Fantastic Mr. Fox

This is the same old Wes Anderson. His approach is tiresome to me because it never varies. Sterile, perfectly framed shots. "Quirky" characters with mental problems who eventually (by the end of the film) figure out how to exist in the world. An abnormal family dynamic. The stop-motion animation is beautiful and gives the film a great lift, but unfortunately the director is too busy aping his own body of work.


Written 6/10/11

Up

A film filled with wonder and visual treats. Surprising how emotionally affecting these Pixar films can be. They've produced another masterful work.


Written 1/6/10

Waltz with Bashir

The animation in "Waltz with Bashir" is stunning and will grab the viewer from the outset. This is personal storytelling, and the narrative is largely compelling. The shift late in the movie to depicting the wartime massacres is unfortunately not as effective as the film's early scenes. Also, the ending newsreel footage is jarring and, in my opinion, does not gel with the animation it abuts. As such, the ending was unfortunately weak and unsatisfying. Still, an excellent film.


Written 7/14/09

WALL-E

The character Wall-E is an unlikely protagonist. But viewers will warm to his R2D2-esque mannerisms and his "robot that cares" persona. This film is highly imaginative and beautiful to look at. Once again, the Pixar animators have struck upon a delightful array of characters to present a story that holds the potential to enthrall audiences both young and old.


Written 3/16/09

Persepolis

"Persepolis" should be required viewing for Americans Who Whine. Animation offers a unique vehicle for telling a mature story. You won't always love the actions of the lead character, Marjane, but that's part of the film's charm. It is a warts-and-all tale of her formative years from childhood to adulthood, largely set in her war-torn homeland Iran. The hand-drawn animation is simple but effective, and at times is highly moving. The English vocal track sounds ridiculous when compared with the original French. I definitely recommend you choose the French audio track, with subtitles.


Written 7/29/08

Ratatouille

This much is undeniable: "Ratatouille" is pretty to look at. Other than that, I found little redeeming quality in this movie. The story is lame and predictable. The young chef Linguini gets most of the screen time. He is an abject loser - not at all lovable. This was the best-reviewed movie released in 2007. I am happy so many people derived enjoyment from this Pixar offering, but I am convinced that the majority of them were seduced by the pretty sheen.


Written 12/31/07

Toy Story 3

Nothing I say here will convince anyone of the merits of "Toy Story 3". It has been universally praised. It is another fine entry in Pixar's burgeoning canon of film excellence. I struggle to think of another trilogy that is so fine throughout. Usually, when a franchise reaches the third film in the series, the storytelling spark has been lost and the cast is tired (see Spiderman 3, for example). Not so in "Toy Story 3". Woody, Buzz, et al are still a joy to spend time with. This third film serves as a perfect ending to their screen journey.

The Jungle Book

I was shocked that this didn't grab me. My heart is always open to Disney animated films, but "The Jungle Book" mostly lands with a dull thud. Firstly, I never really cared much for the protagonist, the man-cub Mowgli. He is not a sympathetic child. Secondly, the animation is less than stunning, with static backgrounds and a dearth of inventiveness. Thirdly, the prominently-featured songs feel forced and don't serve the story. Fourthly, the lead villain is hardly threatening. Never once did I feel that Mowgli's life was truly in danger. Their presence is a reminder that commerce has won the day. Still, there are some worthy elements to this one: the elephants are fun, Baloo the bear is occasionally entertaining, and the chief of the monkeys is fun during his brief interludes. But most of the time it's just Mowgli whining about not wanting to leave the jungle. Not good enough.

Cinderella

Call me sentimental if you will - I was delighted by this film. Watching this felt like a cleansing. Themes are uncomplicated and completely straightforward. Cinderella = good, Stepmother & Stepsisters = bad. Lucifer, the cat, is also not to be favored (no shock, with that name). Cinderella's mouse friends Jacque and Gus are a regular laugh riot. The animation is awesome and the songs are top-notch. Despite knowing the ending by heart, I still found myself rooting for Cinderella and her band of sympathetic animals at the end. Yes, she and the prince live happily ever after. I loved every minute of it.