NMJ #6: Penguins of Madagascar

Title: Penguins of Madagascar

Year Released/Rating: 2014 PG

Starring: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knight, John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Simon J. Smith

Written By: Michael Colton, John Aboud

Genre: Animated comedy

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: At the theater

Trivia:

• Benedict Cumberbatch cannot pronounce "penguins" correctly. Instead, he says "pengwings".
• One of the sheep that the north wind had was from "How to Train Your Dragon"
• John Malkovich had been offered the role of Dr. Octavius Brine three and a half years before the film's release, and thought that it would be funny to use his voice for an octopus.

Summary: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.

Review: 

I took the boys to see this at their request. It wasn't high on my list of movies to see, but I really did enjoy it. The penguins are the best part of the Madagascar movies. I love their rapid fire dialogue. It's well done. And this time we get some fun side characters with the North Wind and Dr. Brine. I would definitely recommend this movie for a great family movie night.

Best Bits: 

• Corporal: He hacked into our system. Skipper: Debbie! Kowalski: Dave. Skipper: Dave! [There's no sound on the screen] Eva: Where's the sound? Kowalski: Dave, your microphone, it's not working. Classified: Click on the button with the picture of the microphone. Short Fuse: Every time a villain calls in, this happens. Dave: Hello? [the screen goes off] Dave: Hello? Kowalski: But, now we can hear you. Short Fuse: So annoying! Kowalski: But we cannot see. Short Fuse: Every time! Classified: It's like talking to my parents.
• [They've arrived in Shanghai] Kowalski: We've arrived in the center of Dublin, Ireland.Skipper: We gotta blend in. River dance. [They start river dancing]
• [the penguins have just blown up a ship] Skipper: Kowalski, analysis. Kowalski: We are really... awesome at this! Skipper: High one! [They all high five]
• Classified: We are the North Wind, and no one breaks the Wind.
• Skipper: Leopard seals! Nature's snakes. Kowalski: Technically, snakes are nature's snakes.

IMDB #7: Toy Story

Title: Toy Story

Year Released/Rating: 1995 G

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles

Directed By: John Lasseter

Written By: John Lasseter, Peter Docter

Genre: Children's animation

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• Billy Crystal was originally offered the chance to voice Buzz Lightyear, but declined. After seeing the finished film, he said the decision was the biggest mistake of his career. Upon learning this, John Lasseter telephoned Billy's house to offer him the role of Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. (2001). Billy's wife answered the telephone and said "John Lasseter wants to speak to you." Billy took the telephone from his wife and said "Yes".
• The carpet in Sid's house is modeled after the carpet in the Overlook Hotel in The Shining (1980). The Shining is Editor Lee Unkrich's favorite movie. When Buzz gets wacky at the "tea party" he calls himself Mrs. Nesbit. The name of one of Pete's grade school teachers and in college, he had a Toyota pickup truck pretty much like the one the pizza delivery guys used. It too had a "YO" on the gate.
• The toolbox on top of the milk crate that Woody is trapped in is a Binford, the same type of tool that Tim Allen used on his television show Home Improvement (1991).
• Tom Hanks recorded his dialog during the breaks of Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and A League of Their Own (1992). He didn't want to record his dialog during the breaks ofPhiladelphia (1993) or Forrest Gump (1994) because he felt he shouldn't do comedic roles in between minutes of playing serious roles.
• Pizza Planet was originally Pizza Putt, a combination pizzeria/mini-golf course.

Summary: A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's room.

Review: 

An absolute classic Disney movie.  I adore Toy Story.  I even went to see it in the theaters the first time it was released.  The play of characters are great.  It even makes me get a bit choked up.

