10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar® Race
BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 86th Oscars®.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“Elysium”
“Gravity”
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“Iron Man 3”
“The Lone Ranger”
“Oblivion”
“Star Trek Into Darkness”
“Thor: The Dark World”
“Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim”
“World War Z”
The Academy's Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Thursday, January 9, 2014. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Review: Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead Play to Type in "The Bat" (Happy B'day, Anges Moorehead)
The Bat (1959) – B&W
Running time: 80 minutes (1 hour, 20 minutes)
DIRECTOR: Crane Wilbur
WRITER: Crane Wilbur – screenplay and screen story (based upon the play by Avery Hopwood and Mary Roberts Reinhart)
PRODUCER: C.J. Tevlin
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Joseph Biroc
EDITOR: William Austin
COMPOSER: Louis Forbes
MYSTERY/THRILLER with elements of horror
Starring: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Gavin Gordon, John Sutton, Lenita Lane, Elaine Edwards, Darla Hood, John Bryant, Harvey Stephens, Robert B. Williams, Mike Steele, and Riza Royce
The subject of this movie review is The Bat, a 1959 mystery-thriller starring Vincent Price and Agnes Moorhead. The film is based on the 1920 Broadway play, The Bat, by Avery Hopwood and Mary Roberts Reinhart. The play was adapted as a motion picture three times: in 1926 as The Bat, in 1930 as The Bat Whispers, and again in 1959 as The Bat (the subject of this review). The 1959 movie version focuses on a crazed killer, known as “The Bat,” who is on the loose in a mansion full of people.
Best-selling mystery author, Cornelia van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead, best known as “Endora,” the spiteful mother-in-law on the TV series, “Bewitched”), and her staff are summering at The Oaks, a fine estate near the small town of Zenith. It is at The Oaks where Cornelia finds that she can write her hugely successful murder mysteries. This summer, however, the locals are falling dead, and a mysterious, possible supernatural, killer known as The Bat is on the loose.
After The Oaks’ owner, John Fleming (Harvey Stephens), who also owns the local bank, dies, suspicions about the whereabouts of one million dollars in missing money from the bank, land squarely on The Oaks. Soon, a bevy of townsfolk including the local coroner, Dr. Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price), Fleming’s nephew, Mark (John Bryant), the local law official, Lt. Andy Anderson (Gavin Gordon), and more are hanging around the mansion looking for the loot – with the threat of gruesome death at the hands (and claws) of The Bat hovering over them.
The Bat is one of those “spooky old house thrillers,” and is based upon a novel and play that was apparently very popular in the 1920 and 30’s. This was the third film version of the story (the first was a silent film), and by 1959, this sub-genre of mystery films must have seemed quaint. In fact, scary stories – the kind that take place in creaky old house riddled with secret passage ways where lies hidden money that is in turned hunted for by a masked villain – was soon to be (if not by the time of this movie’s release) children’s fare. This is pretty much the template for most “Scooby-Doo” cartoons and other Hanna-Barbera cartoons like it. Still, it’s very entertaining, and Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead play to type. This is a nice treat for the genre it represents. In fact, The Bat holds the identity of its villain to the very end surprisingly well.
6 of 10
B
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Updated: Friday, December 06, 2013
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
15 Vie for Five 2014 Best Documentary Oscar Nominations
15 Documentary Features Advance in 2013 Oscar® Race
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 86th Oscars® . One hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
"The Act of Killing," Final Cut for Real
"The Armstrong Lie," A Kennedy/Marshall Production in Association with Jigsaw Productions and Matt Tolmach Productions
"Blackfish," Our Turn Productions
"The Crash Reel," KP Rides Again
"Cutie and the Boxer," Ex Lion Tamer and Cine Mosaic
"Dirty Wars," Civic Bakery
"First Cousin Once Removed," Experiments in Time, Light & Motion
"God Loves Uganda," Full Credit Productions and Motto Pictures
"Life According to Sam," Fine Films
"Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer," Roast Beef Productions
"The Square," Noujaim Films and Maktube Productions
"Stories We Tell," National Film Board of Canada
"Tim’s Vermeer," High Delft Pictures
"20 Feet from Stardom," Gil Friesen Productions and Tremolo Productions
"Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington," Tripoli Street
The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.
The Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 86th Oscars® . One hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
"The Act of Killing," Final Cut for Real
"The Armstrong Lie," A Kennedy/Marshall Production in Association with Jigsaw Productions and Matt Tolmach Productions
"Blackfish," Our Turn Productions
"The Crash Reel," KP Rides Again
"Cutie and the Boxer," Ex Lion Tamer and Cine Mosaic
"Dirty Wars," Civic Bakery
"First Cousin Once Removed," Experiments in Time, Light & Motion
"God Loves Uganda," Full Credit Productions and Motto Pictures
"Life According to Sam," Fine Films
"Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer," Roast Beef Productions
"The Square," Noujaim Films and Maktube Productions
"Stories We Tell," National Film Board of Canada
"Tim’s Vermeer," High Delft Pictures
"20 Feet from Stardom," Gil Friesen Productions and Tremolo Productions
"Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington," Tripoli Street
The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.
The Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
41st Annie Awards Nominations - Complete List
by Amos Semien
ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards. The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements. At the beginning of this week, the group announced the nominations and award recipients for the 41st Annual Annie Awards.
Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Frozen and Pixar’s Monsters University led the feature film nominations for the 41st Annie Awards nominations with 10 each. Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me 2 and DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods followed with nine.
Right now, Frozen appears to be the Oscar favorite. It has performed quite well at the box office. I have yet to see the film (not interested, really), but it has been described as having “flashy visuals” and “a strong musical score and songs,” which are generally attractive to critics, audiences, and Oscar voters. However, the Annies do not always presage the Oscars. Last year’s Annie winner for “Best Animated Feature” was Wreck-It-Ralph, but Pixar’s Brave won “Best Animated Feature” at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards.
The 41st Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California. They ceremony will be hosted by noted voice actor, Patrick Warburton. Director Steven Spielberg (The Adventures of Tintin) will be presented with the Winsor McCay Award at the ceremony.
41st (2014) Annual Annie Awards Nominees:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated Feature
•A Letter to Momo - GKIDS
•Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
Best Animated Special Production
•Chipotle Scarecrow - Moonbot Studios
•Listening Is an Act of Love - StoryCorps
•Room on the Broom - Magic Light Pictures
•Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
Best Animated Short Subject
•Despicable Me 2 - Puppy - Universal Pictures
•Get A Horse! - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Gloria Victoria - National Film Board of Canada
•My Mom is an Airplane - Acme Filmworks
•The Numberlys - Moonbot Studios
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
•Despicable Me 2 - Cinemark - Universal Pictures
•Sound of the Woods – Acme Filmworks
•The Polar Bears Movie - CAA Marketing
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
•Bubble Guppies - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
•Doc McStuffins - Disney Television Animation
•Justin Time - Guru Studio
•Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
•Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
•Beware the Batman - Warner Bros. Animation
•Disney Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Scaredy Squirrel - Nelvana Ltd.
•Teen Titans Go! - Warner Bros. Animation
•The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Archer - FX Networks
•Bob's Burgers - Bento Box Entertainment
•Disney Tron Uprising - Disney Television Animation
•Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Motorcity - Titmouse Inc.
