Originally Posted By DlandDug So... "Hop" didn't have enough animation, but "Chipwrecked" and "Smurfs" did...?
Originally Posted By DlandDug If five, I will venture a guess that it will be: The Adventures of Tintin Cars 2 Puss in Boots Rango Winnie the Pooh The win to either Tintin or Pooh. (Predictions based not only on most deserving, but also on the reality of WHO will sponsor well financed campaigns.)
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I can't narrow the field down to just five, so here are my top seven and the 'justifications' for their nominations: The Adventures of Tintin -- Spielberg Arthur Christmas -- Aardman appreciation Chico and Rita -- 2D international flavor Puss in Boots -- DWA/token entry Rango -- new kid ILM Rio -- Blue Sky/token entry Winnie the Pooh -- Disney/token entry Winner is either Arthur Christmas or Rango. And please don't ask me for a logical explanation. I have none. Just a hunch since ILM is the new kid, and Aardman hasn't won since Were-Rabbit.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>So... "Hop" didn't have enough animation, but "Chipwrecked" and "Smurfs" did...?<< Chipwrecked did. Apparently The Smurfs did not. Although the reason for the disqualification wasn't specified. I have this alternate theory that they decided most of the "second-tier" Smurfs (Brainy Smurf, Jokey Smurf, Azure Smurf, etc.) weren't main characters and didn't count toward the "majority" requirement. Hop was not submitted by the studio, so we'll never know. (Or care.) >>here are my top seven and the 'justifications' for their nominations<< The method of selecting the nominees doesn't work for "token entries". A committee of animation industry experts watches the movies and then grades them on a secret ballot point scale .... which is why something like Chico and Rita (or The Secret of Kells) has an (almost) equal chance with Disney and Dreamworks for a nomination, though not a win. This is why I really don't expect to see Puss in Boots, Tintin, or Winnie the Pooey nominated. But since the other rules don't apply to Spielberg, maybe this one won't either. ;-)
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<The method of selecting the nominees doesn't work for "token entries". A committee of animation industry experts watches the movies and then grades them on a secret ballot point scale >> I know that. I'm standing by my reasoning, because of industry politics. I firmly believe in cronyism, especially in this industry. Academy nominations and especially wins translates to greater profitability. There's no way that the 'committee' isn't being affected by this, even in an indirect way. For that reason, I fully expect at least one Disney or Pixar film to be nominated every single year. And for this go-round, there were far better films than either Cars 2 or Pooh. But at the end of the day, that simply won't matter.
Originally Posted By schnebs I'll throw my two cents in on the potential nominees (feel free to throw them back)... Unlike mawnck, I didn't see all of the nominees (thank goodness!). Pooh was cute, and I appreciated that Disney at least tried to pay tribute to the classic shorts. But Oscar material? Naah. (Oh, and to the argument about the characters being dumb - as someone once explained it to me, "It's a child's toy. Of course it's not going to be too bright." ) Cars 2: It's kinds the "Sleeping Beauty" of Pixar films - visually amazing, but lacking something in the story. Rio: Great soundtrack. Wish they'd put as much effort into the script. I think Pooh or Cars 2 and Puss will be nominated to please the majors, and then Rango and one or two of the more obscure films will be nominated. Who'll win? My Magic 8 Ball says, "Reply hazy - try later."
