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Post by Belchic on Jul 19, 2020 17:12:52 GMT -5
Since Trey_Vore started making animated film reviews, he’s been asking me to write more, so that’s just what I’m going to do right now! Enjoy! The Brave Little Toaster (1987) The Brave Little Toaster. When people think of Disney movies, they usually think of the initial animated classics like Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King or Frozen. Others may think of the Pixar classics like Toy Story, Finding Nemo or Cars. Then there are some who like to look at the lesser-known cult classics like A Goofy Movie. This is one of those said cult classics. In 1987, this little animated flick based on the book of the same name got a limited theatrical release in select theaters. It wouldn’t be until a year later when Disney would buy the distribution rights to the film and start airing it on the Disney Channel from time to time giving it the cult following it now has today. Time has passed, and does this movie still have a place in our hearts that we’d want to keep it, or is it so outdated that we should throw it in the dump? Let’s find out... The StoryThe story is about these five appliances that live in a summer cottage who miss their owner, a kid named Rob. Thinking he had abandoned them since he had been gone too long, the leader of the gang, Toaster, declares they set out to find him to see if he still needs them. Along the way, they encounter many dangerous perils and even other appliances that want to kill them. Little do they know, Rob is all grown up now and is about to head off to college and was planning to take those five appliances with him to his dorm. I will start by saying the story is nothing out of the ordinary, but there is a lot of stuff going on throughout the movie. It also teaches some good morals. It’s also quite impressive how some of the stuff that happens in the film is taken directly out of the book. Of course there are some drawbacks like all the dark scenes, especially considering this is supposed to be a kids film! This movie really should have gotten a PG rating, but if you look beyond that, the story isn’t all that bad. As for the humor, there are some jokes and pop culture references, but not so much that they shove them into your face all the time. The writers of this story knew how to well balance it all out. The AnimationFor a traditionally-drawn animated film in the 80’s, this is pretty much what you’d expect as far as animation goes, but it’s nothing mind-blowing. It is still bright and colorful and also dimmed at the appropriate moments. The scenery and backgrounds are quite impressive giving so much detail. Then there’s the character animation. The appliances look just as appliances should be, and the animators gave them all fluid movements to make them seem very believable like they truly are alive. It might interest you to know that some of the guys from Pixar worked on this film! In fact, John Lasseter was wanting this film to be half CGI, but that never happened. Pixar fans may recognize Joe Ranft’s voice as well as a certain nod to Pixar Animation Studios that appears in the film. So overall, nothing special in terms of animation, but its got a lot going for it. The CharactersNow it’s time to talk about the characters. There are a lot of them, but most of them just come and go, so I’m only going to focus on the main ones starting with the five main appliances. Toaster is the fearless leader determined to do everything that he thinks is right. Radio serves as sort of the comic relief acting as a navigator to the team and talking like a radio broadcaster. Lampy is sort of a bipolar lamp who either gets easily amused or easily annoyed and often gets into fights with Radio. Blanky is like an insecure child who is the most emotionally attached to Rob, though it it is kinda cute how he and toaster bond with sort of an older/younger sibling relationship. Then there’s my personal favorite, Kirby, the uptight, grumpy vacuum voiced by the legendary Thurl Ravenscroft. While the characters are the typical tropes you see in most animated films, what really makes them stand out are the actors who voice them. Everyone was casted perfectly, and they all sound like they’re making the most out of their performances, especially Jon Lovitz! Then we also got Rob, the appliances’ owner, and his girlfriend, Chris. There’s not much to say about them other than Rob being a good-hearted young adult full of determination, while Chris is the stereotypical supportive girlfriend, and those are the types I love! Overall, while the actors do sound like they’re having the time of their lives, it doesn’t excuse the fact that they’re the same old tropes we’ve seen a million times already. The SongsAs strange as this may sound, the songs are actually the best part of the movie. The songs for the most part have that upbeat 80’s music vibe you don’t see a lot of in animated movies of the time. “City of Light” is nothing too special other than it being an uplifting traveling song. “B-Movie Show” is a nightmare-inducing dance number that reminds me of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. “Cutting Edge” is another rocking tune that’s appropriate for what it’s about. “Worthless”, while the darkest song in the movie, is just as catchy as the previous two songs, and it gets the blood pumping. I understand the songs do make the film seem a little dated, but they are still very underrated songs that should be included in some Disney mixes. Heck, I might even put one or two of them on my Halloween mix! The Brave Little Toaster is a cute little underrated classic. I guess it’s no wonder this film has such a cult following. I recommend this film to fans of underrated 80’s and 90’s animated cult classics. Sure it is a little dark and weird, and even I admit it’s no masterpiece, but I recommend watching it at least once. It might make you think differently about how you go about your life. Story: 8/10 Animation: 7/10 Characters: 6/10 Songs: 9/10 Overall: 7.5/10 = 75%
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Post by Trey_Vore on Jul 20, 2020 7:15:23 GMT -5
Not a bad review at all Belchic.
