Thursday, February 7, 2013

"Monster High Double Feature" Now on DVD

Why post this press release?  Well, my niece is a big fan of Monster High:

Monster High™ Releases New Double Feature DVD

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monster High™, one of the fastest-growing and most popular tween girl franchises, today debuts its brand new DVD, Monster High™ Double Feature. The ghouls of Monster High™ serve up two fang-tastically fabulous adventures in one DVD: When the boys cannot compete in the Skultimate Roller Maze™ Championship, Frankie Stein™ convinces her friends that some “ghoul power” is needed to save the day in the all-new Friday Night Frights. Then, as the epic Sweet 1600th birthday of Draculaura™ approaches, she’s got two crush-worthy guys out to steal her heart (literally) in the new-to-DVD movie, Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? US SRP: $19.98 / CAN $23.99.


"Fate/Zero" to Debut This Spring on Neon Alley



VIZ MEDIA TO PREMIERE ANIPLEX’s SUPERNATURAL ACTION SERIES FATE/ZERO ON NEON ALLEY ANIME CHANNEL THIS SPRING

Aniplex Of America Adds New Content For The Innovative Console-Based 24-Hour Anime Channel Available On PS3 And Playstation® Network, As Well As Xbox 360® And Xbox Live®

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced that Aniplex of America, Inc. has become a content partner for the recently-launched Neon Alley 24-hour anime channel. VIZ Media will premiere the hit Aniplex anime action series, FATE/ZERO, on Neon Alley this Spring.

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s new 24-hour, subscription-based anime channel available for the PS3 game console and Playstation® Network, and soon to be available for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live®. The platform features the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut), presented in HD (when available), for a low monthly subscription rate of only $6.99.

FATE/ZERO is based on a Japanese light novel, written by Gen Urobuchi and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi. This is the story that goes back to zero, back to the beginning. The ultimate battle royal, in which seven Masters vying for control of the miracle-granting Holy Grail summon seven Servants and fight until only one remains... The Holy Grail War!

“We’re very excited to welcome Aniplex of America as a premiere content partner for Neon Alley,” says Brian Ige, Vice President of Animation for VIZ Media. “The Neon Alley platform represents the next stage of the evolution of anime in North America and utilizes an innovative, console-based digital delivery model. The debut of the supernatural action series FATE/ZERO will be a wonderful addition to the channel’s programming roster and we know fans everywhere will not want to miss this exciting premiere later this Spring!”

“Aniplex of America initially teamed with VIZ Media to bring the hit anime series BLUE EXORCIST to Neon Alley and we are now looking forward to fans tuning in for the upcoming launch of FATE/ZERO,” says Hideki Goto, President of the Animation Business of Aniplex of America. “This legendary tale of the Fourth Holy Grail War will thrill fans with its sophisticated story and captivating animation. We look forward to cultivating our relationship with VIZ Media and to licensing additional content for Neon Alley in the near future!”

Neon Alley’s schedule includes a dynamic mix of action, adventure, sci-fi, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, including weekly exclusive episodes of BLUE EXORCIST, INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, and TIGER & BUNNY, as well as blockbuster favorites DEATH NOTE, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, ONE PIECE, VAMPIRE KNIGHT plus more. Neon Alley is also designed to be studio agnostic, offering a diverse array of titles from several leading anime studios and distributors. Complete details on Neon Alley and its programming are available at NeonAlley.com.

For more information on Neon Alley, please visit NeonAlley.com.

For more information on FATE/ZERO, please visit FateZeroUSA.com.

For more information on Aniplex of America, please visit www.aniplexusa.com.

