The 2010 Atlanta Film Festival will open at the Carter Center at One Copenhill, 453 Freedom Parkway on Thursday, April 15, 2010 with Stanley Nelson’s FREEDOM RIDERS and will close on Friday April 23, 2010 at the 14th Street Playhouse at 173 14th Street with the Southeastern premiere of Barr Weissman’s SECRET TO A HAPPY ENDING, a terrific behind-the-scenes documentary portrait of the Athens GA-based band Drive-By Truckers.   

 

Freedom Riders	Opening Night
Crash	Ludacris Presents
Psycho (50th Anniversary Screening)	Movie on the Meadow
The Secret to a Happy Ending	Closing Night
The Battle for Bunker Hill	Narrative Competition
The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek	Narrative Competition
Handsome Harry	Narrative Competition
Dear Lemon Lima	Narrative Competition
Exit 117	Narrative Competition
Nonames	Narrative Competition
Putty Hill	Narrative Competition
The Things We Carry	Narrative Competition
American Jihadist	Documentary Competition
Family Affair	Documentary Competition
Alley Pat: The Music is Recorded	Documentary Competition
8: The Mormon Proposition	Documentary Competition
I am Comic	Documentary Competition
The Last Survivor	Documentary Competition
Mamachas Del Ring	Documentary Competition
Racing Dreams	Documentary Competition
The Eyes of Me	African-American Spotlight - Documentary
God's Architects	African-American Spotlight - Documentary
Souled out Comedy	African-American Spotlight - Documentary
Stranded in the Motor City	African-American Spotlight - Documentary
'10-20	African-American Spotlight - Narrative
Case 219	African-American Spotlight - Narrative
The 10 Conditions of Love	Documentary Feature
9500 Liberty	Documentary Feature
Burning Ice	Documentary Feature
Cropsey	Documentary Feature
Cutud (The Crossing)	Documentary Feature
The Desert of Forbidden Art	Documentary Feature
Dive!	Documentary Feature
Divorcing God	Documentary Feature
Dumbstruck	Documentary Feature
My Run	Documentary Feature
No Tomorrow	Documentary Feature
Saturday Night	Documentary Feature
There Once was an Island	Documentary Feature
Toxic Soup	Documentary Feature
Benediction of the Beasts	Documentary Short Playing with Feature
Passion	Documentary Short Playing with Feature
Cud	Documentary Short Playing with Feature
A Man Can't Just Sit Around	Documentary Short Playing with Feature
Complaints Choir	Music Spotlight - Documentary
Do It Again	Music Spotlight - Documentary
Wheedle's Groove	Music Spotlight - Documentary
Broken Hill	Music Spotlight - Narrative
NY Export: Opus Jazz	Music Spotlight - Narrative
The Athlete	Narrative Feature
Big Font. Large Spacing	Narrative Feature
Cold Weather	Narrative Feature
Cooking with Stella	Narrative Feature
Feed the Fish	Narrative Feature
Godspeed	Narrative Feature
The Good Heart	Narrative Feature
Little Lies	Narrative Feature
Love on the Rocks	Narrative Feature
The Mountain Thief	Narrative Feature
The Myth of Time	Narrative Feature
Open Five	Narrative Feature
Pushin' Up Daisies	Narrative Feature
Slap Down	Narrative Feature
The Square	Narrative Feature
Winter's Bone	Narrative Feature
Yellowbrickroad	Narrative Feature
The Last Cigarette	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
Wake	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
Black Ops Arabesque	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
Calling the Minstrel	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
The Offering	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
Freeport	Narrative Short Playing with Feature
Play in the Gray	Pink Peach - Documentary
Mother Earth	Pink Peach - Narrative
Who Saw Him	Pink Peach - Narrative
Amazon Women	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
Asbury Park	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
I Own You	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
Jackson Parish	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
