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Ghost Mike


Hardcore animation enthusiast chilling away in this dimension and unbothered by his non-corporeal form. Also likes pastel cartoon ponies. They do that to people. And ghosts.

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Sep
3rd
2024

Ghost Mike's Movie Review Roundup #2 · 7:00pm September 3rd

I would caution that my rating criteria here is obviously not the same as with Ponyfic reviews, accounting both for them not being free (well, okay, they are if you’ve got the right streaming service, but you know), the different medium and higher standards. Perhaps in the future I’ll say more on this, but for now, ★★★1/2 is a good benchmark for “worth a watch, no strings attached”, though you have to go higher to get to hearty recommendations.

Last week’s debut for my Movie Review Roundup went alright, all things considered. It was primarily newer films I know most folks won’t have seen, of course (only three of the ten weren’t cinema viewings on initial release), and truth be told there isn’t any real order to how I’m choosing to upload my stockpile, save for saving one particular series to do in order (you’ll begin to see that next week. :raritywink:) Still, I’m happy enough with how it went, so now we’re set for about four weeks of posts with seven films apiece before I’m caught up, and then these’ll be only monthly.

Not as strong a selection this week rating-wise, with two newer DreamWorks animated films especially producing mildewy efforts. On the other hand, we have possibly the only underrated live-action superhero movie in history (or at least of this millennium), a strong contender for the funniest Disney animated movie, an impressive, this-should-have-sucked-but-it’s-actually-good showing for an effects-heavy sci-fi franchise forced into early continuation by our Mouse Overlords, and my first viewing of a perennial favourite half-hour melancholy animation of British Christmastime television (plus its decades-later remix). So, you know, it goes both ways.

You’ll also notice I’ve embedded a poster for each film now too! Even went back and added them to Movie Review Roundup #1. :yay: Just gives a more instant, clearer indication as to the flicks in the spotlight where the title doesn’t trigger any recognition. Especially useful when more obscure stuff pops up in the future. Or, y’know, two British Christmas short films specials most US viewers have likely never heard of, even if the original is nearly as ubiquitous here as A Charlie Brown Christmas or Chuck Jones’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas are in America.


  • The Emperor's New Groove (★★★★) – Unflagging pacing, far too many justly-celebrated iconic bits, and a deft marriage of tone and visual approach. Plus, it kick-started Patrick Warburton's voice-acting career. Perfect example of restrictions breeding creativity. August 2nd 2024, rewatch.
  • The Snowman (★★★★) – I see why this has stuck on for forty-plus years: it has the wistful, bittersweet melancholy that makes such things linger in the minds of the young and the old far longer than the innumerable “nice” variations on the form. December 25th 2023.
  • The Snowman and the Snowdog (★★★) – Paced just as well, and effective enough even with its shortcomings and getting cold feet. But of the two possible reactions, liking getting a do-over or feeling I’d rather just rewatch the first, I’m firmly in the second camp. December 30th 2023.
  • Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (★★1/2) – A bizarre mix of adolescent themes of family loyalty, trust and self-actualisation against the "water creatures hiding in plain sight" concept that mostly just flatlines. Functional, but doesn't really add up to a hill of beans. July 16th 2023.
  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (★★★1/2) – More a fantasy adventure than the grim sci-fi fables this series specialises in. But it is still that, and the join is magnetically kinetic in its own way. No comparing this to Dawn or War, but it works well on its own terms. May 19th 2024.
  • Spider-Man 3 (★★★1/2) – On top of there remaining a warped auteur sensibility and energy, many parts, in concept & execution, are still funny, thrilling, beautiful, even poignant. A hot mess, no question, but proof that such things can remain enjoyable and compelling. August 21st 2024, rewatch, Columbia 100th Anniversary Series.
  • Kung Fu Panda 4 (★★1/2) – Laboured in exactly the ways you’d expect of a sequel made after a long gap under mostly different crew heads and studio management. The lack of kinetic action and new character designs that don't fit at all with the old ones especially stings. March 30st 2024.
Comments ( 14 )
PaulAsaran
Site Blogger

Spider Man 3 was, in my opinion, the lowest point in a series that was never very good to me in the first place. I get that a lot of people thoroughly enjoyed the Toby Maguire trilogy, but for me it was all glamor and no substance.

The Emperor's New Groove is a beloved classic for me with a great overall delivery – the smarts of which I didn't realize for quite some time.

I've never even heard of The Snowman, but now I'm very curious.

5802106
The Snowman is one of those rare times when the usual description of "beloved Christmas classic" is actually accurate. I don't imagine there are many people left in Brittan who've managed not to see it. If you've ever heard Aled Jones singing "Walking in the Air", this animation is where the song comes from -- though it's surprisingly little appreciated that Jones didn't actually sing in the film; that version is sung by Peter Auty. But yes, it's lovely. Do see it if you get the chance.

5802106

Spider Man 3 was, in my opinion, the lowest point in a series that was never very good to me in the first place.

I mean, it's the lowest point for the fans too, so that's not surprising. I don't know if it's come up before, but I really am not a superhero person, and didn't even watch the Sam Raimi trilogy much as a kid. So I certainly don't want to imply I think about even these film I do like a lot. Just that I am happy and pleased when I do.

The Emperor's New Groove is a beloved classic for me with a great overall delivery – the smarts of which I didn't realize for quite some time.

I did say it had a "rather adult approach to the screwball comedy" in the full review for a reason. :raritywink: I do wish I'd seen it more often in my youth, but the upside is, for as ubiquitous as its memes are these days, I'm always surprised by how solid the bits connecting the more famous laughs are whenever I rewatch it.

I've never even heard of The Snowman, but now I'm very curious.

It's a tough one to describe blind, and given my reviews don't bother with a plot recap and set the scenario only via implication, this probably didn't help much either. I know you don't tend to be that receptive to Christmas-themed TV, but this is far afield from anything like what it is on American TV (the melancholy wistfulness is not at all tonally like A Charlie Brown Christmas, for instance). Though I would still say one is likely to be more receptive in certain moods (and I don't mean watching it at Christmas either; the source book wasn't at Christmas and that aspect's more window dressing then anything). It's on YouTube in full, if you're curious (albeit cropped for widescreen and bereft of any intro).

It does have several major "best x" placings to its name, for what it's worth: 71st on the BFI's industry-voted 100 Greatest British Television Programmes in 2000, 4th in UKTV Gold's Greatest TV Christmas Moments, and 3rd in Channel 4's 2004 poll of 100 Greatest Christmas Moments.

Oh, and amusingly, the US networks wanted a big name in the intro to act as a sponsor, and eventually it was settled on using David Bowie. This live-action intro was so popular it was later added in the UK version too (except for a few years after 2002 where a different new intro was used for its 20th anniversary).

5802117
I know I'm talking Ireland here and not Britain [sic, :rainbowwild:], but we do share all your tv networks, and it’s an annual repeat on Channel 4, yet I still went 41 years without seeing it myself (okay, I wasn't alive for all of those, but even so). So, you know, exceptions do happen! :twilightsheepish:

But yes, "Walking in the Air" is beautiful and has to be heard/seen to be believed. It is so obviously the chief reason (with the animation style a close second) why this has remained so evergreen throughout the years, that I didn't feel the need to belabour why in the review. :scootangel:

Ah, The Emperor's New Groove. So clever and rightfully beloved it barely merits gushing over as many have done so before. Rapier wit and near-incessant jokes too funny to feel exhausting, broken up by downtime that genuinely communicates the development and understanding of the leads. I can see how it's a bit too silly and ungrounded to merit better than four stars, but it certainly remains my favorite Disney movie.

Likely you're already aware of this, but it was initially conceived as the next cartoon epic (ala Aladdin and Lion King) instead of a groovy slapstick comedy. While I don't regret what we ended up with, I'm happy the cut banger of a villain song survives on the internet.

PresentPerfect
Author Interviewer

5802117
okay, but Nightwish's version of Walking in the Air though 👀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UGwmqgC6ck

5802137
Honestly, I wouldn’t even say a film being that silly and ungrounded couldn’t go higher – I consider the classical Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies to the the pinnacle of cartoon shorts and there are a decent handful here that would go even higher in rating. I think this one just falls into “there really isn’t anything I can identify as lacking, but it doesn’t feel quite right to go any higher” territory. It is a top-end 4-star, at least, and just inside my top 15 Disney Animation Canon films (of 62 altogether).

