Walt Disney Animation Studios

Talking “Cinderella”

It’s been fun to be a guest on my friend and fellow Utahn Rachel Wagner’s “Rachel’s Reviews” podcast. Most recently, Rachel and I talked about Disney Animation’s 12th animated film and still one of their all-time best, Cinderella (1950).

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Original U.S. theatrical poster design from 1950 (©️ Disney)

Made at a critical juncture in the history of The Walt Disney Studios, Cinderella was the film that helped get the studio back on solid financial footing and allowed for brothers Walt and Roy Disney to diversify into live-action films, television, and, of course, that little park known as Disneyland. Writer and historian Mindy Johnson in her excellent essay on Cinderella in Tachen’s giant and remarkable book The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Movies 1921-1968, stated:

“No longer the brash young upstarts of the Snow White days, Walt Disney’s stable of top talent was now full of seasoned storytellers, and it was in their own best interest to secure their futures as well… [Walt] knew that working on a feature film again offered a chance for the studios’ 750 artists to collectively envision a unique story, delve even deeper in to their characters, an explore an extraordinary world through the art of animation. And, if done right, they could save the business and ensure the future of animation.”

Cinderella was also a return to an animated fairy tale for Disney and the filmmakers embellished the classic story with great style, humor, and flair. Color stylist Mary Blair is credited with developing the artistic look and feel of Cinderella. Her unique color palette and shapes provided the film’s ambiance and style. Animator Marc Davis said of Mary Blair: “In Mary’s hands, colors worked like never before.”

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Cinderella concept art by Mary Blair. (Image courtesy of D23. Used without permission. ©️Disney.)

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More Cinderella concept art by Mary Blair. (Image courtesy of D23. Used without permission. ©️Disney.)

More from Mindy’s essay:

“Marc Davis also recounted in an oral history that one of Walt Disney’s favorite scenes in his films was when Cinderella got her gown from the Fairy Godmother…

“In a sense, Walt was a Cinderella. For, indeed, much like his heroine, Disney and his team of artists overcame challenging circumstances to secure the future of the Walt Disney Studios with the success of Cinderella, and in the grand tradition of fairy tales, they ensured that the art form of animation continued ‘happily ever after.’”

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One of Walt Disney’s favorite scenes from Cinderella (1950). (Image ©️ Disney)

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Walt Disney Animation Studios

Happy 80th Birthday to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

Wait Disney’s first animated motion picture Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios posted some cool art of the Seven Dwarfs on Instagram commemorating this momentous milestone.

(All images ©️ Disney)

Grumpy by Eric Goldberg

Dopey by Trent Correy

Doc by Andy Harkness

Happy by Nara Youn

Bashful by Benson Shum

Sleepy by Hyun-min Lee

Sneezy by Valentin Amador Diaz

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Movie Posters

Even More Posters for “The Last Jedi”

Happy 2018!

To ring in the new year, here are some cool posters that AMC has been giving to filmgoers seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi in their IMAX-equipped auditoriums. The posters were created by artist Dan Mumford.

In case you didn’t already know, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is now playing in theaters.

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(Images ©️ Lucasfilm)

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Current Cinema

Review: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

SPOILER ALERT: This review contains details about the plot and the characters from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Proceed at your own risk.

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Daisy Ridley as Rey in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Image ©️ Lucasfilm)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the eighth episode of the Star Wars saga that began with George Lucas’ original film from 1977, hit theaters last week. The internet has been abuzz about the movie (to say the least; more on that at the end of the review). More importantly, the world has another Star Wars film to enjoy, dissect, and ponder upon. The fact that in 2017 we have yet another all-new Star Wars movie in theaters is a modern-day miracle which I definitely do not take for granted.

The new film begins right where 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens (aka Episode VII) left off. The evil First Order is still ruling the galaxy with an ever tighter grip, even after their Starkiller Base was destroyed by the Resistance fighters. Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) has been tasked by General Leia (in the late Carrie Fisher’s final time in the role) to go to the ancient Jedi temple on the planet of Ahch-To where her brother Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) has been in hiding for years to try to recruit him back into the fight and restore hope to the Resistance. As we saw in The Force Awakens, Rey arrives on the island, hands Luke his family lightsaber, and awaits for his response.

