What if there was a Best Voice Performance Oscar? – 1999

(Note: This is a fictional creative writing exercise, inspired by hours of contemplation of which animated performances have been most worthy of attention over the years.  This feature imagines that a Best Voice Performance category was added to the Oscars following Beauty and the Beast’s nomination for Best Picture at the 64th Academy Awards.  Each week I’ll cover the hypothetical nominees and winner from one year of animated performances.)

After the return of Pixar turned out to be a bit of a disappointment at the 71st Academy Awards, eyes turned to 1999, and the hotly anticipated Toy Story 2.  When it was announced that the original cast would be returning for the sequel, people immediately began speculating that the Oscars might see a rematch of the most exciting duel that the category saw.  No one could forget the competition between Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and the possibility that both might score nominations drove all other predictions to the sidelines. Continue reading

Quote of the Day

“You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling

Quote of the Day

The Wizard: Elphaba, where I come from, we believe all sorts of things that aren’t true. We call it history.

Wicked – “Wonderful”

Quote of the Day

“It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies.”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling

Friday Favorites: Favorite Performance – School of Rock

Welcome to “Friday Favorites” which highlight some of my favorite movie-related things.

I’m not particularly a fan of Jack Black.  Sure, I like Kung Fu Panda, he wasn’t bad in Tropic Thunder, and admittedly his extended cameo in The Muppets was fantastic, but otherwise I generally avoid his movies.  However, he has one performance that I think is truly fantastic, and that is as Dewey Finn in School of Rock.  I realize that there’s not a lot of heavy acting required for the role, as Jack Black is basically playing himself, but I was struck by something when I caught the film on TV recently that I hadn’t noticed before.

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Quote of the Day

Elphaba: I’m through accepting limits
‘Cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!

Wicked – “Defying Gravity”

Quote of the Day

“No good sittin’ worryin’ abou’ it,” he said. “What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling

Recap: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Well”

After the last two superb episodes, SHIELD has finally arrived at the point that many have been waiting for: a direct crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Last week gave us a fun, exciting and hilarious James Bond adventure which simultaneously expanded the scope and mythology of the show.  This week, however, found our heroes dealing with the direct aftermath of the events of Thor: The Dark World, currently the top film at the worldwide box office.  It’s a tough act for the show to pull off, trying to find a way to work the film and the episode together in a way that honors the film but feels true to the show, and I think SHIELD pulled it off with subtlety and a light touch which kept things surprising.  So without further ado, let’s fall down “The Well”, which was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and directed by Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Will Riker).

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Quote of the Day

Elphaba: Something has changed within me.
Something is not the same.
I’m through with playing by the rules
of someone else’s game.
Too late for second-guessing –
Too late to go back to sleep.
It’s time to trust my instincts,
close my eyes, and leap

Wicked – “Defying Gravity”

Trailer Tuesday: Maleficent

Welcome to “Trailer Tuesday” where I talk about trailers for upcoming movies, since I’ve always found trailers to be endlessly fascinating.

Recently we got a look at the first teaser trailer for Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Robert Stromberg.  The film is a semi-remake, sort of prequel to Sleeping Beauty, focusing on the evil fairy of the title.  We got our first information about the film back at D23, but this is our first real taste of the film.  Take a look below and read on for my comments:

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