the best movies never made
- Thread starter Scarecrow
- Start date
"Death of a Citizen" 1960.
Directed by Don Siegal and staring Lee Marvin as Matt Helm. It was the first of the Matt Helm Movies based on Donald Hamilton books.
Hard boil stories filmed in Neo Noir style, the series was more popular in the US then the James Bond movies which often mixed Humor with it action.
Directed by Don Siegal and staring Lee Marvin as Matt Helm. It was the first of the Matt Helm Movies based on Donald Hamilton books.
Hard boil stories filmed in Neo Noir style, the series was more popular in the US then the James Bond movies which often mixed Humor with it action.
The Hidden Horror (1965)
Alfred Hitchcock's stab at the monster movie genre, co-written by Rod Serling, telling the story of Peter's Falls, a West Virginia coal town all but run by mining baron Trevor Barris, head of Orpheus Enterprises. Its mine suffers a massive collapse one night very quickly, killing 20 workers and wounding at least half of them. News reporters Alan Flinders and Moira Clarke are dispatched to the town to cover grieving families, but the residents are oddly cheerful and unbothered by it apparently, not to mention local law enforcement and many of the Orpheus Enterprises seem strangely hostile to them. Eventually after a few days of searching, they discover that Barris is covering it all up by paying their families to keep quiet about certain parts of the incident or else running them out if they do. In turn, it is revealed the mining collapse was actually caused by a massive prehistoric monster from the Permian era, and Barris is doing everything in his power to keep word from getting out and destroying what remains of his enterprise. The film ends with Alan and Moira do managing to escape from the town with the help of the military, but not before the monster awakens and goes on a rampage through town and into the West Virginia wilderness into the sunset, albeit killing if not incapacitating Barris and his hired guns that were keeping it down in the process.
At the time of the film's release, the film was a moderate success, but it got mediocre reviews, with many critics chiding Hitchcock for stooping to making a cheap creature feature (its worth mentioning the monster is only rarely seen in focus, and even in the rampage the movie focuses on the fleeing civilians), and even killed off his career, only making two movies since before his death in 1972. Nevertheless, it has since been held up both as a classic of the 50's-60's monster movie era and still a very good film overall, beautifully shot and done as only Hitchcock could.
Alfred Hitchcock's stab at the monster movie genre, co-written by Rod Serling, telling the story of Peter's Falls, a West Virginia coal town all but run by mining baron Trevor Barris, head of Orpheus Enterprises. Its mine suffers a massive collapse one night very quickly, killing 20 workers and wounding at least half of them. News reporters Alan Flinders and Moira Clarke are dispatched to the town to cover grieving families, but the residents are oddly cheerful and unbothered by it apparently, not to mention local law enforcement and many of the Orpheus Enterprises seem strangely hostile to them. Eventually after a few days of searching, they discover that Barris is covering it all up by paying their families to keep quiet about certain parts of the incident or else running them out if they do. In turn, it is revealed the mining collapse was actually caused by a massive prehistoric monster from the Permian era, and Barris is doing everything in his power to keep word from getting out and destroying what remains of his enterprise. The film ends with Alan and Moira do managing to escape from the town with the help of the military, but not before the monster awakens and goes on a rampage through town and into the West Virginia wilderness into the sunset, albeit killing if not incapacitating Barris and his hired guns that were keeping it down in the process.
At the time of the film's release, the film was a moderate success, but it got mediocre reviews, with many critics chiding Hitchcock for stooping to making a cheap creature feature (its worth mentioning the monster is only rarely seen in focus, and even in the rampage the movie focuses on the fleeing civilians), and even killed off his career, only making two movies since before his death in 1972. Nevertheless, it has since been held up both as a classic of the 50's-60's monster movie era and still a very good film overall, beautifully shot and done as only Hitchcock could.
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Here is something worth watching!!
Wasteland Barbarian. (1983)
The story of a young woman named Brialin (Claudia Christian), after surviving the destruction of her village at the hands of an evil warlord named Aveus, sets out into wasteland with her faithful companion Jalmvar (Frank Zagarino) in order to avenge her people. After braving many dangers in the wasteland, she finally tracks down Aveus in his stronghold and manages to defeat him in a battle to the death. However, before he dies, he tells Brialin that he was ordered by the demon Thol-Graz to destroy her village. Brialin and her companion then ride out into the wasteland, vowing to destroy the evil Thol-Graz.
Wasteland Barbarian. (1983)
The story of a young woman named Brialin (Claudia Christian), after surviving the destruction of her village at the hands of an evil warlord named Aveus, sets out into wasteland with her faithful companion Jalmvar (Frank Zagarino) in order to avenge her people. After braving many dangers in the wasteland, she finally tracks down Aveus in his stronghold and manages to defeat him in a battle to the death. However, before he dies, he tells Brialin that he was ordered by the demon Thol-Graz to destroy her village. Brialin and her companion then ride out into the wasteland, vowing to destroy the evil Thol-Graz.
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Anatomy of a Murder (2012)
Forensic pathologists Mike Fischer and Andrei Lukanyenko are forced to put their differences aside and work together to find the cause of death of the Russian ambassador to America. Their ideological tensions make it harder and harder for them to work together, as time is running out to find the cause of death and let Andrei and the rest of the embassy staff stay. Featuring a masterful performance by Will Smith as Fischer, the movie became and instant classic, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Male Actor. It portrays post-Cold War tension in the face of a common enemy masterfully, maintaining a sense of anxiety and that time is running out for the entire film.
Forensic pathologists Mike Fischer and Andrei Lukanyenko are forced to put their differences aside and work together to find the cause of death of the Russian ambassador to America. Their ideological tensions make it harder and harder for them to work together, as time is running out to find the cause of death and let Andrei and the rest of the embassy staff stay. Featuring a masterful performance by Will Smith as Fischer, the movie became and instant classic, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Male Actor. It portrays post-Cold War tension in the face of a common enemy masterfully, maintaining a sense of anxiety and that time is running out for the entire film.
'One Day In A Long War' 2002
Based on the book by Jeffery Ethell & Alfred Price, it is a blow by blow, minute by minute account of Operation Linebacker II in May 10th 1972 when the air assets of the USAF & USN finally get to let rip against targets in North Vietnam. Cue plenty of air to air and air to ground action as the pilots go in including the legendary duel between Randy Cunningham's F-4 and Colonal Toon. Although the explosion and fire on the USS Forrestal occurred in 1967, the film included it as a bit of poetic license and to increase the action sequences. Even Tom Cruise gets in on the act as a pilot as Maverick's dad in a uncredited scene as they attack central Hanoi's Paul Doumer bridge.
Cast: (Selective)
Piolts/WSO's
Ryan Evans, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, Liam Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hartnet, Eric Bana, Rodney Downey Jr, William Fictner, Tom Sizemore. Jeremy Piven. Ben, Affleck, Casey Affleck, Josh Brolin, Tom Cruise (uncredited)
USAF Base/Wing Cmdrs & USN Aircraft Carrier Cmdrs
Louis Gossett Jnr, Donald Sutherland, Martin Sheen, William Devane, James Brolin, Ronny Cox, Miguel Ferrer, William Shatner
Based on the book by Jeffery Ethell & Alfred Price, it is a blow by blow, minute by minute account of Operation Linebacker II in May 10th 1972 when the air assets of the USAF & USN finally get to let rip against targets in North Vietnam. Cue plenty of air to air and air to ground action as the pilots go in including the legendary duel between Randy Cunningham's F-4 and Colonal Toon. Although the explosion and fire on the USS Forrestal occurred in 1967, the film included it as a bit of poetic license and to increase the action sequences. Even Tom Cruise gets in on the act as a pilot as Maverick's dad in a uncredited scene as they attack central Hanoi's Paul Doumer bridge.
Cast: (Selective)
Piolts/WSO's
Ryan Evans, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, Liam Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hartnet, Eric Bana, Rodney Downey Jr, William Fictner, Tom Sizemore. Jeremy Piven. Ben, Affleck, Casey Affleck, Josh Brolin, Tom Cruise (uncredited)
USAF Base/Wing Cmdrs & USN Aircraft Carrier Cmdrs
Louis Gossett Jnr, Donald Sutherland, Martin Sheen, William Devane, James Brolin, Ronny Cox, Miguel Ferrer, William Shatner
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Part of the A Kinder, Gentler Nation Continued: A Collaborative Bush wins '92 TL:
September 30 1994 Gatchaman (OVA) is released; a revamp of the famous 1972-74 Japanese anime, known to most in the West as Battle of the Planets. Released in the USA and Europe on VHS and DVD, the OVA sold very well, and prompted much on-line discussion regarding the differences between versions of the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman series. A small revival of interest in Gatchaman and Battle of the Planets sees Sandy Frank re-release the latter unaltered on DVD's, as well as runs on TV channels.
September 1 1998 In time for the 20th Anniversary Sandy Frank releases Battle of the Planets: The New Adventures of G:Force which uses the 20 episodes of Gatchaman not used in the original Battle of the Planets, as well as re-dubbing the original series with new voice actors since most of the original 70's actors were too old or passed on, though fan-fav Casey Kasem returned in a new role as Chief Anderson. New animations and a cleaned up print helped make the series look a lot younger than it was. The new series contained a lot of new footage from Gatchaman which showed death and violence more in keeping with 90's sensibilities, though this drew some criticism from 'purists'. The new series sells well, and is especially popular in the UK. Anniversary box sets, documentary's and a wave of merchandise accompanied the series release.
October 8 2008 Gatchaman is released worldwide by Imagi Studios, a full length animated movie based on the famous 70's anime. Produced by Tom Gray with a Paul Dini script, the movie features updated designs for the Science Ninja Team including new origins, costumes and equipment. The film was closer to the original Gatchaman than the recut, re-dubbed late 70's Battle of the Planets in terms of violence and destruction gaining it a PG-13 rating in the US and a 12A in the UK, however it is very popular globally, and a sequel is immediately planned.
