2005: A Really BIG Year for Movies

If you know me, you also know I love movies. There's almost nothing more enjoyable than sitting in a theater with friends and family enjoying the 'big' movies of the year. I'm like a 12-year old kid who goes into 'geek' mode when I'm thrilled about a movie. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, my eyes get all watery when the music starts, and I'm transported to their world. 2005 looks like it will a fun year for people like you and I, the moviegoing public.

I've compiled this list from various sources, but a more comprehensive list of 2005 films can be found at BillSaysThis.com. There's also more not included on Bill's list, and dates are subject to change as studios jockey for position during the summer and winter holiday seasons.

A few actors and actresses star in several of the year's films and there's a lot of 'big' names listed. We've already had Elektra with Jennifer Garner (Alias, Daredevil) and Terrence Stamp (The Limey, Superman II) from Rob Bowman (The X-Files, Reign of Fire) but here's a slate of some of the 'event' movies of the year. Where's the ticket lines start?

CONSTANTINE: Another comic book-to-film adaptation has Keanu Reeves playing a detective who specializes in the occult. He reteams (Chain Reaction) with Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) to investigate the death of her twin sister. Some fans are already upset at the changes to the character from the comic books, but general early buzz is mixed. Looks promising, but could be too much for the general crowd and just achieve cult status. More about the original character can be found at The House of Vertigo. Opens February 18.

ROBOTS: The creators of Ice Age, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios, collaborate on a tale of a young Robot who journeys to Robot City. Blue Sky / Fox have managed to provide some decent 3D animated competition for Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. If this film is successful, it will help build Fox's reputation in the 3D animation arena. Ewan McGregor voices the lead robot, with Mel Brooks, Drew Carey, and the always-amusing Robin Williams completing the 'metal' group. Chris Wedge directs. Opens March 11.

SIN CITY: Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Spy Kids) and comic book creator Frank Miller co-direct a tale of corruption and redemption from Miller's own bold graphic novels. Bruce Willis, Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Clive Owen (BMW Films Presents: The Hire, King Arthur), Jessica Alba (Dark Angel), Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Michael Clarke Duncan (Armageddon), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill), and Maria Bello (The Cooler) are some of the gritty citizens who populate Basin City. Opens April 1.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) chose Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) as his star. A 12th century blacksmith becomes a knight and helps defend Jerusalem during the Crusades. Ridley's one of the true masters of filmmaking. And as far as epic films go, Gladiator stands among the best. If this is as epic, we're in for another visual and storytelling treat. Liam Neeson (Schindler's List, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) and David Thewlis (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Timeline) also star. Opens May 6.

STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH: George Lucas directs the last of the 3 Star Wars 'prequel' films. Anakin Skywalker's fall to the Dark Side is completed and the Jedi Order eliminated. Though The Phantom Menace didn't live up to fans expectations, Attack of the Clones brought a lot more energy and story to the prequels. Episode 3 promises to be the darkest chapter yet. Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman (Leon: The Professional), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Christopher Lee, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Jimmy Smits and Peter Mayhew rule the galaxy far, far away. Opens May 19.

MADAGASCAR: From the creators (Dreamworks Animation) of Shrek 2 and Shark Tale, comes a 'tail' of zoo animals gone wild. Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), is the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) decide to go after Alex when he attempts escape. Before making it to freedom, they are captured and put on a ship to Africa. When some clever penguins decide to sabotage the ship, the animals find themselves washing up on the island of Madagascar. Opens May 27.

MR. AND MRS. SMITH: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as a husband and wife who are both assassins but don't know that the other is as well. Having filmed Spy Game with Robert Redford, Pitt comes with knowledge of the genre, and Jolie, with the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider series should have something to contribute. We've all seen the Spy genre done many different ways from James Bond to Austin Powers, but Director Doug Liman will hopefully bring this espionage story to the silver screen with the energy he did in The Bourne Identity. Opens June 10.

BATMAN BEGINS: Director Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia) will hopefully provide a needed reinvigoration of the Batman franchise in this 'prequel' of sorts to the other films. Christian Bale (American Psycho, Reign of Fire) stars as the Dark Knight Detective, with Michael Caine as his loyal butler Alfred. The truly stellar cast is rounded out with Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman (True Romance), Liam Neeson, Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai), and Katie Holmes. Opens June 17.

