In Theatres : POTC Dead Man's Chest (Review)

Yes it a bit too long, yes its a bit too overly complicated (or tries to be)... BUT i thouroughly enjoyed it!
Considering the genre it belongs to...i think its the best "Summer film" of this summer over the impossible missions and super heroes.

I LOVED the designs & the effects on Davy Jones & his crew! So far best VFX of the year goes to ILM for this!
Some real cool landscapes...& it sure "LOOKED" like it was all REALLY shot on location in the Bahamas and not copy pasted a mountain from New Zealand , a river Europe & the sky from Timbuktoo, and i think keeping it REAL like that,does make a difference.

The best part i like about this this franchise is that its not based on existing & over exploited source materials .And its refreshing to a see a whole new world and charcters being created.
Granted its based on Walt Disney/Marc Davis and other Imagineer's work...but that hardly counts when we compare it to most of the source materials of other franchises.
Besides the Theme Park attraction did not offern much in terms of story and charcter.
I wish more studios and writers put on tehir thinking caps & try and give us more original stuff.
They dont have to be perfect, but it would be nice to see what New stuff people can come up with.Just cause its based on existing material, does not mean its gonan be great (referring to most of teh summer movies of this year or any other year for that matter).
Am not crazy about the cliffhanger ending...though i was pleasantly surprised & excited to see that an older character re-introduced in the end & look forward to seeing him in POTC 3: World's End, May 2007!

"Blvd.Efil"Scene 01 Blocking

Finally...have some work to show...been working on the modeling,rigging,weighing etc etc....
All that is still an ongoing process but have started animating before i fall a bit too behind.
So here is teh Opening SHot with teh credits and we see the man walking carefree as he whistles a tune when suddenly he hears something and looks around and cut!
Its just blocked in temp animation...i havnt even rigged the face and stuff yet...but it jhad just been way to long since i posted any new work!

In Theatres: Superman Returns (Review)

So how do u review a movie which u were really looking forward too...but after seeing it, u neither LOVE it enough or HATE it enough...i guess basically what am trying to say is, does not draw a very strong reaction in u.

I liked it...a few loop wholes..liked the visual fx, teh jet sequence was tres cool, however i am not sure how Lois could survive all that mid air bashing ...i guess sleeping with Superman makes u a demi -Superwoman?
Like the casting...Routh sure looks the part,dunno if he can act...i dont think he needs to in this role anyws.

Singer did mange to make Supes interesting considerng he is so goodie-goodie and lacking a sense of mystery or a darker side.
I was extremely dissppointed with the climax or the lack of it rather. Maybe thats why i walked out feeling a little short changed. What was the climax? Supes in a hospital bed?? will he live? ooooh i REALLLLLY wonder!!!?
I mean there were so many possibilities the moment he lands on that Crystal Rock thingie...but all that ends up happening is he gets bashed and stabbed & left for dead like in any alley way in any gangster movie set in a NYC-esque city!
Come on..this is SUPERMAN!

Also, i wish the kid was exploited a bit more too...he coudl have been an amazing part of the cilmax.He just seems to be in the worng movie for most of the time...staring at people as if he was in The Omen or something!?
The only reason i think he was just used as a tease & the movie was so restrained/loose ended in soooo many ways is, that proabbly this is just a set up for a trilogy or something. But even then...i wanted to be knocked out, and that didnt happen!

I like some of the nostalgic stuff like ,the nod to Reeve with the final closing shot of Superman smiling at the camera before he exits ,the very satisfying use of teh JW theme & cues mixed with new material, the design of the Opening Credits etc etc.
Liked Spacey enough to want to see more of him...and the canible dog was a surprise touch!

WDCC: "Trust In Me"

Sorry for the lack of more updates! Been awfully busy with school, that should change soon!...however have some new pics here that i took.
Its my new-est WDCC sculpture from The Jungle Book featuring Mowgli and Kaa!
Inspiring...aint it?

