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Remember the Pixar film Up? Tears streamed freely as Carl and Ellie’s love story unfolded. But a wild theory whispers that their charming home, built with love, might’ve held a dark secret: lead paint. Could Ellie’s haven, the symbol of their dreams, have robbed them of their greatest one?

A still from Up (2009) featuring Carl and Ellie | Disney/Pixar

Prepare for a bittersweet twist that might turn your nostalgic rewatch upside down.

Pixar’s Up: A Beautiful Love Story by a Silent Killer A still from Pixar’s Up 2009 | Pixar/Disney

Pixar. A name that conjures images of heartwarming tales, of childhood dreams taking flight. But what if a beautiful movie held a painful secret? A secret so painful that it could steal the laughter from your heart? Brace yourself, dear readers, because a theory about the 2009 Up movie might just shatter your happiness.

Remember Carl and Ellie,...

It’s hard enough to make an animated film. It takes years for them to be produced, thanks largely in part to how long it takes the render and animate the scenes. But then the animators of these films actually take the time to tweak certain scenes for different regions around the world. Case in point, the rousing speech Buzz gives the other toys in Toy Story 2 is set to the American flag and anthem in the U.S. version, but is changed everywhere else in the world. Rochelle in Planes is Canadian in North America but her nationality, name and paint job differ depending where else you watch it. In a similar move, the news anchors in Zootopia are different and representative of the country in question. Language barriers are always an issue for countries that don’t speak or read English, so animators actually alter any scenes...

Longtime Criminal Minds executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer has set up a new drama project at ABC. Paradise Falls, which Messer will write and executive produce, comes from ABC Studios, where she is based. Paradise Falls is described as a grounded look at the challenging life of a multi-generational family. It centers on a working mom who figures out the best way to guide her kids (and even the adults) is through a series of homemade parenting videos. Paradise Falls…...

As Star Wars: The Last Jedi recently proved, there’s a lot of nuance involved in translating a film for international audiences. (While the English version of The Last Jedi is vague, the modified adjectives of the French, German, and Spanish translations reveal the term “Jedi” is plural.) This new video from the YouTube channel Oh My Disney breaks down the similar quirks that occur when Pixar adapts its films for foreign audiences. Some of the changes are pretty simple. For instance, letters and signs are often rewritten in another language, though, as the video points out, that means more design work for the production team. Interestingly, animators will sometimes scrap a piece of English writing altogether and simply replace it with an image that conveys the same message. So in the international version of Up, Carl and Ellie’s “Paradise Falls” savings jar is labeled with a drawing of...

Do: check the instructions (Wild)

This month sees the release of Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir about her solo hike along the gruelling 1,000 mile Pacific Crest Trail. Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) certainly doesn't make it easy for herself, buying the wrong type of gas cylinder for her stove and thus being forced to subsist on a diet of "cold mush."

Don't: give up (Touching The Void)

Consider the obstacles that Joe Simpson faced during his calamitous attempt to climb Peruvian mountain Siula Grande: a broken leg; a fall into a crevasse; and zero hope of rescue after partner Simon Yates left him for dead. And yet, as recounted in classic documentary Touching The Void, Simpson gritted his teeth and dragged himself through hell to reach safety.

Do: stay calm (Life Of Pi)

Travel is unpredictable. One minute, like Indian teenager Pi (Suraj Sharma), you're emigrating to Canada aboard a freighter.

Clips of It’s A Wonderful Life appear in all sorts of TV shows and films, some predictable Christmas fare and some you might not expect…

Thanks to NBC’s long-standing tradition of airing Frank Capra’s 1946 festive fantasy drama every 24th of December, It’s A Wonderful Life has become a Stateside Christmas institution. The film’s story of a small town family man facing financial ruin being coaxed back from suicide by an angel who shows him how important he is to the world is now as festive as overspending and overeating.

Its ubiquity means that It’s A Wonderful Life is one of the first ports of call when shows and movies want to inject a festive feel into their fictional worlds, hence it having been subject to more on-screen references, quotes, parodies and homages than you can shake a jingle bell at. The Muppets, The Simpsons,...

We know we change our minds on this every week, but we mean it this time: We have a new favorite genre of viral videos. No more adorable dogs playing with babies. No inspiring child dancing prodigies.

Our favorite viral videos are pregnancy announcements that make the dad-to-be cry. Because, Awwww! How could you watch this Up-themed pregnancy announcement and not tear up too?

