Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) - Lots of fun in 4th IA chapter

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An action-packed adventure at sea is promised on this splashy poster for Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier's Ice Age: Continental Drift

A rift is taking place in our mammoth family, where Peaches has become a teenager. Now the continental plates start moving and breaking up, literally breaking up our friends. The larger group of them gets into trouble with an evil pirate ape on an iceberg ship.

 

Ice Age: Continental Drift is written by Michael Berg (Ice Age (2002)) and Jason Fuchs (Argylle (2024)) and directed by great Ohioan filmmaker Steve Martino (Horton Hears a Who! (2008)) and Michael Thurmeier (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)). It is the 4th film in the Ice Age franchise (2002; 06; 09).

The plot is simple and manageable, but the film scores on lots of funny gags and jokes: Ray Romano (Made for Love (2021-22)), franchise newcomer Wanda Sykes (Chivalry (2022, TV-series)) and others shine in the impressive voice cast, - and the filmmakers strike a good balance between the story line and episodes featuring the series' popular squirrel Scrat, whose obsessive hunt for an acorn of course is what causes the continental plate movements! This is fun and feels like a throwback to the classic Looney Tunes (1930-69) short animations. 

The animation is fantastic to boot here, colorful and vivid to the eyes. Ice Age: Continental Drift is a fun-filled family treat.

 

Related post:

 

Steve Martino: Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - Belly-laughs and fantastic imagination in great family animation (co-director)

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 95 mil. $

Box office: 877.2 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 9.23 times its cost)

[Ice Age: Continental Drift premiered 26 June (Buenos Aires) and runs 88 minutes. Production took place in Connecticut. The film opened #1 to a 46.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 3 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#2-#4), grossing 161.3 mil. $ (18.4 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were China with 67.8 mil. $ (7.7 %) and Germany with 67 mil. $ (7.6 %). It was the year's highest-grossing animation and the 5th highest-grossing film of the year over-all. Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. The franchise returned with Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). Martino returned with The Peanuts Movie (2015); Thurmeier with Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe (2015, short), Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016, TV movie) and theatrically with Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). Romano returned in Ted (2012). Ice Age: Continental Drift is rotten at 37 % with a 5.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ice Age: Continental Drift?

Into the Blue (2005) or, Ship Ahoy!

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Two nearly naked young stars look enticing on this poster for John Stockwell's Into the Blue

A broke diver with a boat with holes in it, a lovely girlfriend and big dreams get a visit from an old friend and a girl, and soon the group discover a major drug find in the ocean around the Bahamas.

 

Into the Blue is written by Matt Johnson (Torque (2004)) and directed by John Stockwell (Under Cover (1987)).

If you're gonna watch Into the Blue, it is advisable to leave the plot alone and just enjoy the images of ocean life and beautiful bodies supplied in it. Here's the chance to ogle Paul Walker (Timeline (2003)) and Jessica Alba (The Veil (2016)) in swimwear. The film is overlong and narratively messy - a hodgepodge. It is a shame because an artistically interesting or a better action director might have wrung a great film from this premise.

Walker is supposed to be at times unrealistically boyish and often highly vexed at his pal Scott Caan's (Rock the Kasbah (2015)) shenanigans here. Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War (2018)) is a villain who seems hired directly from an old bikini b-picture. The many underwater scenes, including action scenes, are often bewildering, because the many characters look identical wearing diving goggles.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 50 mil. $

Box office: 46.1 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.92 times its cost)

[Into the Blue premiered 21 September (Los Angeles) and runs 110 minutes. Walker was paid 8.5 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from January - March 2004 in Florida, the Cayman Islands and in the Bahamas. The film opened #5 (during Hurricane Katrina), behind holdover hit Flightplan, fellow new release Serendipity and holdover hits Corpse Bride and A History of Violence, to a 7 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it left the top 5 in its 2nd weekend and grossed 18.8 mil. $ (40.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 3.1 mil. $ (6.7 %) and Germany with 2.6 mil. $ (5.6 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Stockwell returned with Rocky Point (2005, TV-series) and theatrically with Turistas (2006). Walker returned in Running Scared (2006); Alba in Shawn Desman: Sexy (2005, TV-series) and theatrically in The Ten (2007). Into the Blue is rotten at 21 % with a 4.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Into the Blue? 

Hatari! (1962) - Hawks, Wayne and Co. chase natural sensations in Africa

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The unfamiliar word that constitutes the title is (curiously) explained to mean three very different words on this colorful poster for Howard Hawks' Hatari!, which highlights several sensational situations from the picture

 

In Africa a small group of Westerners work together to catch wild life for the world's zoological gardens.

Hatari! is written by Leigh Brackett (The Long Goodbye (1973)), with Harry Kurnitz (Surprise Package (1960)) contributing story elements, and directed by Indianan master filmmaker Howard Hawks (The Road to Glory (1926)), whose 37th feature it was. The title is a Swahili (a central-African language) word that translates to 'danger'.

High-speed jeep animal chases with rhinos, zebras and other animals are the sensation (and core element) of this film, and these are quite rare to behold, perhaps reminding today's audiences of similar (but 'fake') scenes in Jurassic Park (1993), three decades later. Regrettably there's not much of a story around these chases, and the attraction of the 'social' scenes that makes up the filler is negligible. 

Strange, surely, is the sight of John Wayne (Big Jake (1971)) in the African savanna, but his satisfaction at being there illuminates him and works some by sheer infectiousness. Wild animals are chased, caught, - a leopard (presumably under sedation) acts in several scenes, and baby elephants are let loose in one town, and driven around on a flatbed truck. Even still the whole affair seems pretty innocent in a film that, - despite its natural sensations, - is honestly an over-long and deadly bore. It does, however, also to its credit, have Henry Mancini's (Ain't Misbehavin' (1955)) classic tune Baby Elephant Walk, which he wrote for Hatari!.

Related posts:

Howard Hawks: El Dorado (1966) - Hawks, Duke and Mitchum's great western

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) - Great musical numbers define cultural cornerstone 

The Big Sleep (1946) - The sexiest noir carousel you will ever ride
Top 10: The best adaptations reviewed by Film Excess to date
Top 10: The best B/W movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Bringing Up Baby (1938) - A screwy gathering

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 5-6 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 12.9 mil. $

= Minor flop (returned 2.34 times its cost)

[Hatari! was released 19 June (USA) and runs 157 minutes. Hawks began shooting the film without a finished script. Shooting took place from November 1960 - May 1961 in Tanzania and in Los Angeles, California. When the African shoot was finished, cast, crew and a planeload of wild animals were flown back to Los Angeles. Some were later also utilized for the film's elaborate PR tour before reportedly getting donated to zoos. The promotional campaign was reportedly the largest in Paramount's history. The film made 7 mil. $ in North-American rentals and reportedly 12.9 mil. $ total, becoming the year's 7th highest-grossing film. It was nominated for the Best Cinematography - Color Oscar (Russell Harlan), lost to Freddie Young for Lawrence of Arabia. Royalty checks for Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk would reportedly earn Hawks 125k $ over the following years. Hawks returned with Man's Favorite Sport? (1964). Wayne returned in The Longest Day (1962). Hatari! is fresh at 64 % with a 6.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Hatari!?

Hop (2011) - Wowing animation lifts shallow-sassy comedy

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Tons of candy, bright colors and cute animal characters here attempt to lure kids to demand tickets for Tim Hill's Hop

The Easter bunny's heir is not created for the job and instead of inheriting it he flees to Los Angeles, bringing his dreams of becoming a rock 'n roll drummer with him. Here he meets and teams up with a young (but not that young) human under-achiever. 

 

Hop is written by Brian Lynch (Puss in Boots (2011)), Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Despicable Me 2 (2013), both) and directed by Tim Hill (Muppets from Space (1999)).

It is a really handsome and wow-filled animation that's upbeat and humorous all the way through. James Marsden (Westworld (2016-22)) seems a little old as the human slacker character, but he has the right energy, just as Gary Cole (Velma (2013, TV-series)) has as his father. Hank Azaria (The Wizard of Lies (2017, TV movie)) gives hilarious voice to a Mexican Easter chick villain (!). 

The precipice between kiddie-appropriate fun and grown-up elements, such as a Playboy bunny ranch and the inclusion of David Hasselhoff (Killing Hasselhoff (2017)) as himself, - is a little steep, and Hop doesn't completely succeed. But the pace is snappy, and Hop is pretty funny and handsome, a good bowl of wacky-forgettable entertainment with fairly broad appeal.

