Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Rhapsody In Blue Sky (Part Two)...


Ok, just when you thought it was safe...

Back with a sequel to yesterdays post. As happens a lot, I wanted to make this all one article, but I tend to talk too much. Yes, I know many of you will agree with that. So what I did was divide it into two parts. Yesterday's covered some of the more interesting post from January to June and today's post covers from July to December. Revolutionary idea, don't you think?

Without further ado...

Here's a post where I showed all of Pixar's most lovable characters... that weren't the leads in the films that we called "Pixar's Side Show" just because it sounded cute. Not that it fit the post, that was just a coincidence.

Another example of me fawning over John Lasseter in the post "The Midas Touch" was the reason for this one...

And then my discussion of the difference between "Disney Villains/Pixar Bad Guys" generated a fair amount of debate.

Then there was that little pictorial of the Emeryville Dream Factory known as "The Sactuary."

Not to mention another Blue Sky Buzz post titled "It's just a Fantasy" that focused on many of the proposals for Fantasyland in WDW's Magic Kingdom... sadly on hold.

Superhero Geeks/Fans would be interested in Blue Sky's review of the Green Arrow prison break script known as "Supermax."

And for fans of disney shorts, animated shorts or just shorts in general there was "The Long List of Shorts" if wanted to see how prodigious the Mouse was/is.

How about Decadent Dave's nostalgic article about Tron and his hopes for Tr2n entitled "Tron. Two. Point. Oh?"

Some really cool posters from the original Tron are here in the article "Selling the Future's Past."

Here's a post about the many names that Indy 5 could have been called that I labeled as "If Adventure had a Different Name."

More man-love for Lasseter here in "A Future so Bright." Yeah, I know... I got it bad for big guys in Hawaiian shirts.

If you ever wanted to know what could have come of Indiana Jones then read "Indiana Jones and What Came Before, Part 1" here. I know, you're asking where's part two? It's coming, it's coming... SOON.

For a look into what could be the future of Disney theme parks we have "Happenstance Part 1 and Part 2."

Then there's one of my posts about what makes Tokyo DisneySEA so awesome entitled "Building Better, By Example."

A post about Disney and the pressure will get from Universal when Harry Potter opens up in Florida I called "A Battle between a Wizard, a Mouse and the World Part 1" is here. And yes, I will have a Part 2, but it won't be till later in 2009. Or the broader post that was a pictorial of the competition that Disney faces called "The Competitors."

Or there was the Dark Period in Mouse films known as "Beloved, not Loved" where I talked a bit and posted a whole lot of pics of films during the time when the Disney company was directionless, without a true successor to the Maestro...

For what it's worth, we covered that big event Disney had in September where Dick Cook wowed all the press in this post called "Disney Open House."

Then when it seemed the bottom fell out of the economy we posted the Blue Sky Buzz post called "World Gone Wild" to the sadness of many a Disney Geek/Fan.

And Apple received some TLC in "The Metamorpheus" as if they really needed it.

Through the magic of YouTube I was able to show you the making of Tokyo DisneySEA in "SEAing is Believing."

Or Steve Jobs and his amazing turnaround of Apple in the past decade in Blue Sky's "Jobs Opening" post...

The logo/pictorial post that was "One House, Many Rooms" shows how far reaching and graphically pleasing the Mouse can be.

Yet another post about John Lasseter entitled "The Power and Influence of Success" that I really enjoyed writing.

Perhaps you missed Blue Sky's opinion put into list of the top 10 Disney villains called "The Best of the Worst you love to Hate."

Then there was the post I made that was really a link to a fascinating perspective by Jerry Beck called "Theory in Flux."

Or my discussion of how things have changed at Walt Disney Animation since the arrival of Uncle John/Moustro that I called "The Lasseter Era Begins."

How about Decadent Dave's post "Beyond the Black Hole" that was actually better than his Tron/Tr2n post IMO...

For the Film Geeks/Fans there was "The Black List" which talked about the 10 hottest scripts in Hollywood right now. Of course, it could change in ten minutes.