Watch: This hilarious news anchor can’t stop dancing to Taylor Swift

“Before I knew I was pregnant, I planned how I would tell Jacob he was going to be a dad,” wife Erika Jackson explains. “I bought an art print of the Up house sitting on Paradise Falls (we love all things animation) and wrote him a poem on the back (he wrote me a children's book when he proposed).”

Here’s the poem that was on the back:

“This was his perfect reaction!!!!” Erika says. We Agree!!!!

And...

We dare you not to start crying when this guy starts crying. Go ahead. Try and not shed a few tears at his adorable reaction when he finds out he's going to be a daddy. We dare you! What makes this pregnancy announcement extra special is the way his wife reveals the happy news, and it involves everyone's favorite 15-minute love story: Pixar's Up. "I bought an art print of the Up house sitting on Paradise Falls (we love all things animation) and wrote him a poem on the back (he wrote me a children's book when he proposed)," Erika Jackson wrote in the YouTube description. "This was his perfect reaction!" The poem ended with this line: "Adventure is out there! And it will...

Last night in a packed theatre at the Tiff Bell Lightbox an eclectic group of film critics, the who’s who of top local film producers and filmmakers, and Tiff executives gathered to hear the unveiling of the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten films of the year. The room buzzed with excitement with many discussing the Nyfcc winners, predicting the Board of Review winners and, of course, noting which filmmakers were in attendance (assuming that was a clear cut sign of who made the list).

A hushed silence came over the crowd when Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of Tiff, took to the podium on stage to introduce the evening’s host, beloved local comedian Steve Patterson. “As a 15 year veteran of comedy, I know what it’s like not to be recognized”, Patterson cracked, making light of Canadian gems often going overlooked on the world stage. This year, however,...

Enemy, The F-Word, Sarah Prefers To Run make it on to annual list.

Enemy, The F-Word, Sarah Prefers To Run have made it on to Tiff’s annual list.

The Tiff hierarchy announced on December 3 its feature and short film selections for the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival.

The 10-day festival is scheduled to run from January 3-12 2014 at Tiff Bell Lightbox and features public screenings of selected films accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with film-makers.

Director Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal will appear at Tiff Bell Lightbox on January 5 to discuss their recent collaborations on Prisoners and Enemy (pictured).

The festival will conclude on January 12 with an on-stage conversation between Canadian film-maker John Greyson and Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey.

“Canadian movies are global movies now, and Tiff’s Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival is the best opportunity to see our country’s creativity on the big...

Moving bits of paper around (the old way) or painting with billions of pixels (the new) has conjured up some of the greatest films of all time. From The Iron Giant to Persepolis, Guardian and Observer critics pick the 10 best

• Top 10 war movies

• Top 10 teen movies

• Top 10 superhero movies

• Top 10 westerns

• Top 10 documentaries

• Top 10 movie adaptations

• More Guardian and Observer critics' top 10s

10. The Tale of the Fox

A sneaky fox plays a series of underhand tricks on his neighbours in the animal kingdom, among them a timorous hare and a gullible wolf. The king of the beasts, a lion, summons him to face charges but the fox proceeds to outwit everyone, including the king himself. When Ladislas Starevich told this tale in the 1930s it was by no means new – versions of the Reynard story had been circulating around Europe for the best part of a millennium – but the...

Mansions on the Moon – Full Moon

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Californian band Mansions on the Moon certainly have some good contacts. Their first release saw their name alongside Diplo and Deadmau5 on the intriguing ‘Paradise Falls’ mixtape. On the back of that Pharrell Williams was an executive producer on their last Ep, 2012′s ‘Lightyears’. This time they are out on their own for the first time with the ‘Full Moon’ Ep. Without the direct influence of their friends, Mansions on the Moon have reverted to an unobtrusive ambient sound. The timing of this release is perfect; it is a great soundtrack for the changing seasons and longer nights.

Opener and title track ‘Full Moon’ sets a marker and is certainly the most immediate and radio friendly track. There is no doubt from the very start that this is a pop band confident and assured in their abilities. From a strong start,...

5- Finding Nemo (2003)

A heartbreaking and heartwarming movie about clownfish, 2003’s Finding Nemo had audiences glued to the screen. A story about a son taken from his father, and the lengths a dad would go to save his only child, Finding Nemo was a fast favorite. Exploring both life under water, and unlikely relationships, this film still had fans begging for a sequel ten years later. Much to everyone’s excitement, Disney and Pixar have finally listened to our plea and a Finding Dory is slated to come out in 2015.

4- Monsters Inc. (2001)

Who doesn’t remember being afraid of the monster in the closet when they were a kid? Worried that just as you were about to fall asleep, it would pop its gruesome head out and come for you in the night. Well according to 2001’s Monsters Inc. that’s exactly what happens. A story about an organization...

Let me be honest… I hate happy endings. Nothing ruins an otherwise great story like a sappy, completely unrealistic ending, especially if the movie all along has been dark and intense. Sure, some movies a happy ending fits (fairy tales, etc), but otherwise I find them capable of totally ruining and otherwise epic story.

Of course, I also don’t much like dismal, dreary movie endings. You know how sometimes they tack on a depressing ending for no reason other than to destroy your day? Yeah, I don’t like those much either.

So what, you may be asking, do I like seeing at the end of a movie? For my money, a bittersweet ending is the way to go. One that isn’t overtly happy, but does have just a hint of something dark still looming. Or if it does seem to be a sad ending, have one bright spark awaiting the characters.

Fox has bought Paradise Falls, a crime drama from Emmy-winning Boardwalk Empire writer-producer Margaret Nagle. Joe Berlinger, who directed the HBO documentary series Paradise Lost about the trial, conviction and eventual release of the West Memphis 3, is co-executive producing the project, which will be loosely based on his experiences covering the case for two decades. The series centers on a down-on-his-luck documentary filmmaker who is sent by a crime reality show to cover the trial of a heinous crime that has engulfed the tourist town of Paradise Falls, Pa. He uncovers corruption and deceit at every turn, realizing the case is a smokescreen for the townspeople’s twisted ambition for fame and profit. Nagle, who also sold a one-hour drama to CBS this season, is writing and executive producing the Universal Television Studios project. Brillstein Entertainment’s Margaret Riley also is an executive producer. Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky’s Paradise...

Boardwalk Empire's Margaret Nagle has sold a pair of dramas. The Emmy-nominated writer has set up a modern Sense and Sensibility at CBS as well as the crime drama Paradise Falls at Fox. The untitled Sense and Sensibility take is described as a modern reworking of Jane Austin's story set in the world of medicine, where three devoted sisters have their lives turned upside down when the father who abandoned them during their childhood returns, seeking more than forgiveness. Nagle will write and executive produce the Warner Bros. Television drama, which has received a script order at CBS. More TV

read more...

When you fantasize about your dream home, what comes to mind? For me, it’s Carl and Ellie Fredricksen’s charming, vibrant, cozy house from Pixar’s animated film Up. (It used to be the blue-shuttered mansion Noah built Allie in The Notebook until I realized Ryan Gosling would never come with the house.) Bangerter Homes has built an exact replica of the residence (complete with Carl and Elie’s adorable hand print-stamped mailbox) and a family in Utah has made the fantasy home their reality. They’ve even shot a seven-minute video tour of the interior.

Here are some...

Starting when Carl Fredericksen attached those bright balloons to the sky and floated off to Paradise Falls in Up, Pixar movies have used 3D excellently. In a way they were always built for it, with their animated heroes and bright colors and willingness to bound through space, but the studio famous for its perfectionists seemed to take to the 3D format especially well, even when so,so many other movies out there were simply slapping on the 3D surcharge and calling it a day (we've written about lots of those over the years of this column, you may remember). So does Brave continue the 3D winning streak? Does our heroine Merida, with her bows and arrows and gravity-defying red hair, truly pop in the third dimension, to the point that it's worth paying for both your 3D glasses and the kid-size ones? We're back yet again to help you answer...

This must be the case of trying to read a person by looking into their eyes. But it fails to deliver. Legendary Pictures (via comingsoon.net) has posted a teaser image for Paradise Falls. Based on the epic poem written by John Milton, Paradise Lost is directed by Alex Proyas and stars Bradley Cooper. It has been said that this adaptation will get the motion capture treatment. I could understand how Legendary would want to get a reaction from its audience, but having only Lucifer’s dark vapid eyes with occult art tattooed on its face seems like that last thing you would use to get a response. Hopefully there will be more to come than just an image like this one.

Based on the classic epic poem written by John Milton, Paradise Falls tells the story of archangels Michael and Lucifer and the extraordinary bond that they share until God produces: Man.

