CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Walt Disney Pictures
‘Need for Speed’ Also Has Need for a Better Script
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 15, 2014 - 12:21pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In interviews to promote the movie, Aaron Paul has said that he was chosen by Steven Spielberg himself to be the lead in this high-speed action thriller, while the executive producer was binge-watching “Breaking Bad”. Those are certainly some undeniable cool points that I can’t blame him for mentioning, regardless of how the movie is received.
Celebration of Creation in Warm ‘Saving Mr. Banks’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 13, 2013 - 11:25am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The world of creation, and the imagination behind it, gets an honorable and elegantly performed treatment in the fascinating “Saving Mr. Banks.” What seems like a “making of” film about the legendary “Mary Poppins,” becomes much more rich in symbolism and consideration.
‘The Lone Ranger’ Rides Again in Classic Western Style
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 2, 2013 - 8:41am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In trying to revive the Western film genre, Walt Disney Pictures is also reviving the “Pirates of the Caribbean” formula – extreme action, intrigue, flamboyant characters and Johnny Depp. Add a dash of a familiar American legend – “The Lone Ranger” – and it’s summer movie time.
Pixar Scores Again With Delightful ‘Monsters University’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 21, 2013 - 8:50am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Let’s everybody say it together, “the key to great animation is a great story.” This has to be the motto for Pixar Animation – now part of Disney. Their latest, “Monsters University,” is a prequel with a heart, soul and attention to what makes this type of entertainment work.
Story Dims Visionary ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 8, 2013 - 9:35amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a great and powerful visual and 3D experience. It expands the landscape of what cinema can produce in a visceral and evolutionary way. But a great film also needs a great story, and this Land of Oz tale is not equivalent to the awe-inspiring imagery.
Voice Cast Delights in Wonderful ‘Wreck-It Ralph’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 2, 2012 - 10:04amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The nostalgia of the old video game arcade comes to life in a charming and fun way in the new Disney film, “Wreck-It Ralph.” One of the strengths is the precise selection of celebrity voices used to animate the rollicking characters. John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch are part of the familiar voice cast.
‘Frankenweenie’ is Visually Rich, But Lacks Monstrosity
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 5, 2012 - 2:08pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The immersion that is possible in modern animated films is so rich now that it is practically reality. “Frankenweenie,” the newest puppetry-style film from director Tim Burton, is heroically painted onto the screen’s canvas, but the limp retelling of the Frankenstein movie myth doesn’t live up to the visual tone.
Traditional, Silly Fun in Disney’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 15, 2011 - 10:35amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Walt Disney Pictures goes old school with their latest animated tale, a return to the Hundred Acre Woods and the adventures of “Winnie the Pooh.” Using the style of the classic “2-D” cartoon method, and crafting a story that is decidedly old fashioned, the folks at the Mouse Factory resisted updating the Pooh formula.
Aimee Teegarden Discovers ‘Prom’ Isn’t So Bad
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2011 - 9:36amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are many essential questions in life. What is my purpose? How do I find my place in the universe? Where did I put my mobile phone? But the most important of all, as Aimee Teegarden is about to experience, is who will I get to take me to “Prom.”
Spectacle, Emotion Propel Animation in ‘Mars Needs Moms’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 11, 2011 - 6:07pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Mars Needs Moms” is an animated epic that takes its time to build toward the message, but the path to that real emotion is decorated with spectacular imagery and sprightly comedy. It’s Mom, apple pie and motion capture technology.
