Inside Out by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen, 2015 (PG)

with Amy Poehler, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Kaitlyn Dias

Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Riley's emotions -- led by Joy (Amy Poehler) -- try to guide her through this difficult, life-changing event. However, the stress of the move brings Sadness (Phyllis Smith) to the forefront. When Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley's mind, the only emotions left in Headquarters are Anger, Fear and Disgust.

This is quite a way of picturing the brain: very inventive, funny, imaginative. You really get transported into those visions of subconscious, emotions, memory. It is at the same time perfect, and on the other hand completely non-scientific. The outcome becomes almost a dream session, where not everything is logical, but everything makes sense, and it is fun, sad, intelligent, witty, all in one.

Big Hero 6 by Chris Williams and Don Hall, 2015 (PG)

with Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Maya Rudolph, Stan Lee

In this animated adventure, genius robotics engineer Hiro Hamada finds himself enmeshed in a nefarious scheme to wipe out the city of San Fransokyo. Accompanied by his robot best friend, Hero joins a ragtag team intent on saving the City by the Bay.

What to watch in a plane... Big Hero 6? I recommend. Specially if you have a 3 years old sitting next to you, and then followed by "Sound of Music" because it has to be PG. So, here we go, this is another of these lovely story where there is a cute little character completely unreal getting into your heart, just like Nemo (talking fish), Buzz Lightyear (talking toy, many of them actually), Mater (taking car), Wall-e (Talking or not Garbage compacter), Eva (Not even talking egg), talking rats, talking ants, talking monsters, and a couple of normal talking people like Brave or the Incredibles. In other words, I really like absurd sense of logic and way of telling story in a far more straightforward way that Disney used to do. Of course, the story of Big Hero 6 doesn't go very far, and everything is happy ever after, but in an era where robotic can lead us in very unexpected directions, the Stargate aside (WTF?!?), it definitely pin-points the tendencies of technology, somewhere between the absolute entertainment, and perhaps the betterness of our lives. Something that children might need a story about, more than the Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.


watch trailer:

The Congress by Ari Folman, 2013

More than two decades after catapulting to stardom with The Princess Bride, an aging actress (Robin Wright, playing a version of herself) decides to take her final job: preserving her digital likeness for a future Hollywood. Through a deal brokered by her loyal, longtime agent (Harvey Keitel) and the head of Miramount Studios (Danny Huston), her alias will be controlled by the studio, and will star in any film they want with no restrictions. In return, she receives healthy compensation so she can care for her ailing son and her digitized character will stay forever young. Twenty years later, under the creative vision of the studio's head animator (Jon Hamm), Wright's digital double rises to immortal stardom. With her contract expiring, she is invited to take part in "The Congress" convention as she makes her comeback straight into the world of future fantasy cinema.

Robin Wright "At" the Congress makes a lot of sense after five seconds of the movie. Which initially felt like a weird way of putting it in the poster. She (a version of herself) is the center of the story, picking up from her past career and creating an alternate reality where she would be of the downside of her career, with very beautiful personal moments, evolving into science fiction scenario (which reminded me somehow of SimOne), where the reality isn't very far from fiction, to a world that transition to animation in a radical psychedelic way (this time reminding me of the world of Philémon, considered one of the most poetic and original bande dessinée series of all time, see picture below). The movie around that time becomes a little long, but somehow the journey makes the twist even more relevant. It is quite a story to tell the truth. Then I have one question that seems to not be of the matter in the movie, but who are the people controlling all the mess (trying not to spoil the movie)? All the alternatives seem to have lost any kind of power... Perhaps I should read the book from which the story is inspired, The Futurological Congress by Stanisław Lem (who wrote Solaris) to get answers...


