Impressions of Toy Story in 3-D

This week marked the re-release of Pixar’s original CGI wonder, Toy Story and its sequel Toy Story 2 to theaters. Both films have undergone a 3-D makeover and will be in theaters around the country for the next two weeks, as the pre-marketing blitz is on for next year’s Toy Story 3 which will be created natively for 3-D.

I was a few months from my 8th birthday when the original Toy Story was released, and the combination of that timing as well as the initial shock of seeing CGI on film puts Toy Story in a special place in my memory. I’m sure that my sentiments are felt by many people of my age and others who can remember traveling to the theater in 1995 to see the original. Of course then I jumped at the chance to see the re-release as well as to see how the transition to 3-D was going to work.

In truth, the movies are every bit as wonderful and magical as they were when I first saw them, but I can’t help but feel that the 3-D fell flat a bit. In the second movie especially. There are large bits of the second film which aren’t actually 3-D at all. And most of the 3-D effect comes in creating just a slightly greater sense of depth in the room and the scenery. Most of that comes from the fact that the films were never conceived as being presented in a 3-D element, and thus the design that went into them was based on taking full advantage of the 2-D platform with the CGI effects.

If you’re a big time fan of the movies or want to introduce them to someone who hasn’t yet seen them this is a great opportunity, but don’t expect the 3-D to blow you away.

New Reviews

Two new reviews have just been posted by me over at Movie-Vault. Check them both out:

The Invention of Lying

Zombieland

Reviewing the Previews: Up in the Air

George Clooney is the new Cary Grant. Well, he’s as close as we’re going to get. He’s got the look, the swagger, and the charisma that Grant had. Ladies swoon whenever he walks in the room and guys idolize him to the nth degree. A modern day sophisticated Casanova who until recently, didn’t seem to be entirely interested in being every bit as good an actor as Grant was in his heyday.

I say used to be, because in recent years Clooney has turned it up a notch. From his Oscar winning turn in Syriana, to the way he absolutely owned the screen in Ocean’s 11 despite being part of a “who’s who” of Hollywood elite. Plus, who else you going to get to reprise a role made famous by the Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra himself? Enough said.

All of this makes me particularly interested in his new movie, Up in the Air. The third film directed by wunderkind director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You For Smoking). In the movie Clooney plays a man who’s job is to come into a company and fire people for them. Think the consultants from Office Space, but not quite as funny. The real story though involves his travels and the way it affects his relationships with his peers. Its definitely right in Reitman’s wheelhouse and the buzz out of the Toronto Film Festival is strong to say the least.

This movie is all about Clooney. Its about his growth as an actor and an artist. Hard for me not to be more excited about this film as December creeps closer and closer. My gut is that come February, George Clooney will be in the running for another little golden statue.
Watch the trailer here

Reboot

The blog is back. Movies are just too intoxticating to stay away from.

Here we go…

Predictations and Observations after watching “Watchmen”

Things I’m guessing will happen because of the release of “Watchmen”:

1) Sales of Fedora hats and trench coats will rise.

2) Dr. Manhattan and his blue penis will be spoofed by every comedian, comedy show and be heavily featured in whatever “Epic Movie” knockoff they make next.

3) The “Hallelujah” song will become a very popular song to play during sex.

4) The world would be a lot better off if we all listened to “99 Luft Balloons” a little more.

5) Patrick Wilson and Jeffery Dean Morgan should be bigger movie stars than they are.

6) We are in for somewhere between 2 and 20 versions of this movie on DVD.

7) If the economy remains as it is for much longer, some person will actually don a costume and take to the streets to fight crime.

There will be a glut of smiley face t-shirts, bumper stickers and other apparel/paraphernalia released in the coming months.

9) Some Hollywood executive somewhere is already trying to come up with an idea for a Watchmen 2. Fanboys will eventually kidnap him and bludgeon him with socks full of soap ala Full Metal Jacket until he promises never to pursue such an idea.

WATCHMEN review now available

Hey all, my review of Watchmen is now up and running. You can find it here: http://www.movie-vault.com/reviews/BnyKkhmOqjViSNIQ .

