Showing Tag: "animated" (Show all posts)

REVIEW: The Secret Life Of Pets – A Decent Toy Story Rip-off

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Sunday, July 24, 2016, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
The Secret Life of Pets
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney

Starring: Louis C. K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Steve Coogan, Ellie Kemper, Bobby Moynihan, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Jenny Slate, and Albert Brooks

This year, animated fare has dominated the box office.  Zootopia, Finding Dory and Kung Fu Panda 3 are some of the highest grossing films of the year.  If we include The Jungle Book in the animation category, the success of this year’s 3D computer...

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REVIEW: Finding Dory – Sigourney Weaver and Ed O’Neill Dominate This Heartfelt Sequel

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Sunday, June 19, 2016, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Finding Dory
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Idris Elba, Ty Burrell, Sigourney Weaver, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Kate McKinnon, Dominic West, and Bill Hader

In 2003, Finding Nemo debuted to critical acclaim and international box office success.  Finding Nemo was an innovative film in which Pixar took animation to new heights.  This week, Finding Dory hits theaters and picks up the tale six months after the original film.

Lovable D...

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REVIEW: With Night Howlers, Pawpsicles & Godfather Mr. Big, Dumb Bunny Cop Jude the Dude & Sly Fox Nick Make Zootopia Better for Savage Predators & Prey Alike

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 5, 2016, In : 0.00% Water 
Zootopia





Directed By: Byron Howard and Rich Moore

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, and Shakira

"Everyone comes to Zootopia, thinking they could be anything they want.  But you can't.  You can only be what you are.  Sly fox.  Dumb bunny.  And that is not wet cement."
-Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman)

This past Thursday night, fourteen million Americans had the distinct displeasure of watching the umpteenth Republican president...

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REVIEW: When Girls Just Wanna Have Fun & Apple Mojitos, Anomalisa Chooses A Belvedere Martini Straight Up With a Twist

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, January 16, 2016, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Anomalisa





Directed By: Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson

Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Tom Noonan

This awards season is shaping up to be pretty intriguing with regard to animated fare.  The two films going head to head are Inside Out and Anomalisa.  In one corner, you have an innocent but brilliant exploration of the inner workings of a child's mind and the competing emotions within it.  The fifteenth film from Pixar is no doubt a landmark achievement.  In the other corner, w...
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REVIEW: The Peanuts Movie – Nostalgia And Great Dancing Cannot Save The Lovable Loser Charlie Brown

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, November 11, 2015, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
The Peanuts Movie
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Steve Martino

Starring: Kristin Chenoweth, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, and Noah Schnapp

When I first saw The Peanuts Movie trailer, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.  I grew up watching Charlie Brown specials every holiday season.  The comic strips and cartoons have a warm place in my heart.  At the same time, I wondered whether Charlie Brown would translate on the big screen at a time when we are inundated with animated fare.  The Peanuts ...

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REVIEW: Minions – Hey, Hey It’s The Minions, But Gru Is Missing

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Minions
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, and Geoffrey Rush

The Despicable Me franchise is one of the most successful animated series of all time.  The films are well made with interesting plots and fast-paced, biting dialogue.  As characters, the minions have been an integral part of the Despicable Me movies.  However, the focus of the films has largely been on Steve Carrell’s lead character ...
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REVIEW: Inside Out of Riley's Mind With Core Memories & TripleDent Gum Commercials, Joy & Sadness Take a Fun Ride Through the Islands of Personality & Imagination Land

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, June 21, 2015, In : 0.00% Water 
Inside Out





Directed By: Pete Docter

Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, and Mindy Kaling

America could use a little happiness right about now.  With the atrocities that took place in Charleston, South Carolina this week, I'm certain that many of our hearts are heavy.  Regardless of what anyone in the media or the blogosphere says, racism and gun control are two of the crucial issues of our time.  The desire to pick up a gun and go kill black people is not a mental illn...
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REVIEW: Thanks to Baymax & the Big Hero 6 Nerds Looking at Comics From a Different Angle, I Am Satisfied With My Care in San Fransokyo

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, November 9, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Big Hero 6





Directed By: Don Hall and Chris Williams

Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans, Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, T. J. Miller, Daniel Henney, James Cromwell, and Maya Rudolph

Disney has had one hell of a year, particularly when it comes to live action films.  Just look to the critical and commercial successes of films like Captain America: Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and to a lesser extent Maleficent.  The studio has found its groove and is on a roll.  Wi...
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REVIEW: For A White Hat & A Cheese Tasting, Red Hat Snatcher & The Boxtroll Exterminators Take on Eggs the Trubshaw Baby

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, September 28, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
The Boxtrolls





Directed By: Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, and Tracy Morgan

Compared to last year, 2014 has been a relatively quiet year on the animated film front.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Planes: Fire and Rescue were the only two titles to arrive at the box office this summer from the genre.  As a single guy with no kids, I could personally care less, but...
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REVIEW: How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Hiccup And Toothless Take On The Alpha In This Action-Packed Sequel

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Monday, June 16, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
How to Train Your Dragon 2
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Djimon Hounsou, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, and Jonah Hill

This past weekend was more than just Jonah Hill’s one-two punch in theaters with 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2.  In a world flooded with computer animated films, it is rare to see something new and fresh.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 not only exceeds the original film, but it stand...