Philémon - Le Voyage de l'incrédule by Fred

with Robin Wright (Forrest Gump, (House of Cards, Breaking and Entering, The Conspirator, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Moneyball, Adore), Paul Giamatti (12 Years a Slave, Saving Mr. Banks, Cosmopolis, Duplicity, Barney's Version, Deconstructing Harry), Jon Hamm (Friends with Kids, Bridesmaids, The Town, Mad Men), Danny Huston (Hitchcock, You Don't Know Jack, Robin Hood, The Conspirator, X-men Origins: Wolverine), Harvey Keitel, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sami Gayle, Michael Stahl-David
From the director of Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)

Watch trailer:

Epic by Chris Wedge, 2013 (PG)

Magically transported to an enchanted forest, a teenage girl joins forces with a scruffy group of residents fighting a battle against evil -- and soon realizes they must win to save both their world and hers.

Lets see, I loved the idea of the life beyond what we see, living in the woods, and the movie is funny, the characters interesting. I didn't even find it childish, which sometimes is the fall out of animation movies. And it is beautiful.

with Beyoncé Knowles (Life Is But a Dream), Colin Farrell (Total Recall, In Bruges, Dead Man Down, Saving Mr. Banks), Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, In Time, Chloe), Johnny Knoxville (Men in Black II), Aziz Ansari, Jason Sudeikis (We're the Millers), Steven Tyler, Judah Friedlander (The Wrestler), Blake Anderson

watch trailer:

Frozen by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, 2013 (PG)

After her kingdom is doomed to suffer from eternal winter, intrepid Anna goes on a quest to find her reclusive sister, the Snow Queen, and break the curse. Along the way, Anna teams with eccentric mountaineer Kristoff and his comic reindeer, Sven.

Not having known Frozen before Maleficent, I thought Disney was taking a first stand with the remake of the Sleeping Beauty. But, Frozen came out before, so it seems that the intention of Disney is clear in destroying the myth of the Prince Charming, and true love. No spoiler, I will just stop here, and let you enjoy it. Another point which initially made me have reservations regarding this movie is that the story is inspired loosely from The Snow Queen from Andersen, which is nothing of a Disney type of story, aside from its happy ending, I was afraid of how much they would alter the original story (once more, Disney rearrange the story for its own purpose).

with Kristen Bell (Heroes), Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff (The Conspirator, The Normal Heart), Santino Fontana, Josh Gad (Love and Other Drugs), Alan Tudyk (Ice Age, Death at a Funeral, Beautiful Boy), Fred Tatasciore, Chris Williams, Ciarán Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Margot at the Wedding, The Debt, In Bruges), Stephen J. Anderson, Maia Wilson, Edie McClurg, Robert Pine, Maurice LaMarche, Livvy Stubenrauch, Eva Bella, Spencer Lacy Ganus, Jesse Corti, Jeff Marcus, Tucker Gilmore

watch trailer:

The Lego Movie by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, 2014 (PG)

After being mistaken for the LEGO Master Builder, ordinary mini-guy Emmet is swept up in an urgent quest to thwart the evil plans of Lord Business. Emmet's adventures include daunting challenges and hilarious missteps.

To be honest, I was more looking at how they did it than follow the actual story. The computer animated/stop-motion hybrid technique they used is pretty impressive... Then, the story hum.... It's ok, funny at time, dynamic overall, with a funny way of turning upside down these cliches of "the chosen one", and most of all, throughout the movie, I felt the people who made this movie had fun and didn't take themselves too seriously... Maybe I am wrong, but it was a good one to watch.

with Chris Pratt (Her, Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty, The Five-Year Engagement), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games, Man on a Ledge, Our Idiot Brother, The Next Three Days, People Like Us), Will Arnett (Despicable Me), Cobie Smulders (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Marvel's The Avengers, Captain America: First Avenger), Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, The Vow, Haywire, Side Effects), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street, Moneyball, How to train your dragon), Morgan Freeman (Now You See Me, Invictus, The Dark Knight Rises, RED, Oblivion), Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson (Non-Stop, Love Actually, The Other Man, The Next Three Days, Chloe, The Grey), Alison Brie (The Five-Year Engagement), Charlie Day (Monsters University), Nick Offerman (We're the Millers, All Good Things, The Men Who Stare At Goats, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous)

watch trailer:

Monsters University by Dan Scanlon, 2013 (G)

with John Goodman (The Artist, Flight, The Princess and the Frog, Trouble with the Curve, Argo, The Emperor's New Groove (Kuzco), You Don't Know Jack), Billy Crystal (Deconstructing Harry), Steve Buscemi (On the Road, Paris Je T'aime, Love in the Time of Money, The Messenger), Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray (The Artist), Helen Mirren (Red 2, Hitchcock, The Debt, RED)

This prequel to Pixar's popular animated tale Monsters Inc. once again features eccentric monster pals Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan. Set during their college days, the film tells the strange and amusing tale of how the pair became friends.

Well, the first one was so good... it is nearly impossible to keep up. So it isn't great, lets face it. The humor is not as in the first one. Still, since we already love the characters, it makes it easy to watch it, discover who they were, and how they got to be friends.

Watch trailer:

Despicable Me 2 by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, 2013 (PG)

with Steve Carell (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Hope Springs, Crazy Stupid Love, Dan In Real Life, Get Smart), Kristen Wiig (All Good Things, Bridesmaids, Date Night, How to train your dragon), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Traffic), Miranda Cosgrove (Despicable Me), Russell Brand (Despicable Me), Steve Coogan (Philomena, What Maisie Knew, Ruby Sparks, Our Idiot Brother), Ken Jeong, Elsie Fisher (Despicable Me), Dana Gaier (Despicable Me), Moises Arias
From the directors of Despicable Me

Gru, his adorable girls, and the mischievous Minions are back with a cast of unforgettable new characters in the blockbuster sequel to the worldwide phenomenon. Just as Gru has given up being super-bad to be a super-dad, the Anti-Villain League recruits him to track down a new criminal mastermind and save the world. Partnered with secret agent Lucy Wilde, Gru, along with the wildly unpredictable Minions, must figure out how to keep his cover while also keeping up with his duties as a father.
It still works. It is funny, trying to be romantic in a very awkward way, so even funnier. The minions are win-wins, they just need to be there to make the whole situation a good one. The kids are less relevant in this episode which in a way is sad, but the new character of the special agent Lucy Wilde compensates completely.

watch trailer:

Despicable Me by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, 2010 (PG)

With Steve Carell (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Hope Springs, Crazy Stupid Love, Dan In Real Life, Get Smart), Jason Segel (The Five-Year Engagement, Jeff Who Lives At Home, Bad Teacher), Russell Brand, Julie Andrews (Brave, The English Patient), Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig (All Good Things, Bridesmaids, Date Night, How to train your dragon), Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Pierre Coffin

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

A good friend of mine who is doing amazing animation movies (See Creamen) recommended me this one, saying it was one of the best animation movies ever made (also flattering my ego by saying French people did it, and you know how proud we French can feel about our compatriots :)... Anyway, took me forever to watch it (obviously, since they even already came up with a new one), but now I'm all good. I have seen it. Well... Yes, it's good, cute, got all the perfect tools to create amazing merchandizing, think of all the minions you can collect as teddy-bears... ok, it has all of it, the sentimentalism, cynicism, humor, action. Had a good time watching it. Perhaps, I might say, it had too much of the perfect mix, because therefor it is a little difficult to imagine the final product to actually be French... Anyway, I still love Steve Carell, and was wondering if from the beginning, the directors were not thinking of him, to create Gru, they have some moves and faces that are really similar. :)

Watch trailer:

Who isn't a fan? My Pixar Moment...

Yes, it's true, today is a bit unusual, I needed to share a little bit about me, and my newly purchased lamp I guess... Anyway, I always loved the intro to Pixar films, with Luxo Jr., which probably led to that impulsive purchase. So this is a bit of me, above, and below, the 1986 first short of Pixar, Luxo Jr., which was produced when I was what, 3 years old? Didn't get old, whatsoever!

Watch Luxo Jr.!

