Moviefone is out with their list of the 25 Best Animated Movie Characters of all-time. As you might guess, I disagree with many of their choices.

First of all, their biggest mistake is having Mickey Mouse #3. Can't be. Mickey should be #1 on every list of all-time animated characters. Secondly. their choices for 1 & 2 are Buzz Lightyear and Woody. I love the Toy Story movies, but Buzz and Woody the top two animated characters of all-time? No way.

The list includes some great choices, including Donkey (from the "Shrek" films) and Remy (from "Ratatouille") but it also includes some characters who shouldn't be anywhere near a Top 25 list, such as Carl Fredrickson (even though I love "Up"), Wall-E and Cruella De Vil.

Who did they leave off? Bugs Bunny, Winnie the Pooh and all of The Simpsons, just to name a few. Maybe I'll come-up with my own list. If you've got thoughts on your favorites let me know. 

Before I get to the amazing "Ice Age" news, check-out the cool artwork from DreamWorks' upcoming "How to Train Your Dragon". The movie opens March 26, 2010.

Now, I think we are pretty much guaranteed an "Ice Age 4" thanks to the incredible international success of "Dawn of the Dinosaurs". Variety is reporting that "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" could very well become the highest grossing animated film of all-time at the international box office. In just 3 weeks the film has made $448M.

This week it will pass "The Dark Knight" (which made $468.6M overseas) and will close-in on the all-time box office champ - "Finding Nemo", which made $524M. I never would have guessed this movie would be such a hit internationally. "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is already the biggest film of all-time in Mexico, Peru, Columbia, Uruguay, Ecuador and Russia.

It's doing good in the U.S., but won't come close to the all-time animated box office champ - "Shrek 2" ($441M). But congratulations to 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky (and Manny, Sid and the gang) for the surprising international success. Get ready for an "Ice Age 4" announcement soon. 

When I got to the movies, I make sure that I "take care of business" (bathroom business) before the film starts. But, in case you ever have "to go" during a movie, there's a new website that can help.

It's called www.runpee.com. The creator, Dan Florio, sat through hundreds of films, jotted down notes, and now tells visitors to his site the best times for slipping-out for a bathroom break and getting back to your seat without missing any big moments in the film. Most of the breaks are 3-4 minutes. Hopefully it doesn't take someone any longer than that to get the job done and return to the theater.

In other news: "Monsters vs. Aliens" will be released on DVD September 29th. The DVD will include a new short called "Bob's Big Break." I predicted back in March that the DVD would include a B.O.B. short.

Heading into the weekend "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" had already made $80M and could make close to $200M in it's first 5 days.

I saw the film on Wednesday night and was part of nine sold-out screenings that day. The line for our 7:30 show started forming around 6:00. It was the longest I ever waited to see a movie.

Not being a "Harry Potter" regular I didn't know what to expect from the diehard fans. There weren't as many people in costumes as I thought there'd be. I was told that a lot of them went to the midnight showing.

There was applause when the movie began, but not as much as there was at the start of "The Simpsons Movie" back in 2007. I was one of those clapping that time.

The original "Harry Potter" film grossed $317M in the U.S. and $1B worldwide. Could this one beat those figures? Considering the huge opening and the big IMAX money that will start coming in at the end of the month "HP-6" could become the highest-grossing of the series here in the U.S., but I don't think it'll top the first one around the globe.  

I just got back from two days in The Big Apple. I went to a Broadway show starring a popular and loveable ogre.

The plot of "Shrek The Musical" is, basically, the story of the first "Shrek" movie, but with over a dozen songs and some modern twists. The performances are great and most of the songs are delightful. The show is not just for kids. There are a lot of jokes and references aimed for adults. So, if you're heading to NYC this summer, be sure to check-out "Shrek and Donkey on another world wind adventure".

Also, while in New York, I saw "Up" again, this time in one of the most amazing theaters I've ever been in. The AMC-13 with IMAX is huge and very cool. Each of the individual theaters is named for a famous, old movie house. All the theaters have their own design, with the IMAX one all alone on the 4th floor! They just built in up there a few years ago. Cool lights, cool rugs, great box office and tons of posters. It definitely makes my list of best theaters I've ever been to. 

I wrapped-up the trip with a visit to "Live with Regis and Kelly". I got to talk with the two hosts during one of the commercials breaks and hung-out with Regis a bit after the show.

Don't forget: "Millionaire" returns August 9th for special 10th Anniversary shows.

And that's my final...story on what I did in NYC.

This Christmas it'll be all about the Chipmunks, but in 2010 The Smurfs will own the holiday.

"Smurfs", the movie based on little, blue characters from the 80's TV show, has a director. Raja Gosnell will do the honors. He's best known for his work on the Scooby Doo movies. He began his career editing films such as "Home Alone" and, most recently, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua".

The Smurfs were created back in 1958, and they began very popular in the U.S. because of their NBC Saturday morning cartoon, which ran from 1981-1990.

"Smurfs" will be a combination of live action and animation. It will be produced by Sony (Columbia Pictures), and will be released in both 2-D and 3-D on Dec. 17, 2010.

Actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the "Harry Potter" films, recently came down with the Swine Flu.

"I thought, am I going to die?", he told reporters. Fortunately Grint just ended-up having a sore throat and he stayed in bed for a few days. The good news is he got to attend the London premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" with his fellow castmates and had a good time - even in the rain.

Grint is schedule to be on "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Thursday. Hopefully he'll be able to make it.

In other "H.P" news: The IMAX opening for the new film is now set for July 29th nationwide (though it will be available beginning on the 18th in select theaters in L.A., Chicago and N.Y.). The reason it won't open in IMAX everywhere is that Paramount has the first two weeks of "Harry's" release locked-up with "Transformers" in IMAX.

Every 6 Months I do The LCJ Family Film Awards. And, up until now, I've always picked the winners. But this time the decisions are yours!

Each week for the next four weeks, the LCJ Poll (see below) will show a category and three nominations. The catagories are Animation, Comedy, Action/Adventure and Family. Each poll will last only seven days. After the four weeks I will reveal the winners.

Those winners will become the nominees in the Best Movie category. Again, you only have seven days to vote.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" did some huge numbers at the box office despite the harsh reviews. In fact it nearly beat "The Dark Knight" for the largest 5-day opening of all-time: "The Dark Knight" - $203.8M  "Transformers-2" - $201.2M. Now that was close!

The worldwide total for "Transfomers": $387M, and the film had the biggest 3-day weekend of any movie this year, beating "Wolverine" by over $25M. And it nearly doubled the biggest IMAX opening of all-time ("Harry Potter-5" in '07).

It's been announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (the Academy Awards people) that the Best Picture category is being expanded from 5 to 10 nominees. Pretty wild! This will give comedies and animated films a better chance of being recognized each year

If that policy was in place for this year, both "The Dark Knight" and "Wall-E" certainly would have made the cut. And I think it gives "Up" a great chance of getting a Best Picture nomination next year.