BMU Episode 465

Episode 465

This week I have two stories.

Opening Doors by Sean Mulroy and Handyman by Frank Banta.

 I start with Elton John's Rocketman, then head over for a few articles from the blog.

Astronomers have observed the most luminous galaxies in the universe. 10 bil 4 after big bang. Bigelow spacecraft module. Supergirl still has not been reserved. The Batman / Joker animation "The Killing Joke" is due out this summer and The Justice League vs Tean Titans is available as of this publication. Finally Adam Nemoy "For the Love of Spock" has released a trailer. Adam raised over 600 thousand dollars towards the final project. No time line yet, but I can not imagine it being too far out there.

Thanks to Mebbles for the update!

Here is the direct link to the program.   Press Here

"The Killing Joke" due out in Animation!

Arguably one of the best comic books  (The Killing Joke)  is due out in animation, in the summer of 2016.

What makes it even more exciting is the stars of the animated feature, Mark Hamell as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman.

Here is a short featurette  of the upcoming film:

Review: Inside Out

Starring the voice talents of 

Amy Poehler as Joy

Phyllis Smith as Sadness

Bill Hader as Fear

Lewis Black as Anger

Mindy Kaling as Disgust

Richard Kind as Bing Bong

Kaitlyn Dias as Riley Andersen

Diane Lane as Riley's Mother

Kyle MacLachlan as Riley's Father

Paula Poundstone as Forgetter Paula

Bobby Moynihan as Forgetter Bobby

I had heard some good things about the animated feature Inside Out, so I finally got a watchable retail dvd to see what all the excitement was about when the movie first hit general release. I wasn't disappointed.

A Pixar / Disney collaboration (is that the proper word? Since they are part of the same company.) That seemed to take the best of both.

I thought with Disney, I was going to get a straight on children's film and in a lot of respects, that is what I got. Oddball characters and even stranger plots. Not disappointed on either front with Inside Out.

But once the main characters are introduced, the plot-line takes a turn towards the dark. The whole plot device being that the major emotions are taken up by identifiable archetypes and we view the majority of the movie from these archetypes view point with occasional forays into the exterior world to observe the interplay between external and internal worlds.

There are several places in the film where each of the characters are highlighted and how they make up the whole. And this is why I have reservation on very young children watching this film. The emotions are strong and intense, so much so that even as an adult I was uncomfortable and uneasy, so I would lean towards older children with more experience with stronger emotions

"Ambition" a new sci-fi movie from Tomek Bagiński

Tomek Bagiński is not a name I am very familiar with but IS one that I am going to try and reverse that mistake.

His newest project is Ambition, which will see release in late October, looks to be a very interesting movie.   Check out the trailer below.



Ambition:  tells of a young apprentice struggling to master nanotechnology on an alien world and prove herself to her enigmatic master.

I really began to build interest after I saw  Bagiński's short  film The Cathedral, which got an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film in 2002. 



"The Cathedral" is based on a story by Jacek Dukaj under the same title.   If the more (if I may)
Ambitious work is anywhere near the work of Cathedral then I suspect it is going to be a treat in its' own rite.

review: The Croods

Directed by     Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders 

Starring     Nicolas Cage    Emma Stone
        Ryan Reynolds    Catherine Keener
        Clark Duke    Cloris Leachman

Meet the Croods.  Three generations of cave dwellers at the dawn of time.  It would seem that they are the last of their "kind" as all their neighbors came to rather untimely end, each more gruesome end.

The Croods most likely will fall victim to just the same kind of even, that was until the daughter discovers a strange boy with an even stranger pet he calls fire.  

This strange boy is running from the end of the world and to prove his point the Croods'  cave is destroyed by  a massive rock slide.

Now they must travel to find a new cave all the while avoiding all forms of wild flora & fauna that would like nothing more that to have them for lunch.

The Croods is again a step up in animation.  There are several places in the film that all you can think "oh now they are just showing off!"  It really is that sumptuous.  I had to remind myself at times that what I was watching WAS animation.  It wasn't so much the main characters or even the story line which bears little resemblance to historical or archeological records, but the little things in an environment or passing moment that comes and goes with hardly a notice.  Blades of grass wave in the breeze as does hair on their heads.  Fire moves as though alive.  All the little subtleties that convince you that an environment is real.  From huge flocks of birds  to gargantuan explosion, everything blends into an environment that is both surreal and totally real at the same time.

The Croods had something for all ages, but to be honest, it is a movie for the young but for those of you that are sitting there watching, you will find the level of detail in the animation at times breath taking.  

I would give the film a 7 mainly because there was no effort to keep the timeline accurate.  But that will have to be my only bitch, it certain IS worth a watch....if you have kids...add it to your collection even.

