Robin Williams, the stand-up comic, television actor, and acclaimed hit-making big screen actor, has died at the age of 63. He was found in his home and apparently had been battling depression lately.
Williams was known for his comedic and dramatic turns in film - performing in films as diverse as Walt Disney's Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire to Awakenings and What Dreams My Come. He received best actor Oscar nominations: Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and The Fisher King. He won the best supporting actor Oscar for Good Will Hunting (1997).
Williams was a writer and performer on "The Richard Pryor Show" (1977). His breakout role was as the alien "Mork" for four seasons on the ABC sitcom, "Mork & Mindy," for which he earned an Emmy nomination.
In addition to his Oscar, Williams won two Emmy Awards and several Golden Globe and Grammy Awards.
Williams is survived by a wife and three children. Negromancer sends condolences to Mr. Williams' family and friends. R.I.P. Robin Williams.
LINKS:
From YahooNews: Matt Damon: Ben and I owe everything to him (Robin Williams)...
From UPI: PBS is broadcasting a Robin Williams tribute special. Williams' "Mork & Mindy" costar, Pam Dawber, will guest star on that special.
From YahooNews: Actress Mila Kunis shares advice Robin Williams gave her.
From The Washington Post via RSN: Frenetic, Often Fearless
From YahooMovies: Other "Genie" voice actor has a tribute to Williams.
From YahooGames: Nintendo responds to petition to include Robin Williams tribute in Zelda game
From FOXNews: "Mork and Mindy" star Pam Dawber, other celebs react to the news of Robin Williams' death
From Entertainment Weekly's InsideMovies: Robin Williams: sober and battling Parkinson's, according to wife
From Today: Michael J. Fox "stunned" to learn Robin Williams had Parkinson's
From Today: Robin Williams was struggling with early Parkinson's, wife say.
From Variety: Police: Robin Williams' Death Due to Hanging
From YahooFinance: Robin Williams Set Up a 3-Part Trust Fund for His Kids Amid Money Troubles
From YahooSports: Robin Williams was the first male Denver Broncos cheerleader
From YahooCelebrity: The Children of Robin Williams Remember Dad
From InContention: We might have Robin Williams to thank for Jessica Chastain.
From YahooTV: Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg give the most eloquent reaction to Robin Williams' death.
From Collider: R.I.P. Robins Williams, Legendary Comic and Actor at 63
From Deadline: Singular Talent Robin Williams Commits Suicide at Age 63
From EW InsideMovies: Robin Williams Dead at 63
From The Hollywood Reporter via Yahoo: Robin Williams Died of Suspected Suicide
From Variety: Robin Williams Found Dead in Possible Suicide
Robin Williams' Wikipedia page is here.
Robin Williams' IMDb page is here.
Showing posts with label Michael J. Fox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael J. Fox. Show all posts
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Review: "The Lost Empire" is a Unique Disney Film (Happy B'day, Michael J. Fox)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Running time: 95 minutes (1 hour, 35 minutes)
MPAA – PG for action violence
DIRECTORS: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
WRITERS: Tab Murphy, from a story by Bryce Zabel, Jackie Zabel, Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, and Tab Murphy; from a treatment by Joss Whedon with additional screenplay material by David Reynolds
PRODUCER: Don Hahn
EDITOR: Ellen Keneshea
ANIMATION/SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: (voices) Michael J. Fox, Corey Burton, Claudia Christian, James Garner, John Mahoney, Phil Morris, Leonard Nimoy, Don Novello, Jacqueline Obradors, Florence Stanley, David Ogden Stiers, Natalie Strom, Cree Summer, and Jim Varney
The subject of this movie review is Atlantis: The Lost Empire, a 2001 animated film from Walt Disney Pictures. It was the first science fiction film created by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Set in 1914, the film follows a young man and his crew as they search for the lost city of Atlantis.
Unjustly ignored, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is not only a very good film (probably the best animated feature the year of its release), but it is also another example of why Walt Disney continues to be the gold standard in animated feature films.
Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, co-directors of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is the story of Milo Thatch (voice of Michael J. Fox), a young linguist who specializes in dead languages and who inherits his late grandfather’s obsession with the legendary lost city/state/continent of Atlantis. Milo joins a team of intrepid explorers searching for Atlantis as their guide because he can translate his grandfather’s book of Atlantean lore, which is also some kind of map to the lost empire.
Audiences and critics always expect the art of animation in a Disney film to be excellent even if the story isn’t. Both, in this case, are very good. From its 1914 urban setting to the journey into the ocean, through deep caverns, and to Atlantis itself, the animation is a scenic trip through the ability to not only draw beautifully, but to also tell a story with those drawings. The character designs by the great comic book artist Mike Mignola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) are wonderful with their angular lines and wonderful curves. The animators took the designs and translated them into vibrant and interesting characters.
Screenwriter Tab Murphy (Disney’s Tarzan) crafted a script that captures the sense of wonder and awe of science fiction and fantasy films. It has the flavor of the 1999 remake of The Mummy and of Stargate. Not only is Atlantis: The Lost Empire a fine animated film, but also it’s a very good sci-fi. The film’s glaring weakness is in its stock characters - stereotypical ethnic characters, and unfunny comic relief, but those elements don’t hurt the film as much as they could.
Another part of the Disney magic is the voice cast, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire is no exception. In addition to Fox, James Garner, Claudia Christian, John Mahoney, Phil Morris, Leonard Nimoy, and Cree Summers among others deliver stellar work, a testament to their ability as actors to create characters.
Some of the computer animation seems awkward in the film, but much of computer generated imagery and all of its traditional cel animation is very good. Lost in the shuffle of the current wave of computer-animated films, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a gem, an entertaining film for young and old, and an artistic achievement.
8 of 10
A
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Back to the Future Trilogy on Blu-Ray in October
BACK TO THE FUTURE - 25TH ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY
NEWLY RESTORED, EXPERIENCE BACK TO THE FUTURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF NEW BONUS FEATURES
AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON BLU-RAY & DVD OCTOBER 26, 2010 FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. At 88 miles per hour, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd took millions of spellbound viewers on a high-flying voyage across the space-time continuum in a trio of wildly inventive tales that broke box-office records around the world. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award®-winning cinematic franchise that generated nearly one billion dollars worldwide, the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy will debut on Blu-rayTM on October 26, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The 25th Anniversary Trilogy will also be available on DVD.
Now, for the first time ever, the past, present and future collide in eye-popping high definition for a time-traveling celebration featuring new 25th Anniversary restorations for perfect picture and the purest digital sound. More than two hours of all new bonus features have been added, including an all-new, six-part retrospective documentary featuring never-before-seen interviews with the cast, crew and filmmakers, including Michael J. Fox, for the definitive Back to the Future experience.
On October 26, 1985, Marty McFly took the driver‚s seat in Dr. Emmet Brown's DeLorean and introduced audiences to Back to the Future, a journey that launched a new era of moviemaking magic and reinvented the adventure-comedy genre. The film, which spent 11 weeks at #1 at the U.S. box office, boasts a legendary Hollywood pedigree that includes director Robert Zemeckis, executive producers Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, producer and screenwriter Bob Gale and producer Neil Canton. Accompanying Fox and Lloyd on their warp-speed tour of McFly family history are an array of stars including Lea Thompson ("Caroline in the City"), Crispin Glover (Hot Tub Time Machine), Thomas F. Wilson ("Big Love"), Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Billy Zane (Titanic), Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Mary Steenburgen (The Proposal) as well as 1980s musical icons Huey Lewis and ZZ Top.
BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-rayTM: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
U-CONTROL: Universal's exclusive signature feature allows viewers to learn more about their favorite film without ever leaving the movie.
Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each „set up‰ showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the „payoff‰ is shown to complete the correlation.
Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.
BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!
My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movies.
pocket BLU˙: USHE's groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, iPad®, Blackberry®, Android˙, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-rayTM player and offers advanced features such as:
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray˙ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live˙ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray˙ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there‚s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU˙-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray˙. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray˙ player with your device‚s easy and intuitive keyboard.
Archival Featurette Back to the Future Night: Hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future.
BLU-RAYTM and DVD BONUS FEATURES
Tales from the Future: New six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.*
In the Beginning . . .: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.
Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.
Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.
Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.
Third Time's the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown‚s love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.
The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film‚s cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.
The Physics of Back To The Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*
Nuclear Test Site Ending Storyboard Sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*
16 Deleted Scenes
Michael J. Fox Q&A
Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
Archival Featurettes
Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
The Making Of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic first look at the making of all three films.
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
Behind-the-Scenes
Outtakes
Original Makeup Tests
Production Design
Storyboarding
Designing the DeLorean
Designing Time Travel
Hoverboard Test
Designing Hill Valley
Designing the Campaign
Back to the Future: The Ride
Music Videos:
Huey Lewis and the News "Power of Love"
ZZ Top "DoubleBack"
Photo Galleries, Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits
Theatrical Trailers
* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy
SYNOPSES:
Back to the Future
From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis comes Back to the Future, the original, groundbreaking adventure that sparked one of the most successful trilogies in Hollywood history. When teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he finds himself mixed up in a time-shattering chain reaction that could vaporize his future˜and leave him trapped in the past. Powered by innovative special effects, unforgettable songs and non-stop action, Back to the Future is an unrivaled adventure that stands the test of time.
Back to the Future Part II
Getting back was only the beginning as the most spectacular time-travel adventure ever continues in Back to the Future Part II˜the sequel that proves that lightning can strike twice! Picking up precisely where they left off, Marty and Doc (Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) launch themselves to the year 2015 to fine-tune the future and inadvertently disrupt the space-time continuum. Now, their only chance to fix the present is by going back to 1955 again before it‚s too late. From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part II provides more of the timeless excitement that made Back to the Future an unforgettable adventure.
Back to the Future Part III
They've saved the biggest trip for last as the most popular time-traveling movie trilogy ever comes to a rousing conclusion in Back to the Future Part III. Stranded in 1955 after a freak accident, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) discovers he must travel back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) before he becomes smitten with schoolteacher Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). Now, it's up to Marty to keep Doc out of trouble, get the DeLorean running, and put the past, present and future on track so they can all get back to where˜and when˜they belong. From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part III is a spectacular grand finale to the unforgettable blockbuster series.
About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com/). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY˙:
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61112394
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1
Run Time: Back To The Future ˆ 1 hour, 56 minutes
Back To The Future II ˆ 1 hour, 48 minutes
Back To The Future III ˆ 1 hour, 58 minutes
TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61114696
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: Back To The Future ˆ 1 hour, 56 minutes
Back To The Future II ˆ 1 hour, 48 minutes
Back To The Future III ˆ 1 hour, 58 minutes
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