June 14 2009 The Hong Kong Times reveals that Imagi Studios is in financial trouble despite recently had a smash hit with their anime movie Gatchaman. The Studio denied there was a problem, and they were 'restructuring'
February 2 2010 Imagi Studios is brought by Nelvana Ltd a Canadian company. Many believe Nelvana are after the profitable TMNT and Gatchaman anime licenses Imagi hold.
June 22 2011 Nelvana Ltd globally release Gatchaman II a sequel to the 2008 movie. The movie keeps the same voice cast as previously, but with Sandy Frank's license for Gatchaman having run out Nelvana were able to hire Casey Kasem to voice UN Secretary-General Keane who plays a prominent role in proceedings. Like the previous movie Gatchaman II redesigns the characters, giving them a more 'sleek' look closer to the original anime, which goes down well with fans. The characters are made older and more experienced, and references are made to 'dropping that heavy armour'. A wave of merchandising, and tie-ins accompany the movie, and rumours float about of a 'live action' movie soon to follow.
A Kinder, Gentler Nation Continued: A Collaborative Bush wins '92 TL:
November 5th, 1992. President Bush Narrowly wins a Second Term: On November 5th, 1992, thanks to third Party candidate Ross Perot entering the race in February and deciding to stay in the race amid controversy, and allegations of rape coming out against Democratic nominee Bill Clinton, an...
www.alternatehistory.com
September 30 1994 Gatchaman (OVA) is released; a revamp of the famous 1972-74 Japanese anime, known to most in the West as Battle of the Planets. Released in the USA and Europe on VHS and DVD, the OVA sold very well, and prompted much on-line discussion regarding the differences between versions of the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman series. A small revival of interest in Gatchaman and Battle of the Planets sees Sandy Frank re-release the latter unaltered on DVD's, as well as runs on TV channels.
September 1 1998 In time for the 20th Anniversary Sandy Frank releases Battle of the Planets: The New Adventures of G:Force which uses the 20 episodes of Gatchaman not used in the original Battle of the Planets, as well as re-dubbing the original series with new voice actors since most of the original 70's actors were too old or passed on, though fan-fav Casey Kasem returned in a new role as Chief Anderson. New animations and a cleaned up print helped make the series look a lot younger than it was. The new series contained a lot of new footage from Gatchaman which showed death and violence more in keeping with 90's sensibilities, though this drew some criticism from 'purists'. The new series sells well, and is especially popular in the UK. Anniversary box sets, documentary's and a wave of merchandise accompanied the series release.
October 8 2008 Gatchaman is released worldwide by Imagi Studios, a full length animated movie based on the famous 70's anime. Produced by Tom Gray with a Paul Dini script, the movie features updated designs for the Science Ninja Team including new origins, costumes and equipment. The film was closer to the original Gatchaman than the recut, re-dubbed late 70's Battle of the Planets in terms of violence and destruction gaining it a PG-13 rating in the US and a 12A in the UK, however it is very popular globally, and a sequel is immediately planned.
June 14 2009 The Hong Kong Times reveals that Imagi Studios is in financial trouble despite recently had a smash hit with their anime movie Gatchaman. The Studio denied there was a problem, and they were 'restructuring'
February 2 2010 Imagi Studios is brought by Nelvana Ltd a Canadian company. Many believe Nelvana are after the profitable TMNT and Gatchaman anime licenses Imagi hold.
June 22 2011 Nelvana Ltd globally release Gatchaman II a sequel to the 2008 movie. The movie keeps the same voice cast as previously, but with Sandy Frank's license for Gatchaman having run out Nelvana were able to hire Casey Kasem to voice UN Secretary-General Keane who plays a prominent role in proceedings. Like the previous movie Gatchaman II redesigns the characters, giving them a more 'sleek' look closer to the original anime, which goes down well with fans. The characters are made older and more experienced, and references are made to 'dropping that heavy armour'. A wave of merchandising, and tie-ins accompany the movie, and rumours float about of a 'live action' movie soon to follow.
Classics of the Disney Animated Canon
These are most revised versions of alternate Disney films I had posted earlier in the thread. Along with a series of new ones.
Chanticleer (1966)
In the early 1960s, Disney animator Bill Peet approached Walt with two ideas for the next animated film after Sword in the Stone (1963). One was an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, and the other was about Chanticleer from the Canterbury Tales. Unfortunately, the Rudyard Kipling estate hated what they were presented of the former idea, and isntead gave the rights to Chuck Jones and his unit at Warner Bros. Animation. Nonetheless, work on Chanticleer started quickly, and the film was ready for 1966. The country's soundtrack of country and western music was well-praised, though the plot was slighlty knocked. However, it was enough of a commercial success for Walt to have one last go at an animated film made directly under his watch...
