Tag: Disney Animation

The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are Here!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Since 2024 is a Leap Year, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to publish the Gold Sally Awards on Leap Day! For new readers of 18 Cinema Lane, the Gold Sally Awards are one of my blog’s annual traditions to commemorate 18 Cinema Lane’s anniversary. These award categories are created by me, based on topics I’ve brought up on my blog. While most of the awards are the same as in 2023, a few of them have changed. For those awards, I’ll explain the significance of those categories. But just like last year, I will discuss why I chose each recipient. So, now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are about to begin!

6th Annual Gold Sally Awards Winners created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

The “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award

(Best Quote from a Movie)

“Heroes know who they are” – Evel Knievel, Evel Knievel (1971)

In my review of the 1971 biopic, Evel Knievel, I mentioned how surprised I was by the story’s messages and themes. One example I provided was when Evel explained to Linda why he doesn’t want a lettermen sweater. To elaborate how he doesn’t need to prove he’s a hero, Evel says to Linda, “heroes know who they are”. This quote is not only though-provoking, it is also profound without trying too hard to be. To me, that quote (as well as that scene) was given a lot of thought by the biopic’s creative team!

The Standing Ovation Award

(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)

Sydney Carton from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities

My favorite character from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities is Sydney Carton! Because of his personality, I wanted to know more about him. I was also curious to see where his story would go. Without spoiling this movie, though, all I’ll say is Sydney deserved more than the story provided him. Similar to Kili from The Hobbit trilogy, Sydney is, in my opinion, the MVP of A Tale of Two Cities!

The They Deserve an Award Award

(An Actor or Actress Who Deserves Recognition)

Sarah Drew (for her performance in Guiding Emily)

In the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Guiding Emily, the protagonist loses her eyesight. This prevented Sarah Drew, the actress who portrayed Emily, from using her eyes for emotional expression. However, she used other acting techniques to her advantage; such as body language, vocal inflections, and movements of the mouth. Sarah’s performance in Guiding Emily was so good, I specifically highlighted it in my review of the 2023 movie! Through versatility in her acting abilities, Sarah’s portrayal of Emily appeared believable! In fact, I think Sarah should have, at least, been nominated for an award.

The Cowboy Award

(Character Who Makes an Unnecessary, Drastic Change)

Margot from Christmas at Castle Hart

Cowboy, from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, A Painted House, is a character I’ve mentioned on 18 Cinema Lane. The context was when he was featured in the dishonorable mentions section of my list of the top ten characters ruined by Hallmark. Because I won’t spoil the aforementioned Hallmark Hall of Fame film, all I will say is Cowboy makes an unnecessary, drastic change that, in my opinion, was jarring to witness. It was also jarring to watch Margot, from Christmas at Castle Hart, drastically change. For most of the 2021 movie, Margot comes across as a somewhat annoying character obsessed with Irish stereotypes. But when her sister, Brooke, confronts her about how they should stop lying, Margot becomes a selfish and manipulative person. She even convinces Brooke into believing that if their lies fall apart, it will be Brooke’s fault. In an instant, Margot became a character who cared more about her career than about how others would be affected by her lies.

The “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award

(Movie Based on Source Material I Have Not Yet Read)

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline?

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? became my favorite movie of 2023! After watching the film, I remembered how it was based on the book, Father’s Arcane Daughter by E. L. Konigsburg. As well as trying to check out as many Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as I realistically can, I’d like to read as many books based on Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as possible. In fact, I even created a Hallmark Hall of Fame reading challenge! Since I haven’t read Father’s Arcane Daughter yet, I need to find an excuse to finally seek this book out.

The Edward Boult Award

(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)

Not Addressing Bullying in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

If you’re going to create a story for a younger audience, you need to be mindful when it comes to addressing serious, real-world issues. That’s because a younger audience can be very impressionable. The creative team behind the 1983 television production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, should have kept this in mind when they chose to not address bullying in their film. As I talked about in my review, the Herdman children bully their peers. The bullied children don’t stand up for themselves against the Herdmans. It also doesn’t help how the adults in the story do not resolve this issue. Because of everything I just said, some younger audience members might believe they shouldn’t bring up bullying if it occurs in their life.

The Top Gun: Maverick Award

(Movie That Exceeded My Low Expectations)

A Biltmore Christmas

When I included Top Gun: Maverick in my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2022, I admitted how skeptical I was about the movie’s quality. As I said in that list, sequels released over ten years after their predecessor can be hit or miss. But Top Gun: Maverick exceeded my expectations, becoming my second favorite picture from that year! In 2023, I was skeptical about A Biltmore Christmas due to its hype and publicity. Similar to Top Gun: Maverick, A Biltmore Christmas was so good, it ended up in the top three of my year end best movies list! Like I said in my list of the best movies I saw in 2023, there were so many things Hallmark got right in this Christmas movie. It also helps how the story provided a different type of narrative for Hallmark’s Christmas presentations. Because of how much I liked A Biltmore Christmas, I’m looking forward to seeing what Hallmark has in store for this year’s Christmas season!

The Dishonorable Mention Award

(Worst Movie from the Dishonorable Mention Category)

Christmas at Castle Hart

Because I didn’t see enough movies to include an honorable mention category, I wasn’t able to award a winner for the Honorable Mention Award. Since my worst movies of 2023 list featured a dishonorable mention category, I was able to find a recipient for this year’s Gold Sally Awards. Christmas at Castle Hart is the most disappointing film to not make my worst films of the year list. In my review of that movie, I stated how I had waited since 2018 to see Stuart Townsend star in a Hallmark production. Sadly, the final product Hallmark gave me wasn’t worth the wait. Stuart’s acting talents were underutilized to the point where his character, Aiden, spent most of the story driving the female protagonist around Ireland. Christmas at Castle Hart contained other flaws, such as bad CGI and an underutilized subplot. Looking back on the Dishonorable Mention Award, I realized how both recipients were Hallmark films.

The Far and Few Between Award

(Best Movie from a Genre, Film Category, or Decade Not Often Covered on 18 Cinema Lane)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Even though 18 Cinema Lane has been around for six years, there are some areas of cinema that are not often covered on my blog. One of those areas is animation. While it’s rare for an animated movie to receive a movie review, it’s even rarer for an animated movie to appear on my best films of the year list. 2012’s Frankenweenie achieved these feats in 2023, presenting a collection of good creative choices as well as heart. This movie was such a pleasant, memorable surprise, which surpassed my expectations. I’m thankful I took the chance to write about it!

The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award

(Movie That Feels Like It Belongs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection)

Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas

When I shared my overall impression of Guiding Emily, I said how the movie felt reminiscent of Hallmark Hall of Fame projects of yesteryear. This is because the film tells a more unique story from what Hallmark typically creates today. In the case of A Biltmore Christmas, the story provided a different type of narrative within Hallmark’s Christmas films. It also included a historical component to the story. When Hallmark Hall of Fame was in its prime, historical/period films or movies with inspirational themes were added to the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. If this collection still existed, Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas would have been chosen as 2023’s Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Frankenweenie (2012) Review + 470 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Before I start this review, I would like to say thank you to each and every follower of 18 Cinema Lane! This blog would not be the success it is today without you, so I appreciate your support! For this Blog Follower Dedication Review, I wanted to choose a film that was Halloween themed, as the holiday is just around the corner. I also recognize how animated films are rarely covered on my blog. Combining the two concepts, I selected the 2012 Disney movie, Frankenweenie! While I have read Mary Shelley’s classic novel, I haven’t seen many adaptations of Frankenstein. Yes, I did review Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. But there were very few traces of Mary’s source material woven into that film. When it comes to Halloween fare, vampires, including Dracula himself, have made their home on 18 Cinema Lane. So, Frankenweenie serves as a nice change! Put on your costumes and grab your Trick-or-Treat buckets, it’s time for this Blog Follower Dedication Review!

Frankenweenie (2012) poster created by Walt Disney Pictures, Tim Burton Productions, and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The animation: When it comes to animation, Tim Burton has a very distinct style. While this style shines in Frankenweenie, I want to talk about how the characters express emotion. Throughout the story, emotions are expressed through the mouth and eyelids. This prevented the characters from appearing static. One example is when Victor is working on his science experiment for the first time. After performing the experiment, Victor is curious about its effectiveness. When he thinks the experiment didn’t work, Victor’s mouth is turned in a frown and his eyelids are lowered. That combination created a facial expression that showcased Victor’s sadness and disappointment.

