Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

PART 1 here.

PART 2 here.

PART 3 here.

PART 4 here.

PART 5 here.

51. Monsters Inc.

Yet another Pixar film. Not my favourite of the Pixar series, yet Monsters Inc has a certain charm. It's certainly different than a lot of films, and tries to put a fun spin on the traditional monster tales where Monsters are fatally afraid of humans yet have to scare them to power their homeworld. Such a twist couldn't work without a stellar cast and John Goodman and Billy Crystal amp it up in material that's too easy for them. Whats left is a fun tale that doesn't take itself too seriously but has a heart and some funny moments.

52. Ice Age

Initially I didn't much enjoy this film. I felt it too slowly paced. The jokes were off, and the animation was a little "out-there". On top of that, I didn't much care for the cast. One thing changed all that. Scrat. If ever there was a face for the film (and its two sequels) Scrat is it. The poor saber-toothed squirrel's scenes with his beloved acorn are so hilarious that they turn this film around. Seeing this, the film-makers devoted even more screen time to him in the sequels. Ice Age isn't a great film, but it's memorable for these scenes. And so I suppose it deserves a place.

53. Beavis and Butt-head Do America

Beavis and Butthead. A ****c road movie. This film is obviously based upon the highjinks the two got up to during their early 90's TV series. That series was done as shorts, and the duo were never on screen for more than 20 minutes, usually less than 10. So having a film that revolves around the two and doesn't suck is an impressive feat in itself. Yet still, 15 years after it's release - Beavis and Butthead are still hilarious to watch. The film doesn't pretend to be anything other than silly entertainment. And on that note - it delivers perfectly.

54. The Simpsons Movie

The film is entertaining - but its more than that. Now that the animators were given enough time to really make the characters shine - The Simpsons Movie really allowed us to view The Simpsons in a way we hadn't previously been able to. The animation was a huge step up from the series, and on top of that, the film spared no expense in bringing back the best of the best in the writing and production credits to really make the film all it could be. At a time when the series was going seriously downhill, The Simpsons Movie helped reinvigorate the series and now it's going as strong as ever. And the film was great too.

55. Mulan

Yet again, Disney impresses with their telling of the Chinese folk tale. What was most impressive about this film (other than the strong themes of family and patriotism) is it's beautiful vistas. China had never looked as inviting, and on top of that the film featured strong characters, great music and some truly impressive action scenes. Moving away from the mostly animal stories lets Mulan feature some truly human elements, and sequences showing the number of dead on battlefields and a little girl's doll show a more sentimental side to Disney that wasn't previously there. A great film.

56. Fritz the Cat

For many - this is the turning point when animation (at least in Hollywood) could become decidedly adult. And I'm not just talking about sex (though the film does feature a fair bit of that) - but I'm talking more about the atmosphere of the time. Written just as the war in Vietnam was amping up, Fritz the Cat is still surprisingly engaging and has aged well. I can't say much of the story - yet it seemingly takes place upon a single long day and feels much like Pulp Fiction did some 20 years later. Breathtakingly watchable.

57. Anastasia

I love Musicals. Animated musicals not so much. Still - this is the film that made me change my mind (slightly) on that account. Based on the russian tale of a princess in hiding, Anastasia is another lush film made by Don Bluth. Featuring some gorgeous animation and some truly incredible scenes of emotion, the film is engaging, and sometimes exciting. Enjoyable watching.

58. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

It's hard to get excited about a film which does away with it's subject matter and it's legacy so easily - yet this is exactly what Square decided when they set about creating Box Office Disaster Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. The legacy of the film is that it is still considered amazing for it's absolutely dazzling animation - truly lifelike characters who emote well and look every bit as human as intended. A forgettable story and music doesn't do the film any favours, yet I enjoyed the film as a well intentioned action sequence with some Final Fantasy themes.

59. Heavy Metal

Now here's a film that came out of nowhere and missed the boat. Almost no-one saw the film upon it's general release and due to it's massive amount of music was nearly impossible to come onto store shelves for ages. Yet 15 years after it's release (and a large cult underground music status) Heavy Metal was finally released to the home market and thats when I got to first see it. Much like Yellow Submarine, the film is a love letter to those that enjoy the music genre, with each short story segmenting into different animation ****, techniques and characters. A film for music lovers.

60. Perfect Blue

Now here is a film which will get your brain thinking. Perfect Blue is different from many anime and manga that makes it to Australian shores - it actually makes you think. This is no mindless action film (though it does feature slightly) this is a film with a mind bending game. When a young idol decides to change careers from music to film she starts to receive the attention of a stalker - yet the film uses this as a springboard to start the main character on a whirlwind journey of truly Hitchcockian proprotions. Utterly watchable.

