How Super will Super 8 Be?

J.J. Abrams, you’ve done it again. In case you’re not entirely aware of who J.J. Abrams is, he’s one of the executive heads behind TV’s power-player Lost and the director of Cloverfield (amongst other works, of course). Just like Cloverfield had a mysterious viral marketing campaign back in 2007, the newly endowed “Super 8” seems to be following in its big brother’s footsteps.







The newly released teaser trailer shows… this:



Let’s recap:
Something about an Area 51 alien or mutated creature seems to be lurking on a train. The train, according to the captions, was supposed to transport extremely vital material to Ohio from Area 51. Obviously, something bad happened as someone yelled out, and the two vehicles collided. Weird, Cloverfield Jr. baby monster then allegedly escapes from its confines, and it was recorded on none other than an old, “Super 8mm” camera. For the uninitiated, we’ll call that an old person camcorder. For the heavily initiated, this may be wrecking your mind, as a catastrophic even such as this being told through the lens of a super 8mm camera can only be described as “ridiculous.”

And, of course, who could miss that great name drop right in the middle of the trailer? Mr. Steven Spielberg is producing the film alongside Abrams’ direction, which tells you that this is going to be one monster of a movie! There’s your pun for the day.

Anyway, speculation from various sources says that this is supposed to be a heavily special effects-laden affair with a 70’s and 80’s feel of filmmaking to it, much like Spielberg achieved in his golden age with films like Indiana Jones. However, special effects doesn’t necessarily mean “computer-generated” special effects…thus, what I’m hoping for is a film that harkens back to a Jurassic age of animatronics, puppetry, and real-life machinations rather than relying on CGI and green screen.

No release date has been set as of yet, but the budget is purportedly in the $50 million range. This is 4th grade lunch money compared to most computer-made films of today, so this will certainly be interesting. Abrams has already gone on record stating that this film “…has nothing whatsoever to do with Cloverfield…” according to an NYMag article.

As an additional little tidbit of Abrams apparent obsession with encryption, he apparently sent out the reel for the trailer in special canisters that required a special code to crack open. I wouldn’t be surprised if his mansion was just one gigantic Rubik’s Cube.

Shia LaBeouf Defends 3rd Transformers Installment, Abashes 2nd.

I’ve never been a fan of Shia LaBeouf. I can’t help but feel that he’s overestimated in almost every film he’s appeared in. To this day, even, I think his best film was Holes (which isn’t saying much because I don’t even like Holes that much).
If you know me at all, then you know that I absolutely abolished Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Michael Bay hasn’t exactly been the most prolific director in recent memory or anything, but this was just… awful. You can see what I mean in my review of it by clicking here.

However, it’s nice to see Mr. LaBeouf actually saying something worthwhile. He recently told Associated Press these statements concerning the dreadful 2nd installment:

“When I saw the second movie, I wasn't impressed with what we did, there were some really wild stunts in it, but the heart was gone.  

       
…we got lost. We tried to get bigger. It's what happens to sequels. It's like, how do you top the first one? You've got to go bigger. [Michael Bay] went so big that it became too big, and I think you lost the anchor of the movie. ... You lost a bit of the relationships. Unless you have those relationships, then the movie doesn't matter. Then it's just a bunch of robots fighting each other.”

He went on to say that this next movie is either going to be the “craziest action movie ever made” or he and the rest of the Transformers team have failed.

All personal gripes aside, to try and make the “craziest” action film of all time is a pretty wild aspiration, even if you’re working with some tech-junkie like Michael Bay. The word “craziest” is a bit ambiguous, because that could simply entail more explosions in 90 minutes than had ever been accomplished or quite possibly the best, most well-rounded action movie ever. Then again, it seems a bit stupid for LaBeouf to say that he wants to make the next film the “craziest” considering he just bashed the last one for, essentially, being too crazy.
We’ll see what happens with the next, apparently “bloodier” Transformers movie. Kill me in the face for saying this, but I’m probably still going to watch it…

Fall Movie Preview!

So I haven't updated my movie page in quite a while, what with the business I've been going through with college nonsense. But hey! Who needs a college degree when you can lounge around on your couch and type away on the laptop all day, huh?

That was a joke. Kids, go to school.

