Epic Out...

Mickey power...





Today Disney Interactive's highly anticipated "Epic Mickey" is released...

Created by game god, Warren Spector, this inventive and fun game creates hours of fun for gamers and Disney fans with its inventive levels and shout outs to classic and forgotten shorts and characters. If you get it, spring for that swanky cool Epic Mickey Wii Controller as well.

Now if it was just available for PS3...

Empire's End...

Yesterday Irvin Kershner passed away...

I have a very special place in my heart for this dear man. He didn't just direct the best film in the Star War series. He directed my favorite of the series. Kershner took a job making a sequel to an instant classic that was great and made an even better film. That rarely happens. Most films in a series never quite equal the original. Irvin Kershner took a great story and made it an even more compelling film than George Lucas created. He added meat and flesh to the bones which the Bearded One had created. And he lighted up my childhood immensely.

For that I'm eternally grateful to him...

Hair Apparent...

Lots and lots of money, I mean hair...







First off, I want to issue an apology to the Disney Marketing Department...

I was wrong. You did a great job bringing in the butts to see this film. That doesn't mean I like your campaign or wouldn't have preferred to see something different, but it clearly worked and I can't deny that.

Biggest opening in Walt Disney Animation Studios history:

69 million over the five day Thanksgiving Day weekend.

49 million opening weekend.

82,800,000 globally so far.

Looks like the Lamps big brother finally made good on the third try!

Congrats all around, Marketeers...

ReBoo...

Boo! Wait, take two, BOO!!!







Seven years ago today, Walt Disney Pictures released the film based on its famous Haunted Mansion attraction...

Uhm, yeah. That was a giant THUD you heard there. And the potential of a Pirates type series went down the toilet. A huge waste of talent, film and funds went into making this stinker. No one thought anything else would happen. Until...

Earlier this year when it was announced that Guillermo del Toro would co-write and produce a reboot; a new film adaptation of the ride with the possibility that he would direct it, schedule permitting. Eddie Murphy was not available for comment.

Or filming, thankfully...

Maximum Appeal...

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless he's...





One of the great things about watching a film from Pixar is enjoying the great secondary characters...

With John Lasseter taking over Walt Disney Animation Studios a few years ago this little trait has entered the Mouse's films as well. While in "Bolt" it was Rhino and in "TP&TF" it was Louis, in "Tangled" there are a couple of interesting characters that stand out like the chameleon, Pascal, but it's Maximus the horse that steals the show. Both in terms of character and animation, he's absolutely hysterical and totally genuine. The trusty horse never says a word, but like Pluto with his pantomime many years before him, there is no mistaking what his intent is. No voice is needed to make this wonderful Disney character seem so fully dimensional and 3D, even without the glasses. Like the article I posted years ago about the Lamp's sidekick, Maximus will join a great list of entertaining cast members that go down as beloved creations for families to talk about. Not to mention buy all those nice merchandise that Disney will want to make based on him. Wouldn't it be nice to see a Disney Short staring him on the DVD release? Hmmm.

If you haven't seen the film yet then see it and you'll understand exactly what I'm talking about...

Giving Thanks...

Pass the mash potatoes, please...






To all of you and your family from all of us here at Blue Sky Disney, have a Happy Thanksgiving...

With all the problems in this world it's important every now and then to reflect on what we have to be appreciative for. So have a turkey leg, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, sit back and not argue with that relative you only see this once a year. Oh, and after dinner you might want to gather everyone in the car and go see "Tangled" as a great way to cap off the night. Really. It's that good.

See you after the stuffing...

Tangled Reviews...

Let down your box office...



The 50th animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures is out today...

And so are the reviews. And they're mostly, extremely good. First off, I don't really do reviews anymore, but I did see "Tangled" last night. I can tell you that everything I found distasteful about the ads, and everything I've heard about the film are exactly as I expected. I loved it. In fact, it's the best thing that Walt Disney Animation Studios has done since Lasseter became its head.

While I enjoyed "Bolt" and "The Princess and the Frog" was a beautiful,but uneven showcase of hand-drawn film making, my favorite thing from the Hat Building has been "Prep & Landing." Having seen the latest film, that has now changed. Tangled is far closer to the glory of the Second Golden Age than what TP&TF attempted to reach, despite its aspirations. The tone and style of the film is far more like the classic films we've come to love than the DreamWorks influenced commercials would lead you to believe. While I wouldn't rate it as good as "Beauty and the Beast" it comes close to the other films of 90's. Don't believe me? Check out what others are say...



"The delightfully witty Tangled is the first animated cartoon released by Walt Disney Pictures that can stand alongside Pixar toons without apology."

- Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

"While it may lack some of the emotional depth of what remains Disney's finest modern animated feature, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the studios 50th film, TANGLED, is as good as or better than works like THE LITTLE MERMAID and ALADDIN"

- Capone, Ain't It Cool News

"The film manages to earn a real emotional payoff by the time it ends, and I was surprised by how well the film wraps things up. "Tangled" may not be the new best Disney film, but it is a reminder of just how good the company can be when they bring everything together, and I suspect it's going to be a monster holiday hit for families."

- Drew McWeeny, Motion Captured

"'Tangled" is the best animated film from Disney in the past 15 years."

- Tom Long, Detroit News

"With the caveat that I really dug Tangled, I'm not sure it should have succeeded as well as it does"

- Rob Vaux ,Mania.com

"Tangled could have been a disaster. Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard really pushed for something different by attempting to modernize a classic tale for contemporary audiences while combining the classic storylines and imagery of Disney’s illustrious past. All of that experimentation can unbalance a film by leaning too heavily on one side or the other, but Tangled does a remarkable job at harmonizing the past and present."

- Bill Graham, Collider

"For "Tangled," the studio's 50th feature-length cartoon, the team at Disney has taken a deep breath and tried to be all things to all animation- loving people. There are some hiccups along the way, but by the end there is success."

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"The best non-Pixar Disney movie since 1994’s The Lion King, Tangled is an effortlessly captivating and frequently breathtaking throwback to the studio’s fairy-tale-inspired films of yesteryear."

- David Nusair, About.com

"Bright and engaging, and blessed with two superb non-verbal non-human sidekicks, "Tangled" certainly is more like it.

For much of the last decade the Disney corporation has struggled to regain its animation mojo, while one-time rival and current business partner Pixar — and, at its more sporadic best, DreamWorks — dominated the market. While no masterwork, "Tangled" reworks the Brothers Grimm tale of Rapunzel clearly and well. It's rollicking without being pushy. After the narrative chaos of last year's "The Princess and the Frog," it's a gratifying improvement."

- Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune


And over at Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a 89% fresh rating with about 70+ reviews in. Not bad, but don't judge it by what these critics or I said.

See it for yourself and come up with your own opinion...

Christmas Around The Disney World...

Tis the time of year...











Ho, ho, ho...
Christmas and Disney seem to go hand in hand...

The Holiday season is my favorite time to go to Disneyland and I thought I'd take this chance to put up some commercials showing how the Mouse sells the "Disney" experience around each of its resorts. I've found it interesting seeing the interpretations of each park and how it relates to each culture. All are different, yet each have a similar theme that represents everyone and what we like and share in common.

First off, starting with the one for the park that started it all, Disneyland a couple years ago that's quite nice.

This one is supposed to be for all the Disney Parks worldwide, but is meant to sell you on going to California or Florida in reality. Still, it's nicely done and slick, but not personal.

Here is one that shows the fun that happens at the Tokyo Disneyland's "Christmas Fantasy" in this joyous time.

Then there is this one for the "Harborside Christmas" which I really miss at TDS.

This one for Tokyo DisneySEA shows exactly why it's the most beautiful them park in the world and Christmas only adds more depth to that statement.

And here is another one for this year's "Christmas Wishes" that shows why this park is the perfect Christmas present.

Here's one celebrating Christmas during the 25th anniversary of the resort that's nice.

Here's a nice, touching one that Hong Kong used to tie in the opening of IASWA with the holiday spirit.

This one was made for Hong Kong's "Sparkling Christmas" celebration a couple years ago.

Here's the one for HKDL the year before that as well.

And here is the commercial that Hong Kong Disneyland happens to be running for Christmas this year.

But my favorite is this one for the "Disney Enchanted Christmas" held at Disneyland Paris. It's not the slickest, but that song with those images seem to capture the true nature of the holidays for me.

It's a small world after all...

From TronCores To EnCars...

Tractors is sooooooo dumb...




It appears that the success of the TRONcore is a fundamental part of Disney marketing...

While we have to wait another month to find out if the film is successful, the Suits inside the Mouse seem to feel that this approach is a model for future promotion. The people behind the creation of this little two minute infomercial (which I love, btw) are now working on doing the same thing with Lightning McQueen and Mater for next spring.

In what is to be a double whammy of promoting the opening of "Cars 2" and "Cars Land," the resort will likely play host to this promotion during the springtime should the Suits sign off on the current marking plans.

There's a lot of buzz coming out of Carburetor County...

A Princess Turns 21...

Twenty-one years ago today a little girl dreamed of being free from her overly protective father...

Walt Disney Pictures released "The Little Mermaid" on this day and the Second Golden Age of Disney Animation began. With all the saturation of Disney Princesses today it's hard to believe that this was the first princess the Mouse had made since the 50's. It took them a long time to get to the position of being known for creating classic, fairy tales.

And it's only taken twenty-two years to get an attraction based on her...

