Well, from time to time, in the course of your life, you run into truly ignorant people. San Francisco Chronicle movie critic, Mick La Salle, while writing a review of the movie Monster House, decided to belittle the tremendous achievements pioneered by the famed Nine Old Men from Disney Studios.
Now, he didn't call out the master 2D animators by name, but he did take aim at the first traditionally animated feature film in history, Snow White.
I have no beefs with somebody reviewing a movie. It's only an opinion and everybody has one. However, when you stop writing you personal opinion of a movie and start treading into deeper waters about animation technique, technology and history, it's best to do some research and get your facts straight. Mr. La Salle did NOT do his research.
Take this juicy tidbit as an example: "Animated films always had the advantage of being able to go anywhere and show anything, to defy the laws of physics and follow the imagination as far as it could go. But they never had the ability to show the human face. There was never any point to a close-up in an animated film -- there was never really anything to see."
WTF!? Has this guy even watched an animated movie before?
I am beside myself how a person could be so unprofessional. However, it may be another indication at how weak the standards of modern media have become. There seems to be no concern with writing balanced, informative articles anymore.
And besides the bowl movement he takes on 2D animation, has he not watched Pixar's the Incredibles? No emotion or close ups there? I mean c'mon! Gee whiz!
Check out the article here.
Check out what artists at CG Talk have to say here.
Email Mick La Salle and let him know what you think mlasalle@sfchronicle.com.
