psychotic young woman apparently on...
- 4/11/2016
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
This is definitely "A Whole New World" of Star Wars! When Disney purchased Lucasfilm we wondered how Mickey Mouse may influence the legendary series, and now we have an idea of what a Disney-Star Wars mashup would look like! The wizards over at PistolShrimps have taken the latest Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer to new heights by adding in classic Disney characters like Aladdin, Mufasa and Dumbo to create an epic mashup. R2-D2 projecting messages of Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast's Belle with Bb-8, a Frozen fan-favorite character taking on some enemy fire... this is what happens when you have access to so many memorable films. And that Darth Vader/Mufasa crossover? Absolute...
- 10/5/2015
- E! Online
Disney is bringing their treasure trove of their short films from the last deacde and a half to blu-ray/DVD for you and your family to enjoy together in one complete set. Come inside to learn more about the shorts being collected!
With each new release, Disney continues their tradition of having a short animated film play before their movies, and now they're brining all of their latest (including this year's Frozen Fever) together in one collection on Blu-Ray/DVD...and it's available Now!
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen's Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo. The Short Films Collection features contemporary shorts starring classic characters, including the 2012 groundbreaking Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse!, holiday treats like Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa as well as hailed Oscar® winners Paperman and Feast.
With each new release, Disney continues their tradition of having a short animated film play before their movies, and now they're brining all of their latest (including this year's Frozen Fever) together in one collection on Blu-Ray/DVD...and it's available Now!
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen's Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo. The Short Films Collection features contemporary shorts starring classic characters, including the 2012 groundbreaking Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse!, holiday treats like Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa as well as hailed Oscar® winners Paperman and Feast.
- 8/18/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
Disney has added yet another beloved cartoon classic to its roster of upcoming live-action remakes: The Sword in the Stone.
Variety reports that Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman will pen the updated take on the 1963 film. Originally written by Bill Peet — and based on T. H. White's book of the same name — The Sword in the Stone told King Arthur's fictionalized origin story as an orphan who proves himself worthy of royalty as he does the impossible by pulling a sword from a stone.
Cogman has written seven...
Variety reports that Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman will pen the updated take on the 1963 film. Originally written by Bill Peet — and based on T. H. White's book of the same name — The Sword in the Stone told King Arthur's fictionalized origin story as an orphan who proves himself worthy of royalty as he does the impossible by pulling a sword from a stone.
Cogman has written seven...
- 7/21/2015
- Rollingstone.com
We never get tired of the story of Cinderella, and whether we know it or not, the version we never get tired of is the one put forth by Walt Disney 65 years ago. The 1950 animated feature, released 65 years ago this week (on February 15, 1950) was an instant classic, and its this version we think of when we imagine all the visual details of the story -- the slipper, the pumpkin, the fairy godmother, the mice, and Cinderella and Prince Charming dancing all over the palace grounds.
Still, as many times as we've heard the story or seen the cartoon, there's still more to be mined from the 17th-century fairy tale. (Indeed, Disney is releasing a new live-action retelling next month.) As many times as you've seen the 1950 classic, there's plenty you may not know about it -- how the actress who played Cinderella landed the part without even knowing she'd auditioned,...
Still, as many times as we've heard the story or seen the cartoon, there's still more to be mined from the 17th-century fairy tale. (Indeed, Disney is releasing a new live-action retelling next month.) As many times as you've seen the 1950 classic, there's plenty you may not know about it -- how the actress who played Cinderella landed the part without even knowing she'd auditioned,...
- 2/15/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Given how revered Disney's "Pinocchio" is today, it's hard to believe it was a flop when it was first released exactly three quarters of a century ago. Upon its New York City premiere, on February 7, 1940, critics hailed the film as a masterpiece, and even to this day, many prefer it to Disney's pioneering first animated feature, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Yet it took the film many years and multiple re-releases to make a profit.
Today, of course, the legacy of "Pinocchio" is inescapable. Everyone's image of the puppet-boy with the nose that grows when he lies comes not from Carlo Collodi's original novel but from the kid with the Tyrolean hat and the Mickey Mouse gloves, as drawn by Disney animators. And the opening tune, Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star," is ubiquitous as the theme music played before every Walt Disney movie and home video release.
Today, of course, the legacy of "Pinocchio" is inescapable. Everyone's image of the puppet-boy with the nose that grows when he lies comes not from Carlo Collodi's original novel but from the kid with the Tyrolean hat and the Mickey Mouse gloves, as drawn by Disney animators. And the opening tune, Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star," is ubiquitous as the theme music played before every Walt Disney movie and home video release.
- 2/7/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Baby mine, don’t you cry. / Baby mine, dry your eyes. / Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, / Baby of mine. • From Walt Disney’s “Dumbo”(1941), Words and Lyrics by Frank Churchill and Ned Washington
So Donna Troy is coming back.
Only this isn’t the vibrant, intelligent, powerful, and oh-so-very human – with all the foibles and strengths inherent in homo sapiens – young woman that I came to know and love back in the day when Marv Wolfman and George Pérez created and collaborated on The New Teen Titans.