Best Bits: 

• Woody: All right, that's enough! Look, we're all very impressed with Andy's new toy.  Buzz: Toy?  Woody: T-O-Y, Toy!  Buzz: Excuse me, I think the word you're searching for is "Space Ranger".  Woody: The word I'm searching for I can't say because there's preschool toys present.
• [Woody finds Buzz dressed up as "Mrs. Nesbitt" and in the company of two headless dolls]  Woody: What happened to you?  Buzz: One minute you're defending the whole galaxy, and, suddenly, you find yourself sucking down darjeeling with Marie Antoinette... and her little sister.  [chuckles nervously]
• Sergeant: [about the second present Andy opens ] It's... it's bedsheets!  Mr. Potato Head: Who invited that kid?
• Woody: Buzz, will you get up here and gimme a hand?  [Buzz throws his broken-off arm to Woody]  Woody: Ha-ha, ha-ha. That's real funny. THIS IS SERIOUS!
• Rex: What if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection!
• [Mr. Potato Head rearranges his facial features crazily]  Mr. Potato Head: Hey, Hamm. Look, I'm Picasso!  Hamm: I don't get it.  Mr. Potato Head: You uncultured swine! What're you lookin' at, ya hockey puck?
• Buzz: How dare you open a space man's helmet on an uncharted planet? My eyeballs could have been sucked from their sockets!  [closes his helmet]

IMDB #9: Monsters Inc.

Title: Monsters Inc.

Year Released/Rating: 2001 G

Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Mary Gibbs

Directed By: Pete Doctor, David Silverman

Written By: Pete Doctor, Jill Culton

Genre: Children's animation

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• It normally took 11 to 12 hours to render a single frame of Sulley because of his 2.3 million individually animated hair strands (Total number of hairs: 2,320,413).
• Mary Gibbs was so young that it proved difficult to get her to stand in the recording studio and act her lines. Instead, they simply followed her around with a microphone and cut Boo's lines together from the things she said while she played.
• John Goodman pushed for Steve Buscemi to voice the villain Randall.
• There are retro Disneyland posters in the Monstropolis travel store and some of the children's bedrooms.
• John Goodman and Billy Crystal sometimes recorded their lines in the same room together, an unusual move for animated films, where actors more often work alone.Steve Buscemi and Frank Oz (Randall and his assistant Fungus) also recorded their lines together for the bathroom scene.
• In the first scene, one of the toys on the boy's bedroom shelf is the toy plane that hung from the ceiling and caused Buzz to "fly" in and as Mike and Sully go through the scare floor, the rolling clown, from Toy Story (1995) can be seen in the background. Also, when Randall is practicing camouflaging into backgrounds of walls, one of the images given to him is the wallpaper Andy had in his room.

Summary: Monsters generate their city's power by scaring children, but they are terribly afraid themselves of being contaminated by children, so when one enters Monstropolis, top scarer Sulley finds his world disrupted.

Review: 

The interaction between Mike and Sully is what really makes this film.

Best Bits: 

• Mike: Roz, my tender, oozing blossom, you're looking fabulous today. Is that a new haircut? Come on, tell me it's a new haircut, isn't it? It's got to be a new haircut. New makeup? You had a lift? You had a tuck? You had something? Something has been inserted in in you that makes you look... Listen, I need a favor. Randall was working late last night out on the scare floor. I really need the key to the door he was using.  Roz: Well, isn't that nice? But guess what? You didn't turn in your paperwork last night.  Mike: He didn't... I... no paperwork?  Roz: This office is now closed. [closes the window on Mike's fingers] Mike: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
• Yeti: [Referring to despondent Sully] Aw, poor guy. I understand. It's not easy being banished. Take my buddy Bigfoot. When he was banished he fashioned an enormous diaper out of poison ivy. Wore it on his head like a tiara. Called himself "King Itchy".
• Randall: Okay, I think I know how to make this all go away. What happens when the whistle blows in five minutes?  Mike: I get a time out?  Randall: Everyone goes to lunch! Which means the scare floor will be...  Mike: ...Painted? Randall: EMPTY! I'll be empty, you idiot! See that clock?When the big hand is pointing up... [forces Mike's arm up]  Randall: and the little hand is pointing up... [forces the other arm up] Randall: the door will be in my station. But when the big hand is pointing down...  [forces Mike's arm down]  Randall: the door will be gone. You have until then to put the kid back. Get the picture?
• Sulley: Hey, Mike, this might sound crazy but I don't think that kid's dangerous.  Mike: Really? Well, in that case, let's keep it. I always wanted a pet that could kill me.
• Mike: I think I have a plan here: using mainly spoons, we dig a tunnel under the city and release it into the wild.  Sulley: Spoons?  Mike: That's it, I'm out of ideas. We're closed. Hot air balloon? Too expensive. Giant slingshot? Too conspicuous. Enormous wooden horse? Too Greek.

