Up and Coraline lead Annie Nominations

The Annie Awards are the most important in the field of animation. Movies like “Finding Nemo”, “The Incredibles”, “Mulan”, “The Beauty and the Beast” or “The Lion King” have been nominated along the years, some of then have even won. Even if animated movies have their own categories in the Academy Awards, since “The Beauty and the Beast” earned a nomination in 1992 for Best Picture, there's been an strong campaign to push this type of films to get that kind of recognition, more prominently in this last years. Pixar films like “Wall-E” or “Ratauille” have ended among the best reviewed movies of the year, and many, many, film critics thought they were deserving of the highest honor. Maybe this year, with the Best Picture field opened for ten contenders, we could see “Up”or “Coraline” in that category. Here you can check out the nominations.

It was obvious that Pixar's “Up” was going to be one of the most nominated films. This heartbreaking tale of an old man and a young boy who go on a journey to exotic places but more importantly, a journey to the past and the long lasting memories, is one of the best pictures of the year for sure, and has been raved all around the globe. Even if the story alone justifies the eight nominations, the detail and spectacular computer rendering make them more deserved.

That “Coraline” is tied with “Up” for most nominations is a bit of a surprise. The movie, an stop motion work directed by Henry Selick, the maker behind the cult classic “Nightmare before Christmas”, has been very well received by critics, who admire the adult approach to Neil Gaimans novel. Expertly done and filled with enchanting images, audiences haven't respond as well as critics if you look at its American Box Office. With 75 millions dollars, which is not a small feat this days, the movie was expected to do much better. Box Office, even if it shouldn't be relevant come awards time, is very important, because Hollywood prefers to reward big sellers that little or independent movies. Nice to see the support from the Annie's.

“The Princess and the Frog” snags 5 nominations. The last effort from Disney Studios to try to save traditional animation seems to be paying off. We'll have to wait and see until it opens nationwide all over the USA to know if people are won over by the story of a black princess who is turned into a frog after kissing a toad. The story, set in the magical and jazzy city of New Orleans, has already earned raves from the top critics.

If there is one disappointment we have to single out, that would be “A Christmas Carol”. The Robert Zemeckis adaptation, which we have discussed earlier, has not been nominated in any category, which is quite surprising, as if it's true that critics haven't liked the way the story is put on screen, most of them have been really kind in their comments about the special effects and the animation effort put on the film. The movie could very well end out of the Animation Category at the Academy Awards when they announce their nominations on February 12th, which can be considered a total disaster.

The bets are on. Can you make yours?

Twilight remains on top, The Blind Side hits 100 million

Another weekend has gone by, and it's time to have a look at the US Box Office. As expected, “Twilight: New Moon”, the second installment in the hysteria inducing saga, remains on top, adding almost 43 million dollars, making its total after 14 days 230 million dollars. It goes down 70% in this second weekend, even if that's normal in blockbusters which open to huge numbers. The movie, which hasn't been perceived has an improvement over the first part, has many critics and moviegoers scratching their their heads, as they don't understand what it is that makes this film such a hit. What it is for sure is that "Twilight," regardless of its quality, proves that there are still movies than can appeal to audiences and make movie-going a phenomenon.

Maybe the most surprising thing at the Box Office this weekend is the second position of Sandra Bullock's drama “The Blind Side”. With a budget of 29 millions dollars, it passed the 100 million mark this weekend, making it the first drama of 2009 to do so. It's on its way to cross 150m, and maybe more. Sandra Bullock, a loved by the audience star, has been around for more than twenty years, but rarely has she got two box office hits like this years “The Proposal” or “The Blind Side”. Many are calling the movie the “sleeper” of 2009, a movie that is under the radar but once released goes on to make an spectacular Box Office.

Other releases like “Old Dogs” or “Ninja Assassin” don't fare as well, with the first one cashing in 16 million dollars and the second one 13. Not that anyone pictured them as Box Office hits, but maybe a little bit more was expected from both of them, as the first stars two of Hollywoods best known stars, Robin Williams and John Travolta. "Ninja Assassin" is the second feature of James Mcteigue, the director of “V for Vendetta”, a movie which has become a cult classic since its release in 2005.

“A Christmas Carol” surpasses the 100 million mark too, but with a budget of 200m, it's doubtful that it will get all it's money back, and “Planet 51”, the most expensive animation film done in Spain, gets a disappointing 10 million dollars from more than 3000 sites, making it a flop in the American market. With no interesting releases box office wise this upcoming weekend, we'll have to wait and see if someone can snag the top spot from “Twilight”.