This is a Donna created through the teamwork of Meredith and David Finch, who has been granted life through the dark arts, through black magic, and as she rises naked from the brewing miasma of a black cauldron, and so we react with fear and horror, our intrinsic fear of human sacrifice, blood ritual, and “unnatural” life causing...
So Donna Troy is coming back.
Only this isn’t the vibrant, intelligent, powerful, and oh-so-very human – with all the foibles and strengths inherent in homo sapiens – young woman that I came to know and love back in the day when Marv Wolfman and George Pérez created and collaborated on The New Teen Titans.
This is a Donna created through the teamwork of Meredith and David Finch, who has been granted life through the dark arts, through black magic, and as she rises naked from the brewing miasma of a black cauldron, and so we react with fear and horror, our intrinsic fear of human sacrifice, blood ritual, and “unnatural” life causing...
- 12/18/2014
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
Snow White was a risk that could have finished Disney. Ryan looks at how the world's first animated feature changed the landscape of cinema
In 2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios released Frozen, its 53rd animated feature. With takings of well over $1bn and counting, it ranks as the most successful animated film of all time, eclipsing the previous title holder - Pixar's Toy Story 3 - by around $200m.
For a generation who've grown up with such films as The Lion King and Tangled, Disney probably seems like an immovable cultural force: as recognisable and unchanging as Mount Rushmore or the American flag. But Disney has survived a series of peaks and troughs since its founding in the 1920s, from its decline in the 1970s and early 80s, its revival in the 90s, and its second burst of creative energy in the 2000s.
From its inception, Disney Animation Studios has moved with the times,...
In 2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios released Frozen, its 53rd animated feature. With takings of well over $1bn and counting, it ranks as the most successful animated film of all time, eclipsing the previous title holder - Pixar's Toy Story 3 - by around $200m.
For a generation who've grown up with such films as The Lion King and Tangled, Disney probably seems like an immovable cultural force: as recognisable and unchanging as Mount Rushmore or the American flag. But Disney has survived a series of peaks and troughs since its founding in the 1920s, from its decline in the 1970s and early 80s, its revival in the 90s, and its second burst of creative energy in the 2000s.
From its inception, Disney Animation Studios has moved with the times,...
- 11/24/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
A slew of classic Disney movies are hitting for the first time on Blu-Ray, including one double-pack release, and you’re going to want to make sure to pick these up. You haven’t paid attention to some of these titles for a while, and it’s about time you got the chance to catch them on Blu-Ray. The best part is that there’s a great mix of releases hitting. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is all but lost in the cultural consciousness, and it deserves a return. The Academy Award-winning movie from the year I was born is filled with a lot of fun and adventure, and like most Disney films, holds up well for a whole new generation.
The rest of the group covers a great spectrum, including two animated “big” titles, and a 10th Anniversary release. There’s a lot to expose your family to here, so check out all the info below,...
The rest of the group covers a great spectrum, including two animated “big” titles, and a 10th Anniversary release. There’s a lot to expose your family to here, so check out all the info below,...
- 8/6/2014
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Sure, you've seen "The Lion King" dozens of times. You own the soundtrack and you've caught the Broadway show. Maybe you even had "Lion King" sheets and went to bed singing "Hakuna Matata."
And what "Lion King" fan doesn't know about the scene where stars supposedly spell out "Sex"? We bet there are still some things you didn't know about the beloved Disney classic, which turns 20 on June 15.
1. When writer Irene Mecchi was hired, she was told that the story pitch was "'Bambi in Africa' meets 'Hamlet,'" so she started calling it "Bamlet."
2. Disney believed that "Pocahontas" (which came out in 1995) would be the bigger, more prestigious film and put all its key animators on it instead. Story artist Brenda Chapman (who went on to direct "Brave" and "The Prince of Egypt") thought the story "wasn't very good" and writer Burny Mattinson declared, "I don't know who is...
And what "Lion King" fan doesn't know about the scene where stars supposedly spell out "Sex"? We bet there are still some things you didn't know about the beloved Disney classic, which turns 20 on June 15.
1. When writer Irene Mecchi was hired, she was told that the story pitch was "'Bambi in Africa' meets 'Hamlet,'" so she started calling it "Bamlet."
2. Disney believed that "Pocahontas" (which came out in 1995) would be the bigger, more prestigious film and put all its key animators on it instead. Story artist Brenda Chapman (who went on to direct "Brave" and "The Prince of Egypt") thought the story "wasn't very good" and writer Burny Mattinson declared, "I don't know who is...
