Film – For All The Unheard

When You Wish Upon a Star: Cinderella

While being self-quarantined, we are all looking for different ways to occupy ourselves. I have decided to watch all the theatrically released Disney animated films offered to me on Disney+, in order. Of course I can’t just let that be it, so I will be writing a little something about each of them.

As we move through this world we are forced to make changes, pivot, and adapt to an unwelcomed event. I believe this is something most of us understand all too well at the moment. It is important to have to go through such things as they can help us grow and make our next phases better. Disney animation had to pivot and they adapted, and in doing so they learned something that they used to help their next feature, Cinderella. Continue reading “When You Wish Upon a Star: Cinderella”

When You Wish Upon a Star: The War Years

The Walt Disney animation department was on a role. Bambi set a new benchmark for what they would do and how their characters would look and could interact. Things were starting to look good for Walt and his House of Mouse. But like any good story when things start to look good something unexpected comes along and derails the process. In this case it was that chode brained Hitler and his stupid fucking Nazis.

Many of the people working for Disney left to fight the war, and several of the animators were recruited to make propaganda films (fun fact: Dr. Seuss was also on the team making propaganda films). This left Disney’s animation department low on personnel. Disney was still committed to making cartoons to help occupy the public while their loved ones were off kicking in Nazi teeth. However, these cartoons wound up being a bit different.

Instead of one complete story, the features during this war time were often made of two or three smaller cartoons linked together in some way, usually by some live action bumper segments. So since this felt like watching a bunch of cartoon shorts rather than a feature length movie, I’ve decided they don’t get their own entry but one lumped entry. Continue reading “When You Wish Upon a Star: The War Years”

When You Wish Upon A Star: Pinocchio

I have always been annoyed with the number of “C”s in Pinocchio’s name. There’s no reason to have more than one. I blame Geppetto. That old ass, Italian woodworker has way too may extra letters. What I’m trying to say is last night I watched Disney’s Pinocchio and here’s what else I have to say about it. Also, Jiminy Cricket calls him Pinoke at one point and I turned on the subtitles to see how they spelled Pinoke. It made sense and I was not disappointed. Continue reading “When You Wish Upon A Star: Pinocchio”

Ocean Man

I once listened to an interview with Loren Bouchard, creator of “Bob’s Burgers” and like half a dozen other cartoons that feature H. Jon Benjamin. Loren told a story about working with Jon and how he’ll hold the writers to a high standard. Jon will question and argue with the writers if he feels there is a line the character wouldn’t say. If he felt it didn’t fit the character or if the line was just completely unnecessary to the scene. Even going so far as adding, “Why would I say that,” to the recording if he was still forced to record a line he didn’t fully agree with. I bring this up because I found myself using the phrase, “Why would I say that,” often while watching the new DCEU movie “Aquaman.” Continue reading “Ocean Man”

X Gonna Give It To Ya

Deadthumb

I opened every article last week stating how excited I was for Deadpool. Well I went and saw it and I was not disappointed. It lived up to all of its hype and awesome marketing. Initial thoughts put it at number 6 on my super hero movie list. Better than The Avengers but not quite as good as Guardians of the Galaxy. This may change when I get the chance to watch Deadpool more. But Guardians is just delightful.

Deadpool made more than double what was predicted, as such it is getting a ton of press, mostly predicting what that large box office means for super hero movies. Obviously I feel the need to add my two cents.

Continue reading “X Gonna Give It To Ya”

Batdance

With Deadpool being released this weekend, and because I just heard Stan Lee will be at Denver Comic Con, I wanted to do a whole week dedicated to one of my favorite things: super heroes. From comics, to toys, to the big screen this week The Unheard is all about clobbering time! So up, up, and away!

I'd get stuck sitting behind the Hulk — I’d get stuck sitting behind the Hulk

When I was a kid there were only a few movies featuring legit comic book heroes. And those were almost exclusively Superman and Batman. But since the year 2000, the world of comics has been mined for movie fodder like Wakanda has been for vibranium. I’ve attempted to see them all, and I almost have. But I decided to rank them, because I like making lists. This list is by no means complete, as I’ve decided to just stick to the Marvel and DC characters, so no Spawn, Kick Ass, or Blankman. Also, this is entirely based on my personal preference, so some terrible movies may be higher than they deserve, but for a reason and I’ll explain why they have a soft spot in my heart.

Continue reading “Batdance”

Midnight Picture Show

Whiplash

“Why do people focus too much on Story of a film, & not on the Poetry or Art of a film? Is it just a Tradition in film or do you actually prefer Story over Art? I would love to know.

My personal opinion is I see film as an Art Form so I prefer the Art side better. Obviously the best solution would have a perfect mix of both, but if I had to pick I would rather watch (& make) an Artful film over a Story-Driven one. [sic]”

This came across my Facebook. From a stranger, but I quickly realized I had many thoughts on this, and attempted to make a new friend by sharing such thoughts. They were appreciated, and I’ve had time to think about it some more and refine those thoughts.

Continue reading “Midnight Picture Show”

Feed My Frankenstein

Scared

Halloween is just over a month away which means all the horror movies are about to flood the airwaves. I’m not nuts for horror movies, but I’m not anti-horror movies. I don’t see genres, man. I thought I would get in the spirit and talk about a few of my favorites and maybe steer you towards some lesser appreciated ones. These are in no order and I use the term “horror movie” loosely here.

Continue reading “Feed My Frankenstein”

Beautiful Disaster

Over the weekend I participated in the 48 Hour Film Project in Denver. This is an annual event in which you are given only 48 hours to write, film, and edit a 4 to 7 minute movie. Friday at 7 p.m. your team randomly chooses a genre and is given the required character, line of dialog, and prop. Then it’s off to the races! I had fun this year and I would like to share my experience.

Continue reading “Beautiful Disaster”

Mutate With Me

Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Reviews-TMNT-2014

I must have been 6 or 7 the first time I experienced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I was hooked immediately. These heroes in a half shell were my life and I consumed as much of it as I could. Unfortunately I missed out on the comics as my comic fandom wouldn’t start for another year or two, but the cartoons, and the toys, then the fateful day when a live action movie was made came and I was in heaven. Weird side note, this was the first time I made a note of the film company and was probably the start of my love for movies.

When the announcement came of a rebooted movie invading our screens, I was hesitant at first, like everyone else, but I knew I would eventually watch it. Then a new cartoon aired on Nickelodeon, and I was pleasantly pleased with it (I still get up on Sunday mornings in time to catch the new episode) so I started getting a little more excited for the new movie. Then I saw the trailer and decided I would see the movie. I never got around to catching it in the theater, but I as I procrastinated wrapping presents on Christmas eve, I finally watched it. Continue reading “Mutate With Me”