One the the most famous houses from movie history can be yours -- and it's actually from an animated flick! Bangerter Homes in Utah got Disney's approval to build a house modeled after cranky Carl Fredricksen 's from the movie " Up " ... and the results are pretty incredible! Featuring the home's signature colors, picket fence, Carl & Ellie mailbox and a Paradise Falls painting over the fireplace, the property was created for the 2011 Salt Lake Parade of Homes . The general public can tour the house in Herriman Towne Center from July 29 - August 14 (11 am – 9 pm). The 2,800 square foot house has 4 bedrooms (2 dedicated to Make-a-Wish kids), 3.5 baths and 2 family rooms -- one of which has a giant projector. According to MSNBC , the home has an expected asking price of $399,000. No balloons, talking dogs or annoying cute Wilderness Explorers included. Read more...

I'm not sure how aerodynamic it is, but the folks at Bangerter Homes have done a pretty cool thing and built a life-size replica of Carl and Ellie's house from Pixar's Up.  The builders got Disney's Ok before going ahead on the house and now the 2800 square foot replica can be yours for the surprisingly-reasonable price of $399,000.  Granted, you'll have to move to Harriman, Utah, but assuming the house can fly (and if it can't fly then what's the point), you could just take it all the way to Paradise Falls. Hit the jump to check out the house, which even includes details like the mural Ellie painted in the living room. Images via Bangerter Homes via Cinema Blend. [gallery link="file" order="Desc" columns="1"]...

If Pixar's Up doesn't win your heart and make you sob, then you have no soul. The 2009 film revolves around a couple's journey of wedded bliss and growing old together. Like many of the animation studio's best features, it's a real doozy on the old heartstrings. The house that Carl and Ellie share – which she dreams about moving to a cliff overlooking Paradise Falls – is the cornerstone of the movie, and now a real life Up house is on the market and needs a family to fill it. Bangerter Homes has built an exact replica of the Pixar dwelling, and they're selling the 2800 square foot abode for $399,000 in Herriman, Utah. The custom home design company got Disney's permission to recreate everything you see in the movie, and the result truly is...

Read More...

If Pixar's Up doesn't win your heart and make you sob, then you have no soul. The 2009 film revolves around a couple's journey of wedded bliss and growing old together. Like many of the animation studio's best features, it's a real doozy on the old heartstrings. The house that Carl and Ellie share – which she dreams about moving to a cliff overlooking Paradise Falls – is the cornerstone of the movie, and now a real life Up house is on the market and needs a family to fill it. Bangerter Homes has built an exact replica of the Pixar dwelling, and they're selling the 2800 square foot abode for $399,000 in Herriman, Utah. The custom home design company got Disney's permission to recreate everything you see in the movie, and the result truly is...

Read More...

If you managed to get through the 2009 animated adventure "Up" without, well, choking up, you're one of the chosen few. For the rest of us, who watched Carl and Ellie's romance through a mist of tears, this odd-but-inspiring new home will tug at our heartstrings.

Because Bangerter Homes in Harriman, Utah has just finished building an exact replica of Carl and Ellie's love nest—right down to the interior floor plan and of course, the gaggle of balloons on top. (Yes, they secured Disney's permission before proceeding.)

According to Cinema Blend, the 2,800-square-foot replica is on the market for a mere $399,000. So if you're a serious Pixar fan in the market for a dream vacation home, you can turn this whimsical fantasy into your very own reality.

No word yet though on whether you'll make it to Paradise Falls.

Almost everybody has their favorite film from Pixar Animation Studios. And it’s not surprising; no other studio has enjoyed Pixar’s mind-boggling brand of success. Of eleven feature films, every single one has been a hit. The master storytellers at Pixar have an uncanny knack for appealing to every demographic, and all of their films are true visual marvels. While at least half of their movies could be considered genuine masterpieces, all of them are at least above average (even Cars, which many might consider their most derivative and predictable work).

For me, the pick of the Pixar crop is Finding Nemo, the first movie I think of when I think of beautiful animation (an art form I’ve always loved, even in its current CGI phase), and a story that resonates for me personally, as a father. But there are two other Pixar masterpieces that vie for second...