On an unrelated and much less corny note, Summer is drawing to a very near close...although sad for anyone in school under the age of 19, it's a glorious celebration for the movie world! Finally, all the popcorn-popping mindless movies of the May-August spectrum are leaving...and entering are the Oscar-grabbers and intermittently "just-for-fun" enjoyable films. Although Summer ended with 2 spectacular mainstream masterpieces (District 9 and Inglourious Basterds), the time has come to look to the future for what seems to hold promise!

To begin, I'd like to point out a hugely produced and long-awaited little picture known simply as "9." What's especially intriguing right off the bat about 9 is the production team: Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands) and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted). This is a very odd yet exciting coupling of artistic and visual design, which only extrapolates the intensity of what 9 is already about: a group of various, miniature ragdoll-esque humanoid figures on a mission to save the world after the human race is destroyed. Judging from the trailer(s), 9 looks to be an epic film, and I don't just mean really good, it actually looks like it's on an epic scale. Giant robots and firefights galore, it's an ambitious and classic "Hero's Tale" modified for a modern post-apocalyptic setting. It also has an ensemble cast, including Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, and Crispin Glover. Appropriately destined, check out 9 when it's released on September 9, 2009!

Next is a new vampire flick entitled "The Vampire's Assistant," based on a part of the series of books known as The Saga of Darren Shan. Now, the first thing that popped into my head when i saw this (and I'm sure plenty of other peoples' heads as well) is that it seems to be trying to cash in on the vampire fad that has plagued us for the past year, thanks to the Twilight and True Blood crazes. However, after watching the trailer (and not having read the books), it looks to be a light-hearted fantasy comedy of sorts that distinguishes itself as a different and more original premise than the other vampire knockoffs of today. It tells the tale of a teenage boy who loves the mythological and realizes that a man in a "freakshow" circus act is actually a vampire. Enticed by the astounding history of vampire lore, he is easily convinced to learn the ways of the vampire. What's also interesting is that said vampire is played by the comical John C. Reilly (Walk Hard, Step Brothers). When I first heard about the film, I assumed it to be an overall seriously toned work, but after watching the trailer, it looks to have its funny moments as well as its dark ones. The movie shows some promise, but I'm not getting my hopes up too high. Look out for this one October 23, 2009.

And now, a film that I have been on edge about since the beginning of the year: Where the Wild Things Are. There are no words to describe how excited I am for this film to premiere, considering it's based on a beautiful childrens' book that I loved as a kid. Helmed by famed and beloved director Spike Jonze (Adaptation., Being John Malkovich), it looks to be quite a visceral exploration of human imagination and emotion. Most of all, the film just looks so incredibly lovable on so many levels and also seems to be enjoyable to children, teens, and adults alike. The book itself had so little dialogue that it'll definitely be a feat to turn it into a full fledged film, but a very welcome feat. Here's to loving Where the Wild Things Are on October 16, 2009.

Next up is a film that I don't feel too excited about: The Road. What strikes my interest is that it's based on a story written by Cormac McCarthy, the writer of No Country for Old Men. However, in the recent flood of vampire, zombie and apocalypse films, The Road doesn't really stand out all too much. What can be taken from the trailer is that it's set right after a disastrous event (most likely a disease or virus) that annihilated most of the world's population, and now a small family must fight for their survival through insane headhunters and (possibly) zombified creatures. Like I said, this would be all well and good if we hadn't seen this kind of film already so many times before. But, if it interests you beyond my own, look out for it on October 16, 2009!

Now I come to a film that I've already covered in a previous Movie Preview: Zombieland. Starring Woody Harrelson, Zombieland looks to be a B-Movie-esque style interpretation of survivors fighting off hordes of zombies in some sort of disastrous aftermath. What makes it special is its style and presentation, looking to glorify zombie-execution techniques and, well...just plain being a fun movie. Like the zombies you'll witness on-screen, it sure looks to be a mindless popcorn-stuffing thrill ride that you, hopefully, won't soon forget. But, it hasn't come out yet, thus it's too early to tell if Zombieland has what it takes to be a great film. It comes out on October 9, 2009.

Now we come to a wishy-washy looking movie called "Gamer" starring 300's Gerard Butler. The premise looks interesting: people can control inmates in an ultra-violent video game resembling a third-person shooter (similar to Gears of War) by moving their body and having the inmate/character move in the exact same manner. Obviously, it's posing some interesting questions about being able to control someone else's body and the morality behind it, but that same theme looks to be better done in Disney's upcoming adaptation "Surrogates." However, it does look to satiate the casual viewer's hunger for action and violence, and with that I cannot argue. We'll just have to see how well it executes its motives next this Friday, September 4, 2009.

