Sunday, June 30, 2013

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #16 Yodelberg 2013 9 out of 10




Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #16 Yodelberg     2013  9 out of 10



This new Mickey Mouse cartoon finds Mickey Mouse  mountain climbing in order to yet to the top of a mountain where a yodeling Minnie awaits.   This journey isn't an easy one, since the slightest noise may bring a mountain of snow down upon him.   He encounters a funny looking Yeti on his way to the top and must escape from him in order to finish his climb and get the girl.   While watching this to my delight I got the feeling that I was watching a Samurai  Jack cartoon with Mickey Mouse instead of Jack.    The feel and look of the story was very similar to this great cartoon series which I loved so much.   The cartoon short was basically a rescue quest of sorts that lead Mickey Mouse past numerous challenges to reach his goal.   The cartoon was funny and interesting and well worth watching.  The cartoon can currently be found airing on the Disney Channel and Disney Online


After watching the cartoon I looked it up and found the reason it felt so much like a Samurai Jack cartoon.    One of the directors of the cartoon  Paul Rudish  had been an animator on Samurai Jack and the PowerPuff Girls and original Clone Wars animated cartoon  (all under Genndy Tartakovsky).  Having loved  both the style of both Samurai Jack  and The Clone Wars....I'm looking forward to more from this Mickey Mouse cartoon series.


Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #15 No Service 7 out of 10



No Service   2013    7 out of 10

No Service is the latest in the series of new stylized Mickey Mouse cartoons.   This one  features  Mickey Mouse  and Donald Duck strolling along the beach boardwalk in an attempt to buy lunch for Minnie and Daisy.   Unfortunately they are denied service under the common rule of  "No Shirt, No Shoes,  No Service"  by Goofy  (which being my favorite Disney character the stylized version of displeases me.)    This cartoon was a fun comedic adventure in that features Donald  (who wears no pants or shoes)  having to borrow Mickey's pants and shoes which leaves the  shirtless  Mouse in his birthday suit trying to hide while Donald waits for their order.   The cartoon is funny, but opens up a can of worms in the whole   Why does Donald Duck not wear pants debate that has raged on for decades.   This debate was even a conversation between Norm and Cliff on an episode of Cheers in the 80's --so it is surprising to me that this brand new Mickey Mouse cartoon actually focuses on the subject.   The Cartoon is currently showing on the Disney channel or Disney online.


For more on the Donald Duck no pants Mystery  ---check out this blog I did awhile back that has   a clip from  The Three Caballeros . 



Disney Animated Movie Review: #3 Monsters University 9 out 10


Monsters University  2013    9 out of 10

The Monsters are back and they are scaring up some big numbers at the box office.  In a world where sequels happen whether there is a demand or story for them based solely or how much money the original makes sometimes it is worth it.   Monsters INC was a complete story when it came out with a good conclusion that didn't necessarily lend itself to a sequel,  but the world of the Monsters lived in was so interesting that it was definitely worth revisiting at some point.    Pixar waited over a decade before they did revisit this world again and they found the right story to tell to bring us back into the world of Monsters.   Monsters University is a prequel that tells us how Mike and Sully became friends while going to scare school.   This college setting made for a colorful monster filled universe beyond what we saw in the original.   Borrowing from the Revenge of the Nerds plot it shows us how Mike and Sully eventually became friends after originally being  each others nemesis in school.   After their competitive nature leads them both to be kicked out of he scaring program,  they must band together with a bunch of misfit monsters to try and win the Scare Games in order to get back into the scare program.   This leads to a bunch of fun and silly scenes and a movie screen filled with a plethora of  cool and interesting monsters.   The monsters world is fun and vibrant and the film was a blast.   It didn't have the same emotional punch as Monsters Inc.  in that Sully's care for the little human child was missing, but it was a great story nonetheless.



Here is the trailer for Monsters  University

Monday, June 24, 2013

The Monsters are ready to scare up some business at the theaters and the parks


Monsters University the prequel to Monsters Inc that shows us how Mike and Sully meet,  had a Monster sized opening weekend of about  82 million dollars taking first place over  the zombie epic  World War Z at the box office.





With this big new Monsters Inc movie hitting theaters....The Monsters were of course all over the parks as well.    The Monsters Inc ride that you can normally walk right on has seen a new influx of people waiting in  long lines for it and there is a new Monsters University section in the daily Pixar parade to check out.







In addition to the parade featuring Monsters University----there is a new meet an greet section in Hollywood as well.




Saturday, June 22, 2013

Lone Ranger Premiere Setup at DCA:



DCA is getting everything ready for the big  Red Carpet  Lone Ranger Premiere at the Hyperion theater in DCA.   Here are a few quick pictures of some of the prepartion for the big Red Carpet.

The front entrance is all decked out 



The wanted posters at the entrance look great 


The Lone Ranger is on the sign out front






Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Roger Rabbit 25th Anniversary Screening at DCA


             Who Framed Roger Rabbit  1988  10 out of 10

It is the 25th anniversary for the classic masterpiece that is Who Framed Roger Rabbit.   Disney decided to throw a screening event for its Annual pass holders at downtown Disney which featured a free screening of the movie with Don Hahn ( Disney Producer that was Associate Producer for the film)  and  Charles Fleischer (the voice of Roger) and  Dave Bossert (Visual Effects Animator).
And then there was a special appearance by Roger himself at the very end.


Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988  10 out of 10

The movie is an absolute classic that was a true delight to see on the big screen again for the first time in 25 years.  It is amazing that this film was ever made in the first place.  The movie follows detective Eddie Valiant,  a heavy drinking detective that is dealing with the death of his brother at the hands of a toon being thrust back into the world of toons when he has to solve a case where Roger Rabbit is accused of murder.    It is a gritty, daring film noir with cartoon characters.   An edgy film with some adult humor that somehow was able to get famous cartoon characters from different studios all together in the same film.  The movie was filled with action and humor and a murder mystery that needed to be solved.   Watching it 25 years later it still holds up really well.  The mix of the animation and live action  is amazing.   If you haven't seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit......run out and get it on Blu Ray today.


After the film there was a great discussion panel discussing the film which was a treat.   Of course the main question which everyone wants to know is will there ever be another Roger Rabbit.   It is a film that deserves a sequel and a sequel has been talked about on and off for years....but it sounds like that won't be happening anytime soon.  I guess we can just be thankful that this film happened at all in the first place.




Here is the trailer for the film



My movie facebook page is here
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brads-Super-Fantastic-Terrific-Page-of-Movies/178708865473822

The Lone Ranger Train at DCA



The Lone Ranger  Red Carpet event in DCA is just a week away and DCA is already getting ready.   A train engine used in the making of the movie is currently on display along the Hollywood Blvd area with a cool video sneak peek for the film as well.   So if you  can't afford a $1,000 walk down the red carpet with Johnny Depp---you can still get your  Lone Ranger fix by stopping by DCA and getting a quick sneak peak  at the movie.   









Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A Fun look at Frozen: Disney's upcoming animated feature



Disney just released this fun action packed,  comedy filled little 1st look at Frozen.  It   features a silly looking snowman that loses his carrot nose and battles with a giant reindeer across a frozen lake to retrieve it.   It has the feel of one of the great Scratch the squirrel  moments  from Ice Age and this first look would stand alone as a great short by itself.  The race for the carrot nose was fun to watch and I can't wait to see more from the movie.    Here is that trailer.



And here is link to Frozen's  facebook page.