Movies

Wreck It Ralph

by Fiona Rossiter on December 5, 2012

Last week I was treated to a preview of Walt Disney Animation Studios “Wreck It Ralph”, a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping adventure.

When director Rich Moore joined Walt Disney Animation Studios and began developing “Wreck-It Ralph,” he had a big problem. “Arcade-game characters have no free will,” he says. “They’re programmed to do one thing day in and day out—they don’t have a choice in the matter. I thought, ‘That’s boring.’”

Or is it?

“I realized it’s actually a great conflict,” says the director. “Within this world, there are strict rules: you do one job and one job only. What if there was a character who didn’t like his job?”
At nine feet tall and 643 pounds, Ralph is certainly a force to be… well, wreck-oned with. He is a massive guy charged with wrecking the apartment building in a place called Niceland. Much to Ralph’s dismay, Fix-It Felix Jr. is called on to fix the building and save the day. With his magic hammer, Felix earns love, respect and a fancy gold medal, from the Nicelanders.

After 30 years of playing his assigned role of the “bad guy” Ralph decides to turn the tables, his plan is to win a medal and by doing so earn the kind of love and respect that Felix gets.

Ralph’s quest to win a medal will take him from his home in the game Fix-It Felix Jr. into the vast worlds the arcade has to offer. In his first adventure Ralph find himself in “Hero’s Duty”, a modern, first-person shooter game—it is brand new and the best game in the arcade. In this game, Sergeant Calhoun heads up a platoon of soldiers fighting off Cy-Bugs that are annihilating the universe. Calhoun and Ralph do not see eye to eye and her sole mission becomes getting Ralph off her turf. Ralph however will not let anything stand in the way of him getting his medal.

[click to continue…]

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Review of Adventures in Zambezia

by Shelley Nell on October 29, 2012

 

Recently Super Mom Blog was invited to the screening of Adventures in Zambezia, which is the first animated feature film produced by Cape Town-based company Triggerfish. The event took place on Wednesday 19 October 2012 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, to launch the Animation Festival in South Africa and was preceded by a cocktail function at The Pavilion.

Adventures in Zambezia was produced by Cape Town’s very own Triggerfish Animation Studios and earlier this year won the Best South African Feature Film category, at the 2012 Durban International Film Festival. The film show-cases the talents and hard work of 80 of SA’s top animators. Triggerfish Animation Studios is on the forefront of animation in Africa and after releasing in 12 weeks, in only the first 5 territories overseas, “Zambezia” is the most successful theatrical feature film to ever be produced by an African studio. The Film took 6 years to make and has premiered in 44 countries overseas and has been rated as the No 1 Film to come out of South Africa.

You will hear the well-known voices of Samuel L. Jackson as Tendai, Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park) as Ajax, Nik Rabinowitz and Richard E. Grant (Corpse Bride) as Cecil. As well as Jenifer Lewis (Cars, The Princess and the Frog) as Gogo and Jim Cummings (Shrek, Aladdin) as Budzo. The movie is written by Anthony Silverston, Raffaella Delle Donne, Andrew Cook, Wayne Thornley and directed by Wayne Thornley.

The story revolves around a young, high-spirited, falcon called Kai (Jeremy Suarez) and his father Tendai who live in a heavily fortified nest on the edge of a canyon. Kai leaves his father and his home and travels to “Zambezia” – a bird utopia situated in the middle of the spectacular Victoria Falls. Famous for being the safest city in all of Africa, Zambezia has become the breeding sanctuary throughout the river valley where birds of every feather can flock together in harmony and peace.

The peace in Zambezia is threatened by Igauna’s who have enlisted the help of the Marabous, to build a rope bridge to cross the Falls and attack the nests of the other birds. In order to help save Zambezia, Kai has to face his past and with the help of his father and the birds of Zambezia, he sets out to save the day! On his quest to help others, he begins a voyage of self-discovery and he learn more about himself and his capabilities.

