The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey [PG-13] 2012 Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema Directed by Peter Jackson
Grade: B+ Up-Graded from B
-1: Length. +1: Cast: Martin Freeman (as Bilbo Baggins), Andy Serkis (Gollum). +1: Art Direction (Andy McLaren, Brad Mill, Brain Massey). +1: Visual effects and performance capture. par: Story structure and installment within a series.
Red Dawn [PG-13] 2012Film District, MGM Directed by Dan Bradley
Grade C+ Up-graded from C
par: Chris Hemsworth (as Jed Eckert). +1: Patriotic/ thriller. -1: Clear depiction of enemy’s (North Korea) plans and goals. par: Jed’s rallying speech, “For them this is just some place, for us it’s our home”. +1: Convincing rebel, guerilla fighting.
written by Mindy Smith If you’re far aways on this holiday eve And you're dreamin’ of being at home If you’re worried at all that you may be forgotten You should know that you aren’t alone ’Cause you’re there and you’re shining Bright like a beacon, bright as a northern star So, don’t worry because Santa will find you Wherever you are Santa will find you tonight If you’re listening for reindeer and sleigh bells As they jingle and tap on the roof You're awake, piled in blankets With your cousin Sacramone And you hope there’ll be presents for you ’Cause you’re there and you’re shining Bright like a beacon, bright as a northern star So, don’t worry because Santa will find you Wherever you are Santa will find you tonight It’s the time and the season to bring lovers together Never let distance keep you apart With the spirit of Christmas You’ll never be lost If you truly believe in your heart When you’re there and you’re shining Bright like a beacon, bright as a northern star So, don’t worry because Santa will find you wherever you are Santa will find you Don’t worry because Santa will find you Wherever you are Santa will find you tonight
Global leader in high-quality family entertainment agrees to acquire
world-renowned Lucasfilm Ltd, including legendary STAR WARS franchise.
Acquisition continues Disney’s strategic focus on creating and
monetizing the world’s best branded content, innovative technology and
global growth to drive long-term shareholder value.
Lucasfilm to join company’s global portfolio of world class brands
including Disney, ESPN, Pixar, Marvel and ABC.
STAR WARS: EPISODE 7 feature film targeted for release in 2015.
Frankenweenie 3D [PG] 2012 Disney Directed by Tim Burton
Grade B Up-graded from B
+1: Black and white horror/ fable. +1: Stop-motion animation. +1: Sparky’s (the “Frankenweenie”) day out. par: (Magic) lightning makes monsters. par: Score (Danny Elfman).
+1: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Joe) as a young Bruce Willis (old Joe). par: Time travel and paradoxes. -1: Logic: only the mobs control outlawed technology of time travel. par: Near future design. par: Logic: killing a man from the future - slowly.
Hotel Transylvania [PG]
2012
Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky
Grade: B+
Up-graded from B
+1: Animation.
+1: Monster Families. Wolfman Wayne (Kevin James) and his kids (pups?), Dracula (Adam Sandler) and daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez).
par: Story logic: from what are monsters taking a vacation?
-1: Physics: vampires burn instantly in the sun, yet endlessly without being consumed.
par: Love story: Johnathan (Andy Samberg) and Mavis.
The Disney Television Animation
studio, turned one of its production offices on Sonora Avenue in
Glendale, into an exhibit space for its fall second in-house art gallery this fall, themed “Some Kind
of Monster.”
Read more in Olu Alemoru’s article for Los Angeles Wave: [click: http://wavenewspapers.com/article_901258e8-1bdb-11e2-818a-0019bb30f31a.html]
Some Nights by Jack Antonoff, Jefferey Bhasker, Dost Andrew, Nathaniel Joseph Ruess
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck Some nights, I call it a draw Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights, I don’t know anymore... oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh
This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for? Why don’t we break the rules already? I was never one to believe the hype - save that for the black and white I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked, but here they come again to jack my style
And that’s alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I? mmm... mmm...
Well, Some nights, I wish that this all would end Cause I could use some friends for a change And some nights, I’m scared you'll forget me again Some nights, I always win, I always win...
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights, I don’t know... (come on)
So this is it? I sold my soul for this? Washed my hands of that for this? I miss my mom and dad for this?
No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that’s all they are When I hear songs, they sound like this one, so come on Oh, come on. Oh, come on, OH COME ON!
Well, this is it guys, that is all - five minutes in and I’m bored again Ten years of this, I’m not sure if anybody understands This one is not for the folks at home; Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she call “love” But when I look into my nephew’s eyes... Man, you wouldn’t believe the most amazing things that can come from... Some terrible lies...ahhh...
The other night, you wouldn’t believe the dream I just had about you and me I called you up, but we’d both agree It's for the best you didn’t listen It’s for the best we get our distance... oh... It’s for the best you didn’t listen It’s for the best we get our distance... oh...
The Expendables 2 [R]
2012 Lionsgate
Directed by Simon West
Grade B-
Up-graded from C
+1: Cast.
-1: Logic and character motivation.
par: Dialogue.
+1: Spotlight fight sequences (Jet Li as Yin Yang, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas)
+1: Franchise entry.
Natalie Fitzgerald is a graphic designer currently residing in Baltimore, Maryland.
Aesthetically, she gravitates toward bold colors, expressive and often
hand-drawn typography, clean illustrations, and retro styling.