Best Animated Video Game
•Diggs Nightcrawler - Moonbot Studios
•Tiny Thief - 5 ANTS
•The Last of Us - Naughty Dog
Best Student Film
•Chicken or the Egg - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Kellerkind - Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
•Miss Todd - Kristina Yee
•Move Mountain - Kirsten Lepore
•SEMÕFORO - University of Southern California
•The Final Straw - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Trusts & Estates - CalArts
•Wedding Cake - Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
•Alen Lai, David Quirus, Diego Garzon Sanchez, Ilan Gabai - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•David Jones - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Joshua Jenny, Jason Johnston, Matthew Wong, Eric Froemling, Enrique Vila - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Greg Gladstone, Nikita Pavlov, Allen Ruilova, Matt Titus, Can Yuksel - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
•Jonathan Paquin, Brian Goodwin, Gray Horsfield, Mathieu Chardonnet, Adrien Toupet - Man Of Steel - Weta Digital
•Ben O’Brien, Karin Cooper, Lee Uren, Chris Root - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Industrial Light & Magic
•Dan Pearson, Jay Cooper, Jeff Grebe, Amelia Chenoweth - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Industrial Light & Magic
•Michael Balog, Ryan Hopkins, Patrick Conran, Florian Witzel - Pacific Rim - Industrial Light & Magic
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
•Brad Schaffer - Friendship All-Stars of Friendship: Wrong Number - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•Eric Urban - Ubermansion - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•JC Tran Quang Thieu - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•David DeVan - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Kureha Yokoo - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Keith Kellogg - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lucasfilm Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
•Thom Roberts - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Jonathan Del Val – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Jakob Jensen - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•John Chun Chiu Lee - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kitaro Kosaka – The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
•Tony Smeed - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Patrick Imbert - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
•Jeff Capogreco, Jedrzej Wojtowicz, Kevin Estey, Alessandro Bonora, Gino Acevedo - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Gollum - Weta Digital
•Dave Clayton, Simeon Duncombe, Jung Min Chan, Matthew Cioffi, Guillame Francois - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Goblin King - Weta Digital
•Hal Hickel, Chris Lentz, Derrick Carlin, Steve Rawlins, Kyle Winkelman - Pacific Rim - Industrial Light & Magic
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Craig McCracken - Disney Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
•Paul Rudish - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bialk - The Awesomes - Bento Box Entertainment
•Ben Adams - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Danny Hynes, Howard Colin - Steven Universe - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Carter Goodrich, Takao Noguchi, Shane Prigmore - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Sylvain Deboissy, Shannon Tindle - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Craig Kellman – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Chris Sasaki - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Christophe Lourdelet - A Monster in Paris - Shout! Factory
•Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Bill Schwab - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Colin Heck - The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation
•Elaine Bogan - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Stephan Franck - The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow - Sony Pictures Animation
•John Aoshima - Disney Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Angus MacLane - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Harold Harris - Justin Time - Guru Studio
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
•Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•David Soren - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Chris Wedge - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Benjamin Renner, Vincent Patar, Stéphane Aubier - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Alan Williams - Estefan - Silverscreen Music
•Guy Moon - T.U.F.F. Puppy - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Peter Luyre, Stuart Kollmorgen, Peter Zizzo - Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Kevin Kliesch, Craig Gerber, John Kavanaugh - Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
•Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bean - Disney Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
•Alan Silvestri - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Henry Jackman - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Mark Mothersbaugh – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Danny Elfman - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Randy Newman - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Dominic Lewis - Free Birds - Reel FX
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Angela Sung, William Niu, Christine Bian, Emily Tetri, Frederic Stewart - The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Liz Artinian, Ray Feldman, Chris Fisher, George Fort - The Venture Bros. “What Color is Your Cleansuit?” - Titmouse Inc.
