Home on the Range

[Joe Carioca]

production of 3D films is in full swing, and so is the production of the creep'quels (if you don't like "cheapquel"

WAIT A SEC, are you saying that the sequels from now on are going to be 3D ????

Well, I didn't say that they are going to be 3D... But they probably will in a near future. Remember that Disney was doing tests with a CG Bambi and Dumbo? And there is "Twice Upon a Christmas".

[PatrickvD]

oh yes, a 16 million opening weekend is enough, the go ahead has been given and 56 minutes ago, people in India started working on "Home On The Range II: yodel-adle-eedle-adle-loo"...another project Disney can (literally) milk - moooooo

[goofystitch]

When I went to see "Home on the Range," I brought my little brother and his friend. The boy is 12 and when I asked him how he liked the movie, he said it was great, but he wished they would have spent more time on the beginning and about Maggie's last home. It made me think, did Disney do that on purpose to squeeze in a straight to video prequel? And then I realized that the whole reason Maggie is on the adventure is to get revenge on Salameter Slim (I know that isn't spelled right, but I am too lazy to find the real spelling), therefore, there would be absolutley no point in a prequel, and this film dosen't need a sequel. But the cast is lovable and I think most Disney fans will enjoy it.

[Joe Carioca]

And then I realized that the whole reason Maggie is on the adventure is to get revenge on Salameter Slim (I know that isn't spelled right, but I am too lazy to find the real spelling),

Nice SPOILER!

[goofystitch]

I personally felt that I have seen worse animated violence in classic "Looney Tunes" shorts than I saw in "Home on the Range." I also don't agree that Disney purposly made the film PG to end 2D animation because it is a cheaper medium than CG animation. I seriously belive that the MPAA has just gotten a little rediculous with their rating system. There is no reason for "Home on the Range" to have the same rating as "The Cat In The Hat." Now that was a naughty children's movie. Shame, Brian Grazer, Shame!

[FilmMkr]

Where are you guys getting Home on the Range merchandise from? The Disney Store? I looked around yesterday and couldn't find any. Did they make any action figures?

[goofystitch]

Joe,
I am sorry. I am usually really good about not letting elements of the story slip out, but that was the only way to prove my point. And I didn't give to much away. You would have found this all out in the first 5 minutes of the film anyway. Again, I apologize for ruining anything for anybody.

[Squirrel]

Where are you guys getting Home on the Range merchandise from? The Disney Store? I looked around yesterday and couldn't find any. Did they make any action figures?

Well, I got a plush Mrs. Calloway at the Disney Store. They had some other plushes there (of Grace and Maggie), and a few smaller things. They've been at the two Disney Stores I've visited in the past three weeks (here in Indiana). As for other merchandise, I got the "art of" book, and the soundtrack, at the Borders bookstore ... I don't know if they made any action figures ...

[Joe Carioca]

Where are you guys getting Home on the Range merchandise from? The Disney Store? I looked around yesterday and couldn't find any. Did they make any action figures?

Well, I got a plush Mrs. Calloway at the Disney Store. They had some other plushes there (of Grace and Maggie), and a few smaller things. They've been at the two Disney Stores I've visited in the past three weeks (here in Indiana). As for other merchandise, I got the "art of" book, and the soundtrack, at the Borders bookstore ... I don't know if they made any action figures ...

Hey, how is the art book called and what is it like? How dos it compare to the last Disney art books (Lilo, Treasure and Bear)?
Thanks/Obrigado/Gracias

[Squirrel]

Hey, how is the art book called and what is it like? How dos it compare to the last Disney art books (Lilo, Treasure and Bear)?
Thanks/Obrigado/Gracias

The Home on the Range art book is called "Home on the Range: The Adventures of a Bovine Goddess," and is told first-person from Maggie's (the cow's) perspective, as if the characters were real, taking you through each day of "filming." Like the Lilo and Treasure Planet ones, it's a paperback cover, but sturdy.

A lot of sketches of the animals, as well as stills, and desert backgrounds (my favorite parts of the book). Since I like Lilo & Stitch so much, I prefer that art book above the others ... but, also, felt Stitch's had the best overall package (in how it had little anecdotes from lots of people involved in the film, and the watercolor pictures, and everything). I thought the Brother Bear book was more handsome than this one, but ...

Compared to those, this one's a lighter read (though over a hundred pages), more comical (which would make sense, given the film) than past Disney art books. I kind of wanted it to be told third-person, to interview the people involved in the film ... rather than have them channeled through Maggie, but ... and while it's not my favorite of the art books, I do love the drawings/paintings/sketches. The animals, the backgrounds. It's a really nice book to own if you like the film, and if you're a Disney fan, of course.

[goofystitch]

The only Disney art book I have is the "Lilo & Stitch" one and I loved it, but I think that is because L&S is one of my favorite movies. The only other book like that that I own is the "Haunted Mansion" one, which is excellent. The majority of the book is about the creation of the ride, the differences of rides in each park, and how things are done in the ride. The movie part is only about 25% of the book and wasn't that interesting, even though I think highly of the film. I probably won't buy the "Home on the Range" book because it just dosen't sound very informative.

[goofystitch]

I went with my older brother today to see "Hellboy," but it was sold out so we saw "Jersey Girl" instead. What was even more interesting than "Hellboy" being sold out was that "Home on the Range" was also sold out and this was at a large megaplex. Maybe HOTR will be a huge shocker and make a ton of money. I know it is estimated to make $13 million this weekend, but maybe they are wrong.

[jambo*rafiki]

I just saw it, and I really liked it! So did my mom (I agree with the person who said middle-aged women love it) and my little sister, who kept saying "he must have been taking stupid lessons from that buffalo" (not a spoiler, by the way, it was in the preview! The animation looks like a Road Runner cartoon, especially the backgrounds, and all the characters are great (I loved Grace's singing, and the pigs, and Jeb the goat, and Lucky Jack, and the stupid villain brothers, and Junior the buffalo . . . the only one I really didn't like was Maggie, sadly, but I dealt with it). One of the creepiest looking villains ever is that black-market livestock trader. His yellow teeth really got me! I agree that they could have fleshed out the beginning a little more. I liked the dancing farm animals and they could have added ten more minutes to the movie, no problem. Anyway, even if it's an odd note to go out on, it was still a good movie!
P.S. that psychadelic cow sequence was awesome.

[Joe Carioca]

Thanks for the description of the book, Squirrel. It doesn't sound as good as the other books, but I may pick it up in the future.

[Maerj]

I found this movie to be very lighthearted and fun. The pacing was pretty fast, they get right into the story, telling you what you need to know and then they just get on with it. Critics who say things like "not as powerful as the Lion King" again prove how foolish they really are. Of course it's not another Lion King! It's a simple, breezy little movie. There are no new developments here, no new animation techniques, nothing to prove. I think that the goal here was to simply produce a laid back, funny film and that's exactly what it is.

Reminiscent of the Pink Elephants scene in Dumbo, HOTR has a really fun and wacked out cow scene, which was one of the film's highlights.

I also enjoyed the voice cast, all were perfect for their roles. The coolest casting coup was getting Steve Buscemi! His character even looks like him... how cool is that?!

Anyone else see the Around the World in 80 Days preview? That movie looks really good!

[goofystitch]

I also loved Steve Buschemi's part. I can't imagine his voice comeing out of anything that dosen't look like him, which is probably why his character is the spitting image of himself.

I can't wait for "Around The World In 80 Days." It has been getting a lot of hype because it is Arnold Schwarzenager's last film for a while.

[2099net]

I can't wait for "Around The World In 80 Days." It has been getting a lot of hype because it is Arnold Schwarzenager's last film for a while.

And you can't go wrong with Steve Coogan. You Americans may not know who he is now, but he will be the star of AtWi80D!

[goofystitch]

Steve Coogan seems very funny on the trailor. Especially in the scene where they are in China and he is in a box. The Asian man threatens him and he says "You can't threaten me with that silly bracelet." A knife pops out of it and he says "Ok... It's not silly." Ha Ha Ha. What other films has he done?

[2099net]

He's done a few films. He's probably most likey to appeal to American Disney fans for his Wind in the Willows live action film (Mr Toad's Wild Ride in America) and the non-Disney Indian in the Cupboard.

He's a British TV star and he is well known as Alan Partridge, but also plays Paul (and Pauline) Calf and Dr Terrible (the latter in Dr Terrible's House of Horrible). He also starred in the Bristish film The Parole Officer, which was a bit of a let down, as he was virtually playing Alan Partridge (but with a different name).

[Jake Lipson]

My biggest worry going in was that it wouldn't be able to tell its story fully because of the *really* short runtime (even for an animated feature) of 76 minutes. But it did it. Animated stuff is usually pretty fast, but this is one of the fastest-paced animated movies I've ever seen. It takes full advantage of every minute and tells its story well. If you walk out of the theater to pee or to get more snacks, well, don't count on fully understanding how they got where they are when you get back because it doesn't wait around for anything.

Echoing others, all of the critics who were comparing this to Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, etc. totally missed the point of the movie -- the only point or revelation it tries to make is showing how traditional animation can still entertain, and it does that well. It's a real crowd pleaser and there were This was the funniest movie Walt Disney Feature Animation has produced in years. There were several bits where I just couldn't stop laughing, I got a back ache from it I was laughing so hard. But it definately did deserve its PG rating, and not only for "Yeah, they're real, quit staring" as previously rumored.

And the music -- all great, and it has a very destinctive western/country flavor, which lends to the atmosphere a lot. Little Patch of Heaven is the best song of them all and I think it should be the one Disney pushes for Best Song. Will The Sun Ever Shine again or Wherever the Trail May Lead would probably get noms if they were the ones pushed but I think Little Patch of Heaven is the one with the best chances. But this wll almost certianly be up agaisnt the new song written for Erik in The Phantom of the Opera movie, so, we'll see. I kinda am rooting for both at this point but I know they can't both win. Score was exellent too. Alan Menken hasn't lost any of his touch.

Animation is very stylized and is a throwback to some of the '60s style stuff, I thought. Slim's yodeling scene reminds me of Pink Elephants on Parade and Just Can't Wait to Be King.

Anyone else notice the brief aspect ratio switch to 2.35:1 for just Buck's fantasy? Hope this is kept intact on DVD, but they shouldn't need two transfers like BB because it only lasts a few minutes at most. Just tell the famalies to bear with it, Disney.

All in all, a very entertaining solid movie, and the rest of the audience seemed to like it too. Word of mouth should help this one have some nice legs, kinda like Emporer's New Groove before it. I will definately be seeing it again I think. Great movie, highly reccomended! All Disney fans have a duty to check this out in theaters anyway to show support for 2D, but more than that, it's just a really really great movie!