 

Related post:

 

Tim Hill: Muppets from Space (1999) - Under-appreciated Muppet funfest

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 63 mil. $

Box office: 184.3 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 2.92 times its cost)

[Hop premiered 27 March (Universal Studios, Hollywood) and runs 95 minutes. Shooting took place in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 37.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend at #1 and then another 2 in the top 5 (#3-#4), grossing 108 mil. $ (58.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Australia with 12.3 mil. $ (6.7 %) and the UK with 12.2 mil. $ (6.6 %). Hill returned with 3 video and TV credits prior to his theatrical return with The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020). Marsden returned in Straw Dogs (2011); Russell Brand (Trolls (2016)) in Arthur (2011). Hop is rotten at 24 % with a 4.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Hop?

March of the Penguins/La Marche de l'Empereur (2005, documentary) - Incredible Antarctic recordings appended to grating animal narration

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The majestic emperor penguin with its chick makes up this poster for Luc Jacquet's March of the Penguins

On the South Pole lives a clan of emperor penguins, where almost no other living being can survive. They walk the long way across the ice to arrive at the mating spot and go through hunger and pain for the sake of their chicks.

 

March of the Penguins is written and directed by feature-debuting Luc Jacquet (Antarctica: Ice and Sky/La Glace et le Ciel (2015)). The original French title translates to 'the march of the emperor'.

It is an incredibly shot chronicle about some moving, beautiful animals. The stunning footage is enjoyed, but unfortunately the film doesn't spice the images up; neither with interesting, supportive information, nor with a good story (as for instance in the case of The Bear (1988).) Instead we are treated to insipid animal narration (in the English version though, Morgan Freeman (Driving Miss Daisy (1989)) handles narration that is not supposed to be from the penguins.) This choice makes March of the Penguins a sometimes dull watch.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 8 mil. $

Box office: 127.3 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 15.91 times its cost)

[March of the Penguins premiered 21 January (Sundance Film Festival) and runs 86 minutes. Shooting took place over the course of 13 months in Antarctica. Freeman was paid 1 mil. $ for his narration, which was recorded in one day. The film opened 28 to a 137k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #6 and in 2,506 theaters (different weeks), grossing 77.4 mil. $ (60.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were France with 12 mil. $ (9.4 %) and Germany with 9.2 mil. $ (7.2 %). The film won the Best Documentary Oscar. It was also nominated for 2 BAFTAs, a European Film award, won 1/4 César award nominations, was nominated for a David di Donatello award and won 2 National Board of Review awards, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Jacquet returned with The Fox and the Child/Le Renard et l'Enfant (2007). Jacquet later made the much less successful sequel, March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step/L'Empereur (2017). March of the Penguins is certified fresh at 94 % with a 7.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of March of the Penguins?

Heartstone/Hjartasteinn (2016) - Guðmundsson arrives with a stunning puberty drama for the ages

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+ Best Movie of the Year

+ Best Animal Movie of the Year + Best Debut of the Year + Best Icelandic Movie of the Year + Best  Nature Movie of the Year + Best Youth Movie of the Year 

 

An atmospheric purple sky looms over two young male friends on this neat poster for Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson's Heartstone

Thor and Christian are best friends in a countryside part of Iceland, where in the midst of the wildness of nature they go through a virtual juvenile whirlwind of emotions.

 

Heartstone is written, co-produced and directed by debuting Icelandic master filmmaker Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson (Þröng sýn (2005, short)). The English title is a literal translation of the original Icelandic title.

With a sensory, (thematically) intense range of images in nature and involving animals, often dead, Heartstone kicks the adult construction that is 'the harmonic-calm idea of puberty (and nature)' with gorgeous visuals and performances that are good almost beyond comprehension. From both Baldur Einarsson (Bömmer (2020, miniseries)) and Blær Hinriksson (Rainbow Party (2015, short)) as the boys Thor and Christian the camera catches telling looks, palpable electricity, moments of bubbling friendship as well as tears, and more poignant depth and feeling than one ordinarily sees. Einarsson and Hinriksson both deliver brutally honest, truly incredible performances.

Heartstone works as a private time traveling machine back to the volatile emotional vortex of puberty that we all have to pass through, and its third act moved and upset me deeply. It is an absolutely peerless film about how it might always be damned painful to realize that one is a stone fish. 