I think I may have an idea for my next one.
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Post by Belchic on Mar 8, 2021 15:43:16 GMT -5
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Raya and the Last Dragon. During the 2010 decade, Disney had a resurgence of mega blockbuster hit animated films such as Frozen and Zootopia. In fact, two of them were so popular that they got sequels at the end of the decade! I thought this was going to be a new trend of Disney’s until I heard about this upcoming film. One side of me was relieved that it wasn’t another sequel, while another side of me was questioning why Disney can’t make up their minds! However, everyone else just threw those thoughts out the window, and they were all thinking: “This is gonna be epic! I can feel it!” I was hoping this film wouldn’t become another overrated film like most of Disney’s recent films, but as its release date got closer, the later trailers caught my attention. That being said, is this movie a true diamond in the rough, or does it deserve to go extinct like the dragons themselves? Let’s find out... The StoryI will say, they truly made a movie here with a story that caught my attention. It’s a story about a land formerly known as Kumundra that has been split into five different lands: Tail, Talon, Spine, Fang and Heart. A young girl from Heart named Raya ventures out to all the different lands that each have a piece of a magic orb from the last dragon: Sisu. She is hoping to bring them all back together, bring Sisu back to save the world and reunite Kumundra. She manages to revive Sisu and also make allies with other residents of the lands to help her on her quest. On paper, this sounds like a plot we’ve all seen a million times in the movies, but they found a way to take that cliche to a whole new more interesting level. In fact, this has potential to be its own video game! At the end of the day, the movie has a very compelling story that is sure to grab anyone’s attention. The AnimationWhen it comes to Disney movies, one thing that they always make a priority is the animation, and with every movie they deliver, their animation just keeps getting better and better! That being said, they have certainly peaked with the animation on this movie! They have certainly improved on everything they’ve done in the past from the way characters look, to the way they move, to the breathtaking scenery, to the natural things like water, to even the smallest details on the characters like their hair and fur. Animation like this can take years to master, and they have certainly achieved that here! Disney is always experimenting with new technology in their animation, and whenever they do, it always pays off! This is animation that truly blows me away! The CharactersWe’ve got a lot of characters to talk about here, and they are all great! Starting with our main character, Raya: at a glance, she basically just seems like Moana and Mulan fused together, but that’s pretty much what she is, and there’s nothing wrong with a character like that. Raya’s father, Benja, is the stereotypical dad looking over his daughter. Then there are the characters Raya meets along her journey who for the most part fall under a lot of old tropes: Boun is the stereotypical tomboy kid who seems annoying at first but makes up for it with his culinary skills and ability to operate a boat. Little Noi is a baby who is a con artist that was pretty much thrown in just to give a good laugh to audiences. Tong is the stereotypical warrior who is big on brawn and small on brains but still has a good heart. Then there’s the villain of the film: Namaari, who is probably the most interesting character in the film. She starts off as Raya’s friend, then surprises us by becoming a twist villain right at the start of the movie rather than towards the end. Throughout the movie, she stalks Raya, but later on, we look deeper inside of her and learn that she’s actually more lost than evil; she can’t decide if she wants to be a villain or not, and that’s what makes her so interesting. Then of course, I’ve saved the best character for last, the last dragon herself: Sisu! My God is this dragon adorable! She truly lightens the mood of this film with her excitable personality and unique design, and seeing her gain more powers as Raya collects more pieces of the orb makes her even more intriguing! My only criticism with Sisu is she doesn’t get as much screen time as I had hoped for, and half of her screen time in the movie is in her human form, which is not quite as disappointing as The Princess and the Frog and The Emperor’s New Groove, but it was still a little unnecessary. Regardless, Sisu is such a lovable character whose heart is always in the right place even when she doesn’t always make the best decisions. And yes, she is supposed to be the comic relief, but not in a bad way. At the end of the day, while many of the characters fall under the cliche tropes, the two characters who strongly make up for it are Sisu and Namaari, and that gives us a perfect balance making all the characters perfect in their own right! I had some doubts about this movie at first, but Raya and the Last Dragon has far exceeded my expectations! After a long string of overrated animated masterpieces and two unnecessary sequels, Disney managed to kick off the 2020 decade with a more original animated film that deserves so much praise! With its engaging story, lovable and interesting characters, and top notch animation you won’t believe, this movie deserves to go down in the books as one of Disney’s greatest! I think it’s pretty inevitable that I give this movie Belchic’s Seal of Approval! Now, the question is, can Disney pull off this lightning in a bottle again with their next movie, Encanto? We’ll have to wait and see this holiday season. Story: 10/10 Animation: 10/10 Characters: 10/10 Overall: 10/10 = 100% What do you think of that, Trey_Vore?