IMDB #8: Spirited Away

Title: Spirited Away

Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Written By: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Animation

Star Rating:  4/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• The cleansing of the river spirit is based on a real-life incident in Hayao Miyazaki's life in which he participated in the cleaning of a river, removing, among other things, a bicycle.
• The star-shaped treats the Susuwatari (black soots) were carrying are called kompeitô, a type of traditional Japanese candy.
• Executive Producer John Lasseter of Pixar supervised the English-language dubbing of the film and tried to match the actors' English-language dialog with the mouth movements of the animated characters.

Summary: In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures.

Review: 

Not my absolute favorite Miyazaki, but it's still a really good movie.  The high point of this movie is the atmosphere.  The movie has this incredible moody atmosphere.  I really fell into the movie.  I feel like some of the story gets lost in transition, but it's still great.

Best Bits: 

• Zeniba: [after turning Boh into a mouse] There. Your body matches your brain.
• Lin: What's going on here?  Kamaji: Something you wouldn't recognize. It's called love.
• Zeniba: Once you do something, you never forget. Even if you can't remember.

IMDB #6: The Incredibles

Title: The Incredibles

Year Released/Rating: 2004 PG

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee

Directed By: Brad Bird

Written By: Brad Bird

Genre: Children's animation

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• Jason Lee (Buddy/Syndrome) recorded his vocals in four days, while Craig T. Nelson(Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible) recorded his vocals over the span of two years.
• Brad Bird was listening to Public Radio International and heard Sarah Vowell, a frequent contributor to the PRI program "This American Life". He felt her voice was perfect for Violet even though she had never acted before. To convince her, Pixar animators animated one of Vowell's segments from "This American Life" and sent it to her.
• Samuel L. Jackson was cast as the voice of Frozone because Brad Bird wanted the character to have the coolest voice.
• When Elastigirl is attempting to discern the location of Mr. Incredible in the island's command center, you see her looking at an energy consumption grid. You then learn that Mr. Incredible is on Level A1, in Cell Block 13, or A113. Previously in the film, Mr. Incredible has a meeting in Conference Room A113 before the second Omnidroid fight. A113 is a frequent Pixar in-joke based on one of the room numbers for the animation program at Cal Arts.
• Seen attending Bob and Helen's wedding are (left to right) Gazerbeam, Edna "E" Mode, and government agent Rick Dicker sitting in the front row, as well as Dynaguy, Stratogale, Thunderhead, and Metaman in the pew behind them. The latter four have one thing in common: they're all seen later (for the last time) in flashbacks within Edna's "No Capes!" monologue. In the superhero database on the DVD, it says for those same heroes Edna mentioned, "Died in action, suit malfunction."
• The Incredibles (2004) is the first, and thus far only, Pixar movie NOT to feature a distinct appearance of the Pizza Planet truck. Many people claim to have spotted it, but screen caps only show blurry, "Rorschach test" images, and nothing that can be clearly identified as the Pizza Planet truck. Lee Unkrich has confirmed that the truck does not appear.
• In the beginning of the film, when a robber is going through a woman's purse on the roof of a building, a Mr. Incredible Pez dispenser can be seen among the items scattered on the ground.

Summary: A family of undercover superheroes, while trying to live the quiet suburban life, are forced into action to save the world.

Review: 

A truly underrated Pixar movie.  Many overlook it in favor of Monsters Inc or Toy Story (both of which I do love).  This movie has an understated elegance about it.  The story of a family struggling to make it and fit in is gorgeous.  I love the message of being true to yourself.  All of the references to superheroes, comics, and spy movies are amazingly fun!  And of course it's hilarious.  A great family movie.