Lucy Hale, Haylie Duff and Aaron Ashmore (brother of Shawn) topline the slasher thriller Fear Island , which is currently seeking DVD distribution. Hale was most recently seen fighting off another killer in Scream 4 . The film played to television audiences in Canada and was directed by Michael Storey ( Paradise Falls ). After a blowout party at a secluded island cabin, five friends make a shocking discovery: a dead body and the only boat off the island gone. Trapped and unable to call for help, they become prey to a mysterious killer seeking revenge. Together, they must decipher the murderer's chilling series of clues to reveal the island's secret past or face death one by one. Kyle Schmid also stars.

by Vadim Rizov

Let's start with silence. 2009's Up, like most Pixar movies, takes place in a landscape that's recognizably part of the real world (a South American plateau), yet not really (a carefully unnamed plateau, one "Paradise Falls" of the imagination). The air is silent and dry, charged with the menace of potential swooping predators. Cranky old Carl Frederickson (voiced by Ed Asner) is here, having attempted to follow all his life in the footsteps of explorer Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer), whose exploits have inspired him his whole life to follow in the prematurely disappeared, presumed dead pioneer's path.

It turns out Muntz is something of a false prophet, hiding out in the landscape trying to capture one last giant rare bird. Carl and his young helpmate Russell eventually defeat Muntz, whose reactionary views are ruining the landscape, which is—basically— an allegory for every Pixar movie thus far (except for Finding Nemo,...

Today, the Canadian Academy revealed the nominees for the 25th Gemini Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy Awards. So without further ado, let's reveal those who have graced our land of television in fall 2009 and winter 2010.

1. Best Animated Program or Series:

* Glenn Martin, Dds

* Guess With Jess

* Johnny Test

* Kid Vs Kat

* Wapos Bay

2. Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series:

* Degrassi: The Next Generation

* Overruled!

* Pillars of Freedom

* That's So Weird!

* Total Drama Action

3. Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series:

* A World of Wonders

* Canada's Super Speller

* Survive This

* Tvokids: Mark's Moments

4. Best Comedy Program or Series:

* Dan for Mayor

* Less Than Kind

* Little Mosque on the Prairie

* Pure Pwnage

* The Rick Mercer Report

5. Best Dramatic Miniseries:

* Alice

* The Phantom

* The Summit

6. Best Dramatic Series:

* Durham County

* Flashpoint

* Republic of Doyle

* Stargate Universe

* The Tudors

7. Best Music, Variety Program or Series

* 2009 Much Music Video Awards...

We live in dark and soulless times. That much is obvious in Hollywood's output of grim apocalyptic tales, gory horror flicks and iconoclastic reinventions.

Put all three into a juicer and you get Legion, whose marketing consisted of a memorable image of its star Paul Bettany as a lean, muscular, tattooed angel holding a machine gun and a knife. That picture (which is the sort of thing fanboys describe as 'badass') also serves as the Blu-ray cover art.

Having missed this Scott Stewart-directed release at the cinema, I have just experienced the Blu-ray - released in shops on Monday, August 9 - with fresh eyes. So how does it stand up? Is there a solid film behind the striking imagery?

The story begins when the Archangel Michael (Bettany) falls to Earth in Los Angeles, hacks off his wings, steals a cache of guns and speeds off in a stolen police car.

Legion is releasedon DVD and Blu Ray today and stars Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black, Adrianne Palicki, Charles S. Dutton, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Durand, Jon Tenney, Willa Holland, Kate Walsh and is directed by Scott Stewart.

The basic premise of the movie is that God (although never mentioned by name) isn’t happy with his people and decides to start all over again, much like the Bible story, Noah and the Ark. The difference here is that rather than sending a giant flood to wipe out the earth, God uses….. Us! Sound a bit odd. Well, it sort of is!

While God prepares his army of angels to come and possess us all, one angel, Michael (Bettany) stands up against the Lord and Creator. Michael is on a mission to save a baby which is currently in the womb of Charlie played by Adrianne Palicki. If the baby lives,...

Aug. 5

7:30 p.m.

Winnipeg Cinematheque

100 Arthur Street

Winnipeg, Mb R3B 1H3

Hosted by: Winnipeg Film Group

Filmmaker Michelle Latimer has curated a lineup of short films celebrating the work of Indigenous female filmmakers, which also includes her own film, Tomorrow, that was commissioned for the Lift 2007 ImagineNATIVE Film Festival.

While the numbers of Indigenous women using film to communicate their life stories to the world at large, they’re still a tiny minority within the larger film community and getting their work exhibited is challenging. Latimer hopes that through screening events such as this one, the profile of these filmmakers will grow. According to Latimer,

Within this work you will find reflected a playful exploration of feminine sexuality, the nuanced complexities of motherhood, and an intuitive acknowledgement of life and loss. In their own unique way, each of these films bridge the divide of gender and politics to...