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Post by Trey_Vore on Mar 8, 2021 19:11:29 GMT -5
Very nice, good to hear you give it a good score.
Can't wait to see what else you do.
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Post by Belchic on Aug 23, 2021 16:06:59 GMT -5
PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021)
PAW Patrol: The Movie. Based on the popular children's series on Nick Jr., PAW Patrol has been a hit with kids and parents everywhere, even moreso than some other popular Nickelodeon shows. And now, after eight years of running, Ryder and his team of pups are making their debut on the big screen for their biggest and most epic adventure ever! Considering how popular the show is, a movie felt long overdue, but it's here now. The big question is, will this be another sucessful mission for the pups, or will this turn out to be another disaster made by Mayor Humdinger? Let's find out...
The Story Those of you who are familiar with PAW Patrol probably know how the premise of the show goes: Ryder gets a distress call about an emergency in Adventure Bay, and he and the pups go and save the day. It's pretty repetitive and predictable, and probably wouldn't make for a good movie plot on paper. However, this movie goes above and beyond those boundaries. In this movie, Ryder and the pups are traveling all the way to a new place called Adventure City (Anaheim should sue!) where Mayor Humdinger has become the city's new mayor by default and is making a disaster out of the city. In addition to that, there are two other subplots going on, which try to make the story seem like a more fresh idea. One of which involves Liberty, a street-wise Daucshund who lives in Adventure City who idolizes the PAW Patrol and dreams of being their newest member. The other story involves Chase who has bad memories of Adventure City since that's where he originally came from before Ryder adopted him, and being back in the city is making him feel insecure. The latter of these two stories I feel is really strong as it helps us learn more about Chase's backstory and feel for him. It also helps us understand how Ryder came up with the idea to start the PAW Patrol in the first place. That being said, while the movie serves as a strong vehicle for Chase (no pun intended), it seems to put a little too much focus on him and not as much on the other pups, but I'll get to that later. Still, despite having so many diverse plots, the movie's pieces do fit together very well making for a great PAW Patrol adventure with some engaging stories to keep the idea fresh at the same time. The writers did their best to make this movie actually feel like an actual movie rather than a 90-minute episode of the show.
The Animation PAW Patrol, as we all know, is a CGI animated series, and while that idea does sound pretty ambitious, animation experts who watch the show know that the animation is quite cheap, but considering how quickly they gotta get the episodes out, it's understandable. The movie, however, is a whole different story. For the movie, the animation got a HUGE upgrade! Everything from the characters to the world-building around them is so massive and detailed that you can't take your eyes off of them. This is especially the case for the animation on the dogs. They put so much detail on their fur that they actually look more like real dogs. While some hardcore fans of the show might be a little creeped out by the characters' eyes since they're used to their series designs, it's overall not too bad. Half of the time, when I was watching this movie, I actually felt more like I was watching another animated film rather than a PAW Patrol movie. The idea of seeing dogs out in the big city made me think of The Secret Life of Pets, and the cloud machine in the sky kind of gave me vibes of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It's surprising to think that the animators who worked on a movie based on a preschool show would put so much time and effort into making the movie look as gorgeous as possible, but they sure did pull it off!
The Characters As any PAW Patrol fan would expect, all of our favorite beloved characters from the show are all here, and they're basically the same characters we know and love from the show. There's Ryder, the leader of the PAW Patrol who leads the pups. Chase is the mature police pup, Marshall is the clumsy fire pup, Rocky is the repair pup, Rubble is the comical and always hungry construction pup, Zuma is the water rescue surfer dude pup, and Skye is the tomboyish aviant girl pup. And of course, there's Mayor Humdinger, the whiny, selfish, thoughtless mayor who always wants to get things his way with his kittens doing all his dirty work. In addition to that, we also have these two security guards who work alongside Mayor Humdinger, and they're basically the stereotypical bumbling idiot duo that most villains have (like Horace and Jasper from 101 Dalmatians). There are some other recurring characters like Marty Muckracker, the news reporter voiced by Jimmy Kimmel, and Kendra Wilson, the scientist who always talks in a way that nobody can understand her. At last, we come to the character that everyone is talking about, Liberty. This is one cool pup, and her motivations are 100% clear, and it seems like every time she's on screen, she just steals the show! Although, this brings up the one problem I have with the characters in this movie. While this is supposed to be the PAW Patrol movie, the only pups who really seem to get any spotlight in the movie are Liberty and Chase. I understand we need to focus on Chase's motivations and backstory, and I understand Liberty needs focus because she's the new pup, but none of the other pups get as much spotlight as those two. I mean, Marshall and Rubble are the comic reliefs, and while Rubble does have a few funny moments, Marshall doesn't get any, and he's the fan favorite! Skye also gets a little spotlight in the rescue scenes, but that's about it. It would have been nice to see each of the pups try to get an equal amount of spotlight with some moments that showcase their personalities. Otherwise, there's really no point in calling this "The PAW Patrol Movie"; they might as well call it "The Chase Movie". Regardless, the hardcore fans will still enjoy seeing their favorite pups in action in this movie, and it doesn't disappoint too much.
PAW Patrol: The Movie is a movie that far exceeded my expectations. Sure the story could use some minor adjustments, and some of the characters could use some more spotlight, but it's still a great film adaptation of such a popular children's show with top notch animation, new world-building, and breathtaking action that will keep you on the edge of your seat! If you're a PAW Patrol fan, then this movie is a must watch! It may not be a masterpiece, but it is certainly a fun movie for kids to enjoy watching with their parents, and it certainly opens up the door for even more toys to sell and opportunities for future episode plots! After seeing this flick, I can't wait to see what kinds of missions await Ryder and the pups next!
Story: 8/10 Animation: 10/10 Characters: 7/10
Overall: 8/10 = 83%
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Post by Belchic on Sept 6, 2021 1:15:48 GMT -5
Up (2009)
Up. It’s not every day we see a movie that’s only a single 2-letter word, but if any studio can do it, it’s Pixar. Pixar has had a reputation of making some of the most popular animated films of all time, and this one is highly regarded as one of Pixar’s absolute best, especially since it was directed by Pete Docter. This movie was so successful it even got an Oscar nomination for Best Picture! This movie also featured the voices of two legendary actors, both of which we sadly lost this year. Looking back on it today, is it still as grand as Paradise Falls, or should we just pop it like a balloon? Let’s find out.
The Story The movie is about Carl Frederickson, an old man who lost his wife sometime ago who shared his dream of moving to Paradise Falls. When forced to move to a retirement home, he attaches his house to a bazillion balloons flying it away to Paradise Falls himself. Along the way, he gets a stowaway scout named Russell trying to earn a badge for helping the elderly, and the two of them encounter many dangers along the way towards Carl’s goal including Carl’s childhood hero, Charles Muntz determined to kill a legendary bird that Russell befriended. It’s the classic tear-jerking story you’d expect from Pixar, and the first 10 minutes really set the mood showing Carl’s backstory, when he first met Ellie, and how they lived their life together growing up, right up to Ellie’s death. Let me tell you, theaters just flooded over this moment, and they still do today. You can always count on Pixar to make a story that will make even the manliest of men cry like babies!
The Animation This is Pixar animation at its finest. Everything is so detailed and perfect, yet it still captures that classic Pixar feel to it. This especially comes into play with the character animation, especially with the dogs, who tend to move like real dogs. There’s no question about it, Pixar is just as good at Disney with delivering animation that pushes the boundaries of what they can do.
The Characters There’s a lot to say about these characters. First, we have Carl, the grumpy old man voiced by the late Ed Asner, who is surprisingly lovable especially when we feel sympathy for him. Russell is the typical adventure-seeking kid. Dug is the comic relief who most likely says what dogs would really say if they could talk. Kevin is the elusive bird who’s nothing more than the silent animal sidekick. Alpha is supposed to be the sinister leader of the evil dogs, whom we can’t take seriously because his talking collar keeps glitching out. Beta and Gamma are nothing much than the two bumbling sidekicks of Alpha. Then there’s the villain, Charles Muntz, who like most Pixar villains, is the surprise twist villain, but he is voiced by the late Christopher Plummer, who gives an astounding performance to the character. As cliche as all these characters are, they’re all surprisingly perfect, and I wouldn’t change a thing about them!
I would lie if I said that Up was not a Pixar masterpiece. You have every right to cry over this movie. Every Disney and Pixar fan should have this in their collection. Everything about this movie just screams perfection, and that is why I am honored to give it Belchic’s Seal of Approval!
