Reviews

JONAH HEX (2010) (*1/2)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Western | Site Categories: Films
I went into this film knowing only the basics about the title character. Jonah Hex is a severely scarred bounty hunter with some supernatural abilities. His family was murdered. The film didn’t really expand my knowledge and in some ways confused me even more. At 80 some minutes, there were times I thought I was watching a reel of the cut scenes from the JONAH HEX videogame.

DAY & NIGHT (2010) (****)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Comedy, Animation, Fantasy, Short | Site Categories: 3D, CG, Short Films
This endlessly clever short is one of the best produced by Pixar. Teddy Newton’s film features two 2D characters with a CG world alive in their bodies. One represents day and the other night. When Night sees the beautiful women sunbathing by the pool inside Day, a howl of jealousy bellows from him. He tries to take what day has, but every attempt shows that things that go on in the light are not the same in the dark.

TOY STORY 3 (2010) (****)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Action-Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation, Fantasy | Site Categories: 3D, CG, Films
Director Lee Unkrich and the entire Pixar team have found a fitting conclusion to the TOY STORY trilogy. It is worthy to stand by the masterpieces that came before it. The story deals with many of the same issues the previous films did, but extends them organically. The first film was Woody dealing with the possibility of being replaced as owner Andy's favorite. The second film was about what it means to be a toy. Now the third film deals with the existential question of what does it mean to be the toy of a child who has outgrown toys.

3ds Max 2011 Review: Easier Workflow

Posted In | Magazines: VFXWorld | Site Categories: CG, Technology, Visual Effects
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A Max Master breaks down the latest version of Autodesk's signature animation software.

Pixar Knows When to Quit (I Hope)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Reviews | Site Categories: CG, Films
John Lasseter’s always said Pixar wouldn’t make another Toy Story unless they could come up with a narrative that would do the characters justice. Guess what – they have.

Maya Entertainment Creation Suite 2011 Review: Killer Productivity

Posted In | Magazines: VFXWorld | Site Categories: CG, Technology, Visual Effects
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Brad Clark reveals how Maya, MotionBuilder and Mudbox work better together.

THE A-TEAM (2010) (**)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Action-Adventure, Comedy, Crime, War | Site Categories: Films, Visual Effects
The original TV series was one of my favorites growing up as a kid. I eagerly tuned in each week to watch what new adventure these soldiers of fortune got themselves wrapped up in. You knew they'd get themselves in deep and need to use whatever they had to get out of a pickle. And who could forget that badass theme song? As the feature began and team leader Hannibal Smith was introduced, I thought I might be getting a cool iconic soldier of fortune flick. Then I got past the first five minutes.

Blu-ray: SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Blu-ray Screening Room | Site Categories: Films, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects
Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller comes to Blu-ray in a rich transfer. The color range is quite impressive as muted dank colors mix with vibrant flashes. This is never more evident then when Leonardo DiCaprio’s Teddy Daniels first arrives at the prison where the grays of the patients’ uniforms are in stark contrast to the lush greens of the yard and deep purples of the flowers. Likewise, in the dream sequences, the bright colors of Michele Williams’ dress radiate off the screen, spotlighted by the dark ash raining down. The blacks are crisp especially in the scenes in Ward C where Robert Richardson’s shadowy cinematography meets its peak. The clarity of the picture brings out the lines on DiCaprio’s face more fully as he sinks deeper into the labyrinth of the story.

Movie & DVD Review – Alice in Wonderland

Posted In | Site Categories: Films, Home Entertainment
Tim Burton’s new film adds a unique twist to the classic story. It is about love, courage, sacrifice, dreams, and reality. The June 2, 2010 release of the triple DVD set includes blu-ray, regular DVD and a digital DVD for the computer. It is a real treat!

Movie Review & Red Carpet Interviews: Marmaduke

Posted In | Site Categories: Events, Films, People, Voice Acting
I was invited to the red carpet premiere of MARMADUKE at the annual surf dog beach party held at San Diego’s Imperial Beach on May 22, 2010, and interviewed director Tom Dey and voice talents Owen Wilson (Marmaduke) and George Lopez (Carlos the cat). I give Marmaduke 3.5 starfish. It is packed with humor, romance, and action.

SPLICE (2010) (**)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Horror | Site Categories: CG, Films, Visual Effects
This horror film is about scientists who take risks, much like its director Vincenzo Natali does with the story. The problem is these are bad scientists. I mean that in what they do and how they do it. They fool around with experiments they shouldn't… or should they. The film likes to put out these kinds of ideas, but isn't really interested in developing them. It's interested in getting to its Freudian nightmare of an ending.

Maoh: Juvenile Remix 1

Posted In | Blog Categories: Reviews | Site Categories: Art, Books, Home Entertainment, Illustration, Writing
Based on the work of novelist Kotaro Isaka, Osuga’s adaptation brilliantly captures the tense mystery enveloping this teenage drama.

Initial D, Fourth Stage

Posted In | Blog Categories: Reviews | Site Categories: Anime, Cartoons, Home Entertainment, Television
Initial D is the pace car of my nightmares. Slow, slow, slow! Seriously, I couldn’t even finish it. And for a racing series, that’s rather ironic, right?

REVIEW: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction

Posted In | Blog Categories: Ubisoft, Reviews | Site Categories: CG, Games
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Sam Fisher is a military grade ninja in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction. Hit the jump to see the review.

MICMACS (2010) (****)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Comedy, Crime | Site Categories: Films, Visual Effects
Jean-Pierre Jeunet makes films full of whimsy and imagination. Most will remember Audrey Tautou as the irresistible waif in his modern classic AMELIE. Jeunet takes the same wide-eyed innocence and mischievousness of that film and mixes in a little HUDSUCKER PROXY and YOJIMBO and comes out with a delightful satire with boundless originality.

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (2010) (***)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Action-Adventure, Romance | Site Categories: CG, Films, Visual Effects
Mike Newell's film is the best movie adapted from a video game made thus far. It also happens to be the first good movie based on a video game. But the bar was set pretty low so Prince Dastan could easily jump over it with the help of Mr. Spectacle producer Jerry Bruckheimer. While I'll probably need the sands of time to travel back and remember the film by the end of the summer, the journey while I was sitting in the theater was a nice trip.

The HP Z800 Workstation Review: A Refresh

Posted In | Magazines: VFXWorld | Site Categories: CG, Technology, Visual Effects
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Bryan Hoff evaluates a major Intel core increase for the new HP Z800.

Naruto Shippuden 8

Posted In | Blog Categories: Reviews | Site Categories: Anime, Cartoons, Home Entertainment, Television
Naruto Shippuden is, thus far, a compelling evolution of the Naruto saga. The great action to which we’ve grown accustom is still there, but the maturing cast and their growing lives bring a much needed balance to years of inconsequential combat.

To Be or Not to Be (a film festival)

Posted In | Blog Categories: Reviews | Site Categories: 3D, Commercials, Events, Films, Short Films
Animation, Experimental, Narrative, Spec Commercials – and Stereoscopic 3D shorts; something for everyone at the Be Film Festival.

Movie Review: Shrek Forever After

Posted In | Site Categories: 3D, CG, Films
Everyone loves Shrek and I can see why. There is drama, action, and comedy packed into an hour and half long film, that it seems to leave little room for flaws. But the flaws are major ones in my view.