Beauty & The Beast (1971)
Like what many, such as @HeX and @gap80 have done, I too decided to rewrite BatB as a film made by Walt during his lifetime.
For starters, the plot of my version is more akin to the version I posted in the thread here, which is actually a fusion of elements from OTL's film and the 1989 draft for the film. Even beyond those changes, the portrayals of Marguerite, Belle's Aunt, is portrayed as more nuanced than my original idea showed her as being. Since for one thing, her complaints about Maurice wasting resources on his inventions is portrayed as a legitimate point, as is bringing up the family's desperate financial position as a reason for why Belle should marry Gaston despite not actually loving him. Meanwhile, her wanting Maurice to go to an asylum is shown as her being concerned about her brother's help. Nonetheless, Gaston still eventually takes up the mantle of being the main antagonist after Marguerite begins to understand how little he actually cares for Belle as a person. With the only person who Belle would possibly listen to about Gaston out of the equation, he ultimately uses Maurice being institutionalized as a way to blackmail Belle. This of course leads to Marguerite finally seeing Gaston's true colors, and she ultimately redeems herself when she uses a magic mirror Belle bought home to warn both her what is happening, earning Belle's forgiveness in the process.
With music that is considered by many one of the Sherman Brothers' best songs, as well as the use of iconic Disney talent, this film is considered by many the best of the four Disney films that Walt had major input in. Many people citing its stronger plot and character arcs than past Disney Princess films. In addition, Gaston would go down in history as one of the most iconic Disney villains. Sadly, not everyone would live to see its success. Roy O. Disney died on December 20, 1971; only seven days before its release.
Kate Crackernuts (1974)
After the success of Beauty and the Beast, Walt made open his intention to appoint old talents like the Nine Old Men in the positions to educate a new generation of animators. In turn, he chose to appoint Don Bluth as head of Disney Animation to serve as sort of a bridge for these two generations. Walt had a good reason too: Don Bluth had been at the studio ever since 1955, and had a name for himself by rising through the ranks until he designed the Beast in BatB [1]. One of Bluth's first jobs as head was to select a story they could make into a DAC movie to see how well the studio could work without Walt's direct input.
The Snow Queen (1987)
Ever since he became her neighbor, Gerda (Heather O'Rourke) has always wanted to know more about Kai: an aloof boy with mysteriously white hair. However, she only succeeds when one day, Kai (Jason Marsden) is being beaten up by bullies and she intervenes. After that, the two become very close, and often listen to Kai's grandmother tell stories - one of which involves a shattered mirror an evil troll had created. One day however, Kai gets some sort of shard lodged in his eye and chest, which leaves him increasingly paranoid and hostile. Eventually, the titular character, Elsa, comes to take Kai to her palace, and Gerda's search leads to the revelation that Elsa is Kai's sister.
Long ago, Elsa and Kai were royalty, with the former often entertaining her brother with her cyrokenetic powers. One day after both their parents had died however, she accidentally hit Kai in the head with a blast of ice, and to save Kai from being frozen completely she was forced into a Faustian bargain with Faraefold, the troll who created the mirror but was killed when it fell to the ground. This would leave her having to work under his employ, leaving her kingdom with poor weather that made her once prosperous kingdom reliant on exports when it could once grow its own food. With the shards freezing Kai from the inside, Elsa is left with the only choice of letting Faraefold possess her to save Kai. However, Gerda, along with the robber girl Anna, the reindeer Bae, and the snowman Olaf right back and eventually push out Faraefold's spirit. When Elsa tries to freeze him however, she only gives him a physical body and she tries to kill them all.
However Kai, who was bed-ridden most of his time in Elsa's winter palace, suddenly gets up and uses the fact his body is practically solid ice to shatter Faraefold's weapon before freezing completely. This leaves Anna with enough time to throw a kerosene lantern into Faraefold's face, melting him and destroying his soul. With him gone, Elsa is completely freed, and Kai returns to normal. One of the movies' last, and most touching scenes, is when Kai decides he'd prefer to stay with Elsa, and after their reunion with her, the two decide to bring Granny Ingrid with them. Nonetheless, Kai and Gerda eventually reunite when they are teenagers in the film's last scene.
OOC: Special thanks goes to @PunMaster for helping me create the BatB idea.
These are most revised versions of alternate Disney films I had posted earlier in the thread. Along with a series of new ones.
Chanticleer (1966)
In the early 1960s, Disney animator Bill Peet approached Walt with two ideas for the next animated film after Sword in the Stone (1963). One was an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, and the other was about Chanticleer from the Canterbury Tales. Unfortunately, the Rudyard Kipling estate hated what they were presented of the former idea, and isntead gave the rights to Chuck Jones and his unit at Warner Bros. Animation. Nonetheless, work on Chanticleer started quickly, and the film was ready for 1966. The country's soundtrack of country and western music was well-praised, though the plot was slighlty knocked. However, it was enough of a commercial success for Walt to have one last go at an animated film made directly under his watch...
Beauty & The Beast (1971)
Like what many, such as @HeX and @gap80 have done, I too decided to rewrite BatB as a film made by Walt during his lifetime.
For starters, the plot of my version is more akin to the version I posted in the thread here, which is actually a fusion of elements from OTL's film and the 1989 draft for the film. Even beyond those changes, the portrayals of Marguerite, Belle's Aunt, is portrayed as more nuanced than my original idea showed her as being. Since for one thing, her complaints about Maurice wasting resources on his inventions is portrayed as a legitimate point, as is bringing up the family's desperate financial position as a reason for why Belle should marry Gaston despite not actually loving him. Meanwhile, her wanting Maurice to go to an asylum is shown as her being concerned about her brother's help. Nonetheless, Gaston still eventually takes up the mantle of being the main antagonist after Marguerite begins to understand how little he actually cares for Belle as a person. With the only person who Belle would possibly listen to about Gaston out of the equation, he ultimately uses Maurice being institutionalized as a way to blackmail Belle. This of course leads to Marguerite finally seeing Gaston's true colors, and she ultimately redeems herself when she uses a magic mirror Belle bought home to warn both her what is happening, earning Belle's forgiveness in the process.
Voice Cast
Belle: Sandy Duncan
The Beast: Robert De Niro
Lumiere: Jerry Orbach
Cogsworth: Don Messick
Gaston: Raul Julia
Maurice: Daws Butler
Marguerite: Barbara Luddy
Belle: Sandy Duncan
The Beast: Robert De Niro
Lumiere: Jerry Orbach
Cogsworth: Don Messick
Gaston: Raul Julia
Maurice: Daws Butler
Marguerite: Barbara Luddy
With music that is considered by many one of the Sherman Brothers' best songs, as well as the use of iconic Disney talent, this film is considered by many the best of the four Disney films that Walt had major input in. Many people citing its stronger plot and character arcs than past Disney Princess films. In addition, Gaston would go down in history as one of the most iconic Disney villains. Sadly, not everyone would live to see its success. Roy O. Disney died on December 20, 1971; only seven days before its release.
Kate Crackernuts (1974)
After the success of Beauty and the Beast, Walt made open his intention to appoint old talents like the Nine Old Men in the positions to educate a new generation of animators. In turn, he chose to appoint Don Bluth as head of Disney Animation to serve as sort of a bridge for these two generations. Walt had a good reason too: Don Bluth had been at the studio ever since 1955, and had a name for himself by rising through the ranks until he designed the Beast in BatB [1]. One of Bluth's first jobs as head was to select a story they could make into a DAC movie to see how well the studio could work without Walt's direct input.
Voice Cast
Kate: Ann Jillian
Anne: Candice Bergen
The Henwife: Mercedes McCambridge
Queen Patricia (Kate's mother): Kaye Ballard
Prince George (The older prince): Frank Welker
Prince Thomas (The younger prince): Anson Williams
Part of Bluth's job, in addition to directing, would be selecting a composer for the film. As such, he eventually selected theater novice Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose classic play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat had been seen by Bluth when he was on a visit to his hometown in Payton, UT. Walt quickly approved the idea, seeing the idea of Kate being a Rock Musical as an appealing way to modernize the traditional Disney formula.Kate: Ann Jillian
Anne: Candice Bergen
The Henwife: Mercedes McCambridge
Queen Patricia (Kate's mother): Kaye Ballard
Prince George (The older prince): Frank Welker
Prince Thomas (The younger prince): Anson Williams
The Snow Queen (1987)
Ever since he became her neighbor, Gerda (Heather O'Rourke) has always wanted to know more about Kai: an aloof boy with mysteriously white hair. However, she only succeeds when one day, Kai (Jason Marsden) is being beaten up by bullies and she intervenes. After that, the two become very close, and often listen to Kai's grandmother tell stories - one of which involves a shattered mirror an evil troll had created. One day however, Kai gets some sort of shard lodged in his eye and chest, which leaves him increasingly paranoid and hostile. Eventually, the titular character, Elsa, comes to take Kai to her palace, and Gerda's search leads to the revelation that Elsa is Kai's sister.
Long ago, Elsa and Kai were royalty, with the former often entertaining her brother with her cyrokenetic powers. One day after both their parents had died however, she accidentally hit Kai in the head with a blast of ice, and to save Kai from being frozen completely she was forced into a Faustian bargain with Faraefold, the troll who created the mirror but was killed when it fell to the ground. This would leave her having to work under his employ, leaving her kingdom with poor weather that made her once prosperous kingdom reliant on exports when it could once grow its own food. With the shards freezing Kai from the inside, Elsa is left with the only choice of letting Faraefold possess her to save Kai. However, Gerda, along with the robber girl Anna, the reindeer Bae, and the snowman Olaf right back and eventually push out Faraefold's spirit. When Elsa tries to freeze him however, she only gives him a physical body and she tries to kill them all.