Best Bits: 

• Lucius: Honey?  Honey: What?  Lucius: Where's my super suit?  Honey: What?  Lucius: Where - is - my - super - suit?  Honey: I, uh, put it away. [helicopter explodes outside]  Lucius: *Where*?  Honey: *Why* do you *need* to know?  Lucius: I need it!  [Lucius rummages through another room in his condo]  Honey: Uh-uh! Don't you think about running off doing no daring-do. We've been planning this dinner for two months!  Lucius: The public is in danger!  Honey: My evening's in danger!  Lucius: You tell me where my suit is, woman! We are talking about the greater good!  Honey: 'Greater good?' I am your wife! I'm the greatest *good* you are ever gonna get!
• Mr. Incredible: No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!
• Lucius: [Bob and Lucius are sitting in a parked car, reminiscing] So now I'm in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I'm an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do?  Bob: [laughing] He starts monologuing.  Lucius: He starts monologuing! He starts like, this prepared speech about how *feeble* I am compared to him, how *inevitable* my defeat is, how *the world* *will soon* *be his*, yadda yadda yadda.  Bob: Yammering. Lucius: Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter and he won't shut up!
• Edna: You need a new suit, that much is certain.  Bob: A new suit? Well, where the heck am I gonna get a new suit?  Edna: You can't! It's impossible! I'm far too busy, so ask me now before I can become sane.  Bob: Wait? you want to make me a suit?  Edna: You push too hard, darling! But I accept!
• Kari: [on phone message] Hi, this is Kari, sorry for freakin' out but your baby has *special needs*.
• [after seeing Jack-Jack's superhero outfit]  Helen: What on earth do you think the baby will be doing?  Edna: Well, I am sure I don't know, darling. Luck favors the prepared.

MoM #19: The Lorax

Title: The Lorax

Year Released/Rating: 2012 PG

Starring: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Taylor Swif

Directed By: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda

Written By: Dr. Seuss, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio

Genre: Comedy, Family

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

• The characters of Ted and Audrey are named after Dr. Seuss (whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel) and his second wife Audrey Geisel.
• Unlike the original book, the Once-ler is shown fully in the story as a human. Executive producer Christopher Meledandri said of the change, "The minute you make the Once-ler a monster, you allow the audience to interpret that the problem is caused by somebody who is different from me, and it ceases to be a story that is about all of us. Then it's a story about, 'Oh I see, the person who led us into the predicament is not a person. It's somebody very, very different.' And so it takes you off the hook."
• When the Once-ler is walking to his office once he became rich, what appears to be a blow-up magazine cover is hanging on the wall. It is caption "Too big to fail", which is an colloquial term in economics to define an institution whose failure would bring catastrophic consequences to the economy. After the 2009 banking collapse, modern economists have said that institutions too big to fail are simply too big to exist.
• Whilst playing board games with the family, Grammy Norma can make the word "Lorax" with the scrabble balls she has.

Summary: A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Review: 

Always love Dr. Seuss, but the movies usually don't live up to the books.  Thankfully, this one does.  I love the additions of Ted and Audrey to help the audience connect to the storyline and message.  Plus, Danny DeVito is just amazing as the Lorax.  I love this movie way too much.  The movie really highlights the beauty of Seuss' creations. I think we need to own this one now.

Best Bits: 

• Mr. O'Hare: You've got a beautiful town here, Ted! I can't think of any reason you'd want to leave town... ever again.
• Once-ler: Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, things aren't going to get better. They're not.  Ted: You do know that you are talking in rhyme, don't you?
• Once-ler: Why are you so interested in trees, anyway? Why aren't you like other kids? Breakdancing and wearing bellbottoms and playing the Donkey Kongs?  Ted: [laughs] Yeah. Right, right. I don't know. Uh, I just thought it might be kinda cool to have one.  Once-ler: [knowingly] Uh-huh. It's a girl, isn't it?  Ted: [scoffs] What? No!  Once-ler: Really? Because when a guy does something stupid once, well that's because he's a guy. But if he does the same stupid thing twice, that's usually to impress some girl.  Ted: Hey, she is not just some girl! She's a woman. In high school. And she loves trees. And I'm gonna get her one.  Once-ler: Awww. How nice to see someone so undeterred by things like reality.  Ted: Thank you.

