DVDizzy Forum

Kenai wrote:Ugh, I can't see the trailer. Quicktime is missing an application on this computer I'm using at work needed to view it.

If you're trying to watch the High Definintion Quicktime files (h.264 (MPEG4)) you need Quicktime 7 or VideoLan.

akhenaten wrote:im disheartened...why did they hafta make cover versions of people's songs...what makes disney animated features unique is the lack of pop culture reference and the inclusion of new original memorable disney songs..it doesnt have to be a musical..it just needs original disney songs.

Well you'll be disappointed by the score of Chicken Little, only 2 orginal songs which are lame and a lot of pop reprises (Spice Girls, I Will Survive, Barbara Streisand...).

I am still excited to see it. I mean it has been a while since a new Disney Animated Feature came out. I have seen them all on the opening day since The Little Mermaid in 1989. Does that date me? Ha ha I guess. I am going to see it with an open mind, also can't wait for a 3D movie.

http://movies.aol.com/movie_behind_the_ ... ken_little

For anyone that's interested, a behind the scenes featurette.

No plugin for Firefox, Kenai. What exactly was mentioned in the "making of"?

Ooo I loved the behind the scenes stuff. It included a look behind the animation studio and a look at the voice actors durring recording. Plus th BNL song which I know I will LOVE (Big BNL Fan) Thanks for the link

at first i thought this movie looked bad but now it actually looks funny... TIME gave it a good review so thats a good start.
________
Angelina Jolie Pictures

http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/soun ... index.html

Disney unveiled the website for the soundtrack, with song samples! Interesting mix. The Cusack/Zahn rendition of "Wannabe" is...interesting.

Kenai wrote:http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/soun ... index.html

Disney unveiled the website for the soundtrack, with song samples! Interesting mix. The Cusack/Zahn rendition of "Wannabe" is...interesting.

lol, a weird mix of songs, but I guess the movie explains them all. I love Zach Braff as Chicken Little, perfect voice cast.

Corrwill said:

Does anyone have any information on specific theaters that will carry the film in Disney Digital 3D? All I have read is that they are picking around 100 in the top 25 markets.

This is a question I to have been trying to find out I would love to have the oppurtunity to see this in 3D. Does anyone know where we can find out which theaters are presenting this in 3D? I saw Polar Express last year in a local Imax theater that was presented in 3D and that was an awesome movie experience. So if anyone knows where this info might be available please pass it along!!!

Thanks,
T.J.

Disney Has a Lot Riding on a Tiny Chicken

By GARY GENTILE
AP Business Writer

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- A lot is riding on a very little chicken. With the Nov. 4 release of "Chicken Little," The Walt Disney Co. hopes to reverse the fortunes of its moribund feature animation division and regain the dominance it lost to competitors such as Pixar Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.

In addition, a special 3D version of "Chicken Little," to be shown on 85 screens nationwide, could recapture the imagination of moviegoers who have been staying away from theaters in record numbers. It might also provide the final push for the transition to digital cinema, an initiative that has stalled because of the cost.

That's a lot to ask of a diminutive, bespectacled hero who has enough on his hands persuading his dubious neighbors once again that the sky is falling.

Disney has not tried to soften its expectations for the movie. In television ads, the company boldly proclaims, "A whole new era in Disney animated entertainment begins."

A new era is sorely needed. For decades, Disney was the undisputed leader in animation, starting with the 1937 release of "Snow White" and running through the 1990s with "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."

But in recent years, Disney has bombed at the box office with lackluster hand-drawn films such as "Treasure Planet" and "Home on the Range" while Pixar has churned out computer-generated hits that included "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles."

Disney has since abandoned hand-drawn animation altogether. "Chicken Little" will be its first fully computer animated film. Pixar will release its seventh, "Cars," next year.

"I do know that over time, we have to be able to compete with Pixar and DreamWorks and Sony and all the rest," said David Stainton, chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation. "Disney animation is not an also-ran enterprise, it is a leadership enterprise and that's what our expectations are."

Disney's animation unit has traditionally fed the entire company, providing characters that can be used at its theme parks, on TV shows and for direct-to-video sequels. Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh generate billions of dollars a year in revenue for the company.

None of the studio's last five feature animation films have sold more than $100 million in tickets domestically. By comparison, Pixar's last movie, "The Incredibles," grossed $261 million at the domestic box office. "Madagascar," from DreamWorks Animation, raked in $193 million.

