Ben Simon Author Archive
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Whatever happened to Robert Zemeckis?

After a string of fantastic, groundbreaking films, Robert Zemeckis seems to be chasing that elusive thing: the “acceptable” mo-cap movie. While it’s hoped Beowulf will mark a return to form, it could be his next collaboration with Jim Carrey that stretches the technology…

Journey Back To Oz: Special Edition

Filmation’s only close classic, Journey Back To Oz remains an interesting curio of what might have been if the studio could have made the jump from television to features.

More Transformers; Frog villain cast; DVD sales and more!

Hey, what about those robots in disguise? And that Princess and that Frog? Wow…and how about the best selling DVDs of the year so far? We got it all right here!

The Critic: The Complete Series

Manhattan movie critic Jay Sherman’s animated life on DVD certainly doesn’t “stink”!

Join the 300 on DVD and online!

The SFX-heavy 300 comes to DVD and spreads online via a unique interactive challenge!

WDFA becomes WDAS. Not the same, is it?

The new Walt Disney Animation logo… Bad? Or really bad?

Jack Sparrow's Pirates in space?

Depp and co return for more movie Piracy!

Narnia news: director Apted an "interesting" choice for Voyage…

Comments on the choice of Michael Apted for the director of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.

Giveaway crazy! Plus the old American Dog/Bolt switcheroo!

Animaniacs, Pooh and Casper up for grabs, plus the long road for American Dog, now called Bolt and sounding more and more familiar by the day…

Best Of Casper Volumes 1 & 2 – Winners Announced!

The Best Of Casper Volumes 1 and 2 – Winners Announced!

Pooh’s Many Adventures on DVD – Winners Announced!

The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh: Friendship Edition on DVD – Winners Announced!

Surf's Up at Animated Views!

Site updates including Surf’s Up review and interview, She-Ra review, plus the Animaniacs giveaway!

Ben's shamelessly blatant Film Festival event plug…

Ben puts in a shamelessly blatant bit of promotion for his Elstree Film Festival II event just outside London, UK.

Animaniacs Volume 3 – Winners Announced!

Animaniacs Volume 3 – Winners Announced!

Lee a marvel at Mouse House?; Disney Songbook comes to London

Stan Lee signs with Disney; NBC set for more Heroes; plus details on a June 2007 Disney music concert in London.

Defenders return! Plus American legend John Henry…

Defenders Of The Earth: Volume Two and American Legends reviews, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home giveaway winners.

Pirates continues to plunder box-office booty!

Pirates 3 doing great numbers, plus info on the color grading process.

Animated Bauer Power!

Details on the new online 24 spin-offs, including the animated Day Zero!

American Legends (featuring John Henry)

Four classic stories combine as Disney mines the patriotism streak post September 11 2001, though this cheap program is worthy mainly for the chance to see the long-delayed short John Henry.

Yowsers! Hanna-Barbera price crash at Amazon!

Get in quick for Amazon price drops on selected Hanna-Barbera TV series sets!

New Wait Till Your Father Gets Home giveaway…

Our latest giveaway is up for Wait Till Your Father Gets Home: The Complete First Season!

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home – Winners Announced!

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home: The Complete First Season – Winners Announced!

Arthur, Invisibles, and Tex Avery too!

Review links for the DVD of Luc Besson’s Arthur And The Invisibles and Tex Avery’s Droopy: Complete Theatrical Collection.

Arthur And The Invisibles

Luc Besson’s big budget CG feature is entertaining, but this US version came out at the mercy of the Weinsteins, who lost ten minutes of screen time. As such it’s a recommended rental.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Set sail with the Pirates Of The Caribbean for their third voyage, At World’s End. After all the hype and anticipation, does it fly the flag or should it walk the plank…?

The pirate movie that's no crime…

Set sail with the Pirates Of The Caribbean for their third voyage, At World’s End. After all the hype and anticipation, does it fly the flag or should it walk the plank…?

Tex Avery’s Droopy: Complete Theatrical Collection

An essential collection of Avery classics is marred only by surprisingly less than desirable image quality, but the debut of the better quality CinemaScope cartoons almost makes up for things.

Hero High here!

New review link for Hero High, plus congratulations to new dad Rand!

Shrek's directors talk, Dinosaurs, Droopy – and Shrek! – reviewed…

Shrek 3‘s directors interviewed, a review of the movie, plus Dinosaurs: Seasons 3 and 4 review and what lets the new Droopy set down…

Uh-oh: more Happy Feet? …and: excited about this year's TV pickups?

In a post hijack, 24, Smallville and Heroes are all back, plus Animal Logic’s 3D plans.