Hollywood may not be the smartest group of people on the planet, but sometimes that can be looked as a good thing. Regardless of how the following film turns out to be, I can't get over the mundane and cliche title of it: Ninja Assassin. All strifes with taxonomy aside, Ninja Assassin certainly builds its premise within the confines of the anime-crazy junkies, but also in the general public's view of the "cool" ninja and the "cool" assassin ideals. Ninja Assassin, although mildly gimmicky, holds to its Japanese/Chinese roots by having mostly Asian actors and set in a (possibly mostly) Asian setting: that means no mullet-wearing Nicolas Cage with a sniper rifle on top of tall metropolitan buildings. Phewww. Jokes aside, Ninja Assassin may just be too gimmicky for its own good, telling a pretty bland, cliche, pseudo-coming-of-age tale of a boy being raised strictly and militarily in the ways of the ninja only to be betrayed at a much older age and swearing revenge. But, perhaps it'll succeed as a fun and inventive modern martial-arts picture? And the fact that it's being produced by the Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix Trilogy) can't hurt either. We won't know until it comes out November 25, 2009.

Ahh you knew I'd get around to this gem...Saw VI. Oh when will it end? I'm sure all the retro rollerbladers of the 1980's and early 90's asked the very same question when it came to Jason Vorhees and Freddy Krueger. Most people complain about the Saw series as being a dragged out and immoral celebration of gore and torture, and while there may be some truth to that, Saw also tags an interesting story behind its relatively disgusting premise. Kudos to the writers for continuously making more story every time it seems it has met its dead end. No matter how much you may berate the film for its wrongdoings, chances are you'll probably end up seeing it any way, at least to get into the Halloween spirit. The trailer for Saw VI doesn't really hint at too much story evolution, but it does keep the tension that it raises every year with new traps and new, ugly yet creative ways of death dealing human destruction. What will the new installment bring us this year? You'll have to wait till October 23, 2009 to find out.

Now to break the mold and introduce a romantic comedy from the producer of Paris, Je T'aime: New York, I Love You; it's a cornucopia collection of 12 short films all with the universal theme of finding love, whether it's successful or not. It also has quite an all-star cast, including Shia LaBeouf, Christina Ricci, Hayden Christensen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Garcia, Ethan Hawke, Cloris Leachman and even Natalie Portman who directs a segment! Now that's a mouthful. New York is certainly aiming to be a heartwarming, funny, and charming cinematic endeavor, much like Paris was. Opening October 16, 2009, be sure to check it out; surely at least one of your favorite actors is appearing in it.

Moving on from love, zombies, vampires, and the apocalypse, we enter another familiar realm of filmmaking: aliens. The new film starring Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, Ultraviolet), The Fourth Kind, showcases experiments done by Dr. Abigail Tyler in a rural town in Alaska. Her patients showed signs of various mental illnesses and outbursts and have claimed to have some sort of contact with aliens. If alien conspiracy is your cup of tea, then The Fourth Kind is right up your alley; judging from the trailer, the only thing that worries me about the film overall is that it may be a bit boring at parts, considering it is largely a collection of interviews. Also, the veracity of the film is going to be discussed for years to come, as I'm sure the Doctor's studies were...but you can watch the film on November 6, 2009 and come up with your own theories.

Speaking of theories, 2012 is a little film that may or may not have true evidence to back it. As you've surely heard, the world is ending around December 21, 2012, therefore a movie must be made to warn us! (and also dazzle us with an astoundingly high production budget). From the director of The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day, 2012 tells the story of the cataclysmic event that will end the world and, possibly, the human race. It's a tale of, you guessed it, survival, but moreover the film seems to be a wildly expensive exercise in crazy special effects (as you could tell from the trailer's tidal waves, earthquakes, and even an aircraft carrier crashing into Congress). Will 2012 hold up beyond just morbid eye-candy? Find out when it hits theaters November 13, 2009.


Here's a worthy notable without a release date although it is scheduled to have its grand premiere on September 10, 2009: Creation. Creation is the biographical tale of Charles Darwin and his penning of "The Origin of Species." The film seems to set its focus on the "killing of God" idea that people had back then (and still do) in reference to his proving of evolution. Darwin is always a fun person to talk about and his works tend to strike up fun (if not battle-starting) conversation. The trailer shows Darwin in a very respectable light, and also shows that he isn't entirely sure of what his findings mean, but more that his colleagues egg him on to publish his findings and disprove the theory of God and even religions as a whole. His wife, however, is a deeply religious woman who fears for his life and her own if he makes his works public. It still has a "Coming Soon" status as of now, but I'm expecting it sometime this Winter.

