Youngest award-winning film critic Perry Chen predicts best animation Oscars and reviews features

March 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Perry Chen is an award-winning columnist, internationally-recognized child movie critic, Annie Awards of animation presenter, and radio talk show host of “Perry Previews the Movies” on wsRadio.  He has been featured on CBS Evening News, Fox, KUSI, San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Family Magazine, San Diego Magazine, SDNN, Art Rocks! radio, The Big Biz Show, The China Press, World Journal, etc.

Perry has been invited to numerous film festivals, awards shows, and movie premiers to interview prominent filmmakers such as Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera of Up, John Musker & Ron Clements of "The Princess & the Frog," French animation master Michel Ocelot of "Azur & Asmar," award-winning animator and director Bill Plympton.  Perry was a major hit  on the red carpet and the stage at the Annie Awards for animation on February 6, 2010.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: http://www.perryspreviews.com. His review of Oscar-nominated animation features:

Movie Reviews - Oscar-nominated Animation Feature by Perry S. Chen:

The Princess & the frog (5 starfish)

What if the girl that the Frog Prince kissed in the fairytale was not a princess, would the magic still work?  You will find the answer in the magical new Disney animated musical.  One of the amazing achievements of this movie is in the large number of superb supporting characters, each with a rich and unique personality.  The visual style is stunning.

I love the fascinating storyline which keeps you guessing what is going to happen next.  The funniest scene was when Tiana said, “Just one kiss,” then Naveen the frog prince said, “Unless you beg for more!”  

Director John Musker told me that this is the first Disney animation featuring an African American heroine.  When I compared Tiana and many other Disney princesses from older movies, I noticed an immediate difference:  The other princesses were mostly wishful and lazy, waiting for some prince to deliver them to salvation.  Tiana, however, is self-reliant, who also reforms a lazy prince and teaches him why work is important.

The Princess and the Frog is about love, sacrifice, dreams, and how to make your dreams come true.  When you know what your dreams are, you must pursue them with hard work.

Up (4.5 starfish)

Pixar’s 10th film is my personal favorite one from that studio. My interview with director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera made it even more special.  While heading toward his dream home in his floating house to the remote “Paradise Falls”, the lost world in South America that he and his deceased wife Ellie always wanted to go, 78-year-old Carl finds an unwitting stowaway on his front porch: a chubby 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell.

Together, Carl and Russell explored the forest with their newly-discovered exotic friend that Russell named “Kevin.”  Soon, they discovered that the faded hero and nature explorer Charles Muntz has been chasing Kevin for over 50 years at Paradise Falls.  To save Kevin, Carl and Russell must go through an unimaginable adventure that changes their lives forever.

I love the dazzling actions, amazing visual effects, beautiful music, and strong morale.  “Up” is about escape, friendship, and connections.  My favorite scene is the last scene.  After their long and arduous quest to explore nature’s wonders, Carl and Russell each found someone to love.

I predict that Pixar’s “Up” will win best animated feature Oscar, just like it did at the Golden Globe and Annie Awards recently as I correctly predicted.  I loved interviewing director Pete Docter on the red carpet on February 6 at the Annie Awards for animation where he and I were presenters back to back!  He remembered my interview of him from last year before Up was released.  He showed me his “Ellie pin” from Up! Watch my interview of Pete Docter and other nominated filmmakers on:

http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Fantastic Mr. Fox (4 starfish)

Who do you think will win in a battle of will and wit, man or animal? Mr. Fox, who looks like a businessman in a smartly tailored suit, is the leader of the animal team.   A few years ago, he had promised his short-tempered wife, Mrs. Fox who was pregnant at the time, to never steal a chicken or livestock ever again after they were trapped in a cage while attempting to steal a chicken.

Mr. Fox then became a columnist for the animal newspaper, but with paltry readership.  His wild animal instinct yearned to be in the action and dodge danger.  He sneakily stole food and chickens from the meanest farmers in the neighborhood, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.  Mr. Fox must assemble an army of animals and use his wit, strategic thinking, and wild animal spirit to win the battle.

The film is about friendship, wit, trickery, and strategy.  I like the visual style and humor of the film, better than the book.  The fur looks so real, it moves when the animals talk or have facial expressions.

Before taking risks, think about not only the rewards, but also the consequences.

Coraline (4 starfish)

Do you ever wish that you had two mothers, a Real Mother and an “Other” Mother?  If you had an Other Mother, what would she be like?  A girl named Coraline is about to find out!  Coraline had just moved to The Pink Palace and finds her life thrown in turmoil when she is trapped with her “friendly” Other Mother, who gradually shows her dark side and turns into a ruthless witch.

Coraline’s overworked real parents are too busy to afford what she wants, so she thinks her caring, button-eyed Other Mother is the solution, but she is actually the problem!  Coraline’s new dim-witted friend Wybie’s black cat, whom Coraline nick-named “Wuss Puss”, starts going into the Other Mother’s world and begins to talk in a low, eerie voice.  Wuss Puss warns Coraline, but it is too late, the Other Mother steals Coraline’s real parents.  Coraline must call upon courage she never knew she had to free her parents and herself to the outside world.

With amazing 3-D effect, “Coraline” is a spectacular movie, and for every scene, you want to know what happens next!

Sometimes imagination can become reality, so don’t mess with it.

I have not yet reviewed the nominated film "The Secret of Kells" from Ireland because it has not yet been officially released in San Diego.  I look forward to watching it later this month.

Remember to watch Oscars on Sunday March 7 on ABC and see how good my best animation Oscars predictions are!

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Perry's Previews features reviews by Perry Chen, an award-winning 10-year-old critic of G/PG-rated family movies and the youngest radio talk show host. Details: http://www.perryspreviews.com
http://www.wsRadio.com/perry
http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews