Bolt, from the S*N*O*W*T*H Rant Files

[Drtooth]

And now it seems like it's out to make room for the return of Diganda Defendors and Biker Mice from Mars, whether the classic or new version I have yet to know.

The Biker Mice is new, and it has been in the UK for at least 2 years before we got it. I'm anxiously waiting to see it.

Of course, as far as One Piece goes, they have the DVD's, but at 13 episodes every few months, we'll probably never get anywhere close to where it is in years. And there's no way we'll ever get that Thriller Bark arc. But at least the new company's dub isn't ticking off fans. But hey, it's Cartoon network. They don't know what the shell they're doing when it comes to the schedual... especially those Disney shows that they feel that they have to compete with....

Did Shaman King ever have an ending in the anime I wonder? (I don't want to have it ruined for me, I just wonder)

Considering it just got a Manga ending, I doubt it. Theoretically, it could get a movie... But it took Saint Seyia, a cartoon from 1987 to get an ending until THIS year.

 

[The Count]

Huh? You mean Knights of the Zodiac? There's another show I liked that totally got the scheduling staff. And Ravemaster too, though that one was sort of an occasional watch for me.

 

[Baby Gonzo]

Meet the Robinsons was an enjoyable film with a sincere message. Yes, I will admit that some parts of the story or the way the movie came across were all over the place, but the morel of the story was sincere. And that sincerity is a big part of what is missing in animation today. Yes, every kid's film seems to have some message that they just want to shove down your throat, but it comes off as being very fake and unneeded. In the very least, while the message was reiterated and told throughout, it was still sincere. And I respect and admire that.

 

[frogboy4]

Meet the Robinsons was an enjoyable film with a sincere message. Yes, I will admit that some parts of the story or the way the movie came across were all over the place, but the morel of the story was sincere. And that sincerity is a big part of what is missing in animation today. Yes, every kid's film seems to have some message that they just want to shove down your throat, but it comes off as being very fake and unneeded. In the very least, while the message was reiterated and told throughout, it was still sincere. And I respect and admire that.

I agree. The story elements in Robinsons are scattered. It does have spectacular animation (a rung under Pixar, but better than other studios), Danny Elfman composition, a heartwarming message and relatable characters. The “bad-smelling” accusation from Snowth was a bit much. I can understand it not being a favorite of anyone, but it does follow the heroic journey theme that hails back to the very origins of storytelling. It’s a fine film that doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

I try to go into each film wanting to like it (for what it is) and will never critique a film I haven’t actually seen - from start to finish. I saw Chicken Little, Barnyard and Open Season and all of them theatrically (I live next to a cinemaplex). There are many films I’d like to dismiss and judge out-of-hand due to the mere advertising, but I don’t because that would be misleading. I watched every frame of the mind-numbing Shrek 3, Bee Movie, Barnyard and Happy Feet and hoped they would get better with every scene, but they didn’t. I even stayed through the credits to see if there was a payoff that would make them better. Nothing did. I’m fairly easy to please too. I’ve seen enough bad film student pieces to make everything else look like high-art!

 

[Drtooth]

Huh? You mean Knights of the Zodiac? There's another show I liked that totally got the scheduling staff. And Ravemaster too, though that one was sort of an occasional watch for me.

Don't get me started on what happened to Saint Seiya (the official Japanese title, Knights of the Zodiac is a translation to the 1980's French title, Les chevaliers du zodiaque ) . Let's just say it confirms why we never get any animes past the late 90's anymore.

Of course, in Japan, the show suffered low ratings near the end of the second season, and was abruptly cancelled. After enough complaints from fans, the Hades Chapter was made into a Direct to DVD OVA series (which was also broadcast on a Japanese pay per view station). They JUST finished the last episode, and it should be avialable in Japan by now.

I agree. The story elements in Robinsons are scattered. It does have spectacular animation (a rung under Pixar, but better than other studios), Danny Elfman composition, a heartwarming message and relatable characters. The “bad-smelling” accusation from Snowth was a bit much. I can understand it not being a favorite of anyone, but it does follow the heroic journey theme that hails back to the very origins of storytelling. It’s a fine film that doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

Personally, I hated the fact it came out a week after TMNT, and it colearly stole its core audience. I'm sure Robinsons is a good movie, and I really did want to see it, if only to thumb my nose at some "knickers in a twist" adoption people who were having a problem with the concept. But I still think TMNT could have had at least one more good week.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

I think Meet The Robinsons looks like an interesting film. But I have to admit hat the Break Dancing T-Rex in the ad really turned me off of it. I already saw a break dancing the Chicken Little ad's.

There are many films I’d like to dismiss and judge out-of-hand due to the mere advertising, but I don’t because that would be misleading.

Tell me about it. I just saw an advertisement for the bugs in space movie, and it looked to say the least uninspiring.It's like they Knew space was being made or something and decided to put bugs in space instead of monkeys. Huzzah...