WAR OF THE WORLDS: Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Composer John Williams reunite (Minority Report) for a remake of the classic George Pal science-fiction film. Actually it's based on the H.G. Wells book but in a contemporary setting. You can bet there'll be 'Tripods', tanks, soldiers, guns, lasers, running, screaming, fire, and more lasers! This could be the movie to beat this summer, if Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith doesn't live up to expectations. More info can also be found at The DreamWorks SKG Fansite. Opens June 29.

FANTASTIC FOUR: Michael Chiklis (The Commish, The Shield) stars as The Thing / Ben Grimm) and Jessica Alba (Dark Angel, Sin City materializes as The Invisible Woman / Sue Storm with Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards (King Arthur) and Chris Evans (Cellular) as The Human Torch / Johnny Storm. One of Marvel Comic's all-time biggest series, is being directed by Tim Story (Barbershop). This one's going to have a tough time matching the imagery of a superhero team generated by Brad Bird and Pixar's The Incredibles. Opens July 8 (moved from July 1 to not compete with War of the Worlds).

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: The brilliant Johnny Depp reunites with Director Tim Burton yet again (Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, The Corpse Bride) to bring a remake of the Roald Dahl best-selling children's book. Featuring Willy Wonka, Oompa Loompas, and lots of sugar-coated candy, this might be the big family film of the summer. Danny Elfman is also back to score another Burton film. Be sure to check out the freaky looking Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka at the official website. Opens July 15.

THE ISLAND: Big-budget, action Director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys) brings a film almost certainly to keep the popcorn flowing from the bucket to your mouth. A 21st century sci-fi tale about human clones who escape a colony where they are raised to be harvested for parts by original humans. Ewan McGregor, like Liam Neeson, lends his talent to yet another potential blockbuster of 2005 along with Scarlett Johansson, Sean Bean, Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Gladiator), Steve Buscemi, and Michael Clarke Duncan. This is also the first Michael Bay film not produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Opens July 22.

WALLACE AND GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERERABBIT: Another stop-motion animated film from the creators of Chicken Run. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit makes its way to the big screen. Helena Bonham-Carter (Lady Tottington), who also does voice work in Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride, teams with Peter Sallis (Wallace), and Ralph Fiennes (Lord Victor Quartermaine). You can watch a behind-the-scenes clip here.Opens October 27.

TIM BURTON'S THE CORPSE BRIDE: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter provide the voices for Tim Burton's stop-motion folktale in the tradition of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Another painstaking film done in a process mastered by a select few like Henry Selick and Ray Harryhausen. One of my most anticipated films of the year. Check out the trailer and drool like a monster here. Opens October 31.

THE LEGEND OF ZORRO: Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones both return in the sequel to Martin Campbell's (Goldeneye) original, The Mask of Zorro. After settling down to enjoy a family life, Zorro is forced to return when California is threatened again. Only this time, he's not alone, his lovely wife, Elena will be along for the adventure. Zorro is one of the characters who directly influenced Bob Kane's creation, Batman, and I really enjoyed how the first film respected the character and its history. The Mask of Zorro really brought a sense of adventure and fun with a character that some considered to be past his time. Zorro rides again on November 4.

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: In a series I've really enjoyed, the wonderful adventures of Hogwarts wizards, witches, creatures, and ghouls are continued in this fourth installment. Director Mike Newell (Mona Lisa Smile, Donnie Brasco) picks up where Director Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) left off with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) participating in a multi-school Wizardry Tournament. More news at the great MuggleNet. Opens November 18.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE: Disney hopes to capitalize on the success of New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings series with another live-action filmed exploration of the Chronicles of Narnia tales. You can check out some of the fantastic creatures designs and effects being done by Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings) at Apple's QuickTime Trailers website. Since C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were often in communication regarding each other's work, it is appropriate that Weta is there to bring the creatures to life. Brian Cox (Manhunter, X2: X-Men United) provides the voices of Aslan the Lion while Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2) helms the production. Opens December 9.

KING KONG. Perhaps the real 'big' movie of the year. Peter Jackson follows up his enormously successful The Lord of the Rings trilogy with a remake of the original 1933 giant ape film. Starring Adrien Brody (The Thin Red Line, The Village), Naomi Watts (The Ring), Jack Black (School of Rock), Andy Serkis (Gollum in The Lord of the Rings), and Colin Hanks. The original is one of my all-time favorite films, so hopefully PJ can at least come close to the excitement and adventure of the original. The 1933 version continues to inspire filmmakers, animators, and paleontologist today and if PJ's version works, there'll be a new one to light up the imaginations of budding filmmakers. If you want to follow the progress of the production down in New Zealand, visit KongIsKing.net for video diaries and concept interviews. Opens December 14.
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Happy New Year !!!

