The Real Toy Story (Uni Blog 1#)

For my dissertation I tried to think of a topic that could incorporate aspects from both sides of my Media/Philosophy joint degree. My conclusion was to examine how some notion of morality is portrayed in popular culture. I’ve always been interested in the relationship between children and media, especially the toy industry, and how such products promote certain attitudes to the world and discourage others. I may look at the evolution of one particular company or a selection of important brands across time.

To illustrate why this topic in particular is important to me I chose this photograph of Michael Wolf’s 2004 installation art project from Hong Kong called “The Real Toy Story” (Which incidentally is the name of the 2007 book by Eric Clark which really drew me into this topic.) You can read all about that project by clicking the picture, but the important fact to take away is that toys are a multi-billion dollar industry, yet the vast majority of toys are manufactured at extremely low-cost in China, often by children and young women in “legal” but slave-like conditions. While this fact will probably not be a driving factor of my dissertation, as it is just one of a number of socially-interesting facets to this topic, in analysing the moral values promoted by a company through their product we must be mindful of the actual values they practice.

Trailer Time: Nine (To Be Released 25th November)

Let's throw what we know out there: Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Big hollywood musical, Sequel to Fellini's '8 1/2', Italy, Director of 'Chicago' Rob Marshall, The late director of 'The English Patient' Anthony Minghella, The writer of 'The Player' Michael Tolkin... Add it up and you have 'Nine', the 1# contender for the 2010 Awards season. The trailer is exciting and enticing, showcasing Marshall's visual florish and Day-Lewis' uncanny abillity to be anyone at anytime. I am certainly looking forward to this.

(UK Release 25th November)

NB: Why so many films called 'Nine' or '9' this year? It's not like last year we had 'Eight' and '8' all over the place...

Film Future: The Lovely Bones (To Be Released 11th December)

To say I'm looking forward to the first Peter Jackson film in four years would be a horiffic understatement. Normally, a film adaptation of a hugely popular book would bring me doubts, but Jackson and his writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens proved with 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'King Kong' that they have a subtle knack for adaptation. The story of a young girl who is murdered and watches her family from heaven, this is quite a departure from the epic fantasy we have had from Jackson so far this decade, closer in scale to 'Heavenly Creatures'. (Which was not without a touch of fantasy.) Unfortunately this one isn't due until awards time this winter, but I have every reason to believe this is going to be a film of the year contender. (UK Release January 29th 2010)

Recent Review: Synecdoche, New York (Released 28th October 2008)

‘Synecdoche, New York’ is one of the greatest cinematic disappointments I have ever experienced.

The Gospel according to Toy Story: An Atheist Response

I was reading up on my favourite film, ‘Toy Story’ and came across an interesting article on a Christian blog by a guy called Anthony, claiming the film to be a religious allegory. I would like to respond to this article, which you can read in its entirety HERE. If anything, ‘Toy Story’ is an ATHIEST allegory, and here is why.

Recent Review: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Released ? 1984)

“Things get bad before they get better…” George Lucas on Temple of Doom

Recent Review: Coraline 3D (Released 6th Febuary 2009)

Although it lacks the originality and musical brilliance of the classic ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, (the film it will instantly be held up against, not merely for director Henry Selick, but similar themes and artistic style.) ‘Coraline’ is still a wonderful, magical piece of cinema.

Trailer Time: The Princess and the Frog (To Be Released 11th December)

Can't tell you how excited I am that John Lasseter got a hold on Disney and shock this one out. 'The Princess and the Frog' doesn’t even need to be better than the early 90's classics to succeed, I'll be happy with something like 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' which was beautiful and had 2 great songs. This film clearly has "beautiful" down, but it’s a long wait to see how the rest of the film measures up. Randy Newman is on music-duty this time. Although he worked on some of my favourite films, he can be a bit one-note. I hope at least he brings something memorable to the Disney cannon for the first time in 15 years. They certainly seem to think they're going back to the early 90's renaissance. We'll see. (UK Release 12th Febuary 2010)

Poster Post: District 9 (To Be Released: 14th August)

Here's the new poster for 'District 9', adding the sinister tag-line "You are not welcome here.". Alone with the most recent trailer (See the D-9 tag), this advertising campaign has been terrific and seems to be getting noticed around the Internet. Lets hope the film can match these expectations. (UK Release 4th September)

Wrestling Watch: Top 5 Fan Promos

I feel its about time to introduce another planned part of this blog, and that's pro-wrestling. As there is nothing hugely important going on at the moment, I think it would be fair to shed some light on the excellent edit jobs done on youtube, especially LeeLee, from whom you're about to see three videos. I love his work and hope you do too.

Series Showcase: 'X-Men' and 'X2: X-Men United' (2000-2003)

Well, the Internet and the box-office are both buzzing with thoughts and news about ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, and I feel like I should join in. Rather than just review the film, I want to do a little two-part review/retrospective of the entire X-Men series. If this approach is popular, I’ll do it for ‘Star Trek’, ‘Terminator: Salvation’ and ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ when their time comes.