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I've not seen many of these, but these are my verdicts on the ones I have: Cars 2 - I really enjoyed this one a lot more than most. Perhaps it helps that I have been to most of the locations so that amused me greatly. It is no classic, but I would still choose to watch it before toy story 3 or most of the post Disney owned pixars. Kung Fu Panda2 - I really enjoyed this one, not quite as much as the 1st, but definitely my Dave for 2011. Beautiful too! Mars Needs Moms - I really, REALLY enjoyed this one. I was so pleasantly surprised, I really thought it was great! Rio - very pretty in places, but very forgettable too. The Smurfs - lots of fun, especially if you like the smurfs (I used to love them as a kid!) Winnie the Pooh - OMG, I hate that stupid bear so much and everything about him. Sadly my wife and daughter like it and I cannot fathom why......I hate that bear and his cohort of do nothings. I want my time and money back.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 My gut feeling is that Rango will win. It was well done and quirky enough to be "hip" in the voters' minds. The true indies don't have enough clout/political juice to win after they get the nomination. ILM is a player with lots of connections, yet awarding it there lets them avoid the Pixar/Dreamworks two-headed monster that some would see the animation Oscar as being.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>It's kinds the "Sleeping Beauty" of Pixar films<< HEY! I will thank you to not cast such aspersions on the flawed but fabulous Sleeping Beauty! You can't compare Cars 2 to SB in terms of artistic achievement. You just can't. One is timeless Eyvind Earle art gallery quality awesomeness in 70mm that is still amazing 52 years later. The other is pretty dang good CGI by 2011 standards, which will look hopelessly outdated in 9 months or so. One is a big-budget extravaganza. The other is a toy commercial. One is Mary Costa. The other is Larry the Cable Guy. If you'd like to compare Cars 2 to The Sword in the Stone, then we can talk. Both are nicely animated genre spoofs that badly misfire. And Sword is still better. (/the latest in an increasingly long string of rants) >>Mars Needs Moms - I really, REALLY enjoyed this one. I was so pleasantly surprised, I really thought it was great!<< Jawfloor. Uhhhhhh, wh-wh-wh-what did you like about it? >>My gut feeling is that Rango will win.<< My gut is in agreement with your gut.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I love sci fi for starters and was a huge fan of the martian chronicals as a kid. Then there is the wonderful touching element of the love between parent and child. Then mix in the who oppression and gender rights issues which have been an interest of mine forever, mixed in with the love of the idea of happy liberation overthrowing the injustices through a demonstration of courage and love. All done without being condescending like most of the crap Disney animation has been throwing out there for the last decade.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>And Sword is still better.<< I'm not sure I'd agree. I watched both films around the same time this summer, and I think I'd be interested in seeing Cars 2 again before SITS. While the Cars 2 plot was pretty cliche and completely out-of-character for the film's stars, it still managed to be interesting; SITS doesn't really have enough development, conflict, or arc tho make me want to sit through it again any time soon. (Though it should also be noted that I've seen SITS countless itmes, while I've seen Cars 2 only once).
Originally Posted By Dabob2 >>My gut feeling is that Rango will win.<< <My gut is in agreement with your gut.> Gutsy call!
Originally Posted By schnebs No offense intended, mawnck. I agree that SB's a much better film than C2, but my impression of SB when I first saw it was the same as the one when I saw C2 -- namely, that it looked amazing, but that it lacked something I couldn't put my finger on. I've never seen S&tS all the way through (shocking, I know), so I can't comment on how that compares.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox While I enjoy the quirkiness of SitS, it's painfully stuck in the sixties, in both look and humor style. I've never been a fan of the 'sketchy' outlines from that era, even in films like 101 Dalmatians, which I adore. It's just a style preference for me. I prefer the classic softer watercolor styles that put Disney on the map with Snow White. So SitS has several strikes against it beyond the weak story. It's only redeeming value, IMHO, is the wizards' duel. Otherwise, it's a totally forgettable film.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed I am afraid. I am not a fan of the sketchy styles of 101 Dalmations, Aristocats, SitS etc. I think sleeping beauty is beautiful to look at, but if it were not for Maleficent, it is not worth watching. I find many Disney animated features to be highly overrated.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>It's only redeeming value, IMHO, is the wizards' duel.<< Yes, and that puts it one up on Cars 2. ;-)
Originally Posted By mawnck Hmmm ... here I have something to gloat about, but it will require me briefly rescinding the bad things I'm always saying about Rotten Tomatoes' binary rating system. Oh what the hey ... consider me gloating. Take THIS, Pooh! >>“Arthur Christmas” Wins Golden Tomato Award for Best Reviewed Animated Film of the Year ... The 3D release, which has already been nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award as the year’s Best Animated Feature, just received the Golden Tomato Award for the Best Reviewed Animated Film of the Year. The Tomato was bestowed by the popular movie destination website RottenTomatoes.com, which scores feature releases based on critical reception, with Arthur Christmas receiving the highest score of any animated feature of 2011. The Sony Pictures Animation release has already earned Best Animated Film awards from critics’ groups in the Midwest and Southern California ..." <a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/arthur-christmas-wins-golden-tomato-award-for-best-reviewed-animated-film-of-the-year.html" target="_blank">http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz...ear.html</a>
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The Noms are out: A Cat In Paris" "Chico & Rita" "Kung Fu Panda 2" "Puss in Boots" "Rango" Note the absence of a certain studio there? I'm still pickin' Rango.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I have to say I'm surprised Tintin didn't make it, only because of Spielberg's influence, moreso than Pooh or Cars 2.
