1982 was a big year for telly addicts in the United Kingdom. After so many years of making do with just three terrestrial channels, we were finally getting a fourth that promised fresh, diverse, innovative, and challenging programming. They called it ... Channel 4. Not the most original name, granted, but it would offer a far edgier alternative to the staid Auntie Beeb (BBC1 and its artsy sister channel BBC2) and the safe light entertainment of ITV, not to mention greater variety.
After months of hype, the fledgling broadcaster lived up to its bold promise, generating plenty of headlines and predictably drawing the ire of the ever-enraged moral crusader, Mary Whitehouse. It was awesome and became my go-to channel in my teens but, as a kid, it caused me a lot more legwork switching between stations at my family's behest in the days before remote control became a regular thing.
While the...
After months of hype, the fledgling broadcaster lived up to its bold promise, generating plenty of headlines and predictably drawing the ire of the ever-enraged moral crusader, Mary Whitehouse. It was awesome and became my go-to channel in my teens but, as a kid, it caused me a lot more legwork switching between stations at my family's behest in the days before remote control became a regular thing.
While the...
- 11/22/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Chicago – It ain’t over until the fat mammoth sings, and that’s precisely what happens—more or less—in “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” the fourth installment of Blue Sky Studios’ increasingly tedious, decade-old franchise. Why can’t any of Pixar’s rival animation studios come up with a marketable formula better than Celebrities Voicing Animals Delivering Tired Sitcom Dialogue?
Whereas “Madagascar 3” represented this formula operating at its finest, “Ice Age 4” represents its nadir. With 3D visuals on the level of a pop-up book and bored actors mugging their way toward their next easy paycheck, this picture is dead on arrival, yet its particularly brand of badness is more peculiar than one might expect. Just how many kiddie movies have attempted to merge DeMille-level spectacle with booger jokes? Thankfully, not that many.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
In this cheery “Ice Age” entry, our heroes are running for their lives as they find...
Whereas “Madagascar 3” represented this formula operating at its finest, “Ice Age 4” represents its nadir. With 3D visuals on the level of a pop-up book and bored actors mugging their way toward their next easy paycheck, this picture is dead on arrival, yet its particularly brand of badness is more peculiar than one might expect. Just how many kiddie movies have attempted to merge DeMille-level spectacle with booger jokes? Thankfully, not that many.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
In this cheery “Ice Age” entry, our heroes are running for their lives as they find...
- 1/2/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Throughout the month of December, TV Editor Kate Kulzick and Film Editor Ricky D will review classic Christmas adaptions, posting a total of 13 each, one a day, until the 25th of December.
The catch: They will swap roles as Rick takes on reviews of television Christmas specials and Kate takes on Christmas movies. Today is day 24.
The Snowman (1982)
Written by Raymond Briggs (book)
Directed by Dianne Jackson
What’s it about?
On Christmas Eve Night, a boy’s snowman comes to life and the two go on an adventure.
Review
Based on the picture book of the same name, The Snowman is a wordless animated short that is explores, in 27 minutes, children’s relationship with Christmas, and by extension, innocence. The plot is simple- a boy makes a snowman and, at midnight, it comes to life. The two horse around outside and the boy shows the snowman around his house...
The catch: They will swap roles as Rick takes on reviews of television Christmas specials and Kate takes on Christmas movies. Today is day 24.
The Snowman (1982)
Written by Raymond Briggs (book)
Directed by Dianne Jackson
What’s it about?
On Christmas Eve Night, a boy’s snowman comes to life and the two go on an adventure.
Review
Based on the picture book of the same name, The Snowman is a wordless animated short that is explores, in 27 minutes, children’s relationship with Christmas, and by extension, innocence. The plot is simple- a boy makes a snowman and, at midnight, it comes to life. The two horse around outside and the boy shows the snowman around his house...
- 12/24/2011
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
The Snowman is to be remade for Channel 4, it has been announced. The classic 1982 Christmas classic has been a yearly staple of the channel since its first broadcast. It is to receive a "fresh, not identical" remake in time for winter 2012. The original 26-minute animation film was based on the 1978 story by Raymond Briggs, and was directed by Dianne Jackson. The new version will be made using traditional animation techniques by most of the original creative team, and will cost £2 million. It will be screened as part of Channel 4's 30th anniversary programming in November 2012. It will feature new elements of the story including a new boy, a snow dog as an extra character, and will see updated landmarks as they fly around Britain, such as the London Eye. The original film's theme song 'Walking in the Air' - sung by Peter Auty in (more)...