- 6/14/2014
- by Sharon Knolle
- Moviefone
As we continue on, I need to once again clarify that if this list was “Joshua Gaul’s 50 Favorite Movie Musicals,” it’d be a quite a different list. But, if my tastes determined what is definitive, I’d be asking you all to consider Aladdin as a brilliant piece of filmmaking and wax nostalgic about my love for Batteries Not Included and Flight of the Navigator (not for the musicals list, of course). Much to my dismay, my tastes are not universal. I’d like to think my research methods are.
courtesy of themoviescene.co.uk
30. Annie (1982)
Directed by John Huston
Signature Song: “Tomorrow” (http://youtu.be/Yop62wQH498)
Originally a 1924 comic strip, the beloved stage musical about a red-haired orphan girl was brought to the big screen in 1982 and directed by John Huston (yes, that John Huston – director of The Maltese Falcon and The African Queen, not to...
courtesy of themoviescene.co.uk
30. Annie (1982)
Directed by John Huston
Signature Song: “Tomorrow” (http://youtu.be/Yop62wQH498)
Originally a 1924 comic strip, the beloved stage musical about a red-haired orphan girl was brought to the big screen in 1982 and directed by John Huston (yes, that John Huston – director of The Maltese Falcon and The African Queen, not to...
- 5/12/2014
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
Tim here. Mother’s Day weekend is just around the corner, and not just any Mother’s Day weekend: this year marks the 100th anniversary of the proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson establishing the second Sunday in May as a national day of celebration.
In the honor of the century of mothers that have come and gone since then, and since this is the Film Experience’s dedicated animation corner, I though it might be fun to pay tribute to some of our favorite cartoon mothers. Of course, with motherhood being one of the most death-prone professions in the world of animation (all those Disney princess with just a father, if they’re not orphaned outright… and let us never forget the national childhood trauma that is Bambi), there are fewer such women than we might like. These are three of the best.
Helen Parr (voice: Holly Hunter)
The Incredibles
To me,...
In the honor of the century of mothers that have come and gone since then, and since this is the Film Experience’s dedicated animation corner, I though it might be fun to pay tribute to some of our favorite cartoon mothers. Of course, with motherhood being one of the most death-prone professions in the world of animation (all those Disney princess with just a father, if they’re not orphaned outright… and let us never forget the national childhood trauma that is Bambi), there are fewer such women than we might like. These are three of the best.
Helen Parr (voice: Holly Hunter)
The Incredibles
To me,...
- 5/9/2014
- by Tim Brayton
- FilmExperience
Tracks from The Lion King, Frozen and Tron Legacy have been remixed for a new Disney dance album.
Mat Zo has remixed The Lion King's opening track 'Circle Of Life' into a light drum and bass number, while the accompanying video has received a neon re-working.
Avicii has remixed Daft Punk's 'Derezzed' from the Tron Legacy soundtrack, while Armin van Buuren has turned Frozen's Oscar-winning 'Let It Go' into a club anthem.
The full collection - titled Dconstructed - includes 14 Edm remixes of Disney tracks, from classic films such as Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty and Toy Story.
The album was released in the UK and Us earlier this week.
The full track listing for Dconstructed appears below:
1. 'Circle of Life' (Mat Zo Remix) – Carmen Twillie & Lebo M., The Lion King
2. 'Derezzed' (So Amazing Mix) Remixed by Avicii featuring Negin – Daft Punk Tron: Legacy
3. 'Let...
Mat Zo has remixed The Lion King's opening track 'Circle Of Life' into a light drum and bass number, while the accompanying video has received a neon re-working.
Avicii has remixed Daft Punk's 'Derezzed' from the Tron Legacy soundtrack, while Armin van Buuren has turned Frozen's Oscar-winning 'Let It Go' into a club anthem.
The full collection - titled Dconstructed - includes 14 Edm remixes of Disney tracks, from classic films such as Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty and Toy Story.
The album was released in the UK and Us earlier this week.
The full track listing for Dconstructed appears below:
1. 'Circle of Life' (Mat Zo Remix) – Carmen Twillie & Lebo M., The Lion King
2. 'Derezzed' (So Amazing Mix) Remixed by Avicii featuring Negin – Daft Punk Tron: Legacy
3. 'Let...
- 5/1/2014
- Digital Spy
Avicii and Kaskade are among the DJs who have reworked some of Disney's classic songs for a remix album.
The LP, called Dconstructed, includes 14 Edm mixes of tracks such as 'Circle Of Life' from The Lion King by Mat Zo, Frozen's 'Let It Go' by Armin van Buuren, and 'Derezzed' from Tron: Legacy by Avicii.
"I feel incredibly honoured to have remixed an Oscar-winning song - though I didn't know that yet when I started," Van Buuren said on his version of 'Let It Go'.
Avicii added: "My first remix of Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy was so long ago, but it was a significant moment of recognition in my career. It's great to be a part of it again, to refresh the track, and to let everyone hear Negin's voice."
Other tracks on the collection include a house version of 'Baby Mine' from Dumbo by Kaskade...
The LP, called Dconstructed, includes 14 Edm mixes of tracks such as 'Circle Of Life' from The Lion King by Mat Zo, Frozen's 'Let It Go' by Armin van Buuren, and 'Derezzed' from Tron: Legacy by Avicii.
"I feel incredibly honoured to have remixed an Oscar-winning song - though I didn't know that yet when I started," Van Buuren said on his version of 'Let It Go'.