This is PART 6 of my top 100 animated films. There's more to share.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Science

So - here's some facts about the infamous jolly old man who is meant to break into your homes next weekend with a sack full of presents...

1. Due to the different time zones and Santa Claus having to be constantly on the move, he has roughly 31 hours of Christmas Eve/ overnight Christmas Day to do his job.
2. If he were to visit all the children (and we assume that every one of them is on the "nice" list - that would mean that Santa was to visit approximately 91.6 million homes.
3. If Santa was to visit all these homes in the alloted time, that would mean he'd have to visit 823 homes every second.
4. Over the course of the night and having to criss-cross the globe, Satna Claus would travel approximately 125.5 million kilometres.
5. If Santa was to make this kind of distance, he'd have to travel 1,046 kilometres per second. That's over 3000 times the speed of sound! And this doesn't take into account all the stops he has to make.
6. If he were to carry just 1kg of toys for every child in his sack - that would be 291.5 million kilos on his back to carry.
7. It would take over 2 million reindeer working as one just to be able pull that much weight. And this doesn't take into account the weight of Santa or the sleigh either.

Sigh...

Merry Christmas to you all!

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

PART 1 here.

PART 2 here.

PART 3 here.

PART 4 here.

41. The Little Mermaid

This film is significant because, on repeated viewings, theres another thing I notice. Although it's a Disney version of a ****c fairytale (which differs a bit from the source material) the film had all the hallmarks of a disney ****c. On top of that, it ushered in the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, is still enjoyable today, and has memorable characters and songs. I can still remember the words to songs like "Under the Sea". And that's a good sign of a memorable film.

42. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Everyone knows this to be the very first Disney animated full length feature film. That in itself makes it worthy of inclusion in any animated film list. The fact that the movie was actually really good helped. The film is nearly 75 years old now - and yet has held up remarkably well. Scenes such as the infamous "heigh-ho" song and the eating of the poisoned apple, not to mention how the Witch meets her end still resonate well. It's not just a landmark, but a great film which is still enjoyable to this day.

43. Up

What is most remarkable about this film is how deftle Pixar are using music and camera movement and art to make their dialogue and the actions in the film far more enduring. The intro to the film marks a 10 minute montage in which there is no real dialogue but you get a great sense of approximately 80 years of life in the main character. This is something that live action would struggle with and many film-makers couldn't do. The fact that hundreds of animators in one building can contribute to make a recording session from an actor somewhere else so much more poignant is incredible. While not as enjoyable as other Pixar films, Up shows that when it comes to storytelling in CG animation - they are the best.

44. Kung Fu Panda

This film shouldn't work. The story premise is a joke, the actors aren't well known for voice roles (exception of Jackie Chan, who had only a few lines anyway) and it's from Dreamworks Animation, who apart from Shrek, aren't well known for their animated films. Yet - whoever put together this cast, did so with an eye for fantastic slapstick humour. The film has some of the most amazing animation - the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, and Jack Black is spot-on as Po, the most unusual idea for a Kung Fu Master ever. A very fun film with some great fight scenes.

45. Metropolis

Ok, ok - I'll admit it. I have never seen the original film that this is based on. When I first saw it, I thought of Isaac Asimov and Phillip K. Dick. The story is essentially about racial hatred, only it's about a struggle between humans and robots. Humans have been displaced by robots in most parts of society, and there is riots and hysteria in the streets. The creation of Tima is meant to fix this - only things don't work out exactly to plan. The film is a loving tribute to the best of science fiction, and has some great parallels to society today. A great, great film.

46. 101 Dalmations

Another landmark Disney film. Based on a story that only released several years prior and setting the film in contemporary times were big risks for Disney, who'd had a lot of success with traditional fairytales. Anthropomorphic animals were nothing new to the company, but a film that was almost completely reliant on animals was almost unheard of. Yet the film paid off - and 101 Dalmations is a ****c from the Walt Disney canon. While there are very few musical numbers, its mainly the great storytelling that shines through. Cruella De Vil is a truly evil character - and there are some humourous scenes of the Dalmations getting their own back. Disney sadly beat the same drum for many years in films like Fox and the Hound and The Rescuers, but 101 Dalmations is still great viewing.

47. Dumbo

Dumbo is unusual in the fact that the main character in the film has no voice and is quite ugly, at least in animation terms. The film came out just as WW2 started picking up, and as Fantasia had flopped, Dumbo was quickly made to make a profit. While not the best of the old Disney films, Dumbo makes up for this with the drunk scene in particular. Timothy Mouse is a likeable character, and the Black Crows are fun - especially the humourous song "When I See and Elephant Fly!" but it's the relationship between Dumbo and his mother - that special bond so beautifully shown which makes this film special.

