Showing posts with label Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Up. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Nominations For The 82nd Oscars Announced!!


HO BOY!! Here are the noms for this years Oscar race. Congrats Up! I'll have an Editorial up tomorrow on the Oscar snubs.

BEST PICTURE:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), A Lightstorm Entertainment Production, James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
The Blind Side (Warner Bros.), An Alcon Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
District 9 (TriStar), A Block/Hanson Production, Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
An Education (Sony Pictures Classics), A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production, Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), A Voltage Pictures Production, Nominees to be determined
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production, Lawrence Bender, Producer
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production, Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
A Serious Man (Focus Features), A Working Title Films Production, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
Up (Disney•Pixar), A Pixar Production, Jonas Rivera, Producer
Up in the Air (Paramount), A Montecito Picture Company Production, Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

DIRECTING:
James Cameron - Avatar (20th Century Fox)
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Colin Firth - A Single Man (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman - Invictus (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren - The Last Station (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan - An Education (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia (Columbia Pictures)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Matt Damon - Invictus (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger (Oscilloscope)
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones (Paramount)
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penelope Cruz - Nine (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
District 9 (TriStar), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
In the Loop (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Up in the Air (Paramount), Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger (Oscilloscope), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
A Serious Man (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Up (Disney•Pixar), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Ajami (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel
El Secreto de sus Ojos (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogràfica/Vela Production, Peru
Une Prophéte (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France
The White Ribbon (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Coraline (Focus Features), Henry Selick
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight), Wes Anderson
The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
The Secret of the Kells (GDKIDS), Tomm Moore
Up (Disney•Pixar), Pete Docter

ART DIRECTION:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
Nine (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson
The White Ribbon (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger

COSTUME DESIGN:
Bright Star (Apparition), Janet Patterson
Coco Before Chanel (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme
Nine (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Sandy Powell

FILM EDITING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
District 9 (TriStar), Julian Clarke
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Burma VJ (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
The Cove (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined
Food, Inc. (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (First Run Features ), A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
Which Way Home, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa

MAKEUP:
Il Divo (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), James Horner
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight), Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
Up (Disney•Pixar), Michael Giacchino

ORIGINAL SONG:
"Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from Paris 36 (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from Nine (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

SOUND MIXING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

SOUND EDITING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Up (Disney•Pixar), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

VISUAL EFFECTS:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
District 9 (TriStar), Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
Music by Prudence, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
Rabbit à la Berlin (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
French Roast, A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O'Connell
The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte), A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia
Logorama" (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin
A Matter of Loaf and Death (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
The Door (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
Instead of Abracadabra (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
Kavi, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey
Miracle Fish (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
The New Tenants, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson


SYS

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Top 10 of 2009

A little late I know. However, here finally is my best films of 2009:

10. The Blind Side: This will tick off critics, but I definitely say this film deserves every penny it gets. Cute, funny and inspiring, this film is a wonderful exporation of the type of roles Sandra bullock can portray. And at the end if you ain't crying...wel you have no soul, pure and simple.

9. A Christmas Carol: Another unexpected 'un. This film cuaght me off-guard completley and dazzled me. The UnCanny Valley has completley been washed away. Jim Carrey gives a pitch perfect performance and makes this one of the best adaptations of the classic tale ever.

8. Star Trek: J.J. Abrams has created, along with Avatar, a Star Wars type film that has fun, laughs and action coming through in spades. This film leaves you awe-struck and makes you wish The Enterprise came around much more often. Good job, Kirk for this one.



7. 2012: A modern day Towering Inferno? Mayhaps. This film combines thrilling events (they're gonna crash...into Mount Everest!!) with down-to Earth humans. A tale full of sacrifice and destruction, it's one of those rare films that's a little bit of everything...and is just flat-out perfect.

6. Sherlock Holmes: This choice is elementary, my dear readers. Robert Downy Jr. gives an Oscar winning performance as the grand sleuth and makes Sherlock a hero...but still unlike any version we've seen of him before. It's quite a film and quite a mystery as to why no one else thought Holmes could be an action hero.

5. The Princess and The Frog: Disney was in a rut earlier this decade with Home on The Range and Atlantis. Now, they hit the gold mine of fun, music and depth they were missing. This film may even be on par with films like Dumbo and The Little Mermaid. It's a classic, one that deserves so much more. This is a film that'll stick like glue to future generations and prove Disney is still an animation king.



4. Where The Wild Things Are: A kids movie? As if. Dismemberment, tantrums and betrayl are all an integral part of this polarizing, but brilliant film. It may be a stretch, but I certainly think this film is a modern day E.T.