However Kai, who was bed-ridden most of his time in Elsa's winter palace, suddenly gets up and uses the fact his body is practically solid ice to shatter Faraefold's weapon before freezing completely. This leaves Anna with enough time to throw a kerosene lantern into Faraefold's face, melting him and destroying his soul. With him gone, Elsa is completely freed, and Kai returns to normal. One of the movies' last, and most touching scenes, is when Kai decides he'd prefer to stay with Elsa, and after their reunion with her, the two decide to bring Granny Ingrid with them. Nonetheless, Kai and Gerda eventually reunite when they are teenagers in the film's last scene.
Voice Cast
Gerda: Heather O'Rourke
Kai: Jason Marsden
Elsa the Snow Queen: Paige O'Hara
Ingrid, Elsa and Kai's granny: Lucille Bliss
Anna, the Robber Girl: Catherine Cavadini
Bae the Reindeer: Dom Deluise
Olaf the Snowman: Charles Nelson Reilly
Faraefold: Zero Mostel
As usual for Don Buth's films, Andrew Lloyd Webbr provides most of the musical scores. Unlike past collaborations though, he was joined by Beatles writer Paul McCartney, who narrowed the multi-genre shtick to mostly 60s era music. His influence can especially be felt in some of the cheerier songs like "People Like Reindeer", sung by Anna and Bae in their introduction scene.Gerda: Heather O'Rourke
Kai: Jason Marsden
Elsa the Snow Queen: Paige O'Hara
Ingrid, Elsa and Kai's granny: Lucille Bliss
Anna, the Robber Girl: Catherine Cavadini
Bae the Reindeer: Dom Deluise
Olaf the Snowman: Charles Nelson Reilly
Faraefold: Zero Mostel
[1] The design he created for the Beast is that same as his appearance in OTL's proposed film.OOC: Special thanks goes to @PunMaster for helping me create the BatB idea.
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The Animal - A psychological horror-comedy film released in 2003 by Universal. The film concerns Leonard McPaulson, a black english teacher, played by Eddie Murphy. One day, Paul catches one of his students, the resident queen bee Margaret Aldergon (Rachel McAdams) cheating on a test, and subsequently gives her a month in detention. However, it Margaret is actually a witch practices black magic, and she curses him to be turned into an inhuman monster, accusing him all the while of being a selfish and heartless man. Paul must find a way to undo the curse with help from an old woman named Harleen (Angela Lansbury, who turns out to be Margaret's daughter), all while struggling to hold on to both his sanity and belief in his own goodness.
One of the main themes of the film is superficiality and racial profiling. Early on, Paul is portrayed as your standard mean and stern teacher who ought to learn a lesson or more on kindness from kind, compassionate people (who are suspiciously white). However, we're shown throughout the rest of the film he's just a regular, decent person, and his curse (explicitly compared to a lynching) was just a disproportionate retribution from Margaret, echoing the false racial arguments of blacks being morally inferior to whites and need guidance from the latter so often used for justifying lynchings and imperialism. On the flipside, she herself is initially hinted to be a good, moral person behind her gruff exterior, but is shown to be awful and petty the whole way through, much like how certain whites of both genders treat themselves as always being morally superior when they really aren't.
The film received mixed reviews from critics who dismissed many of it as standard affairs for Murphy, though they notably praised his performance, and it did make around $127 million against a $45 million budget, and even got an Oscar nomination for best makeup effects.
One of the main themes of the film is superficiality and racial profiling. Early on, Paul is portrayed as your standard mean and stern teacher who ought to learn a lesson or more on kindness from kind, compassionate people (who are suspiciously white). However, we're shown throughout the rest of the film he's just a regular, decent person, and his curse (explicitly compared to a lynching) was just a disproportionate retribution from Margaret, echoing the false racial arguments of blacks being morally inferior to whites and need guidance from the latter so often used for justifying lynchings and imperialism. On the flipside, she herself is initially hinted to be a good, moral person behind her gruff exterior, but is shown to be awful and petty the whole way through, much like how certain whites of both genders treat themselves as always being morally superior when they really aren't.
The film received mixed reviews from critics who dismissed many of it as standard affairs for Murphy, though they notably praised his performance, and it did make around $127 million against a $45 million budget, and even got an Oscar nomination for best makeup effects.
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Classics of the Disney Animated Canon Part 2
Some more iconic Disney films of my TL.
King Thrushbeard (1991)
The duel directorial debuts of Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, two men who Don Bluth had personally mentored during much of their respective tenures at Disney Animation. This film would be the one that cemented their status as Don Bluth's true successors in term of tone and all around ambience. The film follows the arrogant and haughty Princess Elena, whom ends up getting the bad side of a king and queen whose son, Prince Joseph, was nicknamed "King Thrushbeard" by her. As such, Joseph and her father King Albert plan to teach her to not be so unpleasant. Unfortunately, a conniving advisor uses this to his advantage and makes plans to take over the kingdom.
