Okay, this was pretty hilarious too...
It seems as though my original feelings/reaction to this film are shared by many. So, how is this considered a "beloved holiday classic" worthy of a sequel? Maybe because it sleighed(!) at the box office? Eventually. I can only say, guys, that if you do indeed decide to go ahead and make a sequel, please just film it live action. Even if the technology of "motion capture/A/I (whatever)" has reached a point to take it out of the uncanny valley; the question remains. Why? Does it save money? Well, in a quick comparison, Forrest Gump cost next to nothing at $55 million. The Polar Express' budget was a whopping $170 million! Even with adjustments for inflation taken into consideration, I would say that "motion capture" is in no way a money saving venture. And I don't really care how advanced it gets; that is, how close it gets to tricking me that I'm watching a real human. I don't know about you, but I prefer to watch real humans. Not some bizarre hybrid. Or animation, whether that be traditional or computer generated. For some reason that works. Perhaps because you're not trying to graft either discipline onto the other. Or how about, if you want to save money, you just film real human actors against green screen and put in the backgrounds (or foregrounds) later; like what they did with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow? That only cost 70 million. That's a ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR SAVINGS!!! Bonus: real human eyes that dilate and faces that make expressions! Let's take a look:
Oh, it was blue screen. And maybe we didn't need an hour and eighteen minutes of that; but it's still fascinating. And a real test of the actor's craft! I loved it; but I think it crashed and burned at the box office. You can't say it wasn't original!
And speaking of original. You can't say that a lot of what you do Bob, isn't "original." You definitely take risks with what you decide to greenlight. And at the risk of looking like a kiss-ass; I'm going to break it all down for you, even though you and no one else has asked!
ROBERT ZEMECKIS FILMMOGRAPHY**
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978): I saw this in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts with my cousins. Loved it! It was one of those cases of being sent to the movies by the parents and going out of boredom and not really caring about what you went to see. Or did we go to see Love At First Bite? No, that was later. But I was taken by surprise! Nancy Allen and Wendie Jo Sperber? Bob, you have an instinct!
1941(1979): Didn't see this at the movies; but vividy recall the newspaper ads, for some reason:
And speaking of original. You can't say that a lot of what you do Bob, isn't "original." You definitely take risks with what you decide to greenlight. And at the risk of looking like a kiss-ass; I'm going to break it all down for you, even though you and no one else has asked!
ROBERT ZEMECKIS FILMMOGRAPHY**
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978): I saw this in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts with my cousins. Loved it! It was one of those cases of being sent to the movies by the parents and going out of boredom and not really caring about what you went to see. Or did we go to see Love At First Bite? No, that was later. But I was taken by surprise! Nancy Allen and Wendie Jo Sperber? Bob, you have an instinct!
1941(1979): Didn't see this at the movies; but vividy recall the newspaper ads, for some reason:
Of course, I wouldn't have been going to see it in Fort Worth, Texas...
Don't you miss the movie section of the newspapers? And isn't it fascinating to look at these pages and think: "Oh, that was out at the same time that was?" I think it is. Well, it wasn't until 1941 hit cable and was on 41 times a day that I fell in love with it. And BONUS: Nancy Allen and Wendie Jo Sperber! And to think you didn't know Tom yet! Also, Dianne Kay, who was my favorite Bradford of Eight Is Enough. Why did she disappear? If Nancy Allen could go on to Robocop, why couldn't Dianne?
1941: Original theatrical release only, please. Somehow putting back the cut material in this ruins it.
Used Cars (1980) Have never seen it. Aware of critical acclaim. Put on TO WATCH list.
Romancing the Stone (1984): Another case of not seeing it at the movies but coming to love it on cable. Adored Kathleen Turner since The Doctors. Adored Michael Douglas since Coma! Let's see what Macho Chris has to say about Michael...
Don't you miss the movie section of the newspapers? And isn't it fascinating to look at these pages and think: "Oh, that was out at the same time that was?" I think it is. Well, it wasn't until 1941 hit cable and was on 41 times a day that I fell in love with it. And BONUS: Nancy Allen and Wendie Jo Sperber! And to think you didn't know Tom yet! Also, Dianne Kay, who was my favorite Bradford of Eight Is Enough. Why did she disappear? If Nancy Allen could go on to Robocop, why couldn't Dianne?
1941: Original theatrical release only, please. Somehow putting back the cut material in this ruins it.
Used Cars (1980) Have never seen it. Aware of critical acclaim. Put on TO WATCH list.
Romancing the Stone (1984): Another case of not seeing it at the movies but coming to love it on cable. Adored Kathleen Turner since The Doctors. Adored Michael Douglas since Coma! Let's see what Macho Chris has to say about Michael...
Back to the Future (1985): This was one of those phenomenon movies that pretty much everyone went to see. I remember seeing it with a friend in a packed theater. What to say? Total enjoyment from start to finish.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) This was the first movie I recall seeing when I had moved into the city from my childhood home for the first time. I remember it was a really hot day and enjoying the cool of the theater. Loved the movie (had a "thing" for Bob Hoskins). Got a little too dark at the end with that disturbing freaky villain.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) This was the first movie I recall seeing when I had moved into the city from my childhood home for the first time. I remember it was a really hot day and enjoying the cool of the theater. Loved the movie (had a "thing" for Bob Hoskins). Got a little too dark at the end with that disturbing freaky villain.
Definitely niche. But if you get it, you get it. Cher got it. But would it've killed Disney to wax Bob's shoulders? (Bob Hoskins, that is...)
Back to the Future Part II (1989): All the magic of the first was lost. Too busy in every way; particularly on the eyes. Getting a headache just thinking about it.
Back to the Future Part III (1990): Have never seen it and never will. I avoid Westerns at all costs.
Trespass (1992) Never heard of it then; don't remember it now. One of those scripts that probably should've been left in the bottom drawer.
Death Becomes Her (1992): Some kind of classic. Loved it then. Haven't seen it in a while. Has it aged well; or did it age like Mad and Hel?
Forrest Gump (1994) Personally important movie for me in many ways. Say what you will about it's politics and/or corniness: it's still magical.
Bordello of Blood (1996): That title was off putting then and it's off putting now. Dennis Miller and Corey Feldman, together at last! Have never seen it and probably never will: reasons, not the least of which, that Miller is now a "conservative comedian." Sorry Dennis; you can't have both.
Contact (1997): Actually, saw this several times at the movies. Not sure why. The comforting presence of Jodie Foster maybe? Or maybe I was trying to figure out why she was talking to David Morse on a beach in outer space?
Back to the Future Part II (1989): All the magic of the first was lost. Too busy in every way; particularly on the eyes. Getting a headache just thinking about it.
Back to the Future Part III (1990): Have never seen it and never will. I avoid Westerns at all costs.
Trespass (1992) Never heard of it then; don't remember it now. One of those scripts that probably should've been left in the bottom drawer.
Death Becomes Her (1992): Some kind of classic. Loved it then. Haven't seen it in a while. Has it aged well; or did it age like Mad and Hel?
Forrest Gump (1994) Personally important movie for me in many ways. Say what you will about it's politics and/or corniness: it's still magical.
Bordello of Blood (1996): That title was off putting then and it's off putting now. Dennis Miller and Corey Feldman, together at last! Have never seen it and probably never will: reasons, not the least of which, that Miller is now a "conservative comedian." Sorry Dennis; you can't have both.
Contact (1997): Actually, saw this several times at the movies. Not sure why. The comforting presence of Jodie Foster maybe? Or maybe I was trying to figure out why she was talking to David Morse on a beach in outer space?
What Lies Beneath (2000): One of the first movies I saw with my husband. All I remember was a hamster that could breathe under water and wet footprints on a dock.
Cast Away (2000): Enjoyed it a lot; particularly ogling* Tom Hanks! But thinking back, and I'm sorry to say this, I recall it being a GIGANTIC FedEx commercial. Sometimes you can take product placement too far, gentlemen.
Cast Away (2000): Enjoyed it a lot; particularly ogling* Tom Hanks! But thinking back, and I'm sorry to say this, I recall it being a GIGANTIC FedEx commercial. Sometimes you can take product placement too far, gentlemen.
Now, as our next two features went to Beyond the Valley of the Uncanny; let's tackle them in Part 3 of this nonsense!
* Doesn't it seem like the word "ogle" should have two "g"s?
** Doesn't it seem like the word "filmography" should have two "m"s? Filmmography; like "filmmaker"? I think it should, and that's how I'm gonna spell it!
CFR 4/28/24
* Doesn't it seem like the word "ogle" should have two "g"s?
** Doesn't it seem like the word "filmography" should have two "m"s? Filmmography; like "filmmaker"? I think it should, and that's how I'm gonna spell it!
CFR 4/28/24