Picture ©cinemajustforfun

The Emperor's New Groove (Kuzco) by Mark Dindal, 2000 (G)

with David Spade, John Goodman (The Artist, You Don't Know Jack, The Princess and the Frog, Trouble with the Curve), Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton (Men In Black 2), Wendie Malick, Tom Jones
Duration: 78 minutes

In this animated Disney adventure, South American emperor Kuzco experiences a reversal of fortune when his power-hungry adviser Yzma turns him into a llama. Exiled to the wilderness, Kuzco turns to kindly villager Pacha for help.

Isn't this one of the craziest Disney ever? I mean, even the hero is stupid. I guess it has something since it has become in my circle of friends a cult movie. There is nothing more to it. Kronk's character (Izma's Side Kick) is the most absurdly charming character. The characters are truly simple, the story not romantic in any way, the lesson are given with absolute cynicism. It is perhaps the least educative Disney, perhaps why it is one of my favorites.

Watch Trailer:

Brave by Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, 2012 (PG)

with Kelly Macdonald (The Girl in the Cafe), Emma Thompson (Men in Black 3, An Education, Love Actually), Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Eilidh Fraser, Sally Kinghom
Duration: 93 minutes

Scottish princess Merida uses her archery skills to establish her independence, but when she accidentally angers the ancient land's three powerful lords and is granted a poorly conceived wish by a witch, she must go on a quest to repair the damage.

Nominated at the Oscars 2013 for Best Animated Feature Film (WON)

Finally a Walt Disney movie that showcase a woman who doesn't need a man to make her story better. The choice isn't really appealing anyway... But still a major statement that you can make a story that ends well with someone who is just not ready to settle, who can become who she wants to be without the help of a man, as nice and helpful he can be, and finally end with all options open still (basically not making her undesirable or lonely just because she didn't find yet the one she loves). Ok, spoiler there, but anyway, maybe it will convince some to watch it. This is definitely breaking a serious pattern. The movie is cute, dynamic, with a little bit of humor, not lecturing for an adult and with good values for kids. Definitely not the best Disney but at least a statement.

Watch Trailer:

Updates on Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

Following the article: Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

Claudia Black in the recording studios for Dragon Age Inquisition, 2014

I keep seeing these pictures on the side of my blog, as it appears to be very popular, and I feel weird because I just want to post a picture of Claudia Black the way she looks now, which is more beautiful than ever. Just come back to the front of the screen, even if that means more make up/prep up and less crazy voices to perform for video games. 

Update 10/01/2016: I am still catching up with the last episodes, so don't spoil it for me. But my, my... Lommers is quite the politician in Containment, I am thrilled she was cast in it. Looking forward to the end, and more shows with her in it.

Update 02/18/2016: Alright, Claudia Black has been back, with the role of Dahlia in the Originals, (spin-off from The Vampire Diaries), pretty much immortal. And something I really look forward to, she will be part of the cast of "Containment", set to debut April 19, 2016, meaning really soon!!! This is good news.

Update 12/19/2013: Just in: "Strange Frame: Love and Sax" is now available in Netflix. Only thing I gotta do when I get back home after holidays is to watch it! Yay!

Update 08/05/2013: Finally, just saw the other vampire Claudia Black was turned into, for the movie "Queen of the Damned". Honestly, I much prefer the one of "MoonLight". They made her have luggage under her eyes, bad skin, and an insignificant role. Anyway, the movie is not that interesting either, so I guess it is a good way to skip Claudia Black for once. Still have to see "Strange Frame" and "Rain From Stars".

Update 11/29/2012: Answer from the producers of Strange Frame: "Weʻre still working on a screening for New York. Stay tuned, but it will be out on VOD in February and DVD in March."
Simple as asking!

