Monday, January 31, 2011

Michael Jackson's This Is It Review









Michael Jackson's This is It


Release Date: 29th October 2009 – Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
The Michael Jackson Company
(in association with)
AEG Live (in association with)

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Documentary/Music

Rating: G

Runtime: 111 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $261,183,588 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Michael Jackson's "THIS IS IT" is a music documentary. Before his death in June 2009, the late King of Pop was planning for what should have been his comeback tour that would have taken place starting in the summer of
2009 in London's O2 Arena.

Documenting the final months of Jackson's life with behind-the-scenes footage, the film is a final tribute to the influential artist consisting of rehearsals from Jackson and other performers.


Cast
Michael Jackson - Himself
Alex Al - Himself
Alexandra Apjarova - Herself
Nick Bass - Himself
Michael Bearden - Himself
Irina Brecher - Herself
Daniel Celebre - Himself
Mekia Cox - Herself
Chris Grant - Himself
Misha Gabriel Hamilton - Himself
Judith Hill - Herself
Dorian Holley - Himself
Devin Jamieson - Himself
Bashiri Johnson - Himself
Charles Klapow - Himself
Rachael Markarian - Herself
Jonathan Moffett - Himself
Tommy Organ - Himself
Orianthi - Herself
Kenny Ortega - Himself
Brittany Perry-Russell - Herself
Daryl Phinnessee - Himself
Mo Pleasure - Himself
Dres Reid - Himself
Daniella Rueda-Watts - Herself
Ken Stacey - Himself
Tyne Stecklein - Herself
Timor Steffens - Himself
Stacy Walker - Herself
Dreya Weber - Herself

Crew
Producer: Live Show/Choreographer/
Director - Kenny Ortega
Associate Producer/Musician: Keyboards/
Original Score Producer/Music - Michael Bearden
Associate Producer/Choreographer - Travis Payne
Associate Producer: Live Show - Alif Sankey
Executive Producers - John Branca
and John McClain
Producers: Live Show - Paul Gongaware,
John Meglen and Randy Phillips
Co-Producers - Frank DiLeo
and Chantal Feghali
Production Designers - Bernt Amadeus Capra
and Michael Cotton
Art Director - William Budge
Set Decorator - Donald Elmblad
Costume Designers - Michael Bush,
Jordanna Fineberg, Erin Lareau and
Dennis Tompkins
Costume Designer: Michael Jackson - Zaldy
Cameraman - Sandrine Orabona
Cameraman/Editor - Tim Patterson
Visual Effects Supervisors - Bruce Jones
and Sheena Duggal
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures -
Thomas Proctor
Producer: 2D/3D Film & Video Content,
Stimulated Inc. - Robb Wagner
Editors - Don Brochu, Brandon Key and
Kevin Stitt
Supervising Sound Editor - Tricia Linklater
Re-Recording Mixer - David Giammarco
Re-Recording/Music Mixer - Paul Massey
Audio Supervisor: Live Show/Supervising
Music Editor - Michael Durham Prince
Musician: Drums - Jonathan Moffett
Musician: Guitar - Tommy Organ
Musician: Bass - Alex Al


Review
I loved Michael Jackson, regardless of how some people feel about him or his personal life (like his rumoured disturbing behaviour towards young children). I loved every bit of his songs until his untimely death in 2009. It came as a shock to all of us, including fans. They were expecting to see his long-awaited concert tour, which never got around as he passed on. Many fans, critics and some of Jackson's relatives weren't happy that the rehearsal footage had gotten a theatrical release, which they felt was unnecessary for the King of Pop and made to cash in with his death.

Michael Jackson's "THIS IS IT" showed the making of what could have been his ultimate comeback to the music stage. The movie has remarkable vignettes and is a tribute to his exceptional dancing, incredible singing voice and musical skills. Even in his final moments, Michael Jackson performs with much vigour and energy and is still lively.