Avicii added: "My first remix of Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy was so long ago, but it was a significant moment of recognition in my career. It's great to be a part of it again, to refresh the track, and to let everyone hear Negin's voice."
Other tracks on the collection include a house version of 'Baby Mine' from Dumbo by Kaskade...
- 3/13/2014
- Digital Spy
Perfect Disney pairings: Aladdin and Jasmine, Simba and Nala. How about Armin van Buuren and Frozen's Elsa? Or maybe Kaskade and Dumbo? Photos: Top 10 Movie Songs of All Time Walt Disney Records announced Tuesday that an upcoming album will give a new spin to 14 of their films' most memorable songs. Dconstructed, currently set for an April 22 release, boasts music from or inspired by The Lion King, The Incredibles, The Muppets and Sleeping Beauty, as well as Mickey Mouse cartoons. Also getting a refresher are two of Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy tracks and the Sebastian Ingrosso/Axwell collaboration for
read more...
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- 3/12/2014
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“I think we’re all glad that they changed the name to Fantasia,” states Steve Martin dryly during his introduction of Fantasia 2000 regarding the film’s predecessor, which was originally called The Concert Feature. (Fantasia may be a slightly cooler-sounding title, but it’s not much more inviting to the average audience member than The Concert Feature.) That single line of dialogue represents the key to the creative struggle at the heart of Fantasia 2000, a perfectly entertaining film with no identity of its own. Though Martin is funny in his few moments on screen (all of the celebrity introductions in this new film are mildly charming in their own way, though they vary in tone from Martin’s wacky fourth-wall-breaking humor to regal sincerity, as with Angela Lansbury’s climactic appearance), the fact that a recognizable comedian needs to be one of our ushers into a world of...
- 2/13/2014
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
The release of The Jungle Book on Blu-ray today has become, as when Saving Mr. Banks was unveiled a couple months ago, an unplanned forum on a most thorny issue for the Disney uber-fan: was Walt Disney a racist/sexist/anti-Semite, and if so, was he a super-racist/sexist/anti-Semite, or just your average, garden-variety racist/sexist/anti-Semite? Even though the 1967 animated film based loosely on a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling opened months after Disney passed away, this was the last film on which he had any serious impact. And, since Meryl Streep chose to make her speech applauding Emma Thompson for her performance as P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks as much about exactly how bad a man Walt Disney was, the issue of his true personal feelings–whatever those may have been–and whether or not they crept into the films he made has become unavoidable as of late.
- 2/11/2014
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Dumbo
Written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer
Directed by Ben Sharpsteen
USA, 1941
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ catalogue began with an artistic bang when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were released to audiences. While not the commercial successes the studio fantasized about, both demonstrated the sharp if simple storytelling and, arguably more impressive, a quality of animation that seemed unparalleled at the time. The issue, alas, was the lack of monetary success (especially with the company’s other 1940 release, Fantasia), a result that discouraged Walt Disney from swinging for the fences with his next outing, Dumbo. As far as the script is concerned, Dumbo performs some extraordinarily unorthodox circus acts to tell what is an extremely simple story, which compensates for the lower quality of the visuals, even though the latter is not quite as bad as it seems upon first glance.
The story begins in Florida,...
Written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer
Directed by Ben Sharpsteen
USA, 1941
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ catalogue began with an artistic bang when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were released to audiences. While not the commercial successes the studio fantasized about, both demonstrated the sharp if simple storytelling and, arguably more impressive, a quality of animation that seemed unparalleled at the time. The issue, alas, was the lack of monetary success (especially with the company’s other 1940 release, Fantasia), a result that discouraged Walt Disney from swinging for the fences with his next outing, Dumbo. As far as the script is concerned, Dumbo performs some extraordinarily unorthodox circus acts to tell what is an extremely simple story, which compensates for the lower quality of the visuals, even though the latter is not quite as bad as it seems upon first glance.
The story begins in Florida,...
- 2/9/2014
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The concept of the work of art that is unappreciated by the masses immediately, but gains a passionate and overwhelming following decades later is almost as old as time itself. A book, or piece of music, or painting, or sculpture, or film is unveiled to an indifferent public, save a few devout fans, and is only revived once newer generations approach it with fresh eyes. So many films we now consider to be the greatest of all time were not as warmly received (if they were received warmly at all) upon their initial release. Some classics, such as Citizen Kane and Vertigo, benefit now primarily from home media releases, repeated airings on Turner Classic Movies, and the impassioned voices of critics and historians to emphasize to general audiences how important and daring and dramatically satisfying these films truly are. Then there are the films that received a second wind of...
- 2/6/2014
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
By Terence Johnson
Managing Editor
One of the bright spots this past film year was the success of Disney’s Frozen. On the strength of it’s more modern princesses and an infectious score, the film set box office records and has garnered two Oscar nominations, Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Let It Go”, its infectious hit. In honor of Frozen’s nomination, we figured it was time to take a look at the history of animated movies in Original Song.
