Limited Run For Disney's New Princess?

One of my most eagerly anticipated movies is Disney's return to 2D animation "The Princess and the Frog." Early on it was reported that the movie would be released this summer. But thanks to some protests about the main characters race, name, and occupation the film had to be retooled and will now open for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Or will it?

According to "The Disney Blog" Disney may actually be flirting with changing the date once again. See, last year Disney thought they had a smash hit with "Bolt"...

...which, despite getting solid reviews, Miley Cyrus, and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film, the movie didn't exactly make a lot of money at the box office (though the 3D showings had more legs then the 2D showing). While there were a ton of reasons why this could have happened, the thing Disney singled out was competition from "Twilight"...

...which was fighting for teens money just as much as "Bolt" was, and it ultimately won (having the advantage of a best selling book on its side). Disney was hoping to avoid that fate this time around with their return to 2D, but wouldn't you know it: That new Sherlock Holmes movie was bumped up in it's release date, and now shares the same week as "The Princess and the Frog." Well, Disney obviously doesn't want competition from ANOTHER big budget release (especially since this one might actually be good), so they are considering changing the release pattern. Though they haven't commited to changing the date again, they ARE considering releasing the movie as a limited release film first and slowly expanding it as the weeks go by.

This would be a pretty daring move on their part, as this is a release stradegy normally saved for low budget films and Oscar contenders. Seeing that Disney hasn't made a "must see" film in years though, this sort of "word-of-mouth" advertising may be just what they need to get people excited about this film. Nothing is confirmed yet, but I think this is an interesting way to sell the movie. What do you guys think?

The 81st Academy Awards: Will They Watch?

Now that we've (mostly) gotten "The Dark Knight" snub out of our system, it's time to ask a burning question: Will people watch the Oscars this year? I'd like to be positive, I really would, but I think the answer is going to be a loud 'no.' In fact, I think this is going to be the poorest ratings for the Oscars in ten years (if not twenty). And this goes beyond "The Dark Knight." While that movie would have helped ratings, there were a few other things that would have helped. Not nominating songs from "The Wrestler" and "Bolt" cost the Academy two performers that would likely draw crowds: Bruce Spriengstein and Miley Cyrus. Yeah, I'm kind of glad that the Academy didn't vote for the "Bolt" song, but it's going to be really difficult to get people to watch a show when the performers consist of Peter Gabriel and a bunch of Indian singers doing Bollywood style dance numbers. And if Pete calls in sick, then we are in even more trouble.

"Wall-E" would help the ratings much. For starters, everyone knows it's going to win. Secondly, the Best Animated Film category hasn't helped draw in kids to watch the show much. After that what have you got? The actors? Well, that could help, but nobody cares about actors who win awards for films they haven't seen. Hugh Jackman might entertain people, but no matter how good a job he does if the ratings tank then the Academy will start pointing their finger at him for being the reason. Seeing as how only "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" has been a blockbuster, these movies will not draw in the audience. In short, I think this is the last year we'll see the Oscars on ABC. Next year the show will likely move to HBO, Showtime, or TNT. It's airing will be up for auction, and if the nominees next year prove to be films that don't attract audiences, I can imagine the buying price being very low.

Now, more then ever, the ratings of the Academy Awards will be most interesting. It will effect whether or not the show is commercially viable anymore. The fact that the movies getting nominations haven't gotten much of a boost from the awards speaks volumes. In short, this is going to be one rough year for the Academy. May God have mercy on their souls.

My Top Ten Best Films of 2008 List

Now it's time for me Top Ten Best Films of 2008 list. These films will be counted down from 10 to 1, and please keep in mind these are MY picks and in no way represent any official movie institution. Feel free to disagree with my choices if you please. With that out of the way, onto the show.

10. W.
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin
Rated: PG-13 (For language including some sexual dialogue)

Seeped in controversy from people who wanted nothing more then to move Bush out of the White House and Obama in, Oliver Stone's "W." was protested, ignored, and shunned by many people. It was also surprisingly thoughtful and intelligent, giving us not a hack-job of someone who wanted to ridicule the sitting president, but a thoughtful film from someone who wanted to understand the president. Though the movie ends somewhat on a cliffhanger, "W." is never boring and is always engrossing.

