Thursday, March 20, 2014

Have you seen the Peanuts teaser trailer?


I've got some new reviews on the way (promise I won't go a year between reviews again!), but I thought I should comment on the big "Charlie Brown" news of the week.

A teaser trailer for the upcoming Peanuts theatrical film made it's debut the other day, check it out if you haven't seen it:


I've seen a mixed reaction online so far.   Some fans don't care for the computer animation and they say it looks inferior to the classic specials.     

It's barely a minute long, but it looks good to me.  I'm optimistic about the film.  Do I expect it to be as good as A Boy Named Charlie Brown or A Charlie Brown Christmas?  No, but few things are.  And while I generally enjoy animated films, I realize I'm not the intended demographic.

It will be directed by Steve Martino.  The only film of his that I've seen was Horton Hears A Who.  I thought it was good rather than great, but it was my favorite of the feature length Dr. Seuss adaptations.  Craig Schulz and his son Brian Schulz are, respectively the son and grandson of Charles Schulz.  They're both on board as writer/producers, so I presume the source material will be treated with the utmost respect.

I don't know if this is the final voice actor we'll get for Chuck, but he sounds like Charlie Brown to my ears.  And if that's not a recording of the late Bill Melendez voicing Snoopy, it's a great facsimile.  
If nothing else, I'm guessing that the build-up to the movie's release will lead to a Peanuts renaissance of sorts.  Maybe we'll finally get releases of theatrical films and specials that have never been reissued on dvd/blu-ray. 

In my book, anything that can introduce Peanuts to a younger generation is a good thing.

Mark your calendars for the November 6, 2015 release date!



  

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