The history of animated films picking up nominations and wins in Best Original Song is a tale as old as time (see what I did there?). Since the 1930s, animated films have won this award 13 times and over 50 nominations, which you can see below. This is an even greater feat when you think about the consideration that animated films get when lists of musicals are made (they...
Managing Editor
One of the bright spots this past film year was the success of Disney’s Frozen. On the strength of it’s more modern princesses and an infectious score, the film set box office records and has garnered two Oscar nominations, Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Let It Go”, its infectious hit. In honor of Frozen’s nomination, we figured it was time to take a look at the history of animated movies in Original Song.
The history of animated films picking up nominations and wins in Best Original Song is a tale as old as time (see what I did there?). Since the 1930s, animated films have won this award 13 times and over 50 nominations, which you can see below. This is an even greater feat when you think about the consideration that animated films get when lists of musicals are made (they...
- 2/5/2014
- by Terence Johnson
- Scott Feinberg
With anticipation building for Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," due May 30, it's worth noting that the source of her live-action remake, Disney's animated "Sleeping Beauty," marks its 55th anniversary this week. Released on January 29, 1959, the movie was only a modest hit at the time, but over the years, it earned acclaim for its gorgeous wide-screen visuals, its memorable music, and its unforgettable villainess.
It's a movie you probably watched many times as a child, and yet there are still some things you probably don't know about "Sleeping Beauty," including its connections to Bugs Bunny, "The Andy Griffith Show," and the British royal family.
Here's a list of 25 such items you can stack on your spindle -- but be careful to shield your fingertip.
1. "Sleeping Beauty" is adapted from both the Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm versions of the classic fairy tale. In Perrault, the princess's name is Aurora; in Grimm, it's Briar Rose.
It's a movie you probably watched many times as a child, and yet there are still some things you probably don't know about "Sleeping Beauty," including its connections to Bugs Bunny, "The Andy Griffith Show," and the British royal family.
Here's a list of 25 such items you can stack on your spindle -- but be careful to shield your fingertip.
1. "Sleeping Beauty" is adapted from both the Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm versions of the classic fairy tale. In Perrault, the princess's name is Aurora; in Grimm, it's Briar Rose.
- 1/27/2014
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
On October 16, 1923, Walt Disney and brother Roy signed a contract with Margaret Winkler to make a series of animated cartoons called Alice Comedies. What was then known as The Disney Brothers Studio eventually became The Walt Disney Company, a multi-billion dollar creative force crossing movies, TV, video games and theme parks.
With Disney celebrating its 90th birthday today, we here at Digital Spy are marking this momentous anniversary by picking out our favourite Disney movies. Disney has produced and released an eclectic range of films crossing classic animation (see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), live-action blockbusters (Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean) and trail-blazing Pixar offerings (Toy Story, Wall-e).
Without further delay, here are 13 movies from the Disney back catalogue that we absolutely adore...
Tom Eames, Entertainment Reporter - Robin Hood
There have been many adaptations of Robin Hood over the decades, from Russell Crowe's multi-accented gruff take, to...
With Disney celebrating its 90th birthday today, we here at Digital Spy are marking this momentous anniversary by picking out our favourite Disney movies. Disney has produced and released an eclectic range of films crossing classic animation (see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), live-action blockbusters (Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean) and trail-blazing Pixar offerings (Toy Story, Wall-e).
Without further delay, here are 13 movies from the Disney back catalogue that we absolutely adore...
Tom Eames, Entertainment Reporter - Robin Hood
There have been many adaptations of Robin Hood over the decades, from Russell Crowe's multi-accented gruff take, to...
- 10/16/2013
- Digital Spy
On October 16, 1923, Walt Disney and brother Roy signed a contract with Margaret Winkler to make a series of animated cartoons called Alice Comedies. What was then known as The Disney Brothers Studio eventually became The Walt Disney Company, a multi-billion dollar creative force crossing movies, TV, video games and theme parks.
With Disney celebrating its 90th birthday today, we here at Digital Spy are marking this momentous anniversary by picking out our favourite Disney movies. Disney has produced and released an eclectic range of films crossing classic animation (see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), live-action blockbusters (Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean) and trail-blazing Pixar offerings (Toy Story, Wall-e).
Without further delay, here are 13 movies from the Disney back catalogue that we absolutely adore...
Tom Eames, Entertainment Reporter - Robin Hood
There have been many adaptations of Robin Hood over the decades, from Russell Crowe's multi-accented gruff take, to...
With Disney celebrating its 90th birthday today, we here at Digital Spy are marking this momentous anniversary by picking out our favourite Disney movies. Disney has produced and released an eclectic range of films crossing classic animation (see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), live-action blockbusters (Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean) and trail-blazing Pixar offerings (Toy Story, Wall-e).
Without further delay, here are 13 movies from the Disney back catalogue that we absolutely adore...
Tom Eames, Entertainment Reporter - Robin Hood
There have been many adaptations of Robin Hood over the decades, from Russell Crowe's multi-accented gruff take, to...
