Disney

Strangely Familiar World

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Strange World
  • IMDb: link

Opening with heavy pulp-themes before shifting into a story of fathers and sons set against an unremarkable 4os or 50s sci-fi background, Strange World, much like Pixar’s Onward (which also set sights on parental issues in a fantasy-sci-fi setting) is more underwhelming than anything else. While not a bad film, Strange World is simply okay thanks more to vibrant visuals of the hidden world discovered by our characters than the characters themselves or the plot they get wrapped up in. Without its visuals, Strange World would be as forgettable as many sci-fi films of the era it pulls from.

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Pinocchio

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Pinocchio (2022)
  • IMDb: link

Beloved by fans and critics alike, although 1940’s Pinocchio may feel a be dated in spots there is nothing about the film that calls for a new version of the story (let alone three in one year – including one with Pauly Shore?!). However, Disney (in all its wisdom) has chosen Pinocchio for the latest “live-action” adaption of one of their classic animated films (featuring multiple CGI characters, of course). The results are a longer running time, an unnecessary backstory for Geppetto (Tom Hanks) that never leads anywhere, and far less magic.

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Baymax! – Kiko

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Baymax! – Kiko
  • wiki: link

The second episode of Baymax! follows the same formula of the first with the personal healthcare companion attempting to help someone who doesn’t initially want Baymax‘s (Scott Adsit) help. This time around it’s elderly Kiko Tanaka (Emily Kuroda) who Baymax attempts to help exercise to help her various ailments and get over her fear of the public pool next door. At first we get the robot’s wackier attempts proving she doesn’t need to be afraid of the water before tricking her into a bit of exercise and leading her into the pool where the truth about her doubts and fears come to the surface. As with “Cass,” Baymax is eventually able to help and leaves another patient better than the robot found them.

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Tron

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Tron
  • IMDb: link

Remember when Frisbees were Cool?

Tron is something of a novelty.  The film was the first to rely heavily on CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) during a time when no one used computers in movies. The technology was new and limited, but because the film was made at such a time the movie has a look and feel that no other film is likely to duplicate. 

The way Tron was colored and backlight by hand, frame by frame, is too labor intensive for our Star Wars / Jurassic Park era and beyond.  Rather than using CGI to create more believable images or other worlds, the creators of Tron realized the limitations of the technology and instead focused on using light against the black background to produce a one of a kind art form.  The difference is important.  Even after 40 years have passed the movie still holds up even though the technology used to create it has long been passed by.

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