What better way to spend the holidays than curling up under the covers after a hard day of work and play, ready for a long nap only to then be woken up by a creaking sound, your closet door slowly opening and out emerges a vicious monster ready to steal your screams away! Wait, that actually sounds horrible, so instead I suggest you make the most of this merry season by getting your monster-fill at a screening of Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. 3D. Like Finding Nemo 3D just a few months back, I hadn’t immersed myself with this timeless Pixar adventure in over a decade. While Monsters, Inc. doesn’t age quite as well as the aforementioned film that traversed the deep blue sea and plundered America’s deep black wallets, you can’t argue against the manic bliss that Mike, Sully and Boo treat you with for an enthralling ninety minutes. Read more on Monsters, Inc. 3D (***½)…
A few weeks back, I was fortunate enough to attend the press junket for Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph. As I’m sure you’re aware, I absolutely love this nostalgia-driven feature, and it was an even greater joy sitting down and meeting with the talented cast and crew behind Disney’s latest animated treat. John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch are extremely charismatic individuals who can make a room erupt in laughter just by the simplest of quips. Unfortunately, Jack McBrayer was unable to attend the press day, but my fellow “junketeers” and I still gained valuable insight on the film from director Rich Moore, writer Phil Johnston, and producer Clark Spencer. We also spoke to one of the most graciously humble animator-turned-directors in the business, John Kahrs, whose magnificent animated short Paperman precludes the screening of Wreck-It Ralph. Below, you will hear the audio from each roundtable session that features either the talent or crew. Enjoy! Read more on ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ Press Day Roundtables…
In true topsy-turvy form, where this summer’s Brave is a Pixar film with Disney sensibilities, Wreck-It Ralph is a Disney film in name only. From its intimate characterizations, right on down to its all-ages accessibility, everything about this wholly unique video game adventure feels so wonderfully Pixar-esque! This is due in large part to the innovative mind of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer, John Lasseter, who also serves as the film’s executive producer. Where many industry vets in Hollywood would shudder at the mere idea of setting an original story within a video game world (especially given the stigma surrounding video game adaptations), Lasseter carries onward and refurbishes the scorned genre with the very same “pixie dust” magic that turned films like Up and Toy Story intoinstant classics. Hiring Simpsons director Rich Moore to helm the project was a risky yet astute move by Lassetter, one that disproves any notion that Disney is reverting back to its soft and cuddly ways. If anything, it demonstrates how all-encompassing Disney has become, appealing to the masses from every trajectory. Calling Wreck-It Ralph the “greatest video game movie of all-time” almost seems too easy, but low and behold that’s exactly what it is. Never settling for mediocrity, Wreck-It Ralph is a triumph from its first level to its very last. Read more on Wreck-It Ralph (***½)…
This past Monday, I was privileged to be one of several press members who attended the Brave Press Conference at the Loews Hotel in Hollywood. My fellow journalists and I were given the full VIP treatment, complete with parting gift bags, some snacks, and several beverages to choose from. But most importantly, Disney™ provided us with the opportunity to speak to the wonderful cast and crew of Disney•Pixar’s new Brave. Each Brave contributor gave us deeper insight into the film’s complex narrative, some behind-the-scenes factoids, and plenty of laughs as well. It was an excellent day, and all who came brought such wonderful bouts of energy and enthusiasm that it was just a joy to take part in this event. Below, you will find two audio files from the press conference, as well as a video I was able to record of Director Mark Andrews and Producer Katherine Sarafian’s Q&A with the press. The readers who’ve already seen Brave will hopefully get more insight with these sets of interviews, but if you don’t mind a spoiler or two and haven’t watched Brave, by all means dig in… Read more on ‘Brave’ Press Conference!…
After a tumultuous two-and-a-half years, Rich Ross resigned over the weekend as chairmen of Disney Studios. In a press release, Ross stated that he felt that the chairmen position was no longer a good professional fit. Ross was hired by CEO Bob Iger in 2009, after leading the Disney Channel as President to many successes (the High School Musical series, Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, and That’s So Raven were all green lit under his leadership). The film industry proved to be a bit tougher to crack and many will no doubt point to the $200 million loss on John Carter being the final straw in his decision to resign.
What better way to spend the holidays than curling up under the covers after a hard day of work and play, ready for a long nap only to then be woken up by a creaking sound, your closet door slowly opening and out emerges a vicious monster ready to steal your screams away! Wait, that actually sounds horrible, so instead I suggest you make the most of this merry season by getting your monster-fill at a screening of Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. 3D. Like Finding Nemo 3D just a few months back, I hadn’t immersed myself with this timeless Pixar adventure in over a decade. While Monsters, Inc. doesn’t age quite as well as the aforementioned film that traversed the deep blue sea and plundered America’s deep black wallets, you can’t argue against the manic bliss that Mike, Sully and Boo treat you with for an enthralling ninety minutes. Read more on Monsters, Inc. 3D (***½)…