- 12/22/2011
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Chicago – It doesn’t take a child psychologist to figure out why British author Julia Donaldson’s 1999 book “The Gruffalo” has become a hit with families around the globe. It gives parents ample opportunities to portray various animal voices, while kids can take part in reciting the multiple catchy refrains. Best of all, Donaldson centers her tale on a tiny hero who uses his brains to outwit hulking predators.
Clocking in at a slim 25 minutes, Max Lang and Jakob Schuh’s Oscar-nominated animated adaptation has been hailed in some quarters as a family classic. I don’t think the film is nearly substantial enough to deserve such acclaim, though that’s not because of its limited running time. Several short films left an enduring mark on my childhood. I’ll always cherish the artistic exuberance of Stephan Martinière’s “Madeline,” the Broadway-worthy songs of Michael Sporn’s “Lyle Lyle the Crocodile,...
Clocking in at a slim 25 minutes, Max Lang and Jakob Schuh’s Oscar-nominated animated adaptation has been hailed in some quarters as a family classic. I don’t think the film is nearly substantial enough to deserve such acclaim, though that’s not because of its limited running time. Several short films left an enduring mark on my childhood. I’ll always cherish the artistic exuberance of Stephan Martinière’s “Madeline,” the Broadway-worthy songs of Michael Sporn’s “Lyle Lyle the Crocodile,...
- 8/19/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The special edition DVD of the classic seasonal animation The Snowman is an absolute joy; it is as mesmerising, as surprising and as enchanting as it was all those years ago. It has become a tradition of the season not because of its ubiquity but because it embodies the spirit of that season and retains a thrilling charm almost thirty years after it appeared on British TV.
The charming animation from Raymond Briggs’ story gets a special edition release along with the sequel of sorts, Father Christmas, which has Mel Smith as the cantankerous bearded one and both short animations work perfectly together to provide two very different sides to seasonal tale Briggs weaves.
The Snowman appeared in 1982 and instantly captured the imagination of the public and still has that power. I can imagine people watching this for the first time and falling in love with the simple story of a boy and his Snowman,...
The charming animation from Raymond Briggs’ story gets a special edition release along with the sequel of sorts, Father Christmas, which has Mel Smith as the cantankerous bearded one and both short animations work perfectly together to provide two very different sides to seasonal tale Briggs weaves.
The Snowman appeared in 1982 and instantly captured the imagination of the public and still has that power. I can imagine people watching this for the first time and falling in love with the simple story of a boy and his Snowman,...
- 11/18/2010
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Disney’s The Princess and the Frog (see Alex’s review here ) heralds a return to the 2D hand drawn animation of yesteryear.
To celebrate the revival of an old art form we’re offering ten of the finest traditional animations for your delectation. This list represents our personal favourites so don’t be upset if your own doesn’t appear or go ahead and be upset, just keep it to yourself.
What are you favourite 2-D animations? Leave us a comment, suggestion, etc.
The Emperor’s New Groove (Mark Dindal, 2000)
A spoilt Emperor plans to bulldoze a village and replace it with a water park. He’s then transformed into a llama and gets to spend some time with the subjects he plans to displace in this neglected gem from 2000. Pixar’s success had put a ball and chain around Disney’s early nineties revival and dropped it down a well.
To celebrate the revival of an old art form we’re offering ten of the finest traditional animations for your delectation. This list represents our personal favourites so don’t be upset if your own doesn’t appear or go ahead and be upset, just keep it to yourself.
What are you favourite 2-D animations? Leave us a comment, suggestion, etc.
The Emperor’s New Groove (Mark Dindal, 2000)
A spoilt Emperor plans to bulldoze a village and replace it with a water park. He’s then transformed into a llama and gets to spend some time with the subjects he plans to displace in this neglected gem from 2000. Pixar’s success had put a ball and chain around Disney’s early nineties revival and dropped it down a well.
- 12/17/2009
- by Ed Whitfield
- FilmShaft.com
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