We've got the first trailer from Karen Lam's (The Cabinet) new horror feature Stained (which premiering at the Cannes Film Market this past May.) Stained is an intense thriller about a lonely bookseller’s obsessive love affair and her protective best friend, who alone knows the horrible truth about her obsession.

The trailer shows a tense and sharp-looking little film with awesome cinematography and some stellar violence. Check it out...

Stained features Tinsel Korey (Twilight: New Moon, Rabbit Fall), Sonja Bennett (Battlestar Galactica, Masters of Horror), Tim Fellingham (Truly Blessed, Life on Top), and Stephen Huszar (Corner Gas, Paradise Falls).

Watch the trailer:...

The opening scenes of Disney/Pixar's Up - which recount the lifelong love affair of Carl and Ellie and their foiled plans to travel to Paradise Falls - are amongst the most touching in movie history. In homage to the film - and those scenes in ... Read more

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In an industry saturated with Pixar and DreamWorks animated films, Metropia is certainly on the unusual side. Not only are the characters created using a less conventional process, after which they are comprised of over 80 movable layers, but their story is made to feel real. There.s nothing wrong with an old man flying his house to Paradise Falls via balloon, but it likely (and hopefully) won.t inspire anyone to do the same. Metropia.s fictional telling, on the other hand, has a powerful message to deliver and is one that can legitimately impact our lives. In the future the world is running out of resources and one company controls Europe.s subway system. Hesitant to venture down into the Metro, Roger opts to be the odd man out and ride his bike above ground. When he finds his bike mangled he has no choice but to conform and...

We've got the first stills from Karen Lam's new horror feature Stained (premiering at the Cannes Film Market this May.) Stained is an intense thriller about a lonely bookseller’s obsessive love affair and her protective best friend, who alone knows the horrible truth about her obsession. Karen’s first short horror film was The Cabinet.

Stained features Tinsel Korey (Twilight: New Moon, Rabbit Fall), Sonja Bennett (Battlestar Galactica, Masters of Horror), Tim Fellingham (Truly Blessed, Life on Top), and Stephen Huszar (Corner Gas, Paradise Falls)...

Karen Lam's new horror feature Stained will be premiering at the Cannes Film Market under the Perspective Canada showcase, tentatively scheduled for May 18 and 19 2010. Stained is an intense thriller about a lonely bookseller’s obsessive love affair and her protective best friend, who alone knows the horrible truth about her obsession. Karen’s first short horror film was The Cabinet.

Stained features Tinsel Korey (Twilight: New Moon, Rabbit Fall), Sonja Bennett (Battlestar Galactica, Masters of Horror), Tim Fellingham (Truly Blessed, Life on Top), and Stephen Huszar (Corner Gas, Paradise Falls).

Play your cards right and you might survive the wrath of God and Satan, according to this pair of religiose thrillers

This wild pair of religiose thrillers set out to inform the American public that in their different ways God and Satan have their beady eyes on us down here, but if you play your cards right you might just survive. The apocalyptic Legion begins with an Old Testament epigraph: Psalms 34:11 "Come ye children hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." And by God they do, after we're taken to the rundown Paradise Falls diner in the Mojave Desert where on 23 December an eight-months-pregnant waitress is about to give birth to a saviour. But horrible things start to happen, and it appears a discontented God wants to call it a day – a day of judgment. St Michael (Paul Bettany), however, is on our side,...

[N.B.: I screened the film in 2-D, though it's also being presented in digital 3-D in certain theaters.]

Up is the 10th feature from Pixar Animation Studios, and it so skillfully and wonderfully extends the company's filmmaking record that it would be easy to dismiss the movie as nothing more than their latest assembly-line perfection. The film is as gorgeously rendered as viewers have come to expect a Pixar film to be, packed with colors and styles that mesh to create a unique universe that's still recognizable as Pixar's, and the story and characters are as genuine and joyful as ever. But the film's real strength is in the way it conveys emotional nuance with nothing more than the right image, and how it turns what at times is a slightly "cartoonish" script into something resonant and heartbreaking.

Directed by Pete Docter with co-direction from Bob Peterson, Up is the most storybook tale to come from Pixar's stable in a while, which makes sense: Docter's previous turn at...

The original opening line of this review was: “Legion is a film that requires you to check your brain at the door”. However I found myself arguing that such a tone would be greatly unfair to expectation and the filmmakers. If anything, Scott Stewart’s apocalyptic survival-horror movie has too many ideas flying around alongside the blood and guts.