What follows is an unconventional, thought-provoking, emotional, surprising, and highly entertaining cinematic adventure. Writer and director Rian Johnson (and, clearly, the story group at Lucasfilm) made some bold and controversial choices for the film’s narrative and for all of Star Wars moving forward. And, frankly, as the stewards of the Star Wars universe, the choices were theirs to make.

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Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Image ©️ Lucasfilm)

First, the decision to portray Luke Skywalker as a broken, bitter man was an unorthodox one. Devastated that his nephew Ben Solo (played by Adam Driver) turned to the dark side of the Force while under his tutelage, Luke carries a burden that completely shuts him down. He retreats from the Force and from life, existing in a state of numbness. When Rey shows up and basically wakes him up out of his deeply depressive condition, Luke has some decisions to make. Should he return to his sister Leia’s side and to the Resistance? Should he train Rey in the ways of the Jedi? Or should he continue on his current path of nothingness?

It’s difficult to watch your fictional childhood heroes go through a painful, and very human-like, trial. Yet, by making Luke more human, he ultimately becomes more heroic. After Luke re-opens himself to the Force, his Jedi master Yoda (again voiced by Frank Oz, and in puppet form!) visits him as a Force ghost and, in his inimitable style, frees Luke of the burden he’s been carrying. The burning of the Jedi tree and library looked to me like a representation of the Resistance symbol and, more importantly, of a Phoenix rising.

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Kelly Marie Tran as Rose and John Boyega as Finn in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Image ©️ Lucasfilm)

Next, the “wars” part of Star Wars is in full force, so to speak, as the Resistance continues their losing battle against the First Order. After General Leia gets severely injured, Vice Admiral Holdo (played by Laura Dern) takes her place. Hot-shot (and hot-headed) pilot Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac) clashes with her on how to run things. When it’s discovered that the First Order can track the Resistance fleet through light speed, Poe secretly sends former stormtrooper Finn (played by John Boyega) and Rose Tico (played by Kelly Marie Tran) on a dangerous mission to disable the tracker.

This subplot with Finn and Rose was also an interesting decision. While some (myself included, initially) might view this as a waste of time and space, upon further reflection, I believe this part of the storyline was crucial in Finn’s character arc of figuring out how he fits in to the overall picture of the Resistance. It helps him solidify what he believes in and what’s he willing to sacrifice for it. When the mysterious DJ (played by Benicio Del Toro), a rogue that Finn and Rose meet on the casino planet Canto Bight, teaches Finn about the complications of war and how both sides are buying weapons and machinery from the same people, Finn’s eyes are opened and he is able to make a more informed decision about how he wants to live his life.

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Adam Driver as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Image ©️ Lucasfilm)

The most dynamic and interesting relationship in the film is between Ben Solo/Kylo Ren and Rey. Both characters are on parallel paths with different destinations. Kylo has chosen the path of the dark side of Force, while Rey continues to be a ray of light. When Supreme Leader Snoke (played in performance capture by Andy Serkis) uses the Force to bring the two of them together in multiple conversations and interactions during the course of the film, the chemistry between them is electric. The story effectively gives both characters the chance to switch alliances, so to speak, in a compelling way that furthers the storyline and shows what Rey and Kylo are truly made of. (And get ready for one of the coolest fight scenes in any Star Wars film when Rey and Kylo join forces for a moment to fight against Snoke’s Praetorian Guards.)

For me, The Last Jedi was a continual wonder. The plot and decisions were logical yet unpredictable. The production design, art direction, and all special effects were top notch. If I have a complaint, the runtime of The Last Jedi was perhaps just a bit too long.

About the internet backlash surrounding the film, the New York Times has a nice summary about what’s been going on. I’m sorry that something as marvelous and miraculous as a new Star Wars movie has made people so angry and sad. I mostly just wish that people could evaluate something on its own merits rather than putting their individual expectations on something that they had no input in creating. And I wish for civility and decency in all online communications from all sides and from all viewpoints (myself included).

Go see The Last Jedi on the biggest screen possible, leave your preconceived notions at the door, and enjoy the ride.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Movie Posters

First Teaser Poster for “Avengers: Infinity War”

The first teaser poster was released today for Marvel Studios’ upcoming mega-superhero movie Avengers: Infinity War.

(Image ©️ Marvel Studios)

A new trailer drops tomorrow, too.

Vanity Fair magazine also has a great write-up of the current state of Marvel Studios in their latest issue. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Avengers: Infinity War opens May 4, 2018.

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