Branding elements that included a
logo with an interchangeable pattern system, cast of mascots and
characters, and illustrative pipe theme that reflects the interior
design of the museum.
Icons that metaphorically represent the statistic.
The Bourne Legacy [PG-13] 2012 Universal Directed by Tony Gilroy
Grade: B+ Up-Graded from B
+1: Jeremy Renner (as Aaron Cross). -1: Character development. -1: Abrupt ending. +1: Fight and motorcycle chase with LARX agent. +1: Serial installment.
ParaNorman 3D [PG] 2012 Focus Features Directed by Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Grade: C+ Upgraded from C
+1: Stop motion animation. par: Horror themes (zombies, ghosts and witches). par: Character development. par: Ghost-hunting kids. par: Norman saves the day with words.
par: 3D effects
Bonus behind the scenes sequence after the end credits of building a Norman puppet.
Hold on, to me as we go As we roll down this unfamiliar road And although this wave is stringing us along Just know you’re not alone Cause I’m going to make this place your home
Settle down, it’ll all be clear Don’t pay no mind to the demons They fill you with fear The trouble it might drag you down If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you’re not alone Cause I’m going to make this place your home
Settle down, it’ll all be clear Don’t pay no mind to the demons They fill you with fear The trouble it might drag you down If you get lost, you can always be found
Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz continues her collaboration with Disney Parks with new visions inspired by classic theme park attractions and animated films.
Blog-runner of Notcot.com featured this prize had at San Diego ComicCon International 2012: the commemorative poster celebrating Cartoon Network’s 20th birthday (officially October 1, 2012). It features characters from almost every original, animated Cartoon Network series, plus a few from co-productions and acquired shows.
The image comes from the combined creative talents of (in alphabetical order) Branden Collins, Jacob Escobedo, Petrika Jansen, Bryan Mon and Dan Thompson with help from Damond Dunlap and Jason Grissom.
The Hub, a cable channel that launched in October of 2010, has cobbled together a “trailer” for the movie The Dark Knight Rises, but using clips from Batman: The Animated Series show from the ’90s.
We’ve brought together some of our most
beloved literary characters to rally people behind the Book People Unite
movement and help get books in the hands of kids who need them the
most. Join the movement at bookpeopleunite.org
Starring:
Pinocchio, Madeline, Greg (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Rip Van Winkle, LeVar
Burton, Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty, Curious George, Big Bad Wolf,
Little Red Riding Hood, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Goldilocks and the three
bears, Captain Ahab, Three Pigs, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Babar the
Elephant, Mr Men, Little Miss, Mr Tickle, Little Miss Chatterbox, Mr
Tall, Peter (The Snowy Day), The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Black
Beauty.
Music produced by: The Roots with vocal support from Jack
Black, Chris Martin, John Legend, Regina Spektor, Jim James, Nate
Ruess, Jason Schwartzman, Melanie Fiona, Levar Burton, Carrie Brownstein
& Consequence
SDCC 2012 - Cartoon Network is taking over the Children’s Museum for an Adventure
Time exhibit and a “fully immersive” Adventure Time experience, right across the tracks from the convention center! Inspired by by two fan-favorite episodes, one featuring the Keyper and the other featuring the Door Lord, fans will be presented with special keys and led through the land of Ooo to the lair of the Door Lord where, if they decipher a riddle correctly, their key will open one of the many locked doors and possibly win a special prize!
Check out [the Beat] for a little more information.
SDCC 2012 - Cartoon Network has announced a first-of-its kind challenge for all Adventure
Time-loving Comic-Con attendees: complete the Adventure Time “Comic-Con
Quest” and be named a victor!
Cartoon Network’s 2011 booth at SDCC.
To participate in the Adventure Time “Comic-Con Quest,” fans must
visit the Cartoon Network booth (#3735) to pick up a custom map that
will outline their journey. From there, they must visit every stop on
the map, which include all of the network’s participating partners
showcasing Adventure Time products at their booths, to collect a custom
stamp signifying they were there. Once all 10 stamps are collected, fans
will return to the Cartoon Network booth where they will be rewarded
with an exclusive, custom award fit for a victor.
Check outthe Beatfor a rundown of participating booths.
Mr. Mysto’s Wizard Academy: Simple Magic & Stunts
as revealed to John Carney
Illustrations by Stephanie Gladden
ISBN #0-9701287-2-X
80 pp., B&W, 2011 Carney Magic
The book boldly describes its own purpose for occupying space on your book shelf, which is to “fool family and friends with these great tricks from the self-proclaimed king of magic!”
Simply laid out and always with a sense of humor and fun, the tricks, one suspects, are probably harder to perform successfully than might be implied by the easy manner in which the information is presented. Still, Mr. Mysto, frequently encourages the macgic student to “practice, practice, practice.” Almost every page features Stephanie Gladden’s charming and informative illustrations of Mr. Mysto and his feline assistant Nepomuk.
The Collection of the Ultimate Uko Girl, vol. 1
by Uko Smith
36pp. B&W, 2011 Kenyatta Design
Contains nudity.
A sketch book collection of pencil drawings of the female form by artist Uko Smith. Many of the the featured work seems influenced by the Art Nuevo style or at least by the contemporary work of Adam Hughes. Other pieces echo in their detail the styles of comic book artists Jim Lee and Marc Silvestri. All of the work, however, has an essence original to Mr. Smith.
