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In Reply to: "Around the World in Eighty Days" posted by rico on May 27, 2004 at 08:02:53:
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Follow Ups:
It's called, I believe, MONEY.
Rico and TWB,Disney still has a lot of very creative people, but since classic animation is turning to computers- such as Shrek and Mosters Inc, Disney lost prememinance in their core business. They've tried to catch up by buying Pixar, but in the end Disney has fallen prey to demographic analysis driven products and are so intensely bottom line orientated, I think it is paralyzing them. There is a lot of internal friction too with Eisner and that won't help decision making and stering a consistent course.
Aslo, I think we should face the fact historically that Disney made few really good live action movies- and even Mary Poppins had to have an animated sequence. {BTW, I'm looking now at a framed cel from that). I do have a real affection for "The Absent- Minded Professor, but it is not great film-making and the Robin Williams remake "Flubber" was a big mistake- a really annoying film that should have been on my awards list.
They just don't pay as much attention to the content as they do the surveys of expectations of the target audience and future merchandising. Quality is now only what it has to be and when I think of the intesene qulity orientation of Walt and "Pinnochio" of 1940- the slide has been long and deep- a real pity.
Rico, you said it best- the "MONEY"- and that should be capitalised in this use.
Disney has become as synomymous with predatory corporate style and agressive merchandising, intsense pursuit of copyright lawsuits, and price and labour cutting that in Los Angeles there is standard question that establishes your credentials in the entertainment world, "Have you been screwed by Disney yet?" I'm not even in the entertainment business and I've been- fortunately for only $1500 in consulting time- but at least I haven't lost any important limbs! My attorney forbids me to explain this loss publically as Disney is worse than the Scientologists in corporate secrecy and running down critics legally.
"Whistling while I work"- oh fuckin' hell-now Disney will sue me for royalties! I'm glad that I use a pseudonym here- or a couple of big fuzzy bears would be knocking on my door at 3AM.
Let's not even talk about CAA- they have some really burly ex-wrestler attorneys over here!
Cheers,
Bambi B
For the record, Disney does not own Pixar.To see the best Disney has to offer today, I recommend Lorenzo , a rather dark animated short that will be screening directly before Raising Helen , opening tomorrow. This may be the only opportunity ever to see it.
Lorenzo was rendered completely with computer graphics. Victor, Patrick, gwlvrns and others who turn their noses up at CG should watch Lorenzo and then learn how it was made.
ephemere,Yes, you're correct re Pixar/Disney. I should have been more specific. Disney does not own Pixar, but the two companies have the tighest level of co-production and participates in "co-branding". "Bug's Life", "Monsters Inc", and "Finding Nemo" are "co-branded" which is in my book a kind of modern partnership that suggests merger- but is specifcally for I think 5 or 6 features- temporary merger. This arrangement lets Pixar to remain independent at the same time. If I were Pixar, and given what appears to be Disney's creative slide since the 60's, I would keep a wide back door open too. But, Pixar gets Disney industry punch: marketing, merchandising and distribution and Disney gets Pixar's considerable creativity. What amazes me about Pixar too is the way Steve Jobs reinvented himself -yet again. Watch Pixar- one of the very smartest companies in the Biz- reminds me of the young George Lucas.
Thanks for the recommendations.
I am a strong conservative when it comes to animation- and still think "Pinocchio" (1940) was the World high point, but "Shrek" and "Monsters Inc." (which had a more cohesive graphic style than Shrek) are quite astounding. -Someday computers will be useful! It was amusing to me how much of the time "Shrek" was a parody of classic Disney. -and Disney was smart enough to see the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in allowing it!
I don't know much about "Shrek 2" but from indications, I'm hoping that Pixar didn't make it's first serious slip into marketing-driven conventionality. Has anyone seen it?
Cheers,
Bambi B
Dreamworks, a private company, bought Pacific Data Images (PDI), another private company, in the 1990s to make 3D CG animated movies for them. So far, Dreamworks/PDI in northern California has made Antz , Shrek , and Shrek 2 . Dreamworks is also currently producing Shark Tale , their first 3D CG animated film without PDI. This is happening in southern California. Dreamworks animation is headed up by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who left Disney in the mid-1990s under terms that were not altogether friendly and loving, hence the jabs at Disney in the Shrek franchise and so forth. From what I read in the news, Dreamworks is considering having PDI go public.Disney, a public company, and Pixar, another public company, have had an evolving business arrangement since the early 1990s in which Pixar will produce and deliver a series of films. So far, Pixar has delivered five films: Toy Story , A Bug's Life , Toy Story 2 , Monsters Inc. , and Finding Nemo . Pixar is currently working on the final two films under the agreement, The Incredibles and Cars . The economic collaboration between Pixar and Disney is specified in the contract; but creatively, Pixar's films originate and are produced completely within the confines of their studio in northern California. It is interesting that you say Pixar reminds you of the young Lucas, because Pixar was in fact the young Lucas's CG division before he sold it to Steve Jobs in the early 1980s. Pixar had an interesting early history that I won't go into.
Bambi,Gosh, you're very well informed. The way these corporate situations change and become so convoluted, I just can't keep up piecemeal- good to see it all in one place! Thanks for the link- I need to study!
The idea of "co-branding" is still nebulous to me and the sharing of merchandising with Pixar seems unusual if not unique for Disney. They just aren't good at sharing!
I had no idea of an actual Lucas connection, but it does make sense given ILM's early CG exploits and Pixar's northern California location.
Cheers,
Bambi B
Yes, I think the level of sharing with Pixar may very well be unique in the long history of Disney. I'm not completely sure, though. Anyhow, it will be ending after Cars .
s
I will look at this picture. I wonder, how much can be lost in the digitalisation of the original painting?
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nt
And it said more about WWII in one scene than Spielberg did in a whole bloated $70M 3-hour movie.
Sigh...
Great film.
I have seen "The Straight Story" a number of times and found it so inspiring that I reconciled with one of my own brothers because of it.Although David Lynch and Disney make strange bedfellows. True to form, Lynch forbade chapter stops on the DVD.
Do you think it was such a good movie? I saw it, found it ok, but never had the wish to look at it again.....
for the theme of reconciliation and its low key approach. I like David Lynch and thought it his most accessible film yet. Harry Dean Stanton and Sissy Spacek are 2 of my all-time favorite USA actors and didn't disappoint me (they never have)
Very human theme without the outright Lynch weirdness or the standard knee deep Disney treacle; I thought the film worked very well given such an unlikely pairing
Not the depth and breadth of a Bunuel film; but not typical Hollywood formula garbage either
Alvin Straight is really facing the highway and his own demons and that is story enough; he's really a bit of a hero
Grins
To that I can nod yes. Or put it inn another way, with all the garbage and pollution we have we can be glad to have a film like this....
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