For the hard core Jack Sparrow fans and the passive nerd movie watcher there is a new trailer for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”. We get a better look at the mermaids and exotic locals, and a little bit better feel for the story.
Stranger Tides appears to find Jack NOT Captain of the Black Pearl, but being sought by the Crown as the high sea’s top weird crap expert to lead an expedition in search of the mythic “Fountain of Youth” (I guess when word gets out that you helped loose an ancient sea goddess these kind of job offers are to be expected). Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbossa is back as a proper Captain to a vessel in the Crown’s fleet.
New comers to the story Ian McShane as uber-famous Pirate Captain- Blackbeard (so far the only character in the pirates franchise to have notably ACTUALLY existed!) and Penelope Cruise as Angelica, Captain Blackbeard’s daughter, give this the 4th film in the franchise a bit of an upgrade if you ask me. Newbies Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin round out the cast and bring the some how required young love angle as captive mermaid and besotted young sailor.
Admit it – Yes you have Pirates of the Caribbean fatigue – and YES you are STILL going to see this movie with the rest of us.
I was shot over this link to My Modern Met who were given some pretty incredible photos from a television shoot National Geographic put together over the weekend. They put a team of scientists and engineers together and recreated the balloon lifted house.
UP is a tremendous film from Pixar with beautiful imagery and when applied to real life it is no less stunning.
My Modern Met has the specific details:
Yesterday morning, March 5 at dawn, National Geographic Channel and a team of scientists, engineers, and two world-class balloon pilots successfully launched a 16′ X 16′ house 18′ tall with 300 8′ colored weather balloons from a private airfield east of Los Angeles, and set a new world record for the largest balloon cluster flight ever attempted. The entire experimental aircraft was more than 10 stories high, reached an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and flew for approximately one hour.
This was all for a television show that National Geographic is premiering in the fall of this year called How Hard Can it Be?
I can’t wait to see this in action on film. My Modern Met has plenty more pictures where these came from and it’s quite a thing to see.
The Disney Parks Blog has released three new amazing images in the Annie Leibovitz Disney Dream Portrait Series, begun around four years ago.
Olivia Wilde (Tron) is featured as the Wicked Queen from Snow White, and in the role as her Magic Mirror is Alec Baldwin. Wilde’s makeup is perfect as the Queen, and her expression truly captures the haughtiness of Disney’s earliest villain.
Next we see Penelope Cruz and Jeff Bridges (also recently seen in Tron) as Belle and the former Beast. The scenery in this image is gorgeous and very reminiscent of the balcony at the Beast’s castle in the animated film. The trademark yellow ballgown is also exquisite, though I would imagine someone wearing a dress that voluminous would weigh a bit more than this image would indicate. Fabric is heavy. Also, I’m not even sure if Bridges and Cruz were photographed at the same time. He doesn’t appear to really be looking at her.
The final image is of Queen Latifah as Ursula the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid. This is such a dynamic image, with her tentacles moving in all different directions and the spray of the ocean against the rocks. The expression of glee on her face makes me wonder if she’s been casting spells on merpeople again. Naughty naughty Ursula.
You can also view some of the earlier portraits in the series on io9. I have always been rather fond of the Rachel Weisz as Snow White image, but you’ll also find Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and spinning teacups.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, Star Tours will be opening in May and June. On May 20th, Star Tours 2.0 will be opening at their Disney World resort, and then on June 3rd, the ride will open at the original, preferable Disneyland in Anaheim.
Start planning your trips now. The Disney World opening coincides with the Star Wars Weekends and the Disneyland opening also sees the opening of the new Little Mermaid ride at Disney’s California Adventure (which I hope will be replaced quickly enough by a Marvel Comics attraction.)
How many of you plan to make a pilgrimage to Disney this year, either Florida or Anaheim, to check out the new Star Tours?
And which park do you prefer? I had a horrible experience at Disney World and even though the Star Wars Weekends are there, I can’t see myself going, but I’ve been a lifelong Disneyland Anaheim enthusiast, so that’s where I want to check it out. What about you guys?
