AltWeeklies Wire
Latest 'Ice Age' Shamelessly Plucks Plot Twists from a Number of Other Worksnew
As it is, there's little satisfaction and even less humor to be extracted from problems attributed to the central characters that are distilled down to saccharine sound bites.
Pasadena Weekly |
Lisa Miller |
07-13-2009 |
Reviews
'Sita Sings the Blues' is a Rare Jewelnew
This adult-oriented animation rarely feels like a gimmick and never appears cheap. It would be a tragedy if this bold retelling of the Ramayana were to disappear into the deep and fragmented history of its innumerable ancestors.
Boise Weekly |
Jeremiah Wierenga |
06-17-2009 |
Reviews
Baked Hope: Clay Animation '$9.99' Hits a Narrative Wall
Adapted from short stories by Etgar Keret, the film's tag line, that it's an animated feature which "offers slightly less than $10 worth about the meaning of life," is unfortunately all too true about a movie whose visuals far outweigh its dramatic reach.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
06-15-2009 |
Reviews
The 'Third Wave' of Theatrical 3-D is in Full Swing ... But it May Be The Last
Super Bowl Sunday was a glimpse of the future of 3-D: the studio made it as easy as possible for the theatrical 3-D experience to be duplicated on your TV screen.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
02-17-2009 |
Movies
'Azur & Asmar' Restores Fantasy to Animationnew
In the age of infinite Shreks and perfectionist CGI, the French animated feature Azur & Asmar feels like a throwback in more ways than one.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Azur & Asmar': Middle Eastern Promisesnew
French writer-director Michel Ocelot has injected a message about racial and religious tolerance into his otherwise nursery-school simple feature, so there's a bit of a twist in the boys-rescues-girl climax that provides a teachable moment.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
Secret 'Stache: The Passion and Pop of John Oatesnew
John Oates' mustache has become a pop-culture phenomenon almost wholly removed from the musician himself. And far from simply indulging an irony-obsessed generation, Oates has jumped on the bandwagon.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Shaun Brady |
11-25-2008 |
Music
'Bolt' is a Starry Dog Storynew
As I laughed my head off, I wondered what it means that children's movies have become the playground for Hollywood's self-loathing.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
11-21-2008 |
Reviews
'Bolt' Never Bores, But Never Gets Beyond Mild Amusement Eithernew
It's the kind of solid, middle-of-the-road entertainment that Disney can reliably churn out while audiences await the next exciting achievement from Pixar.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Josh Bell |
11-20-2008 |
Reviews
'Madagascar 2': Not Enough Penguinsnew
Sequelitis rears its ugly head in the lame, improbable animation.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
11-14-2008 |
Reviews
Chris Rock Earns His Comedy Stripesnew
Although there's no profanity from Chris Rock in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the comic has fun as Marty the zebra, who finds a herd's worth of others like him.
The Georgia Straight |
Ian Caddell |
11-11-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' Wastes Time on the Stuff Between Gags
Haven't we, as a nation, progressed to the point where it would be okay for our animated films simply to abandon the pretense of a plot?
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
11-03-2008 |
Reviews
'The Life & Times of Tim' is the Only Good New Show on TVnew
This is one of the more quintessentially HBO shows to air on the cable network in a while: Its style is highly specific, and it's designed to appeal not to a common denominator in comedy viewing but to people who are looking for the opposite.
Willamette Week |
Daniel Carlson |
10-08-2008 |
TV
'Igor' Struggles to Balance Horror and Family Genresnew
Some of the nasty jokes may seem shocking with young ones around, but they'll keep adults awake through the utterly, painfully familiar three-act snooze-fest in which yet another character finds his place in the world by learning to accept himself.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Jeffrey M. Anderson |
09-19-2008 |
Reviews
'Igor': A Monster Mash
John Cusack is the voice of Igor, a hunchbacked laboratory assistant to the doomed mad scientist Dr. Glickenstein (voiced by John Cleese) in this irresistible feel-good animated comedy that's rooted in early monster movie classics.