•Steven Sugar, Emily Walus, Sam Bosma, Elle Michalka, Amanda Winterstein - Steven Universe ”Gem Glow” - Cartoon Network Studios
•Lynna Blankenship, Dima Malanitchev, Debbie Peterson, Charles Ragins, Jefferson R. Weekley - The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Christophe Vacher - Transformers Prime ‘Beast Hunters’ - Hasbro Studios
•Nick Jenings, Sandra Calleros, Teri Shikasho, Ron Russell - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Christophe Lautrette, Paul Duncan, Dominique R. Louis - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Michael Knapp, Greg Couch, William Joyce - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Zaza, Zyk - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Ricky Nierva, Robert Kondo, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Michael Giaimo, Lisa Keene, David Womersley - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Piero Piluso - Monsters vs. Aliens - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Douglas Lovelace - Dragons: Riders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Adam Ford, Deke Wightman, Kevin Mellon, Justin Wagner, Benji Williams - Archer - FX Networks
•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Daniel Chong - Toy Story of TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Guillermo Del Toro, Guy Davis, Ralph Sosa - The Simpsons -- "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" -- Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Paul Watling - Justin Time - Guru Studio
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
•Steven MacLeod - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Eric Favela – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Dean Kelly - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jason Hand - Planes - Disneytoon Studios
•John Ripa - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Eric Bauza as the voice of Foop - Fairly Odd Parents - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Bill Farmer as the voice of Goofy - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Chris Diamantopoulos as the voice of Mickey Mouse - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Mark Hamill as the voice of Skips and Walks - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Tom Kenny as the voice of Ice King - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
•Paul Giamatti as the voice of Chet - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Terry Crews as the voice of Earl – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Kristen Wiig as the voice of Lucy – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Steve Carell as the voice of Gru – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Pierre Coffin as the voice of Minions - Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike – Monsters University – Pixar Animation Studios
•Josh Gad as the voice of Olaf - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Katie Matila - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Ian Maxtone-Graham, Billy Kimball - The Simpsons - Trocadero Holdings
•Lewis Morton - Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Matt Price, John Infantino, Mike Roth, Michele Cavin, Sean Szeles - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Michael Price - The Simpsons - The Simpsons
Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
•Daniel Pennac - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Miyazaki Hayao – The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
•Jennifer Lee - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Adam Arnold, Hugo Morales, Davrick Waltjen - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Myra Lopez, Ana Adams, Justin Baker - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Lynn Hobson - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Axel Geddes, Kathy Graves, Chloe Kloezeman - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Paul D. Calder - Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Paul Douglas - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
•Jason W.A. Tucker - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lucasfilm Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
•Darren Holmes - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•James Ryan - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Fabienne Alvarez-Giro - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Greg Snyder, Gregory Amundson, Steve Bloom - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Draheim - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award — Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg & Phil Tippett
June Foray Award — Alice Davis
Certificate of Merit — “I Know That Voice” (Documentary)
ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards. The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements. At the beginning of this week, the group announced the nominations and award recipients for the 41st Annual Annie Awards.
Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Frozen and Pixar’s Monsters University led the feature film nominations for the 41st Annie Awards nominations with 10 each. Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me 2 and DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods followed with nine.
Right now, Frozen appears to be the Oscar favorite. It has performed quite well at the box office. I have yet to see the film (not interested, really), but it has been described as having “flashy visuals” and “a strong musical score and songs,” which are generally attractive to critics, audiences, and Oscar voters. However, the Annies do not always presage the Oscars. Last year’s Annie winner for “Best Animated Feature” was Wreck-It-Ralph, but Pixar’s Brave won “Best Animated Feature” at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards.
The 41st Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California. They ceremony will be hosted by noted voice actor, Patrick Warburton. Director Steven Spielberg (The Adventures of Tintin) will be presented with the Winsor McCay Award at the ceremony.
41st (2014) Annual Annie Awards Nominees:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated Feature
•A Letter to Momo - GKIDS
•Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
Best Animated Special Production
•Chipotle Scarecrow - Moonbot Studios
•Listening Is an Act of Love - StoryCorps
•Room on the Broom - Magic Light Pictures
•Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
Best Animated Short Subject
•Despicable Me 2 - Puppy - Universal Pictures
•Get A Horse! - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Gloria Victoria - National Film Board of Canada
•My Mom is an Airplane - Acme Filmworks
•The Numberlys - Moonbot Studios
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
•Despicable Me 2 - Cinemark - Universal Pictures
•Sound of the Woods – Acme Filmworks
•The Polar Bears Movie - CAA Marketing
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
•Bubble Guppies - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
•Doc McStuffins - Disney Television Animation
•Justin Time - Guru Studio
•Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
•Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
•Beware the Batman - Warner Bros. Animation
•Disney Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Scaredy Squirrel - Nelvana Ltd.
