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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Pete’s Dragon – Early Thoughts



Well compared to Sausage Party this is beauty incarnate.  On its own though it’s so okay it’s average. Spoilers within.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Short Subject: The Street (1976)



A story about a family dealing with the impending death of the grandmother shown through the eyes of a young boy. 

Friday, July 1, 2016

Short Subject: Neighbours (1952)



If every one of his films was burning in a fire Norman McLaren said this is one he would want to save.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Short Subject: Father’s Weekend (1953)



Sunday is certainly not a day of rest for Goofy.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Short Subject: Father’s Day Off (1953)



Goofy shows he can’t handle fatherhood or housework alone.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Friday, June 17, 2016

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Short Subject: No Smoking (1951)



An ironic title given that in this short everybody smokes.

Monday, June 6, 2016

The Jungle Book – Early thoughts



Many strange legends are told of these jungles of India…

and this contains spoilers.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Short Subject: All’s Fair in Love and Friendship Games (2015)



The shorts take a turn into weirdsville as Lyria and Bon Bon compete to make the friendship games team.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Short Subject: Photo Finished (2015)



Another background character gets the spotlight, or creates it in this case.

Friday, June 3, 2016

Short Subject: Banner Day (2015)



Flash Sentry and two guys I don’t know the names of make a banner.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Short Subject: Pinkie Spy (2015)



Pinkie and Rainbow spy on Crystal Prep and achieve nothing.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Short Subject: Music to My Ears (2014)



My favourite of the Rainbow Rocks shorts!

Just like the last two shorts this is a music video, but unlike those this song has no lyrics and focuses on a secondary character firmly outside the main group.  That’s great because it allows the audience to learn more about the human world and why we should want to see another film about it.  The lack of lyrics, and dialogue,  lets the beat dictate the story as the visuals match up to it, and it’s great fun to watch.  I also love the ironic ending of DJ getting her headphones taken away and then putting in earbuds instead.

Finally I really like the lack of merchandising push I get from this short.  Since it focuses on a side character that probably won’t get a lot, if any, doll lines we don’t get a bunch of gaudy outfits or an ear worm song to help sell the soundtrack.  To me it feels like this short exists because the creators wanted to tell a story in a fun way as opposed to being told to make something that moves merchandise.  

Monday, May 23, 2016

Short Subject: Shake Your Tail (2014)



From a generic concert at the amusement park to a generic concert at the gym.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Short Subject: Perfect Day for Fun (2014)



Now that the band is all together, don’t ask why Twilight is there, it’s time for a music video!

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Short Subject: Hamstocalypse Now (2014)



Fluttershy cleans the hamster habitat while Rarity starts a fashion feud.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Let’s Review a Movie: Wolf Children (2012)



In honor of Mother’s Day I’m taking a look a film all about a mother’s love.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Short Subject: Guitar Centered (2014)



The great and powerful Trixie!  Will battle you...with a guitar.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Monday, April 25, 2016

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Friday, April 22, 2016

Short Subject: Pests of the West (1950)



Okay this time the coyotes have worn out their welcome.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Short Subject: Camp Dog (1950)



Pluto did a better job guarding the sheep.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Monday, April 18, 2016

Short Subject: Pluto’s Heart Throb (1950)



Pluto and Butch having a macho contest over Dinah, well this was pleasant.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Short Subject: Wonder Dog (1950)



Pluto tries to impress Dinah and actually does a great job.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Friday, April 15, 2016

Short Subject: Caine Casanova (1945)



Pluto continues to be a jerk and then gets better.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Short Subject: Bone Trouble (1940)



The title kind of makes sense I guess?

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Short Subject: Feast (2014)



This short should come with a warning not to watch when you’re hungry.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Short Subject: The Ballad of Nessie (2011)



Man this short reminds me of how much I miss traditional animation.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Short Subject: Tick Tock Tale (2010)



Newbies working on a short that has one line of dialogue and very little facial expressions and it doesn’t suck!

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Friday, April 8, 2016

Zootopia – Early Thoughts



This movie is wonderful to look at and wonderful to watch go see it!  For those that want a more substantial review please click the link.  Spoilers within.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Short Subject: Pluto’s Sweater (1949)



Minnie knits a sweater and Pluto hates it.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Short Subject: Figaro and Cleo (1943)



Not a very creative title, but the title card itself looks great.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Monday, April 4, 2016

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Short Subject: First Aiders (1944)



Minnie practices first aid and Pluto and Figaro take the opportunity to annoy one another.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Friday, April 1, 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Short Subject: Mickey’s Service Station (1935)



The very first time Mickey, Donald, and Goofy appeared in a short as a trio.


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Saturday, March 26, 2016

A Tribute to Leonard Nimoy



On what would have been his 85th birthday I salute the world’s honorary grandpa.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 3



Okay the stupid twist has been revealed so why does the film keep getting worse?

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 2



Well themes and ideas are gone so let's throw logic, creativity, and diversity out the airlock while we're at it.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 1



Happy 85th birthday to Mr. Bill Shatner!   