48. Persepolis

Ok, I admit, I only had heard about this film after starting this list. In fact, I only watched it the other day. Still - it is a wonderful film and very different. It's very much like a live action picture. There's no musical numbers, no whimsy. No humour. The film has won so many awards I'm surprised at how little attention it has received. The story revolves around how a young girl becomes an outspoken critic of a tyrannical government during the Iran/Iraq war. The film has some explicit scenes of death, abuse of power, suicide and more. The film isn't all bleak - but it's also very liberal with darkness. Most unusually, it's animated completely in black and white - making it all the more striking. Something to watch and remember.

49. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit

It was a hard choice between putting this or Chicken Run higher. I guess I chose Chicken Run because I liked all the references to The Great Escape better. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this film though - and neither should you. Stop motion animation is incredibly time consuming and laborious, yet the animators of this film don't let it hold them back from their ideals. It's superbly shot and animated, and has a funny story that is enjoyable viewing.

50. James and the Giant Peach

Now here is a film I had forgotten all about until a few months ago. Most people gave this film a miss - and even I neglected to see it at Cinema. I was busy watching other Disney films such as The Lion King and Pocahontas, and I guess I missed this gem. It's a retelling of the infamous Roald Dahl film. Being an old school fan of Roald Dahl, when I saw this a few months ago I thought I'd give it a try. I have mixed feelings about it. The film translates the story to screen quite well, but I think it's lost a little in the transition. Nonetheless, it's enjoyable, and I'm in two minds about it - making it a perfect fit for right down the middle of my list.

And thats all for today. Tune in tomorrow. Hopefully by now you've missed a few of the films I've mentioned and you might just grab them.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

PART 1 here.

PART 2 here.

PART 3 here.

31. The Rescuers Down Under

Ok - so I'm a little biased here. The original Rescuers film is regarded as the better of the two, but being Australian myself, I had to put this one higher. What's most unusual about the film is that its a sequel (the first for Disney ever) featured Australia (another first) and used the CAPS process (first time) which was later used in some of their best Disney Renaissance films. It also is one of the rare Disney films that doesn't break out in song. But on top of that is the wonderful Rescuers drama, some beautiful animation and backdrops, and a good story told with gorgeous visuals. Under-rated.

32. Yellow Submarine

You don't have to be a fan of The Beatles to enjoy this film (although it certainly helps). This is the best animated film starring musicians that I know of - and it is certainly over the top and psychadelic in it's presentation! It's definitely something of a tribute to the fans, and the band members themselves have stated they enjoyed the film. As with many other musical films, the plot is throwaway and only serves to show the next musical number. This film, more than any other I think started the rise of the Music video and MTV. Which is big in and of itself. Yet the film is also more than a tribute to The Beatles - while it brings their music to the world, it's also just an enjoyable fluff film that can be tuned into and switched out.

33. Sleeping Beauty

Probably the best example for me growing up of a fairytale. Sleeping Beauty is the epitome of the best in Disney animated fairy tales. It's a wonderfully told tale, wonderfully animated and is quite different from other Disney animated features. I can still remember the three good fairies, the ultimate fight against Malificent and Aurora singing in the forest. Such a beautiful picture.

34. Watership Down

As beautifully animated as any Disney ****c, Watership Down would never come from the House of Mouse. While not unrelenting in it's depiction of violence - it doesn't shy away from it either. That's a refreshing change. The movies main theme is of survival. I can't ever forget the scene with Bigwig in a snare. Watership Down isn't something I'd put in front of a young child, but there is hope and daring and love in this film, and it's something that really needs to be seen.

35. Charlotte's Web

It isn't the best treatment of the beloved story ever - but as a child, this was a great film. I saw it recently and noticed a lot of things my child mind didn't realise at the time. The film quite intelligently deals with death - though it isn't a sombre film. It's quite a happy film, to the film's own detriment. The animation is patchy on ocassion, and the voice cast isn't all there, but the story is quite strong and I have put this quite high purely because as a child, it was magical.

36. A Bug's Life

Many people call it the dark horse of the Pixar animated features. It's not as memorable, sure. Still, coming off the massive success of the original Toy Story and fighting against the Dreamworks picture Antz, A Bugs Life can stand tall. I guess the main theme of the film is slavery, and fighting back against authority. Still, the film presents this humourously and doesn't take itself to seriously. A fun film with some gorgeous visuals, great gags and good voice acting. Well worth a look.

37. The Prince of Egypt

Basing a traditionally animated film on the bible story of Exodus is a stretch to say the least. And while the story of Moses is indeed uplifting, the action of the film is definitely not for the young. You see deaths - many hundreds of deaths, of children. You see the slaughter of wildstock, the ceremonial use of lamb's blood and unforgiving slavery practices. Yet God's word shines through in this story which takes very little liberty with the Book of God. Even as a non-christian I can appreciate a good story well told, and The Prince of Egypt is a great debut from the newly formed Dreamworks Animation.