For more information on VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About Aniplex of America, Inc.
Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite DVD and Blu-Ray releases such as Gurren Lagann the Movies, Durarara!!, R.O.D series, The Garden of Sinners and Baccano! The company's ever-growing line-up of shows includes our most recent titles, Blue Exorcist, Rurouni Kenshin OVA and Movie, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica. More information on Aniplex of America is available at: http://www.aniplexusa.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

"Life of Pi" Tops 2013 3D Creative Arts Awards

International 3D Society Bestows 25 Awards at 4th Annual Creative Arts Ceremony in Los Angeles

“Life of Pi” Wins 3 Top Honors

“Brave,” “The Avengers” “Katy Perry: Part of Me” and “Britney Spears: Femme Fatale” Honored

3net, ESPN, Sky UK, Sky Italia, and Korea Broadcasting Win TV Awards

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International 3D Society bestowed 25 honors for “distinguished achievement” in the 3D Creative Arts Awards Wednesday night at a black-tie ceremony held at the Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles. “Life of Pi” (20th Century Fox) swept several categories including: Best Live Action 3D Feature, Best Stereography – Live Action, and 3D Sequence/Moment of the Year. Two of the Society’s Lumiere™ statuettes were presented to: “Brave” (Pixar Animation Studios) for Best Animated 3D feature, and Best Stereography – Animation. “The Avengers” (Paramount Pictures) was honored for Best Use of 2D to 3D Conversion in 2012. ‘”Katy Perry: Part of Me” won in the category of Best Motion Picture Live Event.

“Life of Pi” director Ang Lee received the Society’s Harold Lloyd Filmmaker Award, which was presented by Lloyd’s granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd, and Society Co-Chairman Tom Cosgrove, CEO of 3net.

DreamWorks Animation (DWA) was honored with the Sir Charles Wheatstone Award for education and distinguished achievement for 3D body of work.

Panasonic Corporation was honored with the Society’s Century Award for its support of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games 3D broadcasts from London.

In television categories, 3net won Best Documentary for “Sky Soldier – The Vietnam War in 3D.” ESPN won Best Live Sports Broadcast for its 3D telecast of the 2012 BCS College Championship Game. Volkswagen Germany was awarded a Lumiere™ for Best 3D Commercial. Bwark Productions and Sky UK were honored for Best 3DTV Short Subject Program for “Little Crackers,” and PGS and Sky Italia won a statuette for Best 3DTV Entertainment Program for “The Little Prince.” The “Britney Spears: Femme Fatale Tour” 3D concert telecast won a Lumiere™ for Best 3DTV Entertainment.

Universal Studios Hollywood received a Lumiere™ statuette for Best Themed Attraction, “Transformers: The Ride.”

“The sheer volume and quality of work across all platforms was extraordinary this year,” said Buzz Hays, the Society’s Awards Committee Chairman.

“Our theme for the night was ‘Our Story Begins.’ Our honorees demonstrated that 3D is really just beginning to tell its story. But, the quality and breadth of content is very impressive,” said Society President, Jim Chabin.

Award winners include:

LIVE ACTION 3D FEATURE
Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox

ANIMATED 3D FEATURE
Brave - Pixar Animation Studios

SHORT 3D MOTION PICTURE/NARRATIVE
La Luna - Pixar Animation Studios

3D DOCUMENTARY
Storm Surfers - Storm Surfers

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURE - OUTSTANDING USE OF 2D TO 3D CONVERSION
The Avengers - Marvel Studios & The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

3D LIVE EVENT
Katy Perry: Part of Me - Paramount Pictures

STEREOGRAPHY – LIVE ACTION
Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox

3D MOMENT OF THE YEAR
"Fish Flying Over Boat" from Life of Pi - 20th Century Fox

STEREOGRAPHY – ANIMATION
Brave - Pixar Animation Studios

3D ELECTRONIC BROADCAST MEDIA - LIVE SPORTS
2012 BCS Championship - ESPN

3D ELECTRONIC BROADCAST MEDIA – ENTERTAINMENT
Sky Soldier: The Vietnam War in 3D - 3net

3D ELECTRONIC BROADCAST MEDIA - LIVE EVENT
Britney Spears: Femme Fatale Tour - 3ality Technica

3D ELECTRONIC BROADCAST MEDIA – COMMERCIAL
Volkswagen "Flower Power" - Stereotec

THEMED ATTRACTION
Transformers: The Ride—3D - Universal Studios Hollywood

SIR CHARLES WHEATSTONE AWARD
DreamWorks Animation (DWA)

HAROLD LLOYD AWARD
Ang Lee

CENTURY AWARD
Panasonic Corporation

AUTODESK 3D INDEPENDENT SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Ora - The National Film Board of Canada

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (JAPAN)
Tekken: Blood Vengeance - Namco Bandai / Sony PCL