I enjoyed this film but not as much as I listened to his songs and watched his music videos. This documentary is a special treat for fans of the late King of Pop. Trust me, it has entertainment value, and you know when you'll appreciate it.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Back to Home

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Astro Boy Review










Astro Boy


Release Date: 15th October 2009 – Australia


Production Companies
Imagi Animation Studios
Imagi Crystal
Summit Entertainment
Tezuka Productions

Distribution
Hoyts Distribution


Genre: Animation/Family/
Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 minutes


Budget: $65,000,000

Box Office Gross: $41,636,243 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Astro Boy is the story of
scientist Dr. Tenma, who
creates a young robot
called Astro Boy to
replace his lost son Toby.
Astro discovers
his incredible powers,
including rocket boosters,
armed laser cannons
and machine guns. Astro
embarks on a journey
when his father rejects
him because he is unlike
his real son. Astro flees
the floating Metro City to
the surface, where he
meets several companions,
including Cora and a dog
named Trashcan.

There is a conflict between
Astro and the Peacekeeper,
who is trying to steal the
energy-wielding Blue Core
from Astro, and they try to
destroy each other in Metro
City, causing much
destruction and mayhem.
Will Astro have what it
takes to bring down the
Peacekeeper with the
assistance of his
companions?


Voice Cast
Freddie Highmore – Astro
Boy/Toby Tenma
Nicolas Cage – Dr. Bill Tenma
Kristen Bell – Cora
Bill Nighy – Dr. Elefun/Robotsky
Donald Sutherland – President Stone
Samuel L. Jackson – Zog
Nathan Lane – Hamegg
Matt Lucas – Sparx
David Bowers – Mike the Fridge
Charlize Theron – 'Our Friends' Narrator
Eugene Levy – Orrin
Dee Bradley Baker – Trashcan
David Alan Grier – Mr. Squirt/
Math Cowboy/Boxer Robot
Alan Tudyk – Mr. Squeegee/Scrapheap
Head/Stinger Two
Newell Alexander – General Heckler
Moises Arias – Zane
Sterling Beaumon – Sludge
Madeline Carroll – Widget
Elle Fanning – Grace
Sofia Bowers – The Little Stinker
Nicole Fletcher – Oh No! Kid
Maryann Garger – Dr. Pigknuckle/
Newscaster (Cameo)
Tiffany Hillkurtz – Bride to Be (Cameo)
David Feiss – Cowboy Robot
Nicholas Guest – French Waiter Robot
Max Burkholder – Billy
Victor Bonavida – Sam
Steve Alterman – Press Secretary
Rif Hutton – Metro City Sergeant
Madeleine Russell – Metro City Girl
Pilar Flynn – Cora's Mom (Cameo)
Tony Matthews – Cora's Dad (Cameo)

Crew
Story/Writer/Director – David Bowers
"Astro Boy" Manga Creator – Osamu Tezuka
Writer – Timothy Harris
Additional Story Material – Colin Brady
Story Consultant – Michael Lachance
Executive Producers – Francis Kao,
Cecil Kramer, Ken Tsumura and Paul Wang
Line Producer – Pilar Flynn
Producer – Maryann Garger
Creative Consultants – Yoshihiro Shimizu
and Macoto Tezuka
Production Designer – Sam Michlap
Art Director – Jake Rowell
Head of Creative and Art – Felix Ip
Character Designer – Luis GranĂ©
Costume Designer – Jane Poole
Head of Story – Kevin Johnson
Production Managers – Sefine Leung,
Tony Matthews and Emerald Wong
Head of Animation – Tim Cheung
Animation Directors – Jakob Hjort Jensen
and Kim Ooi
Supervising Animators – Lai Lok Chau,
Szeto Fai, Grass Cho, Wong Joe,
Kenneth Leung and Phoenix Wong
Director of Photography – Pepe Valencia
Visual Effects Supervisor – Yan Chen
Film Editor – Robert Anich
Additional Editor – John Venzon
Second Editor – Tiffany Hillkurtz
Supervising Sound Editor – Richard L. Anderson
Sound Mixers – James Bolt and
Nerses Gezalyan
Re-Recording Mixer – Elliot Tyson
Music – John Ottman


Review
If I remember correctly, ASTRO BOY was on Cartoon Network, and it made a difference for me to discover it came from Japan. That's how the term "anime" popped into my head. I watched the 80s and 2003 series and became aware of their history when it was the turning point for manga and anime. At 17 years old, I was vacationing in Hervey Bay, Queensland, when I first saw the movie, and it is not like the source material its creator, the late Osamu Tezuka, had conceived decades ago. It is the last animated feature produced by Imagi Animation Studios, and it's a shame that the animation studio won't be able to make another film after ASTRO BOY, which flopped hard financially and may have closed down the studio.

