Thompson on Hollywood

Immersed in Movies: Sneaking Sony's 'Hotel Transylvania'

Features

It turns out that "Brave" isn't the only animated feature this year devoted to a parent-child relationship. Beneath the monster mash antics of "Hotel Transylvania," lies a father-daughter dynamic about letting go between control freak Dracula (Adam Sandler) and free-spirited teenager Mavis (Selena Gomez)...

By Bill Desowitz
|
June 28, 2012 2:54 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel Talks 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter'

Features

Caleb Deschanel is no stranger to heightened reality, but nothing could prepare the five-time Oscar nominee for "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"...

By Bill Desowitz
|
June 22, 2012 12:59 PM
|
1 Comment

More:

Immersed in Movies: Turbulent Behind-the-Scenes Yields Pixar's 'Brave' New Scottish World

Features

"Brave" is far from the disappointment expressed in some early reviews. It's not only the much ballyhooed breakthrough as Pixar's first female-centric movie but also the most lush-looking work yet from the animation powerhouse. It's a powerful mother-daughter crucible set in medieval Scotland but with a modern sensibility...

By Bill Desowitz
|
June 19, 2012 4:27 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: VFX Vet Dean Wright Talks Directing Mexico Period Drama 'For Greater Glory'

Features

Dean Wright is the latest VFXer to cross over into directing with "For Greater Glory" (opening tomorrow in limited release), following in the footsteps of James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and Andrew Adamson...

By Bill Desowitz
|
May 31, 2012 7:32 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: Tripping Out on the Cartoon Reality of 'Men in Black 3'

Features

The "Men in Black" franchise has always been a live-action "Looney Tunes" cartoon, a wacky mix of old school and new school. The "Alienbusters" premise is totally unique and practically imitation-proof, as director Barry Sonnenfeld reminds us...

By Bill Desowitz
|
May 24, 2012 3:49 PM
|
3 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: Deciphering the 'Skyfall' Teaser Trailer

Features

Like everyone else, I've been trying to make sense of the "Skyfall" teaser trailer that went live today (it will play in front of "Men in Black 3" on Friday). It appears to tell us everything and nothing about James Bond's 23rd adventure and Daniel Craig's third outing as the most fallible 007...

By Bill Desowitz
|
May 21, 2012 2:51 PM
|
3 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: It's All About the Hulk in 'The Avengers'

Features

Leave it to Joss Whedon to round up the Avengers in rip roaring fashion and momentarily stave off superhero fatigue as we head into the summer season. He certainly knows how to handle ensemble pieces...

By Bill Desowitz
|
May 3, 2012 11:20 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: Aardman's Peter Lord Talks 'Pirates'

Features

Stop-motion is back again this year with three animated releases: Aardman's "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (opening tomorrow), Laika's "ParaNorman" (Aug. 17), and Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" (October 5). And what I've seen of all three, the bar has been significantly raised technologically to keep up with CG...

By Bill Desowitz
|
April 26, 2012 2:28 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies Previews 'Brave': Pixar Could Have a Contender

Features

What's my reaction to seeing the first half-hour of "Brave" (June 22)? Pixar is back at the top of its game. If the rest of the movie is as strong as what I saw at a Pixar press event in Emeryville last week, the film could be the leading Oscar contender for best animated feature.

By Bill Desowitz
|
April 6, 2012 3:57 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Immersed in Movies: The Return of Abel Gance's 'Napoleon'

Reviews

Never mind about 3-D and IMAX and higher frame rates and immersive design and "The Artist" and "Hugo": Abel Gance's monumental silent, "Napoleon" (1927), is back and fully restored and better than ever. It boasts more than half-an-hour of additional footage discovered by tireless Oscar-winning British author/director/preservationist Kevin Brownlow.