What the Film

Top 5 Highest Grossing Disney Films

what the film — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:06:04 +0000

Walt Disney is well known for producing some of the top grossing films in animation. Their partnership with Pixar is a very impressive move as they have become not just the leader but a trend setter when it comes to storytelling and modern film making.

The following is a list of the top grossing and award winning films that Disney Studios have created in the recent years:

The Incredibles

Earning more than $600 million in worldwide box office is not an easy task but Disney and Pixar seemed to achieve it effortlessly with the super hero flick. A story about a family of super heroes is more than just a family story but also a fun and delightful animation film that everybody loves.

“Up” earned more than $730 million worldwide and a host of top accolades from critics. It was considered one of the best films of the year and animation has moved beyond simple entertainment.

Finding Nemo

The story about a dad trying to save his son has earned $860 million worldwide. Set underwater, the amusing interaction of the fishes and other animals were more than enough to entice movie goers.

Lion King

Lion King is probably the most profitable film from Disney and it was released before they collaborated with Pixar. With a budget of only $45 million (nearly 1/3 of the budget for Up) the film earned a whopping $950 million worldwide.

Toy Story 3

The fitting end of a beautiful animation trilogy is also the biggest earner for Disney. With the help of new 3D technology, Toy Story 3 earned $1 billion worldwide.

Top 5 Grossing Films of 2011

what the film — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:55:34 +0000

2011 has been an interesting an unexpected year for the film industry. It’s a year where many critics patronized sequels which offered predictable high sales but less creativity. While people won’t easily get tired of a sequel to a film they loved, releasing several sequels could damage the brand in the long run if each subsequent film was not to a high standard. Sequels also clip the wings of creativity because they stop production companies funding new films with different stories.

The top grossing film of 2011 is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2”. It’s understandable that this should be the top grossing film because it’s the final chapter of the widely popular book of JK Rowling. The film earned a whopping $1,328,111,219 in worldwide sales.

The next top grossing film is “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”. Although critically panned for its confusing story lines, it’s still a very popular film because of its stunning visuals and amazing fight scenes among the robots. The film earned $1,123,746,996 in worldwide ticket sales.

The 3rd place goes to “Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger Tides”. This is another critically panned film because of its formulaic plot. But people still want to see the movie because of Johnny Depp’s larger than life portrayal of Jack Sparrow. It earned $1,043,871,802 in worldwide ticket sales.

“Kung Fu Panada 2” takes the 4th spot. Earning $665,692,281 in worldwide sales, it is a critically successful and financially successful film even though it didn’t earn as much as the other top grosser.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” takes 5th place with $657,675,234 in ticket sales. Because of its focus for teens and its near-iconic role in the vampire storyline, it easily became a worldwide hit.

Top 5 Christmas movies for all ages

what the film — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:39:58 +0000

Christmas is more than just a holiday where you give out and receive gifts. It’s also a time to relax with your family with some home entertainment. Since it’s also the Christmas season, it’s fitting to enjoy some movies with a Christmas theme and there are tons of films focusing on the holiday season.

We have listed the top five films perfect for family viewing:

Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York – the film is still fun to watch even if it’s not Christmas. Home Alone 2 is not necessarily heart warming but a fun film to enjoy with the kids because of its slapstick adventures.

Santa Clause – Tim Allen replaces Santa when he fatally injures the jolly guy. His transformation from a simple, unwilling man to a lovable Santa is fun to watch and kids will surely enjoy the message.

· Elf – This may not be the best film of Will Ferrell but it’s certainly one of the most memorable especially for Christmas season. Ferrell plays “Buddy” the Elf that was accidentally brought in by Santa in his carriage. Also featured in the film – the sweet voice of Zooey Deschanel.

· A Charlie Brown Christmas – this simple animation about Christmas shows why Charles Schulz is a genius when it comes to retelling even the most obvious things in Christmas.

Scrooged – this 1988 film is a smart retelling of “A Christmas Carol”. This is one of the films that cemented Bill Murray as a true Hollywood actor and not just another comedian. Of course, the story is still there to provide the moral lesson.

Top 10 Horror Films of all Time

what the film — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:03:37 +0000

Many of the horror movies today are fun to watch only during the holiday season. These movies are a little bit scary but ultimately amusing. They provide some type of entertainment with few bits of horror along the way.

On the other hand, there are horror films that withstood the test of time. These are horror films that can give chills and entertainment any time of the year.

