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The ICE AGE films represent 20th Century Fox’s attempt to cash in on the lucrative computer-animated family fantasy film market. As such, they are reasonably successful in terms of box office, if occasionally problematic in terms of storytelling, relying on CGI sight gags and the voice cast to pull the movies over any narrative humps.
ICE [...]

This is a good example of Hollywood commercial calculation that actually pays off with a few entertainment dividends. It all seems very cold and calculated, the results of lots of careful number-crunching, and yet the film still turns out to be decently entertaining, thanks to lots of great special effects and a few good laughs.

Producers Sid and Marty Krofft talk about the differences between their old Saturday morning kiddie show and the big-budget feature film it inspired, starring Will Ferrell.

Read more about Land of the Lost (2009) by clicking the links below:

Land of the Lost opens June 5
Land of the Lost Video Clip: T-Rex responds to insult
Land of the Lost Video [...]

Accomanpied by clips from the film, director Brad Silberling discusses the approach he took to transferring LAND OF THE LOST from the television screen to movie theatres.

Read more about Land of the Lost (2009) by clicking the links below:

Land of the Lost opens June 5
Land of the Lost Video Clip: T-Rex responds to insult
Land of the Lost [...]

The big-budget feature film version of LAND OF THE LOST turns out to be an amiable summer popcorn movie, enlivened with eye-popping production design, impressive make-up and special effects, enthusiastic performances, and a handful of good jokes. Unfortunately, the best moments are all on view in the various trailers and film clips available on the [...]

When it comes to putting dinosaurs on the screen, Universal is certainly the studio that knows how, and in LAND OF THE LOST the dinos do not disappoint, thanks to the wonderful creature design work of Crash McCreery (who worked on all three JURASSIC PARK movies) and effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer (THE LION, THE WITCH [...]

Dinosaurs are among cinema’s biggest stars. The very sight of them – when achieved with technical competence and some style – is more than enough to stir our Sense of Wonder. With that in mind, we offer a rundown of some of their most impressive on screen apperances.

Chaka the prehistoric missing link tries to warn Will Ferrell and company about the reptilian Sleestak, but what we have here is failure to communicate. The Sleestak actually look pretty cool – like the creatures from the old television show but without updated makeup that makes them seem more believable.

Will Ferrell and company find themselves dangling by vines over a pit of skeletons – a “Feeding Station,” according to the dialogue. Joining hands, they swing back and forth, trying to reach the edge, but their efforts are hampered by the unwanted appearance of “Grumpy,” the T-Rex who has been pursuing the humans with an [...]

In this clip from LAND OF THE LOST, which opens Friday, we witness the dangers of insulting the brain size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex when he’s within earshot. I’m not a big fan of the television series (which I barely remember), but this clip is funny enough to make me hope that the premise has [...]

[ July 1, 2009 to July 5, 2009. ] The beloved animated characters are back in action and apparently going back in time, since the dinosaurs lived and died well before these wooly mammoths and sabre-tooth tigers, etc. Whatever, as long as Scrat is back, yearning for his beloved acorn, we’re happy (and this time he meets a female of the species). Director: Carlos [...]

Okay, here’s a bit of something new for CFQ: Whenever my internet series, MIGHTY MOVIE PODCAST, covers a film that would be of interest to the Cinefantastique audience, I’ll be posting a link to the show. First up: My review of NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN.

A SOUND OF THUNDER, a science fiction film based on the Ray Bradbury short story of the same name, is a colassal disapopintment – unworthy of the memorable source material. It seems as if the film wants to be an old-fashioned B-movie, but it is nowhere near that good; even worse, the idea is one that [...]