Ratatouille (2007) - ★★★★

Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava
Voice Actors: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofolo

Ratatouille is such a wonderful film. I think it probably has the least magic involved out of any Disney movie, yet it's more magical than most. Cooking suddenly becomes an enchanting world, where taste and smell are the two most important senses to a person (or rat). Hell, it made me want to eat and cook all night long. (I just ended up making jam on toast, but I was damn proud of what I achieved). I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, which won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. I wouldn't rate it one of Disney's best, but it's an awesome movie none the less.

The Lion King (1994) - ★★★★★

Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Voice Actors: Jonathon Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson

So far in my Disney Blogathon, The Lion King takes the prize for making me cry the most. I hadn't seen this movie in like 10 years, so it was quite a shock to be as emotional as I was. It's an indescribably beautiful film that's much more than your average Disney movie. These aren't just the rambling events of cartoon animals, but rather a masterful story that could not have been told in a better way. I was just completely blown away at how much this movie affected me, which is why it is easily one of the greatest movies ever made.

The AristoCats (1970) - ★★½

Just O'Malley pitching woo to Dutchess

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Actors: Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers, George Lindsay, Pat Buttram

Believe it or not, when I was a kid The AristoCats was my favorite movie of all time. No matter what videos were on the shelf, I'd always be drawn to picking this movie. I guess I'd put that down to the fact that I've grown up with cats all my life. Upon re-watching this movie, I can't help but wonder what I ever saw in it. I mean, it's alright, but nothing special in my eyes. By now you'll know that it doesn't matter how childish or musical a film is, I'll probably like it anyway. This movie just isn't really funny, isn't all that enchanting, and it's a little bit boring.

Toy Story (1995) - ★★★½

Director: John Lasseter
Writers: Huge collabaration, (but it includes Joel Cohen and Joss Whedon)!
Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, R. Lee Ermey, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger

When people talk of their favorite animated movies, odds are someone's going to say Toy Story. I completely understand why, the story is incredible! This was one of my favorite movies as a child. It made me laugh, it scared me, and most importantly, it amazed me! Today, I realized something quite sad... this movie isn't as relevant today as it was back in 1995. There are still many children out there with toy dolls, army men and what not, but let's face it, everything's becoming electronic now. So for me, the ending of this movie was quite bittersweet. One thing this movie did make me do was treat my toys with love and respect.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) - ★★★★★

Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Writers: (Huge collaberation)
Voice Actors: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury, David Ogden Stiers

Here it is! I'm gonna call it now! Beauty and the Beast is the greatest Disney movie ever made. I'm barely a quarter way through my Disney Blogathon, yet I can't see anything else beating this. There are a few contenders I suspect will challenge this film (The Lion King, Cinderella), but deep down I feel that Beauty and the Beast is even better than all others. The music is perfect, the animation is unmatched, the story is beautiful, the characters are hilarious! No matter what I say, I feel I can't do this movie justice. I'll just go right ahead and point out what makes this my pick for "Greatest Disney Movie Ever Made."

Peter Pan (1953) - ★★★★

Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Writers: J.M Barrie (Play), many other writers (adaptation)
Stars: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conreid, Bill Thompson

"It will live in your heart forever." I could not think of a better line to describe Peter Pan than this. When I was a little boy, I used to watch this movie at least once every couple of weeks. Alice in Wonderland may have the most imagination, but Peter Pan has more magic. This movie just gets me so excited! There was so much in this film that was funny and awe inspiring. It was also a little sad for me to watch, for I was around the same age as the young characters when I first saw this film... now that I'm 18, that means I'm a grown-up. There's something so beautiful about being a child forever... I guess this is a fantasy that adults can relate to as well.