Poster Post: The Brothers Bloom (To Be Released 29th May)

I know alot of people who really loved 'Brick', and I certainly did enjoy it, but I don't think I saw the masterpiece the world raved about in 2005. It was a fun high-school noir-caper, which had moments of brilliance, but ultimately took itself too seriously. Director Rian Johnson has spent four years preparing his follow-up, this time staring Adrien Brody as one half of the flamboyant con man team, 'The Brothers Bloom'. The synopsis sounds like Johnson ended up with too much money too fast, but I really dig this poster and have high expectations for the film. The most bizarre/encouraging nugget to be gained is that, so-far, this sounds nothing like 'Brick', meaning Johnson is more than a one-trick pony or has moved too far from the idea space that made him a success in the first place. We'll just have to wait and see. (UK Release Unknown)

Poster Post: Ponyo (To Be Released 14th August)

At last we have the US one-sheet for 'Ponyo', or 'Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea' as it was known in Japan, finally dubbed and ready for release this summer by Disney. The latest (last?) Hayao Miyazaki film looks more in tone with the gentle imaginative fun of 'My Neighbour Totoro' rather than his slightly darker recent work. Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon and Liam Neeson are all providing the english-speaking chops, and as always Disney has provided an amazing cast. The poster is pretty, sorry it's so small. Check out AICN for the huge high quality full sized one! (UK Release Unknown)

Short Stuff: Night Shift (2009)

Easily the most crowd-pleasing entry in our annual AirTV Oscars Short Film festival, and the film I've been telling friends about since. This winner of seven awards was definitely my favourite on the night. It starts of modestly, I remember groaning to my friend that we were in for another student short film set AT UNI, and the handheld roof shot doesn't help lift the feeling of amateur. Where 'Night Shift' succeeds is that it takes the in-joke about being in our atrium and milks it without depending on it. The 'Power Assisted Force' door joke, or simply the fact that they borrowed legit cleaner costumes lead to a lot of knowing laughs. It wasn't the most technically competent, focus was their key issue, but its short, sweet and doesn't outstay its welcome like it clearly could have. Such as 'Episode III'...

EDIT: After watching the embedded clip, it seems the sound is not as well balanced online as it was in the theatre, which is a shame.

Short Stuff: Kitchen Sink (1989)

Kitchen Sink \ Alison Maclean [1989] from veana on Vimeo.

A short we watched in class recently, reminded me of 'Eraserhead' but with more forward narrative drive. Atmospheric and very effective. (Alison Maclean, 1989)

Poster Post: Bruno (To Be Released: 10th July)

Here's the colourful one sheet for the semi-sequel to 2006's 'Borat', and while character-wise I never liked 'Bruno' as much as Borat, I find myself looking forward to anything involving Baron Cohen. He was easily the best thing about last years 'Sweeney Todd', and this film seems to have a sort-of 'Zoolander' slant, a film secretly enjoyed by almost everyone. (UK Release 10th July)

Trailer Time: Where the Wild Things Are (To Be Released 29th December)

'Where The Wild Things Are' always had some of my attention once I heard Spike Jonze ('Adaptation.') was directing, but this first trailer blew me away. Not only does the film look stunning, but the choice of Arcade Fire on the soundtrack sets such a magical yet grown up tone. This looks like it could be a sweeter, more charming, American 'Pan's Labyrinth', of which I think I can say is high praise indeed. (UK Release 24th November)

Trailer Time: District 9 (To Be Released 14th August)

I've got to say, 'District 9' is looking to be one of the most original, thematically interesting and relevant american sci-fi films in decades, an expansion of the 'Halo' ad director Neil Blomkamp's short film 'Alive in Joberg'. (UK Release 4th September)

Film Future: Whatever Works (To Be Released: 19th June)

A new Woody Allen film can be a scary thing. In the 70's he was directing back-to-back classics, but three decades later he is far less bankable. Of course this isn't to say his most recent work is bad, 'Match Point' had it's moments and I've not seen 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' but word of mouth is good. If anything I admire the fact he's found the sexiest star of the decade, Scarlett Johansson, and keeps giving her roles she can be sexy and promiscuous in. If you don't at least sympathise with old men like Woody going after hot young females, you probably don't like any of his films full stop. Well I do like Woody Allen, and as the above picture indicates; he's in familiar territory with 'Whatever Works'. (Woody knows all about familiar territory.) (That was a dig by the way.) More-so he's teamed up for the first time with Larry David (of the impossibly popular 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'), a pairing of star and director which could be fantastic. Throw in Evan Rachel Wood as Larry David's wife and the creepy/funny, old-man/young-woman, Woody-Allen-eternal-fantasy circle is complete. I just wish Allen would return to the front of the camera once more before his inevitable demise, but as long as he casts his films so well I really struggle to complain.

Film Future: The Maident Heist (Release Unknown)

One of the unfortunate casualties to come from the bankruptcy of the Yari Film Group, 'The Maiden Heist' was all set to go at the end of May, but now we could be a long way off from seeing this all-star museum-heist caper. Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy star in this promising comedy about three museum security guards who become very attached to the works they guard. When their favourite pieces are sent to another museum, they band together to steal them back. From the director of the second 'Bill and Ted' (and little else), creatively this is going to be hard to predict, but the cast alone cements my attention. I can't help thinking of last year's 'The Bucket List', which received pretty mixed reviews despite not only Freeman, but also Jack Nicholson and Rob Reiner ('This is Spinal Tap') involved. Could this do better? If it appears soon I'd think so, given that it's going to need picking up by another distributor. If anyone is willing to reshuffle their summer schedule to accommodate the film it can only mean good things. Otherwise expect this to slip-by unnoticed next January...