I’ve said it before I think the folks that write and produce the PIXAR films are the absolute best. I have yet to be disappointed with one of their movies.

“Wall-E” is the ninth movie from this incredible team. Look at these titles…”Toy Story,” “A Bugs Life,”"Toy Story 2.” “Monsters Inc.”"Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,”"Cars,” and “Ratatouille.” Each one of these animated gems is a classic not only for the groundbreaking technological innovations they push in the animation but for the story, characters and emotion they pack into every movie.

“Wall-E” is about a little trash cleaning robot left for 700 years on a now deserted, unlivable, polluted Earth. The little robot is all alone except for a cockroach friend. The first 20 minutes of the movie sets up the wonderful personality of this little, lonely robot just doing his job.

When a sleek probe robot comes, Wall-E’s lonely and ordered life is turned upside down…and the little bot falls in love. This is not just another animated cartoon. It’s truly a piece of art!

Now don’t think that doesn’t mean its entertaining. It’s funny, it’s sweet and finally it’s thoughtful.How many other movies, animated movies or other, will make you feel like this movie? I loved it. My kids loved it. It works on so many levels…and that is why it is so special. Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote and directed “Wall-E” was also responsible for the wonderful “Finding Nemo” another movie that had great comedy, but warm characters at the heart of it.  

I’ve read that Disney/Pixar is hoping for a Best picture nomination come Oscar time. And why not? This movie AND its message about love, friendship, saving our planet and ourselves deserves it.

PIXAR does it again and then some.

On the “Sandwich Scale” I give this one a TEN! Don’t miss it. ANd then plan on buying it when it is released on DVD and Blu-Ray. It’s that good!

There’s a new book out there for baby-boomers that can remember “Wacky Packages.”

“Wacky Packages” were a series of stickers for the Mad Magazine generation that featured take-offs of familiar product packaging. 

This new book puts them all together…very entertaining stuff. And even if you don’t remember these stickers you’ll find them funny anyway!

*****  

On Friday night, June 20, I witnessed the power of mass marketing. At about 7:45pm, all the kids in my neighborhood all disappeared indoors in order to watch the Disney Channel premiere of “Camp Rock.”

If you know what “Camp Rock” is you likely have a youngster between the ages of 8 and 16! Disney’s “Camp Rock” premiered on The Disney Channel on a Friday, then ABC on Saturday, then ABC Family on Sunday, then on-line at Disney.com on Monday! Talk about synergy!

The TV movie/musical starring Disney band The Jonas Brothers at a summer camp for musicians scored big with tweens and teens.

So it should be no surprise Disney is already planning a sequel. They will shoot it next spring or summer. So if you don’t know “Camp Rock” yet…you have time to catch up. 

By the way, I didn’t think “Camp Rock” was as good as “Disney’s High School Musical” franchise. And the kids in my neighborhood seemed to agree.       

According to the calendar, summer officially arrived as of last week.

Listening to my I-Pod, I was struck that maybe I need to add more seasonal songs to my playlist. 

A couple of my favorite summer songs go from the older -”Red Rubber Ball” by the Cyrcle to the more recent, “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” by Bruce Springsteen (on his latest collection…a great CD!)

Since it’s summer and its a great time to share, I thought I’d ask my fellow bloggers here at TheIndyChannel.com to share their favorites. How many of these are on your list? 

Todd Wallace  6 NEWS Anchor/and one half of Todd and Trisha’s Blog-

An Ole’ School jam called “Summertime” by Will Smith. He was still called Fresh Prince.

Trisha Shepherd  6 NEWS Anchor/and the other half of Todd and Trisha’s Blog -

Sheryl Crowe’s “Wanna Soak Up the Sun” keeps coming to mind.

I also have great beach vacation memories with James Taylor’s version of “How Sweet it Is” - it sounds great when played outside on a beautiful day!

Chad Bouslog The Bous Theory: Sports My Way-
If I’m at a summer cookout, I don’t think the DJ could go wrong if they played Jimmy Buffett or Dave Matthews Band. Song specific “One Sweet World” by DMB and “Barefoot Children” by Jimmy Buffett.

 ”Untitled” by O.A.R. would be a solid choice as well.

 Norman Cox  6 NEWS Statehouse Reporter and Capitol Watchblogger-

“See You In September” - The Happenings

“All Summer Long” - The Beach Boys

“Walking On Sunshine” - Katrina & The Waves

“Cruel Summer” - Bananarama

“Vacation” - Go-Go’s or Bangles… I can’t remember which.  (It’s the Go-Go’s, Norm)

“Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer” - Nat King Cole

And one more…”Summer in the City” - The Lovin’ Spoonful

Paul Poteet Good Morning Indiana meteorologist/”Off the Cuff” star-
I’m a Van Halen fan, and when I hear “Dance The Night Away” from the summer of ‘79 it still brings back happy memories of very long days and very few places I really had to be. (That spells trouble.)