 

[Redsonga]

For what it's worth I did see Meet the Robinsons and dislike it. I actually love things with messages (I am a big FR fan of course) but with Meet the Robinsons I did feel like I was being clubbed over the head with the message every two mins when the movie was not moving at fifty miles an hour :\.

I love messages, but this on seemed more than a bit tacked on and they said it over and over and over again the same way ...and then at the end when they showed that it was a Walt Disney quote I felt like 1) It was one of the least favorite quotes I'd heard him say , and that there are many better ones to make a movie about. and 2) They were just using it to justify the movie rather than add depth to a story. Like "See? Disney said the quote, so that makes our movie so much more meaningful...and oh, "moving forward" means hundreds of more CGI movies, so get use to them! Like them darn you! Like them! *forcefeeds*"

I dunno, of all my friends I was the one who wanted to go see Meet the Robinsons and was telling them to give it a chance and of all my friends I think I liked it the least...

Maybe it is because I am a writer and could see the twist coming from the start..But I tried .

 

[frogboy4]

Personally, I hated the fact it came out a week after TMNT, and it colearly stole its core audience. I'm sure Robinsons is a good movie, and I really did want to see it, if only to thumb my nose at some "knickers in a twist" adoption people who were having a problem with the concept. But I still think TMNT could have had at least one more good week.

If not for my love of movies (and the original songs by Danny Elfman and my partner's favorite Rufus Wainwright) Robinsons would likely have passed me by too. Some of the advertising made it look like a wannabe Pixar kiddie fluff piece, but I was pleasantly surprised to see there was more to the film. Were people actually objecting to the adoption message? As a child of adoption I found that section truly touching and in a way I had never seen on film. I began life with that forward-thinking philosophy. It wasn't slapped on; it was threaded throughout the film (based on a book). The director was reportedly very deliberate about that being adopted himself.

My main complaint is that little is actually explored with the other characters and we are only merely introduced to the Robinsons rather than actually meeting them. My partner just got a beautiful Sony hi-def widescreen and I'm choosing Robinsons to be the first Blu-ray movie we watch on it! Oh, and the film also contained a classic 3D Donald short if seen in a 3D theater. The whole experience of that film was a rare treat.

Bolt, on the other hand, just looks odd. But I'll likely see it. Maybe the ads are misleading?

I also enjoyed the TNMT movie. The animation wasn't perfect and the head of the film was weighted down with a little too much plot exposition for my taste, but once it started going I was glued! I really like the look of the city and the character design. It appears to be the most faithful telling of the comic to date. I hope they continue making them. Any word on that?

 

[Redsonga]

Were people actually objecting to the adoption message? As a child of adoption I found that section truly touching and in a way I had never seen on film.

I wasn't objecting to it, but I am not adopted so it did not really touch me as deeply I guess..maybe that is the sort of thing you have to live with to know about...
Oh course, to say the all adopted people have dark, lonely, pasts they want to forget and move forward from all the time might have gotten a few people up in arms I guess, because everyones adoption story would be different .

I began life with that forward-thinking philosophy.

I always liked learning about the past more than the future ever since I was little myself .

It wasn't slapped on; it was threaded throughout the film (based on a book). The director was reportedly very deliberate about that being adopted himself.

I wasn't talking about the adoption though, the message of the about moving forward all the time over and over and over was just very heavy handed to me and felt like it was pushed onto the story IMHO, even if it was not meant to be ...

 

[frogboy4]

I wasn't objecting to it, but I am not adopted so it did not really touch me as deeply I guess..maybe that is the sort of thing you have to live with to know about...
Oh course, to say the all adopted people have dark, lonely, pasts they want to forget and move forward from all the time might have gotten a few people up in arms I guess, because everyones adoption story would be different.

I always liked learning about the past more than the future ever since I was little myself.


I wasn't talking about the adoption though, the message of the about moving forward all the time over and over and over was just very heavy handed to me and felt like it was pushed onto the story IMHO, even if it was not meant to be...

I really was referring to DrTooth's comment about some adoption people being upset at the film. It had no bearing on your perspective. I guess you misread that part or erroneously think my last couple of posts were to you. Sorry about that misunderstanding.

However, you must not have gotten the message of the film if you think the lead character had a dark and lonely past that he'd rather simply forget. That wasn't it at all and the film was quite clear to everyone I’ve spoken with about it.

The message was like many good Muppety things. It was about acceptance of your situation in life instead of dwelling in it. It is about knowing what's important - the journey. It's not the past, not the future - it's about right now and moving forward from there with the people who love and care about you. The filmmakers admit to having tied the themes of moving forward to the protagonist's circumstances.

It is clear we saw two different movies – one with a sweet way of tackling a difficult subject and another that rudely clobbers viewers over the head with a tacked-on inane message. Now I too will move on to discussing other animated pictures or talking Robinsons with someone who enjoyed the picture.