mronoc said:
...Disney Animation Studios work has really been on an upswing lately, but they've mostly just been treading old ground with princess films and Winnie the Pooh. Seeing as this is their fist real original film since Bolt, it could be a real indicator as to whether or not we're entering a second Disney Renaissance, in the wake of Eisner's ousting.
I think the advent of John Lasseter has been a huge boon for the quality of the Disney brand in recent years. I know this is not considered "original" in the vein of Bolt, but did you catch Tangled? While it is the classic Rapunzel tale after a fashion, it also kind of subverts the traditional fairy tale a la Shrek, and the title Tangled was meant to reflect that change in perspective and the enhanced role of Flynn Ryder. As a film it works, and is entertaining for all, and more to the point, was a huge leap forward for (non-Pixar) Disney CGI work. The effect is subtle, since the best special effects are the ones you don't see, but they spent $260million on this film to make it look like a CGI rendition of their original watercolor style animation. So story aside, the film just LOOKS beautiful.
The Plunk said:
"A tomboy princess who'd rather be a warrior than a wife."
"A group of scientists discover something horrifying while investigating alien ruins"
WOAH! Let's not go crazy now! This much originality is making my head spin!
For you, may I recommend the 2008 French animated feature Dragon Hunters. It's tough to find in the States apart from Netflix but I thought this film was charming and creative, with some stunning visual design. Not the kind of thing you see in standard American fare, particularly in the animated realm.
For Bob, I would not dare to dispute the genius that Daniel Day-Lewis must by default be as Abraham Lincoln. That said, another guy who was no slouch as Abe was Lance Henriksen in the TV movie The Day Lincoln was Shot. That guy was fun to watch. At any rate, as interested as I might be in a Spielberg film about Lincoln, I'm more excited about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Also, lest we be lured in by the promising premise of Space Nazis on the moon, may I remind you all how tantalizing was the premise for Cowboys vs. Aliens.