- 10/16/2013
- Digital Spy
Drunken pink elephants have no place in a childrens' movie, but they provide the key moment in the best animated film of all time
• More Why I Love … Celine Bijleveld on Human Traffic's titles, Martin Pengelly on the Jeff Daniels character in The Squid and the Whale, Andrew Pulver on the first fight in Fight Club, and Xan Brooks on non-professional actors
I can't believe Pink Elephants on Parade exists. It's a five-minute indulgence in a film that lasts just over an hour. A bizarro squeal of throwaway surrealism that somehow becomes the turning point of Dumbo, the greatest animated film of all time.
Dumbo was made as Disney faced disaster. Pinocchio and Fantasia had flopped at the box office. The little story about a misfit elephant with bedsheet-sized ears was the quick, cheap money-spinner – a speedy knock-off of Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl's children's book that had to save the studio.
• More Why I Love … Celine Bijleveld on Human Traffic's titles, Martin Pengelly on the Jeff Daniels character in The Squid and the Whale, Andrew Pulver on the first fight in Fight Club, and Xan Brooks on non-professional actors
I can't believe Pink Elephants on Parade exists. It's a five-minute indulgence in a film that lasts just over an hour. A bizarro squeal of throwaway surrealism that somehow becomes the turning point of Dumbo, the greatest animated film of all time.
Dumbo was made as Disney faced disaster. Pinocchio and Fantasia had flopped at the box office. The little story about a misfit elephant with bedsheet-sized ears was the quick, cheap money-spinner – a speedy knock-off of Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl's children's book that had to save the studio.
- 8/16/2013
- by Henry Barnes
- The Guardian - Film News
We live in a world of sequels, remakes and adaptations, a world where the only truly original films coming out seem to be from the animation studios. Films like Brave, Rio and Wreck-It Ralph are the last original films that studios feel comfortable enough about to invest in.
But does this tradition stretch all the way back to the very beginnings of animated features? We all recall the Disney back catalogue with reverence but are these films unique to the family-favorite animation studio? The answer is no.
Here are the ten Disney animated films we were most surprised to discover were shameless rip-offs.
10. Dumbo
Synonymous with the family-friendly Disney marketing schemes as any viewer of the old Disney-vhs tapes will recall (Do you see how much the DVD image is improved as opposed to the VHS one?) Dumbo is surely a Disney-tale through and through. In fact the story of...
But does this tradition stretch all the way back to the very beginnings of animated features? We all recall the Disney back catalogue with reverence but are these films unique to the family-favorite animation studio? The answer is no.
Here are the ten Disney animated films we were most surprised to discover were shameless rip-offs.
10. Dumbo
Synonymous with the family-friendly Disney marketing schemes as any viewer of the old Disney-vhs tapes will recall (Do you see how much the DVD image is improved as opposed to the VHS one?) Dumbo is surely a Disney-tale through and through. In fact the story of...
- 3/29/2013
- by Stephen Higham
- Obsessed with Film
Alice in Wonderland
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge
Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton
I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge
Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton
I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...
- 3/9/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Cool World
Written by Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
USA, 1992
Cool World is a fabulously fascinating failure of a feature film. Say that three times fast. There’s no beating around the bush, Cool World was a mature, perhaps even perverted, attempt at capitalizing on the eroticism of the character Jessica Rabbit from the underrated masterpiece Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. It’s truly amazing what Robert Zemeckis pulled off back in 1988. Aside from getting Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck and Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck together in the same film and aside from seamlessly blending live-action and animation together, he also managed to introduce the concept of sex into a film with Dumbo and Yosemite Sam with zero people freaking out about it. Imagine if this film were released today! The eighties were an awesome time to be alive.
Jessica Rabbit is a flawless example of dancing a fine line.
Written by Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
USA, 1992
Cool World is a fabulously fascinating failure of a feature film. Say that three times fast. There’s no beating around the bush, Cool World was a mature, perhaps even perverted, attempt at capitalizing on the eroticism of the character Jessica Rabbit from the underrated masterpiece Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. It’s truly amazing what Robert Zemeckis pulled off back in 1988. Aside from getting Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck and Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck together in the same film and aside from seamlessly blending live-action and animation together, he also managed to introduce the concept of sex into a film with Dumbo and Yosemite Sam with zero people freaking out about it. Imagine if this film were released today! The eighties were an awesome time to be alive.
Jessica Rabbit is a flawless example of dancing a fine line.
- 2/25/2013
- by Matthew Younker
- SoundOnSight
The Rescuers Down Under
Directed by Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel
Written by Jim Cox, Karey Kirkpatrick, Byron Simpson, Joe Ranft
Starring Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, George C. Scott
The level of faith the Walt Disney Company places in its own products never ceases to be amazing if inexplicable. Each era at this massive corporation is so categorically different from what came before, well back into when Disney was still a struggling film studio desperately trying to pay the bills with its shorts or, at the time, a handful of massively ambitious feature-length animated films. Thus, the faith placed in the product has always shifted. However, the Mouse House’s modern era, beginning in 1984, when Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and the late Frank Wells began their tenure in various high-level positions, has been concurrently maddening and glorious to behold. Whether we like it or not, Disney fans are something of...