Creative ideas are typically found in Tim Burton’s animated films. In Frankenweenie, this creativity is found in the creatures who appear in the story! When Victor’s peers try to recreate his experiment, they receive unexpected results. A turtle comes back to life as a hybrid between a turtle and a dinosaur. Due to a mix-up, one girl’s cat turns into a combination of cat, werewolf, and bat. These creatures were so unique, as I have never heard or seen them in media before. Frankenweenie serves as an example of how imaginative the animation genre can be!

The “Easter Eggs”: “Easter Eggs” are references that are subtly woven into a piece of entertainment media. Disney and Tim Burton related “Easter Eggs” can be found in Frankenweenie! During Victor’s science experiment, he flies two kites in an attempt to capture lightening. One of these kites is shaped like a bat, a nod to when Tim directed Batman from 1989. In Victor’s room, there is a poster of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This is a reference to when Disney adapted that story in 1954. I love when a film scatters “Easter Eggs” throughout the story, as it keeps the audience engaged in what they’re watching!

The messages and themes: Frankenweenie included several good messages and themes into the story! One of them appeared when Victor is interacting with his science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski. During this conversation, Victor explains how his science experiment worked the first time, but not the second time. Mr. Rzykruski helps Victor understand his dilemma by stressing how he should do science experiments for the right reasons. This message becomes an overarching theme in Frankenweenie, as characters’ intentions determine an outcome.

Group of puppies image created by Rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background photo created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

No pops of color: Frankenweenie is presented in black-and-white imagery. This creative choice allowed the movie to boast a distinctive aesthetic. But what would have made the visuals even more interesting is if pops of color were included. Whenever lightening appears, a bright yellow flash could have graced the screen. If a character were holding a Sea Monkey packet, that packet could have delivered vibrant hues of blue and purple. Adding color to certain elements or objects would have emphasized important parts of the story. Those pops of color would have also stood out nicely against the black-and-white background.

An underutilized antagonist: In stories created for children/families, there will sometimes be a grown-up character as the main antagonist. A perfect example is Miss Trunchbull from Matilda. There is a grown-up antagonistic character in Frankenweenie, Mr. Burgermeister, the mayor of New Holland. But unlike Miss Trunchbull, Mr. Burgermeister was underutilized in the story. Victor faced more conflicts with his peers than with Mr. Burgermeister. Plus, the mayor’s appearances in the movie were far and few between. This makes me wish Victor’s peers had been the only antagonists in the film.

Parts of the story that are unexplained: For this part of my review, I will include a spoiler for Frankenweenie. If you have not seen this film and are interested in watching it, please skip this part and continue where it says “My overall impression”.

As I mentioned earlier, Victor’s peers receive unexpected results after they try to recreate his experiment. When these creatures cause chaos throughout the town, Victor helps his peers reverse the effects of their experiments. With the use of electricity, Victor is able to reverse the effects of the turtle/dinosaur hybrid, with the turtle becoming dead again. Yet, when Victor uses electricity on his dog, Sparky, the dog stays alive. Because the science wasn’t explained, this part of the story felt inconsistent.

Cute Halloween border created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/halloween-background-with-fun-style_1310632.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Disney has a history of re-telling pre-established stories. When re-telling these stories, whether it’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame or Oliver Twist, the delivery of these projects has adopted distinct identities and aesthetics, making the movie feel unique and creative. With Frankenweenie, it is a cute, unique take on Frankenstein! The combination of stop-motion animation and black-and-white imagery allow the movie to stand out among other versions of Mary Shelley’s story. “Easter Eggs” related to Tim Burton and Disney keep viewers engaged in the film they are watching. Yes, there are flaws within Frankenweenie, like unexplained parts of the story and an underutilized antagonist. However, this is a good choice for Halloween entertainment!