Life on Earth	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
She Got Problems	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
Train	Shorts-African-American Spotlight
The Adventures of Ledo and Ix	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Anchorite	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Fence Underneath Us	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Goodbye Mr. Pink	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Happy and Strictly in "Fuzzy Business"	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Horn Dog	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Ledo and Ix Go to Town	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Lighthouse	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Machine	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Prayers for Peace	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Spaceman on Earth	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Story of Scrivener and His Aislyn	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
Twist of Fate	Shorts-Animation Extravaganza
The Apostles	Shorts-Comedy
The Ballad of Friday and June	Shorts-Comedy
Follicle Frolic	Shorts-Comedy
Helium Man	Shorts-Comedy
How to Ride a Train	Shorts-Comedy
Pet Peeves	Shorts-Comedy
Quality Time	Shorts-Comedy
Spleenectomy	Shorts-Comedy
This Side Up	Shorts-Comedy
Winner: Best Short Film	Shorts-Comedy
The World of Film Festivals	Shorts-Comedy
Born Sweet	Shorts-Documentary
Clandestine	Shorts-Documentary
The Darkness of Day	Shorts-Documentary
Ghosts	Shorts-Documentary
No Excuses	Shorts-Documentary
Prison Dog	Shorts-Documentary
The Solitary Life of Cranes	Shorts-Documentary
Woman Rebel	Shorts-Documentary
Ana's Playground	Shorts-Drama
Cigarette Candy	Shorts-Drama
Confession	Shorts-Drama
The History of Aviation	Shorts-Drama
Metropolis Ferry	Shorts-Drama
The Odds	Shorts-Drama
Puppets of War	Shorts-Drama
The Bellows March	Shorts-Experimental
Garden Roll Bounce Parking Lot	Shorts-Experimental
Indistinct Boundaries: Movement 2	Shorts-Experimental
Indistinct Boundaries: Movement 4	Shorts-Experimental
Kapsis	Shorts-Experimental
LoopLoop	Shorts-Experimental
Manhattan Mermaid	Shorts-Experimental
More From Life	Shorts-Experimental
Parisian Flash-cards	Shorts-Experimental
Someone or Something	Shorts-Experimental
Star, Dust	Shorts-Experimental
A Tax on Pochsy	Shorts-Experimental
Bedfellows	Shorts-Gay
Catching On: The Day the World Turned Gay	Shorts-Gay
Curious Thing	Shorts-Gay
Danny	Shorts-Gay
The Feast of Stephen	Shorts-Gay
Gayby	Shorts-Gay
Non-Love-Song	Shorts-Gay
Rubbuds	Shorts-Gay
One Night	Shorts-Lesbian
Public Relations	Shorts-Lesbian
The Roe Effect	Shorts-Lesbian
Simple Pleasures	Shorts-Lesbian
To Comfort You	Shorts-Lesbian
Yulia	Shorts-Lesbian
Further Lane	Shorts-Looking for Love
Greased	Shorts-Looking for Love
Mister Green	Shorts-Looking for Love
The Regular	Shorts-Looking for Love
The Tedious Existence of Terrell B. Howell	Shorts-Looking for Love
Tell Me Who	Shorts-Looking for Love
Grampa Kevorkian	Teen Screen Animation
Lost and Found	Teen Screen Animation
The Mouse That Soared	Teen Screen Animation
Pigeon Impossible	Teen Screen Animation
Pups of Liberty	Teen Screen Animation
Skylight	Teen Screen Animation
The Way to Heaven	Teen Screen Animation
No Crossover	Teen Screen Documentary
Nourishing the Kids of Katrina - The Edible Schoolyard	Teen Screen Documentary
Red, White & Green	Teen Screen Documentary
Beast	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts
Feeder	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts
Firstborn	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts
Ice Scream	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts
Ricky Riggs: The Story of a Block Bitch	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts
Spoiler	We Dare You To Watch These Shorts

