Norm of the North
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Norm of the North
Review is up. Made a little AV history with this one!
http://animatedviews.com/2016/norm-of-the-north-film/
http://animatedviews.com/2016/norm-of-the-north-film/
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Re: Norm of the North
And glorious history it is, James.
I would've added, "Be warned. Rob Schneider is the lead in this movie."
I would've added, "Be warned. Rob Schneider is the lead in this movie."
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Re: Norm of the North
I would've been happy to spare James this by seeing it myself. All he had to do was ask.
Also, people are going to be WAY more interested in this now as a result of this review.
(Plus, Bill Nighy is in it, so it can't be all bad...can it?)
Also, people are going to be WAY more interested in this now as a result of this review.
(Plus, Bill Nighy is in it, so it can't be all bad...can it?)
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."
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Re: Norm of the North
Seriously, I didn't even watch more than 20 seconds of the first teaser. Shame The Nut Job got lumbered in with this...I haven't seen it but that looked a bit of fun. Same with Free Birds - those two films are on the "lower scale" of CG moviemaking to be sure, but they both looked like cartoons to see at some point. Guess I can wipe Nut Job off the list.
But a Fun Factor of 2, though, eh?
Might give this one a go then...
But a Fun Factor of 2, though, eh?
Might give this one a go then...
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Re: Norm of the North
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."
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Re: Norm of the North
Y'know, he wasn't THAT bad in Judge Dredd, when he was still stuck in other people's movies, but...Dan (Lord Akiyama) wrote:I would've added, "Be warned. Rob Schneider is the lead in this movie."
Guess you can. Lionsgate may be too "big" a studio to call this Delgo or Legends of Oz, but it shares the same quality as Free Birds or Nut Job in being a dreary, generic (dare we say "obnoxious"?) third-party acquisition from a minor studio to an indie distributor that looked around, checked the coast was clear, and suddenly thought they were "The mainstream family hit of the season!" because there was either no tentpole Disney/Pixar out, or because it was January, and they could double-down on a wide release.Ben wrote:Seriously, I didn't even watch more than 20 seconds of the first teaser. Shame The Nut Job got lumbered in with this...I haven't seen it but that looked a bit of fun. Same with Free Birds - those two films are on the "lower scale" of CG moviemaking to be sure, but they both looked like cartoons to see at some point. Guess I can wipe Nut Job off the list.
(Oh, unless you're going to defend "Hoodwinked", as well?)
And besides, I still look at the early posters thinking it was Bernard, not Norm, and we should be so lucky.
Last edited by EricJ on January 17th, 2016, 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Norm of the North
Oh wow James, what a damning review. You have zapped any interest I had from seeing this film (which was minimal at best). I normally check out all animated films that get theatrical releases out of curiosity. Even though they had a bad rep i got some enjoyment from The Nut Job and Free Birds that I didn't mind purchasing them for my collection. Sounds like I should skip this and avoid it for as long as possible ie until there is no other new release PG or G option when choosing a video to rent to watch with my godson.
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Re: Norm of the North
Thing is...I'm never sure if people are scoring the title under discussion or the actual review! In this case, it absolutely makes sense that they are scoring James' review!Dacey wrote:
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Re: Norm of the North
It's too bad; I'm acquainted with a few people who'd worked on this .. and I know they could've delivered better quality, given a comparable time & budget as most larger studios would've devoted to an animated feature. But audiences (rightly) judge a movie as it is .. not as it might've been.
Kinda relieved I'd turned-down an opportunity on an even lower-budget DTV animated feature gig a couple of months ago, now.
Though, I've certainly contributed to my share of poorly-received cheap stuff, over the years; after all, 'low-paying' work is still preferable to 'no-paying' work.
Kinda relieved I'd turned-down an opportunity on an even lower-budget DTV animated feature gig a couple of months ago, now.
Though, I've certainly contributed to my share of poorly-received cheap stuff, over the years; after all, 'low-paying' work is still preferable to 'no-paying' work.
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Re: Norm of the North
(Perhaps this is something we should consider making "more specific" in the future? Like "How would you rate the film," or something to that effect?)Thing is...I'm never sure if people are scoring the title under discussion or the actual review! In this case, it absolutely makes sense that they are scoring James' review!
And I keep hearing that Norm was initially going to be an obscure straight-to-DVD, with Lionsgate supposedly "saving it" in order to cash in on the four-day weekend. And two sequels are apparently already in production!
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."
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Re: Norm of the North
Something like other sites such as Netflix's reviews have, ie. "Was this review helpful: Yes/No?", with maybe a star system.Dacey wrote: Perhaps this is something we should consider making "more specific" in the future? Like "How would you rate the film," or something to that effect?)
Good review, in that perfectly encapsulated a lousy movie.
Told ya: "Empty-theater season" delusions of grandeur and Monday-morning fantasies, that's what brings 'em down every time!And I keep hearing that Norm was initially going to be an obscure straight-to-DVD, with Lionsgate supposedly "saving it" in order to cash in on the four-day weekend. And two sequels are apparently already in production!
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Re: Norm of the North
As bad as that review made it sound, I don't think it quite did justice to my feelings! There are movies I don't like that I can objectively see why others might like, or where I can overlook my issues and see some good qualities. Norm of the North literally had nothing -- NOTHING! -- in it I can point to as worthwhile or likable. Almost every decision feels like the wrong one. I've never watched any of those cheap knock-off animated movies that try to trick you into thinking they are something more popular, but I can't imagine them being much worse than this.
Free Birds I actually gave a somewhat favorable review to. It's Best Picture quality compared to Norm!
Nope. Terrible having to hear the lines he has to say with his voice.Dacey wrote:...(Plus, Bill Nighy is in it, so it can't be all bad...can it?)
The Nut Job was a masterpiece compared to this! The animation was passable there. Here it looks like they didn't spend the time or money to get it to 2016 expectations.Ben wrote:...Shame The Nut Job got lumbered in with this...I haven't seen it but that looked a bit of fun. Same with Free Birds - those two films are on the "lower scale" of CG moviemaking to be sure, but they both looked like cartoons to see at some point. Guess I can wipe Nut Job off the list.
Free Birds I actually gave a somewhat favorable review to. It's Best Picture quality compared to Norm!
Ha ha! That 2 was purely because there was only one other group in the theatre with me when I saw it, two parents and a four or five year old kid. The kid was having fun and would jump up and dance every time a song started.Ben wrote:But a Fun Factor of 2, though, eh?
Might give this one a go then...
Very true. It's the higher-ups making those "time & budget" decisions that should take the blame for a mess like this. Hopefully the regular joes doing their job just trying to make a living don't take these things too personally.droosan wrote:It's too bad; I'm acquainted with a few people who'd worked on this .. and I know they could've delivered better quality, given a comparable time & budget as most larger studios would've devoted to an animated feature. But audiences (rightly) judge a movie as it is .. not as it might've been...
...Though, I've certainly contributed to my share of poorly-received cheap stuff, over the years; after all, 'low-paying' work is still preferable to 'no-paying' work.
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Re: Norm of the North
Speaking as someone who's seen all of Ratatoing, I can assure you that they can.I've never watched any of those cheap knock-off animated movies that try to trick you into thinking they are something more popular, but I can't imagine them being much worse than this.
But if you need proof of that, the studio has put that--and several other of those "movies"--online in their entirety...
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."
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Re: Norm of the North
Painful.
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Re: Norm of the North
"Arctic Shake" sing-a-long? YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... uray/30086
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... uray/30086
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."