Aaaand there you have it! Quite a varied array of films coming very, very, very soon to your nearest movie theater (or computer screen...jerks)! I hope you enjoyed my own personal take on the films, but I've barely grazed the surface of what there is to come in the Fall and beyond!

Kyle Shelton

Zombieland Preview: Amuzement and Zany Zombie Fun For All!

Well, if you know me personally, then you know that I am a sucker for anything having to do with zombies, pirates, ninjas, robots, dinosaurs, or any conglomerate combination of the such. Well, I look out for zombie movies in particular because they are a bit difficult to create well. Luckily, though, Woody Harrelson is here to save the day...I give you Zombieland:



Now, from this trailer, we can deduce one thing: Zombieland is meant almost entirely to be a comedy schlock-and-awe type of film. So if you're looking for some Romero recall, look elsewhere; this is all fun and games, even after an eye gets poked out. From several glances, Zombieland seems to tell the tale of a group of adolescents who find solace from the overrun world of zombies with a rebellious drifter-type badass named Tallahassee played by Harrelson. The cuts of all the different weapons being used, the "zombie kill of the week" clip, and the sarcastic, documentary-esque voiceover all point to one thing: fun.

And the camera work and visual style are a little different looking, but I can't put my finger on how, exactly. It looks a tad bit low-budget, which is fine especially considering its a zombie flick, and just seems like its unprofessional. You could probably ignore this entire paragraph, but I like it because it looks to be a shallow yet exciting and interesting feature. When an old lady drops a piano on a crazy, carniverous undead mutant, you know its going to be a good time. Bill Murray, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, and Jesse Eisenberg are also slated to star.

At any rate, keep your eyes peeled, if you're into zombies and gore films like I am anyway, for Zombieland, hitting theaters this October!

Dead Snow Preview: Chilly Nazi Zombie Action. I dare you to say no.

There you go. The trailer for a good Nazi zombie gorefest that hits U.S. theaters this Friday is out. Its been out, actually, but those silly Europeans hogged the movie all for themselves for 6 months. Not okay, Norway. (ha.)

Anyway, that is the trailer for Dead Snow, a Norwegian horror movie about a group of friends who find out that the snowy wonderland they vacation to is actually a history-filled Nazi death site...and they want their Nazi gold.

Well, apparently it was a huge success and cult hit at Sundance last year. But, current reviews point otherwise, as it stands at an above average but relatively even 56% of the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. Personally, I'm a huge fan of zombie movies, zombie games, and zombie fiction in general (and zombie non-fiction too! You know, like Lazarus or Joan of Arc!). Also, I enjoy Nazi mythology...if you're Jewish, I apologize whole-heartedly but its true. Naziology (just made that up) is pretty fascinating and interesting. Hitler was a crazy fool, and I pity the fool...

Okay, enough with the corny jokes. Dead Snow looks to be one of those cheesy horror flicks that you'll probably laugh at more than jump from, but it still looks intense and in the vein of maybe a Sam Raimi production. Dead Snow seems like its great fun all around with a funny and ridiculous premise with the execution of a B-movie schlock-and-awe feature. I can't wait to see it so it can ease Mein Kampf in life right now...
Yes, that is the actual poster. Yes, this is a real movie.

...Exactly.

-Fuhrer Kyle

Summer Threeview!

Okay, you're asking yourself (if you're reading this) "What the f!$& is a 'Summer Threeview?"

Well, loyal and/or not-so-loyal reader, let me tell you! "Threeview" refers to the fact that Summer is 1/3 of the way over! So, I've picked my top 3 movies of the Summer so far as well as the top 3 movies I can't wait to see.

So, let us begin with the top 3 movies of Summer so far:

3.The Hangover
Yes, the story of a bachelor's party gone terribly awry due to alcohol actually garners my respect. In fact, its my favorite comedy of the year thus far. Why? Because The Hangover isn't an insult to the American lifestyle and traditions we hold unlike most movies of the same genre/style. Actually, it kind of is, but more than an insult its a tease and a commemoration of just how ridiculous the antics of our society really are. It's not a stupid movie; if you can fathom this, its a dumb movie done intelligently. The Hangover is hysterical, continuously comedic, and entertaining through and through. There's tigers, Mike Tyson, a baby, Andy from The Office, a metrosexual Asian mafia leader, and plenty of nudity. And hey, if you liked Old School or American Pie, you're gonna love The Hangover. If you didn't like either of those, you're STILL gonna love The Hangover because its better.




