National Jonze Day – Next Week!
So you didn’t take my advice and see Where The Wild Things Are on IMAX? Yeah, I get it, why would you pay money to see a kids movie? You’re an adult. A big bad adult. Too mature for childish things. Too cool for school. Don’t worry, dummies. The DVD/Blu-Ray is releasing March 2nd. You’ll have another chance to see this under appreciated piece of art that will grow in cult status over time. I truly believe this should have been one of the 10 Best Picture Nominees. It’s definitely more deserving than The Blind Side. You can thank me later. And I fully expect to be thanked. Embrace your inner child…you’ll be a better person for it.
The DVD is said to have a ton of behind the scenes footage and interviews. It also boasts the animated short based on another Sendak story, “Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life” featuring the voices of Meryl Streep and forest Whitaker. Spike Jonze produced the short directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski.
The Higglet Pigglety Pop premise:
Once Jennie had everything. She had two bowls to eat from, two pillows, and for cold weather, a red wool sweater. She even had a master who loved her. But Jennie didn’t care. In the middle of the night she packed everything she had in a black leather bag with gold buckles and looked out of her favorite window for the last time… Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life follows Jennie’s surreal, suspenseful and unexpectedly moving journey to gain new experiences and realize her dream of becoming the star of the World Mother Goose Theatre.
And that’s not all. If you’re a Spike Jonze fan, the month of March will be a treat for you. Continue reading “National Jonze Day – Next Week!” »
“Avatar” Reviews Are In!
And film bloggers/critics worldwide seemed to reach one consensus.
Check the universal four words right HERE.
As one of the normal folk, I will be seeing it on Saturday on IMAX 3-D. It better be as good as hyped.
This “Avatar” Trailer Will Change Your Life
There are moments in life that change you forever.
Your first kiss. College acceptance. Your wedding day. Your first home. A new baby.
The attached trailer for Avatar will be another one of those moments. Never will you be able to see a film trailer with the same mindset. The bar has been set so high, you’ll need Balloon Boy’s balloon to see it.
Imagine this on IMAX. Now imagine it in 3-D. You probably need to change your pants.
Ladies and Gentlemen…Boys and Girls. Film Savior proudly gives you: Avatar Trailer #2.
WTWTA Clip: The Sun is Going to Die
There is a reason Where the Wild Things Are is located under the “Obsessions” section of the site.
In anticipation of the pending release of this already highly praised film (currently tracking at 86% approval on Rotten Tomatoes; 100% approval here at Film Savior), here is another clip. This one shows the melancholy pace the film sometimes takes, which really gives it more emotional power. This scene is also one of the very few that utilized green screen. The majority of the film was shot in actual locations with the actual puppets roaming on set. This gave the imaginary a sense of realism.
Wild Things Clip of the Day: “Destroy Stuff”
Bear with us over the next few days as we unleash many things Where the Wild Things Are related in anticipation for the 10/16/09 opening.
Today, we present you with a 1 1/2 minute clip from the film. It gives you an idea of the delicate balance of lighthearted fun with potential monster terror. You also get a glimpse at how well the puppet and CGI has been matched seamlessly.
Today is Thursday, October 8th. And we present to you Where the Wild Things Are “Destroy Stuff”
Film Review: Where the Wild Things Are
“There is no difference from childhood and adulthood.” – Spike Jonze
Those simple words and understanding is why Where the Wild Things Are is such a whirlwind of delicate emotions: loneliness, jealousy, happiness, fright, love, and anger. I can happily say with relief – this film has lived up to all of the high expectations and beyond. This is the best film I’ve seen in a long time. And it is sure to be a classic for kids as years pass by. It strikes emotions and lingers with you in unexpected ways. Simply put, go see this film!
In 1 hour and 35 minutes, Spike Jonze has maintained the soul of the original Sendak story while expanding it to something deep and remarkable. The question lingers in how parents and their children will respond. Will parents react to the film in anger, not wanting their kids to see the realistic complexities of kids? Or will they embrace this truth and go along with the imaginative journey of our protagonist Max? Sure, there are some dark and complex moments to the film. But I believe Jonze has successfully walked that tightrope of appeasing the kids while allowing adults to reembrace their own childhood.
