George & Steven's Fantastic Time Machine...

Oh, time you cruel, cruel thing you...

It's difficult at times to realize that it all happened twenty-nine years ago today. On this day in 1981, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg released "Raiders of the Lost Ark" which hijacked my brain and I haven't gotten it back since.

When I went into the theater to see this new film that the poster claimed was "From the Creator of Star Wars" and "The director of Jaws" I didn't know what to expect. When I left after it was over, I was suffering from withdrawal from having the only out of body experience I've ever had watching a film. I fell in love like many others with the new character of Indiana Jones. He was bold, brash and all too human. I enjoyed seeing him even in the flawed sequels to this masterpiece(sans Crystal Skull, of course). Happy birthday, Henry Jones Jr.!

And thanks to Steven and George for making a kid feel like the world opened up to him...

Telling Tales...

It's hard to believe, but twenty-two years ago today Carl Barks greatest creation became a television superstar...

Disney's "Ducktales" premiered today in syndication across the country and became an instant hit. This lead to the creation of a block of two hours of animation that became known as the "Disney Afternoon."

But the cornerstone of it were the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and lovable nephews that were inspired by the comics drawn by Barks over a quarter of a century before. I remember watching these episodes with giddy, geeked out abandonment as I never thought I'd get to see those comics I read as a small child actually turned into an animated series.

If you happen to have them on DVD like me, pop in a disc and reminisce a bit...

Advance Princess, Errr Purchase...

Psssst. Wanna buy a frog?

Ok, at least a ticket to see a frog?

In November?

Then go here now.

Be prepared, don't be sorry...

Golden Master...

The Greatest Action-Adventure Film Of All Time...

It's hard to believe that it all happened twenty-eight years ago today...

On this day in 1981, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg released "Raiders of the Lost Ark" which hijacked my brain and I haven't gotten it back since.

When I went into the theater to see this new film that the poster claimed was "From the Creator of Star Wars" and "The director of Jaws" I didn't know what to expect. When I left after it was over, I was suffering from withdrawal from having the only out of body experience I've ever had watching a film. I fell in love like many others with the new character of Indiana Jones. He was bold, brash and all too human. I enjoyed seeing him even in the flawed sequels to this masterpiece(sans Crystal Skull of course). Happy birthday, Man in Hat!

Now if they'll just convince Lucas to let Paul Dini do that animated series of Indiana Jones I'll be happy...

Could We See Some Basterds Tomorrow?

I just got a note that there's gonna be a preview of "Inglorious Basterds" on Entertainment Tonight tomorrow, so you might want to keep a look out for it...

Me? I'm curious to see what this films gonna be like. I've had the script for a long while now and I've refused to read it. I've read Tarantino's last few and I want to enjoy this one without knowing too much of the plot. I know that Harvey's betting a whole lot on this now that he doesn't have the big bucks of the Mouse supporting him.

There's yer heads up...

Snow Seventy-One Years Before Christmas...

On this day, seventy-one years ago...

At the Carthay Circle Theater, Walt Disney premiered his new animated feature: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Nothing like it had ever been attempted before. The film was a box office and critical hit. The film made so much money for Walt that he used a good deal of it to purchase a plot of land in Burbank to build a new, larger studio than the one he occupied at 2719 Hyperion Avenue near Silver Lake.

The world we live in today has many, many animated films and people sometimes take it for granted, but back in 1937 it was a bold risk to take. The other studios had thought Walt was crazy and labeled his idea of turning his shorts into a full length motion picture "Disney's Folly".

They underestimated Walt...

It was something people would continually do to him...

History shows how visionary Walter Elias Disney was. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put a certain film in my PS3(I'll have to wait for that new Blu-Ray version of Snow White to fully experience the greatness of this film, agggggh!). I've left my HD Television waiting and it's calling me. I think this movie will go perfectly with this big soda and freshly popped bag of buttered popcorn I'm holding. I'm just waiting for my friends to get here and as usual, they're fashionably late. Fashionably...

TTFN

Wanted: Practically Perfect Nanny...

Forty-four years ago today, Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in a most delightful way. It will be released to the general public in two days...

The film would go on to win Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Song, Best Special Visual Effect and make a star out of a lovely, talented lady named Julie Andrews.

Dear Deer Season...

Walt Disney Productions "Bambi" premiered on this date in 1942 in London, England. The following week it would open in America, distributed by RKO Pictures. The classic motion picture was Walt's fifth animated feature. It was the last full length feature until Cinderella in 1950(the other features were collections of shorts or combination live-action).

Egyptian Clone Wars...

George Lucas' new Clone Wars film will have its American premiere at The American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood this evening with a discussion panel afterwards with CW director Dave Filoni, producer Catherine Winder and several others.

I wonder if one of the questions during the discussion panel will be: "Why does the story revolve around Jabba the Hutt's son?"...