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (CHINA)
3D Taiwan - Gene Young 3D Image Co., Ltd

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (KOREA)
The Fetus - KBS (Korean Broadcasting System)

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (EUROPE)
Vicky and the Treasure of the Gods - Stereotec (Rat Pack Filmproduktion)

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (3DTV - LIVE SPORTS)
The Ryder Cup (2012) - Sky UK

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (3DTV - ENTERTAINMENT)
The Little Prince - PGS & Sky Italia

INTERNATIONAL JURY PRIZE (3DTV - SHORT)
Little Crackers - Bwark Productions & Sky UK

In addition, two more 3D Technology Awards were presented to RealD, and Innoventive Software.

The program was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Host Leonard Maltin was assisted by actress Jackie Lloyd, granddaughter of Harold Lloyd, and singer/actress Meagan Chase. Voting was conducted during the month of January by 400 of the Society’s voting members.


About the International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium
The International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium advances 3D content, products and adoption through recognition, networking, communication for professionals and consumers. With over 60 companies and 500 professional members, the organization honors the year’s best during its 3D Technology and 3D Creative Awards programs; hosts worldwide meetings, workshops and demonstrations; and manages many online resources to assist consumers and professionals to further understand and integrate 3D into their lives. Visit: www.International3DSociety.com, www.3DatHome.org, and 3DUniversity.net to explore the full range of 3D information available.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

2013 Black Reel Award Nominations - Complete List

The Black Reel Awards annually honor African-Americans in feature, independent and television film. The awards also take notice of the work in film of people of color throughout the African Diaspora. The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 13th year the awards will be handed out. The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).

The 13th Annual Black Reel Awards winners will be announced on Blog Talk Radio, Thursday, February 7, 2013, in Washington, DC.

2013 Black Reel Awards nominations (for the year in film 2012):

Outstanding Motion Picture
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Michael Gottwald, John Penn & Dan Javey (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Django Unchained
Reginald Huldin, Pilar Savone & Stacey Sher (Columbia Pictures)/(The Weinstein Company)

Flight
Laurie McDonald, Walter F. Parkes, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey & Robert Zemeckis (Paramount)

The Intouchables
Laurent Zeitoun, Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky & Yann Zenou (The Weinstein Company)

Middle of Nowhere
Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes & Howard Barish (AFFRM)

Outstanding Actor
Jamie Foxx - Django Unchained (Columbia Pictures)/(The Weinstein Company)

Nate Parker - Red Tails (20th Century Fox)/(LucasFilm)

Chris Rock - 2 Days in New York (Magnolia Pictures)

Omar Sy - The Intouchables (The Weinstein Company)

Denzel Washington - Flight (Paramount)

Outstanding Actress
Halle Berry - Cloud Atlas (Warner Brothers)

Emayatzy Corinealdi  - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Viola Davis - Won’t Back Down (20th Century Fox)

Rashida Jones - Celeste and Jesse Forever (Sony Pictures Classics)

Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight)

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Mike Epps - Sparkle (Tristar Pictures)

Dwight Henry - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight)

Samuel L. Jackson - Django Unchained (Columbia Pictures)/(The Weinstein Company)

David Oyelowo - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Nate Parker - Arbitrage (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Naomie Harris - Skyfall (MGM)/ (Columbia)

Octavia Spencer - Smashed (Sony Pictures Classics)

Lorraine Toussaint - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Tamara Tunie - Flight (Paramount)

Kerry Washington - Django Unchained (Columbia)/(The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Director
Salim Akil - Sparkle (Tristar Pictures)

Ava DuVernay - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Spike Lee - Red Hook Summer (Variance Films)

Peter Ramsey - Rise of the Guardians (DreamWorks)

Tim Story - Think Like A Man (Screen Gems)

Outstanding Screenplay (Adapted or Original)
Mara Brock Akil - Sparkle (Tristar Pictures)

Ava DuVernay - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Rashida Jones & Will McCormack - Celeste and Jesse Forever (Sony Pictures Classics)

Spike Lee & James McBride - Red Hook Summer (Variance Films)

Aaron McGruder & John Ridley - Red Tails (20th Century Fox)/(LucasFilm)

