Moviefone’s top 25 animated films

Posted on June 4, 2008 at 11:28 am

Movie maven Glenn Kenny has put together a list of the 25 top animated films for Moviefone. Lots of Disney classics, of course, like “Lady and the Tramp,” “Dumbo,” “Fantasia,” “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Little Mermaid,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” I was glad to see “Triplets of Belleville,” “Wallace and Gromit,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on the list. I could quibble about the high positioning of “The Lion King” and “Ratatouille” and complain for the omission of “Yellow Submarine” and “A Bug’s Life.” But I can’t argue with #1 (hint: it’s about a cowboy and an astronaut), and I am so fond of every one of the films I won’t waste time complaining. I’ll just dig out some of my favorites from the list and watch them again.
Thanks so much to loyal reader jestrfyl for suggesting this list!

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Animation Lists

Is “The Love Guru” Bigoted?

Posted on June 3, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Mike Myers’ upcoming movie, “The Love Guru” has sparked protests from Hindu groups even before its scheduled opening on June 20.

Hindus have urged Viacom and its brand Paramount Pictures to post a study-guide about Hinduism and guru tradition on their websites and place it in movie theaters worldwide to undo the damage done by their upcoming Hollywood movie “The Love Guru.”

But spiritual leader Deepak Chopra, a friend of Myers’ who reviewed the script before it was filmed and appears briefly onscreen, says that it is not insulting. The Meyers character espouses a made-up philosophy that satirizes people like Chopra.

“He said, ‘Listen, it’s kind of a satire. It’s a lampoon,'” Chopra said, recalling Myers’ words. “He said on the surface it’s like that, but on a deeper level, it’s a tribute.”

Myers “has the most profound understanding of Eastern wisdom, traditions and spirituality,” Chopra said. “In the end, the movie is about self-esteem and love. It is about, in fact, love being the ultimate truth. He goes about it in a very silly, humorous way, but that’s his style.”

Like Adam Sandler’s “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” movie opening this week, “The Love Guru” uses humor to explore topics that are too sensitive to explore directly. But one person’s gentle satire is another’s insult.

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Commentary

Thomas the Tank Engine Gets a New Narrator

Posted on June 2, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment announce a new narrator for this fall’s upcoming feature-length Thomas the Tank Engine DVD release, “Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery.” Following the wonderful voiceover work from Ringo Starr, George Carlin, and Alec Baldwin is this glamorous leading man.

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Movie Mom’s Top Picks for Families

Salon asks for the Best Family Films

Posted on June 2, 2008 at 8:16 am

I like Salon movie critic Andrew O’Hehir very much. He covers the less mainstream films, independent, foreign, and festival fare and I always enjoy his take on what he sees. He is on vacation this week and in something of a turnabout he has asked Salon readers for their suggestions for DVDs for his family to share. A lot of great choices are on the list already, from known classics like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “The Secret of Roan Inish,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Fantasia,” “The Court Jester,” “The Princess Bride,” “Time Bandits,’ and “The Music Man” to some more unusual choices like “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” “The Sven Faces of Dr. Lao,” “The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T” (the only movie ever written by Dr. Seuss), and “The Point.” Take a look at the list to get some great ideas for summer family viewing and add your own favorites!

Turner Classic Movies for Families

Posted on May 31, 2008 at 7:58 pm

One of my favorite childhood memories was a weekly television series in my home town of Chicago called Family Classics, hosted by local children’s TV star Frazier Thomas. My family watched it together each week, and that made it extra special. It was the beginning of my interest in old movies.
I thought of that series when I heard that Turner Classic Movies has announced Essentials Jr., a family-friendly companion piece to its superb “Essentials” series of classic films. Starting just as school lets out for the summer, this is a wonderful opportunity for families to sit down together with Blackberrys, iPods, cell phones and everything else turned off and enjoy the films together.

TCM Essentials Jr. will offer parents the perfect opportunity to introduce their kids to such classics as National Velvet (1944 – airing June 1), The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963 – June 15), Harvey (1950 – June 29) and Meet Me in St. Louis (1944 – July 13). The new showcase demonstrates TCM’s ongoing commitment to cultivating the next generation of classic movie fans. Like the network’s popular Essentials franchise, TCM Essentials Jr. will provide background on the movies and what makes them a must-see for people of all ages.

It is co-hosted by Chris O’Donnell (“Scent of a Woman”) and Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Nim’s Island”), who both appear in the new film, “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.” national%20velvet%203.jpg
It opens tonight with one of my very favorite films for families, “National Velvet,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. Enjoy!