Car Sales: Domestic & International...

No sooner has the North American trailer for "Cars 2" been release than the International trailer debuts as well...

Is it just me or does it seem they took the concept behind the animated short, "Tokyo Mater" and expanded it to a whole movie?

No mater how you feel about the trailer/film, this a Pixar release and will likely be better than 90% of most films out right now, live-action or animated.

And besides that, it's critic proof and will go on to make the Mouse a mint...

A Tangled Soundtrack...

Walt Disney Records released the soundtrack to "Tangled" today...

It's hard to believe, but Walt Disney Animation Studios' 50th animated feature is just right around the corner. Those of you watching the World of Color show over in Disney California Adventure will soon notice the inclusion of this latest princess during the show.

Hopefully, she'll join the ranks of all the rest of the Mouse's royalty...

Cars Two Teaser Poster Posted...

Rev up those engines...





From Yahoo! Movies comes the first teaser poster for "Cars 2" from the Lamp...

Gamma Ray Del Toro...

Hulk smash ratings...









Wow, now this is much happy geek news...

I've been gone all weekend enjoying the lovely weather we have here in Southern California and haven't really been on the computer. So imagine my surprise from a weekend of roasting marshmallows and hot dogs by the beach with old friends, when I saw what Deadline Hollywood had posted. Guillermo del Toro along with David Eick will produce the new Hulk series.

Say what?

I first thought that I must have misread that. Then I read it. Then I read it, again. Slowly a smile crept across my face. See, as a child it was always to my horror that I saw some film adaptation attached to someone that didn't get it or wasn't talented enough to be associated with it. So when projects like this come along it's almost like the stars aligning themselves in the right place at the right time. It's almost too good to be true. Guillermo is one of those that "gets" it. He's perfectly suited for something like this and to have him connected to it, somewhere the geek gods are shining down upon us. My interest in this project has just gone up one-thousand percent. My only question is when will del Toro let the world in on his cloning project? There is no way that one man can do as much or be attached to as many projects as he is.

He's starting to make John Lasseter look like a slacker...

Teasing Pirates...

Yo ho, buckets of mo...






The teaser poster for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is out...

Looks like Captain Jack hasn't been doing very well, does it?

Six months to go before we find out why...

And Trailer Too...

No sooner has the first images of Walt Disney Pictures "Winnie the Pooh" been released that the official trailer has as well...

Quite quaint and nostalgic if I do say so.

It looks like a return to the Hundred Acre Woods is definitely in order...

Pooh Too...

Next year sees the release of another hand drawn animated film about a famous bear from the Mouse...

"Winnie the Pooh" will be Walt Disney Animation Studios' 51st animated feature and will be the company's last one to feature the safe style and look that some have complained about (princesses and classic, often used characters). Then comes the lull of 2012, after which we'll get some rather interesting changes in direction away from the creatures from the Hundred Acre Woods.

Not that this film will be bad. In fact, from the few sources I've talked to, this film is turning into a sweet, little gem. The story has been worked out rather well by Burny Mattinson and the directors and they've been in the process of finely tuning this very moderately priced picture (less than a third of the cost of TPATF). This film, even if it makes half of what that film made will be quite profitable. Now, if they can just make it past Harry Potter.

I hear that is what Tiggers do best...

Posting On Posting...

Agggggh, internet...




We're having problems with our servers, so posting may not continue till mid-week...

Framed...

Imagine that on the wall next to my other sweet swag...


When you take the last three posters from Walt Disney Pictures "Tron Legacy" and put them together, they make one awesome banner...

Best. Three. Tron. Posters. Ever.

I am soooo getting this framed...

Sign(ing) Of The Times...

Cross the T's and dot the I's...


It seems that the Mouse has made it official...

The Walt Disney Company signed the deal with the Shanghai Shen Di Group Co., which is the parnership company that was formed to facilitate the creation of Shanghai Disneyland. The terms of the deal are said to be very similar to the Hong Kong Disneyland deal, but with the local government having more scrutiny when agreeing on the final plans of the park. The mistakes made in Disney's other Chinese park are to be avoided. The officials/suits of Shanghai expect this and Iger's management team understands this.

Unfortunately, no artwork released yet, but...

Getting On The Grid...

With all the buzz surrounding "Tron Legacy" the Suits in Burbank are getting a bit giddy...

How Giddy, you ask? Well, with all the positive buzz surrounding the upcoming film, the Bothans tell me that the Imagineers over at WDI have been given the go-ahead to move further into blue sky development on an E-Ticket attraction themed to Tron for Disneyland. This isn't a green light for the actual, finalized ride, just the opportunity to explore more extensive designs and concepts. Something tells me late 2012/early 2013 could see the beginning of that long talked about, but continually put off remake of Tomorrowland.