Investors are looking for worldwide box office of around $350 million from "Chicken Little" according to David Miller, an analyst at brokerage firm Sanders Morris Harris.

The film's performance could affect ongoing talks between Disney and Pixar. After an ugly public split last year, in which Pixar chief executive Steve Jobs called off talks for a new distribution deal, the two sides have been negotiating again.

"I think Steve Jobs is watching 'Chicken Little' very closely," Miller said. "If the film underperforms relative to his, he may use that as a nugget of leverage."

Executives throughout Hollywood will be watching how the 3D version of "Chicken Little" does at the box office. More 3D films are already in the pipeline from other studios. Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis is making two - next year's "Monster House" from Sony Pictures and "Beowulf," due in 2007 from DreamWorks.

Interest in 3D has come and gone since the 1950s, but studios began to take the format seriously again after a 3D version of last year's "The Polar Express" from Warner Bros. grossed more than $45 million. The offering used technology developed by Imax Corp.

The film broke the one-day box office record for an Imax film and will be rereleased next month.

Other companies, including RealD and In-Three Inc., began to show their technology to Hollywood studios, encouraged by director George Lucas, who said he would like to release all six of his "Star Wars" movies in 3D format that can be shown in regular movie houses.

Disney decided at the last minute to make a 3D version of "Chicken Little" then set out to persuade theater owners to install new, silver-coated screens and expensive digital projectors to show it.

The technology is not cheap. It costs at least $7 million for a studio to convert a 2D film into 3D. In addition, RealD charges theater chains as much as $200,000 for a five-year license for a special screen, software and digital projector that can also show regular movies.

The goofy glasses needed to view the film cost about a buck each, an expense that Disney is bearing for "Chicken Little" but will likely be offset by marketing partners in the future.

If the new 3D takes off, it will come just in time for exhibitors.

Theater chains have been suffering through a yearlong slump that some blame on teens spending more time playing video games or surfing the Web. Others said fans are just tired of the lousy string of movies coming out of Hollywood.

Steve Starkey, the producer of "Monster House," thinks the resurrected 3D format could help resuscitate the industry.

"What is going to bring people into cinemas? I think people are feeling the 3D experience is one of the answers," he said.

I gotta say, the story adaptation doesn't have me too excited. It looks like a kid's movie, it doesn't have a real villain, and the story just seems overly goofy to me. I'll go see it of course, but I really wish Disney would go back to the Heroic Epic model that served them well in the 90's.

Raydawggie wrote:I gotta say, the story adaptation doesn't have me too excited. It looks like a kid's movie, it doesn't have a real villain, and the story just seems overly goofy to me. I'll go see it of course, but I really wish Disney would go back to the Heroic Epic model that served them well in the 90's.

Yeah but then that would be a problem,too. Because then everyone will moan and complain about Disney being formulaic and stale, resorting to the same thing over and over...blah.

I hate Hollywood and I hate the industry these days. It's been a record slump for the whole box office this year because the theater experience just isn't as magical as it used to be. And you got crowded release schedules, this week alone saw 4 high profile movies in one weekend. It's hard for audiences to pick. And yeah, it's also because teens would rather stay at home or be out somewhere else besides the movies. And plus lots of people wait for the DVD. How many times have you all heard "Oh, I'll wait for the DVD instead"? Yep, it's the truth.

Plus, next year alone there's like what, 8 animated movies in one year? That's insane. No one lingers for the next best animated movie because there's too many of them to see. Disney faces lots of competition in this bracket.

For the sake of Hollywood, Disney, and just the greedy industry, I'm rooting for Chicken Little. If bad comes to worst, then I might give up on animated fares in the theaters ever again. (Not a Pixar fan either so even still).

I'm looking forward to see "Chicken Little" when it comes out. This is Disney's first attempt at CGI animation not a hand-drawn animation. As you may notice, hand-drawn animation was abandoned according to this article. I always love hand-drawn animation from "Snow White" to "Brother Bear". "Chicken Little" is the next big thing in Disney animation. It would be 3D animation rather than 2D. Back in the 1950's, 3D movies were so popular during that period. Today, Disney is the next challenge in 3D animation. Dreamworks and Pixar did well with 3D or possibly CGI animation. "Toy Story" was Disney's film attempt in a CGI animation format.

Stupid question: On the Animated Classics page on this site, Chicken Little is listed as a Animated Classic. When and where did Disney say that it was, just wondering.

Well not being made by someone elese or from DisenyToons it is the 45th because thay switched from WONDERFUL 2D to the geting over used CGI.

dvdjunkie wrote:I never pay attention to the trailers except to see when it will come out. As far as Disney goes, I never miss opening day of a Disney animated film and this one will be no different. Although I am disappointed that Disney has chosen to go the CGI route instead of the 2-D animation that they excel at, I will still go in with an open mind and be prepared for what might become a Disney classic.

I saw the trailer when I went to see Disney's recent live-action Golf movie (I loved that movie, BTW). The trailer in the theater makes it look really good. I hope they have a hit on their hands. I thought the CGI quality looked good.... I'll try to see the movie within the next week. I've never made it to opening day of anything due to time constraints.

BTW, ABC is announcing the television premier of POTC! All I can tell you is that it will be on soon; I got so excited, I forgot to note when! Keep a weather eye out, mateys!

do any of you guys want to see chicken little?

take a look at some of this reviews for chicken little -

TIME MAGZINE says "Mark Dindal's Chicken Little, which opens Nov. 4. It's one of the funniest, most charming and most exhilarating movies in years. And it's a genuine Disney cartoon, with a storytelling sense and graphic precision worthy of the old animation masters."

MOVIES ONLINE says "Chicken Little is a good enough start for Disney in this CGI world."

THREE MOVIE BUFFS give chicken little 3 stars and say "A plucky little cartoon with some funny bits and some very funny bits."

FRANKS REEL REVIEWS says "Disney brings its distinct filmmaking style and approach to this exciting medium, along with a host of technical innovations. The result is a film that captures the very best qualities of Disney animation with a look and feel that audiences have never seen before."

ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS GIVES CHICKEN LITTLE 3 STARS OUT OF 4.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER says "The studio's first fully computeranimated in-house feature is a consistently amusing, often inspired family romp."

SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH says "Director Mark Dindal and the animators are aiming to reach both adult and kiddie audiences with this one. Children will have no trouble identifying with Chicken Little and his desire to win his father's respect. Adult audiences will want to savor all the visual references to Steven Spielberg films as well as the movie-within-a movie device."

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR says "The visuals are irrepressibly witty and so is the script, which morphs from the classic fable into a spoof on 'War of the Worlds.'"

JIMHILLMEDIA.COM says "People who attended last Thursday's Disney Studio Showcase in Hollywood are starting to talk about what they saw. In particular about how impressed they were by that brief clip of 'Chicken Little' in digital 3D."

SEAN THE MOVIE GUYS gives it 3 stars and says "Chicken Little is far more enjoyable than anything that Disney has created in years."

MEON says go see Chicken Little "And I do mean you should go see Chicken Little. I can't guarantee what your experience will be like, but mine was a lot of fun."

AINT IT COOL NEWS says "CHICKEN LITTLE is filled with jokes that worke for adults as well as kids."

FROM THE BALCONY says "Zach Braff makes Chicken Little all the more lovable, and his range here is terrific. Steve Zahn and Joan Cusack are also solid fits as the suspiciously feminine pig and the ugly duckling, respectively. Garry Marshall, however, is ultimately the most memorable of the bunch as wise old Buck Cluck. Marshall’s work is heartwarming and accomplished."

HERO REALM SAYS "CHICKEN LITTLE is full of big laughs from beginning to end."

SUBURBAN CHICAGO NEWSPAPER says "Disney's floundering animation arm tries to get hip with 'Chicken Little,' offering a computer-generated comedy with some of the sharp visuals of Pixar's pictures, a bit of the deconstructionist wit of the "Shrek" movies and about an ounce of the fabled charm of the studio's own early classics."

KILLER MOVIE REVIEWS says "a rip-snorting flight of adventure fantasy that has an unfettered imagination and a wicked sense of humor."

chicken little opens tomorrow to make sure you guys watch it. and when you watch it please post your reviews here. i cant wait to see chicken little.

DISNEY RULES!

Isaac - please do not keep on quoting yourself to bump your posts.

What do you work for Disney or something? You are just posting the positive reviews. They are very mixed. Some very positive, some very negative. And like all movies, I will get it when it comes out on DVD.

We have a Chicken Little discussion thread. It is just about 10 threads down, use it.

Welcome to the forum. Please heed the advice provided by Mr. Toad and use one of the other <i>Chicken Little</i> threads as well as logical Nettiquette.