Overall score: 7.8 out of 10

Have you seen Frankenweenie? Are there any animated films you like watching during the Halloween season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun during Halloween!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Brave Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

When Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews announced the No True Scotsman Blogathon, there was a list of recommendations on the announcement post. On that list, the Disney Pixar film, Brave, was mentioned. At the time I signed up for the event, no other participant had chosen that movie to review. This surprised me, as Brave is a well-known title. Since I happen to own a copy of this film on DVD, I chose to write about it for the event. This DVD was given to my family as a gift several years ago. But until this blogathon, I never got around to watching it. Animated films are also not reviewed on my blog often. This is because I’ve already seen most of animation’s beloved titles. But there are times when there is that one movie that I skipped over on my journey as a movie blogger. Brave is one of those movies, so now it’s time to finally talk about it.

My picture of my DVD copy of Brave. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Things I liked about the film:

The animation: Disney Pixar has a reputation for framing their stories in impressive technology. Brave certainly carries that tradition, as the animation looks realistic! In one scene, a close-up of an archery target board is shown. The rough texture was captured through animated technology, making it easy to forget the board wasn’t real. Many scenes took place in a forest at different parts of the day. The natural greens and browns were appealing to the eye, adding depth to the world around the characters. Speaking of hues, I really liked the use of color in this movie! Merida’s hair is a perfect example! No matter where she went, her bright orange hair provided a great contrast. There was one scene where Merida was in a forest at night. Since black was the primary hue in the forest, Merida’s hair gave a pop of color to that scene.

The humor: I haven’t seen a Disney Pixar film in a while. But, from what I remember, humor is a consistent component among these types of projects. When it comes to Brave, the humor was spontaneous, the type of humor I’m a fan of. After a successful day of exploring, Merida is talking to her horse, Angus. Then, out of nowhere, Angus hits Merida with his tail in a silly way. Later in the film, Merida’s suitors are being introduced. The father from one of the clans appears to be talking about a very muscular young man. As the introduction continues, the audience learns the father’s son was hiding behind the muscular young man, actually being much smaller in size.

The writing’s cleverness: While watching this movie, I was able to pick up on the cleverness within the script. When the various clans arrive in Merida’s kingdom, Merida’s mother, Elinor, is making a speech. During that speech, Merida discovers a loop hole that she can use in her favor, as she doesn’t want to get married yet. While we’re talking about the clans, let’s talk about one of the suitor’s fathers. Throughout the story, this character was known as Macintosh. At first, this sounds like a typical Scottish name. However, Brave was dedicated to Steve Jobs, who passed away a year prior to the movie’s release. One of Apple’s products was a Macintosh computer, so naming one of the characters after something related to Steve’s company makes sense.

No True Scotsman Blogathon banner created by Gill from RealWeegiemidget Reviews

What I didn’t like about the film:

Inconsistent characters: At the beginning of the movie, Elinor is introduced as a caring, protective mother. During her interactions with her daughter, she didn’t come across as overbearing in her protectiveness. But as Merida grows up, Elinor’s personality becomes a “bait and switch”. While she states in the story how she means well, she is overbearing in her protectiveness. At times, Elinor’s change in personality felt over-the-top. Merida herself is another character I found inconsistent. There were times where her clever and critical thinking skills shined, showing how she is an intelligent explorer. However, there are also times when Merida acts like a stereotypical teenager. I understand Merida is a young character and is not meant to be “perfect”. To me, though, it seems like the writers couldn’t decide which aspects of this character they wanted to emphasize.

Things happening too quickly: There were parts of the story that, to me, happened too quickly. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Merida doesn’t want to get married yet. This causes a conflict between her and her mother. While I won’t spoil the movie, I will say the resolution for this conflict was reached with little build-up. The bridge from Point A to B wasn’t as strong as it could have been. In fact, so much time was spent with Elinor and Merida fighting or both of them working to resolve another conflict, that the marriage conflict was somewhat overshadowed.

Parts of the story that didn’t make sense: Toward the beginning of the film, Merida’s father, Fergus, lost one of his legs while attempting to fight an evil bear. While that part of the story is simple to understand, it’s what can be seen in his castle that didn’t make sense to me. At one point, at least one taxidermic bear is found standing against a wall. After going through such a traumatizing experience, why would Fergus want any association with the animal that severely injured him? While we’re on the subject of bears, there is a witch in the story who is a woodcarver, with her work resembling bears. It is never explained why she chooses bears as her artistic focus. Therefore, her emphasis on this specific type of animal kind of felt random.

