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THE INCREDIBLES opened this weekend to an astounding $70.8 million, the second best opening of an animated picture in box office history. SHREK holds the record at $108 million, and another PIXAR film, FINDING NEMO is 3rd with $70.3 million. PIXAR has had 3 other number 1 animated films, including MONSTERS, INC, A BUG’S LIFE and TOY STORY. Ironically DISNEY is not renewing it’s partnership with PIXAR, as the entertainment giant thought the animation specialty house was a risk to its’ holdings. PIXAR puts out a very limited slate of product, and in the movie business, only a small percentage of releases score big. The irony is that PIXAR is a striking exception to that rule. THE INCREDIBLES performed so well, despite mixed reviews for the film. Critics and adults who have sent the movie say it is too violent. But that didn’t stop the masses on this its first weekend in release. On Wednesday, Warner Brothers will release THE POLAR EXPRESS, a fully animated version of the classic holiday adventure story by Chris Van Allsburg. That film will mark certain technological history, being the first animated film to combine Performance Capture technology, along with state of the art CGI and the amazing size and impact of IMAX 3-D. I saw the film Thursday and it is the future of animation technology. IMAX says it is working on 3-D for live action films, but that’s another story. In IMAX 3-D, the viewer is immersed into the action. THE POLAR EXPRESS is not so much a holiday cartoon, as it is a roller-coaster thrill ride. I was dusting snowflakes from my shoulders and catching my breath as I left the theater. It is awesome. Warner Brothers and IMAX are planning to jointly release EXPRESS, with 70 plus IMAX locations carrying the first ever full length feature film. Also due out for the season is Paramount’s entry in the animation derby, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. It debuts in theaters on Friday November 19, 2004 All this as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has announced the 11 films eligible to compete for the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar in the 2004 Academy Awards competition. They are: CLIFFORD’S REALLY BIG MOVIE DISNEY’S TEACHER’S PET GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE HOME ON THE RANGE THE INCREDIBLES THE LEGEND OF BUDDHA THE POLAR EXPRESS SHREK 2 SHARK TALE SKY BLUE THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE Films eligible in this category may also be nominated in other categories, like Best Picture. Yeah, that’ll be the day. Anyway, may the best ‘toon win. The Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 25, 2005, and the awards will be bestowed on February 27, 2005. |
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| by: memo menos The stat-studded cast of DAVID O. RUSSELL’S newest film paraded down the red carpet, some stopping to try and explain what the existential comedy meant: “Well I wonder, golly, what does it mean? It’s DAVID’S way of-first of all, it catches your ear, doesn’t it? What I think it’s about is the absurdity, and the reality, and the unreality, and what in the hell is going on? And what are we? And as he depicted in the picture, is the universe benign and loving and connected, or is it cruel and random. Do any of us really know. Where do we come down, on which side of that question do we come. What is the meaning of life and how ridiculous we are as humans, but how wonderful we are at the same time. How textured, how crazy, how banal, how noble… I think it is a lot of fun-a very interesting, original, multi-layered, funny cerebral, witty picture.” LILY TOMLIN But what does she really think! |
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David O. Russell
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Cheryl Hines
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Dustin Hoffman
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Lily Tomlin and Jean Smart
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Huckabees premiere
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Huckabees premiere
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Jean Smart
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Jason Schwartzman
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Julie Delphy
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Laura Dern
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Mark Wahlberg
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Lily Tomlin
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Mark Wahlberg
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Mark Wahlberg
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Mark Wahlberg
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Naomi Watts
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Rose McGowan
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Wahlberg-Watts
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Rose McGowan
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Watts-Wahlber
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Wendy Malick
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Sky Captain premiere
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Sky Captain premiere
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie
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Drew Carey
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Alicia Silverstone
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Sky Captain premiere
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Sky Captain premiere
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Alicia Silverstone
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Gwyneth Paltrow
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Sky Captain premiere
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Gwyneth Paltrow
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Sky Captain premiere
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Jude Law
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Gwyneth Paltrow
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Angelina Jolie and Jude Law
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Gwyneth Paltrow
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Jude Law
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