38. Kiki's Delivery Service

If ever there was a coming of age story - this is it. It feels a little like the japenese version of australian novel "The Journey" which happened to be released right around the same time and I happened to read as well. There is some central difficulty to the young girl who just wishes to be accepted. Her flying skills are impressive, and the vivid animation is to match. Yet again, Hayao Miyazaki delivered.

39. Treasure Planet

Some absolutely gorgeous visuals mask the great ****c story Treasure Island. Reimagined as a space-faring action adventure, Treasure Planet has some of the most amazing animation ever seen by Disney. And yet, it failed miserably at the Box Office. I can't see why, it has all the hallmarks of other Disney films - but I think in the translation of ****c storytelling they lost the soul of the original story. Still, I've loved space since I was a kid and it has never looked as beautiful as it does in this film.

40. Chicken Run

What is most amazing about the film is the painstaking process required to actually make it. How plasticine can work so well in tune with animation is incredible. I'd been a fan of the earlier Wallace and Gromit shorts, but Aardman really outdone themselves with Chicken Run. The story is a little crude, and certainly takes a few ideas from The Great Escape, but in the end, this is entertaining viewing that can be watched again and again.

There's so much more to add to this series - so keep checking back.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

PART 1 here.

PART 2 here.

21. AKIRA

A cult favourite, the film did poorly upon release outside of Japan but has now become something of a known quantity. This is one of the films that got me into Japanese animatiion (or anime), and it's based on a manga. Unfortunately, condensing so much into a 2 hour film has rushed the story a little, but themes such as the nature of corruption and the will to power still come through strongly. There's also themes of a cyberpunk delinquent society with social unrest and economic recovery. A great film.

22. Ghost in the Shell

I wanted to use the original Japanese movie poster, but that features nudity and I dont think I could have gotten away with that. Nevertheless, Ghost in the Shell features ample nudity in the film - but don't think of it as an erotic film. Think of this as a Japanese Terminator. Again, based on a manga, this film condenses a lot to get the main message across, but it's set in the future where a police force is attempting to stop a villain known as The Puppet Master, who hacks into people's minds and implants false memories. This is the Inception - before there was Inception. Very daring, beautiful animation.

23. Toy Story 2

What needs to be said? The film succeeds so well - the storyline so perfect. For most animated film sequels, the original is always better. And seriously - this film works hard to trump it. In some instances - it succeeds. The film is again about the toys - but features so much more. The animation and especially the dialogue, are better. Toy Story 2 is a film which other animated sequels should aspire to. Great viewing.

24. Beauty and the Beast

This combines just about everything that is great about traditional Disney animated features with a beautiful fairy tale. Belle and the Beast are created with such flair, and animate and speak so well - that you'd be forgiven for thinking that the film is live action. The infamous ballroom scene still gets me - and even though this film is generally marketed to women, there is enough here for males to enjoy as well. Some of the best work from Disney.

25. Princess Mononoke

Possibly the most expensive anime film ever made - and one of the most successful, Princess Mononoke is one of the dark films in Hayao Miyazaki's animated canon in that there really is no clear good or bad guy. The main character isn't really a hero, and you see both sides of the conflict and can sympathise with both sides easily. Some gorgeous hand drawn animation tell a twisted story about environmentalism with some traditional japanese folklore. Just... amazing.

26. My Neighbour Totoro

I know, I know. It's another Miyazaki film. I can't help it if I enjoy his films! Still, this is another film which defies easy explanation. I guess you could say it's about exploration - but it's not really. It's gorgeously animated, and the two main girls are incredibly lifelike. Totoro himself is a delight, very humerous. Its a very warm film which will pull at your heartstrings.

27. Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night

For many - they can't watch the film. This is probably the darkest film on the entire 100 list - it features allegories for rape and alcoholism. It's creepy - but it's also fascinating. It's been called a blatent cash in on the legendary Disney film, and there is some truth to that. But this feature film of Pinocchio can stand on it's own. Again, there is an evil carnival and shifty anthropomorphic characters who have their own intentions - but the main theme is about freedom and choice. A disturbing film, but something that has to be seen.

28. Aladdin

Yet another Disney ****c here. Aladdin is incredible - that magic carpet escape scene, the parade scene - the opening of the cave of wonders - this film has it all. Action, romance and intrigue. And some truly great characters. Iago has been a favourite of mine for years, and the Genie really shines. A great film.