Related posts:

2016 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]

Top 10: Best gay-themed titles

 

 

Watch a short clip from the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: In excess of 446k $

= Uncertain

[Heartstone premiered 1 September (Venice Days) and runs 129 minutes. Guðmundsson began working on the script in 2007. Shooting took place in Iceland. The film's biggest markets were Iceland with 324k $ (72.6 % of the total gross), Denmark with 85k $ (19.1 %) and South Korea with 35k $ (7.8 %). It may have a higher gross than listed here, since several markets it was released in regrettably do not figure on the film's BoxOfficeMojo site. The film won 9/16 Edda awards (Iceland's Oscar), a European Film award and was nominated for the Nordic Council prize, among other honors. Guðmundsson returned with Beautiful Beings/Berdreymi (2022). Einarsson returned in Draugurinn (2018, short) and theatrically in Agnes Joy (2019); Hinriksson in Shells (2018, short) and theatrically in From Iceland to Eden (2019). Heartstone is fresh at 84 % with a 7.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Heartstone?

The Hunter (2011) - Man wants to kill Tasmania's last tiger

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Lush mountain scenery and a family situation lurks on this star-centered poster for Daniel Nettheim's The Hunter

A professional huntsman arrives to a remote part of Tasmania, where it is his mission to shoot and bring home with him a tiger that was thought to be extinct. But in the process he falls for a woman in the area, - and for the tiger.

 

The Hunter is written by Alice Addison (The Silence (2006, TV movie)), with Wain Fimeri (Pozieres (2000, TV movie)) and co-writer/director Daniel Nettheim (Angst (2000)) making contributions. It is an adaptation of the same-titled 1999 novel by Julia Leigh (Disquiet (2008)).

An unusual story and a strong cast, which keeps us guessing, speaks in favor of The Hunter. Frances O'Connor (Best Man Down (2012)) has that special sympathetic quality and is good here, and Finn Woodlock (Neighbours (2013, TV-series)) as her son also brings sensitivity to the part. The Tasmanian nature and animals are also fascinating. These qualities keep The Hunter afloat and exciting for the most part.

But (understandably) we never really care for Willem Dafoe's (The Florida Project (2017)) title character due to his mission and engagement with a mysterious, evil company. He walks around and kills animals throughout the film SPOILER and ends up shooting the beautiful tiger, only to cremate it. An incredibly unsympathetic behavior, - and it changes little that he becomes a stepfather for the boy. SPOILER Throughout The Hunter Dafoe's character stands as a swaying leaf between the environmentalists and 'tree-huggers' of the story, - and I didn't buy the proposed change in him in the film's ending, which I really hated.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Unknown, projected 4 mil. $

Box office: 1.6 mil. $

= Uncertain, but likely a mega-flop (projected return of 0.4 times its cost)

[The Hunter premiered 9 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 102 minutes. Shooting took place around October 2010 in Australia. The film opened #68 to a 19k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #57 and in 17 theaters (different weeks), grossing 176k $ (11 % of the total gross). North America was the film's 3rd biggest market. Its biggest were Australia with 947k $ (59.2 %) and the UK with 367k $ (22.9 %). If made on a low 4 mil. $ budget, the film would rank as a mega-flop. Nettheim returned with 22 TV credits but has not returned to theaters since. Dafoe returned with a voice performance in Gauguin: Maker of Myth (2011, video), and theatrically in John Carter (2012).  The Hunter is fresh at 72 % with a 6.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of The Hunter? 

Our Daily Bread/Unser Täglich Brot (2005, documentary) - Meditative portrait of modern food production

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Two scenes of modern, commercial food production make up this poster for Nikolaus Geyrhalter's Our Daily Bread

An observant investigation of modern farming and food production on the industrial scale: Rape seed fields, fish farms, poultry, pork and beef production, dairy, insemination, slaughter.

 

Our Daily Bread is written by co-writer/co-producer/editor Wolfgang Widerhofer (Elsewhere (2001, documentary)) and co-writer/co-producer/director/cinematographer Nikolaus Geyrhalter (Eisenerz (1992)).

For a while the film frustrates the fact-connected beholder, who will naturally want to know where this or that footage was shot, and maybe other facts as well. But Our Daily Bread is without any kind of narration or informative texts or even music to accompany the images, which are well-made and interesting in themselves. They invite meditation over our relationship to the things we eat and how they come about.

One can only speculate that the film is meant to inspire outrage, but the film still leaves it open for the viewer to decide for himself what to think about these miracles of capitalism (in my eyes) and the hard-working people in their labors, which Geyrhalter luckily doesn't neglect to portray also. The film in other words steers clear of appreciation of the business of mass food production, barred by the conventions of  'good taste', but a lot is left up to the eyes that see here in Our Daily Bread.

