Hi everyone, I hope you’re having a great summer and –
![Free Stock Photo of Empty Seats in Auditorium](https://goodstock.photos/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Empty-Seats-in-Auditorium.jpg)
Yeah, it has been a while, hasn’t it?
First off, I’m completely vaccinated and feeling great. I still recommend wearing a mask out and getting vaccinated if you haven’t already for your safety and the safety of everyone else around you, especially in light of the delta variant of the virus going around.
I took part in a citywide live art demonstration where I painted in public – a invigorating creativity, morale, and exposure booster, I must say – and I got paid handsomely for it.
I’ve found some new critique partners and revised some of my children’s books manuscripts enough to query them again while also starting some new ones. Speaking of, I’d also to talk more about children’s books in general, and I put some things into motion where I may be doing that soon in a somewhat different format. Stay tuned for more updates…
And hey, ever wanted to hear what I sound like AND listen to me rip on a really obscure and garishly bizarre infomercial for Gymboree with a bunch of hilarious, cynical podcasters? Well now you can thanks to Channel KRT, an amazing entertaining podcast where the strange and esoteric media from your childhood are brought to light whether you want it or not. They invited me to appear on this episode after tracking down the Gymboree tape and I had a hell of a time recording with them. Kit, Randee, Tyler, thanks again for having me on and for letting me plug the blog. Click HERE to listen to us alternate between laughing and cringing at “Gymboree: Play With a Purpose”, and please support these guys any way you can if you’re able. They are the best.
But on to the matter at hand. The fifth anniversary review is almost done, and I don’t feel like keeping you in suspense anymore as to what it will be. It’s a movie that means a lot to me from a personal and creative standpoint, one that’s a feast for the eyes and soul and a source of inspiration when it comes to creating art – and shaping criticism.
What does this mean for the sixth anniversary though? Well, instead of reviewing just another movie to mark the occasion, I’m expanding this party to the rest of the year – and to all of you. To all my loyal followers and commenters – and curious newcomers – pick one movie that’s On The Shelf, one you always wanted me to take a look at but haven’t gotten to yet, let me know in the comments or via email before July 30th, and I will review them all one by one! I will also finally be getting around to reviewing all of Faerie Tale Theatre soon after the Ratatouille review is released, and I’m very excited for that.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to celebrate the fourth the only way I know how –
By hiding away in my room trying desperately to ignore the constant ear-splitting barrage of the neighbors’ fireworks and my family telling me that I can go to Saudi Arabia if I hate the damn holiday so much. Toodles!
It’s great to hear from you. Even after all this time, I’m happy to hear you’ve been doing mostly good and are still hard at work, making great content. I’m excited to see you review Ratatouille and the FTT reviews.
I’ll also be making a request for the sixth anniversary. That being Cartoon Saloon’s second masterpiece, Song of The Sea.
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Ah, Ratatouille. I owe that film for mending me after my breakdown watching The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at school.
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I am so happy to see you posting again and everything you’ve been doing sounds really exciting, especially the painting! That sounds like such an incredible experience! While I’ve missed your reviews, I am so glad to hear things have been going well and all the experiences you’ve had!
For my request for the sixth anniversary, I am deeply torn because there are so so many great choices but I have decided to honour one of my oldest and favourite films that deeply influenced my life and my interests- The Ten Commandments!
Also unrelated, but have you seen Wolfwalkers yet? It is amazing and an incredible addition to Cartoon Saloon’s canon.
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Hi Sam, good to see you back again! I unfortunately haven’t seen Wolfwalkers yet (don’t have Apple TV) but I really want to. I know a place that’s doing a screening soon so I’m eager to see it up on the big screen!
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I was fortunate a friend was willing to stream for me and a bunch of other friends (watching it with Secret of Kells made it even better, especially since it flows fairly well between the two), but seeing it on the big screen would be amazing! It is a really beautiful film. Like Kells, it also is based very firmly in a fascinating and traumatic period of Irish History that is contrasted with the ever shrinking but beautiful Other World of Irish Mythology and folk beliefs.
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Glad to see you back, Shelf. I can NOT wait for your Ratatouille review. Like, wow, I have a Lot Of Words in regards to that particular film.
As for what I’ve been doing in the meantime, I’ve been watching the following:
* Sweet Tooth – The post-apocalyptic adventures of a half-deer child searching for clues to his past. Second season when?
* Kaguya: Love is War – Two talented teenagers who are obviously in love with each other play a game of Chicken.
* Beastars – The gritty film noir to Zootopia’s buddy cop comedy. In all the best ways, of course.
* Amphibia – Boy, that season finale, huh?
* The Owl House – FINALLY! New episodes!
* Invincible – A wholesome father-son story, fun for the whole family! 🙂 😉
* Soul – Baby’s first existential crisis!
* Luca – The fish boys are gay, Harold.
* The Mitchells VS. The Machines – Somehow, they made the robot apocalypse hilarious.
And those are the most notable things I’ve watched since last post. Feel free to ask about any of these. Wink. Wink.
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Sweet! I adored Luca, Mitchells vs. The Machines, Owl House and Amphibia. Gotta give Sweet Tooth, Invincible and Soul a watch soon.
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Hey congrats on your vaccination! Good luck with your children’s book queries! And I absolutely can’t want for your review of Ratatouille, it’s my favorite Pixar movie (partially because I’m a sucker for European city settings).
Here’s my request for a review: Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
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Glad to see you posting again! And I’m excited to hear your thoughts on Ratatoulie; it’s certainly one of the most intriguing entries in the Pixar canon, even if it isn’t my personal favorite.
As far as my movie request? I’m going with another Pixar classic – “The Incredibles.” Having watched it again recently, it really holds up! In fact, I appreciate it more than I did when I first saw it all those years ago.
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Happy 5th anniversary!
“my family telling me that I can go to Saudi Arabia if I hate the damn holiday so much”, wow, your family is something, lol.
For the films On the Shelf, I choose Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein as well as the BTTF films.
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I feel like hearing your thoughts on Toy Storys 1 and 2 would be very interesting to see (especially considering how 2 is hailed as one of the greatest sequels of all time despite it’s 9-month production schedule).
Also, happy 5th anniversary!
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