29. Ratatouille

I initially didn't like this film as much as Brad Bird's previous films (The Iron Giant and The Incredibles). Yet it's since grown on me - and Ratatouille is now considered an old favourite of mine. What's amazing is that I feel emotion for rats - not an easy task. The films main theme is to follow your dream - regardless of your size, and I think that's an important message. A film about a rat that wishes to be a chef? It's about as far from reality you can get. But the film plays it up well and is great viewing.

30. Ferngully: The Last Rainforest

Ferngully: The Last Rainforest was the main inspiration (along with Dances with Wolves) for the most profitable film ever - Avatar. Ferngully has a strong environmental message - but also has breathtaking animation, beautiful backdrops and humerous characters. On the evil-meter, Hexxus ranks up there with the best of them. He's quite willing to destroy the world to feed himself. The scene where Magi dies and all of the fairy's are imbued with her spirit has to be seen to be believed. Incredible.

This is only Part 3 of my list. Hopefully you've missed a few of these and now with my blessing - will go and check them out.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

PART 1 here.

11. The Incredibles.

The film has several landmark features. Personally, I think it was the best Pixar film before they made Wall-E, even though I put Toy Story higher on this list. The film has the longest running time than any Pixar film, but I think what I like best about it is how it pokes fun at the Superhero film genre, while also presenting a great commentary on the mid-life crisis. The animation is superb, the direction stunning, and the characters are memorable.

12. Finding Nemo.

The film was only just pipped to the post from The Incredibles for me - but Finding Nemo again sees Pixar at their very best. Some contemporary issues such as abandonment issues, conservation, pollution, family, loss and grief are present - yet it's wrapped in incredible animation and excellent storytelling.

13. Spirited Away.

The second of the Hayao Miyazaki films to be shown - this is probably the most personal. As with many of his films, Spirited Away shows some truly bizarre and highly visual scenes. The films main theme is dislocation - the moving of a young girl to a new area where everything is different and she doesn't know anyone. She is essentially "Spirited Away" and she learns and finds both Good and Evil.

14. Fantasia

What needs to be said? It's a visual masterpiece and quite unlike any other film - and certainly not that of the other Disney films of the era. Who can forget the scene with Mickey Mouse and the brooms with the buckets of water? Fantastia is a landmark of animation and ****cal music and has not been bettered in the 70 years since it's release.

15. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Probably the best Christmas based animated film - and there are quite a few of them. The film was made using a painstaking claymation process - and features all the hallmarks of Tim Burtons twisted visual sense. It's a story about a town that happily lives for Halloween, but the main character accidentally opens a portal to a town that loves Christmas. Seeing this, the main character tries to make Christmas work in a Halloween setting - and some hilarity ensues. It's a fun, slighty scary film that showcases some of the best that animation can offer. This film cannot be done any other way.

16. Grave of the Fireflies

For many people - this is the "Schindler's List" of animation. The film opens in the last year of World War 2 as we see a pre-teen child, dying of starvation and freezing in rags in a bombed out japanese train station. From there, the story tells us of how the child came to protect his sister against the ravages of war. The symbolism of the fireflies in the film is incredible, and the very humanity of the characters is palpable. The film is so well regarded that in the 2 decades since it's release it's been remade twice as a live action film. Some films seek to entertain. Some seek to question. After seeing this film - you'll be impressed and glad that the film-makers did such justice to the medium.

17. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

There had been attempts at combining animation and live action on film before - and there had been successes as well - such as the excellent Mary Poppins (which doesn't qualify for this list, unfortunately). Whats most impressive about this film though is how Roger Rabbit so well fits into this world. It's clearly a story about corruption and conspiracy - but at it's heart its a murder mystery and investigation into a world so unlike and yet so alike our own. Well worth seeing over and over again. And the opening animation is gold.

18. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut

Even if you aren't a fan of the series (and I'm not), the film is a great eye-opener into why the series is so popular. The film is a true love-letter to fans of the series, and has some truly hilarious songs, but it is also a film about censorship. The parents in this film blame everything but themselves for their childrens actions (sound familiar?) and the story explores that before imploding it to the extreme. A funny film that worked and the series is still as strong as ever? How often can you say that?

19. Shrek.

What more can be said for Shrek? This is the film that made me believe in Eddie Murphy again. Since the films release it's had three sequels, a 4D experience and numerous cash-ins. While CG animation was still relatively new, Shrek opened the door to the parody genre. I can remember scenes quite vividly, the animation was spot on, and the story was a riot. It almost single-handedly made Dreamworks Animation the conglomerate it is today.

20. Toy Story 3.

It's hard enough for an animated film to be successful. Harder still when it's the sequel. And even harder when it's the second sequel. Yet - 15 years after the release of the original film, Pizar delivered yet again. Toy Story 3 just pips the second for me. The animation quality is outstanding, yet the films heart is as big as the world in which the toys inhabit. It's a film about growing up and letting go. It's amazing how much emotion you can feel for toys - yet Toy Story 3 pulls it off so well.