Outstanding Feature Documentary
Bad 25
Spike Lee

Brooklyn Castle
Katie Dallamaggiore (Producers Distribution Agency)

The Central Park Five
Sarah Burns, Ken Burns & David McMahon (Sundance Select)

Marley
Kevin McDonald (Magnolia Pictures)

Searching for Sugar Man
Malik Bendjelloul (Sony Pictures Classics)

Outstanding Ensemble
Django Unchained
Casting Director: Victoria Thomas (Columbia)/(The Weinstein Company)

Flight
Casting Director: Victoria Burrows (Paramount)

Middle of Nowhere
Casting Director: Aisha Coley (AFFRM)

Sparkle
Casting Director: Twinkie Byrd (Tristar Pictures)

Think Like A Man
Casting Director: Kim Hardin (Screen Gems)

Outstanding Foreign Film
Elza
Guadeloupe (Autonomous Entertainment)

The Intouchables
France (The Weinstein Company)

Ties That Bind
South Africa (Image Entertainment)

Toussaint Louverture
France

Wuthering Heights
United Kingdom (Laboratories)

Outstanding Score
Terence Blanchard - Red Tails (20th Century Fox)/(LucasFilm)

Kathryn Bostic - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Bruce Hornsby - Red Hook Summer (Variance Films)

Salaam Remi - Sparkle (Tristar Pictures)

Dan Romer & Behn Zeitilin - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight Studios)

Outstanding Original or Adapted Song
“Carry It” from The Man With the Iron Fists
Performed and Written by: Travis Barker, RZA, Tom Morrello & Raekwon (Universal)

“Celebrate” from Sparkle
Performed by: Jordin Sparks & Whitney Houston; Written by: R. Kelly (Tristar Pictures)

“No Church in the Wild” from Safe House
Performed by: Jay-Z, Kanye West & Frank Ocean; Written by: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Chales Nipa, Joseph Roach, Gary Wright, James Brown, Michael Dean & Phil Manzanera (Universal)

“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” from Think Like a Man
Performed by: John Legend & Ludacris; Written: Allen Arthur, Keith Justice, Clayton Reilly, Miguel Pimental, John Legend & Ludacris (Screen Gems)

“Who Did That to You” from Django Unchained
Performed by: John Legend; Written by: John Legend & Paul Epworth (Columbia Pictures)/(The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance
Emayatzy Corinealdi - Middle of Nowhere (AFFRM)

Dwight Henry - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight Studios)

Amandla Stenberg - The Hunger Games (Lionsgate)

Omar Sy - The Intouchables (The Weinstein Company)

Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight Studios)

Outstanding Voice Performance
Tempestt Bledsoe - ParaNorman (Focus Features)

Dennis Haysbert - Wreck-it Ralph (Walt Disney)

Queen Latifah - Ice Age: Continental Drift (20th Century Fox)

Chris Rock - Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (Paramount)

Wanda Sykes - Ice Age: Continental Drift (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Independent Film
Elza
Mariette Monpierre (Autonomous Entertainment)

Four
Joshua Sanchez

The Last Fall
Matthew A. Cherry (Image Entertainment)

LUV
Sheldon Candis (Indomina Releasing)

Yelling to the Sky
Victoria Mahoney (MPI Media Group)

Outstanding Independent Documentary
BMF: The Rise and Fall of Hip-Hop Drug Empire
D. Skiorski

Contradictions of Fair Hope
S. Epatha Merkerson & Rockell Metcalf

From Fatherless to Fatherhood
Kobie Brown

Justice for Sale
Femke & Isla van Velzen

Soul Food Junkies
Bryon Hurt

Outstanding Independent Short
The Bluest Note
Marques Green

Crossover
Tina Mabry

The Last/First Kiss
Andrea Ashton

Record/Play
Jesse Atlas

White Space
Maya Washington

Outstanding Television Documentary
The Announcement
Nelson George (ESPN)

Brooklyn Boheme
Nelson George and Diane Paragas (Showtime)

On the Shoulders of Giants
Deborah Morales (Showtime)

Slavery by Another Name
Samuel D. Pollard (PBS)

Uprising: Hip-Hop and the LA Riots
Mark Ford (VH1)