 

  

Samantha Worthen's monthly Film/Arts email is always full of eventy goodness, so why not post it and share it with you guys. 

 

The snow is cleared…for now, and March Madness is almost here.

 

Don't forget to set your clocks to SPRING ahead on MARCH 14^th, and then be sure to take time out to enjoy a few things around town:

 

Watch a Film in a Theatre; View a Film Trailer On-Line!

 

*Opened this past week; 3^rd at the box office - THE CRAZIES - was filmed in GA (and a little bit in Iowa) last year.  Features a number of GA talent.  Check out the trailer and make plans to see in the theatre!  http://www.thecrazies-movie.com/

 

* Filmed in nearby North Carolina, with lots of GA talent, BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME, opened in Atlanta Feb. 19^th.  Limited screenings in the S.E.  Check out the trailer and more about this film at the website: http://blooddonesignmynamethemovie.com/

 

* Locally lensed film, THE BLIND SIDE, is still in theatres!  Congrats to all local cast and crew members!  http://www.theblindsidemovie.com/

 

* Not filmed in GA, but from ATL-based producer, Tyler Perry, and Oprah Winfrey, PRECIOUS, is still in theatres!   http://www.weareallprecious.com/

 

The Spring Emory Cinematheque on Wednesdays: March 3, Cranes Are Flying (“Letyat Zhuravali”; 1957, Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957, black and white, 95 min., in Russian with English subtitles); March 17, The Job (“Il Posto,” 1961, Emmano Olmi, Italy, black & white, 93 min., Italian with English subtitles); March 24, Wings of Desire (“Der Himmel über Berlin”, 1987, Wim Wenders, Germany, black & white and color, 128 min., German and others with English subtitles);March 31, Mean Streets (1973, Martin Scorcese, United States, color, 112 min.).

 

All these FREE screenings are at 7:30pm in White Hall 205, unless noted. More detailed descriptions:  www.filmstudies.emory.edu   The Wednesday night Fall series is curated by Dr. Eddy Von Mueller, Lecturer in Film Studies.

 

Turn on the TV and watch, set the VCR, or schedule with TIVO......and catch a few ATL folks on the small screen and also behind the scenes:

 

* Lensed in GA in 2009, the pilot of PAST LIFE, which featured local talent, premiered last month.  Unfortunately the show was pulled, but you can watch the first three episodes on-line:  http://www.fox.com/pastlife/

 

* THE VAMPIRE DIARIES continues! Tune in to see Atlanta talent at work on Thursdays at 8pm ET on the CW.  New episode on March 25^th.  More info as well as episodes:  http://cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries

 

*   Lensed in nearby Wilmington, ONE TREE HILL continues a successful run.  Keep your eyes peeled for familiar ATL faces now and then.  Mondays at 8pm ET.  Info on-line:  http://cwtv.com/shows/one-tree-hill 

 

* ATLANTA SHORTS - Tune in to PBA 30 Atlanta's PBS Station.  Saturday at 11pm and Sunday at midnight!  http://www.pba.org/programming/programs/atlshorts

 

Enjoy theatre, comedy, art, music, and more live events!

 

* Super Solid Gold Mega Hits!  - catch Sketchworks for the 1st show of 2010!  Directed by Jen Kelley, with a cast full of some of your favorites.  Two more weeks - through March 13th.  Check out the season pass! http://sketchworkscomedy.com/ 

 

* Need some laughs in your life?  The Doug Dank Project – Weds, 1000pm at Push Push Theater, Decatur.  http://www.thedougdankproject.com/   Check website weekly for guest monologist. 

 

* More chuckles....Improv at JaCKPie Theatre - 14th street. Thursdays: Improv Monster at 930pm; Fridays: Revolver at 8pm; and Saturdays: Smashup at 8pm, Harold Night at 930pm and InsOmniac at 1115pm. Tickets are $7!  Catch Four Ate Five and Lady Parts teams during the Harold Night Show on March 13th! More info on re-vamped website:  http://jackpie.com/play/upcoming-shows/

 

* Giggles - Playing in Traffic Improv - This month, Saturdays, 730pm at Pro Actor's Studio, Atlanta.  Check out website for more info: http://pitimprov.com/schedule.html  

 

* “Women + War” - opened Feb. 19^th and runs through March 7^th. Created by the Synchronicity Ensemble; Directed by Rachel May.  Special Performance and Post-Show Discussion, on Sat. March 6th at 630pm.  Directed by Rachel May. Choreography by Celeste Miller. Stage management by Charlie Moore.  http://www.synchrotheatre.com/home/Default.aspx

 

* "Octette Bridge Club" - written by P.J. Barry and Directed by Adriana Warner. A delightful, sentimental comedy about American life in a bygone era. On alternate Friday evenings, eight sisters meet to play bridge and gossip. Opens March 5^th at Kudzu Playhouse; runs through April 4^th.  Fri & Sat at 8 pm and Sun matinees at 3pm.  http://www.kudzuplayhouse.org/index.html

 

* “Frat Girl” - Written and directed by Jamie Wingler.  A limited, two-night engagement on Friday, March 12 and Sat, March 13, at 8pm, at the fabulous Earl Smith Strand Theatre!  Tickets can be purchased athttp://www.earlsmithstrand.org/upcoming-events.php ; by phone at 770-293-0080; or in person at box office. 