What I considered a very sad commentary on the end of Stevenotes entitled "The End of the World as we know it."

Then we have THX's "When George Lucas could do no wrong" pictorial post or my very own "What If" post about the possibility of an Indiana Jones cartoon called "Animated Jones and the Quest for Dini."

And lastly we have "Rhapsody in Blue Sky Part 1" which I...

Oh well, that was so, uhm. Yesterday. Nevermind.

Anyway, it's been a great year. I hope you enjoyed the commentary. Come back for more in 2009...

Top Ten Films Domestic/International 2008.


If money talks then these films spoke volumes...

2008 U.S. Domestic Box-Office Top Ten


1. The Dark Knight - $530.9 million
2. Iron Man - $318.3 million
3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $317.0 million
4. Hancock - $227.9 million
5. WALL-E - $223.8 million
6. Kung Fu Panda - $215.4 million
7. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $174.9 million
8. Twilight - $167.3 million
9. Quantum of Solace - $164.3 million
10. Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - $154.5 million


2008 Worldwide Box-Office Top Ten


1. The Dark Knight - $996.9 million
2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $786.6 million
3. Kung Fu Panda - $631.9 million
4. Hancock - $624.4 million
5. Iron Man - $581.9 million
6. Mamma Mia! - $572.2 million
7. Quantum of Solace - $537.1 million
8. WALL-E - $507.3 million
9. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $457.2 million
10. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - $419.6 million

Notice a little problem with that list? Only one Disney film on it... "Wall-E". And even that was from Pixar which the Mouse bought a couple years ago. This is quite a change from the last couple years where Disney had been at the top or near it...

Narnia isn't counted because it's mainly a co-production with Walden Media and they, not Disney, own the copyright. Here's to a bigger and better 2009.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Rhapsody In Blue Sky (Part One)...


With the year coming to a close I figured we would take this time to look back on some of the 600-plus posts that have been made in 2008...

I can't believe I logged that many but apparently I did with a little help from my friends. So let me take a moment to put the spotlight on several post that got a lot of comments/e-mail, you might have missed or that I simply think might be worthy of another look.

For those that would like to refresh themselves with how Tokyo Disneyland came to be we had the "Tales of the Orient Part 1 and Part 2."

Then there was an article that focused on all the complaints about the "cartooning" of the parks called "Too Much, Too Many, Too Little, Too Late."

Or the one post we did on the history of the Disneyland Hotel and how the Mouse got it called "How Much For A Room?"

Or the ones we did about the Disney Shorts' Title Cards that were labeled "Above the Title Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3"

Perhaps if you're a big fan of Tokyo DisneySEA like myself, then you'll remember the "Born Full Grown" article we posted earlier in the year...

Maybe you want to feel humble just looking at this list of Walt Disney's filmed achievements titled "Opus Disney."

How about the post discussing the influence of Steampunk, Burroughs, Wells and Verne on Disney in film and parks entitled "20,000 Leagues under the Influence."

For the movie-buffs we had "The 5 Best Scripts Hollywood Never Made" which generated quite a few e-mails.

Then there was the discussion of the importance of detail in a theme park entitled "Layering on the Narrative."

Or the post about how Lasseter was choosing directors for Disney animation versus Pixar animation known as "Two Versus One."

Perhaps a little bittersweet post about Pixar and life called "To Everything a Season" that was quite me being reflective and using Pixar as my inspiration. Or the "Finding Perfection" post which I enjoyed writing more...

Then there was the article about my perspective on the parks entitled "Work in Progress" which even got Corruption to give me a compliment. Thanks again, Corruption...

Or the Blue Sky Buzz post called "A Part of your World" about Walt Disney World getting a clone of "The Little Mermaid" attraction as well as several other interesting items that are unfortunately on the back burner till after the economy picks up.

And I can't forget to include the post I call my Mission Statement known as "Losing Focus."

Then there was THX's post "Star Wars Must Die" that got quite a few people upset.

As well as my own posts about George Lucas' empire and its future called "A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far in the Future."

Maybe you'd be interested in my perspective on how the Net has affected the Mouse for the better over the last decade or so with this post called "There are Know Secrets, anymore."