Due to battling Pneumonia, a cold, and flu, my wife and I spent part of the 2004 Christmas Holiday trying to regain our health. Thankfully we didn't miss the great dinners and company on Christmas Day and Boxing Day like we did last year. To keep us entertained, we watched a bunch of movies and played quite a few video games. Mario Kart Double Dash and Prince Of Persia: Sands of Time on the Nintendo GameCube and The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King on the PlayStation 2. Overall, we had a pretty good time despite being sick.

Because I was so ill, I didn't have time to complete our 2004 Holiday Card before Christmas, but now that I'm back in good health, I did finish it. So to all of the blog readers, family, friends, and associates, Best Wishes for a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2005!

Lemmings Suicide Myth

You know how Lemmings supposedly commit mass suicide by jumping off cliffs? That myth really gained momentum from none other than a Disney movie that was filmed right here in Alberta. It's amazing to think that one smaller Disney film had the effect of creating not only a false representation of an animal and its activities, but also helped create "a metaphor for the behavior of crowds of people who foolishly follow each other, lemming-like regardless of the consequences."



Click here to read about the creation of the Lemming Suicide Myth.



I actually read this fascinating piece about a year and a half ago while searching the Internet for movies produced in Alberta. Thanks to thedisneyblog for the reminder.

Henry Selick: Stop-Motion Animator

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Dr. Michael Ryan Joins the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

I'd like to congratulate my good friend, Dr. Michael J. Ryan on his new role as Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology with the prestigious Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In addition to his experience with the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, Ryan has travelled extensively around the globe exploring fossilized dinosaur remains and has been published in numerous scientific journals. As a member of Phaeton Group, Michael has provided in-depth scientific and creative consulting and has also helped locate some of the lost filming locations of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. Check out the press release to learn more about Michael's accomplishments and new role.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Rankin/Bass's stop-motion animated classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Originally aired by NBC in December, 1964, it's a Christmas favorite that according to Rankin/Bass fan and historian Rick Goldschmidt, has become "the longest running, highest rated television special in the history of the medium." From Rudolph's desire for respect from the other reindeer, to the struggle of Hermey the Elf trying to become a Dentist, to the adventures of Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is an enduring tale that has remained in the hearts and minds of many children and adults.

Like Jim Henson's Muppets, the Rankin/Bass characters animated in stop-motion are cartoon beings brought to life in the third dimension. The technique accomplished in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, was also used by Rankin/Bass in other classics including Mad Monster Party, by pioneering animator Willis O'Brien in King Kong, by Ray Harryhausen in Jason and The Argonauts, Clash of the Titans, and the many Sinbad films, by Henry Selick and crew in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and by the Aardman Studio in Chicken Run. Imagine having to animate each character and surrounding props frame by frame. For film, it took between 16 to 24 frames in order to produce one second of film. Think about that. One second. Now imagine how many frames it took to complete the 55-minute film and you have an idea of the enormous amount of work required! Each character's movements had to be carefully coordinated and because they were talking and singing, their heads had to have mouths that matched the words. An incredibly complex production but the results, as we are all aware of, were simply amazing.

What are holiday specials without holiday music? The soundtrack and narration are as much a part of the magic or Rudolph as the animation. Burl Ives, who narrated for the film as the voice of Sam the Snowman, also provided memorable songs including 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' , 'A Holly Jolly Christmas', and 'Silver and Gold.' As the 'big name' brought in to attract viewers to the special, his voice and music alone can evoke vivid memories of the colorful animated feature. You can listen to samples and purchase the soundtrack for Rudolph at the iTunes Music Store.

Some interesting facts about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer include:

- The 55-minute film took approximately 18 months to shoot, and like other stop-motion gems, it required the animators to work frame by painstaking frame. The animators had to keep a focused effort on their work; one error could result in having to reanimate and re-film an entire sequence.

- Rudolph, like television's Bart Simpson (voiced by Nancy Cartwright), was given audio life by a woman, Billy Mae Richards, currently 83 years of age and living in Ontario, Canada.