Claudia Black as Pandora in "Queen of the Damned", 2002

Update 11/28/2012: Just watched for the first time Haven, this series from SyFy (who produced BattleStar Galactica) of course to check out the latest work of Claudia Black ("Magic Hour" Part 1 and 2). I kind of got hooked to the series, it has an interesting point, despite the fact that it looks like "The 4400" and "Heroes" in more than one way... Or X-men... Wonder why there is such a fascination for people with superpower (oh now I remember half of the movie industry money comes from stories about people with Super-Powers :) Anyway, I am starting to get annoyed at Claudia Black for staying no more than three episodes without being outcast or killed, or simply popping by just long enough we would point our attention to her and then leave. Can any producer be smarter than that?
But... she looks like she is getting a serious credit in the coming-up movie "Rain from Stars", which is not an animated movie. Yes!!! It's finished, so let's wait and see. In the meantime, I keep asking in case... where can we see "Strange Frame: Love and Sax" in New York?

Claudia Black in TV series "Haven" as Moira in episode "Magic Hour"

For more on Claudia Black, I recommend IMDB and claudiablackonline

Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

I never knew one of my recent obsession would become the reason why my blog is so much read. Definitely, I believe that there is a major curiosity to be built upon Claudia Black. She was once overly wearing make-up for "City Life", which is here in the US practically impossible to watch, except if you understand Russian and you are not bothered by the fact that it is only one person (male) that does he voice over for all the characters, with the enthusiasm of Aeryn Sun in "Look at the Princess" for Dregon Carzenova (Aaron James Cash). I personally do not understand Russian. Anyway...

Claudia Black as Angela Kostapas in "City Life"

My journey of discovering Claudia Black started (obviously) with Aeryn Sun in "Farscape". Interesting character, who pretty much stole the series, evolving from tough military to someone more complex, with feelings, emotions, hopes.

Claudia Black as Aeryn Sun in Farscape

Something in her pushed me into watching "Stargate SG-1", while my friends (who had recommended me "Farscape") were kind of reticent. My only curiosity came from the fact that in one of the episodes of "Stargate SG-1" named "200", she was playing Aeryn Sun. But instead of going straight to the point, I started back to "Prometheus Unbound" and watched her as Vala Mal Doran in all the episodes in between to get to that point. I was definitely on the one hand deceived that it wasn't Aeryn Sun per say, but one the other hand, I got my only laugh for watching "Stargate SG-1" which largely compensated.

Claudia Black as Vala Mal Doran in Stargate SG-1

Following this Stargate period, I got into what is called at my age (28) a shameful moment. Yes, I watched "90210" aka Beverly Hills. It used to be successful as a different generation cast, when I was 8 years old, with the reputation to be for kids and teenagers. When I was 8, I thought it was an adult show, with real heart drama. Watching it now was sort of a learning experience, first of that target audience, second of a certain mentality that perhaps some high school have. Anyway, Claudia Black played for a few episodes a guru, Sona. Of course, she has to be the bad guy, and of course, the whole game has to be unveiled in an obvious manner. Anyway, definitely a character change. My shame was more or less watching the rest of the episodes that ended the series...

Claudia Black as Guru Sona in 90210

Next was the wonder of "City Life" dubbed in Russian, which I probably gave up to easily, although reading about it, it made me realize this was a response to Melrose Place from New Zealand, meaning not sure I want to be hooked to a sitcom again. 

Then came "Rango"... I had to see it, because of the reviews, and because of her role as Angelique. Well, the movie is great, the character of Angelique, let's define it: nearly nonexistent. Sad because she is funnily arrogant, could have had more slashing lines.

Claudia Black as Angelique in Rango

I checked the trailer of the animation movie "The Alchemist Agenda" but it looked like it was still a work in progress. I was also watching this episode of "MoonLight" where she appears, kind of SM Vampire Cleaner, reminding me of Trinity in "The Matrix" (And I love Trinity... But The Cleaner wasn't a recurrent role so I gave up).

