Brave (2012) @ The Bear And The Bow

"I'm Pixar's first princess and I'm goin ta skelp ye wee behind!"

At a glance:

Here is where we meet and discuss how we were seduced by that awesome trailer. Did you know its previous title was The Bear And The Bow? Anyway, it's Pixar's first female protag and Disney's first redhead heroine since Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989). She's not an annoyin Princess Nobody like in Tangled (2010) either. She's spunky, she's Scottish and she can shoot the moustache off an ant. The stage is all set for Princess Merida (Kelly MacDonald) to light this story on fire and give us even more of the kind of feudal fun we had with contemporaries like How To Train Your Dragon (2010).

Bad news on the doorstep:

"Dinnae ye ken, our movie kinda sucks
so don't be a wee clipe!"

It starts like a Scottish Mulan (1998), then careens off into some kinda magic bear Shrek story. Watchin Brave (2012) is like watchin two movies waitin to happen; and both never does. Perhaps the mixed proceedings had somethin to do with there bein two directors to finish off the movie. In any case, Hollywood Reporter's Todd McCarthy was spot on, that the film "diminishes into a rather wee thing as it chugs along, with climactic drama that is both too conveniently wrapped up and hinges on magical elements that are somewhat confusing to boot." It was an awkward journey because the heart of the story goes missin midway and the audience is left unsure what to do with the emotional downtime that is spread all over the place. Pixar's 13th will go down with poor Princess Merida as a failed fairy tale.
Perennial wonderment:

"Yes, Scotttish girls shave. Next question, please."

What were the creative disagreements that caused this movie to have two directors? Pixar's first female helmer Brenda Chapman (The Prince Of Egypt, 1998) was replaced by Mark Andrews; and along with it some 80% of scenes in the snow, I understand. 

Reminds me of:

Every time I hear Kelly MacDonald's voice, it takes me back to Trainspotting (1996), the time she gives Ewan McGregor so much lip outside the club, before gettin into the taxi and goin home with him to indulge in a spot of statutory rape.

I can't remember if I cried:

This is the first film to be released with the so-called Dolby Atmos sound format, developed by Dolby to reproduce more "natural and lifelike" sounds. Unless that means it's bloody difficult to hear a damned thing in the woods, then I have no clue what it is. I watched this at an advance screenin in Hall 7 of Famous Players Coliseum, Mississauga, where they really need to upgrade the system!

Should've been more on the will-o'-the-wisp / jack-o-lantern.
Reminds me of The Secret Of Kells (2009).

Most memorable line:

None.

Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?

Well this certainly isn't WALL·E (2008). Didn't need to be in 3D either. Wasted all that good Celtic music in an underwhelmin product. I'm not sure what the end credit bonus scene was but I don't think I'm missin much. Console yourself instead with the fact that you watched Enrico Casarosa's neat little short La Luna (2011) in the beginnin. As Variety's Peter Debruge points out, it added seven minutes to the runnin time of Pixar's shortest feature since Monsters, Inc (2001). Verily, it covered too much about too many, in too little time. ★★ 1/2
Bonus material:

Check out the Brave Facebook fan page today.

Astro Boy (2009)