2. Up
Of course, how could someone not include a Disney-Pixar feature when they're talking about their favorite movies? Besides Dreamworks at least...copycats. Just kiddin, Dreamworks, we loved Shrek! And Shrek 2!.......Just the first two..take a hint.

Anyway, Up is a fantastically imaginative story that is whimsical as it is mature. Kids will love it, Adults will love it, and everyone in between will love it. It's just one of those lovable movies from almost every aspect, and Up is certainly no let-down from Pixar. Where kiddish movies like Night at the Museum and Land of the Lost weren't so hot in the "That movie was really good!" department, Up is just the type of film to take kids to...over and over again. I mean, c'mon, what's not to love about a cute and grumpy old man, a clutzy asian Boy Scout, a talking dog, and a peacock/emu/dodo bird hybrid called a "Snipe" who can say more without even making a noise than most can do with an entire speech.


1. Star Trek
You probably saw this coming...as far as Summer blockbusters go, Star Trek is that money-hording thrill ride everyone wants. But wait, there's more! It's not bad! Sure, everyone loves comic book movies or Transformers, but not all of these films really live up to the hype. They're flashy, dazzling, and have that nuance of nostalgia we all crave, but in hindsight, they were just "okay" in the sense of a well-rounded movie. But Star Trek takes the cake from the gimmick bakery and and boldly goes...well you know. A fantastic cast, expert direction, and a witty and bombastic script combine to form what is, ultimately, the perfect movie experience. You leave content and have your expectations shattered into zillions of pieces. Its that movie you recommend to all your friends...and for many, it was a surprise hit (due to the "Trekky" fanbase that seem to be the only ones to actually get excitement when an announcement like this is made). So kudos, Sir Abrams. May your sequels live long and prosper.



Intermission!

Just kidding...unless you actually left this article and did something else for a few minutes before reading on. In that case, in all seriousness. Here we are to my, personal, top 3 contenders for most anticipated Summer movie of 2009 as of June 8! Let it begin!


3. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
G.I. Joe. If you were a kid in the 80's or 90's, just hearing that name gets you inappropriately aroused. So when Paramount Pictures announced an official G.I. Joe movie, well, you can imagine the reaction. All those secret agents, ninjas, robots, mech suits, jet planes, guns, superpowers, terrorists, and weapons of mass destruction are back in superior special effects for its Summer blockbuster debut. Why am I excited? I'll admit, I was never the biggest fan of G.I. Joe...but, I did love the toys and watched the cartoon here and there. Its just one of those childhood remembrances that I can't get rid of, so I'm just naturally ecstatic. But what gets me more is the action packed trailer. Now, if that trailer just doesn't scream "COOL" right at your face for all two minutes, then I seem to have forgotten what "cool" is. As an actual all-around cinematic feature, we'll see if it has what it takes. But as a Summer blockbuster filled with combustible everything from start to finish, its looking to keep me on the edge of my seat through and through (due to fear of an ejection seat going haywire).

2. Public Enemies

Well, this entry isn't so much a Summer blockbuster as it is just a Johnny Depp declaration of "Aww shi*." The man is back as the main baddie/goodie in Public Enemies, the story of John Dillinger. If that poster doesn't already pull you in, check out the trailer. And if THAT doesn't make you want to see it immediately, well then go watch a movie about a forbidden romance between two star-crossed lovers that takes place during the Renaissance or something. Michael Mann looks to be the Man in this feature which he directs. On top of the in-your-face badass style which Public Enemies seems to be heading towards, the soundtrack is engaging and enthralling, or so it seems. This is the kind of movie I'm going to walk out of pretending to shoot up the theater with the justification that the other patrons just "don't understand me." Don't worry, it makes sense. If you love crime dramas, gangster, and/or Johnny Depp, get ready to get your ass kicked on July 1, 2009. (No androgynous drunk pirates were harmed in the making of this film).