Or another rant I did called "Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Several post have been about what Disney could do, but this one labeled "The Disney Lands that Time forgot" was about what it didn't do...

Thoughts on Mickey here in "Redefining Mickey." Or getting an idea of what we have with DCA versus what we could have had in "Going through a Phase(s)."

Even my take on what will become of Indiana Jones in the aptly titled "What becomes of Junior."

Yes, it's been a busy year. I want to thank each of you for being interested in what we say here...

Part Two will post tomorrow, btw.

How To Be Andrew Stanton...


Creative Screenwriting Magazine's blog has a really nice interview with film maker/screewriter/Pixar Guru Andrew Stanton. Check it out, it's a really engaging discussion...

Hat Tip to The Disney Blog via Pixar Planet.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Mouse Premiers Guinea Pigs Today...


Keep an eye on the G-Force site at Disney.com today for the premier the new teaser trailer for Walt Disney Pictures' G-Force...

Strange. Every time I hear that name I keep thinking of something else. Hmmm, but...

Hehe. Talking CG animals... no, wait. Hehe. Talking hamsters... no, wait. Talking Guinea Pigs... Hehe.

Truthfully, it might be fun. I'll keep an open mind...

UPDATE: Uhm... it's up:

Sunday, December 28, 2008

In Memorium: Lumiere (1935-2004)


The candle's flame went out...

Four years ago today, Jerry Orbach, Lumiere in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends...

Saturday, December 27, 2008

100,000,000.00 Dog...


It's taken longer to get there than expected, but Walt Disney Pictures "Bolt" passed the hundred million dollar mark as of yesterday...

The film has already made more than "Meet the Robinsons," so that's an improvement. While Twilight took the wind out of it's sails during the opening days it's recovered to do decent business. Not what the Mouse would have liked, but it's gotten more respectable legs as time has passed. Hopefully It'll do good when the DVD/Blu-Ray is released early next year...

Good boy, Bolt. Good boy.

Friday, December 26, 2008

In Memorium: Catwoman/Yzma (1927-2008)


Whoa, this was weird...

I was driving home from an evening spent at the Happiest Place On Earth, sipping my Peppermint Mocha with the heat cranked up, listening to one of the stations that plays Christmas music 24/7 and on came Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby." I immediately thought to myself: "Wow, she's been around in the entertainment industry a long time." What a Showwoman.

And then I get home and read this...

Eartha Mae Keith or as we knew her, Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas night. She was 81 years young. I remember her mainly from the 60's Batman television show where she took over the part of Catwoman from Julie Newmar. Most Disney fans will know her as Yzma, the villain from "The Emperor's New Groove." She leaves a daughter and four grandchildren behind.

May God be with them in this time of sorrow...

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Noel...


To all of you from all of us here at Blue Sky Disney...

Have a very, Merry Christmas! Here's wishing your hearts be warm and your home filled with food, friends and family.

May Love and Joy come to you...

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Mouse Not On Voyage...


Wow, no sooner than I mention that the Narnia makeover of the Muppets building at DCA is in jeopardy we get this news...

Walt Disney Pictures has decided not to pursue its option for the third Narnia film. This doesn't mean it won't happen, but Walden Media will have to find another partner. So the film may still come out, but it won't be a Disney picture.

Developing...

Blue Sky Buzz(Mini Update): Name Calling...


Since this is the traditional day we all gives gifts, I felt a small gift to you Disney Fans/Geeks of what is going on inside the Mouse might be appropriate...

Time marches on.

And so does the Disneyland Resort. The economic downturn has put a cramp into those plans the Mouse has had for more global expansion. As of now, it really hasn't canceled much, so much as delayed several projects. Disneyland has the luxury of having had its budget mostly planned out for a while now, which means it will hopefully be spared the brunt of the cuts from the corporate blade over the next few years(except the entertainment department which has received several cuts because of the slowdown). The Bothans have been busy, but nervous and not very talkative. I figured it was time to give you a bit of perspective and a smattering of news that may or may not change over the next year or two...