At what point in your life did the child in you disappear? Where you could stare at a toy or stuffed animal or even a stick and share a world of adventure all alone with it for hours. To live life as a functioning adult, we are essentially told that we have to “grow up” and shed these childlike tendencies. As Jonze was recently quoted in GQ magazine, “I didn’t set out to make a movie they could put in the children’s section [in the video store]. I set out to make a movie that was about being 9 years old.”
Spike Jonze has accomplished something amazing here. He has captured the essence and complications of being a child. Where every cause has an effect. Where the possibilities are endless, yet seemingly, limited. Where fun and laughter quickly turns to tears and anger. Where the wild things are…inside your imaginative mind. Continue reading “Film Review: Where the Wild Things Are” »
WTWTA Character Posters
We’re slowly creeping toward that 10/16 release date of Where the Wild Things Are. There was a time when it seemed so far away…2009? No reason to even think about it. And here we are. Now the anticipation looms on whether it will actually live up to the extreme hype by the movie geeks, hipsters, and adult children all over.
Below are 4 Character posters recently released. You get a better sense of the detail focused on the Wild Thing’s look and realistic expressions.
Continue reading “WTWTA Character Posters” »
Bright and Shiny New WTWTA Poster
What’s that? I couldn’t hear you.
You want to see the new Where The Wild Things Are poster, do ya?
First play the song HERE off the soundtrack from Karen O. (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and the Kids (many others).
Is it playing? OK, Check it out after the jump… Continue reading “Bright and Shiny New WTWTA Poster” »
Ouch!
Read the first legitimate review of The Road HERE
“This Road leads nowhere” OUCH!
This one from The Hollywood Reporter is not as negative, but still concerning.
The Road is one of our 2009 Obsessions. Here’s hoping that this isn’t true. The novel was amazing…
Everyone Can Rest Easy: Avatar Tickets On Sale
We can fully admit, this Avatar pre-hype is getting out of hand.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, tickets for the “game changer” from James Cameron are already on sale at Fandango.com and Movietickets.com. The film is released on December 18th, so this sale is 4 months early. Cameron and the Fox team are really setting audiences up for bitter, angry disappointment. Nothing can live up to this type of hype.
“Audiences are hungry for fresh fare with original storytelling,” Fandango spokesman Harry Medved said. “And with ‘Avatar,’ you have no idea where the story is going to go.”
We really have no idea where this story is going to go. But if the movie geek mobs have their way, this story might be burned at the stake before it’s even released.
An Avatar Fireside Chat
10 rows from the front and directly in the center. That’s where I sat on Avatar Day’s IMAX 3-D screening. James Cameron declared to the world that Avatar would be a “game changer” and I was about to witness firsthand the game being changed. The theater was giddy with excitement, but surprisingly not entirely packed.
But let’s take a step back. Two days prior to Avatar Day, the teaser trailer for Avatar was released. I could not load up the Apple HD video fast enough. In just a few moments, history would be make sweet love to my eyes. The Wizard of Oz showcased glorious technicolor. The Jazz Singer let us hear dialogue for the first time on film. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? made me believe Bob Hoskins really talked to cartoon characters. And Avatar would change the movie going experience forever. At least that’s what I was told. High expectations for a film are a double edged sword. On one side, it’s a great thing. There is huge audience awareness. People have pre-conceived notions that something will be great. And the pre-release buzz might mute and bad press. On the flip side, the entire world is eager to prove these expectations to be wrong. And an above average film might be judged unfairly. But I digress…
The video starts to play and my virginity is taken away. And so I watch it again. When the trailer ends after the second viewing, I was alarmed by something. My life didn’t change. My eyeballs were still intact. As one Nebraskan friend told me “That looks like three hours of my life I’m never going to get back…(and) to be honest, the colors are pretty, reminds me of World Of Warcraft…I’ll pass on this one.”
Continue reading “An Avatar Fireside Chat” »
