Sometimes the stars & Mechanical Apple

Mechanical Apple

Mechinal Apple is an award winning animation studio run by Ari Gibson and Jason Pamment. The company is based in Australia and does work for films, video games and commercials, as well as producing many short films such as Sometimes the stars, Motorbike, Winter fox and Bronte. Their work uses mostly of 2D and sometimes 3D animation for environments and background.

I came across Sometimes the stars when I opened the "music video" for 'Sleep dealer - Nozomi'. The video uses the animation to the background of the music by doesn't credit the original creators. I was a bit upset to find out that the rip off video had more views that the original.

The animation style used is really awesome while still being relatively simplistic. This is definitely something I will be looking at over the break to improve my 2D animation abilities.

Mechanical Apple website

http://www.mechanicalapple.com/#

Sometimes the stars: Original credited YouTube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQxPWT-ifyI

Sleep dealer - Nozomi 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKzzniTfMnQ

Watership down 

Director: Martin Rosen

Year: 1978

The film received a G or U rating upon release, meaning that it was viewable for all ages. As of 2012, the BBC has received complaints about the films U ratings every year since its release.

While the film looks nice and is well voice acted, the film's story feels very cookie cutter. There was never a point where I couldn't guess where the film was going next.

The story's main themes seems to be among the power of faith, cunning and a group.

By today's standards the film is still not suitable for children

I would personal not recommend the film. Outside of the 3 mains characters I had no clue who was who and beside the gore there is nothing really interesting about the story or animation.

The BBC is remaking the film into a four part mini series, however I do not feel that this is a good idea. The story simply does not have a episodic feel to it and I don't think that any adaption would make the story interesting.

1980s

Hollywood Blockbuster films

- "High Concept films"
- Familiar plots that could be easily described
- Highly stylish and high quality production
- Aimed for mass appeal

Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer

- Top Gun
- Beverly hills cops
- Flashdance

Teenage comedy

- Revenge of the Nerds
- Porky
-Screw Balls\

John Hughes

"Coming of age"

- Ferris Bueller's day off
- The Breakfast club
- Weird Science

Sequels EVERYWHERE

few sequels before the 80s
- many

Horror

John Carpenters highly successful Halloween (1978) caused a revival in the horror genre.

- Halloween
- Friday 13th
- Nightmare on Elm street

Action Sequels

- Terminator
- Die Hard
- Rambo

Spoof movies

- Airplane
- Naked gun
- Spaceballs

Animation

- Tron = Mixed animation and live action film
- Who framed Roger rabbit = Most expensive film of the decade costing 70 million.

Science ficiton

- Blade runner
- The Thing
- Robocop
- E.T.
- Back to the future

War films

- Gallipoli
- Full Metal Jacket

Adventure

- Goonies
- Never Ending Story
- Labyrinth

Howard the duck

- Regarded as one of the worst and least successful big budget ever made.

Batman 1989

- directed by Tim Burton.
- opened the door for the current super hero film boom.
- Film was a success making 411 million and the merchandise 750 million.
- The film budget was around 35 million.


In your own experience, has there been a sequel that is worse than the original film?

- The matrix - over use of special effects, less character development and terrible story



In your own experience, has there been a sequel that is better than the original film?

- Empire strikes back - Irvin kershner (1980)
- The Dark Knight - Christopher Nolan (2008)
- Terminator 2
- Mad Max: Fury Road - George Miller (2015)
- Avatar: Legend of Korra - Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko (2012 - 2014)

Robocop

Robocop was directed by Paul Verhoeven in 1987. Verhoeven is also credited with directing "Starship troops (1997)" and "Total recall (1990)".

Robocop explores themes of justice, revenge, corruption and capitalism. In particular the film looks at the impact of cooperate  and individual greed has on a society when that individual is in a position of power.

While the film is entertaining, it isn't something I would sit down for an engaging and thoughtful experience. The film tries to come off as serious but ends up just being silly. There are a lot of one liners that just come off as taking the piss. As a "serious" movie, the film does not stand up as there are just to many things that seem silly or forced. If your looking for a bit of a laugh and mindless violence/ gore, then this would be a good film. However its themes are ones that are simply better done by other films such as "Alien".