Superman Animation Celebrtates 75th Anaversity !!

The short included here comes from the very creative imaginations of Zack Snyder and Bruce Timm.

The idea of the short is to celebrate Superman through out the years.  From his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1 to this year's Man of Steel, from Henry Carvill.

Review: Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie by Tim Burton  B+W stop motion

Directed by     Tim Burton
Story by          Tim Burton
Based on         Frankenweenie by Tim Burton

Starring   
Catherine O'Hara  Susan Frankenstein
Martin Short  Edward Frankenstein
Martin Landau  Mr. Rzykruski
Charlie Tahan  Victor Frankenstein
Atticus Shaffer  Edgar "E" Gore
Winona Ryder  Elsa van Helsing

The first thing I think needs clearing is what this film is based on.  Burton a few years back make a live action short called Frankenweenie.   As you may have guessed, this short was based on a boy named Edward who loved making films and often used his constant companion  his dog Sparky who through an errant pitch at a baseball game, fetched the wayward ball and was run over by a car for his trouble, killing him.

Young Victor sees an experiment with a frog and electricity.   Exhuming Sparkie he pulls a Shelly Frankenstein's Monster  which eventually is successful and Sparkie is once again with his best friend.

Now Burton's stop motion Frankenweenie if virtually frame for frame exactly like the live action. 

Burton also has fun by sending up many of the old horror films like Frankenstein, King's Pet Semetary, Edward Scissorhands among others.  I won't give away all the little tid bits that are there for the film buffs and or adults who I know will be watching!

As for rating the film.  The stop motion is extremely good.  The voice acting was a treat and the visuals and tongue in cheek references are fun for adults and kids alike.  I think it is an easy 8.5

As far as extras there is loads of information on how Tim is keeping an old tech alive and fun. A good 8  for a 16.5 film total and an 8.25  for average.    Well worth the watch. 

 

Animated short: Girl and Robot

Here is a cute shot animation done in Steam Punk called Girl and Robot....Enjoy

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Trailer

I know, cartoon, kid stuff yada yada......But if your a fan and you could not resist sticking your tongue out at the kid stuff comment are truly going to enjoy a trailer for How to Train Your Dragon 2.  The animation is truly breath taking.  If the film is half what the trailer is, then we are in for a serious treat!

Review:Rise of the Guardians

Chris Pine as Jackson Overland Frost or Jack Frost

Alec Baldwin as Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus), 

Hugh Jackman as E. Aster Bunnymund (Easter Bunny)

Isla Fisher as Toothiana or Tooth for short (Tooth Fairy)

Jude Law as Pitch Black (The Boogeyman)

Where are you likely to find a possibly demented Russian Cossack, A giant Ninja Rabbit and a human humming bird all in one place?  In a Dreamworks animated feature, that's where. 

The story revolves around the major holidays and the "Guardians" who protect the institutions against those who would see the holidays disbanded and no longer practiced.

Into this mix comes Jackson Overland Frost or Jack Frost one of many magical entities that have powers that are associated with holidays or times of the year.  Jack of course brings the cold and frost which seems to be all that he knows about his former life.  He knows that he is immortal,  but nothing about his former life. All he knows is that the guardians have all but ignored him over the centuries.   The Guardians find out that the ancient boogy man "Pitch Black" is planning to destroy children's faith in the Guardians with nightmares.  He convinces Jack that the Guardians do not care about him at all.  With Jack's help the Guardians are weakened as children stop believing in them.

Through another misadventure Jack begins to regain his memory and with the aid of the only child left who believes in the Guardians, beats Pitch Black.

As you can see, the plot is fairly simplistic but has enough twists to set itself somewhat apart from the totally derivative children's fare.  The computer 3d animation is more than adequate giving the viewer a visual treat in motion and color.

Extras on disk are slim.  One inclusion that bares notice is Paperman.  From the wikipedia:

• Paperman is a 2012 black-and-white 3D hand-drawn/computer animated romantic comedy short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios
• The short won both an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 85th Academy Awards and the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject at the 40th Annie Awards 

Here is the wiki on Paperman  HERE

Review: The Secret of Kells

Animated feature - running time 75 minutes

Story and directed by Tomm Moore

Kells is set during the dark eras of early Christianity during the eighth century. 

The main character, Brendan, is growing up in a remote abbey in Ireland. 

What we are treated to is a fictionalized version of the creation of the Book of Kells, which is a real book, depicting an illuminated manuscript of the bible which has since become an Irish national treasure.  

Brendan has heard of a great book, the Book of Iona.  Brought to the abbey by Aiden of Iona who is a legendary illuminator.

Brendan desperately wants to be an illuminator but finds working on the Book of Iona completely unsettling.  He finds that he must face his inner fears and the fear of the forest outside the wall.

Saying much more would really ruin some of the really well written and acted parts.   The animation is very stylized however you get so involved with the story that if it does bother, it won't for long.

I was totally overtaken by the story as much as the way it was being served to me.  At times simplistic and others, wildly adventurous and mysterious.  It seems like the  stylized animation itself was used as a tool.  If it was, it was damn effective. Plus I like a story that doesn't feel like it should tie up each and every loose end.  The ending I think you will find is very fulfilling.

The film is an easy 9 or 9.5  it is not perfect, but I would be pressed hard to describe an imperfection. I found the film on Hulu.com and I amd sure there are other  outlets.  It is WELL worth watching.

Wiki information on The Secret of Kells

Astonishing X-MEN Unstoppable

First, I know that I am terrible at writing a synopsis, so here is a short description from the wikipedia:

•  In the following Unstoppable arc, Whedon wrote an adventure taking place on the alien Breakworld. The X-Men square off against the Breakworld leaders, who are intending to destroy Earth

First off it should be noted that yes they are animated but with what is described as "motion comics" so it has a very low frame rate and ridged movements.  But if anything it helps you to get back into the "feel"  of reading a comic.  That is, up to a point, then the rigid, limited number of frames is a bit distracting.  

Whedon's arc, it should be noted, began as a comic arc done with illustrator John Cassaday.  Here is what the Wiki had for a short description:

• In the ... Unstoppable arc, Whedon wrote an adventure taking place on the alien Breakworld. The X-Men square off against the Breakworld leaders, who are intending to destroy(ing) Earth 

That is basically the whole plot, sorry, I don't often give a complete movie description but when you can do it in two line, well,  

As simplistic as it sounds, Whedon's script is tense and moves fast.  The characters have depth that you can identify with.  The predicament makes sense and the final outcome is something that you can emphasize   with.  

I can not speak to extras because it was a rental but if you are an Avengers fan and even if you are not familiar with the comics that was the basis of these DVDs, I can almost bet that these "motion comics" will be good solid entertainment. I would rate the effort a 7

Review : Btoom! anime series

Anyone ever catch the latest Predator movie? The last one remember? Where

people wake up not knowing where they are or why. Periodically a c130 flies over and drops supplies. You "win" when you destroy the mysterious alien bent on killing you. This is where the review gets a little strange because to some extent I have been describing the anime series Btoom! In Btoom! Main character Ryōta wakes up hanging in a parachute harness. Once free he finds that everyone he meets wants to kill him. There are no guns or knives but different "flavors" of hand thrown explosive. Ryōta is know a one of the best players of an online game called "Btoom" and strangely enough the island and the online game seem to mirror each other. Ryōta realizes that if he plays the game on the island he may be able to go home. Throughout the first few episodes Ryōta gains allies and begins to think that he might be able to get back. The only downside is each player wears a crystal embedded in their hand. when they dye the crystal releases. When you have killed 8 other players you can get off the island. Btoom! is much better than I make it out to be. The plot is far superior to the regular anime angst in high school. The premise keeps you attention and the action, though sometimes ultra violent, leave you in anticipation of the next installment. Though I might want to warn some of the faint of heart, the Mature warning is not all for the violence. There are some very adult situations as well. Many of the "players" on the island feel that the isolation is carte blanche on any type of behavior. It soon becomes evident why the women trapped on the island and forced to play, do not trust men at all. Well it soon is clear to all that the people on the island were chosen for their playing ability of Btoom! With many in fact knowing each other! I thought this series very inventive and entertaining in many ways. I would give it an 8.5 just wondering why some of the theme items are REAL close to the Predator movie. Nit picking I know. Watch it, you will not be disapointed!

Oh, and the ending is way wide open!  Only 12 episodes and almost none of the strings are tied up!
Bummer!

Review: Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror

Every now and then you get surprised by something that is really good, I mean way past expectations. Seems that is happening to me more and more with what I would call, High Concept Anime. Most often in the feature length versions, but not always.

I was recently notified by list that a new animated anime feature was available called Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror". If you enjoyed the lovely anime feature "Spiriting Away" then you really have to take a look at "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror". Oblivion is a 2009 Japanese computer-animated film directed by Shinsuke Sato. It was produced in commemoration of Fuji Television's 50th anniversary.

I am not a great fan of computer animation, mainly because it gives the characters a somewhat plastic look as apposed to the hand drawn version which I consider more pleasing to the eye.

That being said, the movie is every bit as fast paced and environment rich as say Spirited Away. The premise of the movie is that forgotten or otherwise lost items are collected by the fox god.