Aladdin (1993)
ITTL, Howard Ashman was never diagnosed with AIDS, and would live on to play a more active role in the development of Aladdin. The end result is a film that fuses elements of his original treatment and the final film. Most notably, the characters of Babkak (Eric McCormack), Omar (Eddie Murphy), and Kassim (Robert Downey Jr) replace Abu as Aladdin's sidekicks. Likewise, Aladdin's mother appears in the form of Zena (Ruth Buzzi), who Aladdin hopes to make proud as said in his iconic solo "Proud of Your Boy". Lastly, Princess Jasmine is essentially a fusion of OTL's version of the character with that of Abbi from Ashman's original treatment.
Kingdom of the Sun (2000)
Directed by Roger Allers, this film begins as your typical Prince-and-Pauper story with an Inca llama-herder named Urqu and the Inca emperor Kuzco. Then it becomes an emotional roller-coaster to humor, drama, and high-stakes action after Kuzco is turned into a llama by his treacherous advistor Yzma, who then blackmails Urqu into her bidding. Meanwhile, Urqu's father Pacha (John Goodman), and betrothed Mata (Isla Fisher) go to stop all this. However, the plot thickens when Yzma turns Kuzco's betrothed Nina (Carla Cugino) in a hungry jaguar. Now, more must be returned to normal still.
Tam Lin (2006)
Based on the Irish tale, again directed by Roger Allers, with musical input from Enya.
Some more iconic Disney films of my TL.
King Thrushbeard (1991)
The duel directorial debuts of Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, two men who Don Bluth had personally mentored during much of their respective tenures at Disney Animation. This film would be the one that cemented their status as Don Bluth's true successors in term of tone and all around ambience. The film follows the arrogant and haughty Princess Elena, whom ends up getting the bad side of a king and queen whose son, Prince Joseph, was nicknamed "King Thrushbeard" by her. As such, Joseph and her father King Albert plan to teach her to not be so unpleasant. Unfortunately, a conniving advisor uses this to his advantage and makes plans to take over the kingdom.
Aladdin (1993)
ITTL, Howard Ashman was never diagnosed with AIDS, and would live on to play a more active role in the development of Aladdin. The end result is a film that fuses elements of his original treatment and the final film. Most notably, the characters of Babkak (Eric McCormack), Omar (Eddie Murphy), and Kassim (Robert Downey Jr) replace Abu as Aladdin's sidekicks. Likewise, Aladdin's mother appears in the form of Zena (Ruth Buzzi), who Aladdin hopes to make proud as said in his iconic solo "Proud of Your Boy". Lastly, Princess Jasmine is essentially a fusion of OTL's version of the character with that of Abbi from Ashman's original treatment.
Kingdom of the Sun (2000)
Directed by Roger Allers, this film begins as your typical Prince-and-Pauper story with an Inca llama-herder named Urqu and the Inca emperor Kuzco. Then it becomes an emotional roller-coaster to humor, drama, and high-stakes action after Kuzco is turned into a llama by his treacherous advistor Yzma, who then blackmails Urqu into her bidding. Meanwhile, Urqu's father Pacha (John Goodman), and betrothed Mata (Isla Fisher) go to stop all this. However, the plot thickens when Yzma turns Kuzco's betrothed Nina (Carla Cugino) in a hungry jaguar. Now, more must be returned to normal still.
Tam Lin (2006)
Based on the Irish tale, again directed by Roger Allers, with musical input from Enya.
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I had actually thought for years of what a Chuck Jones directed Roald Dahl adaptation would look like. As such, I'm loosely inspiring this one on something @NoName wrote for his animated films TL.
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (1972)
The idea of adapting the 1964 Roald Dahl novel had first been raised in the late 1960s. Upon meeting with Dahl, director Mel L. Stuart joined him in going to Warner Bros. Animation and its head Chuck Jones, since the two agreed that it was the only practical way to see something sufficiently close to Dahl's vision come to life. Soon thereafter, Dahl managed to nab up Spike Milligan for the role of the eccentric Willy Wonka. Whereas most of the other casting was handled by Stuart and Jones. Songs were written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly.
In addition, several script revisions were included. The largest change being that Grandpa Joe is depicted as working as a gardener. This change was made so because Stuart saw Grandpa Joe has having been something of a lazy bum in the original. Something Dahl actually agreed with after it was pointed out that he could walk fine but spent all his time in a bed. At any rate, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory became another bona fide classic for Warner Bros. Animation's film library upon its release on June 16, 1972.
The film's development and production history is nothing to write home about. However, the post-production would eventually lead to Fox entering the animation fray later in the decade; during production, Roald Dahl and Chuck Jones often insisted on having the film released later than the initial release date of December 29, 1971. For both feared that if the original release date were kept it'd be trounced by Disney's Beauty and the Beast. When Warner Bros. refused to back down, Dahl and Jones retaliated by deliberately stalling development until Warner Bros finally agreed to push the release date back. Eventually, Warner Bros' higher-ups learned that stalling production had actually been the idea of Phil Roman, who worked on the animation. After Phil was naturally sacked, Fox took this as an opportunity to have their own Don Bluth to their Disney.