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REVIEW: Rio 2 – A Music-Filled Blue Macaw Romp In The Amazon That Falls Short

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, April 12, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Rio 2
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Carlos Saldanha

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Bruno Mars, Jermaine Clement, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Rita Moreno, Tracy Morgan, and Andy Garcia

Computer animated films are a dime a dozen at this point.  In the “olden” days, one or two animated films would be released in a given year.  However, studios have seized on the economic potential of family friendly animated films and are rolling out computer animated films with in...

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REVIEW: Mr. Peabody, Sherman, & Penny Rip Open the Space-Time Continuum With the WABAC Because George Washington Didn't Chop Down a Cherry Tree

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 8, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Mr. Peabody & Sherman





Directed By: Rob Minkoff

Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Leslie Mann, and Stephen Colbert

Children are taking over the box office we all know and love.  Every time I turn around, there's a new movie for them in theaters.  What happened to the good old days when they used to have a handful of flicks during the summer?  What happened to the good old days when Hollywood was fixated on the 18-49 demographic and not their children?  This year already, we've seen...
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REVIEW: Everything Is Awesome in The Lego Movie When the Special Master Builder Emmet Finds the Piece of Resistance to Stop the Kragle Before Taco Tuesday

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, February 8, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
The Lego Movie





Directed By: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman

Wonder Woman has finally arrived on the big screen.  No, Gal Gadot hasn't picked up her lasso and gotten an early start before Batman Vs. Superman arrives in 2016.  No, there isn't some new animated Justice League film.  Voiced by How I Met Your Mother's Cobie Smulders, the Amazonian warrior princess arr...
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REVIEW: Frozen – For The First Time In Forever, A Disney Musical

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Thursday, November 28, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Frozen
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

Starring:  Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana

"That's no blizzard, that's my sister!"
- Anna (Kristen Bell)

Disney has given us the best animated musicals: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and so much more.  However, in recent years, except for The Princess And The Frog, Disney’s animated musicals have been nonexistent.  Clever computer animation a la Toy Story...


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REVIEW: In Free Birds, the Pardoned Great Turkey Would Seriously Like Us to Eat Pizza for Thanksgiving

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, November 2, 2013, In : 0.12% Hard Liquor 
Free Birds





Directed By: Jimmy Hayward

Starring: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Amy Poehler

It's the holiday movie season, which means we're going to get some great blockbusters, the next batch of awards contenders, and some horrible seasonally-themed family flicks.  This weekend, we're getting a little bit of everything.  We've possibly got the next big sci-fi series with Ender's Game.  We've got the steamy film that took top honors at Cannes earlier this year, Blue is the Warmest Color.  We'...
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REVIEW: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – Foodimals, Tacodiles, And Cheesespiders, Oh My!

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, September 28, 2013, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn

Starring:  Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt, Terry Crews, Will Forte, and Kristen Schaal

Greetings movie lovers!  After a bit of an “end of summer” hiatus, I am back to the movie review business.  Naturally, my reign as animated movie review queen continues, and this week I had an opportunity to view Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.  The original...
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REVIEW: Turbo – That Snail Is Fast

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Monday, July 22, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Turbo
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: David Soren

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Michelle Rodriguez, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ken Jeong

2013 has undoubtedly been a huge year for 3D cartoon adventures.  In past years, there has typically been one, possibly two big animated films.  But now, it feels like they’re hitting theaters every week.  In a fairly short timeframe, The Croods, Epic, Despicable Me 2, and Monsters University have all arrived at the b...
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REVIEW: Despicable Me 2 – Gru, Kevin, Stuart And The Other Minions Work With The AVL To Bring Down A Mystery Villain In This Fun Sequel

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Despicable Me 2
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud

Starring:  Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan, and Ken Jeong

As the only mom on the STMR staff, I often get saddled with the animated fare (i.e. Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, The Croods, and Monsters University).  You name the animated flick, and I have seen it.  Although I am slightly bitter about being dumped into the mommy movie review bucket, I certainly bring a differe...


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REVIEW: Monsters University – We Scare Because We Care

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, June 22, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Monsters University
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Dan Scanlon

Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Nathan Fillion, Sean Hayes, and John Krasinski

It has been 12 years since Monsters, Inc. debuted in 2001. It was a solid animated movie, but in my humble opinion, it never quite reached the legendary heights of Toy Story, Shrek or The Incredibles. I am happy to report that Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters, Inc., surpasses its predecessor, and is smart, fun and filled with li...