 

* Don't miss the fabulous Gwen Hughes and Garrison Elliott at the Cool Cat a Go-Go - Benefit for Furkids, March 27^th at 7pm at the Variety Playhouse. http://www.gwenhughes.com/

Tickets at Furkids site:  http://www.furkids.org/

 

* For a comprehensive listing of Atlanta shows and ticket information (includingAtlanTIX!), check out http://www.atlantaperforms.com/  

 

For my friends who are in the film community, AND even those who are not!:  

 

 * Atlanta Film Festival 365 - mark your calendar - buy Atlanta Film Festival Passes NOW! 

The festival is April 15 - 23 (a mere 42 days away!)  Save by purchasing your pass before March 15^th.  http://atlantafilmfestival.com/content/view/461/204/#passes

And check out Avant Garden XVI - March 18^th, 6 - 830pm. More on upcoming events:  www.atlantafilmfestival.com   Not a member?  JOIN!

 

 ...Screenwriters - check out ASG meeting at 8pm, same venue as Avant Garden. http://www.atlscript.org/

 

* Women in Film and Television Atlanta - Oscar Party 7 pm - Red Carpet Viewing and Networking.  8 pm - Academy Awards Ceremony. FREE to attend - $5 entry ballot for Oscar Competition.  Info and registration:  www.wifta.org  

 

* Actors - learn how to make filing taxes easier to understand and prepare!  March 18^th; 630 – 830pm at Sketchworks Theatre (located at YourAct) 3041 North Decatur Road, Scottdale, GA 30079. A free seminar by Enrique Jimenez, member of National Society of Public Accountants and Georgia Association of Public Accountants.  With local actors Julie Shaer-Deutschle and Dave Deutschle, owners of Liberty Tax Service, in Buckhead,Atlanta.  RSVP by March 16^th to confirm your spot: LIBERTY_BUCKHEAD@LIBERTYTAX.COM   

 

 Be in the know:  

 

* OZ Magazine - GA Film & Video Sourcebook and more! http://www.ozonline.tv  

* Southern Screen Report - Read more about happenings in your area: http://screenreport.com/ 

* Atlanta Film Community - On-line news and forum: www.atlantafilmcommunity.com 

* CinemATL Magazine -  Check it out at http://www.cinematl.com   

 

 Support Local Businesses and Charitable Organizations: 

 

* Congrats to Mike Pniewski on his new book - “When Life Gives You Lemons, Throw 'em Back”.   Check it out: http://throwemback.com/ 

 

* The 2 Williams Home - A Habitat for Humanity Home in Loving Memory of Bill & Will Stilwell.

Construction on the newest home began January 16, 2010    You can volunteer to help build (House Construction Day 7 is March 6th - check calendar on-line). 

 

TO REGISTER:  www.atlantahabitat.volunteerhub.com

 

Register and when it asks for join group it is "2williams"

 

Once you've registered, it will direct you to the event dates and you sign up for the day. They will then send out all the information, maps, etc. They build rain or shine, so warm, comfortable clothes and shoes.

 

You can donate:  If you wish to make a monetary donation, please send your check to:

Habitat for Humanity Atlanta

ATTN:  Two Williams Home 

519 Memorial Drive SE

Atlanta, GA  30312

 

Or, donate online:  www.atlantahabitat.org/donate.asp  - click Donate Online then This Gift Is: "In Memory of" and type 2 Williams Home. 

 

Happy Early St. Patrick’s Day!! If you read this far...congrats, and that's a wrap!  

 

List and email compiled by Atlanta based Actress and former WIFTA board member Samantha Worthen.

Michael Lye is an Atlanta Film Festival 365 member and volunteer.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle's world-famous sleuth was given a modern face-lift which resulted in Sherlock Holmes taking on the mantle of action-hero in this 128-min movie that was aptly directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla, Long Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).