- As was the case with George Lucas's original Star Wars Trilogy, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer also had alterations made. For the 1965 rebroadcast, the song and sequence of 'We're A Couple Of Misfits' was replaced with a new song, 'Fame and Fortune'. There were also some minor alterations done, but the film was supposedly restored back to its original condition in 1998. However, eagle-eyed fans will note some differences between the Collector's Edition DVD and the original airing of the show, most of which are due to ownership and rights issues.

- The character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 by Robert L. May, who at the time, worked as a copywriter for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department stores. The book was created as a Christmas story that could be given away as a promotional item to holiday shoppers.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of Rick Goldschmidt and Mark Sykora at RankinBass.com, the histories of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Rankin / Bass company have become more available to the fans. A search around the Internet turned up some rather great links about our favorite reindeer.

The insightful TVParty website features an incredibly in-depth 3-part article by Rick Goldschmidt on the history of the beloved holiday favorite. Topics discussed in the article include the characters and their name problems, the soundtrack written by Johnny Marks, and the re-shoot required to replace one song sequence with another.

CBS has produced new animated Christmas promotional spots featuring the classic characters of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and some of their recent hit shows like Survivor, CSI and Everybody Loves Raymond. In a nod to the old technique, one of the characters remarks that his movements seem a little 'jerky' - and if you're viewing the clip online, the often stuttering video clip quality (sadly available in Real Player only) echoes his statement. In addition to the video clips, the website features a photo gallery, a coloring book, and wallpaper for your computer.

National Public Radio (NPR) has a small article and audio interview with Goldschmidt discussing Rudolph's 40th anniversary and even some clips from an interview with the voice of Rudolph.


Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is not the only Christmas Classic the Rankin/Bass Studio created. Other holiday adorations include: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, The Year Without Santa Claus, Jack Frost, The Little Drummer Boy, The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold, and the 2D classic Frosty the Snowman. One of my favorites is the rarely-seen The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus currently only available on VHS. Written by L. Frank Baum, more famously known for creating The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the stop-motion film centers its story on Santa's journey from myth-filled boyhood in the Forest of Burzee to legendary manhood around the globe. Wonderful creatures and gods, including Knooks and Nymphs, and beautifully detailed and designed by Rankin/Bass, help support Claus in his goal of providing all children, rich or poor, with toys for Christmas. This is both a more spiritual and adventurous take on the legend of Kris Kringle that fans of mythology, fantasy, and stop-motion animation will enjoy. For those not familiar with the wonderful tale, you can read it this link.

The look of Rudolph continues to be emulated today in numerous commercials, movies, and spoofs. A few years ago, animator Corky Quakenbush provided us with a satire on MadTV called Raging Rudolph (Windows Media Player required and Parental Discretion is advised). Combine the gangster films of Martin Scorsese and the work of Rankin/Bass and you have a violence-laden revenge story instead of the friendly childhood version we all know and love. CBS has used the look in their 2004 holiday promos, and many fans have created their own homages on the World Wide Web. Films like Toy Story and Shrek, even owe a debt to Rankin/Bass for helping to bring continued recognition to animated storytelling. And while studios continue to produce new animated holiday tales in 2D, 3D, and Stop-Motion, none will be as cherished or glow as brightly as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

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Special Note:

I've been a customer of Amazon.com since they first began life on the Internet. I've always experienced great service and found many items I've been searching for. Since many of you have asked for recommendations from me, I've decided to become an Amazon associate. Your purchases through the links below (or using the search boxes in the sidebar and subsequent links in future articles) provide me with small referral fees and help in continuing to bring you, the reader, interesting and insightful articles. A sincere thanks for your support!

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Amazon.ca purchase links:
Purchase Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer on DVD
Purchase Frosty The Snowman on DVD
Purchase The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus on VHS
Purchase Rankin/Bass Christmas Classic DVD Pack
Purchase Jason and the Argonauts on DVD
Purchase The Nightmare Before Christmas on DVD

Now Open: iTunes Music Store Canada

In case you weren't aware, the Apple iTunes Music Store for Canada opened for business as of yesterday. Not as large of a collection as the US or UK counterparts, but if you're looking for music you can't find through Peer-To-Peer networks, or if you're looking to support the artists, head on over and start using your credit card to enhance your music collection.

According to some audiophiles and reviewers, the format you'll be able to download is not as good as what you would find on a standard music CD because of the compression used for online file distribution. AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is the standard on Music CD's and are large in size, whereas the Apple iTunes Music Store-produced files and MP3 files are relatively low in size, with comparable quality. This allows for reasonable download times. However, most people will not recognize the difference and should be happy with their purchase.