While ASTRO BOY has the heart and action of the manga and anime TV series, the film iteration could have been better in live-action and in the 3D aspect rather than animation. It would have made for a more appealing visual display. It has a lot of charm, albeit with some chuckles. All that is missing in the movie is a soul and an engaging plot, which would make it work. I'm slightly disappointed that the filmmakers had altered Astro's age into a 13-year-old. The CG animation is alright but needs anime-like qualities seen in the Japanese show. The actors Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy and others were well-chosen for the character roles that they were portraying.

The film certainly doesn't come across as loyal to the anime series, but it has its own story than an actual adaptation. Overall, it is a good movie for all ages and fans who have grown up watching Astro Boy.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Friday, January 21, 2011

The Green Hornet Review











The Green Hornet


Release Date: 20th January 2011 Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Original Film

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 119 minutes


Budget: $120,000,000

Box Office Gross: $227,817,248 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When a news magnate suddenly dies, his Playboy son Britt Reid inherits his publishing media empire and forms a friendship with one of his father's employees, Kato. Together, the pair finally find a purpose of altruism: they become vigilantes to rid the city of crime. Britt becomes the masked Green Hornet, and with Kato's help, they use their high-tech weaponry and skills of crime-fighting to take on the underworld crime boss, Chudnofsky.


Cast
Seth Rogen – Britt Reid/
The Green Hornet
Jay Chou – Kato
Christoph Waltz – Benjamin
Chudnofsky
Cameron Diaz – Lenore
''Casey'' Case
Tom Wilkinson – James Reid
Edward James Olmos – Mike Axford
Edward Furlong – Tupper
Analeigh Tipton – Ana Lee
David Harbour – D.A. Frank Scanlon
Jamie Harris – Popeye
Chad Coleman – Chili
Reuben Langdon – Crackhead
James Franco – Danny "Crystal" Clear (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director – Michel Gondry
Based on the Radio Series – George W. Trendle and Fran Striker
Writers/Executive
Producers – Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
Associate Producers – Leeann Stonebreaker and Lisa Rodgers
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager – Michael Grillo
Executive Producers – Ori Marmur and George W. Trendle Jr.
Producer – Neal H. Moritz
Co-Producer – Raffi Adlan
Casting Director – Francine Maisler
Production Designer – Owen Paterson
Illustrators  Jeff Julian,
Manuel Plank-Jorge and John Eaves
Supervising Art Director Greg Papalia
Art Directors Benjamin Edelberg,
Randy Moore and Chas S. Frey
Set Decorator – Ronald R. Reiss
Costume Designer – Kym Barrett
Costume Supervisor – Lisa Loovas
Director of Photography – John Schwartzman
Director of Photography: Second Unit –
Peter Lyons Collister
Location Manager – Mike Fantasia
First Assistant Directors – Michael Hausman
and Jonathan Watson
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator –
Vic Armstrong
Stunt Coordinator – Andy Armstrong
Fight Stunt Coordinator – Jeff Imada
Picture Car Coordinator Dennis McCarthy
Special Effects Supervisor – John Frazier
Special Effects Coordinator  Jim Schwalm
and Scott Forbes
Visual Effects Supervisor – Jamie Dixon
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hammerhead
Productions – Justin Jones
Co-Visual Effects Supervisor: Hammerhead
Productions – Dan Levitan
Visual Effects Supervisor: CIS Vancouver
Mark Breakspear
3D Visual Effects Supervisor: Venture 3D –
Bruce Jones
Visual Effects Producer – Camille Cellucci
Animation Supervisor: Luma Pictures 
Raphael A. Pimentel
Editor – Michael Tronick
Additional Editor – Evan Henke
First Assistant Editors – Aaron Brock and
Dylan Quirt
Supervising Sound Editors – Harry Cohen
and Wylie Stateman
Production Mixer – John Pritchett
Re-Recording Mixers – Jeffrey J. Haboush,
Greg P. Russell and Dennis S. Sands
Foley Artists – Gary A. Hecker
and Catherine Rose
Music – James Newton Howard
Music Editors – Carl Kaller and
Joe E. Rand
Score Recordists & Mixers – Shawn Murphy
and Joel Iwataki