9. Bolt
Director: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Starring: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus
Rated: PG (For some mild action and peril)

It took a long time, but Disney finally made their best animated movie since "Lilo & Stitch." More importantly, they managed to make it without Pixar. Ironically, the idea that saved them for this film was from Chris Saunders, the same guy who came up with the idea for "Lilo & Stitch." When "Bolt" starts it works as an action film. It starts out fast, explosive, and exciting. When Bolt gets away from the set it turns into a laugh-a-minute comedy. In the final act the movie has become a drama, and it yanks at the heart in ways Disney movies used to. One of the better surprises of the year.

8. Milk
Director: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn
Rated: R (For language, some sexual content and brief violence)

Though "Milk" overlooks many of the events of Harvey Milk's life that made his life (in my opinion) so interesting as a person, Gus Van Sant's very gay film is a fine bio-pic never-the-less. The message of this film is hope and love, which is what Milk encouraged more then anything else in his lifetime. Watching him in this film paints him as a very nice and fun guy, whose heart was in the right place at the wrong time. The fact that he accomplished so little is besides the point: The point is that this man, for all his flaws, gave people hope. And what a joy that is.

7. Young@Heart
Director: Stephen Walker
Rated: PG (For some mild language and thematic elements)

Though they may be old, the elders who make up the singing group Young@Heart sing songs with much energy and joy. It's hard not to fall in love with this touching film of friends, life, and music. A movie that is hard to express the joys of in words, so I guess you'll just have to watch it and feel the joy for yourself.

6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Rated: PG-13 (For brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking)

David Fincher is known more for his slasher films with brains then for emotional dramas, but with "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Finch steps out of his comfort zone to direct one of the most emotional Hollywood films since "Forrest Gump." The story of a man who is born old and gets younger with age sounds like a gimmick, but it's actually a storytelling device that allows the characters to experience the world with a unique perspective. Seeing as how Benjamin can't experience things the same way as other people experience things, this leads to some very intriguing complications and storytelling aspects. Story aside, the film is also a visual wonder to behold, and colleges will be showing this movie in film classes to study the visual effects for years to come.

5. Frost/Nixon
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen
Rated: R (For some language)

Movies based off stage plays can be very hit or miss when they are translated to the big screen. Either the essence is captured on film or the movie shows off it's stage roots a little too much. In the case of "Frost/Nixon" it does feel like the stage it was adapted from, but that ends up working to the films benifit, as the movie is about two men in a one-on-one battle in front of the camera. To see these two intense actors playing off each other is to witness great actors at the top of their craft, helped by Ron Howard, whose direction knows when to move in closer and when to pull away. Subtle but not boring, "Frost/Nixon" is an example that great theater can make great for great film making.

4. Slumdog Millionaire
Director: Dannye Boyle
Rating: (For some violence, disturbing images and language)

If you miss the hit game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," then "Slumdog Millionaire" may be the movie for you to see. Taking place in India, the movie revolves around a teenage boy who is one question away from winning twenty million rubies on the hit game show, when he is captured and tortured on suspicions of cheating. Through his story we see his painful childhood, his struggles with his older brother, and the chase for the love of his life, a girl who always seems to be out of reach. And, of course, we discover how his life prepared him with the answers he would need to win the show.

3. Wall•E
Director: Andrew Stanton
Rating: G

You wouldn't think that a movie about a deserted robot on Earth finding true love would be a very convincing movie to begin with, nevermind one of the most touching love stories in years. But keep this in mind: "Wall•E" was birthed from the creative geniuses at Pixar, and if they can make a rat a credible chef, then they can certainly make a convincing love story out of two robotic machines. Although a lot of people choose to dislike the film over it's eco-friendly storyline, the movie is above all else a story about loniness and finding someone special, and it conveys these emotions through pure emotion (of all things). This is even more of a revelation when you realize the two lead characters barely speak a word, and simply rely on good old-fashioned body language most of the time. Like "Ratatouille," "Wall•E" is a great movie for adults. Oh, and bring the kids along, they'll like it too.