This is only the second of my personal countdown so far - there's heaps more to share so keep checking in.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Movies

So - been watching a lot of animated films lately. Some I'd seen before, others - not so much. Surprisingly, all the movies I inform are my top 100 below are films I've seen within the past year. Some are old - some older than myself, though most come from within the past 25 years as well. There is a rule to this list though. All films must have had a theatre release, must contain at least 50% animation, and must be a singular story - no collections of short stories here. Without further ado...

1. Wall-E.

If ever there was a film that needed little introduction - this is it. How can a film that stars two robots be so human? A love story at it's core, this is a film that showcases brilliant production values, beautifully well thought out music, and subtle but descriptive emotional characters that say more with their eyes and actions than their dialogue.

2. The Lion King.

The movie poster shows it all. From the opening song to the opening sequence to some hilarious characters and wonderful action sequences - The Lion King is greater than the sum of it's parts - encompassing a young cubs journey to become The Lion King.

3. Toy Story.

The first film to showcase CGI characters had a lot more going for it as well. It introduced us to some fantastically hilarious characters, a great theme song, and some great action sequences. But at the heart of it was a story about growing up and accepting what you are. A great lesson, and a great film.

4. The Iron Giant.

The film is a bit of a unknown quality - few have heard of it - but those who have love it. It's really a story about the family - the strength of being with a caring mother, but searching for a father figure. It's about nurturing, caring for someone even if they're different - and fighting for what you believe in. Such a beautiful film.

5. The Secret Of NIMH.

If any film is the poster child for under-rated - this is it. The Secret of NIMH is unusual in that, while the recent DVD has a bright overlay - this is quite a dark film. It features anthropomorphic rats - a mother looking to save her son's life from pneumonia before the plowing season begins. If you see this film - take a chance on it. The moody atmosphere and incredible animation are worthy of the praise it receives.

6. The Land Before Time.

Another film that isn't well known, but is definitely highly regarded is The Land Before Time. The film is a little lighter than the previous films from Don Bluth, but explores things such as prejudice, death and hardship. The film has some incredible animation as well - and is enjoyable, moving viewing.

7. Tarzan.

The last major success of Disney Renaissance, which included some other films to be included in this list - Tarzan remains one of the most epic films Disney has released. It featured a brand new animation technique which really drew you into the incredible animation. A beautiful opening sequence, some incredibly impressive action sequences and some memorable music make this a wonderful, fun film.

8. Howl's Moving Castle.

To describe it is like to describe colour - there's nothing out there like it. It could best be described as mixing a little of The Wizard of Oz with Alice in Wonderland done in traditional japanese animation. Its not a traditional fairy tale, though many fairytale archetypes show up. But at it's heart is a beautiful tale of a fight for friendship and care.

9. Pinocchio

Can anyone forget the lies leading to Pinocchio's nose getting bigger? It's still used as a metaphor in films today - even though the film itself is now 70 years old. It's a coming of age story about a puppet who must prove himself to be brave, truthful and unselfish in order to become a real boy. It shows a darkness that later Disney films tried to shy away from, and features some truly evil villains.

10. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

The best animated batman film showed a real human side to the character. As a fan of Batman since a young child, this was the best Batman got - fighting the nemesis Joker, battling a mysterious cloaked killer and remembering a lost love. It wasn't until Nolan got Batman back to his roots that his backstory was done justice, but over a decade before, this under-appreciated film was already a cult hit with the bat-fans.

There's so many more films to share - so I will share more soon.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Editorial

You know - gamers are now living in what can be best described as "The Perfect World". Gamers are getting more bang for their buck - are able to play games on a wide variety of gaming consoles, and even when game series cross platforms, or even cross genres - are getting a cohesive experience. The Perfect World scenario is evidently an important part of today's gaming - but it has its roots as far back as even the earliest MMO's.

The Perfect World Scenario is simple. It's the feedback we give the developers. It's the fan community's united voice. It's the contributions of the wiki community - hungering for the next information to stow away - to compare, contrast and eventually slot in it's place in the game's world and storyline. It's the gamers themselves - helping make their games better.

And I am one of them.

Developers have never had it easier. Of course - developing large budget titles is getting more and more financially risky. We're seeing amalgamations of once great teams. Australia has been particularly burdened by this - without financial support from the Government, we're seeing developers die - as they live project to project. A single bad game can be enough to kill a studio and hundreds of employees who depend on that studio. It's a mess - but it has also given rise to the great independents.

