Rereleased Disney movies add to recent 3D hype

Rereleased Disney movies add to recent 3D hype

http://pittnews.com/newsstory/rereleased-disney-movies-add-to-recent-3d-hype/

By: Larissa Gula and Adelia Mohan / The Pitt News Staff

Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures

“The Lion King” first reigned over the box office nearly 20 years ago, in the midst of a Disney heyday that defined a generation. A revisiting of “The Lion King” in theaters in September 2011 proved that Simba could still sway the masses — the film pulled away as September’s highest grossing movie. This past weekend, “Beauty and the Beast” graced the big screen for the first time in decades. And just like “The Lion King,” it was in a format unlike the original.

Disney’s recent commitment to Hollywood’s fascination with 3-D has spurred a movement to revisit its classics. “The Little Mermaid,” “Finding Nemo” and “Monsters, Inc.” will be retreated.

The 3-D craze has enjoyed great success, but a notable divide among movie fans became evident following the success of eye-candy blockbuster “Avatar.” Two camps were formed: those who absolutely love seeing movies in 3-D and those who desperately wish it would go away. Even the critics are spilt — Roger Ebert dedicated an entire blog post to explaining why he is against 3-D.

But the extra dimension in movies isn’t entirely a new fad. It saw fleeting popularity in the 1930s and then again in the 1950s. What separate’s today’s 3-D from that of yesteryear are the large leaps in technological innovation. According to Jeff Hinkelman, video collections manager and instructor at Carnegie Mellon University, most theaters have now upgraded their viewing technology to better support and showcase 3-D movies.

Put simply, the sweeping 3-D development owes much to the new advancements that allow local theaters to properly handle the format.

But Will Zavala, an instructor at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, voiced the questions of film fans and experts alike: Is 3-D here to stay as the next advancement in film, or will it fade once again from the screen? Considering that 3-D has actually worsened the movie going experience for some with its increased prices and side effects such as headaches, many feel the trend has room for improvement.

Three-D might previously have been used as a marketing gimmick, but if utilized correctly, the product can be astounding. DreamWorks 2010 film “How to Train Your Dragon” did not disappoint, and in fact had a stunning effect. Many directors and producers have properly wielded 3-D as a visual enhancement. Even Ebert couldn’t help but admit that he enjoyed the 3-D graphics in “Hugo” and “The Adventures of Tintin.”

Even considering the stigma against 3-D and the format’s uncertain future, the numbers pulled in by the rereleased Disney movies (“The Lion King” took in at least $61 million, and “Beauty and the Beast” earned $18.5 million its first weekend) display an opposition to the 3-D grievances.

Despite the success of the Disney rereleases, many were initially concerned for whether 3-D could be rendered to a hand drawn film and argued that the styles belonged to separate spheres and were simply incompatible.

Yet after seeing “The Lion King” in 3-D, many noted a distinct beneficial element that 3-D animation added to the movie experience. A few scenes looked better in their original 2-D depictions, but the feelings of inclusion that 3-D brought to the stampede and battle scenes were worth the price of admission.

Even if the 3-D had fallen completely flat, the movie would still have seen box-office success. The primary reason for the film’s successful monetary performance wasn’t its 3-D aspect, but the movie itself.

“The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” are classic Disney films that already have a built-in following. The 3-D animation adds or detracts from the experience, but it does not desecrate the story.

Ultimately, the possibility of a bad 3-D movie can’t ruin the magic of Disney. And with directors employing 3-D to enhance a film’s visuals rather than as a marketing technique, the 3-D experience is set to see improvement in quality and viewer reception.

Gray skies bring SAD

Gray skies bring SAD

http://pittnews.com/newsstory/gray-skies-bring-sad/

As Pittsburgh’s weather turns grim, Ann Stone finds it harder and harder to stay awake during the last push to get her art degree.

The Carnegie Mellon student drags herself out of bed in the morning and starts to feel sleepy by 6 or 7 p.m. Even though she said it “sounds ridiculous,” she finds that gray skies always seem to put her in a melancholic or lethargic mood, making it difficult to do the things she loves, like reading and writing.

While it’s not uncommon for students to feel a bit lethargic as they transition back into their classes, for some people, behavior like Stone’s is a sign of seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD.

SAD is a type of mood disorder and is recognized as recurring depression with seasonal onset and seasonal remission, said Marian Vanek, director of Student Health Service.

Symptoms of both SAD and depression include depressed mood, decreased interest in activities once found enjoyable, loss of focus and attention, increased or decreased appetite, hypersomnia (oversleeping), lack of energy and social withdrawal. The difference between the two is that SAD only occurs during a set time of the year.

Though she has never been diagnosed with SAD or depression, Stone admits that she sometimes displays all of these symptoms. But the symptoms do not always mean a student has depression or SAD, explained Tevya Zukor, the director of Pitt’s Counseling Center.

The disorder, commonly and incorrectly referred to as the “winter blues,” is a form of depression that occurs around the same time each year, typically beginning in October or November and subsiding around March or April.

Though it comes and goes with winter, experts still aren’t entirely sure what triggers SAD. It’s believed that the decreased amount of light in the winter could contribute, Vanek said.

Some treatments for the disorder, like those for depression, involve therapy and medication. Others, however, center on the use of light as a medication. Some people might use special light boxes during certain times of the day or begin waking to alarm clocks, with the intention of being exposed to more light, in which their environment might naturally be lacks.