The story line is simple enough for children to follow and the animation is colourful and bright with a pleasant soundtrack. There was no subtle adult humour which is often present in other animated movies, this is truly a movie for children. All in all it was a lovely movie to watch and the animation is world-class.

Adventures of Zambezia is due to open in local cinemas on the 28th December 2012.

 

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Ice Age 4 Continental Drift Review

by Fiona Rossiter on June 25, 2012

On Sunday we went to the first ever SA screening of the much-anticipated Ice Age 4 Continental Drift in 3D, we even got to see it before the US! This is my Ice Age 4 Continental Drift Review:

The film was super funny and along with the usual characters we got to meet a few new ones. As Manny, Diego, and Sid set out on their most action packed adventure yet, they are joined by Sid’s crazy long-lost granny. After a Continental shift occurs Manny, Diego and Sid find themselves separated from the rest of the herd. The three friends are forced to set sail, on a ship crafted out of an iceberg, in an attempt to reunite with the rest of the herd. Along their treacherous journey, they encounter a pirate ship and are taken hostage.

Another new character we meet during this new adventure, is a female sabre-tooth, named Shira (Jennifer Lopez), she is one of the notoriously bad pirate crew. Shira sets out to destroy Diego and also challenges his view of what a family really is and his loyalty to the herd.  Eventually she realizes the pirates are only out for themselves and who her true friends really are.

I cannot forget to mention Scrat and his acorn adventures, that take him to places that no prehistoric squirrel has gone before.

The main focus throughout the film is on the importance of family, how vital it is to maintain a close bond between parents and children and the unconventional family unit, that these animals have formed as their “herd”. The film is both funny and heart warming and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! In my opinion it may be the best Ice Age yet!

Ice Age 4 Continental Drift is due to be released in cinemas on Friday 29th June 2012.

Source: Numetro

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Ice Age 4 Continental Drift

by Fiona Rossiter on June 22, 2012

 

We have very luckily been invited to attend the screening of the much-anticipated Ice Age 4 Continental Drift, on Sunday afternoon, what a great way to start off the holidays!

This all-new chapter in one of the most successful film franchises of all time brings together the visually epic and the emotionally powerful; the humorous and the heartfelt – plus the world’s most beloved prehistoric squirrel-rat and the ultimate unconventional herd of this or any Age.

Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo). In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home.

The film sounds like heaps of family fun and the girls are so looking forward to it.  I will definitely post a review next week after we have seen it.

Ice Age 4 Continental Drift is due to be released in cinemas on the 29th June 2012.

Source: Numetro

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting

by Fiona Rossiter on June 9, 2012

On thursday I was invited to attend the press screening of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which is soon to be released in cinemas. I was really looking forward to seeing this movie as it promised to be a heart warming big screen comedy; I love a film that is both funny and meaningful.

The film is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It tackles a variety of preconceived ideas that people have regarding pregnancy and parenthood. Although light-hearted, the film also focuses on the more emotional aspects of being a parent-to-be. The basic plot follows the lives of five couples, as they each prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood. Each of the couples are representative of possible pre-parenthood situations, which allows most viewers to connect with a few of the various stories portrayed. As a mother, having gone through two pregnancies myself, I could certainly relate to quite a few of the situations in the film.

The  star-studded cast all deliver great performances but my favourite character in the film is Wendy, played by Elizabeth Banks. Wendy is a baby-crazy author who when faced with the reality of her own pregnancy realises that it is not all that the books and magazines portray it to be! She is constantly searching for the “glow” that pregnancy promises to bring.

Another actor that stands out is Chris Rock, who is the leader of “the dudes group”{the dads}, who in my opinion brings the true element of comedy to the film. The dads agree that ’whatever is discussed in dudes group stays in dudes group’ and they have a strict policy of no judgement! The film although funny is definitely not a side-splitting comedy but rather a romantic film peppered with humorous moments.

Ultimately the film is about understanding that no matter what you plan for, life (and especially parenthood) doesn’t always deliver what you expect.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting is due to be released in cinemas on the 15th June 2012.

To find out more about the film and cast see my previous synopsis of the film click here

Image Source: Numetro

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