Since Warners seems so adamant in releasing THE KING AND I, I just hope that filmgoers don't hold that film again Warner Animation... which has NOTHING to do with the film. It's sorta like when Disney got MONONOKE HIME and decided to release it through Miramax/Dimension due to it's extreme violence.... So that it wouldn't effect the 'name' of Disney. I'm actually very concerned about this because there is a potential for regular film goers to basically write after Warner Animation all together if this film is as bad as people are saying. Sure... QUEST FOR CAMELOT sucked, but that was due to problems... sooooo lengthy that we don't want to even go into them. But that's not the case with IRON GIANT.... well... don't look at me.... here's Junior Mintz, who when he/she last reported was raving about THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.... Stay tuned...

Once again that sugar-shocked soul Junior Mintz has left his usual haunt in back of the Megaplex candy counter to deliver a report -- he told me you may use it as you see fit.

I can confirm the reports -- the animated KING & I stinks worse than monkeys in a mexican restaurant. At the industry screening I attended some weeks back, jaws were dropping in disbelief at the "Whistle a Happy Tune" song sequence which is used to underscore an attack by a sea serpent. Even worse, Anna sings the ballad "Hello Young Lovers" while watching some hunk practice kung fu. This film is a blight on the great names of Rankin and Bass. They should get their asses back to animating stop-motion reindeer pronto.

On the other hand, IRON GIANT is just as wonderful as KING is crappy. I had the good fortune to see a work print of this a few months back and it is exquisite. Gorgeously rendered, beautifully acted and presented with a flair and soulfulness that blows most other recent films, live or animated, out of the water. In tone GIANT is much more akin to such Japanese masterpieces as TOTORO or KIKI than to the usual "needy princess" tripe crapped out by every other studio. I pray Warner Bros. does not lard it down with gratuitous songs and gives it the wide release and support it deserves. To let it languish for a week or two playing kiddie matinees before quietly popping it out on video would be a crime. Warners has a home run here if they know how to handle it.

Jr. Mintz