And what a year it is for Star Trek.  The Original Series is celebrating its 50th anniversary on September 8th a new TV Series is due out in January 2017 and they already have great talent on board like Nicolas Meyer.  And finally Star Trek Beyond is hitting theatres this summer and with a whole new creative team this third film in the reboot franchise might actually not suck. However, none of that is saving this film and so it’s not getting spared the nitpickers treatment.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Short Subject: Mickey’s Mellerdrammer (1933)



Well I’ve just found a short that’s so far in the back of the Disney vault it surpasses ‘Song of the South’.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Short Subject: Barnyard Olympics (1932)



It’s more like chaos than any Olympic event I’ve ever witnessed, but it’s certainly fun anyway.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Short Subject: The Barn Dance (1929)



Forget Mortimer Pete is clearly Mickey’s greatest rival.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Short Subject: Mickey’s Elephant (1936)



Between this and ‘Donald’s Penguin’ we have excellent examples of why you do not give people pets as gifts.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Let’s Review a Movie: Monster INC. (2001)



So this film was considered good enough to earn a sequel, but does it really hold up after all these years?


Friday, March 11, 2016

Short Subject: The Pointer (1939)



I may have just discovered my favourite Mickey short.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Short Subject: The Mad Doctor (1933)



And I thought the Epic Mickey homage to this was creepy!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Short Subject: The Karnival Kid (1929)



A sentient hotdog getting spanked and two cats singing on a fence getting hit with a chamber pot, it’s an Ub Iwerks animation all right.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Short Subject: Mickey’s Parrot (1938)



Like with ‘Donald’s Penguin’ we have a cute creature getting shot at.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Friday, March 4, 2016

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Short Subject: Steamboat Willie (1928)



The very first synchronized sound cartoon.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Short Subject: The Worm Turns (1937)



Or as I like to call it sound effects!  Sound effects everywhere!

Monday, February 29, 2016

Let’s Review a TV Series: House of Mouse



For a show that basically acts as an envelope for showcasing short cartoons this has no business being good.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Short Subject: Out on a Limb (1950)




Donald pranks Chip and Dale and of course it backfires.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Short Subject: Duck Pimples (1945)



 Okay this was certainly…different, but in a good way.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Short Subject: Modern Inventions (1937)



I think I’ve found the most boring title card in all the classic shorts.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Ostrich (1937)



Why does Donald keep getting other birds for pets?

Monday, February 22, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Penguin (1939)



We’re one slot up from ‘Dumb Bell of the Yukon’.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Tire Trouble (1943)



It’s says something for creativity when people manage to take the mundane act of changing a tire and turn it into something hilarious.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Vacation (1940)



Donald goes on vacation, it’s short lived.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Short Subject: Dumb Bell of the Yukon (1946)



For a short with such a fun title this thing is really dark.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Short Subject: Fire Chief (1940)



Donald lets the firehouse go up in smoke.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Short Subject: The Plastics Innventor (1944)



Donald makes a plastic airplane and both he and the audience gets a product that is half-baked.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Kung Fu Panda 3 – Early Thoughts



I’m reviewing the sequel to two movies I have never seen! (Spoilers within)

Monday, February 15, 2016

Short Subject: The New Neighbor (1953)



“It has been man’s constant labour to live in peace with his next door neighbor.”  When you’re Donald and the neighbor is Pete you know peace ain’t gonna last.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Diary (1954)



Donald and Daisy get married, but not really.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Short Subject: Donald’s Dilemma (1947)



Yet another short where the title doesn’t match the content.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Short Subject: Wide Open Spaces (1947)



Another short where Donald tries to get to sleep only this time it’s in the great outdoors.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Short Subject: Early to Bed (1941)



“Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” 

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Short Subject: A Good Time for a Dime (1941)



If we don’t have a good time, do we get a refund? 

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Short Subject: Lucky Number (1951)



An atypical Donald vs Huey, Dewy, and Louie short.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Short Subject: How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)



Donald said he was going to work where it’s safe.  Let’s see how safe it actually turned out to be.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Short Subject: How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)



Goofy isn’t the only one who can show us how to do things.  

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Short Subject: How to Camp (2002)



Goofy goes camping and gets abducted by aliens.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Short Subject: How to Be a Gentleman (2000)



Goofy works to join a country club that involves not being country or carrying a club.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Short Subject: John Henry (2000)



My favourite of the Disney Legends shorts.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Short Subject: How to Be a Rock Star (2002)



Goofy tries to be a rock star and it fails.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Short Subject: How to Be a Spy (1999)



Well at least I can tolerate the narrator this time.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Short Subject: How to Be Smart (2001)



What the hell happened to the narrator in this one?

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Short Subject: How to Wash Dishes (2000)



Okay was someone on staff trying to be ironic?

Friday, January 22, 2016

Short Subject: How to Be a Waiter (1999)



And like with ‘How to play Football’  I have to ask why is it called that?

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Monday, January 18, 2016

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Short Subject: How to Sleep (1953)



Watch this short that will put you to sleep.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Short Subject: How to Dance (1953)



Hey a combination between Goofy and his fifties counterpart George Geff.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Monday, January 11, 2016

Short Subject: How to Play Golf (1944)



“Contrary to popular belief golf is not a waste of time.”

Well I love it already.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Friday, January 8, 2016

Short Subject: Freewayphobia (1965)



Fifteen years after Motor Mania where we got to see how people can’t drive on public roads now we get to see how they can’t drive on freeways. 

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Short Subject: Motor Mania (1950)



You know it is so dang sad that this short is over 65 years old and still as relevant today as it was back then.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Monday, January 4, 2016

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Short Subject: Hockey Homicide (1945)



Score one for a short that took me by surprise.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Short Subject: Tomorrow We Diet! (1951)



The New Year resolutions are in full swing.  Let’s watch the most prominent one get broken.

Friday, January 1, 2016

Short Subject: I’m No Fool (1955-56, 1973)



I’m no fool no sir-ee I want to live to be 93.  I play it safe for you and me cause I’m no fool.