In Theatres :"Cars" (Review)

I liked it!!!
Visually stunning!
Cool soundtrack....bucket loads of heart (yes inspite of it being about talking CARS!).
The best animated movie of the year so far, and possibly one of the best movies of the year too.
A bit too long maybe...could have been 15 mins shorter or so but since u genuinely end up feeling for the characters and their predicaments...i can seem to forgive that.
Though i do think the "PIXAR FORMULA" is begining to show now...maybe TOO clearly!...and i think this is the perfect time for them to wake up to that and shake things up a bit before it does them in and thats is in terms of their story telling devices as well as their visual style.
But i am glad to get a break from yet ANOTHER animated movie with cute CG animals!
Monsters Inc Still remains my fav.Pixar movie and Bugs's Life my least. "Cars" probably fits somewhere right in the centre of that scale.
So irrespective of the box office returns...those who keeping score...PIXAR is still 7 for 7 in my books...though i wont add "and going strong"!

"Moments" Scene 15

Currently busy working away on finshing my model and rigging my main character from "Blvd.Efil".That also happens to be the most challenging stage for me in this CG animation pipeline.Hopefully will have somehting to share from it real soon.

Till then here is a rough composite of a scene from "Moments" without shadows,CC etc etc....have to finish this soon too!! geez..so much to do!

BUT...none the less am gonna make it to the theatres to see CARS today!....rest assured,will post my 2 cents after!
:-)

WDCC:"Seaside Serenade"

I was rescently gifted a membership to the Walt Disney Collector's Society by my cousin!
And this sculpture came with it....so i was just having fun takinng pics of it!!!?!lol

I know it look sliek i have a lot of time on my hands...doesn't it?

"Moments" Scene 74

Rough animation line test for this farewell seen where the little girl gets a gift from the old man.This scene was one hell of a long scene and hats off to Yogesh and Nilesh who worked on it and coloured (and re-coloured) every frame by hand with pastels!!!

In Theatres : X3(Review)

Hmmmm...i loved the first 2 X-Men movies directed by Bryan Singer. A fine balance of popcorn Summer Entertainment and beleivable Character Development leading to a very satisfying movie watching experience.
So its was very unforunate for me to find that the 3rd and supposedly the final chapter in this franchise did not do the same!
This one was strictly "OK"...there were just too many things missing...
A) Where was Nightcrawler from X2? is he not there just cause the actor could not make it back?
B) Whats with the pigeon guy..?? why was he even put in if he was not gonna be explored or developed. He seemed far more interesting than the chick running through walls!
C)The "Fur Ball"...u gotta be kidding...his presence on screen drew the most(& there where many)unrequired laughs and snickers from me! not good!
D) Phoenix...i waited the whole movie for a cool..jaw hitting the floor "Phoenix Moment"...but all i got was her floating in the air crying "save me"& everyone around her running and turning into what looked like garnulated pepper balls! Phoenix was just not FIERY enough for me!
E)And at the end,I wonder how those mutant kids will learn to hone their talents in that school with the bald kid there now sucking in all their powers! Could be quite annoying!

I know this review sounds like its coming from someone who does not know the X MEN comics too well and thats true! SO,i dunno if thats how prof Xavier ,Magnetto, Cyclops etc actually meet their end or not...but it sure did not seem convincing in the film.I mean,it seemed too forced..lets just kill peeople off or turn them into "Homosapiens" (which BTW is so simple, like pushing a button...and EUREKA! instant de-mutation!) cause we need to raise the stakes and wind up the franchise!

Cause somehow it seems the story did not demand all these deaths!and that too in such a not-so-glorious fashion!! i mean...they were such super powerful beings ...and u just put a needle in him and thats it?!
Hell,its MAGNETTO we r talking about!!!!

It was not JUST not built up enough...their death was not the pay off that was required to satisfy the script...and i am the last person to have problems with killing off primary characters!
I wish the director/writers chose to explore the very intersting concept about the cure, and the arguements for and against it rather then "lets just kill the next Xmen we can think off"!

I just hope now that Superman Returns is worth this sacrifice, cuase then i will hold Bryan Singer resposible for ruining 2 movies this summer, one by directing it and one by NOT directing!! Now, that would be a first!;-)

"Moments" Scene 10

This is my rough line test for a new scene and it hooks up to another new scene, Scene 9 (posted earlier).
It's after the girl's doll has been knocked over by a man who is in a hurry to catch a bus.
The Girl gives him a displeased look for a short bit and then picks up her doll.