There’s the sense it wants to hit too many bases instead of focusing on what could have been a pretty good spin on the apocalypse-horror film. Unfortunately, by the end, the film’s energy and originality is replaced with outright silliness. I’m always suspicious when former special effects men get to direct films…they’ve hardly got a great track record. Remember Roger Christian, Pitoff and Marc Caro’s movies? Okay, Caro is more of a proper filmmaker than the other two, but Dante 01 was bloody awful.

If this was a graphic novel,...

Anyone who sat through “Legion” would do well to petition Christian leaders to add a 13th Commandment, one that would prevent filmmakers from dragging God into their ridiculous and boring movies. Which is, to put it kindly, exactly what this sluggishly inept project is. “Legion” has a phenomenally talent cast that works overtime, but they can’t stem the tide of incompetency that constantly washes over the film. “Legion” has a great beginning, with the Archangel Michael falling to Earth and commandeering a staggering amount of guns from a illegal cache that is conveniently always around whenever you need them. Then off he heads in a police car to a diner located in the microscopic town of Paradise Falls. For a long time, we learn, God grown angry with humanity. Now the fecal matter has hit the wind producing device, and God’s decided to wipe out his disobedient creations.

“Legion” begins in Los Angeles, where the angel Michael (Paul Bettany) literally falls from the sky and brings destruction with him. As the city falls into darkness (again: literally), he hits the road in search of Charlie (Adrienne Palicki), who, despite being an eight-months-pregnant non-virgin, is still the prophesied mother of humanity’s savior. The tiny desert diner where Charlie waitresses for owner Bob (Dennis Quaid) and his son Jeep (Lucas Black) serves as ground zero for the battle against agents of God in the form of “weak” possessed humans who function much like classic Romero zombies. With the diner surrounded and the patrons inside turning against one another, it’s up to Jeep and Michael to keep Charlie safe long enough for the second coming of Jesus to take his first baby breath…read more [FEARNet]

Sadly, the much-needed depth brought to the characters in this simple story by the...

What exactly would An Education: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire look like, Mr George Clooney? One can only imagine. Just last week at my own blog, Stale Popcorn, I imagined Mo'Nique's "Mary Jones" as a twist on James Cameron's Terminator T-1000 character, but I think transplanting Lee Daniels' tale of Claireece "Precious" Jones to 1960s England is a little bit out of my reach, but I'll give it a try.

Perhaps instead of Jenny Miller's (Carey Mulligans) parents being the class-struck doters that they are they are instead evil and monstrous as personified by Mo'Nique. That would certainly push Jenny into the arms of Peter Sarsgaard even further, even once she realised his hidden secrets. Or maybe Jenny, instead of being a smart and talented musician, she is an illiterate and morbidly obese teen who steals fried chicken and gets impregnated by the creepy,...

Short version: Legion is basically a schlocky B-movie – with a very ridiculous premise.

Screen Rant reviews Legion

I knew going in that Legion was going to be… odd. A movie where an angel comes to earth, is wearing some sort of electronic shock collar and uses machine guns was bound to be a bit, shall we say, unconventional.

Paul Bettany stars as the archangel Michael, who suddenly appears on Earth on December 23rd in Los Angeles. His shock collar (for lack of a better term, I don’t know what its function was) falls off his neck and he summarily cuts off his angelic wings (yes, it hurt).

He locates a huge armory rather quickly and loads up with all kinds of semi-automatic goodness. When he is stopped by a couple of La police officers, he disarms one and holds him hostage while the other turns into what seems to...

Courtesy of Screen Gems.

Movie studios are really trying to capture the vibe of the possible end-of-the-world in 2012 and Legion is further proof of that.  Instead of a natural disaster, writer/director Scott Stewart is going old-school with religion.  Using this premise in a movie, will usually garner a cult following.  Legion is deserving enough to attain a cult following.  However, that's probably where it ends for this flick.

So the story begins with Michael (Paul Bettany), one of God's trusted angels, turning his back on the big man's orders.  Therefore, he is no longer immortal and has set out to protect mankind from an extermination by G's loyal angels, led by Gabriel (Kevin Durand).  Naturally there's a prophecy about an unborn child that is mankind's only hope.  Charlie (Adrianne Palicki) is a waitress at diner in the middle-of-nowhere Arizona.  You guessed it, Charlie is pregnant.  The diner, aptly titled Paradise Falls,...