And yep, the Kingdom of the Sun gestation phase is pretty legendary even outside of Disney Animation buffs. Honestly, the earlier treatment of Yzma seemed to be one of the few elements there that worked quite well, but she is still phenomenal in the different direction in what we got. I also do like well-done silly animation very much, and it’s something Disney animated films didn’t often do, hence treasuring something like this even more.

Between that and the “Opaline” song, you do seem to have a weakness for good villain songs, my friend. :ajsmug: To be fair, most of us do!

5802141

Between that and the “Opaline” song, you do seem to have a weakness for good villain songs, my friend. :ajsmug:

I don't think I'm alone in that!:twilightsheepish: The grinning power behind good villain songs makes them just more musically appealing than the others, with extra points to the likes of "Snuff out the Light" and "Friends on the Other side" for contributing more than just killing time (by showcasing villain motive in the first and driving the story forward in the second).

Good villain songs aren't limited to cartoons, either!

Adding the posters is a great touch! I may give the ape movie a try. I never much cared for the grimdark tome of the modern sequels, but if this one backs away from that, I might dig it.

New Groove is a ton o' fun. I might give that a re-watch: It's been a while. I saw Kraken on a flight... and wanted my money back. :trollestia:

5802166

I may give the ape movie a try. I never much cared for the grimdark tome of the modern sequels, but if this one backs away from that, I might dig it.

Interesting. I would never classify them as grimdark myself, though I have heard of people who couldn’t get into them because they found them depressing without an obvious point to it. Me, the original films were always cautionary and warring and had something of a pessimistic view on humanity/simianity’s future: they just take place mostly in daylight. :rainbowwild: Plus the ape masks. So these felt of a place. Or perhaps I just found them successful in what they were trying to do (tellingly, I like them but can’t stand most modern blockbusters). They still have enough hopeful moments of beauty to feel purposeful, I think.

I don’t know if Kingdom will be a slam dunk for you – it’s both longer than it probably should be and has a Luke Skywalker type as its lead – but I do think it’s well worth a try.

I saw Kraken on a flight... and wanted my money back. :trollestia:

Ha! :rainbowlaugh: I haven’t had that experience (I can count the number of flights I’ve been on long enough to have seats screens with movies, it’s not many), but I’ve certainly heard of it from others. Reminds me of a similar response for a similar situation I’ve heard before: “it was a free preview screening and I still felt ripped off”.

I suppose the closest is me after watching a film on tv that turned out bad: “I wish I had the last [film’s length] of my life back”. :duck:

Spider-Man 3 is def underappreciated and deserves more respect, especially comapred to many of the mordern Marvel flicks. Glad to hear it's in production! FYI, I hear the editor's edition slightly improves the movie in a few ways.

5803130

Glad to hear it's in production!

Guessing this was meant to be “glad to hear it’s getting some appreciation” or something equivalent? :ajsmug: I certainly ain’t producing anything!

I hear the editor's edition slightly improves the movie in a few ways.

As have I; haven’t seen it, but the biggest changes are adding in a poignant scene with Sandman during his long absence solidifying his personal stakes, and removing/replacing the scenes for Peter and Harry of other characters (Aunt May and the Butler, respectively) providing the words that get them to keep fighting, so they reach that decision on their own (in particular, for Harry, he now forgives and helps Peter just by looking at a photo of the two of them, rather than needing to have his butler clear his name). Most other changes are on the smaller side, though a lot of the score has been replaced with alternate takes that rather change the mood too, reportedly.

I hear all these slightly improve the movie but not enough to change the overall impression. Still, next time I see it (which could be a number of years; I barely watch superhero movies even when they’re good, with a few exceptions, and this was only my second time seeing this one), I will endeavour for it to be the Editor’s Cut.

5803132

Glad to hear it's in production!

Wrote this comment when I was tired. I was referring to Spider-Man 4.

5803146
Oh? I haven't heard anything, and checking now, all I can find is the usual "cast expressing their interest, Raimi insists it's not happening after the late 2000s hell of pre-production on it" bits. Or were you just referring to the next MCU Spider-Man film (which, after all, makes a ton more sense financially, albeit being something I have less than zero interest in myself)?

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