Claudia Black as Ariel Allis in The Alchemist Agenda

Claudia Black as The Cleaner in MoonLight

Now, my two latest moves are to watch "Pitch Black" which when it came out was a blockbuster, and hum... "Xena: Warrior Princess" that's it, I said it. I believe I watched that once on tv when I was a teenager, at my aunt's house (never had tv in my childhood), bored to death and at 11am during the week with no cable tv, obviously not much to watch either. I was not impressed. So this time, this particular episode where Claudia Black appears, "Lifeblood" is with guest star Selma Blair and is about this leader from the past Xena is having visions of. We are at the time of the early Sapiens I think, and Claudia Black is a hippie with skins and fur named Karina. Her character is close enough to Aeryn Sun, sort of a leader herself, very naive tho. Anyway, It was a bit painful to watch, since everything is over-staged, loud and absolutely not convincing, from the acting (except perhaps Claudia who also strangely never dances with the crowd, skipping in extremis a ridiculous fate.)

Claudia Black as Karina in Xena: Warrior Princess

I am trying to watch in the subway (yes, New York) every time I can "Pitch Black". Not sure this is a good idea since last time, because I couldn't hear the deep voice of Vin Diesel, I put the volume to the maximum and then they shot something really loud (in order to scare) while I was leaving the train, got my ears and heart by surprise, I almost hurt someone. I am pending on the time where Sharon 'Shazza' Montgomery, her character, is going to die, seems like everyone will besides Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchell...

Claudia Black as Sharon 'Shazza' Montgomery in Pitch Black

Ok, to jump subject, I watched a few interviews of the "Real" Claudia Black, she looks very funny, grounded. Which might have been why in a way, she decided to focus her career on voice-over for films and video-games and other priorities. I am looking forward though to her next performance in a feature film, if possible not in an animation movie :)

Update 08/25/2012: The latest news is the completion of the animation movie "Strange Frame: Love & Sax" which has Claudia Black playing Parker C. Boyd, a women from a few centuries forward in a society that has stopped living on earth, saxophonist, falling for another woman with an extraordinary voice, Naia X. who ends up becoming the slave of her new manager. So of course, Parker needs to save her. The trailer is out there, the animation seems a bit unequal, between 3d landscape that are absolutely stunning of realism, to the characters that look like painting or video-game from the 2000s, but awkwardly animated. Would love to see it tho when it comes out in New York. Still running its first rounds in L.A. so far...

Update 12/25/2014: yes that's Christmas night and I am reviewing my notes on Claudia Black... Just felt like having a revival of Farscape, that's why... So, thanks to Netflix, the movie is on demand! And it is an interesting story, although the animation is a bit unequal and sometimes sketchy. 

On a Christmas note, I needed to express how beautiful Claudia Black looks lately with her blonde and curly hair. She should be in a movie (ah ah!). Anyway, seriously, any director reading this?

Claudia Black in Strange Frame: Love & Sax as Parker C. Boyd

Trailer:


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For more on Claudia Black, I recommend IMDB and claudiablackonline 

Ice Age by Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha, 2002 (PG)

Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Goran Visnjic, Jack Black, Cedric the Entertainer, Stephen Root, Diedrich Bader, Alan Tudyk, Jane Krakowski, Lorri Bagley, Chris Wedge, Tara Strong

With the impending ice age almost upon them, a mismatched trio of prehistoric critters -- Manny the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano), Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) and Sid the giant sloth (John Leguizamo) -- find an orphaned infant and decide to return it to its human parents. Along the way, the unlikely allies become friends. But when enemies attack, their quest takes on far nobler aims.

It has been a long time, 10 years, since the first chapter of "Ice Age" came out. I watched it again with new eyes, eyes that have seen so many more movies with that kind of technology. Still, I believe it made a point, with a narration from the perspective of the animals, making humans almost primitive but dangerous. It is funny, sometimes pushing a bit far the sense of humor, with a family feel good outsiders belonging through ethics. Perhaps the story is a little simple but the antique squirrel makes the movie, as well as some unique creative moments such as the roller-coaster inside the iceberg.

Watch Trailer

How to train your dragon by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, 2010 (PG)

with Jay Baruchel (Cosmopolis), Gerard Butler (Playing for keeps), Craig Ferguson (Brave), America Ferrera, Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller (Unstoppable, Our Idiot Brother), Kristen Wiig (All Good Things, Bridesmaids, Date Night), Robin Atkin Downes, David Tennant

As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: He must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it. So, he befriends the beast -- which he names Toothless -- much to the chagrin of his warrior father in this Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated adaptation of Cressida Cowell's children's book.

