Toon Talk: Top 10 of 2010

From classic animation to enlightening documentaries, Disney entertainment was full of unexpected surprises in 2010. Whether it was the eagerly anticipated returns of beloved characters or the shocking revelations of legendary icons, this year had a fair share of excitement and drama mixed in with the magic and fantasy...

Celebrating its 10th edition, click here for the Toon Talk Top 10 of 2010 at LaughingPlace.com.

Bring Out the Old, Bring in the New...

It's New Year's Eve, and hope are high
Dance one year in, kiss one good-bye
Another chance, another start
So many dreams to tease the heart.
We don't need a crowded ballroom,
Everything we want is here
And face to face, we will embrace, the perfect year.

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe New Year's Eve!
-- Movie Dearest

Monthly Wallpaper - January 2011: 2010 - The Year in Film

As 2010 comes to a close, it is time to look back on the year in film, and what better way then with the Movie Dearest calendar wallpaper for next month!

A dozen of 2010's most popular movies make up the collage, so you can spend all of January gazing at the likes of Aron, Bertie, Cobb, Ken, Lisbeth, Nic & Jules, Nina, Philip & Steven, Ree, Rooster and the rest. What a way to start off a new year!

Just click on the picture above to enlarge it to its 1024 x 768 size, then right click your mouse and select "Set as Background", and you're all set. If you want, you can also save it to your computer and set it up from there, or modify the size in your own photo-editing program if needed.

Reel Thoughts Interview: Let Your Freak Flag Wave at Shrek The Musical

“What makes you different makes you strong,” the soulful Humpty Dumpty sings in Shrek The Musical, summing up what the show is all about. Who hasn’t been made to feel bad for being different, and who hasn’t been judged for how they look or act? True, most of us aren’t huge flatulent ogres, but then our friends probably aren’t motor-mouth donkeys, lovesick dragons, princesses-with-secrets or talking gingerbread cookies.

Shrek The Musical, currently on tour, is based on DreamWorks’ hugely popular film and the original children’s book. It tells the story of an ogre who finds his swamp overrun with fairy tale creatures who have all been banished from the kingdom for being odd. When Shrek sets off to rescue feisty Princess Fiona, he gets more than he bargained for. With a book by David Lindsay-Abaire (Fuddy Meers) and music by Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Mille), Shrek is an original take on a beloved classic that kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy.

Jason W. Shuffler loves being a part of the craziness in Shrek. Of his multiple roles, the out performer enjoys playing the Big Bad Wolf the most. Still dressed in Grandmother’s nightgown, Shuffler likes how the storybook villain enjoys cross-dressing. “He’s got this transgender kind of thing going on, which is always fun to play with,” he said. The South Carolina native plays seven roles in the show, most notably the wolf and the Captain of the Guard in short Lord Farquaad’s regiment.

“They’ve done a really good job of translating from the screen to the stage,” Shuffler explained, adding that what makes the film and show so great is how relatable it is for all ages. “Kids love it, but there’s a lot of adult humor that goes over the kids’ heads.”

“Aside from my horribly crass humor of fart jokes,” Shuffler laughed, when asked what his favorite part of the show is. “I love the number “Freak Flag”. It tends to be an anthem across the board, but for me, it’s a great message to take away from the show. It’s the fairy tale creatures singing it, and I love performing it every night. The whole premise of it is “let your freak flag fly”, basically just be who you are, don’t be afraid of being who you are, and stand tall and proud in the person that you are. The fairy tale creatures have been kicked out of their homes and told that they were freaks by Farquaad, and this is them standing up to him.”

He added, “From a personal standpoint, being a gay man, it’s something that we’ve all had to encounter. At some point in your life, you had to stand up and say, “No, I’m going to be who I am and stand tall in that and have no shame.” It resonates with me every night, professionally and personally. Not to mention, it’s a catchy song.” He added, “I consider it an honor to go across America and sing at the top of my lungs this message that I so whole-heartedly believe in.”

So, if you want to dress like a princess or a dragon and let your freak flag fly when you go see Shrek, just know that the cast is with you all the way.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.