A young girl missing her mother and feeling unloved, asks for the return of her mother's long lost hand mirror. Soon she finds herself in a small shrine, where through misadventure manages to witness this very same fox god "collecting" items.

Following him, she finds herself thrust into a world of small creatures who build their world with the collected detritus from the human world.

Our main character Haruka soon discovers that this world is ruled by someone called the Barron who in fact has the very mirror she wants returned. The balance of the movie follows Haruka as she and one of the "foxes" as she attempts to regain the mirror and in the balance foil his plans of destruction.

You might not get the same feel of rich legend that Spirited Away provided, but it is clear that the movie's plot and characterizations are rooted in Japanese mythology and a lot of respect was given to the legends that helped formulate the plot.

As far as animated features go, this film I think exemplifies the art-form without being pedantic, so in it's class I would give it a 9 with the drawback of the slightly plastic look to the graphics. I would say that it is well worth tracking down. I found it on YouTube, check it out.

Wikipedia article on Oblivion can be seen HERE

Bob Hoskins Retires Due to Illness

Airlock Alpha has listed an article concerning Bob Hoskins. For you that might be in the dark about Hoskins, He was responsible for bringing to life Eddie Valiant, a rough, angry and hard drinking private eye in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" an animated live action film.
And his role as Smee in the movie Hook in which he stared with Robin Williams and Dustan Hoffman.

Hoskins has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and instead of continuing on a reduced schedule he has opted to retire and spend more time with his family.

NSFW It's The Hoverboard Lightsaber Portal Gun Fight

From College Humor a piece animated video demonstrating some of the most popular death dealing or just plain dangerous toys and weapons all in one NSFW game. waaaahhhhhoooooooooooo lets git ta cuttin!

CollegeHumor’s Favorite Funny Videos

Review: HOP

Staring 

James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuoco, Hank Azaria, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, Hugh Laurie

Director

Tim Hill

HOP is an Easter-themed live-action and animated comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment.

Here is what the Wiki says about HOP and to start of civil, lets go with that.

• Hop stars the voice of Russell Brand as E.B., a rabbit who does not want to succeed his father, Mr. Bunny (Hugh Laurie), in the role of the Easter Bunny; James Marsden as Fred O'Hare, a human who is out of work and wishes to become the next Easter Bunny himself; and the voice of Hank Azaria as Carlos and Phil, two chicks who plot to take over the Easter organization.

 That's nice. If I had started out, it certainly would not be so civil. First off yes, I know it meant for a younger audience, but I am sorry, that doesn't excuse them from making even a marginally watchable movie. But no, this movie is a flip off for anyone over the age of 10. I honestly have never seen so many actors blatantly go out just for the paycheck! But I have to be honest, 30 minutes was all I could take of this travesty. 

One of the first things I like to do is check the extras in case there is a different cut or options. Again, there seemed to be but it would seem that Universal has jumped on the "lets make renters second class customers" wagon by turning off all the extra features and even worse letting you know they are doing it because you are renting! So you can see the mind set I was in when I started the movie proper. I love animation...mixed media is ok in its place. But after a half hour of wooden dialog and garish CGI sets, I was pushing the stop button out the back of the remote. 

There really isn't much good to say. If you are an animation fan, run as fast as you can away from this disk, if you are a collector, well unless you have toddlers still in diapers, don't waste the shelf space. 

The movie itself is an unwatchable morass of cliches and one dimentional characters. Here it is in a nutshell - I don't want to be the Easterbunny! But you HAVE to be the Easter bunny! I don't want to work in a no where job. You don't want to be the easter bunny? I can be the easter bunny! I just don't understand my son! I love what I am doing now! I love you son even if I don't understand you. cut fade and scene. shudder..... 

I don't give out negative number ratings, because that is a bit nonsensical however this is damn close....maybe a 3 denoting the fact that they could light and shoot the movie even if calling it a movie is a stretch.  Put the DVD back in the rack and step back, now turn and run as quickly as you can away from the movie.

Blade anime!

What is happening on G4 Friday 13? Anime Blade that's what!

Check out the trailer.

Wing It: A Short Student Animation Project

Here is a cute animated short that I found on the SF Signal Blog.

Here is some information on who and how the short was created:

• This Short Film Animation Project has been created by students of The Animation School to gain vital work experience.
• They study more about scripting, on-set production which includes post production where such skills as editing, sound recording, special effects creation and compositing are learned. Credits are at the end of this Animated Short Movie.
  

Wing It from The Animation School on Vimeo.

Stop Over: Animated Short from le Mob

Here is an excellent depiction of a day when it would seem nothing is going or can go right.

It is animated feature called "Stop Over" from the fertile minds of Le Mob led by directors and designers Bart Wasem and Neil Stubbings.

Stopover from LeMob on Vimeo.