I enjoyed the skillful cinematography by Philippe Rousselot and the gorgeously designed costumes by Jenny Beaman. Strong compelling performances by Mark Strong and the lovely yet talented Rachel McAdams' trumped both Robert Downey Jr.'s and Jude Law's performances. The chemistry between RDJ and Jude Law seemed strained and deliberate - and not at all 'natural'.

The special effects, CGI, set design, and production quality are all excellent.

However, this movie incarnation of Sherlock Holmes was screen-written by the team of Michael Robert Johnson, Simon Kinberg and Anthony Peckham - and was based on a story by Lionel Wigram and Michael Robert Johnson. The end result was a bloated plot and a total perversion of the classic Sherlock Holmes character. If I did not know better, I would have thought that Sherlock Holmes was possessed.

The sprinkling of humor in the movie seemed forced and contrived - and, the uneven editing by James Herbert seemingly impaired the flow of the movie.

Lastly, the ending felt overdue and rushed - and sets up nicely for a sequel (which I fervently hope will be better than its predecessor).

VERDICT:
A valiant effort - but, not great.
Grade: C-plus

Michael Lye is an ATL365 Member and Volunteer

AVATAR was directed by James Cameron, and stars Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, etc.

According to TheWrap.com, a FOX spokesperson confirmed that AVATAR has a production budget of $237 million - plus $150 million in marketing/promotion cost - thereby granting AVATAR the distinction of being the most expensive movie ever made to date.

The production quality is FIRST-RATE! I was in awe with the spectacularly computer-generated world(moon) of Pandora. The realistic-looking world-scapes transfixed me - and that combined with the EXCELLENT cinematography by Mauro Fiore plus the 3D that possessed tremendous depth, the world of Pandora truly came ALIVE! I was mesmerized by Pandora's bio-luminescent night-time flora and fauna - a veritable fairy-land of soft glow and breath-taking lights. I was so in awe that I think I hurt my jaw as it dropped and hit the floor.

I really enjoyed watching the Banshee/Ikran flights, which I found to be immensely exhilarating! Most of the featured Pandora's wildlife/creatures are basically analogues of Earth's horses (Direhorses/Pa'li), wolves (Viperwolves/Nantang), pterodactyl (Banshee/Ikran), rhinoceros (Hammerhead/Titanothere), and the Thanator/Palulukan which reminded me of a combination of tiger, cougar, and puma. The action-scenes were well-choreographed/well-presented, and the action sequences were clear and well-defined. The computer generated Na'vi people and Pandora's flora and wildlife were remarkably realistic-looking. And above all, I cannot help but be amazed by the combination and juxtapositioning of live-action and computer generated images which blended seamlessly.

Themes explored included leadership, greed, colonialism, love/friendship, environmentalism, spiritualism, harmony and communion.

However, in spite of all the above positives, AVATAR's average plot begged for improvement - plus, the characters are basically one-dimensional and could be better developed - and these, were the only drawbacks.

Overall, James Cameron delivered a truly spectacular gorgeous action-packed spectacle worth checking-out.

VERDICT:
A Must See for fans of fantasy/sci-fi and action genres.
If possible, see it in IMAX 3D - you will be glad you did.
At approximately 2hr and 40mins, I was left hungry for more!
Eywa rules! (Mother-nature has the last word!)
Grade: A

 Michael Lye is a Atlanta Film Festival 365 Member and Volunteer

INVICTUS.

Invictus is latin for 'unconquered' - and is also a 1875 short poem by English poet William Ernest Henley.
The last two lines of the poem are...
"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."

Filmed entirely in South Africa, Invictus is a 135-minute movie based on the non-fiction book by John Carlin - Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation, and chronicled Nelson Mandela's life from 1994-1995 - focusing mainly on his inspiring and successful attempts to racially and politically depolarize plus unify the South African nation with the help of South Africa's underdog rugby team, Springboks. The movie also touched briefly on his release from 27 years of imprisonment (for opposing apartheid) plus his subsequent election as the first black President of South Africa.

In this movie, President Nelson Mandela(Morgan Freeman - one of the finest actors of the present era) uttered the above two lines of the poem to the captain of the Springboks, Francois Pienaar(a very blond Matt Damon) - with surprising profound effect so that Francois came to realize that the idea of winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup(against the seemingly unbeatable and formidable New Zealand's All Blacks) is not only a surmountable goal - but that his rugby team is also a effective vehicle to bring the entire nation together through sports. (And that, is surprising because back then in South Africa, the blacks reviled the Springboks which they viewed negatively as a symbol of white oppression.)