This is reflected in the prevalence of SAD in different states. The occurrence rate in Maine might be as high as 10 percent, while in Florida it’s as low as 2 percent. Pittsburgh ranks in between at around a 6 or 7 percent occurrence rate, Zukor said.

Data and studies about SAD are fairly limited, but experts estimate that it affects as low as 0 percent and as high as 9.7 percent, depending on the region. Because it’s related to wintry conditions associated with changing seasons, populations up north tend to be more affected, Vanek said.

Some definitions of the disease add that SAD commonly develops in young adults, particularly those in their early twenties.

But Zukor questions whether the disease truly develops at this age or whether, instead, it’s simply identified at this age after a pattern of depression is observed.

To be diagnosed, a person with SAD must demonstrate a clear history of developing depression during a specific time of the year, Zukor said. If no pattern presents itself, some people might be treated for depression instead, because the symptoms are so similar.

“The expression I use is, there is a difference between depression and ‘sad things make me sad,’” Zukor said. “Everyone has a bad day and could show similar symptoms [to depression] just because of that.

“The real mark we use to try to figure out when something is depression, is ... when people experience a lot of those symptoms for a couple of weeks or so, and it begins to interfere with their life. Then it isn’t a temporary problem.”

Stress is also a major trigger, according to Zukor, who believes the stress levels of students explains why many people begin to notice SAD in college.

“When we think about the stress we experience as students, it makes sense,” he said. “We have the stress of a semester ending. We have the stress of graduation. And during the summer, while there’s stress, it’s a bit different than the academic pressure and responsibilities people have during the rest of the year.”

Treating the disorder can involve certain devices, like the therapeutic lightboxes, that most other disorders do not require.

The person with SAD will sit near a light therapy box, which gives off bright light that mimics natural outdoor light.

“Light therapy basically involves a full-spectrum light,” Zukor explained. “Students who spend time under this light for 30 to 45 minutes every morning tend to report a big increase in their moods.”

Pitt’s Counseling Center has light boxes for student use. Light therapy, however, requires a daily time commitment. For some students, sunrise clocks are a better option and treatment, Zukor said.

“It’s an alarm clock that mimics the sunrise,” he said. “You set an alarm, but instead of beeping, the alarm begins building light intensity and mimicking a sunrise. Most of them come along with audible alarms. And it’s very interesting because they really seem to work. Most of the work, though, happens in your brain before you wake up.”

Zukor expects that many students, Stone included, will feel considerably better later in the year as well.

“March tends to be the month we have spring break, and I always go somewhere warm and sunny,” Stone said. “I come back feeling much better, no matter how the weather is in Pittsburgh.”

But Zukor stresses that anyone who wants or needs help should always use any resources Pitt has to offer.

“Someone who has had depression understands that big difference between having a bad day and being depressed,” he said.

Students who think they have depression or SAD should make appointments either at the Student Health Service or the Counseling Center.

‘Tintin’ reminiscent of childhood adventure dreams

‘Tintin’ reminiscent of childhood adventure dreams

http://pittnews.com/newsstory/tintin-reminiscent-of-childhood-adventure-dreams/

Courtesy Paramount Pictures

“The Adventures of Tintin”

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig

Grade: B

With danger, secrets, chases and strange lands, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “The Adventures of Tintin” feels like a classic comic brought to life on the screen — and with good reason.

The film is based on three titles in a comic series created by artist Hergé (Georges Remi). Set during the 20th century, the series revolves around the adventures of Tintin, a Belgian reporter, who is often aided by a fox terrier named Snowy. Spielberg’s film is only one of many adaptations of the story, and it’s a pretty enjoyable one.

The film opens with Tintin (Jamie Bell) and Snowy wandering the market, where Tintin purchases a model of a ship called the Unicorn. Immediately after the purchase, two men approach the reporter. One warns him about the danger he’s in as long as he’s in posession of this model ship. The other tries to buy the ship from him.

Refusing to sell it, Tintin takes the model home, where Snowy damages it. This reveals a hidden scroll in its mast. While researching the history of the ship on which the model was based, Tintin discovers that it sank during its last voyage, supposedly carrying secret cargo.

Unfortunately, the model is stolen; the only piece left behind is the one Snowy knocked loose. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that this is the item the thieves wanted. The message is unmistakable when the man who warned Tintin earlier is found shot on his doorstep.

Tintin calls the police and is soon abducted and taken aboard a ship where Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) is also held. In a drunken stupor, Haddock reveals that he holds a secret about the Unicorn passed down by his family — which he’s forgotten.

This film simply screams of childhood adventure fantasies. The main characters race across the sea to strange lands and back by ship, airplane, camel and car, all while avoiding death or capture by dastardly villains. And at the heart lies a puzzle that could lead them to treasure once sought by pirates.

With the action of three comic books crammed into one film, the plot moves quickly. And because of the source material, almost every scene features an action and adventure film device — from chase scenes to sword fights.

The mystery — rather than the characters themselves — drives the film, the action and the adventure. Fortunately, despite the occasionally bumpy transitions between scenes and speedy pace in general, this is a fairly pleasant movie to watch.

Most of the animation is beautiful and the action scenes are very impressive and visually appealing. The only animation downside: Despite the impressive use of motion capture to translate movement into digital code, the technology clashes with the artistic style, where characters look more like plastic than flesh-and-blood human beings.

All in all, this little adventure film features some impressive animation, decent humor and plenty of swashbuckling and gunfire.