Top Ten Animals in Film

Clockwise from top: Babe (1995), Free Willy (1993), Bambi (1942), Jaws (1975), War Horse (2011), Life of Pi (2012), Finding Nemo (2003) & 101 Dalmatians (1996) 

Animals in film often provide comedy and comfort but also danger and destruction to characters and cinema audiences. With the epic trailer for the new Godzilla (2014) featured as this week's Trailer Thursday, I want to ask: who stands out as your favourite on screen animal?

From sweet little Bambi to the terrifying Jaws, there are tonnes that I have missed out in my Top Ten (including some in the picture above) so tweet me your favourites @TicketStubBlog and YOU could be featured in my next post. 

1. Baloo in The Jungle Book (1967)

Baloo is the lovable bear who becomes Mowgli's guide and adoptive parent through the depths of the jungle as Mowgli returns to the man-village.

Best Moment? Baloo singing Bare Necessities

2. King Kong in King Kong (1933)

From a lovable bear to a frightening giant gorilla: King Kong. The stop animation and effects in this film are remarkable for 1933 and King Kong is still rather scary - made even more so by Fay Wray's shrill scream in the scene above.

Did You Know? Kong's roar was in fact a lion and a tiger's roar combined together and run backwards at a low speed.

3. Dory in Finding Nemo (2003)

The forgetful fish, Dory, who helps Marlin try and find his son Nemo is one of the most comical animal characters on screen. The adorably optimistic regal blue tang fish, voiced by the hilarious Ellen DeGeneres, will return in Pixar's 2016 sequel: Finding Dory.

Best Dory Quote? "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim!"

4. The Birds in The Birds (1963)

Another scary choice, this time a collective mass of birds. The Hitchcock film sees the birds descend on Bodega Bay and attack all those who live there. The other day, a mass of black birds gathered, as they do in the scene above, when I left for work. Needless to say, I was quite on edge!

The birds gather outside my house!

Did You Know? When audiences left the premiere at Leicester Square's Odeon cinema, they were scared even further by the sound of screeching and flapping birds from loudspeakers hidden in the trees.


5. Dug in Up (2009)

You wouldn't expect a golden retriever in the tropical landscape of South America. And I guess you wouldn't expect to hear its thoughts either. Well, this is what happens in Pixar's Up. Though he may not be the most intelligent dog, and is often distracted by squirrels, Dug has a big heart and is a comforting pet to Russell and eventually Carl.

Want to Know More? I wrote a blog post on ZooScope about all the animals in the film and how they are represented. If you fancy reading, just click here.

6. Jack the Dog in The Artist (2011)

The Artist is a modern take on the silent black and white films of the 1920s. Jack the Dog provides great visual comedy, particularly in the scene with Oscar winner Jean Dujardin at the breakfast table.

Did You Know? Jack the Dog was played by three Jack Russell Terriers: Uggie, Dash and Dude

7. Richard Parker in Life of Pi (2012)

An unlikely environment for a tiger - on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a boy named Pi. The ferocious tiger is beautifully digitally animated and a real tiger was used in some scenes. However, recent stories have emerged that the tiger 'nearly drowned' on set.

Did you know? The film won for Best Director, Visual Effects, Score and Best Cinematography at last year's Oscars and is adapted from the best selling novel by Yann Martel.

8. Mr. Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

George Clooney plays the title role in Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's book. The sly and wild yet urbane fox steals food from three farmers every night. Fed up with Mr. Fox, the farmers seek revenge in destroying the fox's home. Mr. Fox leads the escape for his family and woodland creature friends.

Did you know? It took seven months to complete the very first Mr. Fox puppet

9. Kermit the Frog in The Muppets (2011)

He may be made of felt but he is still an animal - clue is in the name Kermit the Frog. The TV and film star will return in the sequel Muppets Most Wanted (2014) which was featured as a Trailer Tuesday last month.

Did You Know? Kermit the Frog has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

10. Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King (1994)

I cannot pick one - they come as a pair! Timon, the clever meerkat, and his smelly warthog friend, Pumbaa, take care of Simba as he grows up in the jungle after Scar tells the lion cub to 'run away and never return'. The two animals even had their own TV series.