Essentials of Scotland image created by macrovector_official at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by macrovector_official – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

After sitting in a cabinet still wrapped in the manufacturing plastic, my DVD of Brave has finally gotten some use out of it. Now, you’re wondering what my opinion on the film is. Well, I thought it was just fine. There is good effort that was put into this project, as the animation itself shows. But I can think of other Disney/Disney Pixar titles that are stronger than Brave. While I liked the cleverness found in the script, there was more to be desired from the story. Structural issues, like weaker bridges from Point A to B, hurt the script. Also, it didn’t help how some parts of the story didn’t make sense. Despite all of this, Brave does bring something unique to the table. It’s also nice to see Scottish culture/heritage receive more recognition in the world of cinema.

Overall score: 7.2 out of 10

Have you seen Brave? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Great Mouse Detective Review

On By 18cinemalane20 Comments

I will admit that before I signed up for the Suave Swordsman: Basil Rathbone Blogathon, I wasn’t familiar with Basil as an actor. However, I didn’t let this stop me from participating! While looking through his filmography, I discovered Basil had a role in the 1986 film, The Great Mouse Detective. Because I hadn’t seen this movie before and because I knew I’d likely be one of the few people to discuss an animated film, I selected The Great Mouse Detective as my submission! If you’ve visited my blog before, you’d see that mysteries have a consistent presence on the site. I have set aside time to talk about the films from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Some episodes of Murder, She Wrote has been reviewed. I even participated in the Murder, She Wrote Cookalong! Despite the abundance of mystery related content on 18 Cinema Lane, The Great Mouse Detective is only the second animated mystery movie to be featured on my blog. However, at least this review will bring something new to the table!

The Great Mouse Detective poster created by Buena Vista Distribution, Silver Screen Partners II, Walt Disney Feature Animation, and Walt Disney Pictures. ©Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Image found at https://movies.disney.com/the-great-mouse-detective.

Things I liked about the film:

The animation: Animated films from Disney’s library usually contain quality visuals and art styles. The Great Mouse Detective continues this pattern of animation excellence! Throughout the film, the backgrounds were presented in softer frames with lighter colors, while close-up images were given sharper lines and brighter colors. One example is when Basil, Olivia, and Dr. David are exploring a toy store. The contrasts within the animation made it easier to focus on the characters and their involvement in the story. This art design reminded me of films such as The Aristocats, 101 Dalmatians, and Lady and the Tramp. Similar to what I said in my From Up on Poppy Hill review, all of the characters were expressive! Their facial expressions and body language were fluid when reacting to different scenarios. A perfect example is when Olivia and Dr. David meet Basil. The Great Mouse Detective’s claim to fame is how it was the first project from Disney to feature computer-generated animation. This creative choice is seen in the climax, when Basil and Ratigan fight in the Big Ben Tower. While it might not seem like a big deal now, this scene was ahead of its time in the mid to late ‘80s. The scene itself has aged well, while also containing gravitas and depth. It reminded me of the bells from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The use of shadows: The Great Mouse Detective has a primarily darker tone. To emphasize this aspect of the story, shadows were used in various scenes. Toward the beginning of the film, Hiram Flaversham, Olivia’s father, and Fidget, Ratigan’s henchman, are fighting at Hiram’s toy store. In this scene, shadows of the fight are projected over Olivia’s hiding place. Because Hiram and Fidget are not shown on screen, their shadows helped bring an element of suspense and mystery. The shadows also left me wondering what would happen next.