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
A Beautiful Soul
Noel Jones, Holly Davis Carter, Danny Green, Kimberly Ogletree & Dominique Telson (TVOne)

Let It Shine
Amy Gibbons & David Nelson (Disney Channel)

Raising Izzie
Angelique Bones & Valencia Y. Hawkins (The Gospel Music Channel)

Somebody’s Child
Keith Neal, David Eubanks & Eric Tomosunas (The Gospel Music Channel)

Steel Magnolias
David A. Rosemont (Lifetime)

Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
Rockmond Dunbar - Raising Izzie (The Gospel Music Channel)

Cuba Gooding Jr. - Firelight (ABC)

Trevor Jackson - Let It Shine (Disney Channel)

Sean Patrick Thomas - Murder on the 13th Floor (Lifetime)

Michael Jai White - Somebody’s Child (The Gospel Music Channel)

Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
Aunjanue Ellis - Abducted: The Carlina White Story (Lifetime)

Queen Latifah - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Keke Palmer - Abducted: The Carlina White Story (Lifetime)

Vanessa A. Williams - Raising Izzie (The Gospel Music Channel)

Lynn Whitfield - Somebody’s Child (Gospel Music Channel)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
Danny Glover - Hannah’s Law (Hallmark Channel)

Louis Gossett Jr. - Smitty (The Gospel Music Channel)

Boris Kodjoe - Killer Amongst Us (Lifetime)

Harry J. Lennix - A Beautiful Soul (TVOne)

Courtney B. Vance - Let It Shine (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
Adepero Oduye - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Phylicia Rashad - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Gloria Reuben - Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (CBS)

Jill Scott - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Alfre Woodard - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Outstanding Director in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
Roger M. Bobb - Raising Izzie (The Gospel Music Channel)

Vondie Curtis-Hall - Abducted: The Carlina White Story (Lifetime)

Kenny Leon - Steel Magnolias (Lifetime)

Darnell Martin - Firelight (ABC)

Bille Woodruff - Rags (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Writing in a TV Movie or Mini-Series
David Martyn Conley - Raising Izzie (The Gospel Music Channel)

Eric Daniel - Let It Shine (Disney Channel)

Elizabeth Hunter - Abducted: The Carlina White Story (Lifetime)

Siddeeqah Powell - Somebody’s Child (The Gospel Music Channel)

Cas Sigers - A Cross to Bear (The Gospel Music Channel)

http://blackreelawards.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Walt Disney's "Peter Pan" Forever Young, Always Great

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 201 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux


Walt Disney’s Peter Pan (1953) - animated
Running time: 76 minutes (1 hour, 16 minutes)
DIRECTORS: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
WRITERS: Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears, and Ralph Wright; (based upon the play by J.M. Barrie)
PRODUCER: Walt Disney
EDITOR: Donald Halliday
COMPOSER: Oliver Wallace
SONGS: Sammy Fain and Frank Churchill (music); Sammy Cahn, Ed Penner, Winston Hibler, and Ted Sears (lyrics)
Cannes Film Festival awards nominee

ANIMATION/FAMILY/FANTASY/COMEDY/ADVENTURE

Starring: (voice) Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried, Bill Thompson, Heather Angel, Paul Collins, Tommy Luske, Candy Candido, Tom Conway, Roland Dupree, and Don Barclay

The subject of this movie review is Peter Pan, a 1953 animated film from Walt Disney Productions and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. Produced by Walt Disney, Peter Pan was the 14th full-length feature animated film from Walt Disney. Walt Disney’s Peter Pan is based on the play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, written by J. M. Barrie.

Compared to the esteem given other animated films, Walt Disney’s Peter Pan may not match up, and there may be, relatively speaking, not many people who hold think so highly of this movie as do I. It is my favorite animated film of all time, so I have to admit that I am prejudiced about it.