As little as a decade ago, the "Indie" community was largely ignored. Nintendo, Sega and Sony were all working to keep their loyal fanbases and build respectability for gaming, but the vocal indie community of basement dwelling coders was largely ignored. The Net Yaroze system from Sony was a step in the right direction, but it wasn't until the advent of selling downloadable games cheaply did this community finally find a voice and a platform. And oh boy - did the sales come in!

But it's these large titles - games that can require hundreds of employees and years of development that suggest, no, require, a level of community involvement beyond that of "when's it coming out?". Which is where the game's fiction organiser or "lorekeeper" comes in. It's his/her job to ensure that the games numerous employees keep the games vision the same - even when it diverges from it's original gameplay.

For instance - Assassin's Creed. Here is a title which screams multi-faceted, multi-media approach. So far we've seen 3 console games, each of which were on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, 2 Nintendo DS games (since been ported to iPhone and Android), an upcoming 3DS game, a facebook game, a PSP game, several DLC packs, 2 short films, 2 graphic novels, a novel, a comic book series and an art book. Obviously it's gone far beyond the development studio who first began to produce the games - Assassin's Creed has become such a property, and such a monopoly (the series so far has sold over 20 million games) - that developer Ubisoft is actually illiciting gamer's opinions about where the series should head next.

The power is in our hands! No more do developers turn a blind eye to our ideas - our opinions matter more than ever! Developers and Publishers are listening hard to their fan bases - their communities, their forums and their surveys than ever before. Gaming has become a collaborative effort of hundreds of developers and behind the scenes people - and now gamers are contributing their part. What we say in this game affects the vision for what comes next.

Bioware fans were upset about the absence of Liara from Mass Effect 2. Bioware responded with the best DLC they have ever crafted. Epic fans were vocal about the absence of strong women in Gears of War. Gears of War 3 will see them fighting along side you. Fallout fans were spending hundreds of man-hours creating the most comprehensive database of information online on the series - and Bethesda took full advantage. These are just a few examples of how gamers are helping craft the games they play.

The future is bright for the gamer. They have a direct link to those that craft the games they play, and developers are taking full advantage of gaming console's ability to keep tabs on what gamers are enjoying in their games. More than heat maps, they are able to see just how long we spend checking out certain scenes. This kind of feedback is invaluable. We now have a platform to state what we like and dont like about games, and what we feel could make them better. This kind of power to help weild the games we play is only going to get stronger. The line between gamer and developer is fading - especially when we play games like LittleBigPlanet and The Sims 3.

We are becoming a society of gamers living in a Perfect World - a world of gaming that encourages us to help developers make their games the best they can be. It's an exciting time indeed.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Games.

So - we're back to gaming on Xbox 360. Yes, that's right. A friend lent me his Xbox 360 so I could play the Halo: Reach campaign. And what a campaign! I feel very privaleged to have played it, and I enjoyed it immensly. I'd forgotten how good Halo games could be - I certainly feel I had missed out not having played it. The amount of content on the disc for single players alone is staggering - but considering just how much multiplayer content is on offer, and how popular the game is - you could theoretically be playing the game for years. I know that people are still playing Halo 2. And Halo: Reach is infinitely better - more content, modes, and more ways to play.

But we're getting off track here. Having an Xbox 360 in the house has led me back to playing some old Xbox 360 titles I had lying around, which - for some reason or another, I was never willing or able to get rid of once I got rid of the console. So - it was something of a joy to get back into some of them. At the moment, the game that is taking up the most of my time is the incredibly addictive and charming Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise.

But this blog isn't about that game either. In fact, its not about any particular game, just some ideas I've had since playing some of the games I own.

I should mention that I love the idea of Kinect. It's a great accessory which I can only hope will become a standard for every Xbox 360 owner. I've played it completely for about 24 hours now, and have played 6 different games. I wrote my feelings for 3 (Kinect Adventures, Kinectimals and Dance Central) of the games already in the forum (which can be found here) but I've since played a few more of the games.

I've since played Your Shape: Fitness, Kinect Joy Ride and Kinect Sports. If I was to rate them, Id give them a 7, 7 and 7. Each seems to be well tuned into Kinect, especially Your Shape: Fitness, and each seems to require a bit more content. Kinect Sports actually has 10 events, which is more than I expected, but not as much as I'd like.

Anyway, after playing a friends Xbox 360 for the better part of a week and being jealous enough to highly consider purchasing my own, I thought about the games I have been playing and how they would work with Kinect. Here's some ideas I've thought about for some of the games I've been playing.

Pure.

It's a ATV off-road racing game, which puts particular emphasis on making tricks in the air in order to receive boosts. Simply if the game could allow a Kinect mode where the player could hold their arms out at a certain angle which could be replicated by the onscreen character, or they could gesture their arms at certain points which would allow some suitably amazing feat of trickery. A simple idea, I know - but it all starts with an idea.