 

 

Watch a 5-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: 72k $

= Box office disaster (projected return of 0.07 times its cost)

[Our Daily Bread premiered 28 November (Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival) and runs 92 minutes. While the food companies depicted are deliberately not named, a list of them is available on the film's Wikipedia page that includes companies in a long list of European countries. The film had a small release in New York as its only North-American release with the gross unreported. Its 3 biggest reported markets were Belgium with 35k $ (48.6 % of the total gross), Spain with 11k $ (15.3 %) and Taiwan with 9k $ (12.5 %). If made on a small 1 mil. $ budget, the film would rank as a box office disaster. It was nominated for a European Film award, among other honors. Geyrhalter returned with 7915 Km (2008, documentary). Our Daily Bread is fresh at 94 % with a 7.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Our Daily Bread?

Oceans/Océans (2009, documentary) - Marvels galore in Cluzard/Perrin's outstanding work

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+ Best Nature Movie of the Year

 

A stunning image of a majestic blue whale adorns this poster for Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzard's Oceans

The oceans are home to a virtual galaxy of diverse life, which we don't normally see and fail to protect adequately.

Oceans is written by François Sarano (Le Clan des Cachalots (2019, TV movie)), Michael Katims (Ciudad Baja (1994)), Laurent Gaudé (Nulle Part en France (2016, short)), Stéphane Durand (Winged Migration/Le Peuple Migrateur (2001)), Christophe Cheysson (Voyager/Homo Faber (1991, second assistant director)), Laurent Debas and great French filmmakers, co-writer/co-director Jacques Cluzard and co-writer/co-producer/co-director/narrator Jacques Perrin (Winged Migration/Le Peuple Migrateur (2001), both).

It is a formidable nature documentary with exceptionally beautiful recordings as pearls on a string. Dolphins, sea turtles, seals, crabs, sharks and whales are captured in ways that make the spectator almost doubt his eyes. The sublime grandness of the wild spectacle of life can make one zone out some, simply because its veracity is so staggering. The beauty can at times seem as if it must be from another planet entirely (or manufactured with computer programs.)

But then Oceans takes a sharp dive, as it takes on a portrayal of man's over-exploitation and horrific pollution of the seas. (SPOILER A shark loses its fins in a heartbreaking, seemingly reconstructed scene.) The film cries out against the aquarium cultivation of the vast natural life in our oceans and for a changed course and responsible human behavior. 

Oceans also has sequences of marine life in motion that rivals any ballet dancer in elegance, and the film makes the viewer want to support the world seas. One wonders afterward how come the ending doesn't endorse some trustworthy organization involved with the protection of the oceans. (The diverse list of benefactors to the film's production, including an oil and energy company, royals and a sheikh, may indirectly explain this.)

 

Related post:

 

Jacques Perrin: 2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]

Cinema Paradiso/Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988) - Tornatore's timeless masterpiece (co-star)

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 80 mil. $

Box office: 83 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 1.03 times its cost)

[Oceans premiered 13 October (Middle East International Film Festival, UAE) and runs 104 minutes with an alternative Disney edit without the parts about humanity's negative influence on the oceans running 84 minutes. A staggering 37 companies and support bodies collaborated in the financing and production of the film. Shooting reportedly took place in more than 50 countries over the course of 4 years. The film opened #8 to a 6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it grossed 19.4 mil. $ (23.4 % of the total gross). North America was the film's 3rd biggest market. The two biggest were Japan with 25.5 mil. $ (30.7 %) and France with 23.8 mil. $ (28.7 %). The film won 1/3 César award nominations. Cluzard and Perrin returned with Le Peuple des Océans (2011, miniseries)) and theatrically with Seasons/Les Saisons (2015). Oceans is certified fresh at 80 % with a 7.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Oceans?

Of Horses and Men/Hross í oss (2013) - Beautiful images in small, disjointed, overrated debut

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Two horses mate, with a rider stuck on top of the female horse on this peculiar poster for Benedikt Erlingsson's Of Horses and Men

In Iceland we meet a row of men, - and a few women, - who are closely connected to their beautiful horses.

Of Horses and Men is written and directed by debuting Benedikt Erlingsson (Thanks/Takk fyrir hjálpið (2007, short)).

It is an unconventional film with beautiful images of Iceland and horses, esteemed photography by Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson (The Deep/Djúpið (2012)). Instead of a real story, we get several incidents involving men and horses, and in this way the title is a very precise declaration of the contents here.