Best Timon and Pumbaa Quote? 
Timon: Gee, he looks blue
Pumbaa: I'd say brownish-gold
Timon: No, no, no. I mean he's depressed
Pumbaa: Oh.


Who is your favourite animal in film?

Comment below or tweet your suggestions to
 @TicketStubBlog

Top Ten Dance Sequences in a Film

From top left: Pulp Fiction (1994), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), The Artist (2011) and below (500) Days of Summer (2009)

As Strictly Come Dancing waltzes back onto our TV screens, I have been inspired to pick my top ten favourite dance sequences in a film and ask what your favourites are too...

1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

I wish I could pick every dance sequence in this film. I was seriously struggling to choose between the crazy tap dancing Moses Supposes and the unbelievable spectacle of Broadway Melody but it has to go the most iconic scene not only of the film but in Hollywood's cinematic history. 

The title song Singin' in the Rain performed by Gene Kelly. It immediately makes me want the heavens to open so I can splash in puddles, twirl my umbrella and have not a care in the world...except the strange looks from passers by...

2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

The climactic ballroom sequence with Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) is one of the big highlights in the film. The couple need to just get an average score of 5/10 so his father can win a parlay against his gambling friend. According to choreographer, Mandy Moore, Cooper had "some real natural dancing ability" whereas Lawrence described herself as "a dad at prom". The Oscar winner certainly does not look like that here in one of the most charmingly quirky dance sequences.

3. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

I love this dance sequence because it is completely unexpected. The scene takes on a whole new genre suddenly as we see Tom's character on top of the world the morning after he finally has sex with Summer. The blue bird is genius and the music by Hall & Oates fits perfectly. Plus, it has Joseph Gordon-Levitt dancing...what's not to love?

4. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

In an attempt to save Pedro's campaign for class president, Napoleon dances to Jamiroquai's Canned Heat. Clearly, those lanky Michael Jackson-esque moves work. The entire hall gives Napoleon a standing ovation and Pedro becomes president. Could this campaigning technique be used in real politics? I definitely think we should see this in the next presidential election. No? Maybe not then...

5. Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is the first Disney classic out of two on this list. Leaping between the rooftops of Edwardian London before descending on Mr Bank's town house, the energy of Bert and all the chimney sweeps is infectious. Also, Julie Andrew's head spins at a hypnotizing speed...

6. Pulp Fiction (1994)

It's become one of the top dance scenes: John Travolta and Uma Thurman doing the twist. Simple. Tarantino tells a very interesting story on The Graham Norton Show on how their twists came about.

7. The Artist (2011)

Harking back to the old silent cinema days, The Artist tells the story of George Valentin, a silent cinema star who's career is soon to be shattered by the 'talkies' and the rising star Peppy Miller. This dance sequence is at the very end of the movie. Sound reappears for the tap dancing number which has echoes of the great Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. In fact, the two lead actors Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo rehearsed for five months in the same studio as Kelly and Reynold's did for Singin' in the Rain. 

8. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

The best dance sequence in this childhood classic has to be Me Ol' Bamboo. Dick Van Dyke's character is running away from a very unhappy customer left with the most ridiculous haircut after his hair-cutting contraption fails at the fair. Attempting to find an escape, he manages to pass as one of the performers in a sing and dance show, trying to keep up with their intense routine. Van Dyke has said that this was the most difficult dance he ever did on screen and you can see why. Hats off to him!

9. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

From the energetic number in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, to the sedate and elegant dance found in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice. Lizzie Bennett and Mr Darcy's dance at the Netherfield ball is full of heat and tension despite the calm slowness of dance itself. 

10. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The final pick and the second Disney classic. Beauty and the Beast's ballroom dance is the perfect romantic  moment, with the swooping shot from the golden chandelier to the couple below. All accompanied by the legendary Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts singing the title song. Beautiful.

I want to know what your favourite dance sequences are! 

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog and you could be featured in my next post.