Story: 10/10 Animation: 10/10 Characters: 10/10
Overall: 10/10 = 100%
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Post by Belchic on Sept 26, 2021 1:30:36 GMT -5
My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021)
My Little Pony: A New Generation. Ever since the announcement of G4’s cancellation and G5’s rumors, Bronies everywhere have been waiting a long time for this movie. But now with the wait finally being over, this new generation of My Little Pony has finally arrived on Netflix for everyone to enjoy! The question is will this be a worthy spiritual successor, or shall we consider it an oddball to its predecessor? Let’s find out…
The Story As we learned while waiting for this movie, the story is set in the same universe as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, except it is set several decades later where all the pony races are divided and view each other as evil. Now, it’s up to a young earth pony named Sunny Starscout who wants to reunite the races because she believes they can all be friends. Now, right from the get-go, does this plot sound familiar to you? It’s got world-building elements, it’s about a young girl who wants to bring a divided world back together and has other characters join her on her journey, and it has a strong message about unity and trust. Doesn’t this sound identical to another movie that came out this year? That’s right: Raya and the Last Dragon! Though while some people may view it as a rip-off, that doesn’t automatically make it bad; it ultimately depends on how well the movie executes it, and this movie…actually does it pretty well. The movie does a decent job holding all the pieces together, plus it has some humor that’s subtle enough so that it doesn’t steal the show, even though most of the humor comes from one character. It also has a lot of references to Friendship is Magic that Bronies will definitely be able to point out. However, there are times when the story can get predictable, and there are also moments that feel a bit rushed. I won’t give away any spoilers, but those who have seen the movie know what I’m talking about. At the end of the day, it is what it is, and while I would have wanted a little more out of the story, it is still passable.
The Animation This is my first time seeing any incarnation of My Little Pony in computer animation, and I gotta say, it looks pretty nice! Everything looks bright and colorful from the characters to the scenery, and the movements of the characters are so much like any official CGI animated film I see in recent days. It’s certainly a lot better than all those fan made CGI models of the G4 ponies I see on YouTube and DeviantArt. Regardless of how you look at it, while it’s nowhere near the perfection you’d see from a studio like Disney, it’s still eye candy.
The Characters If Hasbro wants to make a spiritual successor to Friendship is Magic that lives up to its predecessor, then the one thing they got to get right is the characters. For our main characters, we got Sunny Starscout, the main pony who wants to reunite all the pony races. You can clearly tell that she was heavily inspired by Twilight Sparkle with all her personality traits, even though she is an earth pony. Then there’s Hitch Trailblazer, Sunny’s childhood friend who starts off antagonistic in wanting to arrest Sunny for her actions, but he soon comes around. Izzy Moonbow, the only unicorn of the group, is supposed to be the comic relief, and pretty much everything she says and does is something I would expect Pinkie Pie to do! Heck, even her unicorn friends remind me of the rest of the Pie family. Then we have Zipp Storm, a pegasus who has the same dream as Sunny. Her sister, Pipp Pedals, is like a pop star in her town who also starts off a little antagonist, but it doesn’t take her long to warm up to the others. There are other supporting characters like Queen Haven and Alphabittle who do their part in the movie nicely too. Then we have the antagonist of the film, Sprout, an earth pony who wants to make sure the races never unite and goes to the extreme to make sure that never happens after Hitch mistakenly gave him control over the town he was keeping under control. He’s probably the worst character in the film since his actions are childish, and he’s a pretty stereotypical villain. Regardless of that, the characters are still all great. They’re very three-dimensional, and the voice actors really made the most out of their performances, because they all sound like they’re having the time of their lives! That’s what really matters.
The Songs Since this is a My Little Pony movie, you would expect this to be a musical, and they don’t disappoint with that aspect. Friendship is Magic had so many memorable songs that tackled on a variety of different genres. This movie…does not. I don’t have much to say about the songs because they’re all pretty much the same: just generic modern day synth pop songs. That’s not to say they’re bad songs. Most of the songs like “Fit Right In” and “I’m Looking Out For You” are kind of fun. Though the worst song of the movie would have to be “Danger, Danger”; as I was listening to it, I just couldn’t stop crying, “MAKE IT STOP!!!” Like I said, these are not terrible songs, it’s just the lack of variety in styles make the soundtrack very mediocre at best, and that’s kind of a letdown considering I had such high expectations for this movie.
I waited a long time for this movie, and while it didn’t quite meet my expectations, I still had a good time watching it. My Little Pony: A New Generation is no masterpiece by any means, but it’s still a fun movie that is sure to leave a happy feeling in your heart. It’s nowhere near as memorable as the G4 series, but it’s still a worthy successor, and I hope Hasbro has plans to do more with this incarnation in the future so that we could get to know these characters more and see more exploration with the storyline. If you’re a fan of Friendship is Magic, then you’ll definitely get a good kick out of this movie. It’s not strong enough to earn my Seal of Approval, but it’s still a good movie that you can just have fun with. If you’re curious to check this movie out, then do so by all means, but if you’re expecting something as grand and memorable as Friendship is Magic…lower your expectations a bit.
Story: 7/10 Animation: 9/10 Characters: 9/10 Songs: 6/10
Overall: 8/10 = 78%
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Post by Trey_Vore on Sept 29, 2021 6:32:09 GMT -5
Way to make use of that ending fanfare Belchic!
