Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs - - No, Wall-E Remains Top

Sometimes I wonder, what makes a great 3D animated flick? The ingredients are similar to any other type of movie genre - - a damn good story that ends well. No one wants a damn good story that ends in a manner that throws everything good about the story. And well, it is a rare feat for a movie to have a 'bad' story only to end in a manner that makes you re-think everything. Which is good.

Just recently I watched Sony Pictures Animation 'Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs' and boy was it really good. I did not watch it in 3D, after a not so great 3D adventure with "Up" (which I am still dumbfounded by). Cloudy is based on a book of the same title and is definitely one of the pleasant surprises of the year. Watching the trailer - - it felt good. Everything just felt fresh. Perhaps it had to do with the one thing this movie did so damn well - - food! Mouth-watering food aplenty in this flick.

Comparing Cloudy with "Up" may not be a good idea, since they are both remarkable 3D flicks (low at how far we have come in terms of image quality, stunning!). But the one thing Cloudy does so well is the humor and its undying sense of giving it to the audience. It never tires you out, it never really pushes everything forward. Everything is flowing like a chocolate fountain. Yummy.

I love to compare any 3D animated flicks with my all time favorite - "Wall-E" ; the mother of all 3D flicks. It is an astonishing human achievement to make robots feel and then more, giving you a feel from a mere movie that is made of polygons that perhaps even live-action movies can't do. "Up" to me was quite a tiring ride. A worthwhile ride while it lasts. The appeal didn't take it to me to the extends of what "Wall-E" did. "Wall-E" is by far, the best 3D animated movie ever made. Period.

Whatever comes after that, would be a comparison to it. "Up" wasn't as great as "Wall-E", but then again PIXAR delivered the goods. As for Cloudy in the ring with these two, I say Cloudy beats "Up". Yes. It does. At least to me. Kudos to Bill Hader and Anna Faris for doing such a wonderful job voicing the characters of Flint Lockwood and Sam Sparks. Andy Samberg as Baby Brent was equally fantastic. I'd give Cloudy a 9/10 while "Wall-E" remains an untouchable 10/10. "Up" was a 8.5/10. I added 0.5 to "Up" for its Digital-3D experience.

Kanye West. Strikes Again. Again.

I love Kanye West. His style, his music. And he never runs out of ideas for catchy new tunes. What amazes me even more, is his... sudden outburst. Worse, it goes public and well, the next thing the whole world knows about it, and then is made fun on the web. Its fine to 'burst' out in public for a good reason, but to take away someone's moment on-stage, is absolutely ridiculous and downright stupid. And it had to happen to... Taylor. Oh, sweet Taylor :-)

I just keep thinking about what the heck just went through his mind before going on stage. Perhaps he was too excited or he watched 'Single Ladies' music video one too many times and started dancing to it.

Anyhow, it is something that should not have happened. MTV VMA's never is dull. Every year there has to be something memorable and this year didn't fail. Well, one fail did exist and it is (dubbed by me) as...

#kanyefail

Miley Cyrus™ : Manufactured Disney product

The notion that talent comes from within is all a blur. Rules need not apply to everyone. The same goes to Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter Miley Cyrus. I am not a hater like many of those out there, but I genuinely find Disney products quite disturbing, with a following trend.

I believe there has always been 'generations' of Disney products. To put it into perspective, the old-timers (e.g Hilary Duff, Raven Simone, Christy Carlson Romano) are like the forefathers to the newer generation. The newer generation, is less diverse and more all out fun rather than genuine talent on-screen. Its more like picking out the loudest, most extrovert and the best looking people in a line and then trying really hard to get the 5 elements of Disney products out of them.

The 5 elements are (1) singing and dancing, (2) quirky and funny, (3) looks to boot, (4) huge fan base and (5) clean image.

There is nothing wrong with these elements. Except for the fact that is it the disturbing trend used by Disney to make a star out of newcomers. You might say, well, without those how could anyone ever get on Disney? Disney in fact requires those elements in order to get a following (such as the cult TV show, Hannah Montana). The thing is, the rules are quite clear - - you need not have to be genuinely talented. You could be polished to have those elements. Singing and dancing, Miley Cyrus. Can she sing? 'The Climb' remains one of the best songs Miley has done. And that's one. There a few others as well, but since this is what many claims to be her milestone, so be it then. Fine. Miley can sing. Once in a while. Dancing ? I have to admit 'Hoedown Throwdown' was wicked cool, but seriously, she dances when instructed. She is not a dancer. The saying of 'dance like Miley' has no real base whatsoever. Anyone can dance when instructed. Miley has to do it (and do it well) because that is what Disney needs.

Quirky and funny. Hmm... interestingly, without much personality disorder, it is quite common to see most teen stars as quirky and funny. Disney on the other hand, does it so well in picking out the right ones. There isn't a single actor or actress on Disney that isn't quirky or funny. Its all done for the benefit of the show. And that's the problem. Since the manufacturing methods require tossing in pretty much all the ingredients required, at times, even WITH a personality disorder, you HAVE to be quirky and funny. There isn't much choice. Its either your way or Disney's way. Ah... the glory days of 'Lizzie McGuire' and 'Even Stevens'. There is no question you need good looks to be on any TV show especially ones that last quite a while. Miley is glammed up, occasionally she looks amazing and then there are times she looks absolutely normal. Then again, we all are. Disney seem to go the mile to glam up Miley for her fans. Nothing wrong here. About her fanbase, its quite a phenomenon. And I mean the tweens. They can't get enough of Miley. Remember the news about the girl who wrote in to Disney to say that he dad died in the Iraq war and that she wanted tickets to see Miley performing live? They go the distance. And until today parents camp out for their kids to get tickets.

Let's talk clean image. This is one element that is very hard to secure. No matter how well you are around friends, there will always be those lurking around to get some kind of image of you that isn't up to taste. Miley's leaked photos sparked outrage, others saw it as a normal kid having fun. Then there are those who started the whole I hate Miley trend. Squeaky clean image are hard to come by. And the same goes for Miley. Her photoshoot with Vanity Fair was questionable. I really wonder what went through her mind (knowing she is still with Disney) to do that photo shoot. The only real squeaky clean image of a teen/tween sensation as of this moment I can think of is my favourite Taylor Swift. She is miles ahead of anyone trying to be her. Indeed.

What I'm really trying to say is that, most of these Disney stars are packaged for success. For Disney's success. There isn't much dynamic freedom. Sure there is the occasional endorsement of a new fashion line or a new music album, whatever it is, they are bound by the rules of Disney. Break it, and face the music (e.g Vanessa Hudgens who had someone leak her photos). It is all good if people like Miley keep their feet grounded as long as they can until they wish to break away from their Disney image (e.g Zac Efron). Miley Cyrus is not an ideal role model - her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus is definitely the major reason why Miley (and Hannah Montana) is a success. Miley rides on her dad's back and wherever it takes her, it will be a place both Billy and Disney agree on. Its not Miley's own will, rather what seems to be appropriate for maximum benefits of the dollar bill of the TV network.

Now comes news of so-called next Miley. Meet Bridgit Mendler (that's two 'i's in the first name). She is in the show 'JONAS'. Now she is getting her own full TV series. Much like Miley, she is going to be exploited the same way. The show is called 'Good Luck Charlie' and premieres in 2010. Well, I already headlined the news. Let's see how Bridgit performs. And how Disney tries to pull the five elements I mentioned earlier. And then manufacture with Disney as a.... Disney product. This is getting familiar again.