3. The Fantastic Mr. Fox: Talk about misleading marketing. This film will leave in stitches and awe as Wes Anderson creates a film that leaves you begging for more. George Clooney is stunning as Mr. Fox and leads you to love him like in Michale Clayton and the Ocean's films. Wes has created a picture that will remain essential to any animation viewing.



2. Up: Wow. PIXAR ain't number one. Still, this film is a masterpiece, PIXAR's near best. Carl Fredrickson's sad montage at the beggining is guranteed to leave you in tears. And about Dug...well let's just say he's a great tracker, okay? SQUIRELL!



1. Avatar: James Cameron has created The Godfather of sci-fi. A modern day Star Wars. He has transformed cinema from nice to breathtaking. Every single 3D moment leaves you breathless, wanting to see it again immediatly. Thisi s a film that'll one day be known as a triumph of both storytelling and visual effects. A rare modern day masterpiece.



There you have it. Hope you enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to seee what 2010 brings.

SYS

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The PGA Nomminations Are Announced!


Excitingly, the PGA nominations have been revealed. Below are the noms. On January 24th, by the way, we will know who wins. Fingers crossed for Up!

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Avatar
Producers: James Cameron, Jon Landau

District 9
Producers: Carolynne Cunningham, Peter Jackson

An Education
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey

The Hurt Locker
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Inglourious Basterds
Producer: Lawrence Bender

Invictus
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Rob Lorenz, Lori McCreary , Mace Neufeld

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

Star Trek
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof

Up
Producer: Jonas Rivera

Up in the Air
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

9
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Coraline
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

The Princess and the Frog
Producer: Peter Del Vecho

Up
Producer: Jonas Rivera

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Burma VJ
Producer: Lise Lense-Moller

The Cove
Producers: Paula DuPre Pesman, Fisher Stevens

Sergio
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Soundtrack for a Revolution
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

SYS

Sunday, January 3, 2010

PIXAR Changed The Decade


Thanks to Upcoming PIXAR, I have learned of many lists that PIXAR films have been on. Hat tip to them, for this is spectacular news. Good to see PIXAR's divine quality observed.

Monsters, Inc. (2001): Collider #2 along with all below, TimesNews.net unranked w/ all below, Metacritic #90

Finding Nemo (2003): The Washington Post #1, Daily Mail #18, Metacritic #41, Orlando Sentinel unranked, Austin 360 unranked

The Incredibles (2004): Daily Mail UK #4, Metacritic #12, Times Online #16, Flicks New Zealand #31, The Star-Ledger unranked, Rotten Tomatoes unranked

Cars (2006): Pixar Planet’s Special Mention

Ratatouille (2007): At the Movies #2, Metacritic #3, Paste Magazine #32, Daily Mail #37

WALL•E (2008): At the Movies #1, The Dallas Morning News #2, Entertainment Weekly #5, IMDb #8, Metacritic #8, JournalStar.com #12, Flicks New Zealand #20, Oklahoma Daily #39, The Canadian Press unranked

Up (2009): Film School Rejects #13, Oklahoma Daily #13, Paste Magazine #14, IMDb #15, Metacritic #54

Great job to Emmeryville!

SYS

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009: The Year of Death, 3D and Animation


Death, 3D and Animation took over this year, as we saw film profits make over 10 and a half billion dollars. That gross comes courtesy of 3D preniums, perhaps stating that 3D is here to stay.

Death played a big part as well, from Farrah Fawcett to Michael Jackson, the stars that died were tremendous and left their marks on the world forever. I can honestl say that with Michael Jackson, he proves you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Animation really became the star of the year though. When we saw preety bad live-action films (et tu Couples Retreat and Gentleman Bronco's), animation gave us mature and thoughtful fare like Fantastic Mr. Fox & Up. Even usual kiddie fare made us laugh harder like Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Toss all of that in with The Princess and The Frog & Coraline and you have one heckuva impressive lineup.

Live-Action got some great stuff, notable the Star Wars of our time that is Avatar. Brilliance like Where The Wild Things Are also played. Stupid comedies were anjoyable as well like Land of The Lost and Paul Blart.

2009 can be summed up as a landmark year for all of us, changing cinema for good and doing away with the old...and in with the new.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Editorial: Best of The Decade Part II: The Movies

This article isn't impact this time. No, this is QUALITY!!! Except for No. 8 and No. 4, which are for influence.

10. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy- Why not higher? Folks these are great films but their lengths keep them from being brilliance. Truthfully, I have just a few weeks ago caught the end of the Third One on TV! Still, there's no denying they ARE great and certainly one of the most memorable parts of the decade.



9. Shrek- Potshots at Disney? WHY??? Because it's funny, that's why.

8. The Departed- Martin Scorsese has made many-a classics (Shutter Island probably will end up being one of those). The Departed is this decades GoodFella's. Riveting from beginning to end, the film never lets you or your mind go once it begins is what audiences around the world ave agreed, becoming the rare film that brings us together.

7. Finding Nemo- Searching for lost sons used to be sad and starring Harrison Ford or Mel Gibson. Now they star clownfish and are among the funniest movies of all-time.

6. Good Night, And Good Luck- Probably the surprise inclusion here. Why this film? Because George Clooney gives the best performance of his career here. With it's grand story and wonderful acting, this film settles it's place as among the greatest in history.

5. WALL-E- PIXAR ain't made a dud yet and WALL-E is no exception. With no talking for 20 minutes, it abandons all cinematic formula's for family films since they began. And boy does it abandon them well.



4. Brokeback Mountain- You remember how we treated gay movies before this came out? No? That's how great this thing was.

3. Ratatouille- Brad Bird makes sure that aniamtion is not a genre but a form of creation like 3D and Digital Shooting. The tale of a rat in Paris captivates you and makes you wonder: Is animation kiddie stuff or just for anyone?

2. Up- PIXAR has really pulled it out of the hat this time. Carl F. has a tale unlike anyone else has ever done. Add in a funny dog and boy, guaranteed tear-jerker opening and wonderful climax you have a film for the decade.

1. Avatar- Just read my review on New Years. Then you'll see.



Runner Ups- Million Dollar Baby, The Incredibles, Milk, No Country For Old Men, Gladiator, Letters From Iwo Jima

SYS

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Considering Up



Up really has a good shot this year at the Best Picture. In fact, it (along with Precious, Invictus, The Hurt Locker and Up In The Air) is a shoo-in for Best Picture. Now this ad came in today for Variety ,asking the Academy to consider the film for Best Picture and Director!! I dearly hope it gets those nominations, because animation needs this recognition.

SYS

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Editorial: Traveling The Globe



I have been asked recently what I think of the Golden Globe nominations that have come out and gotten some bad press. I somewhat agree with the negativity though. Why?

Well, for starters, whoever thought Julia Roberts in Duplicity was worthy of some kind of award was crazy. I'm just glad Jamie Preesly didn't get a nod for Confessions of a Shopaholic! The nods in Best Comedy/Musical reallt stretch good taste. I highly doubt the Oscars are going to give (500) Days of Summer, The Hangover and It's Complicated Best Picture noms. Those slots will be replaced with the notable absent Invictus, Up & A Serious Man.

The male acting nods were much better. Matt Dammon actually deserved both of his noms & Robert Downy Jr. probably needed a nom for Sherlock Holmes. I'm surprised Sigourney Weaver dosen't get a Suporting Actress nom for Avatar, but maybe the Academy will scoop her up.

My bottom line is that these noms are ok, but defenitly not the REAL best ones. There are some awards coming around this blog, so maybe you can see who is really the best of the year!! I'll tune in to the Globes though. After all, Ricky will probably put on a show.

SYS

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

For Your Consideration: The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Where The Wild Things Are



These two films relaly deserve Best Picture nominations at the Oscars. Each push boundaries in their kid film boundaries and bring fun and tears anyway. Below are what should be nominatted in the Best Picture category:

Up In the Air
Precious
The Hurt Locker
Invictus
Up
Where The Wild Things Are
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
A Serious Man
Avatar
Inglorious Basterds



Please Academy, Give all of those films the nominations. I beg you. Break the duldroms.

SYS

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Coraline: Collectors Gift Set



Coraline comes from Harry Selick, the guy who made The Nightmare Before Christmas and (the lesser-known) Monkeybone. He has a spirit similary to Tim Burton (who produced Nightmare) as his films are all dark worlds and people needing to face these worlds. Coraline exceptionally fits into that category.

The story of this one is Coraline is moving into a new home. She finds inside a new world that facinates her. This world is full of dancing mice and cool versions of her parents. However, there's a sinister reasong behind this world, one that freaked out even me...

The fun thing about the film is that it dosen't dare to let kids get in the way of it's true storytelling. Like Fantastic Mr. Fox and Up, this film mkaes sure it tells it's story perfectly without ever worrying if kids will get scared. The animation (CLay-Motion ehre like Wallace and Gromit) is stunning and really is some of the best I have ever seen. I must say that this makes you wonder if this is an actual
world someone just found.