•Teen Titans Go! - Warner Bros. Animation
•The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Archer - FX Networks
•Bob's Burgers - Bento Box Entertainment
•Disney Tron Uprising - Disney Television Animation
•Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Motorcity - Titmouse Inc.
Best Animated Video Game
•Diggs Nightcrawler - Moonbot Studios
•Tiny Thief - 5 ANTS
•The Last of Us - Naughty Dog
Best Student Film
•Chicken or the Egg - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Kellerkind - Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
•Miss Todd - Kristina Yee
•Move Mountain - Kirsten Lepore
•SEMÕFORO - University of Southern California
•The Final Straw - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Trusts & Estates - CalArts
•Wedding Cake - Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
•Alen Lai, David Quirus, Diego Garzon Sanchez, Ilan Gabai - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•David Jones - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Joshua Jenny, Jason Johnston, Matthew Wong, Eric Froemling, Enrique Vila - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Greg Gladstone, Nikita Pavlov, Allen Ruilova, Matt Titus, Can Yuksel - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
•Jonathan Paquin, Brian Goodwin, Gray Horsfield, Mathieu Chardonnet, Adrien Toupet - Man Of Steel - Weta Digital
•Ben O’Brien, Karin Cooper, Lee Uren, Chris Root - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Industrial Light & Magic
•Dan Pearson, Jay Cooper, Jeff Grebe, Amelia Chenoweth - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Industrial Light & Magic
•Michael Balog, Ryan Hopkins, Patrick Conran, Florian Witzel - Pacific Rim - Industrial Light & Magic
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
•Brad Schaffer - Friendship All-Stars of Friendship: Wrong Number - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•Eric Urban - Ubermansion - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•JC Tran Quang Thieu - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•David DeVan - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Kureha Yokoo - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Keith Kellogg - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lucasfilm Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
•Thom Roberts - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Jonathan Del Val – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Jakob Jensen - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•John Chun Chiu Lee - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kitaro Kosaka – The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
•Tony Smeed - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Patrick Imbert - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
•Jeff Capogreco, Jedrzej Wojtowicz, Kevin Estey, Alessandro Bonora, Gino Acevedo - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Gollum - Weta Digital
•Dave Clayton, Simeon Duncombe, Jung Min Chan, Matthew Cioffi, Guillame Francois - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Goblin King - Weta Digital
•Hal Hickel, Chris Lentz, Derrick Carlin, Steve Rawlins, Kyle Winkelman - Pacific Rim - Industrial Light & Magic
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Craig McCracken - Disney Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
•Paul Rudish - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bialk - The Awesomes - Bento Box Entertainment
•Ben Adams - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Danny Hynes, Howard Colin - Steven Universe - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Carter Goodrich, Takao Noguchi, Shane Prigmore - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Sylvain Deboissy, Shannon Tindle - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Craig Kellman – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Chris Sasaki - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Christophe Lourdelet - A Monster in Paris - Shout! Factory
•Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Bill Schwab - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Colin Heck - The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation
•Elaine Bogan - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Stephan Franck - The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow - Sony Pictures Animation
•John Aoshima - Disney Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Angus MacLane - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Harold Harris - Justin Time - Guru Studio
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
•Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•David Soren - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Chris Wedge - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Benjamin Renner, Vincent Patar, Stéphane Aubier - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Alan Williams - Estefan - Silverscreen Music
•Guy Moon - T.U.F.F. Puppy - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Peter Luyre, Stuart Kollmorgen, Peter Zizzo - Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Kevin Kliesch, Craig Gerber, John Kavanaugh - Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
•Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bean - Disney Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
•Alan Silvestri - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Henry Jackman - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Mark Mothersbaugh – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Danny Elfman - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Randy Newman - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Dominic Lewis - Free Birds - Reel FX
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Angela Sung, William Niu, Christine Bian, Emily Tetri, Frederic Stewart - The Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Liz Artinian, Ray Feldman, Chris Fisher, George Fort - The Venture Bros. “What Color is Your Cleansuit?” - Titmouse Inc.
