May 3
Disney’s version of the Tarzan story is one of the best pictures to come out of the House of Mouse in some time. The 1999 picture is surprisingly sensual and mature, offering a vision of Tarzan and Jane that is stunningly animalistic and raw. There are some of the usual trappings of Disney pics, of course, and the Phil Collins songs err on the side of cheesy, but the movie manages to make some significant waves that set it apart from the typical fare.
Toy Story 2 is one of those animated movies that sets the bar for how other animated movies can be viewed. Like the many masterpieces from Studio Ghibli and the other excellent films from Pixar, Toy Story 2 is one of those layered, beautiful movies that press the genre forward with respect to what animation can do and, more importantly, how animation can make us feel.
Jan 2
Fantasia 2000 is a sequel to the original 1940 film Fantasia. Walt Disney had intended his picture to become a running show with new episodes added periodically, but interest in the mesh of animation and classical music waned and the loss of the European market during WWII also stung. As such, the idea for a serialized Fantasia was shelved. Fantasia 2000 steps back in the ring, reviving the concept with celebrity presenters and some wonderful new animation.
Most of the music comes via the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with the exception the original The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. In terms of animation, Fantasia 2000 lets the animators stretch their wings and try out some unique styles. It is a showcase of what Disney’s animators are capable of, offering a much-needed breath of fresh air after years of stagnant, repetitive pictures.
Sep 30
The Blair Witch Project is one of those movies that gets credited for changing the game, although these sorts of fake docs have been produced before to moderate success (The Last Broadcast comes to mind). If it’s to be remembered for anything, it’s probably the fact that it made a boatload of money with a minimal budget. The movie cost around $500,000 to $750,000 after all was said and done. It made $248,639,099 worldwide. Not bad.
Of course, whether The Blair Witch Project is all that good is another story. It is a deeply polarizing film, having won both an Independent Spirit John Cassavetes award and a Razzie in the same run. Most critics were fairly positive about it, as it owns a coveted 85% ranking over at Rotten Tomatoes. Upon watching it again recently, though, I found myself less than compelled by this indie horror. Okay. I didn’t like it all.
David Koepp is probably better known as a screenwriter than he is as a director. His screenwriting has powered movies like Jurassic Park, Spider-Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Behind the camera, Koepp is actually a decent filmmaker and works well under the circumstances of serviceable, concise thrillers. Stir of Echoes is an example of this.
Stir of Echoes is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Matheson. It is a ghost story akin that shares a lot of the elements of similar genre flicks, but the grounding in blue collar Chicago makes it more interesting. The characters help, too, and Kevin Bacon actually puts in a convincing turn as the working class dude looking for something big to happen to him. When something big does happen, he’s not quite sure what to do about it.