Well the trailers, posters, interviews and promotional hoopla are all behind us. Scott Stewart's Legion finally hit theatres and the apocalyptic dust has settled. Where do the chips fall? Do angles with metal wings wielding machine guns work on the silver screen? Is the old woman really as creepy as we thought she'd be? You have to read to find out...

In fairness to the makers of Legion, it’s a good bet they don’t watch Supernatural, have hazy if any memories of the Prophecy franchise and think comparisons to Terminator are not applicable owing to the difference between horror/fantasy and horror/sci-fi. However, viewers who are interested in Legion’s subject matter may notice some similarities to all of the above, along with the fact that Legion feels a bit rushed by comparison. The new film has some undeniably cool action sequences and a serious, soulful...

Developer: Airtight Games Publisher: Capcom Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Capcom’s sci-fi take on The Rocketeer loses altitude fast Dark Void has all the trappings of an absolute mega-blockbuster title. The game’s storyline piles on intrigue, following cargo pilot William Gray, whose plane crashes in the Bermuda Triangle. From there he crosses into a parallel universe called the Void, which you’d swear was the mystical Paradise Falls from Pixar’s Up, save for the malevolent robotic cult stirring up mischief. Battlestar Galactica composer Bear McCreary wrote the game’s phenomenal score, and one of the videogame industry’s most talented voiceover actors, Nolan...

He Said – He Said … The Top 7 Films of the Decade

Our lists are done. We’ve checked them twice (and then some). Now there is only one thing left to do, complain, rant and argue. It’s time for the He Said – He Said … Top 7 Films of the Decade.

It’s He (Jeff Bayer) and his list …

7. Inglourious Basterds

6. Moulin Rouge!

5. Michael Clayton

4. Memento

3. Wall-e

2. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

1. Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

Versus

He (Nick Allen) and his list …

7. The Band’s Visit

6. Superbad

5. The Lives of Others

4. Adaptation

3. The Dark Knight

2. Talk to Her

1. There Will Be Blood

Complete Coverage of Top 7 Films of the Decade

Top 7 Films of the Decade by Jeff Bayer

Top 7 Movies of the Decade by Nick Allen

He Said – He Said … Top 7 Films of the Decade

Amazing. Not one movie in common. I’ve decided to let...

So its been awhile since we have done an animated top ten or favorites list, in fact I think we have only done one since we have been in existence. Throughout cinematic history there has been many animated films from so many walks of life harping on different genres and different tones from children’s tales to more adult tastes. I have decided to take a look at what I consider the top 9 animated films of all time. I think it is safe to say that Walt Disney/Pixar are the standard and have been the standard for animation for sometime. However films like 9, Ponyo and other international forms of animation like Waltz With Bashir, are quickly hitting the mainstream and capturing the attention of moviegoers everywhere. New Media and Social Media are helping these lesser animated jaunts get noticed by many more people also its becoming more increasingly favored in film festivals like Sundance.

When we contacted Harry Walton and requested an interview, his reply was simple and immediate: “Sure! I grew up on Famous Monsters. When do you want to talk?” Nothing keeps us more enthused about our mission than speaking with the fanboys and –girls who grew up to become the modern mages of today’s visual effects.

Harry's buddy Rick Baker in his Frankenstein mask, West Covina, CA, 1968

Harry’s enthusiasm goes way back and deep; during our interview we spent a long time lost amongst his many scrapbooks of personal photos. A few of these may be seen on Harry’s own website. (All photos in this interview are from the Harry Walton Collection, (c) VFXmasters.)

Top Row: Davey & Goliath, Harry running an optical printer, "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids". Middle Row: the Pillsbury Doughboy, "The Golden Child," "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Bottom Row: "Land of the Lost", "RoboCop2", "James...

Up is by far one of the best movies of 2009 -- and now it's one of the best DVDs of 2009, too. There's just nothing not to love about the latest animated feature from the folks at Pixar. The story follows a cranky old widower, Carl Fredrickson (Edward Asner), who -- at the ripe old age of 78 -- unexpectedly embarks on the adventure of a lifetime, a grand trek that involves thousands of balloons, a flying house (that's what all those balloons are for, natch), talking dogs, an oversized, colorful bird, a disgraced exploring legend (Christopher Plummer), a blimp, Paradise Falls, South America, and a plucky, chunky, lonely eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer Scout, Russell (Jordan Nagai), who stows away and initially drives Carl crazy, before the two realize they're exactly what the other needs. It's funny and touching and timely all at once, with charm to spare, subtly delivered messages about growing up,...