Clint Eastwood, a extraordinary gifted director, was charged with the difficult task of weaving politics and sports while presenting a portrait of a gentle, wise, and humanitarian leader. He succeeded in crafting a well-told story - with excellent production values - that is fresh, entertaining, educational, inspiring, and yet - not at all 'preachy'.

Morgan Freeman, who is personally acquainted with Mandela, embodied Nelson Mandela with perfection. He exuded strength, tolerance, and wisdom in this movie that is also pregnant with other important messages such as forgiveness, humanity, reconciliation, racial-equality, democracy, and national unity.
Matt Damon's terrific portrayal of Francois Pienaar made me forget that I was watching Matt Damon on-screen. His South African accent sounded natural to my ears.

All the above three thespians are indeed at the top of their game.
Also, kudos to the supporting cast for turning in a excellent performance. I especially enjoyed the humor and insight interjected by Clint Eastwood in the depiction of the supporting roles' interactions - which also conveyed the then average everyday person's reactions to their fellow South Africans of different race.

The engagingly chair-gripping knuckle-biting depictions of the rugby matches will likely turn you into a new covert for this rough sport.

Factoids:
Impressively well-integrated and seamless CGI helped populate the stadium crowd in all the scenes of Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
Nelson Mandela had personally mentioned to Morgan Freeman that one day he would like for the actor to play him in a movie.

A parting thought...
As uttered in the movie by Francois to his wife, "...how you spend 30 years in a tiny cell and come out ready to forgive the people who put you there." - the impact that this line makes will resonate deeply long after the movie is over.

VERDICT:
ROUSING, INSPIRATIONAL, POWERFUL, and EMOTIONAL.
Excellent: Grade A.    

Michael Lye is an ATL365 Member and Volunteer 

ARMORED. (thin shell)

This 1hr 28min heist/crime thriller stars Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia, Columbus Short, Skeet Ulrich, and Fred Ward.

Scripted by James V. Simpson and competently directed by Nimród Antal (award-winning director of 2004 CANNES Film Festival's' 'Kontroll'), ARMORED explored various themes - conflict, morality, crime, justice, and action-consequence/karma. But, the thin plot basically cramped the movie despite strong performances by the talented cast.

There were a few chair-gripping scenes plus some thrilling action sequences - but a feeling of disconnectedness persisted throughout the movie. Instead of drawing me in and holding me rapt - I was disappointed by the lack of character development and I was apathetic with regard toward the characters.

The anti-climactic ending did not improve the overall 'feel' of this 'heavy' movie.

VERDICT:
Recommended for fans of the cast.
Grade: C-average

Michael Lye is an ATL365 Member and Volunteer

The Princess and the Frog

Disney's The Princess and the Frog is a 95 minute modern-day re-imagining of a traditional fairy-tale.

Lovingly and painstakingly hand-drawn, this latest animated feature pays homage to Disney's classic animated tales with elements such as gorgeous PANTONE color-coordinated and matched scenes, a well-realized heroic gutsy female protagonist, and cute personality-driven creatures/characters while striking a good balance of engaging story-telling, humor, heart, and music.

Randy Newman, who scored the film's toe-tapping upbeat music and songs, once again proved that he is a composer to be reckoned with - following his huge successes with CARS, MONSTERS INC., TOY STORY 2 and A BUG'S LIFE.

The first half of the movie unfolded at a steady pace contrasting the latter half's frenetic let's-try-to-fit-as-much-as-we-can gumbo mix. The competent directing by Ron Clemens and John Musker kept the engaging story flowing along breezily like a steady boat-ride down the bayou.

The excellent voice-cast featured the talented Anika Noni Rose (Tiana - Disney's first African American princess), John Goodman, Bruno Campos, Oprah Winfrey, Jenifer Lewis, Jim Cummings, Michael-Leon Wooley, Terrence Howard, Keith David and Jennifer Cody.

VERDICT:
Highly Recommended. You don't have to be a kid to appreciate Disney's latest animated savory treat filled with positive messages. Go See It!!
Grade: A

Michael Lye is an ATL365 Member and Volunteer