2. Rachel Getting Married
Director: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Debra Winger
Rated: R (For language and brief sexuality)

Despite having a title that sounds like a bad romantic comedy that's been dumped in the lonely month of January, "Rachel Getting Married" is actually a sensitive and heartbreaking story about a family who is capible of sharing so much love, but falter because they can't forgive. Despite the fact that Rachel is in the title (and it is indeed her wedding), the movie revolves around Kym, a recovering drug addict who is out of rehab in time for her sisters wedding. Her family welcomes her with open arms, but there is a hesitation in that welcome, as well as a feeling of underlying hostility. Years ago she made a horrible mistake and they can't forgive her for it. Even worse, Kym can't forgive herself, and to watch this movie is to watch a family come to terms with a tragedy in their lives. We get to see people take a turning point that will change the way they live forever, and this movie makes you feel glad you got to know them. I also consider to be Oscar winning director Johnathan Demme's big comeback, returning to mainstream fare after being stuck in documentary land for years.

1. The Dark Knight
Director: Christopher Nolan
Staring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman
Rating: PG-13 (For intense sequences of violence and some menace)

Just when people were getting tired of superhero movies, mindless summer films, and movies with big budgets and no heart, "The Dark Knight" comes along and completely restored our faith in the Hollywood blockbuster. Rarely is a summer film so intense, so complex, and so emotional as this one. While Heath Ledgers death certainly raised the importance of the Joker to a higher level, I was shocked to find a well told tale of Good vs. Evil that I hadn't experienced since "The Lord of the Rings." Here is a movie about real people, in a real world, where everones past and personal morals shape who they are and what they will do. The debate of living in a world with or without rules goes to a new height in this film, as two men of extreme ideals clash off in a battle that effects everyone around them. On some level it's personal, on another it's not personal, it's just business. In the end, "The Dark Knight" is not only the best superhero film ever made, it's the best film of the year. It also raises the bar for not just future superhero films, but also future blockbuster films in general. A new era of Hollywood film making is upon us, and it starts with "The Dark Knight."

What Happened To Ponyo?

Hey everyone, sorry about the lack of updates I've been...well, I've been in Japan. Enjoying a bit of the world. I enjoyed myself so much I'm looking into moving there for a period of time in a few years. But the real reason I bring this up is because while in Japan I had the good fortune to be able to catch Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, "Ponyo on a Cliff," in theaters...

...and considering this movie was considered by many people (myself included) to be "Wall•E's" biggest competition I felt it only fitting to comment on it. Now, as we found out a week ago this movie will not be elidgible for the Best Animated Feature category this year (most likely because the movie won't be released domestically until next year). However, this doesn't upset me too much. In fact, I think this is a good thing because while this movie is good, it was NOT going to beat "Wall•E" (unless, of course, the Academy votes for another movie just because Pixar wins too many awards these days)! Now I have to admit that my Japanese is not the best, but "Ponyo on a Cliff" was simplistic enough that I was able to follow it with little trouble. This film has more in common with "My Neighbor Totoro" then "Spirited Away." That basically means it's a movie made for small children.

This is not a bad thing though as Miyazaki makes some of the most magical and charming children's movies out there, and Ponyo is no different. With pure handdrawn animation (no computers), vibrant watercolors, and Joe Hisaishi's best score since "Princess Mononoke," "Ponyo on a Cliff" may be simple, but it's darn difficult not to be won in by it's charms. The fact that it's more of a charming film then an important film could have hurt it's Oscar chances this year, so it being in next years race will bode better for it's chances at a win. That said, is there any movie that can upset "Wall•E" at this point? Well, yes, now that I think about it. There are two in fact. The is "Waltz with Bashir"...

...which could win on the grounds that it's an important, adult oriented film. The Academy has yet to award an adult animation an Oscar in this category though, and the category is still looked at as, more or less, Best Family Feature. Which means the biggest competition "Wall•E" has at this point...

...is Disney's own "Bolt," which has won critics over and completely surprised the public. Here is a movie that is family friendly, looks to make a lot of money, and didn't look all that interesting until people actually watched it. It also has the advantage of being released by Disney who, despite pioneering animation in feature film, has yet to win an award in this category. This could be the make-up award from the Academy should Pixar fatique set in. Either way the animated category is looking the most competitive it's been since "Spirited Away" and "Lilo & Stitch" duked it out in 2002. Should be an interested year for animation come Oscar time.