They are some of the best films being made today.
There’s a genius in the execution.
There’s a genius in the writing.
The worlds they create. The stories they tell.
Astounding stuff.
Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks to Don Rickles and Chris Rock.
Matt Damon and Judi Dench to George Clooney and Meryl Streep.
It’s Hollywood’s A-list on their A-game.
Betcha can’t watch just one.
Synopsis: “The first-ever animated film adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s iconic masterpiece. A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to make sure she is prepared for it. Her neighbor The Aviator, an eccentric, kind-hearted old man, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible.”
Review: “An emotional, inspiring and touching homage to Antoine Saint-Exupéry’s masterpiece.”
Movieko: Two wonderfully different animation styles. One wonderful movie! With a refined ‘classic storytelling’ feel, it’s overflowing with quality on every level and teeming with wonderful voices; Albert Brooks, Jeff Bridges, James Franco, Ricky Gervais, Rachel McAdams, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd. Despite the fact it might be a little hard for younger kids to follow, “The Little Prince” is King.
Synopsis: “Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved “Peanuts” gang make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, with his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy.”
Review: “Snoopy, Charlie Brown and friends finally arrive on the big screen in a movie that sticks close to the gently comical tone of the comic strip that launched in 1950 and the vintage TV shows from the 1960s and 1970s. Sweetly nostalgic, relatively unambitious but a treat for the adults who grew up with them.”
Cartoonsko: Nothing new here, except how it looks. Charlie Brown still can’t fly a kite, kick a football or get the girl. Snoopy’s still chasing the Red Baron. Lucy’s still charging 5-cents at her psychiatrist booth. (Do kids today even know what a nickel is?) The voices still sound about the same. There’s still not a lot of diversity. (Asians, Hispanics and Muslims need not apply.) There is a token black. (Or was that Pig-Pen?) And Peppermint Patty has still not “come out.” Is it a little out of touch? Yes. Does it matter? No. It’s still funny. And it’s still a lot of fun to watch. (Even if you’re just a kid.)
PS: My favorite part was Schroeder playing along with, and becoming part of, the 21st Century Fox opening.
Golden Globes Nominee:
Best Animated Feature Film
Synopsis: “Asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? An Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend and learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of. ”
Review: “The Good Dinosaur delivers thrillingly beautiful animation in service of a worthy story that, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the lofty standards set by Pixar, still adds up to charming, family-friendly entertainment.”
Cartoonsko: Asteroid misses earth. Man and dinosaurs live together like “The Flintstones.” I hear The Creation Museum wants to show it 24/7. The CGI is astounding (of course) and the story has an overall wholesome feel. Compared to what else is out there, it may not be great. But it is good.
Golden Globes Nominee:
Best Animated Feature Film
Synopsis: “Shaun is a mischievous sheep living with his flock at Mossy Bottom Farm. Tired from the monotony of life on the farm, he hatches a plan for a day off. However, he accidentally sends the sleeping farmer to the big city inside a runaway travel trailer. Then everyone ends up in the big city. Now it’s up to Shaun to return the flock and farmer safely to the green grass of home.”
Review: “Warm, funny, and brilliantly animated, another stop-motion jewel in the Aardman’s family-friendly crown. It’s essentially a silent movie, evoking the world of the great slapstick comedians, from Charles Chaplin and Buster Keaton to Jacques Tati.”
Moviko: I’ve heard of “no talking” during the movie. But “no talking” in the movie? Not one word was spoken. And I was left speechless. From the people who brought you “Wallace and Gromit” and “Chicken Run,” get ready for Shaun and the flock as they go “on the lamb.” At one point, Shaun and Blitzer his dog are causing a ruckus. All of a sudden, George Thorogood’s “Baaaaaaaaaaad to the Bone” starts to play. The most over used song in the history of film and FINALLY somebody uses it right?! So British. So funny. For shear fun, this film’s hard to bleat.
Oscar Nominee:
Best Animated Feature Film
Synopsis: “The Minions trio, Stuart, Bob and Kevin, embark upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind from annihilation.”
Review: “How do you craft a film about a hoard of nearly identical yellow oval creatures who speak no identifiable language and live solely to serve the most evil master they can find? Rather successfully, it turns out. Minions has an eccentricity and quirky charm that can only be described as very British. It’s going to be one of the biggest hits of the year.”
Cartoonsko: They’re small. They’re yellow. They’re cute. They’re evil. And they’re funny as hell. They have their own language. They have their own history. They have their own Summer Blockbuster! The world will never be the same. (Especially England.) Enjoy the voices of Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, and Steve Carell. Enjoy the music of The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, The Turtles, The Kinks, The Who, The Monkees and The Beatles. Enjoy yourself! Enjoy Minions! I give it ‘two thumbs up’ and three cheers out to Stuart, Bob, Kevin and the entire Minion throng!
(Spoiler Alert: Bob wears a thong!)
Now the minions would like to say something.
Stuart: “Tulaliloo ti amo!”
Kevin: “Tank yu!”
Bob: “Poopaye!”
That’s minion-speak for “We love you!” “Thank you!” and “Good bye!”
They sure have a way with words don’t they?
Synopsis: Riley, a young girl, is uprooted from her Midwest life and moves with her parents to San Francisco. Riley and her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Anger (Lewis Black) – struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco.
Review: Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving. Pixar has truly outdone themselves, delivering their most intelligent, ambitious, and flat-out best film yet.
Cartoonsko: First of all, I loved it. All these Pixar, Dreamworks, Studio Ghibli, Disney, Illumination, Blue Sky Studios “cartoons” are visually stunning. They’re magical, breathtaking, amazing. (Even the ‘bad’ ones.) The critics seem to really like this one because of its ‘sophisticated message.’ (I liked it anyway.) Who watches cartoons for messages? Let alone sophisticated messages? As long as it’s fun to watch, what’s not to like? It’s a cartoon! In fact, why even write a review about a cartoon? (Oops.) The film was a Joy, with a little Sadness, Fear and Disgust thrown in for good measure. But for me, Anger (Lewis Black), steals the show. Maybe I was channeling a little Anger as I wrote this? (Did I mention I loved it!) Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiioooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oscar Nominee:
Best Animated Feature Film
Won Golden Globe for:
Best Animated Feature Film
cartoonsko 