Drop In Tuesday...

Those of you that attend the grand opening of "Toy Story Midway Mania" on June 17th will get to see a great celebration of what could be the beginning of the Second Gate we always wanted.

Watch the skies while you're there. You may see some real Green Army Men parachuting into the pier...

Mulan Shows Off..

On this day...

Ten years ago, Walt Disney Feature Animation's thirty-sixth film, "Mulan", premieres at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. I just watched this again a couple weeks ago... it plays much better than my memory of first seeing it(Is it just me or does Eddie Murphy's Dragon sound eeirily like Donkey from "Shrek"?). The film is one of several that were made in Florida before the box office results convinced Michael Eisner to fold up that operation.

Big Fish...

On this day...

Five years ago "Wall-E" director Andrew Stanton's "Finding Nemo" premieres. It will go on to make massive amounts of cash for Disney and give the Lamp much greater leverage in contract negotiations. The success of this film adds fuel to the fire for Eisner's ouster...

A New Hope For A Clone Wars Poster...

Is answered.

The new poster for the upcoming Star Wars "The Clone Wars" movie that then spins off into "The Clone Wars" animated television show on Cartoon Network has been released! Whew... that was a lot to say.

Now the Theatrical Trailer for The Clone Wars is set to Premiere exclusively across multiple Turner Networks Thursday, May 8. What are those networks?

Cartoon Network, TNT, TBS, CNN, and Bloomberg will all debut the newest Star Wars trailer at 7:58 p.m.

Be there, or be square... uhmm... or something like that.

Premiering Liar...

One this day...

Sixty-eight years ago, Walt Disney Productions premieres "Pinocchio" in New York City. The movie is regarded by many as a perfect animated film and watching it again makes that a very difficult statement to argue with.

She's A Beauty...

On this date, forty-nine years ago...

Walt Disney premiered his 16th animated feature: "Sleeping Beauty"...

Although her castle premiered at Disneyland four years earlier, it doesn't help make the film a success. It will take over two decade before the film will finally show a profit. Many today consider it a classic, but back then it wasn't the case. Disney even confided in friends and colleagues he didn't know if he could keep making these films. It was getting so expensive.

The passage of time has made us realize the value and beauty(pun intended) of this film. While it's not the best in terms of story... Disney was far more interested in the running of his new theme park and was focusing less on the animated films. Hence the weaker story. The animation is some of the best Walt Disney Productions has ever created and its legendary backgrounds are amazing. The film did create arguably, Disney's best villain: Malificent.

Sleeping Beauty is scheduled for release on Platinum DVD and Blu-Ray in fall 2008.

101 On 25 In 61...

On this day, forty-seven years ago...

Walt Disney Productions premiered its 17th animated feature: "101 Dalmatians". The film begins using the Xerox process where they don't have to hand-trace every animators drawing onto cels anymore. Although considered a classic today, most people don't know that Walt Disney was not really that impressed with the final designs of the characters and let his opinion be known.

Still, the film showcased what has become one of Disney's classic villains: "Cruella De Vil"

101 Dalmatians comes to DVD in a two-disc Platinum Edition on March 4th, 2008.

The Fairest Of Them All...

On this day, seventy years ago...

At the Carthay Circle Theater, Walt Disney premiered his new animated feature: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Nothing like it had ever been attempted before. The film was a box office and critical hit. The film made so much money for Walt that he used a good deal of it to purchase a plot of land in Burbank to build a new, larger studio than the one he occupied at 2719 Hyperion.

The world we live in today has many, many animated films and people sometimes take it for granted, but back in 1937 it was a bold risk to take. The other studios had thought Walt was crazy and labeled his idea of turning his shorts into a full length motion picture "Disney's Folly".

They underestimated Walt...

It was something people would continually do to him...

History shows how visionary Walter Elias Disney was. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put a certain film in my DVD player. I've left my HD Television waiting and it's calling me. I think this movie will go perfectly with this big soda and freshly popped bag of buttered popcorn I'm holding.

The Emperor Premieres...

On this day, seven years ago "Kingdom of the Sun" premiered. Wait, that's not right... I'm sorry. On this day seven years ago, the unfunny, incoherent mess that came from too many Suits messing with Roger Allers' film premiered. Sun, or as its other-worldly inept clone would be called "The Emperor's New Groove" would go on to disappointing box office and continue to plant the brilliant idea in Suits heads that audiences didn't want to see hand drawn animation anymore... what they want is 3D. Yeah, that's the ticket. It couldn't have anything to do with the turds WDFA was turning out... nooooooo.

Sigh.

Yeah Right, When Elephants Fly...

On this day Sixty Six years ago Walt Disney's 4th animated feature film, "Dumbo" premiered in America. The classic film, distributed by RKO will go on to be nominated for "Best Score" and "Best Song", winning Best Score.

The world will never look at pachyderm ears the same again...