Directed by Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel
Written by Jim Cox, Karey Kirkpatrick, Byron Simpson, Joe Ranft
Starring Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, George C. Scott
The level of faith the Walt Disney Company places in its own products never ceases to be amazing if inexplicable. Each era at this massive corporation is so categorically different from what came before, well back into when Disney was still a struggling film studio desperately trying to pay the bills with its shorts or, at the time, a handful of massively ambitious feature-length animated films. Thus, the faith placed in the product has always shifted. However, the Mouse House’s modern era, beginning in 1984, when Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and the late Frank Wells began their tenure in various high-level positions, has been concurrently maddening and glorious to behold. Whether we like it or not, Disney fans are something of...
- 1/26/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Poor Cinderella may not have a stocking to hang by the chimney with care, but she does have that choice bit of Florida real estate: her own castle smack in the middle of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This season, she isn't the only Disney princess with a stronghold to call home. Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Belle from Beauty and the Beast now boast their own splashy attractions in the recently launched New Fantasyland, which more than doubles the original 10 acres of the most popular section of the most popular park in the world's most popular resort. (Yes,...
- 12/24/2012
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
Inclusion of Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh in concert marks a notable departure for performance arts in Pyongyang
Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert for new leader Kim Jong-un in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.
Performers dressed as some of America's best-known cartoon characters pranced as footage from Snow White, Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast and other popular Disney films played on a huge backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV on Saturday.
The inclusion of characters popular in the west – particularly from the Us, North Korea's wartime enemy – is a notable change in direction for performance arts in Pyongyang.
In recent years, performances such as the Arirang mass games featured performers dressed as panda bears paying homage to China, North Korea's ally.
This appears to be the first time Disney characters have been included in a major performance,...
Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert for new leader Kim Jong-un in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.
Performers dressed as some of America's best-known cartoon characters pranced as footage from Snow White, Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast and other popular Disney films played on a huge backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV on Saturday.
The inclusion of characters popular in the west – particularly from the Us, North Korea's wartime enemy – is a notable change in direction for performance arts in Pyongyang.
In recent years, performances such as the Arirang mass games featured performers dressed as panda bears paying homage to China, North Korea's ally.
This appears to be the first time Disney characters have been included in a major performance,...
- 7/11/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Victory Through Air Power
Directed by Perce Pearce, James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney, H.C. Potter
Written by Perce Pearce, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, James Brodero, George Stallings, Jose Rodriguez
Starring Alexander P. de Seversky, Art Baker
Watching Victory Through Air Power in 2012 is akin to being given a glimpse into a parallel universe. Because of how protective the Walt Disney Company is of its history and legacy, and what people know of that history and legacy, the period in which they worked almost solely at creating propaganda of various types for the United States government isn’t as frequently discussed as their work on films like Bambi, Dumbo, or the package films of the 1940s. The very idea of propaganda is so different now than it was 70 years ago that being confronted by a more direct, adult, and dry version of patriotism is startling. Watching any film...
Directed by Perce Pearce, James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney, H.C. Potter
Written by Perce Pearce, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, James Brodero, George Stallings, Jose Rodriguez
Starring Alexander P. de Seversky, Art Baker
Watching Victory Through Air Power in 2012 is akin to being given a glimpse into a parallel universe. Because of how protective the Walt Disney Company is of its history and legacy, and what people know of that history and legacy, the period in which they worked almost solely at creating propaganda of various types for the United States government isn’t as frequently discussed as their work on films like Bambi, Dumbo, or the package films of the 1940s. The very idea of propaganda is so different now than it was 70 years ago that being confronted by a more direct, adult, and dry version of patriotism is startling. Watching any film...
- 6/23/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Bambi
Directed by David Hand
Written by Perce Pearce, Larry Morey, Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright
Starring Bobby Stewart, Donny Dunagan, Paula Winslowe, Sterling Holloway
Bambi is a film that touches greatness often, but only just. So much of the 1942 film is justifiably memorable, rightfully iconic, but it slips up in a few notable spots that it’s not quite as perfect as some (such as my co-host Gabe) say it is, nor is it as sublime an experience as the 1940 animated film Pinocchio is. More than the four films that preceded it from Walt Disney Pictures, Bambi is arguably the most exquisite and beautifully animated film from the company. The attention to detail and commitment to reality that the animators strove for throughout the production process is often truly impressive in how it pays off, but there are a few places where they lose the thread,...
Directed by David Hand
Written by Perce Pearce, Larry Morey, Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright
Starring Bobby Stewart, Donny Dunagan, Paula Winslowe, Sterling Holloway
Bambi is a film that touches greatness often, but only just. So much of the 1942 film is justifiably memorable, rightfully iconic, but it slips up in a few notable spots that it’s not quite as perfect as some (such as my co-host Gabe) say it is, nor is it as sublime an experience as the 1940 animated film Pinocchio is. More than the four films that preceded it from Walt Disney Pictures, Bambi is arguably the most exquisite and beautifully animated film from the company. The attention to detail and commitment to reality that the animators strove for throughout the production process is often truly impressive in how it pays off, but there are a few places where they lose the thread,...