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Post by Belchic on Oct 1, 2021 17:08:55 GMT -5
Way to make use of that ending fanfare Belchic! Thanks. I’ll probably continue to do that for my future reviews. Do you think I should go back and add fanfares to all my past reviews?
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Post by Trey_Vore on Oct 2, 2021 23:30:03 GMT -5
Sure, go ahead.
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Post by Belchic on Oct 16, 2021 21:55:23 GMT -5
In memory of Ruthie Thompson, I decided to do a review on this film:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. What can be said about this movie that hasn’t already been said? This was a revolutionary film that launched a new genre into the film industry. Without it, none of the other animated films we know and love would exist. While it wasn’t the first feature-length animated film, it was the first one released in America and the first to leave a cultural impact on the entire world. Walt Disney wanted to make this film as something no one had done before and went bankrupt putting all together. In the end, it paid off since the movie was a huge success and revolutionized the film industry for years to come and would launch Disney’s successful line of movies! Now, looking at where we are almost 85 years later, is this movie still the fairest of them all, or does it deserve to take a bite out of a poison apple? Let’s find out…
The Story The movie is a classic fairytale about a young girl who is known as the fairest in the land much to her stepmother’s dismay. After her huntsman makes an attempt to kill her, Snow White runs into the forest where she befriends some forest animals and the seven dwarfs. At the same time, she is hoping to meet her dream prince again so that she could live happily ever after. The story’s pieces all fit together perfectly with it’s heartwarming moments such as Snow White’s love story, it’s lighthearted comedic moments like with the dwarfs, and even the dark moments like when the queen tries to kill Snow White. Everything flows so perfectly making this an engaging story suitable for all ages and fans of all types of atmosphere. It truly is a story that all generations can fall in love with.
The Animation Of course, being that this is the very first of it’s kind, the one most important thing to look at is the animation, and this movie certainly went above and beyond the call of duty! Sure it does look primitive by today’s standards, but back in 1937, it was mind-blowing! You gotta consider that every single cell in this film was completely drawn by hand, and Walt pushed all of his animators to make the whole film look as believable as possible with how the characters move so realistically. Not to mention, it’s in color, which was also relatively new at the time. Another thing to consider is the character animation as it shows a perfect introduction to Walt’s soon-to-be Nine Old Men and showing what they were all capable of doing. Today, stuff like this can be done much quicker with computers, but this was made during a time when computers hadn’t been invented yet. That being said, I can tell that this film took three years to make, and the end result truly paid off! With all the revolutionary stuff that Walt introduced in animation like realism, synchronized sound, color, Rotoscoping and the Multi-Pane Camera, this movie could be considered like a final exam to all the people who worked with that stuff, and it just leaves you looking forward to the next big thing.
The Characters Another thing that left a cultural impact on audiences are the characters themselves. Snow White is a very kind and caring princess always optimistic and willing to do anything. The queen is arguably one of the most popular Disney villains of all time; heck, I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen dress up as her for Halloween! Then there’s the dwarfs themselves who are meant to be the comic reliefs thanks to all their unique personalities that are personified in their names. Though of the dwarfs, the two who seem to get the most spotlight are Dopey and Grumpy; I understand they’re the fan favorites, but it would be nice if the rest of the dwarfs got a little more spotlight even if they each have their moments. Then there is the prince who is barely in the picture at all; though to be fair, he was going to have more scenes, but they were cut because he was too difficult to animate at the time, but that’s what I kinda like about him that they kept him more of a mystery so that we can focus more on the other characters. Regardless of those flaws, this is an unforgettable roster of characters that everyone will love for generations to come!
The Songs Yet another thing that made this film revolutionary was the fact that it was a musical, and those too were not very common at the time. While the songs aren’t really mind-blowing, they were appropriate for the time. Snow White’s songs, “I’m Wishing”, “With a Smile and a Song”, “Whistle While You Work”, and especially “Someday My Prince Will Come” are very soothing and uplifting. The dwarfs’ songs, “Heigh-Ho”, “Buddle-Uddle-Um-Dum” and “The Silly Song” are more fun songs for the kids, especially the former for becoming one of Disney’s standards. Then there’s the movie’s main song, “One Song”, which in my opinion is a very underrated love song in the Disney library. With a perfect combination of soft songs and fun songs, this movie was given a well-balanced soundtrack making this a great start for Disney musicals that would come in the coming decades.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was incredible back then, and it’s still incredible now! It truly stands the test of time proving that animation had a place in the film industry as a genre in and of itself. With its solid story, perfect animation, memorable characters, and perfectly-balanced soundtrack, it truly set the standards for what a Disney movie should be! What was Disney’s folley is actually Disney’s greatest achievement! I would give it Belchic’s Seal of Approval, but I don’t think that honor is high enough for this masterpiece! It is one for the books!