Extra! Extra! Disney’s ‘Newsies’ Comes to the Stage
Newsboys on strike will take their singing and dancing to the stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J., according to the New York Times.
The 1992 Disney film Newsies follows the adventures of Jack Kelly (wonderfully portrayed by The Dark Knight’s Christian Bale) as he tries to run from his past and forge a new life as a newsboy in turn-of-the-century New York. His adventures put him up against publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.
Though unsuccessful at the box office, Newsies experienced a second life on home video and numerous airings on the Disney channel. Alan Menken, the composer of the film, is also involved in the stage production. Menken’s relationship with Disney began with The Little Mermaid and has continued with the recently released animated film Tangled.
The NY Times article states the following:
The Paper Mill Playhouse production, which will run from Sept. 15 to Oct. 16 and has not yet announced its cast, has “latched onto exciting elements of what we had in the movie” and is “minimizing the things that were not so great about the movie,” Mr. Menken said.
The principal newsboys, Jack, David and Les, will remain the main characters, and a new female character — who will serve as a love interest for Jack — has been created for the stage show.
No word yet on whether Brooklyn’s Spot Conlon will appear in the new production. I will admit that he was always my favorite character. “Never fear; Brooklyn is here!” and “I say, that what you say, is what I say.” His screen time was minimal, but Spot stole every scene in which he appeared.
Hopefully all the songs from the film will remain, as well. Who can forget the emotionally charged “Santa Fe?” And of course there’s “Seize the Day” and “Carrying the Banner.”
The film is full of humor, heart, and catchy tunes. I highly recommend it. Hopefully the stage production will be just as entertaining. If it does well, it could end up on Broadway, where it may just possibly become the “King of New York.”
I’m not quite sure how it happened, but I ended up committing to writing an article in honor of Valentine’s Day. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite romantic scenes from a few films that might be considered “geeky,” for various reasons. And¸ out of the kindness of my heart, I’ve opted not to include anything from Twilight or its sequels. You can thank me later.
So, just a small sampling of some of my faves. This is in no particular order, nor is it in way meant to be complete.
I can’t say enough how much I love this movie. I wasn’t prepared to love it since I had yet to see a CGI film that compared to the majesty of Beauty and the Beast or any other traditionally animated film. But it moved me. In a way a movie hasn’t done so in a very long time. Flynn Rider is cocky and adventurous; Rapunzel is naïve but stubborn. And yet they truly connect and bring out the best in one another. The scene in the boat as the lanterns light up the night sky is one of the most beautiful romantic scenes ever. EVER. The music, the animation, the way Flynn watches Rapunzel as she watches her lifelong dream come true. It’s not his dream, but he’s experiencing it with her and even helps her participate in the ritual. I suppose it sounds silly and not at all like my usual cynical self to say that this film captured the very essence of love, but for me, I think it did.
Han and Leia have long appealed to movie audiences, but their relationship is a common one seen in film. The rogue and the gal who is unwilling to acknowledge her feelings goes back to classic stories like Gone With the Wind and beyond. Their banter provides more than entertainment; it is essentially foreplay, leading up to a climactic kiss in the Millennium Falcon. Now, I know a lot of people like the “I love you!” “I know” scene from Cloud City, but I have to be different. I like The Kiss. Where Leia tells Han she likes men, and he tells her she likes him because he’s a scoundrel. It appeared on the movie posters and is full of such steam and passion that fanfic writers are STILL writing X-rated stories about it decades later. Makes you wonder what else happened on the Falcon. Hey, just how long WERE they in space, anyways? Makes you wonder.
The Princess Bride is a delightful blend of romance, comedy, and adventure, and it has endured through the years for just those reasons. With lines like “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a little while” Wesley has won the hearts of female audiences everywhere. He risks all to rescue his ‘twue wuv’ from marrying an arrogant and scheming prince, and then there’s the line: “Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.” The couple survived the Fire Swamp, Wesley (sort of) lived through torture, and Buttercup didn’t REALLY marry the prince, so all ended happily ever after.