Mating, death, transportation, pride, regret, pain and tenderness are presented thematically. But when the very short, and according to IMDb, (they list a 10 mil. $ budget!), unbelievably expensive film ends, the film still feels skimping on some aspects. It occurs to me that Erlingsson might have taken the trouble to collect his main interest (men and horses) in a real story instead of all these abrupt situations of varying poignancy. Of Horses and Men is therefore a bit disappointing, a small film that is locally - in Scandinavia - excessively praised.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Uncertain (IMDb claims 10 mil. $, which seems an unbelievably high figure)

Box office: 239k $

= Box office disaster (projected return of 0.07 times its cost)

[Of Horses and Men was released 28 August (Iceland) and runs 81 minutes. Shooting took place in Iceland. The actual budget is unknown; IMDb lists 10 mil. $, but I have projected it at 3 mil. $, which gives the 0.07 return, (if IMDb's figure is correct the return would be 0.02.) The film won 6/14 Edda awards (Iceland's Oscar) and the Nordic Council's Film Prize, among other honors. It was Iceland's Oscar bid but did not get nominated. Erlingsson returned with The Show of Shows (2015, documentary) and theatrically with Woman at War/Kona fer í stríð (2018). Of Horses and Men is fresh at 100 % with a 7.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Of Horses and Men?

Pocahontas (1995) - Musical greatness elevate fine Disney animation

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Magic and earthy colors attract on this fine poster for Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg's Pocahontas

In 1607, explorer John Smith ventures out on an adventurous trip with the Susan Constant from London to the 'New World' of North America, where natural wealth is conquered and natives slaughtered, - but instead of this, he personally falls in love with native American Pocahontas.

 

Pocahontas is written by Carl Binder (War of the Worlds (1990, TV-series)), Susannah Grant (28 Days (2000)) and Philip LaZebnik (Hindenburg (2013, miniseries)), with 24 (!) more individuals contributing story elements, and directed by Mike Gabriel (The Rescuers Down Under (1990)) and debuting Eric Goldberg (Aladdin (1992, character designer)). It is based on the real life Powhatan Indian American Pocahontas.

The fabled, good and fascinating story is told with vigor and formidable songs here: Colors of the Wind is simply eminent, but also The Virginia Company is a roaring hit. The score (by Alan Menken (Sausage Party (2016)) with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996))) for Pocahontas is outstanding and the strongest element in the film overall.

On the other hand the film doesn't feature Disney's most fantastical inventions in terms of characters, and one could have wished for more insight into the real-life story behind the film. The ending may give the erroneous assumption that the relationship between the white settlers and the native Americans then became harmonious, - after the removal of one evil colonial leader. As we all know, that wasn't the case. Then again this is mainly a film for children.

Pocahontas is in any case a very lovely film due to its musicality, spirituality, - which is closely connected to the natural life that the native Americans are shown to live in the film, - and the good values about love and respect and sharing of knowledge among people, which it spreads.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 55 mil. $

Box office: 346 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 6.29 times its cost)

[Pocahontas premiered 15 June (New York) and runs 81 minutes. The filmmakers took enormous creative license in altering the real-life story to fit their narrative wants and needs. Shooting took place from January 1994 - May 1995 in California. The film opened first limited to 6 theaters for its first anticipation-building weekend and then wide to #1 and a 29.5 mil. $ weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 3 weekends (#2-#4-#5), grossing 141.5 mil. $ (40.9 % of the total gross). It was the 4th highest-grossing film in North America of the year, behind Apollo 13, Toy Story and Batman Forever. Some of the native Americans involved as consultants for the filmmakers later expressed regret at the historical inaccuracy of the film. It won 2 Oscars: Best Original Song (Colors of the Wind) and Best Musical/Comedy Score. It also won 1/2 Golden Globe nominations and a Grammy, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. By mid-1998 the film had garnered a further 250 mil. $ in worldwide VHS sales. A direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World was released in 1998. Gabriel returned with Lorenzo (2004, short) but has not returned with a feature as director since; Goldberg returned with segment and short directing work but also no feature return for him. Irene Bedard (Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)), who voices Pocahontas, returned in 3 TV credits prior to her theatrical return in Navajo Blues (1996); Mel Gibson (Signs (2002)) in Ransom (1996). Pocahontas is rotten at 55 % with a 6/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Pocahontas?