A to Z Movies: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Title: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Year Released/Rating: 1984

Voices of: Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman, Edward James Olmos, Shia, LaBeouf

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Written By: Hayao Miyazaki

Star Rating:   5/5 stars

Trivia: Hayao Miyazaki was so upset by the original international cut version that he sent a samurai sword to the Executive at Disney with a simple note which read: "No cuts."

The only Miyazaki film that I hadn't seen.  And I can't believe that I waited this long to watch.  I loved this movie.  An epic battle.  A hope for humanity.  Fantastical creatures.  Great characters.  And absolutely beautiful animation.  All of Miyazaki's clouds are just gorgeous.  Originally the versions released in the United States cut out many of the parts that point the finger at the humans for the destruction of the planet.  I can see why Miyazaki was so upset; that is kinda the point.  Without the realization of the destruction, Nausicaa cannot save the planet and forge a new world between the humans and the insects.  I really loved this message.  Even though all the Japanese movies are very pessimist, each one has a bit of hope in there.  With this, we now own all the Miyazaki films.  Yeah!

Best Bits: 

Nausicaä: It's so beautiful. It's hard to believe these spores could kill me.

~~

Kushana: Nice valley. Think I'll keep it.

~~

Nausicaä: Every one of us relies on water from the wells, because mankind has polluted all the lakes and rivers. but do you know why the well water is pure? It's because the trees of the wastelands purify it! And you plan to burn the trees down? You must not burn down the toxic jungle! You should have left the giant warrior beneath the earth!... Asbel, tell them how the jungle evolved and how the insects are gaurding it so we won't pollute the earth again. Asbel please!

Music Monday -- Radiohead "Creep"

I'm always on the lookout for great music videos.  The bf pointed this version out to me.  The entire video was shot using Flash.  The bf assures me that this method was very time consuming.  But I'm pretty certain that the result is awesome!

As to the song, this takes me back to high school.  I loved this song!  So depressing, but so great.  My favorite part of the song is actually the first verse.  I could sing this all day, especially a cloudy, gray, Indiana winter day.  Very perfect!

When you were here before,

couldn't look you in the eye,

Just like an angel,

your skin makes me cry

you float like a feather,

in a beautiful world.

wish I was special,

you're so very special.

Music Monday -- Ok Go "Last Leaf"

A new weekly post: I love music! So I thought it would be fitting every Monday to discuss a can't-get-out-of-my-head song, album, artist, or music video.  Knowing what kind of music a person enjoys says a lot about them. So let's explore what my music says about me. For this Monday, I ran across this great music video by Ok Go.

Ok Go is known for their inventive music videos and this one is no exception.  The video itself is awesome.  The imagination, the continuity, the visuals, the toast.  It takes a lot for me to take notice of a music video.  It has to be something inventive, new, unusual.  This video fits all those categories.  I randomly ran across this video on someone else's blog, that I actually can't remember. (I know, very bad of me)  Upon reaching the end of the video, my only response: stunned silence.  I was shocked into silence.  I couldn't believe what I just saw.  I had to play it again.  Awesome, just awesome.  *Side note: After watching the video, I was actually craving toast.  Pretty funny.

On to the lyrics:  So simplistic, yet still poetic.  I found myself humming this song for the rest of the day.  I don't actually own the album the song is on (Of the Blue Colour of the Sky), although I do own two other Ok Go albums.

The lyrics are a love letter. I wish someone would write a love letter like that to me.  Unfortunately my bf is way too much of a tech geek to do things like that.  So I will live vicariously through music such as this.  Enjoy!

If you should be the last autumn leaf hanging from the tree

I'll still be here waiting on the breeze to bring you down to me

And if it takes forever, forever it'll be

And if it takes forever, forever it'll be

And if you should be the last seed in spring to venture forth a leaf

I'll still be waiting on the rain to warm your heart for me

And if it takes forever, forever it'll be

And if it takes forever, forever it'll be