The humor: Despite the film’s darker tone, there were some light-hearted moments that prevented the movie from being too dark. Some of these moments even contained humor. One scene involved Basil ruining a group of pillows in an attempt to solve a mystery. What made this scene funny was the reaction of Basil’s maid over the mess. Another funny moment was when Ratigan called his cat “honey bunny”. What I like about these hilarious scenes is how well written they were. It also helps that there weren’t too many of them, as it would have made the overall picture seem too silly.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

The musical numbers: A large number of Disney’s animated films are musicals, with their musical numbers feeling like they belong in that production. Because musicals have become a staple in Disney’s animated filmography, it allows their audience to know what to expect. But The Great Mouse Detective was not a musical movie, especially compared to pictures like Oliver & Company or any of the Disney Renaissance films. The Great Mouse Detective also had a primarily darker tone, with some light-hearted moments. These aspects made the musical numbers seem out of place. The two most notable musical scenes were “Let Me Be Good to You” and “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind”, which had entertainment value. While “Let Me Be Good to You” had some reason for its existence, “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” was randomly placed in the film. It was a light-hearted and upbeat song that came right after a darker scene, featuring Basil explaining the wrong-doings of Professor Ratigan. “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” was a combination of “Gaston” from Beauty and the Beast and “Mine, Mine, Mine” from Pocahontas. However, what makes “Gaston” and “Mine, Mine, Mine” work is how they fit within their respective productions.

The oversharing of the mystery: When I talked about The Mystery Cruise in my list of the Top 10 Worst Hallmark Movies of All Time, I shared how I didn’t like the film’s mystery being revealed after the mystery was introduced. The Great Mouse Detective makes a similar mistake with their mystery narrative. Within the first half of the movie, the details of Hiram Flaversham’s kidnapping are shown in a series of scenes that share a timeline with the events surrounding Basil. These scenes show the whodunit, howtheydunit, and whytheydunit of the mystery. Because these pieces of information are revealed early in the movie, the audience knows more than the characters in the story. This prevents them from solving or experiencing the mystery alongside the characters.

The subplot of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: One of the subplots in The Great Mouse Detective revolved around the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This wasn’t a bad idea, but it was very under-utilized. In fact, I forgot this event was taking place within the story until the film’s climax arrived. Because the premise of this movie was basic and straight-forward, this subplot felt like it was there for the sake of being there. If the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee had been removed from the film, it wouldn’t make a huge difference.

The Suave Swordsman: Basil Rathbone Blogathon banner created by Pale Writer from Pale Writer. Image found at https://palewriter2.home.blog/2020/02/01/announcing-the-suave-swordsman-basil-rathbone-blogathon/.

My overall impression:

Two years ago, I reviewed Oliver & Company. In that review, I said the movie was the pioneer for what a Disney animated film could and should be at the time of its release. The Great Mouse Detective gave me a similar feeling. Within this film, there were elements that laid the foundation for animated Disney films that came after it. The climax at the Big Ben Tower is one example, with the scenes utilizing computers to bring them to life. Also, in my Oliver & Company review, I said the movie was fine and that there were animated Disney films that are stronger than it. The Great Mouse Detective made me feel this way as well. While watching this film, there were scenes that reminded me of scenes from other Disney projects that were executed better. Some scenes in The Great Mouse Detective felt rushed, making me wonder if Disney was trying to meet a deadline or wanted to take advantage of a busy box office year. Even with everything I just said, this film is worth bringing up in the conversation of animated films. It may get overshadowed, but I think it serves as an important part of animation history.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Great Mouse Detective? What are some of your favorite mystery films? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Oliver & Company Review + 30 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I received 30 followers on 18 Cinema Lane two weeks ago! It’s time for me to review a film that was released 30 years ago (in 1988)! Because I’ve never reviewed a Disney animated film on my blog before and since the last time I reviewed an animated film was Rugrats Go Wild (for my 15 follower thank you review), I chose Oliver & Company for this milestone post. Oliver & Company is a film that I’ve only seen bits and pieces of, so I was looking forward to seeing this movie in its entirety. While choosing which movie I would talk about for this particular post, I realized that Oliver & Company was released the year before the start of the “Disney Renaissance”: when The Little Mermaid made its film debut. I came across a review of Oliver & Company from the blog, Reviewing All 56 Disney Animated Films And More!. In that review, Rachel, the creator and author of the blog, provided some insight into the importance of Oliver & Company. This insight made me interested to see the type of foundation that this film possibly put in place for the “Disney Renaissance” and beyond. Keep reading my review of Oliver & Company to see how I felt about the movie as a whole!