WATCHMEN REVIEW Coming

Hi all,

My review of WATCHMEN is coming soon. I’ll be at a midnight showing this evening; after which I’ll post a review.Either early Friday morning or certainly by around Noon. Stay tuned…

Ghostbusters III: a “Superbad” Adventure

While the Ghostbusters video-game fast approaches, more word comes that Judd Apatow may end up producing the third Ghostbusters film which is being penned by members of the Office writing staff. Full article can be found here:

The funny thing is, I saw this coming a mile away. Back in July I posted the following, when talking about the Ghostbusters game:

“The great thing here is that we don’t need to suscept ourselves to a crappy third film. One which would likely center around the “old” busters trying to train a “rag-tag” group of newbies probably played by the 3 DUDES from SUPERBAD along with Justin Long ….I can just see it now, Mclovin with a proton pack…”

I wasn’t totally on the mark, but I was close. Looking at it, I don’t have as much of a problem with it now as I did back then. I guess having guys like Seth Rogan involved could be fun; and certainly the comedy will be there…but I worry. I worry that we’ll end up with Superbad with Proton packs, or 40 Year Old Virgin with Ghosts. I want this to be a Ghostbusters film, which means all the original guys need to be involved; heavily. I don’t want Harold Ramis or Bill Murray appearing in some funky cameo, or having their characters show up for 10 minutes. That’s not acceptable.

More on this film as it develops…

Year of Reckoning

2009 could be a watershed type year in the history of cinema. The combination of nearly unprecedented economic events along with the growth of new technologies could combine to create either a wonderful or tragic year for the film industry.

Some experts in the cinema industry and economists predict that cinemas will do big business in 2009 because of the still comparatively low cost of movie going as it relates to almost every other form of entertainment NOT done in the home. That and the escapism that films provide is generally even more inviting to individuals during time of economic strife.

Historically, more people went to the movies during the time of the Great Depression than during any other time in cinematic history. That portends good things for 2009 and beyond where more and more people will seek affordable entertainment to escape the woes of the everyday. The question is not so much “will they come”, its more “will they be watching in 3-D, or will 35mm continue to rule the day.

If you’re a film executive you don’t care either way right? All you want is people in the seats, who cares if they have the funky glasses on. Actually, that’s not entirely true. More and more at home film viewing technology is catching up to the cinema experience. And its not just because we are buying larger and larger screens. Surround sound, high definition, Blue-Ray dvd, etc. All of these things continue to whittle away at the old adage of “there’s nothing like being in the theater.”

The only remaining advantages are the large IMAX cinescapes and the possibility of 3-D technology becoming the next big thing. And this is the year we find out if those two will hold true, or if cinema will continue to slip from dark theaters, to dark family rooms. The reason 2009 is the year? More like, the reasons.

First, as families become more conservative with spending they will be more apt to make specific choices between seeing a movie in 3-D versus the standard format. Cinemas are working against old stereotypes that 3-D is just red and blue colors that cause headaches and involve terrible glasses. The technology however has grown by LEAPS and BOUNDS, and some cinemas in the coming year(s) will offer 3-D viewings that don’t require glasses at all. Moreover, its more of a true-3D experience which brings me to the second reason.

We have some of the first films built from the ground up for 3-D coming out this year and into next year. Movies like “Monsters vs. Aliens” were created with the specific idea that they would be shown in 3-D. This is not a 2-D film that was simply modified to run in 3-D, this as they are calling it is “True 3-D”. But because of the economy, not many will be making the leap to see the film in both 3-D and standard format, they are going to choose. The question so far is, which format will they choose. If 3-D works out and wins out, this could change the way we go to the movies for a very long time. If not, then all the capital already invested in 3-D cinemas and films for the next few years could spell financial disaster for some movie companies amidst the economic turmoil plaguing us already.

A Proper Forum for Film

Hey all,

I just stumbled upon a GREAT movie forum website that is really extensive and really active. It has plenty of members who discuss everything from old movies, new releases, trailers, movie trivia/games, etc. They are really open and welcoming to new people (make sure to post in the introduction thread if you join).

The website is called MovieForums.org.

Go here to sign up:

See you there
The Film Phantom