Saturday, May 30, 2009

Two Thumbs "Up" for Pixar's Latest Triumph

Laurie and I saw "UP" this morning and we loved it!

Sure, there was a willing suspension of disbelief, but this film contained many of the same tender and heart rending moments which made "Paladin of the Lost Hour", "It's A Wonderful Life", and "Day of the Dolphin" exceptional. Laurie and I both cried during the first ten minutes and we choked up several times through out the film. And we laughed. . .we howled during several spots in the film. This is a film about life and living, death and dying, and all of the ups and downs in between.

The voice cast is wonderful with Ed Asner as the curmudgeonly Carl Fredricksen, Christopher Plummer as the megalomanical Charles Muntz, and newcomer Jordan Nagai as Russell. Co-director and screenplay writer, Bob Peterson also supplies the voices of dogs,Dug and Alpha. Bob Bergen has told me that he provided the voices of a buncha dogs and a tv announcer.

We both recommend "UP" for ages 9 to 99. Stay through the credits!

Disney/Pixar's "UP"


CBC Review of "UP"



"UP" teaser



Adventures with Carl and Russell



"UP" trailer 2




Up Trailer - Watch more
"UP" Movie Trailer



Up Trailer 3 - Watch more
"UP" Trailer 3


Long "UP" Trailer

Friday, May 22, 2009

Wayne Anthony Allwine (February 7, 1947 – May 18, 2009) and Russi Taylor

The current voice of Mickey Mouse, Wayne Allwine, was stilled on May 18. The third vocalist for the mighty mouse, Allwine held the title the longest, starting with the New Micky Mouse Club in 1977 and ending with the Nintendo DS game "Kingdom Hearts Three-Five-Eight Days over Two" which he completed before his death. He will be missed.


The Voices Behind Mickey and Minnie - Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor (Part 1/3)



The Voices Behind Mickey and Minnie - Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor (Part 2/3)



The Voices Behind Mickey and Minnie - Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor (Part 3/3)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney

Ventriloquism is rapidally becoming a lost art, but I hold out hope that future generations will be inspired by masters of the art when they see examples such as the following:


Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney performing one of their classic songs - "Ice Cream".

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Harlan Ellison Speaks Up

Harlan Ellison is one of those rare authors who can perform as well as he writes. Here is an interview conducted nearly one year ago by Studio 360's Kurt Anderson. Listen as Ellison has some fun making Anderson squirm a bit.