•Steven Sugar, Emily Walus, Sam Bosma, Elle Michalka, Amanda Winterstein - Steven Universe ”Gem Glow” - Cartoon Network Studios
•Lynna Blankenship, Dima Malanitchev, Debbie Peterson, Charles Ragins, Jefferson R. Weekley - The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Christophe Vacher - Transformers Prime ‘Beast Hunters’ - Hasbro Studios
•Nick Jenings, Sandra Calleros, Teri Shikasho, Ron Russell - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Christophe Lautrette, Paul Duncan, Dominique R. Louis - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Michael Knapp, Greg Couch, William Joyce - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Zaza, Zyk - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Ricky Nierva, Robert Kondo, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Michael Giaimo, Lisa Keene, David Womersley - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Piero Piluso - Monsters vs. Aliens - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Douglas Lovelace - Dragons: Riders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Adam Ford, Deke Wightman, Kevin Mellon, Justin Wagner, Benji Williams - Archer - FX Networks
•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Daniel Chong - Toy Story of TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Gravity Falls - Disney Television Animation
•Guillermo Del Toro, Guy Davis, Ralph Sosa - The Simpsons -- "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" -- Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Paul Watling - Justin Time - Guru Studio
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
•Steven MacLeod - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•Eric Favela – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Dean Kelly - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jason Hand - Planes - Disneytoon Studios
•John Ripa - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Eric Bauza as the voice of Foop - Fairly Odd Parents - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Bill Farmer as the voice of Goofy - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Chris Diamantopoulos as the voice of Mickey Mouse - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Mark Hamill as the voice of Skips and Walks - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Tom Kenny as the voice of Ice King - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
•Paul Giamatti as the voice of Chet - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Terry Crews as the voice of Earl – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Kristen Wiig as the voice of Lucy – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Steve Carell as the voice of Gru – Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Pierre Coffin as the voice of Minions - Despicable Me 2 - Universal Pictures
•Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike – Monsters University – Pixar Animation Studios
•Josh Gad as the voice of Olaf - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Katie Matila - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Ian Maxtone-Graham, Billy Kimball - The Simpsons - Trocadero Holdings
•Lewis Morton - Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Matt Price, John Infantino, Mike Roth, Michele Cavin, Sean Szeles - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Michael Price - The Simpsons - The Simpsons
Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
•Daniel Pennac - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Miyazaki Hayao – The Wind Rises - The Walt Disney Studios
•Jennifer Lee - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Adam Arnold, Hugo Morales, Davrick Waltjen - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Myra Lopez, Ana Adams, Justin Baker - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Lynn Hobson - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - DreamWorks Animation
•Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
•Axel Geddes, Kathy Graves, Chloe Kloezeman - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Paul D. Calder - Futurama - 20th Century Fox Television
•Paul Douglas - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios
•Jason W.A. Tucker - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lucasfilm Animation
Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
•Darren Holmes - The Croods - DreamWorks Animation
•James Ryan - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Fabienne Alvarez-Giro - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Greg Snyder, Gregory Amundson, Steve Bloom - Monsters University - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Draheim - Frozen - Walt Disney Animation Studios
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award — Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg & Phil Tippett
June Foray Award — Alice Davis
Certificate of Merit — “I Know That Voice” (Documentary)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
National Board of Review Names "Her" Best Film of 2013
by Amos Semien
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named Spike Jonze's film, Her, the "Best Film" of 2013, with Jonze also receiving the "Best Director" award. Fruitvale Station received more notices for Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler as breakthrough actor and for directorial debut respectively.