First off, you've noticed we talked a while ago about the possibility of DCA getting a name change by the tenth anniversary of the mistake... errr, I mean opening. Freudian slip there, sorry. Well, plans come and plans go and plans change sometimes comes in different ways. It appears that the current idea is to call the park:

Disney's California Adventure.

Nice ring to that. Sounds Familiar, doesn't it?

It appears the current line of thinking is to have the park themed to all the wonders that come out of California and to reflect it in the show details and rides. So just because Ariel is in the pier doesn't mean she isn't from the Golden State... Disney's version was born here. And that is the direction they seem to be headed. This isn't going to be a park celebrating California, it's going to be a park celebrating "Disney's" California.

Most of the project are moving ahead, but some of the things you see on that model in the Blue Sky Cellar(That's a nice name for a cellar, btw.) won't look the same by the time 2012 gets around. You already know that the Green Army Men parachute drop where Maliboomer is/was/will be? won't be going in. This model is almost three years old and is the original one presented during the first proposal to Iger. That's why the name on the Sun Wheel/Fun Wheel is different as well. The plans for the Maliboomer have fluctuated, but it appears as of now, because of the cost of removal the Maliboomer won't be going anywhere anytime soon. It's not scheduled for the dozer till at least 2011, if then. Since taking it out would result in far more cost than expected, this cost would have to come from the budgets allotted to other attractions and Imagineers don't want that to happen. So unless more money becomes available by that time expect to see a retheming of the attraction to match the Victorian sea-side pier it now inhabits. The Fun Wheel will not look the same either. Gone is the exterior walkway around the Fun Wheel with its two little gazebos, this is considered nice eye candy, but an expensive decorative effort that could be used in actual attractions and that is the reason people come... isn't it? The Imagineers have cut some of these thematic elements so as to have this money available for, say The Little Mermaid ride. Better to cut some of those areas than an actual attraction the Bothans tell me... and on this I agree. It's also not that we won't be getting a lot more theming because we will. These areas will have additional layers of detail added to them as the years go by. Should this expansion be successful, expect some of the theming to be worked into future budgets.

As for Mermaid and Carsland(now there's a name I want changed!), these projects are moving ahead at full speed. They will have very generous budgets and will be great crowd generators. I wish to say that it's my belief that DCA's first "Tokyo Disney" quality attraction will be Mermaid. It's going to be on par with Pooh's Hunny Hunt in TDL's Fantasyland or even the new Monster's ride in their Tomorrowland. And when that reproduction of Radiator Springs opens up you can expect a whole completely different perception of this park. It truly is going to be a shining jewel in the Imagineers' cap. Overall, the park has a bright future that will make it a very worthy sister-park in 2012... Not that there aren't/shouldn't be things that are in need of change, additional theming or removal. But that is for the Second Phase of expansion which depends on the success of the first.

Also, over in Hollywoodland(now known as Hollywood Backlot), the plans for the Muppets redo are still in flux as they decide if they're going forward with the Narnia retheme. The box office numbers were less than what the Mouse expected and it's not known if this or another planned attraction will move into the Muppets old home. Something will go there, but it may not be C.S. Lewis' children's fairytale.

The expansion/redo of the Disneyland Hotel is supposed to start late next year or at the latest early 2010, but that all depends on when it is announced. Right now the plan was for early next year to make the announcement but with economy it could be delayed. The tentative plan is to have the rethemed DLH up and going by 2012-13... again, all this depends on how quickly the economy gets firing back on all cylinders.

Now, some additional info about our parks in the East...

Tokyo Disneyland with the Japanese economy felt that those Urban Entertainment Centers(UEC) that WDI had been designing for the Oriental Land Company turned out to be financially unfeasible at this time. So they were shelved much to the disappointment of Imagineers. There are still plans underway for at least one E-Ticket for TDS in a couple years and the possibility of another couple D's if all goes well. As for Tokyo Disneyland, I haven't heard anything really noteworthy... at least not yet. We should start hearing more news come the first few months of 2009.