Alice in Wonderland (1951) - ★★★★

Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Writers: Lewis Carroll (Story and Adaptation), plus a whole bunch of other writers. 
Voice Actors: Kathryn Beaumont, Verna Felton, Sterling Holloway, Ed Wynn, Jerry Colonna, Richard Haydn, J. Pat O'Malley

Woah-ho-ho! This is one of the craziest, creepiest, cutest, scariest and loveliest movies Disney ever made. Alice in Wonderland is the third movie on my Disney Blogathon list, and so far I've found that all of these movies are exceptional. I really enjoyed Alice, with its zany wit, it's awesome life lessons and of course, the incredible story. This movie has arguably the greatest cast of memorable characters in the history of animated movies. For that, I think it's a solid film that deserves accolades as one of Disney's finest.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - ★★★★½

Director: David Hand
Writers: (Too many to list)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the second film on my Disney Blogathon quest. It's undeniably beautiful, absolutely magical, and downright hilarious. Yes, the nostalgia of it all got to me... believe it or not, I shed a few tears at the end of the film. It's just one of those movies you come to truly appreciate upon multiple viewings. Not only did it set a benchmark for animated feature films, but it also stands as one of the best animated movies ever created.

Sleeping Beauty (1959) - ★★★★½

Director: Clyde Geronimi
Writers: Charles Perrault (Story), Erdman Penner (Adaptation)
Voices by: Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen

Sleeping Beauty is the first film on my Movie Blogathon list. I didn't think it possible, but I liked this movie better than I did as a child. Mainly because of how kick-ass the villain Maleficent (Eleanor Audley) is. Even today that woman's voice gives me chills! Anyway... I really loved this movie. The songs, the animation, the story, the characters, everything gets to me. It stirs so many feelings, so many memories, I think nostalgia is one of the best things about this movie. Looking at this from an outsiders point of view, I'd still call it a near-perfect film. The animation may not live up to today's standards, but I still prefer it to most Disney movies post 1970.

Disney Movie Blogathon!

That's right guys! It's time for my first ever Movie Blogathon! I thought to myself, what haven't I seen in a while that would be awesome to watch non-stop for a few days? A few things came to mind: Horror, Quentin Tarantino, Akira Kurosawa, Film Noir, Spaceship Flicks... in the end, I chose one of my favorite movie companies: Disney! Hopefully you'll join me in watching these movies, I look forward to discussing them with you all.

It's a long list, but I have a feeling that the time will just fly by!

• Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937) | Watched on 22nd May, 2013 | ★★★★½
• Pinocchio (1940)
• Fantasia (1940)
• Dumbo (1941)
• Bambi (1942)
• Cinderella (1950)
• Alice in Wonderland (1951) | Watched on 23rd May, 2013 | ★★★★
• Peter Pan (1953) | Watched on 24th May, 2013 | ★★★★
• Lady and the Tramp (1955) | Watched on 8th June | ★★★½
• Sleeping Beauty (1959) | Watched on 21st May, 2013. | ★★★★½
• 101 Dalmations (1960)
• The Jungle Book (1967)
• The AristoCats (1970) | 26th May, 2013 | ★★½
• Robin Hood (1973)
• The Rescuers (1977)
• The Fox and The Hound (1981)
• The Black Cauldron (1985)
• Basil - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
• Oliver and Company (1988)
• The Little Mermaid (1989)
• Beauty and the Beast (1991) | Watched on 24th May, 2013 | ★★★★★
• Aladdin (1992)
• The Lion King (1994) | Watched on 26th May, 2013 | ★★★★★
• Pocahontas (1995) | Watched on 5th June, 2013 | ★★★
• Toy Story (1995) | Watched on 24th May, 2013 | ★★★½
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
• Hercules (1997)
• Mulan (1998)
• A Bugs Life (1998)
• Tarzan (1999)
• Dinosaur (2000)
• The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
• Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
• Monster's Inc (2001)
• Lilo and Stitch (2002)
• Treasure Planet (2002)
• Brother Bear (2003)
• Finding Nemo (2003)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Valiant (2005)
• Chicken Little (2005)
• Cars (2006)
• Ratatouille (2007) | Watched on 27th May, 2013 | ★★★★
• Meet the Robinsons (2007)
• WALL.E (2008) | Watched on 24th June, 2013 | ★★★★★
• Up (2009)
• Tangled (2010)
• Mars Needs Moms (2011)
• Frankenweenie (2012)
• Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
• Brave (2012)

Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) - ★★★

Director: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz

Here's a simple breakdown for you:

If you like Katy Perry, then you'll like this movie.

If you don't care for her music or story, then avoid this one.

The Station Agent (2003) - ★★★★★

Director: Thomas McCarthy
Writer: Thomas McCarthy
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Williams

The Station Agent wins the award for Best Surprise of the Year. I was flicking through channels looking for something to watch when I saw a young Peter Dinklage on screen. I decided to watch for a scene or two. Then, the movie was over. Without even realizing it, I had watched the whole film. This movie is so engrossing, so interesting, so beautiful that I couldn't tear my eyes away. It takes a good movie to catch your attention, and a great movie to keep you watching until the end. I didn't expect to love this movie, yet right now I'm calling it a masterpiece.

Blithe Spirit (1945) - ★★★★

Director: David Lean
Writer: Noel Coward (Play), David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan (Adapted Screenplay)
Stars: Margaret Rutherford, Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond

One of the greatest writer/director teams in cinematic history is that of Noel Coward and David Lean. Together they've created many unforgettable films, their greatest being Brief Encounter (1945). Blithe Spirit happens to be one of their very best, having both comic genius and amazing performances. This is one of Margaret Rutherford's greatest roles, which is amazing for an actress that has never given a bad performance. I laughed and laughed throughout this film.

The White Ribbon "Das weiße Band" (2009) - ★★★★

Director: Michael Haneke
Writer: Michael Haneke
Stars: Christian Friedel, Burghart Klaußner, Maria-Victoria Dragus, Leonard Proxauf, Leonie Benesch

Michael Haneke has officially made it onto my list as one of the greatest story writers in the history of cinema. The White Ribbon is an extremely interesting film. It's as if there is a darkness, an evil looming over the whole film that keeps us wanting to know what's going to happen next. However, it drags on way too much, saying things that could have been said at least 20 minutes quicker.

The Kid with a Bike (2011) - ★★★★½

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Writers: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Stars: Thomas Doret, Cécile De France, Egon Di Mateo, Jérémie Renier

The Kid with a Bike has a raw and honest approach at telling the story of a kid who was abandoned by his father. Much of the dialogue was true to me, because as a young child I had been in similar situations as Cyril, the main character. It's extremely interesting and always leaves you hanging on what the kid might do next. If they had of developed the characters a little better, this would have been a perfect movie. 

Legends of the Fall (1994) - ★★★½

Director: Edward Zwick
Writers: Jim Harrison (Novella), Susan Shilliday, William D. Wittliff (Screenplay)
Stars: Brad Pitt, Julia Ormond, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas, Karina Lombard, Tantoo Cardinal

You know what is most memorable about Legends of the Fall? The sheer handsomeness of Brad Pitt. Oh, and the movie wasn't bad either! It's old Hollywood romance meets beautiful cinematography meets good old fashion tragedy. It works for the most part, but lapses at times when trying to keep our interest. It's a sad but enjoyable cheesy drama.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) - ★½

Director: Vincente Minelli
Writers: Sally Benson (Novel), Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finlehoffe (Screenplay)
Stars: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Harry Davenport, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames

Now this was a tough movie to sit through. There's nothing particularly interesting about this movie, save for the song it's famous for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The acting's OK, but nothing special. As for the story, there's not much substance there. There's bucket loads of cheese throughout  this movie, which for some made it entertaining, but for me it was almost unwatchable. (This is coming from a person who loves cheesy movies).

Alien³ (1992) - ★★½

Director: David Fincher
Writers: Vincent Ward (Story), David Giler, Walter Hill, Larry Ferguson (Screenplay)
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Charles Dance, Charles S. Dutton, Paul McGann, Pete Postlethwaite, Lance Henrikson

In my opinion, Alien³ is the most unnecessary sequel ever made. However, it wasn't a terrible movie. What I hate about it is that it pretty much ruins the ending of Aliens (1986). With this new installment, it turns out that everything that happened in its prequel was pointless and futile. It was super depressing to see, which is why I'd prefer to act as if this movie never existed.

Empire of Passion (1978) - ★★½

Director: Nagisa Oshima
Writers: Itoko Nakamura (Story), Nagisa Oshima
Stars: Tatsuya Fuji, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takahiro Tamura

Empire of Passion is a majorly creepy movie. I'm not gonna lie, I felt the suspense all the way through it. That didn't stop the movie from being really boring though. All of the shouting and sex was overkill. Save for a few masterful scenes, Empire of Passion is a movie worth a watch, but not worth buying.

My Latest Youtube Video

The Movie Man Awards - Best Actress in a Leading Role (1927-2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC2m3MPl_1c

Game of Thrones: Season 1 (2011) - ★★★★★

Director: Timothy Van Patten, Brian Kirk, David Minahan, Alan Taylor
Writers: David Benioff (Creator), D.B Weiss (Creator), George R.R. Martin (Novel)
Stars: Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Maisie Williams, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen, Iain Glen, Jack Gleeson, Aiden Gillen, Richard Madden, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Rory McCann, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Donald Sumpter

I haven't reviewed any TV shows for a long time, so I've decided to talk about one of my all time favourites, Game of Thrones! The reason I've added practically every actor in the cast to this review is because all of them are brilliant and memorable in their own way. From the main character to the smallest of peasants, this show is just breathtaking. It's like Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter, set in medieval times. My father doesn't like TV Shows or movies, but when he saw Game of Thrones he said "This is the greatest show of all time." I agree, it's definitely up there with the best.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) - ★★★★½

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writer: Gustav Hasford (Novel), Stanley Kubrick (Screenplay)
Stars: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard

Holy cow! Now this is a good movie! I've seen so many movies about the Vietnam war that they all began to look the same. Tonight I saw Full Metal Jacket for the first time, which was such a breath of fresh air. Not only is it one of the most thrilling movies I've ever seen, it's arguably the most quotable movie ever made. Throughout my life I've heard many sayings that came from this movie, yet I had no idea where they came from until now.

The Paperboy (2012) - ★★★½

Director: Lee Daniels
Writers: Peter Dexter (Novel and Screenplay), Lee Daniels (Screenplay)
Stars: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Macy Gray, David Oyelowo

It's gritty, it's nasty, but most of all it's entertaining. The Paperboy pushes every single actor involved to perform roles you'd never imagine them to play. Though it didn't always keep my attention, the performances alone were enough to make this a very interesting movie. That's also the problem; a movie can't be that good when the performances are by far the best component.

Sliding Doors (1998) - ★★★½

Director: Peter Howitt
Writer: Peter Howitt
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn

This is a really good  movie that could have been a masterpiece. The concept was absolutely brilliant, being as interesting as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Unfortunately, the difference is that it wasn't executed to its full potential. The two things that let it down most was its characters and screenplay. I like Gwyneth Paltrow, but I feel Sliding Doors could have benefited from having an 'every woman' as its lead, not a bombshell movie star.

I Don't Know How She Does It (2011) - ★

Director: Douglas McGrath
Writers: Allison Pearson (Novel), Aline Brosh McKenna (Screenplay)
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Olivia Munn, Kelsey Grammar, Seth Meyers, Christina Hendricks

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of this movie: "Why the hell was it made?" It's such a stupid premise for a movie. Sure, the novel may be interesting, but this story spreads paper thin across the 89 minute running time. What an embarrassment for the actors involved. I feel bad that Greg Kinnear and Pierce Brosnan have resorted to accepting scripts that are basically the ramblings of a bored housewife. Above all, this movie is just terrible. Nothing could save it from being a complete and utter disaster.

Mulholland Drive (2001) - ★★★★★

Director: David Lynch
Writer: David Lynch
Stars: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Monty Montgomery, Mark Pellegrino

Mulholland Drive is a wild and wickedly entertaining movie! The first time I saw this film, my exact words were, "What the f*** just happened?" I got the gist of what had transpired, but I couldn't connect many of the angles in the story. So I looked up the explanation, breathed a sigh of relief and understood much of what I had seen. Today I saw this movie for the second time with the explanation in mind. All I have to say is, what a masterpiece. 

The Most Beautiful Movie Themes Ever Made

Here are the most beautiful movie themes ever made. Enjoy :)

The Dresser (1983) - ★★★★

Director: Peter Yates
Writers: Ronald Harwood (Screenplay)
Stars: Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Edward Fox, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gough

The Dresser is a film most memorable for its stunning performances. Each character has something interesting about them, whether they be a 'bugger' Dresser, a senile Shakespearian actor or a woman who has been in a one-sided love with the same man for 20 years. Yates could not have picked a better cast for this movie, which made it soar into an unforgettable film.

Rear Window (1954) - ★★★★½

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Cornell Woolrich (Short Story), John Michael Hayes (Screenplay)
Stars: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Wendell Corey

Hitchcock is the master of suspense and Rear Window is the reason why. It's one of the most suspenseful movies I've ever seen. The momentum of the mystery gradually builds and makes your heart beat a little bit faster with each development. If it wasn't for the unsatisfying climax, I'd call it a perfect film.

Autumn Sonata (1978) - ★★★★½

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Writer: Ingmar Bergman
Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Halvar Bjork, Lena Nyman

Autumn Sonata is an amazing and engrossing film about the damaged relationship between a mother and her daughter. Ingrid Bergman has given many unforgettable performances, from Casablanca (1942) to Anastasia (1956). Her performance in Autumn Sonata stands as one of her very best, playing a fragile woman full of fears who always puts on a facade of happiness. I originally watched this film to see Bergman's performance; but I was most surprised at the depth and feeling of the subject matter and dialogue in this film. It turns out to be one of Ingmar Bergman's best.

Gods and Monsters (1998) - ★★★★

Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Christopher Bram (Novel), Bill Condon (Screenplay)
Stars: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Jack Plotnick

There's something about this movie that's just so sweet and tender. It deals with the subjects of loneliness, regret, disappointment and despair in a most beautifully touching way. It's not all butterflies and rainbows, there's quite a bit of raunchiness to this movie. All I know is that Ian McKellen played James Whale (Director of Frankenstein) with real love and understanding. It's one of the finest performances I've ever seen.

Pygmalion (1938) - ★★★★★

Director: Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard
Writers: George Bernard Shaw
Stars: Leslie Howard, Wendy Hiller, Wilfrid Lawson, Marie Lohr, Scott Sunderland, Jean Cadell

Pygmalion is an absolutely fantastic film. I saw My Fair Lady (1964) before this movie and wasn't very impressed with it. Seeing as it was a musical adaptation of Pygmalion, I didn't have very high hopes for this movie. The second Wendy Hiller popped onto the screen, I knew I'd discovered something special. Her acting was beyond brilliant and the chemistry she had with Leslie Howard was electric. I feel that Pygmalion is an underrated classic that should be praised just as much as Brief Encounter (1945) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

The Bridges of Madison County (1995) - ★★★★

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (Screenplay), Robert James Waller (Novel)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood, Annie Corley, Jim Haynie

I'm just gonna go right ahead and say it, this is the best acting I've ever seen Clint Eastwood do. The Bridges of Madison County captivated me. Throughout the film my emotions welled up inside of me, just waiting for a catalyst that would make me cry. Out of nowhere came one of the most passionate, powerful scenes I've ever seen. I can honestly say that this movie made me cry harder than almost any other.