At a glance:
Let's not have a review meant for those who do follow Tezuka Osamu's 1952 manga or its derivatives. Let's have a review meant for anyone who buys a ticket to a cartoon movie in which a boy shoots bullets from his butt. On that level, Astro Boy (also available in Cantonese in some territories, with Nic Cage's part voiced by Aaron Kwok) is a moderately successful project that is by most counts, highly enjoyable. Although it borrows from various animated movies of late (notably the robot junk dystopia in Wall-E and the artwork in The Iron Giant), this Hollywood-style Astro Boy manages to keep it simple and short, going for time-tested emotional hooks and easy-flowing pacin.
Bad news on the doorstep:
While the Imagi Animation artwork won't dazzle like Disney's, the movie amply makes up for it by bankin on a solid, if ordinary, story about how bringin somethin to life against the order of nature may have its drawbacks. We're not lookin at Pet Sematary or Igor here. We're lookin at the seasonal, more-human-than-human arc that leans more towards the romanticism in Electric Dreams (computer), Pinocchio (doll) and Mannequin (doll).
Perennial wonderment:
How much thought goes into voice castin, I wonder? Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don't. In terms of castin, Nicolas Cage's outrageously soulful persona emanates well when voicin the regretful father Dr. Tenma, a brilliant scientist who loses his son Toby and decides to bring him back to life as a cyborg. As Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore, Charlie in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory), the kid struggles to find his place in the world due to his uncomfortably identity. Bill Nighy (Love Actually) voices a wise professor and Nathan Lane (Timon in The Lion King is a fatherly inventor. They even got Samuel L Jackson to lend his voice for a giant robot named Zog.
Watch out for:
A trio of English robots with London accents. Hilarious.
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
Director David Bowers and screenwriter Timothy Harris gave this Japanese product a very marketable treatment. Although Astro Boy follows the same pattern as Dragonball Evolution and Speed Racer (other American-produced films based on Japanese sources which failed in their land of origin but sold well in China), it isn't a bad watch at all considerin the number of animated features out there who are tryin (and failin) so hard to rival Disney. Pin this one down as a memorable effort towards that cause.

Up (2009)

At a glance:
Ebert has compared its characters to Jap animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki's, in that it uses a special touch to bring out the human best in a subject, rather than going for the usual cute cartoon animals. Also, instead of robots or teens, the movie features a very old person and a very young person, and a Japanese-American at that. You can't say Disney's resting on its laurels here. They're always trying to do somethin new.
Bad news on the doorstep:
However, as the critic expounds, the current 3-D trend in animation filmmakin will diminish the colour range, which are particularly complimentary in Up, as it were in Toy Story and Shrek. Although Disney's stories have always gone for substance anyway, it makes you wonder why 3-D is necessary for a non-action type film. Perhaps the very young need. Funny how somethin more advanced can actually be less rewardin.
I can't remember if I cried:
During the early Ellie-Carl sequence. In Up, themes of abandonment and death are visited in the most tender and tactful way; pavin way for cartoons to do more for kids, instead of just pushin colourful balloons in their faces. This is a step up from Wall-E, which marked the turnin of the tide where more mature content are now being presented (and accepted) in cartoons these days. Another pattern one can observe is that Disney is shiftin away from the big chorus of full soundtracks in their movies. Some old time nostalgia might have been lost with this move but the compensatin newfound maturity, realism and diversity in content are most welcome.
Reminds me of:
...
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
Dammit it's gotta be innit! Variety Online notes: "Michael Giacchino's full-bodied, traditional score is superlative, developin beautiful themes as it sweeps the action along on emotional waves." I find the music a most empowerin narrative that is singularly responsible for evokin many of the feelings this movie wants you to get. Up might even get you down at some point but rest assured Disney always keeps everythin afloat, in more ways than one.

Battle For Terra (2009)

At a glance:
Derivative, yet worthwhile sci-fi project, re-shot for 3D after interest from the festival circuits as early as 2007. You've seen those X-shaped fighter ships before and there's a toy-like 'help' character that looks like what would've happened if R2-D2 had gaybot sex with Wall-E, not to mention the unimaginative taser gun sounds. However, a subtle Antz-like social commentary underpins this war story, where human beings and aliens both have elders who discourage individuality and questions about the System. The Terrians and their world also get some good design work - they look like meek tadpoles livin in an alternate primitive world of mostly wood and metal. Great non-Disney stuff if you ask me.
Bad news on the doorstep:
Bombed in America for its eventual wide release, openin too close to Star Trek and without any marketin muscle either. "Crashed and burned" were just some of the words I read about the box office. Sigh.
Watch out for:
The skywhale - a simple yet respectable creation. Should've expanded on this, really. A skywhale starship with awesome sonar weaponry or somethin.
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?Three and a half. A solid movie with well defined short story qualities.