Week 39 brings me to 1999.
The second week in a row I have to choose between two popular animated movies.
This week it is between Toy Story 2 and Tarzan!
I decided to not go with Toy Story 2 (which I would give 4 1/2 out of 5 Mickeys). Not as good of a story as the original, a little choppy. Scene in the airport well rather clever, a litle too long. Movie as whole could have used a little more editing. Still after all is said and done...a very good sequel.
So Tarzan! The reason for this tough decision was mainly the EW article which stated that stated Tarzan was one of its worst animated movies (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20609141_20616457,00.html#21189561)
That is not what I remember. I have not seen this film in about 5-10 years, so I thought maybe I had my Disney blinders on. I wanted to take another look.
Right away I am going to put it out there, the EW article was dead wrong. Tarzan is a great looking, funny action filled animated movie. Yes it is a Disneyized version of Tarzan Of The Apes by Burroughs, but it works.
Tarzan is the story of Tarzan, a young boy, who is found and adopted by gorillas. This comes on the heels of the death of his parents who were killed by a leopard (Disney must hold studio record of most parents killed in the history of film, there was three parents killed in this one).
I found many highlights in this movie. First, the animation is something. Just by looking at the depth and colors and shadows of the jungle you know it is special. This was the first animated movie Disney had created using a process called Deep Canvas. They used it to help create the sweeping 3D like backgrounds using software to keep track of brushstrokes. At the one hour mark look at the shadows move on Tarzan and Jane, just facinating.
Another highlight...again..the voice work. Glenn close; Rosie O'Donnell; Wayne Knight; Nigel Hawthorne; Brian Blessed; Tony Goldwyn (Tarzan). All wonderful! However Minnie Driver as Jane, I feel, steals the award as the best. I know, not the best actress, but here she has the pitch perfect voice as Jane. Big thumbs up to her.
The last highlight is the score and music. You'll Be In My Heart, by Phil Collins, which was busted on by EW, was wonderful in the film. It is funny, that song is kind of a turn off the radio song. However within the context of the movie it really works, and the song becomes the feel of the movie, the theme. There are other Phil Collins songs in the film, that feel kind of flat to me, but this one worked. You'll Be In My Heart won the Oscar that year..so take that EW.
Faults? I have just one, which is probably one that is mentioned often when criticizing this film. The sliding, or skateboarding around the trees. I understand why Disney did this, to make Tarzan come across a little more "hip" or up to date ( I know.."hip" is not up to date), I guess cool. Still, I think swinging on the vines, to kids, would probably be just as cool. However, as you know, I am not a kid.
Before fun facts, does anyone else think about Disneys George Of The Jungle while watching this?
Fun and not so fun facts:
Tarzan was made for 130 million dollars. The most expensive animated movie ever made at the time. It took in 448 million world wide. It was the first Disney movie to open at number one since Pocahontas. Sadly this was the last major animated success of the "Disney Renaissance".
Phil Collins music was brought in to try to pull Disney away from "theatre like music" from past animated movies.
Minnie Driver ad-libbed the whole scene when she is explaining to her father about seeing Tarzan.
To see how Tarzans body would look while sliding down the tree branches, they studied skateboarder Tony Hawk.
Tarzan's yell is actually done by Brian Blessed, who plays Clayton.
Tony Goldwyn, who voices the adult Tarzan is best known for playing the bad guy in the movie Ghost.
For the advancement with Deep Canvas the animators got an Academy Award for technical achievement.
Ok, Tarzan, as noted before I thought was really good. I was thinking 4 or 4 and a 1/2 Mickeys. I cannot find much wrong with it, it is entertaining, I have to give it 4 1/2 of 5 Mickeys. The family will love it, if you have not seen it for a while go back and take a look. It is fun and quick (the kids will not be up to late).
2000 is up next week!!
Sadly not a good Disney year. I may have to go with Touchstone. Plus it will be nice to get away from the animated films for a week.
Have a peaceful week and as always thanks for your time.
