Writhing in Development Hell, a term Hollywood uses when a project is stuck in limbo for too long before it is either abandoned or greenlit, can be a death knell for a project. Fortunately, Disney’s Haunted Mansion was eventually greenlit, and audiences will see the results at your local multiplex this weekend. Considering that the [...]
I could sit here and explain why Walt Disney's push for live-action remakes of its animated films is an exercise in creative futility. That, however, serves no real purpose. Walt Disney has been adapting their animated films for the stage for years. So, with that in mind, if you’re sitting in a theater seat and [...]
An interesting thought occurred to me as I sat down to watch Craig Gillespie’s “Cruella.” I am not a studied acolyte of the works of Dodie Smith. Or of Bill Peet’s animated classic, let alone Glenn Close’s two turns as the nefarious Cruella de Vil. So, it would seem natural that my indoctrination to this [...]
Dogs are man’s best friend. Or, so the saying goes. Chris Sanders’ live-action directorial debut, “The Call of the Wild” is a testament to that proverb. Buck, the St. Bernard /Scotch Collie mix is a rambunctious dog. He’s lovable in every way and gets into trouble very easily. Sanders guides the opening minutes of the [...]
