24 December 2009

The Princess and the Frog

Spanks - 4

Director - Ron Clements and John Musker

Writer - Ron Clements & John Musker and Rob Edwards

Voices - Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jennifer Cody and John Goodman

Release Date - 11 December 2009

MPAA Rating - G

The Princess and the Frog is the 49th animated film by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It is their first hand drawn film since Home on the Range and their first new princess movie since Beauty and the Beast.

The movie is about Tiana, a teenage girl growing up in New Orleans who has a dream to be a chef and open the restaurant her and her father dreamed of opening since she was a young girl. Meanwhile, Prince Naveen comes to town to court Tiana's wealthy friend Charlotte. On his way to the ball in his honor, he meets a voodoo doctor who calls himself The Shadow Man. This meeting changes the lives of Tiana and Prince Naveen forever.

Louis, the trumpet playing alligator was my favorite of the supporting characters. The Shadow Man reminds me a little of Jafar in his evilness. Ray, the firefly, was funny the way he talked about his true love Evangeline.

The film follows the fairytale formula that Disney has been using successfully for over 70 years. After all that time, they can still make fun, original, and inspirational films for children of all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed it immensely and even laughed throughout Tiana's journey.

11 December 2009

Pirate Radio

Spanks - 4

Director - Richard Curtis

Writer - Richard Curtis

Starring - Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kenneth Branagh & Tom Sturridge

Release Date - 13 November 2009

MPAA Rating - R

Pirate Radio (originally known as The Boat that Rocked) is the newest film from the brilliant mind who brought the world Mr. Bean and Blackadder. The film takes place in the United Kingdom in 1966. It follows the staff of pirate radio station Rock Radio who are on a ship in the North Sea and the politicians in London who want to shut them down.

The staff of Rock Radio are all fun and free and enjoy to party and rock. Rock n' Roll is the biggest thing in their lives and their listeners. Things change when they find out the British government wants them off the air. They don't plan to give up without a fight. The film is loosely based on true events involving pirate radio stations at the time, but certain plot elements like Rock n' Roll being banned on the British Isles is completely fiction. Writer/Director Richard Curtis said this film was made for entertainment purposes only and not to tell the real story of events of the late 1960s.

The film is funny, but in a British way of funny. If you don't like the British comic style, this film isn't for you. If you don't mind it, you will enjoy it greatly. All the characters are likeable, and Philip Seymour Hoffman continues to be a fantastic actor.