- 6/10/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Will Smith as Barack Obama. (Spoiler alert: you have.)
Nearly four years after Smith joked about potentially playing Obama in a not-actually-happening biopic on the president's life, the "Men In Black 3" star is at it again.
Asked by the BBC about rumors that he could play Obama, Smith replied, "We talked about it a few months ago. Again, it’s about the ears, that’s the thing. People see the ears, and Barack and I both have the ears, so I’m the most natural choice."
Smith added that he told Obama, "jokingly," that he would consider playing the president onscreen, but that Potus has "to write the ending."
Said Smith: "He’s working on the ending right now.”
If that all sounds familiar, it's because Smith said nearly the exact same thing back in 2008 while promoting "Hancock."
"It's right here,...
Nearly four years after Smith joked about potentially playing Obama in a not-actually-happening biopic on the president's life, the "Men In Black 3" star is at it again.
Asked by the BBC about rumors that he could play Obama, Smith replied, "We talked about it a few months ago. Again, it’s about the ears, that’s the thing. People see the ears, and Barack and I both have the ears, so I’m the most natural choice."
Smith added that he told Obama, "jokingly," that he would consider playing the president onscreen, but that Potus has "to write the ending."
Said Smith: "He’s working on the ending right now.”
If that all sounds familiar, it's because Smith said nearly the exact same thing back in 2008 while promoting "Hancock."
"It's right here,...
- 5/22/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Disney animated films aren’t all sweetness and light. Here’s our list of the studio’s 11 darkest moments…
Despite the studio being synonymous with wholesome family fun, Disney’s animated classics are rife with dark and unsettling moments. The kind of moments where you can’t help but think, “Crikey, this is a bit intense for a kid’s film!”
These are the moments which prompt you to look back to your own childhood, and remember nights of disturbed sleep and those confused questions to parents like, “Simba’s dad will come back in the end won’t he mum?”
Some of these scenes are deliberately meant to be scary, some are uncharacteristically dreary, but some make the list purely due to their disturbing nature. Regardless of what makes such a scene so dark, there’s one thing that connects them: they are all among the most memorable in Disney’s impressive canon.
Despite the studio being synonymous with wholesome family fun, Disney’s animated classics are rife with dark and unsettling moments. The kind of moments where you can’t help but think, “Crikey, this is a bit intense for a kid’s film!”
These are the moments which prompt you to look back to your own childhood, and remember nights of disturbed sleep and those confused questions to parents like, “Simba’s dad will come back in the end won’t he mum?”
Some of these scenes are deliberately meant to be scary, some are uncharacteristically dreary, but some make the list purely due to their disturbing nature. Regardless of what makes such a scene so dark, there’s one thing that connects them: they are all among the most memorable in Disney’s impressive canon.
- 2/14/2012
- Den of Geek
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Directed by David Hand
Written by Ted Sears, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd, Merrill De Maris, Dorothy Ann Blank, and Webb Smith
Context is everything. Looking at anything in the appropriate context can change your view, or at least enrich it. When people in the 21st century look at a seminal American film such as Citizen Kane, they may be left cold by it, hampered by the hype surrounding the American Film Institute’s selection for the greatest film ever from this country. Hype can screw up the proper context for any piece of art, be it a movie, book, song, or TV show. If you watch something months after everyone else has heaped praise upon it, or months after people have excoriated it, you may find yourself expecting to see what they’ve seen and finding yourself at odds with the general consensus.
Directed by David Hand
Written by Ted Sears, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd, Merrill De Maris, Dorothy Ann Blank, and Webb Smith
Context is everything. Looking at anything in the appropriate context can change your view, or at least enrich it. When people in the 21st century look at a seminal American film such as Citizen Kane, they may be left cold by it, hampered by the hype surrounding the American Film Institute’s selection for the greatest film ever from this country. Hype can screw up the proper context for any piece of art, be it a movie, book, song, or TV show. If you watch something months after everyone else has heaped praise upon it, or months after people have excoriated it, you may find yourself expecting to see what they’ve seen and finding yourself at odds with the general consensus.
- 1/7/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
We all assume that money can cure all our ills, from pretty much the day that we understand what money is. If we have money, we can buy anything we want, we can live in luxury, and we can make what we like, too. For the animators at Walt Disney Feature Animation, money is rarely an object that they even think about. Though they’re not always living high on the hog, they probably never need to worry too much about getting a budget increase on their latest project, as long as the Disney executives see potential merchandising moolah in the long run. We can bulge our eyes in surprise to see how much some recent Disney movies’ budgets were—Tangled had a $200 million budget, as an example—but that’s just the way things are these days.
But I wonder if sometimes, we need to learn a lesson from...
But I wonder if sometimes, we need to learn a lesson from...
- 1/6/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
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