More recently? I eventually got tired of “Hey There Delilah,” but that spells last summer to me on the radio. The CD I listened to most last summer was “Traffic & Weather Together.” No, really. It’s by a band called Fountains Of Wayne. I’ve been a fan for several years. I’m a sucker for power pop with harmonies and clever lyrics and noisy guitars and all that stuff.

Just remember: “Baby we belong together. Like Traffic and Weather. Like Traffic and Weather.” Go on Limewire and look it up if you don’t believe me.

Don Lundy  RTV 6 GM Blog-
“Summertime” George Gershwin from Porgy and Bess and “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies

Glen Hale  Managing Editor of theIndyChannel.com
How about two with summer in the title — “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Croft and “Summertime” by D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

And Glen put in this late addition:

Argh — can’t believe I forgot another really good one — “Blues Beach” by Steely Dan

Thanks fellow bloggers for writing this post!

What songs would you add? Click the comments and share your summer faves with us here at TheIndyChannel.com!

Recently, actress Katherine Heigl announced she was NOT going to enter her name into competition for this year’s Emmy Awards. 

She released the following statement: “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials,” 

 Ouch!

So Katherine, what do you really think about the writers and producers of “Grey’s Anatomy?” 

I admire Heigl’s acting ability. I think she has done a pretty decent job as “Izzie Stevens” on “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Grey’s” is the show that made her a star, the same show that earned her an Emmy Award last year for Best Supporting Actress. It’s also the same show that brought her to the attention of movie producers who cast her in last year’s “Knocked Up” and this year’s “27 Dresses.”

Think she would have gotten either of those jobs if she wasn’t on a top-rated, hit TV show?

I doubt it.

Heigl is outspoken. Sometimes its admirable like when she defended her co-star from anti-gay slurs from ex-co-star Isiah Washington.

Sometimes, it’s disappointing, like last spring when she publicly decried that she was not as appreciated, pay-wise, as her “Grey’s Anatomy” co-stars. Ick! Publicly complaining you don’t make enough money…total turn-off.

And sometimes her outspoken ways are just plain stupid like when she knocked writer/director Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up” during a magazine interview saying the women in the movie were shrews and the men got all the best laughs.

Did we see the same movie?

Listen, if you are in one of the best shows on television that’s happens to be a viewer favorite AND you get to star in one of the best cutting edge comedies that also happened to be #1 at the box office, I guess I would kindly suggest you appreciate your good fortune…and then SHUT UP

If you don’t like your job, quit.

Or do something about it…in private! Just don’t take public swipes at the folks that have given you the opportunities you have. 

Remember that old adage about dogs being smart enough “not to use the bathroom” where they eat? Katherine, are you listening?

It’s food for thought for all of us.

They’ve created websites filled with free videogames. And the games are chock full of brand references to their candy. Candytracks.com (click here to see it) currently features racing games tied to the movie “Speed Racer.” The site is sponsored by Topps. You or your kids can drive Speed Racer’s car or the Juicy Drop Pop car in a variety of fantastic tracks.

Wrigley’s sponsors Candystand.com.  (See it here.) They offer plenty of different free on-line games. And tons of Hubba Bubba, Wrigley’s and Big Red gum references in the games.

How’d my kids find the sites? Commercials on Nick. And word of mouth from their friends.

Does it work?

Well my son likes the Juicy Drop Pops…

*****

Are the actors going to go on strike?

The Screen Actors Guild contract runs out on June 30. Reportedly, some studios and networks are getting prepared for the worst…just in case.

Most don’t think the actors union will walk out, especially after the devastating three month writers strike.

Late word on Thursday is that Robert Iger, the man who runs Disney, and Peter Chernin, who runs FOX, may step in to try to settle the logjam. They are the guys credited for negotiating an end to the writer’s strike earlier this year.

*****

Wanted to note the recent passing of a special effects icon. The great make-up and creature effects expert Stan Winston was the man who made the Terminator lumber, creating and making the way cool cyborg; he made the life size dinos featured in “Jurasic Park;” and made “The Predator” a classic movie monster. Most recently, he and his crew created the really awesome “Iron Man” suit.

Winston died of a rare cancer. He was working on effects for the next “Terminator 4″ theatrical coming in 2009. He’ll be missed at the movies.