Kevin Smith tackled romance in his film Chasing Amy, and though there is plenty of humor and pop culture references, it also has a lot of heart. I’ve always loved Holden’s speech to Alyssa where he confesses his love for her, in spite of the fact that he knows she’s a lesbian. There’s something so touchingly honest in his speech, as if he’s laid his heart bare for her, and her response will either destroy or save him. It’s a very different film from Clerks or Mallrats, but I still think it’s one of Smith’s best.
This isn’t the most perfect movie in the world, but I find myself watching it whenever it’s on TV, and part of it even takes place on Valentine’s Day. Even Keanu Reeves in a romantic lead doesn’t deter me from watching. This is sort of a modern fantasy, where two lonely people are brought together by a mailbox, though they live two years apart. Yeah, it’s weird. But the overall theme seems to be sometimes you just have to wait for love. Don’t stop living in the meantime, and eventually true love will find you. This is underscored by the reference to Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a book about love delayed for many years. It’s a sweet film, and one that I think is worth viewing.
Ah, my favorite Disney film. The story of a spunky bookish gal who seems to only attract jerks until one day she meets a prince under a terrible spell. Again, I’m going to go with the less obvious romantic scene here. Most would choose the ballroom dance scene, which is truly a masterpiece of animation (CGI and traditional animation combine to create a stunning sequence), but I’m going to have to go with the library. I admit, I have a thing for books. And libraries. And instead of giving Belle “flowers, chocolates, promises [he doesn’t] intend to keep,” the Prince gives Belle his library, which appeals to her more than any generic gift. It’s one of the sweetest, most romantic things I’ve ever seen in a movie.
I suppose I could continue with the list, but I’ll leave it at these few unusual picks of mine. Oh, but I must also mention that scene from Attack of the Clones where Padme reveals that she “truly, deeply” loves Anakin before they are taken into the Geonosian arena. I mention it only because my editor told me to. I think the scene is cheesier than anything I saw in Twilight, but that’s just my opinion. I know he’ll disagree. Vehemently.
Editors Note: I asked Scarlett to put this clip on the list because it is, indeed, one of the most romantic and heartfelt moments in geeky cinema and every time I watch it it chokes me up. –Swank
But that’s the beauty of film. It appeals to all of us in different ways, for different reasons.
So . . . what are your favorite romantic scenes from geeky movies?
The Disney Parks Blog has announced a tease of some of the characters that we will be encountering when we ride the new Star Tours ride in the coming months.
One of our goals for the new Star Tours show was to pack as much Star Wars into the attraction as possible. That meant traveling to different planets, and meeting up with classic characters from the saga.
Well, it wouldn’t be a Star Wars adventure without Darth Vader. The Dark Lord of the Sith will be accompanied by legions of stormtroopers and some new “skytroopers,” designed especially for our show. Boba Fett, everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, also will be after us, as well as an assortment of nasty droids and creatures.
Balancing out the villains are some classic good guys – and even a princess! Master Yoda, Admiral Ackbar (pictured above in a still image from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi) and Princess Leia will appear in the show to help guide our adventures. We may even run into Chewbacca along the way!
We’ve known about Boba Fett for a while, but there are some surprises here. These Skytroopers could be very cool (and I’m dying to see if the design is possible to recreate so we can get 501st recreations of them). But how will Princess Leia appear? Is she digital? Is it from cut footage? Is it a hologram? Is Carrie Fisher returning?
And I think the same questions apply to Chewbacca. They got Anthony Daniels back in the costume for Threepio, did they get Peter Mayhew back for the role of Chewbacca?
And which Yoda voice are they going with? Tom Kane or Frank Oz? And how could Yoda possibly fit in unless we were taking a trip to Dagobah?
If Ackbar is on the ride, will it all be a trap?
I’m really excited about the possibilities here and I really can’t wait to get on this ride.