Oliver and Company poster
Oliver & Company poster image created by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and The Walt Disney Company. ©Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Image found at https://movies.disney.com/oliver-and-company

Things I liked about the film:

The characters: There were several likable characters in Oliver & Company! I liked how they each had their own unique personality and it was fun to see the various interactions between the characters. Some of the creative choices that were made in relation to the characters were interesting. For instance, there are times when a character who is a bulldog could be portrayed as a mean-spirited and tough individual. In Oliver & Company, however, Francis (who is a bulldog) is an aspiring actor who has a deep appreciation for the theater. This character stood out to me because I had never seen a bulldog, in television or film, portrayed this way before.

 

The animation: The animation style in Oliver & Company felt very reflective of the art styles and pop culture that could have been found around the film’s release (mid to late ‘80s). This reflection made the movie feel like an idea of what the ‘80s might have been like, shown to the audience as if they were looking at a snapshot. There were a lot of bright colors in this film that I felt complimented the movie overall. The use of light and dark colors was also well done. An example can be found toward the beginning of the film, when Oliver is left by himself in the middle of a rainstorm. In this scene, Oliver’s bright orange fur stood out against the dark blue background of the city. These choices relating to the use of specific colors added to the artistry of the animation!

 

The music: I really liked all of the music in Oliver & Company! While “Good Company” is a sweet and gentle song, the rest of the songs are upbeat and fun to listen to! To me, all of the music added to the entertainment value of this film. I can definitely see myself listening to Oliver & Company’s soundtrack long after the credits have rolled!

newyork4
New York City skyline with letters image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/new-york-skyline-typographic-silhouette_719554.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of character development for the human characters: In Oliver & Company, there are only four human characters within the story. As I was watching this movie, I found myself wanting to know more about these characters. How Jenny felt about her parents, apparently, putting more emphasis on their dog, Georgette, than her was something that I was curious about. I also wanted to know more about how Fagin ended up in his particular situation as well as see him move out of poverty in order to achieve a comfortable life for him and his dogs. I understand this story is primarily about the animal characters. But, when it comes to character development for the human characters, I felt there was more to be desired.

 

A limited presence of the villain: When it came to the villain in this movie, I thought that Sykes was unsettling. However, compared to other Disney villains (and even some non-Disney villains), he wasn’t as terrifying as he could have been. In fact, I found his Doberman side-kicks, Roscoe and DeSoto, to be scarier than Sykes himself. This is because Sykes has a very limited presence on-screen and doesn’t receive a lot of character development. For these reasons, Oliver & Company doesn’t seem to have a lot of high stakes.

 

The run-time: There were a few times in Oliver & Company where situations seemed to happen too quickly. An example of this is when Oliver learns, at a fast pace, how to steal hot-dogs alongside Dodger. This issue is a result of the film’s shorter run-time. The other aforementioned things that I didn’t like about this film are also the results of a shorter run-time. Oliver & Company is one hour and fourteen minutes, which, as I look back on the film, made me feel like the movie went by very quickly. If this movie would have been an hour and 30 or 35 minutes, the human characters could have received a little more character development and the villain could have been featured more in the film.

nature &amp; animals
Orange cat image created by Freestockcenter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/ginger-cat_883376.htm’>Designed by Freestockcenter</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold image created by Freestockcenter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As a Disney animated film, Oliver & Company is fine. As a movie in general, it’s good for what it is. I know that there are other Disney animated films that are stronger than Oliver & Company, but I would never consider Oliver & Company to be the worst or weakest movie from the Disney animated catalog. I like to think of this film as the older sibling to The Little Mermaid. While Oliver & Company was the pioneer for what a Disney animated film could and should be (at that time), The Little Mermaid was able to enjoy the fruits of Oliver & Company’s labor because of those important building blocks that were set in place before the “Disney Renaissance” began. Oliver & Company’s efforts should be celebrated, which is why it’s receiving a “standing ovation” on 18 Cinema Lane! As always, thank you to each and every one of my 30 followers as well as my readers! 18 Cinema Lane and this review would not be the same without you!

 

Overall score: 7.4-7.5 out of 10

 

What is your favorite Disney animated film? Which movie from 1988 do you like the most? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

 

The link to Rachel’s review of Oliver & Company: https://54disneyreviews.com/2014/09/11/movie-27-oliver-and-company/