Review
The film adaptation of THE GREEN HORNET had some okay elements, but overall, it felt like a complete mess. The movie's weak points include the storyline being a bit flat and Seth Rogen as the protagonist, bringing lowbrow humour and a lack of depth to what could have been a great character. It has shown that Rogen is not the ideal actor for that role. The movie relied upon its gratifying visual style from the director Michel Gondry. Jay Chou was exceptional as Kato, a character once portrayed by Bruce Lee in the classic TV series. His action scenes kept the audience's interest. This film includes several throwback references to the original franchise to entertain the Hornets.

THE GREEN HORNET is the first superhero movie I have ever reviewed. However, this interpretation could have been better if it had a better storyline and characterisation. The main hero would have been likable had it not been ruined by Seth Rogen's take on the character. Unfortunately, the feature holds no contest with the other rival superhero films.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Metro Cinema Re-Opened

Metro 5 Cinema reopens today after the ceiling collapsed in Cinema 3 on Sunday 2nd, January. But unfortunately, only two theatres are operating. As an incentive to movie fans, they're offering discounted tickets. To both 2D and 3D films until January 31st. See the website for details.

www.metrocinemas.com.au

Back to Home

Friday, January 14, 2011

How to Train Your Dragon Review















How to Train Your Dragon


Release Date: 25th March 2010 Australia


Production Companies
DreamWorks Animation (presents)
Mad Hatter Entertainment

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 minutes


Budget: $165,000,000

Box Office Gross: $494,879,471 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
On the island of Berk, where Vikings rule the land, Hiccup, the son of the tribe's chief, desperately wants to kill a dragon to impress his father, who has low expectations of the scrawny youngster. When he captures a rare Night Fury dragon, he unexpectedly befriends the beast and starts on a journey to learn more about dragons beyond killing them.


Voice Cast
Jay Baruchel – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
Gerard Butler – Stoick the Vast
Craig Ferguson – Gobber the Belch
America Ferrera – Astrid Hofferson
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Fishlegs Ingerman
Jonah Hill – Snotlout Jorgenson
T. J. Miller Ruffnut Thorston
Kristen Wiig – Tuffnut Thorston
David Tennant – Spitelout

Crew
Screenplay/Directors – Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
Based on the Book "How to Train Your Dragon" – Cressida Cowell
Screenplay – William Davies
Collaborating Writer – Marc Hyman (Uncredited)
Additional Screenplay
Material – Adam F. Goldberg (Uncredited)
Executive Producers Kristine Belson and Tim Johnson
Producer – Bonnie Arnold
Co-Producers – Doug Davison, Roy Lee,
Michael A. Connolly and Karen Foster
Production Designer – Kathy Alteri
Art Director – Pierre-Olivier Vincent
Character Designers – Nicolas Marlet,
Ricardo F. Delgado, Takao Noguchi
and Tony Siruno
Head of Story – Alessandro Carloni
Head of Layout – Gil Zimmerman
Layout Supervisor  Melissa Beery
Production Managers – Jennifer Dahlman,
Lori Kornigiebel, Craig Rittenbaum and
Kate Spencer
Head of Character Animation – Simon Otto
Supervising Animators: "Hiccup" 
Jakob Hjort Jensen and David Torres
Supervising Animators: "Toothless" 
Cassidy Curtis and Gabe Hordos
Supervising Animator: "Astrid"  Steven Hornby
Supervising Animator: "Stoick" – Kristof Serrand
Supervising Animator: "Gobber"  Fabio Lignini
Character Technical Directors – Jeffrey B. Light
and Nathan Loofbourrow
Modelling Supervisor  Matthew Paulson
Head of Effects Matt Baer
Visual Effects Supervisor – Craig Ring
Visual Consultant – Roger Deakins
Stereoscopic Supervisor – Phil 'Captain 3D' McNally
Editors – Maryann Brandon and
Darren T. Holmes
Additional Editor – John K. Carr
Associate Editors – Mary Blee,
Susan Fitzer and Mark A. Hester
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/
Re-Recording Mixer – Randy Thom
Sound Designer  Al Nelson
Supervising Sound Editor – Jon Null
Assistant Supervising Sound Editor –
Brian Chumney
Re-Recording Mixer – Gary A. Rizzo
Foley Mixer – Frank Rinella
Foley Artists – Dennie Thorpe and
Jana Vance
Music – John Powell
Score Mixer/Additional Score Recordist –
Shawn Murphy