The Disney Parks Blog had some surprise news for Star Wars fans this morning.
The creator of Star Wars (and producer Rick McCallum) visited the Disneyland Anaheim Star Tours attraction and did some test riding.
From their blog:
It was a big day for Star Tours recently, as Star Wars creator George Lucas, joined by producer Rick McCallum, paid a visit to Disneyland Park to take a few test rides on the attraction with our Walt Disney Imagineering team. After experiencing adventures to several of the Star Wars worlds aboard the Starspeeder 1000, George and Rick gave the team a big thumbs up on their progress. George even took a moment to pose with the Audio-Animatronics figure of C-3PO in the Starspeeder cockpit!
We’ll keep you updated as more is known about the ride! I have to say that this ride has gone in quick. I was there when they closed the original and it was right at the tail end of July. This ride must have been in production for quite a long time prior to the closing.
Tomorrow sees the release of Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray and I must say I couldn’t be more pleased. Always a favorite of mine since childhood, the 1951 version of Alice is the high water mark in adaptations of Lewis Carroll’s novels.
Released in 1951, it took Disney 18 years to get his vision of Alice in Wonderland off the ground and his effort couldn’t have been better spent. The adaptation of the source material is unconventional, the characters are charming, the music is wonderful, and the nonsense is brilliant.
This is a crowning achievement amongst Disney’s animated pantheon.
I’ve seen this film a hundred times, easily as many times as I’ve watched Star Wars, and I was delighted to see the Blu-ray version. It does not disappoint. This film has never looked more crisp and new. In fact, I watched it with my son and he commented that the DVD version we’ve been watching together for years looked like a comic book and now, on Blu-ray, it finally looked like a real movie.
As for bonus features, it contains all the features from the previous DVD releases and some unearthed introductions that Walt Disney had prepared for showing the film on television. Because of the luke-warm critical response to Alice in Wonderland, it wasn’t rereleased in theatres until the mid seventies, instead it was played every few years on television starting in 1954. The introductions Walt Disney filmed for them are an interesting (and always welcome) look back to his television aura.
Everything about this film holds up, and there’s a good reason that it is by far and away my favorite animated Disney film bar none. The voice of Alice is soothing to me like a lullaby and this film is stupendous.
My review of Disney’s 50th animated feature film Tangled makes no secret of my love for the dazzling animation and engrossing story. I’ve seen it three times already, and I know my family and friends are probably sick of hearing about it (and being asked to go to the movies with me!).
In fact, I’m listening to the soundtrack as I write this. I’m just that much in love with this movie. So, my goal is for everyone in the world to see this film. It’s beautiful. It’s fantastic. You will laugh, you will cry.
If you aren’t the movie-going type, I bring you good tidings. On March 29, you can bring this film into your home and watch it over and over from the comfort of your couch. I know I will.
It’s the story of an overprotective mother, a rebellious teenager, an adventurous young man, a stubborn horse, a life-changing secret, and True Love. It’s a Disney film, so you know there’s a love story. And, Disney can obviously change anything into a love story. Have you seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame ? Victor Hugo did NOT write that as a love story. Or anything remotely resembling a happy ending. But, that’s Disney for you. And that’s why we all love it, because it brings magic and pixie dust and wonderment back into our lives.
Tangled will be available in a 4-Disc Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack (3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy in a single package), as well as a 2-Disc and 1-Disc pack. I saw Tangled in 3D at the movies as well as the non 3-D version, and both are equally good. I’m not a fan of the 3D glasses, however, but I think it’s great that viewers will have plenty of options in choosing how to see the film.
Some of the more notable bonus features on Blu-Ray include Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale (and Disney’s “Making of” featurettes are always entertaining and informative), as well as three deleted scenes: The Jaunty Moose, Chemistry Develops (oooh, more romance between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider!), and Vigor the Visionary (I have no idea what that scene could be about).
A video montage celebrating Tangled as Disney’s 50th animated feature is also included, and I assume we’ll be shown clips from the most current to the very first animated feature film, 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