The second week in a row I have to choose between two popular animated movies.
This week it is between Toy Story 2 and Tarzan!
I decided to not go with Toy Story 2 (which I would give 4 1/2 out of 5 Mickeys). Not as good of a story as the original, a little choppy. Scene in the airport well rather clever, a litle too long. Movie as whole could have used a little more editing. Still after all is said and done...a very good sequel.
So Tarzan! The reason for this tough decision was mainly the EW article which stated that stated Tarzan was one of its worst animated movies (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20609141_20616457,00.html#21189561)
That is not what I remember. I have not seen this film in about 5-10 years, so I thought maybe I had my Disney blinders on. I wanted to take another look.
Right away I am going to put it out there, the EW article was dead wrong. Tarzan is a great looking, funny action filled animated movie. Yes it is a Disneyized version of Tarzan Of The Apes by Burroughs, but it works.
Tarzan is the story of Tarzan, a young boy, who is found and adopted by gorillas. This comes on the heels of the death of his parents who were killed by a leopard (Disney must hold studio record of most parents killed in the history of film, there was three parents killed in this one).
I found many highlights in this movie. First, the animation is something. Just by looking at the depth and colors and shadows of the jungle you know it is special. This was the first animated movie Disney had created using a process called Deep Canvas. They used it to help create the sweeping 3D like backgrounds using software to keep track of brushstrokes. At the one hour mark look at the shadows move on Tarzan and Jane, just facinating.
Another highlight...again..the voice work. Glenn close; Rosie O'Donnell; Wayne Knight; Nigel Hawthorne; Brian Blessed; Tony Goldwyn (Tarzan). All wonderful! However Minnie Driver as Jane, I feel, steals the award as the best. I know, not the best actress, but here she has the pitch perfect voice as Jane. Big thumbs up to her.
The last highlight is the score and music. You'll Be In My Heart, by Phil Collins, which was busted on by EW, was wonderful in the film. It is funny, that song is kind of a turn off the radio song. However within the context of the movie it really works, and the song becomes the feel of the movie, the theme. There are other Phil Collins songs in the film, that feel kind of flat to me, but this one worked. You'll Be In My Heart won the Oscar that year..so take that EW.
Faults? I have just one, which is probably one that is mentioned often when criticizing this film. The sliding, or skateboarding around the trees. I understand why Disney did this, to make Tarzan come across a little more "hip" or up to date ( I know.."hip" is not up to date), I guess cool. Still, I think swinging on the vines, to kids, would probably be just as cool. However, as you know, I am not a kid.
Before fun facts, does anyone else think about Disneys George Of The Jungle while watching this?
Fun and not so fun facts:
Tarzan was made for 130 million dollars. The most expensive animated movie ever made at the time. It took in 448 million world wide. It was the first Disney movie to open at number one since Pocahontas. Sadly this was the last major animated success of the "Disney Renaissance".
Phil Collins music was brought in to try to pull Disney away from "theatre like music" from past animated movies.
Minnie Driver ad-libbed the whole scene when she is explaining to her father about seeing Tarzan.
To see how Tarzans body would look while sliding down the tree branches, they studied skateboarder Tony Hawk.
Tarzan's yell is actually done by Brian Blessed, who plays Clayton.
Tony Goldwyn, who voices the adult Tarzan is best known for playing the bad guy in the movie Ghost.
For the advancement with Deep Canvas the animators got an Academy Award for technical achievement.
Ok, Tarzan, as noted before I thought was really good. I was thinking 4 or 4 and a 1/2 Mickeys. I cannot find much wrong with it, it is entertaining, I have to give it 4 1/2 of 5 Mickeys. The family will love it, if you have not seen it for a while go back and take a look. It is fun and quick (the kids will not be up to late).
2000 is up next week!!
Sadly not a good Disney year. I may have to go with Touchstone. Plus it will be nice to get away from the animated films for a week.
Have a peaceful week and as always thanks for your time.