What really works about this movie is the main story. Rather than adapting the famous children's book, this film creates a new story based on the popular character. However, this new story is a surprisingly strong idea. It is a perfect fit for the character. Like in the original book, he is on a mission to help cheer kids up. This film imagines him as working for a company that sends out animal characters with rhyming names to accomplish this type of task, which is a clever idea. The kids themselves are pretty good characters that we can easily relate to and care about. Their story arc is surprisingly strong as well, creating some actually emotional resonate moments. All this is helped by a very appealing art style and strong animation.
The problem with this movie is that despite having a strong story, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The filmmakers feel as if they have to constantly throw things at us to keep as entertained. What makes the original Dr. Suess book so timeless is that it is a simple story told simply. The new story here could easily have the same type of charm and feel. Yet there is just too much going on here for the film to have that kind of charm. The frenetic pacing constantly gives us new story elements, settings and gags (that very few of these gags are actually funny doesn't help). Rather than making the film feel more fun or larger in scale, this just makes it too crowded. Plus, nearly two hours of this frenetic pacing, gets tiring. It can get frustrating at times because there is a great family movie in here somewhere, but it gets lost among all the excess. There are simply too many ideas here to put into one movie.
This film is accompanied in theaters by a delightful Looney Tunes short called Daffy Season. While it may not be on the level of the best Looney Tunes cartoons, it is fun and that is exactly what we want from Looney Tunes.
While The Cat in the Hat isn't a bad film, it falls short of being the great family movie it could have been with a lot more focus.
Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus Loves the Little Children. Jesus would state, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." There is no doubt that Jesus did love the little children and he loves us big children too. If we will humble ourselves and become like little children, the blessings he has for us are immeasurable.
This is followed by The Marshall Family with Amen, There's a Higher Power.
Afterwards is Charlie Rich with Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
Next is Johnny Cash and U2 with The Wanderer. This song was written by Bono in 1993 (under the working title The Preacher). The song was inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes but takes place in a future time with a narrator who is worried about the lack of God in society. It is considered to be one of Bono's best songs, but for some reason whenever he tried to record it himself, it didn't work for him. Then he came up with the brilliant idea of having Johnny Cash sing the song (this idea came to Bono when he learned Johnny was going to be in Dublin). Bono would say that Johnny would teach him a lot about how to deliver a song like this during this recording section giving advice about how to put over each word effectively. Johnny told a reporter, "I don't know if it will ever be released or even what it's called." The song would be released on the U2 album, Zooropa (one of U2's most experimental albums) and John would state that this song gave him a sense of artistic renewal.
Then comes Ricky Skaggs with The Old Crossroads. This song was originally written in 1936 by Charlie Monroe and originally recorded by him and his brother Bill Monroe.
Next comes The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. This hymn began with a man named Anthony Showalter. As a fan of gospel music and an elder in a Presbyterian church, he held many "singing schools" at various churches in the south. One day he received two letters from former students who were struggling after their wives had passed. To respond to these letters, Showalter consulted scripture. He came across Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." After reading this verse lyrics for a song chorus went through his head and he wrote down, "“Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” After using this in the letters to his former students he sent this chorus to his friend hymnist, Elisha Hoffman. In the letter he also wrote, “Here is the chorus for a good hymn from Deuteronomy 33:27, but I can’t come up with the verses.” Hoffman then wrote the rest of the lyrics to which Showalter put to music. The hymn was published in 1887.
Today's musical selection ends with Ricky Van Shelton with I Wouldn't Take Nothin' For My Journey. This recording comes from his 1992 gospel album, Don't Overlook Salvation.
Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham
Now for the 30th episode of The Lone Ranger TV Show.
Psalm 138
Of David.