Forza Motorsport.

Better than GT in every way - and using Kinect could make it even better. How about an idea where you could freely walk around your car, inspecting it from every angle. You could polish it in a certain place, or find the best angle and take a photo. And later manipulate it. Or it could take a photo of yourself, turn it into a sticker and plaster it onto the car. Or you could have it photoshop you into the picture of your car - which you then turn into a wallpaper. Or you could walk around the car, and pressing inforation points on different sections will give a small encyclopedic entry on what that certain car part could do. Or even, you could walk around the car with a pain can and actually manually create your own paint livery. Those are just some of the ideas I have, and Turn 10 Studios hasn't let me down yet.

Viva Pinata.

Almost the same idea as Forza - you could angle your self perfectly, walk around your garden, or pinata - and take photos or place stickers etc. But maybe you could also make a shovel action and actually shovel a hole for the seeds, or create a new pond. Or you could just play catch with your Pinata, tickle them, give them a manicure, brush their fur. I love the franchise and a Kinect version sounds like something they could do to bring back the franchise.

Crash of the Titans.

Ok - this is a little wacky. I like this game and it's good fun. But how about bringing the games essence - it's Titans, and mixing it up with a little RTS? Maybe you could actually fight, or claw your way onto the Titan (something like Shadow of the Collusus), and once on top, actually hold onto the ears and make the creature do your bidding (something like what Remy does in the Disney Pixar film Ratoutille). Maybe you could then use the titan to do your villagers biddings - something like what happened in Black and White. And MS needn't worry about following the formula for that game to much - they own the developer and the licence to that now too.

These are just some of the ideas I have from just a few of the games Ive played. The thing about Kinect though is that there is no limits. And this is already seen by some of the games announced - like Child of Eden and Project Draco. I'm excited about the possibilities that Kinect offers and cant wait to see where it leads.

Cheers,

Saga.

Hail all,

Category: Opinion

Well everybody, I have seen Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Below are my thoughts on it, how it fits into the Harry Potter film series and books, and other things. Be mindful as...:

BELOW THIS MAY HAVE SPOILERS FOR ANY ONE OF THE HARRY POTTER FILMS AND BOOKS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

That said, on we go...

I saw the film at 12:45pm on a Monday. I was surprised to see few children in the cinema, but then I suppose that they were at school. What I did see were a lot of aged individuals, grandparents, possibly great grandparents. I saw some teenagers or people in their early twenties, and I saw a small family as well. It seems that this latest Harry Potter is seeing a more adult attendance. And after watching the film, I think that best represents what is happening.

You should note that I own all of the Harry Potter films to date. I have read all the books. I know how the films will end. I know the major plotlines. Deathly Hallows Part 1 follows the plot of the book fairly faithfully, and watching it made me realise that the film-makers had the right idea. There is no way for them to cram all the information into one short film. At 2 and a half hours, Part 1 already has a lot going on. There's still the final battle, all the questions to be resolved and everything else to happen. Yet I never felt that the film was going longer than it needed to - it didn't draw out unnecessarily and always had something happening.

What should be mentioned is that the films are becoming more and more fast paced, adult and darker. If you're unfamiliar with the previous films or the story, than whats happening may just go over your head. There isn't a lot of dialogue, and much of it is crammed in between some thrilling set pieces. The story is there, no doubt, but a lot of it is subliminally told, and newcomers will have a hard time keeping up.

It certainly nails camping. For the trio, they are on the run from a number of agents who seek Lord Voldemort's bidding. There are a number of nasty creatures and just plain nastiness. Death begins very early, poor Hedwig is killed almost as soon as the film begins to roll. Mad Eye is also killed off-screen, and the Weasley twins come to the burrow covered in blood. Its safe to say that this is quite a violent and action-packed version of what's been put to paper. It's exciting viewing, but definitely not for the little ones.

And that's not to talk about the magic. Magic seems even second place here - it's become such a part of the film, and such a part of the characters that it's hard to imagine them otherwise. I look back at prior films where Harry learns Wingardium Leviosa, drives a flying car or learns how to take down a Dementor, and you can see a sense of wonder. There is no wonder here. There's no classes, no Hogwarts even. There are definitely spells, but the film doesn't feel spell-binding.

As the film series progresses, I feel less enchanted. There's no doubt I'm still enjoying the films, and I eagerly await whats to come, but for those who fell in love with the series at a younger age - they may wish to be cautious about this latest film. For all that happens, there's very little understanding. For all the magic, there's not a lot of movie magic. For all the action, theres little dialogue. The story and the series has progressed - something wicked this way comes.

Watch the film and understand that it's the penultimate - it definitely breaks at a point when you cant wait to see how it ends.

Cheers,

Saga.