10. SAW – The movie franchise that started “torture porn”. Although the story gets a little bit tired in the later sequels, the gripping scenes are still there.

9. REC – This Spanish movie disguised as news is one of the most chilling films of modern movies. The fact that it was remade for American viewers is a testament of its quality.

8. The Others – The acting chops of Nicole Kidman is in full display of the film. Complement her acting with superb writing and unique twist in the end, you easily get a good horror movie.

7. Alien – Sigourney Weaver’s Alien is a thrilling ride of suspense perfectly blending with Sci-Fi.

6. Scream – It doesn’t have the raw emotions just like in Alien and The Others but the Scream franchise perfectly chronicles the twists and turns they also experience.

5. Psycho – The title alone could send chills to any movie fan. The great thing about Psycho is that it’s so effortless that the thrilling story just unfolds without pushing anything.

4. The Shining – Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is the perfect example on how the plot should unfold. It’s very simple but you slowly see the transformation of Jack Nicholson in a very natural way.

3. Silence of the Lambs – Anthony Hopkins only appeared in the film for a few minutes but he has practically commandeered the movie because of his eerie portrayal of the murderous character.

2. The Exorcist – Horror movies with supernatural element is always a big hit. But only a handful of them could rival the cult classic.

1. Night of the Living Dead – The Zombie film that pushes the envelope. It’s visually stunning and the plot twists gives the film enough excitement and scare.

Do you agree with the top 10? Let us know which films you think should have made the list in the comments below;

Johnny English 2 Film Review

what the film — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:26:33 +0000

Rowan Atkinson is back with “Johnny English 2”. For the unfamiliar, the movie is practically a spoof of all major spy films with a twist and that twist is the main character himself. Rowan Atkinson’s flavor of comedy is really unique that the film is almost useless without him.

The plot of the film is almost unexpected except for its setting. It is a direct follow-up of the first movie but he opted to hone his training somewhere in Asia instead of the traditional grounds of MI7.

The fact that Rowan Atkinson made this film special doesn’t mean his co-stars are just 2^nd rate actors. Some of the popular actors such as Gillian Anderson, Rosamund Pike and Dominic West have been part of the movie and their performance is noteworthy. It’s actually very hard to imagine having a straight face while the great Atkinson makes his trademark awkward antics.

The movie doesn’t attract a lot of attention or even praise from well known critics. But the movie is not trying to be Oscar worthy or something that wants to get the attention of film experts. It’s actually a movie made for fans of Rowan Atkinson. If you’ve seen any of the “Mr. Bean” episodes and learns to appreciate its goofy humor, this film is perfect for you.

Although the film is a sequel, it’s not a requirement that you have to see the first film. It’s almost similar to Charlie Sheen’s spy comedy “Hot Shots” since you can enjoy the film without really caring about the plot progression and even acting since the film is funny enough to be fully appreciated.

Top 3 Movie Prequels

what the film — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:45:42 +0000

Hollywood is scrambling for fresh ideas that would appeal to young movie goers while attracting the older crowd through nostalgia and familiarity. This is the reason why many of the movies today are sequels, prequels and remakes. Some movie fans complain about the lack of idea but adapting a movie for modern times or showing how the characters from past films progress can still be very interesting.

Prequels may be connected to a past hit film, but they do differ from sequels and remakes. You are not required to have watched the previous films because the films are set before the original story. Even though prequels can gain a buzz due to the franchises past success the can also end up as a disaster. Fortunately, there are some prequels that are as good or if not better than the original film;

Casino Royale

The common reaction to Casino Royale is that it’s trying to emulate the “Bourne” series. But Casino Royale is actually a true return to its form because the spy film now focuses on the character instead of the advanced gadgets. Daniel Craig provides a fresh face to the new gritty character of James Bond.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a perfect example on how technology should blend with great acting and storytelling. It’s not a perfect movie but its fun to watch and learn more about the mythos on how apes eventually became earth’s leader.

Batman Begins

We saved the best for last. The gritty interpretation of Christopher Nolan shows the human yet powerful side of the legendary Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale. It’s a serious prequel but really fun to watch because of the action and storytelling.

Warrior Film Review

what the film — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:56:25 +0000

Warrior is one of the most surprising films in 2011. The trailer and posters can easily give you an impression that it’s just another film that takes advantage of the increasing popularity of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). The actors are not even popular (Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy) with only Nick Nolte being a recognizable actor.