Awards

2011 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature Chris Sanders
and Dean DeBlois (Nominated)
Best Original Score John Powell (Nominated)


Review
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is a superb CGI animated film that was amazing in 3D. It was one of the first movies I saw in this format when I watched it for the second time. It has a familiar, heartwarming story that focuses on the relationship between the main hero, Hiccup, and the dragon, Toothless. When I looked at the latter character, his facial appearance reminded me of Stitch, which made sense when I learned that the two gentlemen who directed this movie also made Lilo & Stitch.

Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson and Jonah Hill were terrific in their voice acting for this movie. The animation is gorgeous, even for a film with interesting characters, witty dialogue and great action sequences (particularly the aerial battles). The music soundtrack by John Powell has turned out to be one of the best scores in an animated motion picture.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is dear to me as it is a feel-good animated feature that I regard as one of the greatest I have ever seen and will hold this superior status for decades. It is one of the best of all the animated movies made by DreamWorks. I recommend this film highly.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Friday, January 7, 2011

The Lion King (1994) Review








The Lion King



Release Date: 25th August 1994 –
Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Walt Disney Feature Animation (Uncredited)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $45,000,000

Box Office Gross: $968,511,805 
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A young lion named Simba is born into the Pride Lands and is next in line to succeed his father as king. But when his evil uncle Scar has other plans to assume the throne, he tricks his nephew into believing that he caused his father's death and takes over the kingdom from him.

Now fleeing from his homeland, Simba is saved from certain doom by a lovable meerkat and warthog duo named Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him to 
live their carefree lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata" and ignore his responsibilities. As Simba matures, much
to his surprise, his friend
Nala returns to convince
him that he must return
to the Pride Lands to
face Scar and take his
place in the "Circle of
Life."


Voice Cast
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Young Simba
Jason Weaver – Young Simba (singing voice)
Matthew Broderick – Adult Simba
Joseph Williams – Adult Simba (singing voice)
Jeremy Irons – Scar
James Earl Jones – Mufasa
Moira Kelly – Adult Nala
Sally Dworsky – Adult Nala (singing voice)
Niketa Calame – Young Nala
Laura Williams – Young Nala (singing voice)
Nathan Lane – Timon
Ernie Sabella – Pumbaa
Robert Guillaume – Rafiki
Rowan Atkinson – Zazu
Whoopi Goldberg – Shenzi
Cheech Marin – Banzai
Jim Cummings – Ed/Gopher/
Scar (singing voice) (in
last part of Be Prepared)
(Uncredited)
Madge Sinclair – Sarabi
Zoe Leader – Sarafina