One of the best animation movies for children (and adults) in a very long time. It is funny, intelligent, sophisticated (I am not talking about the vikings, obviously), the myth is well exploited, the final steps of the story are actually full of surprise and not taking the shortcut of happy ending. They basically did not choose to make the movie dumb to fit a kid mentality, it is created to enlighten and entertain, no matter your age.

Rango by Gore Verbinski, 2011 (PG)

with Johnny Depp (The Rum Diary, Chocolat, Alice in Wonderland), Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy (The Girl In The Cafe, Wild Target, Total Recall, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Stephen Root (Ice Age, J. Edgar), Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate SG1), Ray Winstone

Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.

Hum... I loved it until the two minutes before the end. Great script, great story, environmentally responsible, interesting and original characters referring to great movies, such as "The Sea of Grass". Funny sense of humor, with some sort of idealistic looser, a girl kind of Calamity Jane but with flaws. We know right away who's good and who's bad, but that's ok I guess. My only huge deception, the minimal role of Angelique (Claudia Black, Farscape / Stargate), I was watching it only to hear her voice. Sigh... Anyway, good movie, I am just being peaky about Angelique.

Ok just for fun:

My home-made creation for Rango's
"Angelique" character poster

Watch Trailer:

The Princess and the Frog by Ron Clements and John Musker, 2009

with Anika Noni Rose, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Cody

Down in New Orleans during the fabulous Jazz Age, young Princess Tiana (voice of Anika Noni Rose) searches for true love and comes face-to-face with snooty debutante Charlotte (Jennifer Cody), ancient voodoo priestess Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis) and the evil Dr. Facilier (Keith David). But with the help of her mother (Oprah Winfrey), a crooning alligator and other friends, Tiana's fairy-tale dreams may come true after all.

Funny, what I wrote about Tangled could be written for the Princess and the Frog. It was a funny reconversion of the tale, with a nice Louisiana feeling to it, and "a girl can make it on her own" spirit, although when a guy come to the story, it helps... in the end. Well, it always reminds of childhood to watch a traditional Walt Disney, it is simple, funny, likable, no surprise. No further expectation. Although it would be nice to change the message sometimes... no?

Tangled by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, 2010

with Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Jeffrey Tambor, Brad Garrett, Paul F. Tompkins, Richard Kiel

Disney animators take on the classic Grimm Brothers story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a long-locked beauty imprisoned in a secluded tower by evil hag Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who needs the rejuvenating powers of Rapunzel's tresses to remain young. When a bandit on the lam (Zachary Levi) helps Rapunzel escape, the old crone plots to recapture her and end her budding romance with the thief.

Funny, a little bit, specially the horse I guess. A traditional Walt Disney, with a happy ending, prince and princess, a witch, a hero, and some side jokes and tears to make the people feel some emotions. Well designed, it is very simple, very adequate to our time, except perhaps that a woman will always need a guy to solve her problems. Damned it. Anyway, not the best one, just a traditional Walt Disney.

Cars by John Lasseter, 2006

with Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Katherine Helmond, Larry the Cable Guy, Bob Costas, Ray Magliozzi, Richard Petty, George Carlin

Prepare to peel out with this revved-up animated adventure featuring classic automobiles, plenty of fender benders, guffaws galore and a nostalgic Route 66 road trip with a crew that doesn't make pit stops.

I didn't know what to expect of this animation movie, I believe it got excellent revues back when it came out. I was a little bit afraid, since the second one came out and felt like a low quality series. Maybe I am wrong. Anyway, the movie is funny, interesting in reminding how the American culture evolved, embodied by cars, very dynamic. But at the end of the day, the story is very expectable, has very little nuances, each character is what it is from the beginning, with one specific feature to it, therefor a little bit poor. There is the good, the bad, and the good that doesn't know it yes, but you expect him to learn the lesson and become good.