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, which is made up of film enthusiasts, academics, students, and filmmakers, historically launches the movie awards season.
The group named the winners for the year 2013, today Wednesday, December 4, 2013. The NBR’s awards gala will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2014 and will be hosted by Lara Spencer.
Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review for 2013:
Best Film: HER
Best Director: Spike Jonze, HER
Best Actor: Bruce Dern, NEBRASKA
Best Actress: Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS
Best Supporting Actor: Will Forte, NEBRASKA
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Original Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Terence Winter, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Best Animated Feature: THE WIND RISES
Breakthrough Performance: Michael B. Jordan, FRUITVALE STATION
Breakthrough Performance: Adèle Exarchopoulos, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
Best Directorial Debut: Ryan Coogler, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Foreign Language Film: THE PAST
Best Documentary: STORIES WE TELL
William K. Everson Film History Award: George Stevens, Jr.
Best Ensemble: PRISONERS
Spotlight Award: Career Collaboration of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: WADJDA
Creative Innovation in Filmmaking Award: GRAVITY
Top Films (in alphabetical order):
12 YEARS A SLAVE
FRUITVALE STATION
GRAVITY
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
LONE SURVIVOR
NEBRASKA
PRISONERS
SAVING MR. BANKS
THE SECRET LIFE OF MITTY
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Top 5 Foreign Language Films: (In Alphabetical Order):
BEYOND THE HILLS
GLORIA
THE GRANDMASTER
A HIJACKING
THE HUNT
Top 5 Documentaries (In Alphabetical Order):
20 FEET FROM STARDOM
THE ACT OF KILLING
AFTER TILLER
CASTING BY
THE SQUARE
Top 10 Independent Films: (In Alphabetical Order):
AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
IN A WORLD . . .
MOTHER OF GEORGE
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MUD
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
SHORT TERM 12
SIGHTSEERS
THE SPECTACULAR NOW
END
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named Spike Jonze's film, Her, the "Best Film" of 2013, with Jonze also receiving the "Best Director" award. Fruitvale Station received more notices for Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler as breakthrough actor and for directorial debut respectively.
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, which is made up of film enthusiasts, academics, students, and filmmakers, historically launches the movie awards season.
The group named the winners for the year 2013, today Wednesday, December 4, 2013. The NBR’s awards gala will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2014 and will be hosted by Lara Spencer.
Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review for 2013:
Best Film: HER
Best Director: Spike Jonze, HER
Best Actor: Bruce Dern, NEBRASKA
Best Actress: Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS
Best Supporting Actor: Will Forte, NEBRASKA
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Original Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Terence Winter, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Best Animated Feature: THE WIND RISES
Breakthrough Performance: Michael B. Jordan, FRUITVALE STATION
Breakthrough Performance: Adèle Exarchopoulos, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
Best Directorial Debut: Ryan Coogler, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Foreign Language Film: THE PAST
Best Documentary: STORIES WE TELL
William K. Everson Film History Award: George Stevens, Jr.
Best Ensemble: PRISONERS
Spotlight Award: Career Collaboration of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: WADJDA
Creative Innovation in Filmmaking Award: GRAVITY
Top Films (in alphabetical order):
12 YEARS A SLAVE
FRUITVALE STATION
GRAVITY
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
LONE SURVIVOR
NEBRASKA
PRISONERS
SAVING MR. BANKS
THE SECRET LIFE OF MITTY
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Top 5 Foreign Language Films: (In Alphabetical Order):
BEYOND THE HILLS
GLORIA
THE GRANDMASTER
A HIJACKING
THE HUNT
Top 5 Documentaries (In Alphabetical Order):
20 FEET FROM STARDOM
THE ACT OF KILLING
AFTER TILLER
CASTING BY
THE SQUARE
Top 10 Independent Films: (In Alphabetical Order):
AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
IN A WORLD . . .
MOTHER OF GEORGE
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MUD
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
SHORT TERM 12
SIGHTSEERS
THE SPECTACULAR NOW
END
Review: "Thor: The Dark World" Improves on First Movie
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Running time: 112 minutes (1 hour, 52 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Alan Taylor
WRITERS: Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely; from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat (based on the comic book and characters created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Kevin Feige p.g.a
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Kramer Morgenthau (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Dan Lebental and Wyatt Smith
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler
SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY/DRAMA
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jaimie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Jonathan Howard, Chris O’Dowd, Clive Russell, Alice Krige, Stan Lee, and Rene Russo with (no screen credit) Chris Evans and Benecio Del Toro
Thor: The Dark World is a 2013 superhero movie from Marvel Studios. It is a sequel to the 2011 film, Thor, and follows the 2012 film, Marvel’s The Avengers. Thor is a Marvel Comics character that first appeared in the comic book, Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated August 1962). Created by artist Jack Kirby and writers (and siblings) Stan Lee and Larry Leiber, Thor is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.
In Thor: The Dark World, Thor finds himself facing a powerful enemy and is forced to embark on a perilous journey to the enemy’s ruined home world. After The Avengers, I consider Thor: The Dark World to be the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which currently includes eight films). Like The Avengers, The Dark World is filled with the kind of big action scenes and battles between super-powered beings that are true to the spirit of superhero comic books.
Thor: The Dark World begins with a story. Once upon a time (eons ago, in fact), Bor, the father of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), clashed with and defeated the Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), who sought to destroy the universe by using a weapon known as the Aether. Now, Malekith is back. He plans to use Aether during an upcoming event called the Convergence, a rare alignment of the Nine Realms, to destroy this universe.
Malekith and his Dark Elves prove to be quite successful at attacking Asgard, home of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Norse gods. Thor is forced to seek the help of his imprisoned brother and enemy, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Meanwhile, astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Thor’s love interest, accidentally makes herself the object of Malekith’s attention. With time running out, Thor and his allies are forced to make their last stand against Malekith in London, England.
Some 30 years ago, Stephen King, in an interview he gave to Time Magazine or Newsweek, compared his novels to either the “Big Mac” or McDonald’s menu items in general. Marvel Studio’s films are meant to be pleasing like popular fast foot items, such as the “Big Mac,” but they are not necessarily some fast food product meant for quick consumption. Marvel certainly wants to entertain, but high-stakes movie production means that you have to do more than create disposable entertainment.
Marvel uses modern movie technology, especially computer-generated imagery, to create worlds, creatures, and battles that, once upon a time, could only have been visualized in superhero comic books. Thor’s battles with Malekith are a fanboy delight of ballet and destruction, but not in that overdone, desperate way that The Man of Steel did super-powered battles. Thor: The Dark World left me wanting more battles.
Another thing that Thor: The Dark World does well is personal conflict. There is not a moment when Thor and Loki’s rivalry and abhorrence for one another do not feel real. Loki’s lust for revenge, his dishonesty, and the fact that it is hard to tell if he has any good feelings for anyone are the things that make the discord in the House of Odin as riveting as hot soap opera melodrama. Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki give good, convincing performances that help the Thor-Loki feud and union carry this movie to its meat-and-potatoes final act – the big battle between Thor and Malekith.
Kudos to Natalie Portman and the filmmakers for making Jane Foster a real character in this film, that is necessary to the resolution, instead of being another action movie female appendage. Of course, Anthony Hopkins throws it down for real, being a great actor, and giving this pop movie concoction the same effort he would to a “serious art movie” or stage drama. Thor: The Dark World is successful in ways that the Marvel Studios movies, which focus on a single character, have not quite been since the first Iron Man movie back in 2008. I hope the next Thor or Marvel movie is like Thor: The Dark World.
7 of 10
A-
Monday, December 02, 2013
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
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