Crew
Directors – Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
Story – Burny Mattinson, Barry Johnson, Thom Enriquez, Gary Trousdale, Jim Capobianco, Kevin Harkey, Jorgen Klubien,
Tom Sito, Larry Leker,
Joe Ranft, Ed Gombert,
Francis Glebas and Mark Kausler
Story/Art Director – Andy Gaskill
Story/Production Designer – Chris Sanders
Story/Animator: Adult Simba – Lorna Cook
Additional Story Material – J.T. Allen,
George Scribner, Miguel Tejada-Flores,
Jenny Tripp, Bob Tzudiker, Christopher Vogler,
Kirk Wise and Noni White
Screenplay – Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts
and Linda Woolverton
Associate Producer – Alice Dewey Goldstone
Executive Producers – Thomas Schumacher
and Sarah McArthur
Producer – Don Hahn
Consultant: Wildlife Jim Fowler
Live Lion and Animal Models David J. McMillan
Live Lion and Animal Models: Cougar Hill
Ranch – Nicholas Toth
Artistic Coordinator – Randy Fullmer
Character Designers/Visual Development
Artists – Hans Bacher, Jean Gillmore,
Joe Grant, Mike Hodgson, Lisa Keene,
Sue C. Nichols, Mel Shaw, Bob Smith,
Bruce Zick and Vance Gerry (Uncredited)
Artistic Supervisor: Story – Brenda Chapman
Artistic Supervisor: Layout  Daniel St. Pierre
Artistic Supervisor: Layout, Florida  Robert Walker
Artistic Supervisor: Background  Doug Ball
Artistic Supervisor: Background, Florida 
Robert E. Stanton
Supervising Animator: "Young Simba" –
Mark Henn
Supervising Animator: "Adult Simba"
Ruben A. Aquino
Supervising Animator: "Mufasa" Tony Fucile
Supervising Animator: "Rafiki" James Baxter
Supervising Animator: "Scar" Andreas Deja
Supervising Animator: "Young Nala"
Aaron Blaise
Supervising Animator: "Timon" Michael Surrey
Supervising Animator: "Pumbaa" Tony Bancroft
Supervising Animator: "Adult Nala"
Anthony de Rosa
Supervising Animators: "Hyenas" Dave Burgess
and Alex Kupershmidt
Supervising Animator: "Sarabi" Russ Edmonds
Supervising Animator: "Zazu" Ellen Woodbury
Additional Animators - Chris Bailey,
Ken Duncan, Raul Garcia and David Stephan
Artistic Supervisor: Clean-Up/Supervising
Character Lead: Additional: "Young Simba"/
Miscellaneous Characters Vera Pacheco
Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects/Effects
Animator – Dave Bossert
Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects – Scott Santoro
Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects, Florida
Jeff Dutton
Artistic Supervisor: Computer Graphics Imagery –
Scott F. Johnson
Additional CGI Animation Rob Bekuhrs,
Steve Goldberg and James Tooley
Supervising Editors  John Carnochan
and Tom Finan
Film Editor – Ivan Bilancio
Supervising Sound Editors – Richard L. Anderson
and Mark A. Mangini
Special Sound Effects – John Pospisil
Re-Recording Mixers – Terry Porter,
Mel Metcalfe and David J. Hudson
Foley Artists – John Roesch and
Hilda Hodges
Songs: Music/Performer: "Can You Feel the
Love Tonight" – Elton John
Songs: Lyrics – Tim Rice
Original Score Composer and Arranger/
Music Supervisor – Hans Zimmer
Additional Vocal Arranger/Composer: Additional
Music (Uncredited) – Mark Mancina
Choral Arranger/Conductor/Vocal Solos:
African Improvisations – Lebo M.
Choral Arranger/Conductor/Composer:
Additional Music (Uncredited) 
Nick Glennie-Smith


Awards

1995 Academy Awards
Best Original Score Hans Zimmer (Won)
Best Original Song "Can You Feel the Love
Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice (Won)
----------------
Best Original Song "Circle of Life" Elton John
and Tim Rice (Nominated)
Best Original Song "Hakuna Matata" Elton John
and Tim Rice (Nominated)


Review
THE LION KING stands above the other Disney animated classics and is an epic, funny and majestic masterpiece that is unlike any other. It is also touching for anyone who watches this movie, particularly the sad scene where Mufasa dies. The movie's plot was loosely based on Hamlet by William Shakespeare, yet it also has similarities to Osamu Tezuka's anime series Kimba the White Lion. I have read an article saying that some people claimed the film was a ripoff of Tezuka's anime, but it is a mere coincidence. I loved everything in the film, including my favourite moments like the famous "Circle of Life" opening and the wildebeest stampede.

The film is complemented by the brilliant voice acting of Jeremy Irons, who is deliciously sinister as Scar and Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella are funny as Timon and Pumbaa. Other talented actors, such as Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones and others, also support the film with their impressive voice performances. THE LION KING has a superb music score by Hans Zimmer and terrific songs by legendary pop musician Elton John, including the opening song, "Be Prepared", "Hakuna Matata", and my favourite, the Oscar-winning "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".

THE LION KING was my favourite feature film by Disney and the best 2D animated blockbuster of all time. I recommend it to anyone, young and old. The film and the 3D version are available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever