Top 5 Favorites (part 2 animated movies)

Okay so we love cartoons, but it was really hard to pick our top five favorite animated films. Keep in mind that we lumped computer animation in with hand drawn. Hope ya'll go enjoy.

Tiny Teach

5. The Last Unicorn- This is the first animated movie that i ever saw that the story line, I don't think was written for young children. The movie isn't funny, and it isn't trying to say anything. It is really a drama put in the form of animation. America does the music in the film and it is amazing. The premise is that the unicorn is trying to find out what has happened to all of the others. It really is delightful and magical.

4. Lady and the Tramp- Honestly I really probably like this movie because all the main characters are dogs. Also, I love how depending on where the breed of dog, the accents of the dogs are different. I mean they are all living in England, so technically they should all have English accents. There is no villian in the movie, but there are a string of events that change the lives of all the charcters.

3. Monsters Inc. - This is my favorite computer animated movie. I love the concept of the monsters and their world, and how the writers and animators really payed attention to details. I mean they even animated Sully's hair piece by piece. It's not something you really notice while watching the film, but it would be completely differnent if wasn't that way. The villian in the film Randel cracks me up! He isn't scary at all, but the way he moves and talks really makes the movie. Oh and I am terrified of Mr. Waternoose. (eek!)

2. Howl's Moving Castle- This anime was adapted by Disney into an English version. I love it. The story is great, the characters are great, and the animation is really something! I love Cacifer the fire demon, and all his hilarous antics. I will admit that this movie is really only great for people who appricate the little things, but I do so; I love love love it!

1. Beauty and the Beast- This is actually my favorite movie. It was my favorite as a kid, and I've never really gotten over it. The music is great, and how can you not fall in love with the characters. It's just another example of Disney taking a beloved story and transforming it into magic. You really watch the characters change, and develop as the story goes on which makes you more attached. Also, I like that no one dies, it bothers me in Disney movies when characters die. This movie marked the start of a new era for Disney, and it the ultimate animated musical.



Daddy Warbucks

5.Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths- Fairly straightforward premise: on an alternate Earth where the bad guys are good and the good guys are bad the Crime Syndicate (bizarro JL) has taken over and this Earth's Jutice League is brought in to save the day, and eventually all of reality. Not as good as the classic Bruce Timm show, but a bit edgier with good, if a bit melodramatic and expected, voicework from the likes of Mark Harmon, Chris Noth, and even james Woods. It's a fast pace animated superhero flick that expects you to already know the characters and their personalities, but still manages to flesh out nicely. The fight scenes are ample and not "kiddied down" in the way that some cartoons tend to and the animation is beautiful.

4. Aladdin- The early nineties marked the beginning of a "New Era" in Disney animation with Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Of the three I have always felt this was the best. while there are individual songs that pop out in other Disney animation, this soundtrack is spot on from top to bottom which is essential in this genre. Robin Williams shines as Genie, and Jafar makes a classic antagonist, counntering the lack of a compelling villian in Beauty and the Beast or Pocahontas. All in all this movie is fun from start to finish and never takes the serious tone that some Disney animation borders on, which makes it a winner in my book.

3. The Sword in the Stone- Old school Disney that often gets overlooked. If you don't count Pixar, which I do due to the close affiliation, then this is the best Disney movie ever made. A coming of age tale set in sixth century England using characters that everyone is familiar with before seeing the movie, there is a level of comfort that allows the viewer to settle in and watch expected events unfold in a new way. There is no true bad guy, although Madame Mihm may be the best character in the movie, but that makes it easier to relate to the growth of young Arthur as his world and expectations change. The songs are catchy and well done even if they aren't spectacular and there's something about the roughness of the art that makes it that much better. And anyone who cried when Bambi's mom died should watch the scene where Arthur turns into a squirel and see how long they can stay dry eyed.

2. Transformers- This 1986 titan is what cartoons are about for boys. The Autobots take on not only the Decepticons, but also Unicron, a force so powerful that the entire unvierse is endangered. Action packed doesn't even begin to describe this movie. Every Autobot and Decepticon worth mentioning gets their moment, allowing even the most hard core fan no room to gripe about oversights. Well written, with impecable art throughout this movie sucks you in to a degree that the live action adaptation of the series is unable to. Like most movies that stem from established cartoon lines this movie does expect that you already know the characters coming in, and the learning curve is steep, but assuming that you have a cursory knowledge of the characters this movie is a non stop roller coaster ride that doesn't dissapoint in the end. This movie has definitely lit several dark hours for a generation of kids.

1. Toy Story-What kid hasn't walked into their room and thought that their toys weren't where they left them? Who hasn't felt bad about replacing a favorite toy with a new one? Toy Story is the amazingly rendered Disney, Pixar story that anyone who had a favorite toy can relate to. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are excellent as the voices of the two main characters, and Randy Newman's music sets the backdrop  for a movie that changed the face of animation and created a major player in Pixar. From start to finish this movie is insanely funny, and even has an adult edge to some of the humor allowing this movie to appeal to viewers well above the targeted demographic. Toy Story is easily the best of all the Pixar movies, sorry Nemo fans, and the most original animated movie to come around in decades. This movie hits on notes that everyone can relate to and wraps them in animation that no one had ever seen before. Everytime I watch this movie I'm taken back to the first time I saw it and how amazed I was. While computer animation has improved since its release, toy Story still stands as a model of what to do in computer animation.

Top Five Favorites (part 1) comedies

We are going to first be posting a series of blogs that list our top five favorite movies in a particular genre. For two reasons really. Reason number 1: this will show you our taste and movies, so you will know whether to keep reading or you will realize that we don't have the same taste. Reason 2: It is really hard to compare movies cross genre, I mean you can't really compare Star Wars with Anchorman; they aren't the same kind of movie.

Comedies Top 5

Tiny Teach

5. Anchorman- Just so everyone is aware I do not like Will Ferrell, but I love this movie. Everyline is quoteable gold. I mean when you can bring up a line from a movie in everyday conversation and make people die laughing; you have comedic gold. Brilliant the whole thing, I love it.

4. I Love You Man- This movie is really funny in an akward way. I love that it is one of the first looks at a guy friendship. I have never watched and not just died laughing. I mean it has the incredible hulk in it come on.

3. The Sweetest Thing- I know that this could be considered a chick flick, but I have never seen a guy watch this movie and not crack up. I'm normally not big on Cameron Diaz, but I love her in this movie. It will have you laughing the entire time with Christina Applegates wittyness. Plus, they sing a song about penius. Bwah
ha ha!

2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall- This movie is very inappropriate, but in the best way. Jason Siegal is sooooo funny. I mean it has everything sex jokes, puppet jokes, and Paul Rudd. I mean I laugh everytime I see it, and that is a mark of a true comedy.

1. Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail - the first time I saw this movie I was in high school, and I had just been dumped by my first real boyfriend. This movie is so funny that I was no longer depressed. With it's hilarious story line and quotable lines, you will be telling your friends there father are hamsters for days, weeks, maybe years.


Daddy Warbucks

5. Shawn of the Dead- Easily the best genre spoof movie ever made. The mostly subtle humor, highlights the absurdities that have become staples in the zombie horror genre. Who doesn't think hitting a zombie with a cricket bat is funny?

4. Beerfest- My personal favorite of the Broken Lizard movies. Takes all of the best aspects of Super Troopers and gets them drunk. Das Boot!

3. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back- Personal favorite although admittedly not a great movie. The plot resembles a dumbed down cross between Cheech and Chong and The Muppets Movie. Actually when I put it that way it sounds really funny.

2. Anchorman- Almost my number one, and depending on the day you ask me it could be. Without a doubt the most quoteable movie ever made. Appeals to all age groups. It includes some of the funniest performances by some of the most under rated comedians of this generation, and the hands down best performance by Will Ferrell.

1. Caddyshack- I dare someone to go three lines in this movie without at least chuckling, it is not possible. Best comedic cast ever assembled. Stands the test of time better than most movies from that era. I know Chevy Chase takes a beating in some circles, but he's money in my book and this is the best of his dry, sarcastic humor. One of Bill Murray's best. And everyone loves a dancing gopher.