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with a silent Out of the Inkwell cartoon, Koko's Big Sale (1929). The live action boss is actually producer Max Fleischer.
of five the
Casper the Friendly Ghost was created by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo. The character was created with the intention of staring him in a 1939 children's book. However there was little interest in this idea. During World War 2, Oriolo sold the rights to the book to Famous Studios, the animation studio which was making the Popeye cartoons at this time. The studio originally viewed this as a one shot cartoon, but Sam Buchwald liked the idea and by 1950, Casper cartoons would officially become a series. Animator Myron Waldman worked on the majority of the Casper films would later state, "The boys at the studio used to kid me when we were doing the Caspers; they'd call them the 'ooh-ahh' pictures, but I always felt those pictures would last much longer than a picture that was just based on gags, because nobody can remember the gags. When they go to see it again, or talk about it, I think they like a story - kids especially." Up next is the first Casper cartoon and one that was also an adaption of the book. So enjoy The Friendly Ghost (1945).
Up next is the Terry Toons short, Dingbat Land (1949). This is the second of five theatrical cartoons to feature the crazy little bird character Dingbat. It is also his only theatrical appearance with Terry Toons characters, Gandy Goose and Sourpuss.
Next is one of the most popular and best pairings of Mickey, Donald and Goofy, Lonesome Ghosts (1937). This film provides one with everything they could want from one of these cartoons. It has tons of fast-paced slapstick and creativity throughout. The story of this movie changed over the time it was being made, originally the haunted house was going to be a fake created by gangster Pete to scare others away. As you will see when you watch the film, the ghosts here are completely real. This caused a review for Motion Picture News too call the movie, "rather scary for tiny tots." A review in The Film Daily however said just the opposite stating "The Ghost stuff is all played for laughs instead of spookiness and the kids will eat it up." The following are a couple exhibitors' reviews from The Motion Picture Herald. "Lonesome Ghosts: Walt Disney cartoons - Another Disney of outstanding entertainment. - Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General Patronage." "Lonesome Ghosts: Walt Disney cartoons - I feel that Disney is living on his Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs reputation and his cartoons are not up to the usual standard he formally had. Running Time seven minutes - A.J. Jinks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town patronage." This short film made its TV debut on the very first episode of the Disneyland TV series, The Disneyland Story (1954).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Next is the Famous Studios cartoon, Land of Lost Watches (1951).
Next comes a real classic, the Bugs Bunny cartoon, The Wacky Wabbit (1942). As many of you know all the major Looney Tunes directors had their different take on Bugs Bunny. Bob Clampett's Bugs was very much a fun-loving prankster. Unlike Chuck Jones' version of the character, this Bugs did not always need to act in self-defense but could just pick on someone to have a little fun. That is true of the way he treats Elmer here. Elmer in this film is not hunting wabbits, but simply minding his own business, when Bugs decides to let the poor fellow have it. Elmer in this cartoon looks different from how many movie fans picture him looking. This is because he was briefly redesigned to look like his voice actor Arthur Q. Byran. The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Fourteen carrot entertainer this 'Wacky Wabbit.' There's a laugh in every foot. The wise guy rabbit in this instance tries his trick on a gold prospector. He drives the poor guy crazy confounding him and keeping him constantly on the jump. Bugs Bunny grows in stature with every new Merry Melody release. He bids fair to become as funny as any character now in animated cartoons. The smart showman should grab this short."
Now for a silent cartoon with Felix in the Bone Age (1922).
Now to close with a song.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry.
Resources Used
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin
Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein
This newest installment in the popular anime franchise has a lot to recommend it. I came into this film not having ever seen or read this franchise before, yet I was I able to grasp the basics I needed to know easily. It very quickly set up what these characters personalities are as well as given us some strong world building. Though there is some strong action here, the focus is always on the story and characters. However, the action scenes that are here are wonderful. They are over the top and fun in the absolute best anime way. There is no doubt that these violent and wild action scenes are simply a lot of fun. They also heavily work because we care about these characters. These are very well developed and at times complex characters that very much feel like real people. The storyline does at times revolve around a romantic plot that is frankly quite uncomfortable. I have no doubt this will turn many off from this film (as it did for me at first). However, it is handled as tastefully as it can be, and the film acknowledges that it is uncomfortable.
The main flaw with this movie however is simply too much exposition. There are times when an expository scene shoves so much information at us at once that it is hard to keep track of everything being said. Towards the last act this becomes very common, where there is constantly dialogue that is explain things to us and introducing new ideas. When this information is important, this can become a major flaw.
Though not perfect, this is a good movie that is welcoming to newcomers.
2023's Godzilla Minus One managed to be the best film in the whole Godzilla franchise. Because of this, I was both excited about this direct sequel but well aware that it probably wouldn't live up to the previous movie. While Minus One is still my favorite Godzilla film, Minus Zero is a very strong sequel.
Like many sequels, this film tries to up the ante by making the scale feel bigger. This works surprisingly well here. The action scenes here are truly fantastic. The climatic fight scene is incredibly well done. The effects and scale are fantastic here, creating a true treat for the eyes and ears. However, even with this the filmmakers never forgot the human story at the heart of this film. The human characters are mostly carried over from the previous movie, and they are still wonderful here. You truly care about them and their plights. In both the quieter scenes and the big action set pieces these characters are the film's focus. Because we care about them so much, there are some very emotional moments here. One of these moments even comes during the climatic action scene, showing how the emotion and the spectacle perfectly co-exist and complement each other here. Also very emotionally effective is anything involving the little girl. She truly pulls at your heartstrings and one of the first scenes with will simply melt your heart.
This film does have a few flaws. It could be shorter and there are too many characters to keep track of at times. Still, these are small flaws considering how great the film is.
A truly wonderful follow up to a truly wonderful movie.
This film tells the story of how Sylvester Stallone came to create Rocky.
Anthony Ippolito is absolutely perfect in the lead. There are many times that you simply forget that you are not watching Sylvester Stallone. His performance goes far beyond simple imitation. He doesn't just look and sound like Stallone, but he becomes the famous actor. This allows the emotional scenes to hit surprisingly hard. It is rare to find a biopic that can actually make you feel emotional, but this film does just that. That is because like Rocky, this film offers an underdog story that makes it hard not to root for. Because of this we feel upset when things look like there is no hope and want to stand up and cheer at the ending.
However, this movie does have some flaws that are common to biopics. There is some corny dialogue and humor that simply does not fit in a movie that is supposed to tell a true story.
Though not perfect, a great lead performance and some emotional moments make this well worth watching.
Run Time: 11 minutes. Studio: Pathé Frères. Directors: Albert Capellani and Lucien Nonguet. Cast: Julienne Mathieu. Cinematographer: Segundo de Chomón. Original Title: La belle au bois dormant.
As some regular readers of my blog may already know, the early 20th century was filled with films that provided condensed tellings of literary classics. It was a time when audiences were admittedly more well-read than today. People knew these stories and showing the highlights was all that was needed. For those of us used to full complete stories in our films, this can feel more than a little alienating today. Not shockingly, the films of this type that hold up best today are the ones where the story is still well known to modern audiences or where the story is simple enough that it can still be followed in a condensed version. This 1908 film version of Sleeping Beauty falls into both of those categories.
I am sure most of you have at least some familiarity with the basic story. If you aren't, however, here is how it goes. On the birth of a new princess the fairies in the kingdom each give her magical gifts. However, one evil fairy gives her a curse instead. The girl will one day prick her finger on a spinning needle and fall asleep for 100 years. When this happens, a young handsome prince comes to her rescue.
As stated, before the simplicity of this tale makes the story much more accessible to modern viewers. Though this is still a condensed and simplified version of this classic story, you can still follow it without having to know the source material. However, the focus here is not on the story but the spectacle. This is a very handsome looking film. What will be surprising to many people who are unfamiliar with this era of film is that it is in color. Like other color films of this time, the color was hand painted onto the images themselves. This was a painstaking process but one which works extremely well. While the color may not be realistic, this is a fairy tale and it doesn't have to. The color perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere. It also just simply looks beautiful like a vintage painting. The sets are fantastic. They are incredibly well detailed and enhance the fantasy setting perfectly. The costumes are also perfect for this type of fairy tale story. Visually this film is a fairy tale come to life in the best way possible.
For anyone wishing to watch this lovely film you can do so below.
