One Disney tale that is sure to put children off eating their 5-a-day is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney has always prided itself as being an innovative production company and surpassed itself when creating this story, becoming the first American animated feature film created in full colour. To gain perspective of the reception Disney showcased the film once in December … [Read more...]
Review: Titanic (1997)
James Cameron, before the release of Titanic, was considered one of the world's most daring action film-makers. His previous canon of work, including The Abyss, Aliens, True Lies and the first two Terminator films made the world stand up and pay attention to a man whose vision of action and adventure ranked with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Then he announced he was … [Read more...]
Review: Clash of the Titans (2010)
Clash of the Titans is a remake of the fondly remembered 1981 film of the same name. Focusing on the Greek Gods and their home on Mount Olympus, the original was a commerical, if not critical success. The remake, which sees digital, computer-generated effects replace the stop-motion effects of the legendary Ray Harryheusen and was also post-production fit with 3D, hoping to … [Read more...]
Review: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Reviewing a comedy is always difficult, since if you explain what makes it funny you're giving away the jokes and effectively spoiling the film. Reviewing something like The Big Lebowski is especially difficult, since it can be very hard to tell what it's actually about; the plot is wildly incoherent, and there are enough weird digressions and threads that go nowhere that … [Read more...]
Review: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
A Tale as old as Time¦Disney again catches the imagination of all children in the 1991 hit, Beauty and The Beast. Mindful of its audience Disney creates another film with an important message. Looks are not the be all and end all, despite what many think. Disney jumps on the band wagon to teach children that to respect people of all backgrounds is a trait no one should grow up … [Read more...]
Review: Monsters (2010)
There are many remarkable things about Monsters, but to start with the basics: it cost a mere $500,000 to make, has a professional cast of two, and is the director's first feature. All the visual effects were made on director Gareth Edwards' laptop at the end of the day. Edwards has won the award for Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards. And it's one of the best … [Read more...]
Review: The Iron Giant (1999)
The Iron Giant is an animated film directed by Brad Bird and based on the Ted Hughes book The Iron Man. Loosely stylistically based on Hayao Miyazaki's ˜Clear Line Technique' it avoids the similarities of a Disney film by being a proper, realistically drawn film. In total it cost $70m to make and only took $23m at the box office, making it a clear commercial flop. However, a … [Read more...]
Review: The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists (2012)
Waiting for an Aardman film requires patience and understanding. With the advent of computer-generated animation, the wait has been reduced which leaves cinema-goers in the enviable position of having had two released within 6 months of each other. Arthur Christmas was a treat for the wintery season, but now we have a fully-fledged claymation film in the form of The Pirates! In … [Read more...]
Review: Coraline (2009)
Welcome to The Twilight Zone for kids in another Henry Selick production, Coraline. The audience will see childhood fun and frolics take on a sinister edge and bringing the characters to life are Dakota Fanning as Coraline with Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman featuring as her parents. Henry Selick uses his famous stylistic way of film animation making this piece of work instantly … [Read more...]
Review: The Little Mermaid (1989)
In the vast ocean that is ˜Disney' where anything can occur, a young red head resides. Taking it back to 1989 and one of Disney's finest, The Little Mermaid continues to entertain and amaze. When thinking of Disney and the masses of films that have been churned out over the years, very few have stuck in the hearts and minds of audiences around the world like this one has. The … [Read more...]