A.I. Artificial Intelligence is coming out on Blu-ray!!

One of my favorite movies is finally making it's way onto Blu-ray!! Though I'm not crazy about the cover art I am still very excited about this release! With Singin' in the Rain announced for 2012 the other two movies I'm eagerly anticipating Blu-ray releases for are The Insider and On the Waterfront.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence [Blu-ray] (Amazon link)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1

I saw "Part 1" of Harry Potter 7 this weekend with my wife. It was great to have a date night again and we couldn't have picked a better movie to enjoy together with friends. Andrea and I have been eagerly anticipating this film for a while and the film didn't let down. I'll reserve the in depth analysis to others but I will say I was pleased with the film! They've treated the story with the breathing room it needs. There was a beautifully animated segment of the film that perfectly lays out some important exposition for the audience without feeling contrived. It's great to see this wonderful film series coming to a close with such class. It was great to see Dobby back on screen. Him and Kreacher are two of my favorite characters in the books. Next July is quite a while to wait for the conclusion, but I think in the meantime I may go back through the books and the movies again!

Megamind

Megamind invades theaters today. It's a fun flick with some good humor and heart. I started on Megamind immediately following my work on Dragon. The show's hub was up at PDI and I helped coordinate the satellite Layout, Animation, and Lighting teams down here in Glendale. I hope it does well for the studio and if you get a chance to see it I hope you have a good time!

Additionally, I want to take a second to acknowledge the support I get from my family. Things on these shows can get difficult at times, but it never ceases to amaze me how much love and support I get from my wife and daughters. Towards the end of the production I was working long hours and six day weeks for quite a while. I'm sure I wasn't the most pleasant person to be around at times. What you see above is what I saw when I came home from work on my last day on Megamind. Annie and the girls had decorated the front door with their artwork and messages of support, encouragement, and gratitude. I cannot adequately describe the joy this brought me. To know that no matter how difficult things may become I always had a loving home to come home to and a family who appreciated the hard work I put into this job means the world to me. Annie, Syd, and Vi... I love you so much.

Steven Spielberg to Direct “Robopocalypse”

I could hardly contain myself when I read on deadline.com that Spielberg's next project after War Horse is going to be a science fiction film with robots!! Spielberg is one of the filmmakers that has a huge impact on my life and my career direction. A.I. is one of my favorite films and I never would have imagined that he would be returning to the realm of robots again, but I'm happy he is! The official DreamWorks website says that the film will "[explore] the fate of the human race following a robot uprising."

Megamind Comic-Con Trailer

Life In A Day

I think I may try to participate in this if I'm able! Here is the description from the filmmakers...

Life In A Day is a historic global experiment to create the world's largest user-generated feature film: a documentary, shot in a single day, by you. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a glimpse of your life on camera. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into an experimental documentary film, executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.

For more information, visit youtube.com/lifeinaday.

Inception

Breathtaking? Yes. 

Mind Bending? Yes. 

A Masterpiece? Yes.

No joke, I feel as though I have just experienced a film that will go down as one of the shining lights in this era of filmmaking. The movie is brilliant on so many levels. Christopher Nolan has firmly placed himself in the pantheon with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola. I will leave the heavy critical praise to those who say it better than I can (see below), but I will say this... the scene depicted in the poster above has got to be one of the most exhilarating sequences ever committed to film. I was literally giddy in my seat. It worked so well both conceptually in the context of the film and visually that it was breathtaking. I couldn't sit still in my chair as it played out on screen in front of me.

For “Inception” is not only about the dream state, it often plays on screen in a dreamlike way, which means that it has the gift of being easier to follow than to explain… But even while literal understanding can remain tantilizingly out of reach, you always intuitively understand what is going on and why.

Helping in that understanding, and one of the film’s most satisfying aspects, are its roots in old-fashioned genre entertainment, albeit genre amped up to warp speed. Besides its science-fiction theme, “Inception” also has strong film noir ties, easily recognizable elements like the femme fatale, doomed love and the protagonist’s fateful decision to take on “one last job.”

- Kenneth Turan

“Inception” is the kind of film that will no doubt drive scores of viewers to theaters for a second go. But the key to success in a movie as purposefully complex as this one is that you see it again not because you have to, but because you want to. “Inception” is that rare film that can be enjoyed on superficial and progressively deeper levels, a feat that uncannily mimics the mind-bending journey its protagonist takes…

Nolan exemplifies the best kind of filmmaking, unchained from the laws of time, space and even gravity, but never from the most basic rules of narrative. Even at its most tangled and paradoxical, “Inception” keeps circling back to the motivation that has driven films from “The Wizard of Oz” to “E.T.”: Cobb, finally, just wants to go home.

This aim, in its simplicity, manages to make comprehensible even the most preposterous layers-upon-layers of “Inception,” and gives what could easily have been a chilly, impenetrable exercise a surprisingly strong emotional core. At its most audacious and enterprising, “Inception” provides just the kind of fully imagined escapism that adventurous filmgoers wish movies aspired to more often. But it’s the story’s most recognizable human struggles — to let go, forgive and move on — that make “Inception” worth puzzling over, long after its most transporting sensations have washed away.

- Ann Hornaday

Christopher Nolan: “I’d love to direct a Bond film”

While doing press for his latest film Inception, Nolan said the following...

“I’ve loved the Bond films since I was a kid. For me, they’re always about the expansiveness of cinema. The first Bond films set up infinite possibilities about the world they create. I’d love to do a Bond film."

Someone at MGM please pay attention and please make this happen!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows One-sheet Debuts!

Talk about the end of an era! The first poster for the very anticipated final chapters to the cinematic Harry Potter saga has debuted! The trailer debuted a week or so ago and looks to be on track for the exciting conclusion the series deserves! I think I may go back and listen to the audiobook for this one again before we see the part 1...

Universal Studios "Phoenix Project"

As I mentioned here before, I was extremely saddened when I heard about the fire that burnt down large portions of the Universal Backlot two years ago. The good news is that they've re-built and are back up and running again as of last Friday! I know this may seem somewhat mundane, but I find this very exciting! As I have said before, Universal Studios played a key role in setting me down the career path that I'm still trying traverse today.. I can't wait to check out the new tram tour and the new King King attraction!

Megamind Update!

Teaser Poster

Full Trailer

How To Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon is being unleashed upon the world this weekend and I couldn't be more proud or excited about it. It is an amazing film that I think families will cherish for years to come. I'm not writing this post to gush though. The purpose of this post is to thank my beautiful and loving wife. Contributing to this film will no doubt be a milestone in my career and I absolutely could not have been a part of it with out the unending support of Andrea. She supports me. She challenges me. She put up with the late nights and long weeks. She has done a wonderful job with Vi & Syd and I couldn't be more happy to have her as the role model for our girls. She allows me to do what I love to do without complaint or strife. She deserves the screen credit on this as much as I do.

Andrea... I love you... and I sincerely thank you from the deepest part of my soul.

Thoughts on the 82nd Oscar Nominations

Here are a few quick thoughts on some of the nominees from this year:

Best Picture: I think the Academy's experiment to revert to 10 nominees has been successful. There is some great diversity within the field from blockbuster and crowd pleaser to small and independent. Of the ten I have seen all but An Education, The Blindside, and A Serious Man. Honestly I'd be ok with any of the ones I've seen winning. This was a great year for movies. If I could choose I'd like to see Up or Up in the Air win.

Best Animated Feature: There were so many films that qualified this year that it triggered a field of 5 nominees again. I think Up deservedly owns this award. I think Ponyo should have been nominated over Fantastic Mr. Fox and the nomination for The Secret of Kells was a surprise. I have yet to see the film but I hope to soon. From what I have seen it is a beautiful 2D film. I hope it's story can live up to its visuals.

Cinematography: The inclusion of Avatar in this category is a pleasant surprise to me. This film is 60% animation, so a recognition here is a recognition of the progress that CG Camerawork has made! The nomination for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was nice was well. It's a beautiful film and I'm happy to see the Academy calling attention to good work like this.

Directing: It'd be great to see Kathryn Bigelow take this award for The Hurt Locker.

Editing: I think District 9 or Inglorious Basterds could both justifiably win in the category, but where is the nomination for Up in the Air. That film's quick cutting airport and packing montages were pure visual poetry.

Socre: I'd love to see Michael Giacchino take the award home for his score in Up!

Song: I think Mamma Odie's song "Digg a little deeper" from The Princess and the Frog should have been nominated. Given the nominations I would like to see "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart win. It was a fantastic film and the song that played an integral part in the film.

Animated Short: I have been able to catch all the nomonies again this yer and my pick would be the short French Roast.

Screenplay: My picks would be Up for Original Screenplay and Up in the Air for Adapted Screenplay.

If Avatar wins Best Picture...

...it will be the first to have had Happy Meal toys. I'm just sayin'! I'm passing no judgment there. I just wanted to point that out. Oscar nominations were announced today. I'll post my thoughts in the next few days.

My Favorite Films of 2009

I enjoy "Best of" lists as much as the next cinephile. This year rather than creating a list of my top five or ten movies of the year I'm going to simply list a few movies that stood out in my mind from 2009. Here they are in no particular order...

You can read my feelings about the film here. It's been a few days now since I've seen District 9 and my admiration for it has only grown.

You can read my original impressions of the film here. I have seen this film many times since that original viewing and my enjoyment and appreciation of it grows with each viewing.

The fact that I liked this film, let alone enjoyed it to the extent I did, surprised me. I am not a fan of Tarentino. The violence was a bit much at times but the film was funny, smart, and very engaging. He has a style that must be bought into to really enjoy one of his films. This time I bought it. While it doesn't change my opinion of his previous films I've seen, I feel like I understand what it is that people like and appreciate about his films.

I watched this with the family last night and we all enjoyed it tremendously. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did but I was won over by the story and the charm the film possesses. Some of my family is from Louisiana, and I have been there many times myself, which I think added an additional layer of appeal to me. I grinned quite a bit throughout the film.

I saw this film primary due to the praise it has received over the last few months. I can honestly say that I feel the praise is well deserved. This film is a peek behind the curtain of some of those things I think people idolize in our society. I don't want to say too much about it for those that haven't seen it, but I appreciate it's honesty and willingness to put a spotlight on the superficiality and emptiness of a lot of communication and interaction these days. This film works on so many levels.

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The following films are not my favorite films of the year, but I thought they are worth mentioning for the reasons listed below...

I really really enjoyed this film. You can read more of my thoughts on it here, but I'm including it because this is the first movie we took Violet to. (Yup, I'm starting them early!)

I don't think Avatar is a bad film. I just think it's story is a little weak. Why then am I including it here? It is a very good film and a very entertaining one at that. Simply... I enjoyed the film and it reminded me of the type of films I fell in love with in my youth. This film is in the same vein as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Abyss, and Terminator 2. All of these films captivated me in my youth and in part lead to where I am today. The story is the weakest part of the film, but ultimately I forgave it's shortcomings due to how much I became immersed in it's world. And I think that is what is most revolutionary about this film, not the 3D. I think the fact that it is in 3D has been a big boon to the format, but this films greatest achievement is it's ability to combine live action with CG and make the audience forget that we are basically switching between a live action film and a fully CG film.

District 9

I finally saw District 9 after many many friends encouraged me to do so. Either I'm predictible or they really know my taste in films. District 9 is the best film, that I have seen, from 2009. Avatar is getting all the hype right now... this is a better film. The story is solid and filmmaking is raw. The tenacity on display in this film by a first time feature filmmaker is inspiring. The violence can seem a bit gratuitous for the faint of heart, but it fits the tone of the film. Do yourself a favor and go rent or buy this film. With the exception of maybe Up, this film is the most engaging film I have seen in a while. If this film manages to land a Best Picture Nomination I will be very pleased.

First full trailer and teaser poster for How to Train Your Dragon released!

How to Train Your Dragon teaser trailer is officially out!!

Here is the first trailer for the film I'm currently working on. It doesn't show much, but that's why they call them teasers!

Ponyo

We took the girls to see Ponyo this weekend. (Vi's first movie!) We all loved it! What I enjoyed as much as the film itself was watching Syd enjoy it. She was very caught up in it from the start. She is already a big fan of Totoro and I was happy to see her react in a similar way to Ponyo. The film is beautiful and I am very keen on the backgrounds which lent the film a storybook like quality. The story was charming and had the usual Miyazaki touches of magic, charm, and child-like wonder. To top it all off, seeing a "2D' animated movie in a theater was very refreshing. It's in limited release right now, but if you get a chance to see it I would highly recommend it.

Spielberg Expresses Admiration for Animators

Interesting clip. Listen for the part where Spielberg says that thinks all directors should start as animators. ;)