Hong Kong should see an announcement by next summer at the latest as the agreements between the city and Mouse should be finalized by the beginning of the new year. Hopefully the HK Officials won't throw anymore monkey wrenches in the plans. Also expect an announcement about the much rumored Shanghai park by late summer at the latest. I'd be surprised if not sooner. We should be pleasantly surprised by this park as the situation for it should come out dramatically different than HKDL.

Well, that's going to be it for now. The Bothans have been busy and much more tight-lipped than earlier this year. It appears that the economic climate means less work and with budgets tightening some could find themselves looking for work. This makes them a little more hesitant with the details. As the economy expands we should start to hear more news from both them and TeamDisney Burbank. Here's to a great 2009 for Disney and ourselves...

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Competition In 2009: New Monsters vs. Aliens Trailer...


There's a new trailer for Dreamworks Animation's "Monsters Vs Aliens" out over at MSN Movies...

Check it out. It's quite clever. Nothing like some good competition to make the Mouse work harder at getting us to pay for a ticket... We all win with better stories, better films.

Box In TR2N...


It appears that according to Coming Soon, Bruce Boxleitner will return to play in the sequel to the 80's cult film...

It's not known how big or pivitol the role is but according to his official website as well, he will return to play this crucial character from the original film.

Developing...

Fate/Coincidence?



Just after talking about that dream project of a Max Fleischer stylised "Indy" animated show comes news of the release of digitally remastered versions of the Superman shorts that Fleischer did back in the early 40's...

Wow. I've got these, but the chance to have pristine copies on my HDTV is too much to pass up. April 7th can't come soon enough!

Gee, Our First Shots Of Force...


Over at USA Today they've got the first shots from the Jerry Bruckheimer production "G-Force." While this film isn't exactly up my alley, it's far more appealing that the "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was story wise.

Give it a look...

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool News.

Animated Jones And The Quest For Dini...




This isn't a rumor, it's a dream...

I grew up on Batman, I as a teen I was in love and amazed by Batman: The Animated Series" and Paul Dini and Bruce Timm are some of the most under appreciated talents in Hollywood if you ask me. My friends and I have had long discussions about what should become of Batman once Nolan no longer helms the features(perish the thought!). My idea has to go with a live action take with Dini and Timm that stays dark but doesn't stick to the reality based version starring Christian Bale. I believe any film like that will be compared, unfairly or not, to the current films and will always be a disappointment. So go the opposite way I say...

Anyway, if you remember my post "What Becomes Of Junior," you'll remember I said that they should do an animated series with the famous Archaeologist based on the Republic Serials/Max Fleischer style. Well, it appears I'm not the only one who feels that way. It's also an idea of Dini's and he happens to be working for Lucas right now on Clone Wars. He did an interview with The Force.Net and says as much in the latter part of the interview. My hope is that since he's much closer to Mr. Yoda than me he'll bend his ear and get this project going. It sounds like something out of my most personal, wildest fantasies. Kind of like what "Raiders" was for me. Please George, if you're listening... DO THIS. DO this! For the sake of the fans...

Please.

Hat Tip to The Raider.Net.

* The artwork used here is by Patrick Schoenmaker, I believe. *

The Competition In 2009: New 9 Trailer...


Well, it appears that Tim Burton isn't doing animation with just the Mouse...

Focus Features CG animated film "9" being done by Ken Duncan Studios(based on the Oscar winning short) has its first teaser out. It's really a very interesting, dark work that we're given a tease of. I'm a fan of the short after a friend turned me on to it and I can't wait to see the film when it comes out on 9/9/09. Clever, huh?



Hopefully the film will be as creative as the short. It won't be for lack of talented animators working on the film, that's for sure.

Interesting...

In Memorium: VHS (1977-2008)


Today we bid farewell to VHS...

He was only thirty-one years old. I knew him well. I grew up with him. All my friends played with him. He always did us favors. And he never forgot, although occasionally he'd loose things. I'll miss him. I almost feel bad that I lost touch with him in the late 90's when I met this new guy named DVD. Of course, now I don't hang out with him nearly as much since I met Blu-Ray...