The 3D is brilliant here and although it may have needed to be a little longer, this is one of the best of the year and a real great film.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10 or A-

SYS

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Ultimate Musical Story...



Toy Story will replace Aladdin at Disney's California Adventure Cruise Line in 2011. As the title implies above, it'll be a musical. This what I've heard to be the 1st of many things to come. PIXAR, it seems, is trying to get some of PIXAR's films into franchises. Next up? Not sure, thoug me thinks Disney might want to seize the hype the ultra-hit Up has generated and create a nice show after that.

PIXAR, as usual, continues to expand the horizon. Also, PIXAR is among the most influincial people in Entertainment Weekly's decade of people issue. Huzzah!!

SYS

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Film Review: The Blind Side



Let me get something straight from the start. I don't know quarterback from a pile of quarters. I do not like football. That being said, I loved The Blind Side.

This is the true story about NFL quarterback Michael Ore. Michael is abandoned and homeless when the Thooeys find him. They take him in and adopt him as one of their own. Soon, both Michael and the Thooeys lives are changed forever as Michael shows skills and determination.

This film may be heartfelt, but there's plenty of laughs, particularly Sandra Bullock's character, who's feisty and rough, but soft underneath. Tim McGraw plays her husband. You don't see him a lot, but he's okay. The two standouts are Jae Head (he plays Sandra and Tim's son) and Quinton Aaron as Michael Ore. Both are exceptional.

The film touched me in ways only a few (like Up and Where The Wild Things Are) have done this year. In the best part, Michael Ore savess the Thooeys sons life from an airbag during a car crash. It's a provacative moment that touches your soul.

Rating: A- or 8.9 out of 10

P.S. At the end, Tim McGraw's hit song Southern Voice plays. I love country, so that was just the icing on the cake for this chocolate cream pie film.

SYS

Sunday, November 22, 2009

George and A.J.



George and A.J., two small characters from Up, have their own short film! It's in storyboard, so there is no complete CGI like Up. However, it's still clever. Wish it could've been on the Blu-Ray.

Watch it while you can. Might leave the internet soon.

SYS

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Blu-Ray Review: Up

PIXAR is probably the greatest company in the world solely because of the way they push boundaries (of course, 10 masterpieces don't hurt either). This time, an old man named Carl Fredrickson (Ed Asner) decides to tie balloons to his house, only to find an asian boy scout trapped to his house. They arrive in South America, only to find a "talking" dog there and a female peacock who they name Kevin. Soon, an evil mastermind turns out to be behind a terrorfying truth in the jungle and Carl must stop him.

The best part about the film is that it has such emotion...you must be made of stone if your not crying in the first 10 minutes when Carl's wife dies. Strangely, this is also PIXAR's funniest film to date, besides being their saddest. I felt overjoyed when Dug the Dog was speaking.. SQUIRELL!!.. because he's very random. The villain, Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), is also fun, at first seemingly just a nice guy and then becomes someone truly evil.

There is so much more that I could say about the film (the animation is perfect), but I think you need to discover the rest of the film on your own. Just as a note, this iflm has a short film on it, Partly Cloudy and a new short only on DVD and Blu-Ray: Dug's Special Mission.

Rating: A or 9.7 out of 10

SYS

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Get Up!!


Up and Merry Madgascar are the numero uno priority for the reviews today!! Expect them soon. Above is Dug the Dog from Up. This site and him have the same name!! SQUIRELL!!


Watch out for reviews. They are a-coming.

SYS

Reviews To Come

To ensure no confusion, we will have reviews to come in this section. I will update daily and every month will make a new post to show what reviews are coming. When a review is up, a hyperlink will get you to the review.


On our review calander:

*Up (Blu-Ray)
*Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
*New Moon
*This Is It
*A Christmas Carol
*Star Trek (Blu-Ray)
*Gone With The Wind (Blu-Ray)
*Harry Potter 6
*Merry Madagascar
*Cars
*The Blind Side
*Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
*2012

*Planet 51
*Forest Gump: Saphire Collection Edition
*G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra
*The Wizard of Oz
*A Charlie Brown Christmas
*Fantastic Mr. Fox
*X-Men Origins: Wolverine
*Land of the Lost
*Old Dogs
*A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
*Classic Holiday Favorites
*Miracle on 34th Street
*Jack Frost

More to come. Keep reading.

SYS (See You Soon)