A few days ago I reviewed The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Disney’s attempt at making an action-adventure film out of the classic Mickey Mouse sequence in Fantasia. Seeing that so-so movie really made me want to watch the original, and luckily Disney released Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 on Blu-ray last week.
I missed The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in theaters, mainly on purpose, but I watched it on Blu-ray last night and it was actually an enjoyable movie. It’s not great cinema, but it was a pretty good adventure with great special effects and a healthy dose of Nicolas Cage scowling at the camera. So in other words, there’s something for everyone!
To be honest, the story was very predictable and cliche, and besides the fact that they tried connecting magic with science, the actual use of it was very very Harry Potter influenced.
Jay Baruchel is still fun to watch, and until Hollywood typecasts him into oblivion I think he will be for a while. Still, that’s not enough to save a movie with a laughable plot, Nicolas Cage as a Sorcerer, and a boring, tacked-on, love interest subplot.
I love the minor animation releases Disney puts out in between their huge ones like Beauty and the Beast and Snow White. They’re usually some of my favorite Disney movies. Robin Hood, The Aristocats, Three Caballeros, and now The Black Cauldron. To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, Disney has re-released it on DVD (no Blu-ray, sadly), and I got to see it again for the first time in years.
I know it represents a very low period in the history of Disney animation, but it’s a fantasy that’s a bit darker than the usual from Disney, and it has some great moments. It’s based on the “Chronicles of Prydain” book series from Lloyd Alexander and features the awesome John Hurt as the Horned King.
Henry Selick. Henry Selick. Henry Selick. It sucks that he never gets the billing he deserves on his films. He’s always overshadowed by Tim Burton’s name, and a lot of people I’ve talked to think that Burton directed his movies. But that’s not important, I just needed to get that out there.
James and the Giant Peach is a fascinating biproduct of the success of The Nightmare Before Christmas. I’ve never found it as entertaining as Nightmare, but I am a huge fan of Selick and stop-motion animation in general, so I still enjoy it.
Disney is continuing their dedication to the Blu-ray format by releasing James and the Giant Peach, available as a Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.
Dear Warren Spector,
Please accept my $50 for Epic Mickey, even though I never play the Wii anymore. Your game looks awesome, and I think you should keep trying to convince Disney to make a DuckTales game.
kthanx,
Tommy