Story: 10/10 Animation: 10/10 Characters: 10/10 Songs: 10/10
Overall: 10/10 = 100%
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Post by Trey_Vore on Oct 17, 2021 6:49:54 GMT -5
Great job on this one!
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Post by Belchic on Feb 13, 2022 2:27:05 GMT -5
Sing 2 (2021)
Sing 2. 2020 did not give us much of a chance to go to the theaters to see animated films due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which continued right into 2021, but surprisingly, it wasn't long until movie theaters started to reopen, and 2021 gave us quite a few memorable animated films, and they decided to cap off the year with this long-awaited sequel to a cult classic flick from Illumination. Now, I did see the first movie, and it was good, but I didn't fall in love with it as much as I did with Despicable Me or The Secret Life of Pets. However, when this sequel was announced, I decided to give the franchise another chance and see how I liked this one. That being said, will this movie be an improvement over its predecessor, or is it just another quick cash grab for Illumination? Let's find out...
The Story The movie begins right where the first movie left off. Buster Moon and his team of performers are making a big time in their theater. However, when a talent scout named Suki tells him he would never make it in Redshore City, Buster tries to prove her wrong and do whatever it takes to get his show approved by Jimmy Crystal. The plot is very similar to the first movie where Buster lies his way to get what he wants not just for him, but all his performers, and hilarity ensues on so many levels when people start finding out the truth and drama occurs with the rest of the cast. On paper, this sounds like a bad idea, but when you actually watch the film, all the sub-plots and loose ends actually all tie together very well. I'd say they do it even better than the original. Of course, the film is building up to its big climax, which is the big show that Buster is trying to pull together, and I'm not going to give anything away, but once that climax comes, it's worth the wait!
The Animation Illumination hasn't always been the best studio in terms of animation. For the most part, they're above average, and they have a style that is certainly unforgettable. However, when they get it right, they certainly get it right. And that being said, this is one of Illumination's best work in terms of animation! The character animation is bright and colorful with lots of details, the camera movements fly all over the place giving us a full, three-dimensional 360 degree view of everything that is around us, and it really feels like they really pushed the boundaries with all the world-building. It feels as if you are really there in the middle of the action! This is especially the case when you're watching the big show during the climax! This isn't eye candy...it's eye banana splits! It took them five years to make this movie, and it seems most of that time went into the animation alone, and that made it well worth the wait!
The Characters All the characters we know and love from the first movie are back in this sequel, with the exception of Mike the Mouse, who isn't even mentioned in this movie. However, we still got Buster Moon, Miss Crawly, Rosita, Ash, Johnny, Meena and Gunter, who are all the same lovable characters we remember from the first movie. As for the new characters, we have the villain of the movie, Jimmy Crystal, who is really nothing more than a stereotypical evil businessman; he's a character that you love to hate. Suki is Jimmy's talent scout who at first seems antagonistic towards Buster, but later on, we learn its more like just tough love, and to be honest, I actually think those two might make a cute couple. Jimmy's daughter, Porsha, is really a true hotty who is small on brains but big on beauty. Alfonso is a character who I felt was just shoehorned into the film just to give Meena a love interest and a motivation to get over her fears. Darius, Meena's partner in the show, is a character who I feel is just there. Nooshy, I feel was a good addition as she acts as a dance mentor for Johnny who helps him gain back his confidence after being pushed around by his pushy dance instructor, Klaus Knickenklober. And finally, we have Clay Calloway, the rock star legend who hasn't been seen publicly since his wife passed away who Buster is trying to get to be the headliner of his show in order to make it famous; he's probably the best character in the film not only because he's voiced by U2's lead frontman, Bono, but his character is a perfect representation of a famous rock legend who is super high on the famous scale like Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan or Robert Plant, and the way he acts is exactly what those kinds of icons act in situations like the plot of this movie. Overall, while the cast is a mixed bag, there are certainly more good characters than bad, and each character is voiced by a fitting big name actor, and each one makes the most out of their performances in both acting and singing. They truly deliver a fun performance!
I gotta say, I was truly surprised going in to see this movie. I was expecting it to be an above average popcorn flick, but I was proven wrong when it far exceeded my expectations! Sing 2 is a worthy successor to its original counterpart. In fact, I might even go as far to say it's even better than the original! With its faithful story, characters who are a lot of fun to watch, mind-blowing animation that goes way beyond the call of duty, and capping it all off with a mind-blowing show as its climax, I can safely say that this is without a doubt one of Illumination's best films! I really hope they make a Sing 3 after giving us something as mind-blowing as this! They certainly opened the door for another sequel, and if this one was better than the original, then I'm sure the third one will be even more incredible! It's not very often that I give a sequel a standing ovation, but this one certainly got one from me, and that is why I am giving it Belchic's Seal of Approval! There's really nothing more left to say but...Encore!