But Warrior is actually a very well made film. It’s a story about two brothers who ultimately have to face each other in the octagon. Each fighter has something to prove and winning is the only way to get to their objective. Along the way, they go through different challenges and each of them overcomes these challenges. Although there are some difficulties in these challenges, they ultimately beat everyone in the end. Of course, as an action film, it’s expected that they fight their way through to get to their objective.

Warrior is an action film but with a heart. Nick Nolte is someone you expect to perform and he does with ease. But instead of taking the center stage, he allows the two main characters to become the real star of the show. Nick Nolte plays the father of the two main characters. Think of his role as Rocky’s Mickey who trains the fighters to reach their potential.

Although the end is a little bit cheesy for some, the emotional ride is still worth it. It’s a great action film that comes with a flair of drama and there are lots of action scenes that will easily entertain action film buffs.

The Best UK Film Directors in the 1960’s

what the film — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:10:08 +0000

The 60s in films is considered as one of the best decades in film because of the revolutionary ideas that were presented for the first time. Leading the movement to impressive films in the 60s are three film directors from UK: David Lean, John Schlesinger and Guy Hamilton. Each of the film directors has made something unique that made lasting impression on the film industry.

Sir David Lean CBE – Powerful Blockbuster Films

Sir David Lean will always be known for his iconic films: the Bridge over River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. These films were made from the late 50s to the 60s. His biggest influence in films is his ability to handle big budget films with ease while presenting them as a work of art rather than something to amaze the audience.

John Richard Schlesinger – Pushing the Envelope in Film Making

John Schlesinger’s films during the 60s are something that every film maker should take a closer look. Although his films do not offer the unique complexity of film making, he is known for tackling different types of subjects with ease. His first film during the 60s is “Darling” which is actually a movie that chronicles the swinging lifestyle in London. His other films “Far from the Maddening Crowd” and “Midnight Cowboy” which garnered international attention.

Guy Hamilton – James Bond Director and More

Guy Hamilton’s work on James Bond’s “Goldfinger” has practically cemented his identity as a magnificent film director. Complementing his films during the 60s is: “The Best of Enemies”, “Man in the Middle”, “The Party’s Over”, “Funeral in Berlin” and “Battle of Britain”.

Top 3 Nastiest Film Villains

what the film — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:22:12 +0000

Film villains are as important to films as the heroes and heroines. Without the villains, the movie becomes bland because the film will has no conflict and therefore no struggle and emotion.

In some case the villains practically take over the film. The following top movie villains are not only great character but also huge influencers on their films stories. While there are main characters in the film, these villains practically carry the movie from start to finish.

3 Freddie Krueger (Nightmare of Elm Street)

Played by Robert Englund and Jackie Earle Haley, Freddie Krueger is the only character that stayed in the movie franchise. It’s practically a movie about kids being chased in their dreams with real world consequences. The main characters change but Freddie Krueger is still there no matter what and you’ll always cringe whenever he’s in the scene.

2 Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Darth Vader may not have the nastiest plots on how to kill a person but he is a stone cold killer that gets the job done…except maybe for his son. His power to kill through the force is not something you want to deal with.

1 Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)

HannibalLecter single-handedly carries the film because of the strong performance and the gripping story line on how he cannibalizes his victims. It’s even more interesting that the film doesn’t really require a lot of scene with Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins) for his character to be demonized.

One Day Film Review

what the film — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:13:33 +0000

One Day is a film adapted from a bestselling novel with the same title. The film follows the meeting of two characters, Emma played by Anne Hathaway and Dexter played by Jim Sturgess. The plot is actually very unique: the film chronicles the interaction of two characters meeting every July 15 for twenty years. This means the film basically chronicles the twenty meeting of the characters.

The plot of the film alone could easily grab the attention of serious movie goers. Imagining how the director (Lone Scherfig) would work on such a challenging plot is already an interesting talking point.

The film is laudable because of its picturesque settings and must-listen dialogue between two characters. Jim Sturgess easily made the film his own due to his ability to carry the very challenging character. Although Anne Hathaway is impressive in the film as she tries to work as Emma, there’s a strange feeling that something is amiss with the character. The reason could be Emma’s personality doesn’t really quite fit to Anne Hathaway’s aura. She’s good but it’s just not right.

Lone Scherfig created a good film out of the novel. Although there are some loose ends, it’s still a perfectly good date movie. The settings are amazing and you can’t ask for better supporting characters. Anne Hathaway has done a good job in the film but it’s all on Jim Sturgess if the movie gets a generally positive review. It’s a very challenging novel to adapt but it’s well done that any fan of the book should be impressed.