Am I fickle? A fair weathered friend, perhaps?

It appears in this article over at JoBlo that the last distributor dealing in VHS tapes has shut down. It's over. No more tape. VHS is dead...

Long live VHS.

Monday, December 22, 2008

When George Lucas Could Do No Wrong...





I Remember that time growing up when George Lucas was a god. He was this mythic film maker. He dove into my mind and pulled out the most wondrous things and then put them on the screen. This was before "Return of the Jedi" or even "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." This was the edgy, Avant-garde man whose name was golden. This was before I knew he was human. Before you could see his faults. Before "The Turn" that Honor talks about.

This is a short journey down that road. Into a past I still remember, from a present I wish to forget. Before he gave plaid a bad name.



THX-1138: Writer, Director, Producer.



American Graffiti: Director, Producer.



Star Wars: Writer, Producer, Director.



More American Graffitti: Story, Producer.



The Empire Strikes Back: Story, Producer, Executive Producer.



Kagemusha: Executive Producer.



Raiders of the Lost Ark: Story, Producer, Executive Producer.



Body Heat: Producer(uncredited)

Not to mention several other blockbusters which touched his influence in the late 70's and early 80's. But that was a different time. A different place than where we find ourselves today.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Black Holes & Revelations...


Walt Disney Productions "The Black Hole" was released twenty-nine years ago today...

The film was Ron Miller and the Disney Suits attempt to cash in on the Star Wars craze. Sadly, it didn't work. The film wasn't a success, but has slowly turned into a cult classic. There has been rumors that the Mouse might be working on a sequel(Ala: TR2N) or re-imagined version(Ala: Race to Witch Mountain). Either way, any such production would be in the earliest of stages. But if you happen to own a copy of this old film from a long ago era... pop it in. It might hold a few surprises amongst the cheese.

You might even enjoy it...

Oh, and if you didn't read it, check out Decadent Dave's "Beyond the Black Hole" from earlier this month. It's a great read.

Snow Seventy-One Years Before Christmas...


On this day, seventy-one years ago...

At the Carthay Circle Theater, Walt Disney premiered his new animated feature: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Nothing like it had ever been attempted before. The film was a box office and critical hit. The film made so much money for Walt that he used a good deal of it to purchase a plot of land in Burbank to build a new, larger studio than the one he occupied at 2719 Hyperion Avenue near Silver Lake.

The world we live in today has many, many animated films and people sometimes take it for granted, but back in 1937 it was a bold risk to take. The other studios had thought Walt was crazy and labeled his idea of turning his shorts into a full length motion picture "Disney's Folly".

They underestimated Walt...

It was something people would continually do to him...

History shows how visionary Walter Elias Disney was. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put a certain film in my PS3(I'll have to wait for that new Blu-Ray version of Snow White to fully experience the greatness of this film, agggggh!). I've left my HD Television waiting and it's calling me. I think this movie will go perfectly with this big soda and freshly popped bag of buttered popcorn I'm holding. I'm just waiting for my friends to get here and as usual, they're fashionably late. Fashionably...

TTFN

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Gates Of Power, Gates Of Opportunity...


It appears that Steve Jobs and John Lasseter have made Newsweek's Top 50 Global Elite List...

They're numbers 34 and 35 respectively. Not bad for a couple guys that had been fired a couple decades ago by the companies they now run.

Life is funny that way, isn't it?

The Latest Jobs Report...


No, this isn't an article on the state of the economy...

There's a great deal of buzz going around after Apple's major, double-wamy announcement about Macworld/Steve Jobs made the papers, wires and Net.

We received a few interesting e-mails about it and I found several interesting articles online.

Wired Magazine has an interesting article about the whereabouts of Mr. Reality Distortion Field himself as does a story over at Fortune. Then there's a post over at Fortune's Apple Blog about why the Fruit Company is better off without Macworld. It's going to be a curious ride for Apple all the way through the first week of January when we experience Phil's deflowering at his headlining keynote.

Interesting times lie ahead...

Friday, December 19, 2008

Agent Of Chaos Spoils Event...