Story: 8/10 Animation: 10/10 Characters: 9/10
Overall: 9/10 = 90%
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Post by Trey_Vore on Feb 13, 2022 19:59:32 GMT -5
Not a bad review at all man.
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Post by Belchic on Mar 13, 2022 21:54:05 GMT -5
Turning Red (2022)
Turning Red. Well, it looks like the geniuses of Pixar are back again to give us another Oscar-worthy animated masterpiece that is sure to make audiences everywhere cry like a bunch of babies! I will say, at first glance, I wasn't sure about this movie thinking that it didn't look much like a Pixar movie, but rather something from one of their rival studios like Dreamworks. I was proven wrong though because the day it was released, it instantly became a fan favorite! After seeing it for myself, will this movie be truly worthy of releasing the red panda, or will it be a curse amongst us all? Let's find out...
The Story At first, the movie seems like your typical kids flick. It's about this 8th grade girl named Mei-Mei who wants to have an awesome life and see a concert of her favorite boy band with her friends. However, she has a couple challenges she has to face such as putting up with her overprotective mother, but things go even further south for her when a curse is put upon her brought from her ancestry where releasing any strong emotion will cause her to turn into a giant red panda. Eventually, she learns to control her emotions and accepts her morphing ability when she finds out her friends love her like that. The problem I have with the story is that it's very unoriginal. It's a very cliche and predictable story that we've seen way too many times in recent days, and that's a major dissapointment considering it's coming from Pixar. I understand there is a strong message about the importance of family and being true to yourself, but that's the problem. I would think that Pixar would come up with something more original rather than a cliche story with a moral that we've seen way too many times. Another big problem is the humor. I wouldn't necessarily call it "low-brow humor", but I didn't chuckle once when watching this movie, and there are even times when the humor could also get really annoying. Not to mention the backstory as to how Mei-Mei got the curse is so confusing it opens the door for so many questions. The story's pieces just don't fit together, and that really makes it a total letdown.
The Animation I will say, while this movie is not very strong story-wise, they at least managed to give us something visually appealing, which is something Pixar almost never fails at. They still managed to give us a gorgeous-looking animated film with so many great textures and details. I wouldn't say it's bright and colorful though, because there is an excessive use of red, which appropriately sets the mood for the film, but it's lacking some softer colors like blue leaving us with a film that looks more like it's made for little girls more than anything else. Then there's the character animation, which sometimes can look a little cartoony at times, but the expressions on the faces are still so believable they're almost real. At the end of the day, while the animation can be a mixed bag, it's still a very admirable film.
The Characters We have quite a lot of characters to look at in this movie, and while they are all very three-dimensional, I just can't overlook the fact that they're the most cliche characters in any animated movie with a concept like this! For our main character, Mei-Mei, she's pretty much what you'd expect from a middle-school student going through a hard time: an emotional roller coaster. That being said, I'm having a hard time deciding if I should love her or hate her. Mei's mother, Ming, is the stereotypical overprotective mother. Mei's friends, Ava, Priya and Abby are nothing more than just stereotypical girl friends: the tomboy, the goth, and the annoying energetic one. Then there's Tyler, who is sort of the anti-villain of the film who starts off as a bully to Mei-Mei but later grows into a nicer and likable guy. Then there's the rest of Mei's family who sadly don't get enough screentime for us to actually get to know them as characters. You would think that Mei's dad would be the encouraging supportive father figure type, but even he isn't developed enough. I'm sorry, but I can't really say much about these characters because half of them are overused stereotypes while the other half I know close to nothing about. This movie literally gives me nothing to work with!
Turning Red is easily one of Pixar's weakest films. I mean, it's not a bad movie, but compared to what they gave us in the past, this is a major disappointment. I wouldn't say it's as bad as Cars 2, but I'd say it's more on the levels of something like Brave where I find it to not meet my expectations but still find it passable. I'm sure kids will get a good kick out of this movie's humor, but it might leave some people a little confused. If you're curious to check it out, then by all means, do. It's harmless to say the least, but if you're a Pixar fan, don't expect it to be anything mind-blowing like Finding Nemo, Up or Coco. I wasn't expecting this movie to be anything spectacular, but at least I gave it a chance. I'm just going to say that this is just going to be Pixar's appetizer before the main course, because I'm anticipating Lightyear to blow my mind!
Story: 3/10 Animation: 8/10 Characters: 5/10
Overall: 5/10 = 53%
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