Horse In Watercolours

Though its not very new, i still remember it being lots of fun doing this quick life drawing with watercolours! Should do it more often!

First Flight & Moments

Hey Cameron,

I just wanna say, that i do understand that how this might be just a coincendence as most story themes are so universal.

Though that was on my mind while i was watching FF, its only after i read ur name in the credits that i thought "Moments" COULD have played a part in inspiring FF.

And then i read some articles on FF on AWN etc it said that it was pitched to execs in END of 2004 and Moments was screened for you in April 2004.
I was understandably surprised and a bit taken aback.

I wrote on my blog to put my thoughts out there...and you will see nowhere do I "ACCUSE" you or slander you...i am simply talking about what i saw and the similarities and coincendences associated with all this AND asking people for their opinions on both the films to know if people can even connect the two or not!!

Like you have too...i too have invested a lot of time and hard work in my film..and i have continued to work on it, make it bigger & better since April 2004 and its finally in post production now. So i just cannot "NOT care" about what i saw.It was and IS a valid concern from my point of view.

It was not my intent to come off as accusatory.I know how similar ideas and storytelling tools can be and i would respect a fellow film-maker enough to first approach you and ask you frankly before i maliciously accused you,if at all!

Again, i appreciate u leaving a message here and clearing this up and wish you all the best with "First Flight"!

Thanks
Kushal Ruia

Lip Sync Assignment

Just finished a Lip Sync assignment with Fred (Supplied Model).
Experimenting with different textures and shaders and stuff...

....and YES,thats Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector!

(unfortunately u dont see much of the acting in the eyes & stuff in this low res version and also the audio is a bit off after compression on YouTube it seems):-(

SHOCK & AWE!!!

Today Dreamworks premiered a brand new short film called "First Flight"before the theatrical print of Over The Hedge in the cinemas.
I was excited as it started,cuase I love short films.
As the film progressed, I was a little surprised to see that the story was quite familiar and within a few seconds my brother pointed it out too and then I knew it was not JUST my imagination!

As the film progressed its story seemed amazingly similar to my graduating film called "MOMENTS"which i made at Sheridan College in April 2004.
Not only are the story and plot the same, the similarity in portrayal of character interaction is striking...just one of the characters was different...a bird instead of a little girl and a different ending.

While watching First Flight today the thought going through my head was, "Wow! what an amazing co-incidence!!" But soon the surprise turned to shock when the film finshed and the credits rolled!

It was directed by Cameron Hood ...who COINCIDENTLY was representing Dreamworks at the Industry Screening of Graduating Films at Sheridan College,Canada in April 2004 where MY film,"Moments" made its debut as a student film!!!

For those who have seen my film and know what i am talking about...make sure u get there well in time to catch "First Flight" before Over The Hedge and let me know what u think!!

I mean...there is even a paper plane symbolising the bird being run over by a car!!!!
Will locate and post my April 2004 film shortly!
Like i said...i am pretty shocked...dunno what to make of it!

Stuff from my Short Film "Moments"

Sssssssuper Weekend!

WOW! Had an amazing weekend...and this one of the many cool things that i did...YES! thats indeed a REAL "Ball Pyhton" on my hand!!
And dont be fooled by the smile, i was PETRIFIED! I admit i did not have the balls to have him around my neck, but i settled for the hand after MUCH hesitation (putting it mildly)!

I think the pic says it all...i dont need to post the video clip to prove he was real and how i made a fool of myslef...i will let u use ur imagination!lol

More on the Sssssssssuper Weekend to follow soon!;-)

Nostalgic Fun: The Flour Sac & The Puddle

I was going through my Gigs & Gigs of data when i found some of my my pre-historic animation.
It was quite funny to see it all. Thought i 'd post a few even though they are very crude and old.

This particular one was my very first go at personality animation in my first year of college.
It had to be a flour sac interacting with a prop whos name i pulled out randomly from a hat.
I remember getting a "Mirror" first...but then i gave that up for a shot at pulling out some other more "Interetsing" prop, to only pull out a "Puddle", which had more or less similar possibilities as a "Mirror" but just add to it the fun of figuring out how to animate water if u wanna show some interaction! Joy!
Should have stuck with the damn "Mirror"!