1. Inglourious Basterds
Okay okay, so I'm a bit of a Quentin Tarantino fanboy. But, can you blame me? Tarantino stands tall amongst today's directors as one of the best and most beloved. Unfortunately, he likes to have a decent hiatus between his films, usually between 2-3 years. So finally, after a 2 year hiatus after Death Proof, Tarantino returns in his violent and overblown form with a story of Nazi annihilation. Yes, its a World War II story directed by Quentin Tarantino. I'm not quite sure I have the words to describe how perfectly suited he is for such a role. The trailer shows Brad Pitt simply being a badass and ordering the acquisition of 100 Nazi scalps...and he wants his scalps. This trailer shows that Tarantino isn't messing around and this is meant to be one of his masterpieces to show off from his repertoir. What else could be a more perfect end to Summer than a movie about collecting Nazi scalps in France? A movie about collecting Nazi scalps in France directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt and Ryan from The Office...yes, really.


Aaaaaand there you have it! Kyle Shelton's Summer Threeview! Now, I know a lot of you are probably all ancy because I didn't include X-Men in my favorite films nor did I include Transformers 2 or Harry Potter in my anticipation part...well, I love X-Men, but more like that family member that gives you presents every year and you'd be sad if he/she died but you're not exactly psyched to go see when mom and dad decide its their house's turn for Thanksgiving this year...

Long analogies aside, X-Men was great but didn't hold up to the first 2 X-Men films nor the the overall comic book counterpart of a storyline. As for Transformers, I'm going to go see it, as is 99% of the United States' population, but if I didn't, I really wouldn't be that disappointed. I only liked the first Transformers, and the trailer for this second one really hasn't gotten me in a twisted bundle like the other films I mentioned. In fact, I'm more stoked to see "Funny People" than Transformers 2, but I'm still excited. What can you hate about giant robots beating the bejesus out of eachother, right?

And Harry Potter...well, I haven't finished all your films, and I've only completely read 2 of your books. The movie certainly looks promising, but considering its an adaptation of a craze I never got too into, I'll let it slide as just a mild intrigue rather than full-fledged midnight premiere-worthy fiasco.

The Princess and the Frog Preview

Lately, Disney is pretty neutral on the "love it" or "hate it" scale amongst most people. Kids love it. Adults...not so much. Most of this conflict is due to the Disney Channel's rather mediocre quality of shows and movies (I'm lookin' at you, Hannah Montana), versus the fantastic masterpieces that Disney cranks out on the big screen alongside Pixar. From Toy Story to Up, they've all been high enjoyable and held in the most prestigious regards of cinema in general. But, just when it seems Disney is evolving into a new age, they harken back to their haydays with their newest old-school animated installment, "The Princess and the Frog."

You can watch the trailer here.

Basically, it takes the story of the age-old princess kissing the cursed prince who's been turned into a frog so that he returns to human form and they live happily ever after formula and spins it with the teaser: "No one knows what happened after the kiss."

It's reversed!

The princess turns into a frog and hilarity ensues.

But here's the biggest feature of this film: will this princess hold up to the standards of all the other Disney princesses? Can Tiana be as lovably radiant as the likes of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Arielle, or Jasmine? And another kicker...she's Disney's first black princess. Taking place in the French Quarter of New Orleans, this promises to be an original and stylistic approach to the hackneyed story we've all heard, AND its presented in the same old school musical fashion as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid.

Alas! Disney is doing a throwback...and personally, I think it has what it takes. Then again, I did just go to Disney World for the weekend and I had my flame for Disney rekindled after watching the parades and fireworks, but nonetheless, this looks to be a fairly interesting concept that we'll anxiously await for around Christmas time. Not too mention the writers and directors of Aladdin, Hercules, and The Little Mermaid will be heading the project (Ron Clements and John Musker).

Even the villain is different...although not all that different. He's a witch doctor who, apparently, follows the magical villainous vein of someone like Maleficent (with the whole curse thing). And there's even a trumpet-playing alligator...so really, where can this go wrong? Disney's not one to screw things up (unless they're gimmicky) but "The Princess and the Frog" seems to be heading in the right direction considering there's no gimmicky attraction applied to it yet. Its all old-school flare, and it'll be a serious disappointment if it fails to impress. Realistically, its head to head against Disney's recent repertoir like Wall-E or Finding Nemo, and it's in that lullish limbo between Up and Pixar's next humongous endeavor, Toy Story 3. Then again, it's also during holiday season, so its sure to rack up numbers at the box office.

Until then, though, we're left with a very intriguing and nostalgic trailer and a little backstory. Its definitely a contender on my list of most anticipated of 2009, so Disney, don't break my heart.