PIXAR VS DREAMWORKS!

Yes I haven't blogged in a while, simply because I haven't had anything to blog about. i haven't been to the cinema in a while and no television has been worth mentioning. Yes I've been watching the new series of the sarah Jane Smith Adventours (which just keeps getting beter and better btw) and the apprentice, but I'm going to do a overall blog about them closer to the time they finish.

Anyway, yesterday I finally made my way back to the cinema where I went to see despicable me, now normally I'm unsure about seeing films by dreamworks. However before I get in to why I'll first say I really enjoyed despicable me. It was sweet, cute, funny for kids and adults alike. However it did miss out on the jokes for the grown up,s you know the type, ones that aren't really appropriate for kids but are worded in a way children won't understand for example in shrek where they mock the prince for his large castle, 'do you think he might be compensating for something?' But yes overall despicable me was a good film which i suggest others watching.

Now it got me thinking about other films from dreamworks and the reason I don't think to highly of dreamworks.

Antz (came out the same time as 'A Bugs life' wasn't as good, dull story, dull characters_
Shrek 1 (an original story with a positive message behind it)
Shrek 2 (better than the original IMO, but no more after this right?)
Shrek 3 (laughed once in the first 5 minuites of the film, after that just bored)
Shrek 4 (not seen it, but surely this is the end of it, right?!)

Shark Tale (out the same time as finding nemo, and doesn't compare to the masterpiece that is finding nemo)
Madagascar (an ok film with a range of different celebrities given their voice to these animated characters)
Over the Hedge (meh, only seen parts of this film but really nothing special)
Bee Movie (strange movie, SO ODD, weird story line and a painful watch)
Kung Fu Panda (a funny film, but after seeing it more than twice I'm done with it)
Monsters vs. Aliens
How to Train Your Dragon
Megamind (again with a range of celebrities giving their voices, although can't help but think its to similar to despicable me)

and we can soon expect a squeals to monsters vs aliens, kung fu panda, despicable me and how to train your dragon.

Now if we look at PIXAR

Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
A bugs Life
Monsters INC.
Finding Nemo
The Incredables
Cars
Ratatouille
WALL-E
Up

and we can expect squeals to monsters inc and cars. Now the amount of films is different while dreamworks has a larger amount, I just can't help but feel enough time is spent of the actual story and making us love the characters. For example Toy Story, yes like shrek it has squeals to it, however the more I watched the toy story films the more I loved them, the more I saw shrek and donkey the quicker I tired of them.

Pixar are master story tellers where as Dreamworks just make as many film as they can to bring in the profit, while I enjoyed despicable me it will never compare to the charm that the likes of toy story create.

Or to sum up my point



^ from college humour


What is going to be interesting is seeing Tangled by disney (not pixar)



is it me or does this have more of a dreamworks feel to it? With the some what self aware 'hero', the animation stlye and the white horse looks a little bit like donkey in the face. Only time will tell.

My Thoughts On Toy Story 3 (3D)

My Thoughts On Toy Story 3 (3D)
This will not contain any spoilers!

So as part of my new job at a cinema I get the extra of staff showings. Tonight after work we watched Toy Story 3 in 3D before it’s released to the general public (in the UK)!

The first toy story came out in 1995, followed by Toy Story 2 in 1999. I would have been around five or six at the time of the first film and I remember loving it. When they said a second one was coming out I wasn't too sure as squeals are never as good as the originals. However I was totally blown away by the second one and I still believe the second one is far superior to the first. And they have done it again with the 3rd! Looking back at the first film I don't think it’s really fantastic, yes there are loveable characters but I think because I've seen it so many times I find it easy to turn it off because I know actually what’s going to happen. But none the less the first movie is what broughts us the great bunch of charatcers we have all grown up with and love.

I'm very spectacle about CGI films, especially the family animated kind. Dreamworks seems to just create them one after another and normally there is very little wonder about them. For example while shrek was good at first I was bitterly disappointed the third film and remember only laughing at one line at the very start. None the less I'll be sure to see the final one as I've heard good things. However Pixar take their time with their time with their films, they create wonderful original characters and surround them in a fantastic world where both children and adults can enjoy.

Toy Story 3 is in a word flawless. I really can't find any fault with this film. Everything about this film was just right. I believe young children who didn't grow up on Toy Story can still enjoy this film but I don't think they will truly get the real history behind it. Growing up with the films and being nearly the same age as Andy now the final film almost feels like its time for us too to move on and start to grow up. Within the film are some almost very dark scenes where the toys are in great danger but the danger it soon solved and something light hearted and funny happens. I won't post any spoilers but there is a moment where it really tugs on your heart strings and is truly sad and you really feel for the toys. I almost want to say 'my toys' as I feel as If I know their character so well.

One thing I was a little unsure about before seeing the film was the use of Barbie and Ken. I wondered if it was just going to be a big advertising stunt, and while I imagine a toy story ken and Barbie will be on the toy selves soon (edit: Just checked, yep they are already made) they really had their own character and within a short amount of time they were quickly developed and felt as if they had always been a part of the gang. I think the Barbie doll was supposed to look like as if it was from the 80's, it looked like it had been fashioned from FAME. While Barbie and Ken had their stereotypical 'Barbie doll' moments (lil bit of a spoiler with a few lines from the film, if you don't wanna read it just scroll past the dialog)
eg

Ken: Okay, now you start.
Barbie: I...
Ken: love...
Barbie: you! Oh!
Ken: See? That time I said "love"! Okay, now me first.
[Buzz gives them a strange look]
Barbie: [overlapping] Ooh! Okay okay okay...
Ken: I...
Barbie: love...
Ken: you! You see what I mean? It changes every time!
Barbie: [laughing] You are so smart!
(thank you IMDB)

This was still funny and as the film went on we soon saw that Barbie is not just a pretty face. But I'll let you watch and find out what I mean.

Pixar are pure genius, there storytelling is simply unbeatable. This film deals with issues such as immortality and what happens when things around you change but you still stay the same. Its heart warming and I'll happily admit I did get teary eyed. I'm really happy with the way things ended and it’s finally completed the story of Toy Story. It’s a must see.


My Old Power Ranger Toy from childhood.
Not throwing this guy away, ever.

Films I'm looking forward to see in 2010

Films I'm looking forward to see in 2010

I love watching trailers and trying to work out if I'm going to like the film, or if I'm even going to go watch them. So here is my list of films that I am looking forward to the most in 2010.

EDIT: I had done a very large blog entry, giving reasons as to why I want to see these films. However my internet decided it didn't want to play nice any more and so I'm keeping this basic. That and I'm suddenly not feeling to well, who knows I may come back later and edit it again.

Inception



toy story 3


Runaways


The Last Air Bender


Scott Pilgrim vs. The World