IT WAS A VERY DARK KNIGHT INDEED.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We AREN'T tonight's entertainment.


Tonight Warner Bros. held their much hyped BD-Live community screening of The Dark Knight with director Christopher Nolan coinciding with the release of TDK on Blu-ray last week for the first 100,000 people who registered their copy and created a BD-live account to secure their virtual seat to the event. I was excited when I received the invite via e-mail so I did what any red-blooded movie geek would do and called in sick to work, ordered a pizza, and kicked back expecting to spend the evening watching The Dark Knight with Christopher Nolan in my living room. Yeah, right.

What I was expecting from BD-Live and what it turned out to actually be were TWO very different things. In my mind I was expecting some kind of picture-in-picture live commentary with the director as seen on many of the format's better commentary features while answering questions submitted by viewers through the internet. Well, the second part was right. Nolan answered many questions but his presence via a crude onscreen scrolling text message window similar to participating in an internet chatroom. It was very disappointing to say the least.

Unfortunately, the BD-Live community event was, I have to say it, a big JOKE. The event was plagued with numerous networking problems. Several times I had to exit out and log back in which would take several minutes to rejoin the event in progress. A few occasions the network moderator (who has control over your Blu-ray player playback functions) would pause the disc and a message onscreen would say that they were having network problems or just taking a 5 minute break and would resume again in a few minutes. The text window would constantly disappear after several minutes and I would have to exit back out to the login screen and log back in. It was constant start-stop-start-stop again. After staring at a frozen image of Batman overlooking a building in Hong Kong for 5 minutes without having received any further messages from the moderator, I became frustrated and exited back out to the main login screen and had to log back into my BD-live account to resume again, already in progress, having completely missed Heath Ledger's boardroom entrance as the Joker. By that point it just wasn't funny anymore.

This event was a total disaster for BD-Live trying to promote the interactive networking functionality of Blu-ray to consumers through a very crude text-messaging interface. When I registered my disc last week, I perused the online bonus features available which I thought were also very underwhelming: trailers presented in small flash-sized windows, not at full HD resolution, and a series of online comic book flash movies again presented in small windows that I had to squint to look at on my big screen HD display. I was already unimpressed with the BD-Live content available but having been given a chance to participate in the live screening event, I thought that it had the potential to prove itself to be something much greater than it was but unfortunately turned out to be a an Agent of Chaos. I can only hope that whatever bugs in the system are worked out in the future because the potential for live networking interactivity is there, unfortunately the tech just isn't up to even Batman's sophisticated standards.

This city deserves a better class of interactivity.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

More Tron 2Bits...


Movie Geeks United has an interview with cinematographer Claudio Miranda("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Fight Club," "Tron 2"), in which he talks about the new Brad Pitt film, but toward the end of the discussion he talks about filming "Tron 2" and how they're going to be using actual sets. Can you imagine that? Sets. In a film? Wow...

Seriously, it's really news because everyone thought that most if not all of it was going to be virtual, but according to Miranda there's going to be a sizable portion filmed in the real world. I'm fascinated by the process this film is taking and can't wait when we start to get images of the actual sets and stars.

Developing...

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool News.

Wall-E Wins Again, The Chicago Way...


That little cleaning robot is cleaning up again...

The Chicago Film Critics Association has named Pixar's "Wall-E" as its Best Picture of the Year. I sense some building heat on the Academy.

Before The Dark Times, Before The Empire...


You know, I remember watching a special on cable about how Star Trek had affected popular culture/history called "How William Shatner Changed the World" a few years ago host by The Shat. It was clever take on how the theoretical technology used in the show helped shape the minds of a generation and thus helped create the world we live in and now take for granted...

Well, over at Computer World they've got a similar one on how the Star Wars Universe has affected technology in the thirty years since it opened up. A very nice read. It's nice to see that George Lucas's creation was such a touchstone of what was coming. Maybe, just maybe he was more revolutionary than I give him credit? Perhaps now I'll forgive him for "The Phantom Menace."

No, I don't think so. Not even after this...

Retrography: The 70's...