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (1972)
The idea of adapting the 1964 Roald Dahl novel had first been raised in the late 1960s. Upon meeting with Dahl, director Mel L. Stuart joined him in going to Warner Bros. Animation and its head Chuck Jones, since the two agreed that it was the only practical way to see something sufficiently close to Dahl's vision come to life. Soon thereafter, Dahl managed to nab up Spike Milligan for the role of the eccentric Willy Wonka. Whereas most of the other casting was handled by Stuart and Jones. Songs were written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly.
In addition, several script revisions were included. The largest change being that Grandpa Joe is depicted as working as a gardener. This change was made so because Stuart saw Grandpa Joe has having been something of a lazy bum in the original. Something Dahl actually agreed with after it was pointed out that he could walk fine but spent all his time in a bed. At any rate, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory became another bona fide classic for Warner Bros. Animation's film library upon its release on June 16, 1972.
The film's development and production history is nothing to write home about. However, the post-production would eventually lead to Fox entering the animation fray later in the decade; during production, Roald Dahl and Chuck Jones often insisted on having the film released later than the initial release date of December 29, 1971. For both feared that if the original release date were kept it'd be trounced by Disney's Beauty and the Beast. When Warner Bros. refused to back down, Dahl and Jones retaliated by deliberately stalling development until Warner Bros finally agreed to push the release date back. Eventually, Warner Bros' higher-ups learned that stalling production had actually been the idea of Phil Roman, who worked on the animation. After Phil was naturally sacked, Fox took this as an opportunity to have their own Don Bluth to their Disney.
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8/19/66 - Recalls the assassination of Beatle John Lennon during a concert in Memphis Tennessee and attempts to figure out who the culprit really was.
Last Christmas I was given a copy of The Tony Years, by Craig Brown, a very funny writer. It’s a selection of his pieces from the Blair era: amongst them, some reviews of films that never were. Extracts:-
- Dylan, Bob: some critics maintain that the great English classical actor Sir John Gielgud was miscast as Bob Dylan in the 1975 biopic A Tiresome Rain Is Expected Shortly.
- “Edelweiss”: perhaps the most catchy and popular of all the tunes in The Sound of Music (1966). This is often seen as the very first rock biopic, telling the story of the Von Trapp family singers and their flight from Nazi Austria. The original director, Alfred Hitchcock, had planned to make it a much darker, more disturbing film, with the ageing Joan Crawford as the drink-addled Maria, Edward G. Robinson as her sadistic employer, and the Von Trapp children played entirely by surviving extras from Tod Browning’s classic 1932 movie Freaks. In the original screenplay, Maria attempts to get rid of the first Countess Von Trapp by cutting up a clump of poisonous edelweiss and baking it in a chicken pie.
Also noteworthy as the film that launched the career of noted documentary filmaker James Cameron, who of course has since gone on to make an even more acclaimed documentary on the sinking of THE
TITANTIC.
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Arkham High (Early 90s)
An ill advised attempt at pitching the works of HP Lovecraft to a younger, more contemporary audience. Somehow the identically titled TV sequel/spinoff written by Joss Whedon became a cult classic, as did the spinoff to the spinoff, Arkham PI.
Whedon went on to win the Nobel Prize for Physics for inventing the perpetual motion machine, the first of which was powered by Lovecraft spinning in his grave and now supplies the entire power grid for the city of Providence thanks to a pair of jump leads attached to the coffin.
An ill advised attempt at pitching the works of HP Lovecraft to a younger, more contemporary audience. Somehow the identically titled TV sequel/spinoff written by Joss Whedon became a cult classic, as did the spinoff to the spinoff, Arkham PI.
Whedon went on to win the Nobel Prize for Physics for inventing the perpetual motion machine, the first of which was powered by Lovecraft spinning in his grave and now supplies the entire power grid for the city of Providence thanks to a pair of jump leads attached to the coffin.
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Holmes & Watson (2013)
A comedy film loosely based on the workings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Released to mostly positive reviews and a healthy box office performance.
Directed by Edgar Wright
Screenplay by Edgar Wright, Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
A comedy film loosely based on the workings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Released to mostly positive reviews and a healthy box office performance.
Directed by Edgar Wright
Screenplay by Edgar Wright, Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
- Hugh Laurie as Sherlock Holmes
- Stephen Fry as Dr. John H. Watson
- Catherine Tate as Irene Adler
- Steve Coogan as Professor Moriarty
- Rob Brydon as Inspector Lestrade
- Steve Coogan as Col. Moran
- Emma Thompson as Mrs. Hudson
- Tony Slattery as Mycroft Holmes
You are totally missing the opportunity of having cast Simon Pegg as Sherlock and Nick Frost as Watson here though.