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REVIEW: The Epic Clash Between Leafmen & Boggans Over a Pod Proves That There Are Many Leaves But One Tree...Plus a Couple of Stompers

Posted by James Brown on Friday, May 24, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Epic





Directed By: Chris Wedge

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O'Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, and Steven Tyler

Is it me or are animated films more violent these days?  I'm going to date myself by saying this, but I grew up during the Second Golden Age of Disney with movies like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.  I grew up when films were told with a song and dance, not a sword and shield.  Just look...
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REVIEW: The Croods 3D – Cavemen, They’re Just Like Us

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, March 23, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

The Croods 3D
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Chris Sanders, Kirk De Micco

Starring:  Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, and Cloris Leachman

TGIF moviegoers!  We are starting the weekend off with a little family fun.  The Croods is the latest animated movie to present the nuclear family in a unique setting (i.e The Incredibles).  Although The Croods is not as strong as some of its predecessors, it is fun and clever in its own way.

In The Croods, Grug (Nicolas Cage) is the...


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REVIEW: Believe in Rise of the Guardians Because the Moon Said So

Posted by James Brown on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Rise of the Guardians





Directed By: Peter Ramsey

Starring: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law, and Dakota Goyo

It's hard to believe that 2012 is coming to a close so quickly.  It seems like just yesterday when some of the year's top flicks were arriving in theaters.  What's even harder to believe is that we've arrived at the final animated film of the year, Peter Ramsey's Rise of the Guardians.  This team-up of fantasy legends is a fitting film to lead us through th...


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REVIEW: Hotel Transylvania May Be Paradise for Monsters, But It's Not My Zing

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, September 30, 2012, In : 0.09% Cocktails 

Hotel Transylvania

Kids' Rating:


Adults' Rating:




Directed By: Genndy Tartakovsky

Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, John Lovitz, Cee Lo Green, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, and David Spade

Animated films have really taken a dark turn in recent weeks.  While we had lighter films like The Lorax and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted earlier in the year, we've now got studios bringing all kinds of monsters, ghouls, and witches to life for the kids.  We...


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REVIEW: Norman May Be a Freak, But ParaNorman Freakin' Rocks

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, August 18, 2012, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
ParaNorman





Directed By: Sam Fell and Chris Butler

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Elaine Stritch

In recent years, animated films have been walking a fine line.  They keep the kiddies entertained with the silly stuff, but they incorporate nuggets of humor for the adults that should fly right over the kids' heads.  If mom and dad are forced to go see a cartoon about an ogre in a world o...
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REVIEW: Despite Manipulative Sirens, Pirate Apes, & Continental Drifts, Ice Age Understands the Most Important Thing — Family

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, July 14, 2012, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Ice Age: Continental Drift





Directed By: Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier

Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Keke Palmer, Chris Wedge, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Drake, and Nicki Minaj

If Paramount hadn't chickened out with G.I. Joe: Retaliation last month, this could have been a more interesting weekend at the movies.  If the studio didn’t push the film out to March 2013 to "convert it to 3D", we would have had so...
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REVIEW: Brave — Solid, But Not Courageous Enough

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, June 23, 2012, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Brave
SoberFilmChick




Directed By: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman

Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, and John Ratzenberger

Brave was not exactly what I expected.  From the movie’s trailer, I thought the film would follow the path of animated films like Mulan where the female protagonist bucks tradition and takes on a role or activities that are usually reserved for men.  While Brave does have some of those elem...
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REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin Is a Fun Ride, But I Was Ready to Get Off the Rollercoaster at the End of the Movie

Posted by James Brown on Thursday, December 22, 2011, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
The Adventures of Tintin





Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Daniel Craig

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg turned 65 this past Sunday, and crossing that feared milestone of becoming a senior citizen hasn't stopped him from doing what he loves best — making movies.  This holiday season, he's releasing The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse (for which a review is forthcoming later this week).  In fact, he's doing something he's never d...
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REVIEW: Happy Feet Two Thinks It's a Champion But Will Only Rock You a Little

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, November 19, 2011, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Happy Feet Two





Directed By: George Miller

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Sofia Vergara, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, Hank Azaria, Johnny A. Sanchez, Lombardo Boyar, Carlos Alazraqui, Michael Cornachia, Danny Mann, Meibh Campbell, Lil P-Nut, and Mark Klastorin

There is one theory about movies that almost never fails.  Sequels cannot outdo original films.  There are a few rare exceptions to this like The Empire Strikes Back, The Lord of the Rings: The Return...
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REVIEW: Puss Is a Player in Boots

Posted by James Brown on Friday, October 28, 2011, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Puss in Boots





Directed By: Chris Miller

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Zeus Mendoza, and Constance Marie

Animated films were made to make parents happy by making their kids happy and docile.  A couple of hours of harmless, distracting entertainment helps mommy and daddy get a buzz without the headache of kids running around the house looking to get into something.  Any decent animated film can do this flawlessly.  A great animated fil...
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