As he had done with other famous children’s stories, Walt Disney turned J.M. Barrie’s stage play into the animated motion picture classic of the same title, Peter Pan. Peter Pan (Bobby Driscoll, the first boy to perform the part), the boy who would not grow up, takes Londoner Wendy Moira Angela Darling (Kathryn Beaumont) and her younger brothers, John (Paul Collins) and Michael (Tommy Luske), to his island home Never Never Land (which Barrie called Neverland in his play), that can be reached by flying to “the second star to the right” and then going “straight on till morning.” There, the Darling siblings meet Pan’s tribe, the Lost Boys, meet the fierce Indian tribe, the Redskins, and join Peter Pan in his on-going battle with Captain Hook (Hans Conried) and his band of pirates.

Walt Disney had his filmmakers veer quite a bit from Barrie’s original play. For one thing, the film doesn’t use Barrie’s dialogue, and while the play ended with the Lost Boys returning to London with the Darlings where they would grow up to become men, the film keeps the boys with their leader, Peter Pan, so that they can never stop playing and fighting pirates and Indians. Though the “Disneyfication” does rob the story of its subtext, symbolism, and metaphorical brilliance, it also leaves the story somewhere in the illusive realm of imagination, always reachable by children.

Peter Pan appeals to boys and to the boy still in the adult man. Part of us yearns to be with Peter forever. And heck, Walt Disney’s Peter Pan is simply a great film. The art and illustrations that make up the animation are superb, not the greatest in Disney history, but the character animation on Wendy is high art. I have a soft spot for it; Disney’s Peter Pan rules.

9 of 10
A+

NOTES:
1953 Cannes Film Festival: 1 nomination: “Grand Prize of the Festival” (Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson)


2003 "Peter Pan" Surprisingly Quite Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 109 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux


Peter Pan (2003)
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: P.J. Hogan
WRITERS: Michael Goldenberg and P.J. Hogan (based upon the play and stories of J.M. Barrie)
PRODUCERS: Lucy Fisher, Patrick McCormick, and Douglas Wick
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Donald m McAlpine (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Garth Craven and Michael Kahn
COMPOSER: James Newton Howard

FANTASY/ADVENTURE/FAMILY/ROMANCE

Starring: Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lynn Redgrave, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell, Ludivine Sagnier, Theodore Chester, Rupert Simonian, George MacKay, Harry Eden, Patrick Gooch, Lachlan Gooch, and Carsen Gray

The subject of this movie review is Peter Pan, a 2003 live-action, fantasy drama based on the Peter Pan play and novel written by J. M. Barrie. The film is a multi-national production of three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Wendy Darling (Rachel Hurd-Wood) loves to tell pirate stories to her brothers, John (Harry Newell) and Michael (Freddie Popplewell), but she doesn’t know that Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter), the boy who refuses to grow up, listens at the window every night as Wendy tells her tales. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Darling (Jason Isaacs and Olivia Williams), insist that she grow up and stop telling her tales of pirates and swordfights. Thus, when Peter offers to take her and her brothers away to his home, Neverland, where they can always play and have fun and never grow old, she’s more than happy to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. She gets more than for which she bargained when she and her brothers fall right in the middle of Peter’s ongoing war with the brutal, evil, and vicious pirate, Captain James Hook (Jason Isaacs).

The 2003 film version of Peter Pan is the first English language version in which a male actor played the part of Peter Pan, and that isn’t the only place where the film veers from stage and screens of Pan past. But that doesn’t matter; Peter Pan is a very good fantasy/adventure film. Like the original Pan tales by author J.M. Barrie, this film has a dark undercurrent, though this one is a bit darker in tone, a bit nastier in character conflict, and has a not too slight sexual undertone, as well as being more violent.

From a technical standpoint, the film is gorgeous, from its set decoration and art direction to the costume design and cinematography. I don’t know how well it will appeal to younger viewers, and I don’t think they will understand some of the adult themes, or even be interested, but it’s very good film for the older teen and adult audience that likes fantasy films. What co-writer/director P.J. Hogan (My Best Friend’s Wedding) has managed to do is simultaneously be true (for the most part) to the spirit of the original story and modernize it for a broader audience, both young and old. It’s one glaring weakness is that the script sacrifices the other characters for the sake of a single-minded focus on the triangle of Pan, Hood, and Wendy. Hogan, however, deals with that triangle so well that we can forgive him when his film is such a good time.

7 of 10
A-


Happy Anniversary, Jay and Megan

If my Microsoft calendar is right, this is three years.

Congratulations.

Keep going.