In Theatres : Mission Impossible III (Review)

And Summer starts!!
Yes its a BIG studio, BIG star ,BIG budget BIG franchise but...small movie!
There were no real BIG explosive blow u away "did u see that ?" kinda special effects moments which one expects from movies of this stature.
Director JJ Abrams of Alias/Lost fame sticks to his Alias formula.
The movie is ineresting no doubt,holds ur attention the whole time and to the director's credit its cause of the "pure" action and the circumstances and the story telling thread and no sp.fx jazz!

Am not saying thats bad, its great!! but we know that Abrams is good with that, he has already established that in his Tv shows...how about shaking it up a bit for the big screen?

Essentially...its like watching Alias on the big screen with Tom Cruise instead of Sydney Bristow( Jeniffer Garner).
Its amazing to see how blatantly Abrams uses the very same devices and techniques and creates the similar moods with the score, colours, lighting and sets as Alias!!
Among many other things,is it a co-incidence that Alias opened with the main character strapped to a chair being interrogated?
or people having "charges in their head" a la Will Tippin from 2 weeks ago in Alias?

Why not just make a big screen version Alias instead?!

Ric Sluiter On Art Direction And More

Ric Sluiter Art Director of Mulan,Lilo and American Dog and Sheridan Alumni, was over at the college to give a little talk on Art Direction.
As expected ,cameras were required to be switched off once he started sharing artwork, so unfortunately i have nothing to show...but maybe i could just share some of the things he said and talked about.
His presentation was based on the work he was doing for an animated feature at the Florida studio, which was scrapped/cancelled/put on hold when the studio was shut down.
Many of u may know of it...though its title was ever changing...some of them were "My Peoples", "Angel & Her No Good Sister" and finally "A Few Good Ghosts".
He showed concpet art, final designs, test shots created for publicity etc etc. and they were very cool.
The humans etc were all 2d and the hero (Elgin), he made puppets of his ancestors and they were made up of things like brooms, buttons ,gloves etc etc and those were CGI.
The backgrounds were all 2d but painted in Photoshop.
The look was very different, specially the opening prologue which talked of a family curse and was very inspired.
Also i thought the heroine (Rose) was probably one of the most beautiful Disney Heroines yet...reminded me a bit of Tarzan's Mom (human one, not Kala) , who i think surely wins the "Hottest Disney Mom Who Dies In The First 7 Mins of the film" award!!
The story was a bit like Romeo and Juliet with Love Vs Fear being the theme.
Had the voices of Dolly Parton among others as one of the puppets.
It looked cool enough for me to want it to be finshed some day..hopefully it will!

Other things he briefly touched upon (some old, some new) which other animation/ disneyphiles might wanna know are:
1.He was working on Toy Story 3 before it was shut down. He just moved to American Dog .
2.Disney seems poised for a come back and everyone is very upbeat.
3.No more sequels.."...we wont be ruining Peter Pan anymore"
4.Stuff he has seen from Glen Keane's Rapunzel just blows his mind away..."...Its like watching beautiful Glen Keane drawings moving in 3D"
5.Rapunzel story has been reverted back closer to the classic story rather than spoof-ish take on it.
6.Ron n John are back at disney to make a film (2d maybe?)!
7.Eric Goldberg is on his way back too!!!
8.He loves Photoshop and paints only on that now!

I think thats all i can recall for now...and yes...i got him to sign my Lilo & Stitch 2Disc DVD from region 2 which has a lot of him and his work and the Mulan Sp. Edition too..i unfortunately did not have my Art Of books here with me...tragic!
But i got to speak with him for a short bit so it was cool and fun!:-)

Pics From NYC

I just realised, in my great enthusiasm for posting the Tarzan on Broadway Stuff...i forgot to post some other pics i took while i was in NYC last month...so here they r!

And yes..on friday we had an amazing presentation by Disney Art Director Ric Sluiter (Mulan, Lilo&Stitch and forthcoming American Dog)...he showed some real cool stuff & shared some amazing info and advice...so will put something together on that in a day or two!

The Empire State

Walk On Broadway

A Room With A View

"Blvd.Efil" Story Reel

..the timing needs to better...for things to register and all....i just had to get it done..didt it all 3 days man! it was hell....will work it all out at the kinks and more in the animation stage!
here it is anyways!