It appears the future is happening now...

Something Incredible Happened Six Years Ago...

Six years ago today, Pixar's "The Incredibles" opened across America...

This is still my favorite film from the Lamp and my second favorite film from Brad Bird. Many people have expressed disappointment in the fact that all the sequels to their hit films have not included this one. That's because, until Bird has a story he deems worthy of making a sequel, or he passes the director's hat to another, there won't be another adventure of this wonderful family. That doesn't mean it won't happen, it just won't happen anytime soon.

Either way, this film and its creator are still incredible to me...

Get Ready For An Uprising...

What's on the tube, dude...


It seems every other story we report is on Tron here lately...

Actually, it seems even more now. There is actually so much news about the franchise that I don't have time and/or don't want to report everything (A Tron Store?). But something we mentioned earlier in the year is now being officially announced.

Starting in summer 2012, "Tron Uprising" will debut on Disney XD. This is in addition to the ten part micro-series that will premiere a year from now. All this from a film that opened twenty-eight years ago to empty theaters across the world.

The times have changed...

Shanghai Surprise...

It's getting close to that time...

Soon, we should be getting an announcement about the Mouse's Sixth Magic Kingdom. I'm hearing a few bits and pieces. One thing I've been told is to expect this to be the most radically different Main Street of any Disneyland park. I'm not sure what that means, but take it how you want. Also, I've been told that the castle will also be unique and that's a good thing. And the resort itself is going to have one really big lake which will likely surround hotels and a version of Downtown Disney. We should be getting some artwork before the end of the year. If we're lucky, even sooner. It seems that 2014 will be an important year with the Extreme Expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland completed and the likely opening of Disney's second Chinese park. It's going to be interesting comparing what each has in common and what each has that's its own.

Now we'll get to see what Bob Iger's first hands on park looks like...

CorrupTRON...

Rectify...




With all of the hype leading up to Tron Legacy there's been one question that's been nagging the fans; "Where's Tron?" After all, he's the title character, right? Well Joseph Kosinski did say that Tron would make an "appearance" of sorts.

The Marvel Comics prequel "Betrayal" is about to shed some light on Tron's whereabouts. This is pretty big spoiler information so if you don't want to know go back to the Real World now...


>>>>>BEGIN SPOILER<<<<<


There's compelling evidence that Rinzler is Tron. First, he has the same square "T" pattern on his chest as Tron. Second, he has not one but TWO identity disks. Third, he's Clu's head of security. Tron is a security program. Tron Betrayal should help to "rectify" this discrepancy but it's likely that Tron's functions will be corrupted and taken over by Rinzler similar to how Flynn was able to take over the functions of Sark's security program.


>>>>>END SPOILER<<<<<


Now you have another Clu...

Oriental Express...

There is a lot of love in and around the Disney community for the Oriental Land Company...

And while I agree with the fantastic job they do, I also want to emphasize that they're a business. Businesses number one priority is to make money. Just like the Walt Disney Company. As much grief as I give the Mouse for the failings from the late 90's/early 00's, I can't call the Japanese company a saint. I believe that because of some special circumstances, there is a very unique situation over there in the land of the rising sun.

I mean, there are ways that company could cut corners, but hasn't, and it's all because of Disney. You see the Mouse has people on site that work directly for them that are responsible for making sure the parks/resort are up to Disney quality. These people have quite a bit of influence and power. The head representative has the power to approve or veto much of what gets done. From a sign that is crooked or paint pealing to the "plussing" of an attraction. And if the OLC doesn't react to this then they're in violation of the contract. So, in a very odd way it's actually the Mouse that deserves some of the credit for the incredible job that this Japanese does.

It all boils down to it being easier for you to have higher standards when you're not paying the bill. Disney can insist on things around the resort being held to the most rigorous of standards. It can do so without any worry of financial penalty. They're not paying for it, so the bar can be set higher. On the other hand, if they're required to foot the bill themselves, like here in the states, then they'll be a little more cautious with the spending of money.

With that out of the way, I thought I'd suggest if you'd like to read more about the Oriental Land Company, then click here and see the list of articles we've posted over the past three years.

It's always nice to see the view from another perspective...

Now You Have A Clu...

Jeff Bridges is BAD and Bad is good...








Best. Tron. Poster. Ever...

MORT Info...

Yeah, but is it a musical!???




Well???
I thought since it was finally revealed I would clarify a few things about Ron & John's new film...

First off, patience should be expected as it's very early in development. They've just recently secured the rights to it so there hasn't been a lot done. These films take about three years to churn out so it'll be at least that long before you see it. That means 2013 at the earliest. And for my opinion, it won't be out then. More likely it'll be 2014. The way it looks right now, the picture that will likely be positioned for 2013 is "Reboot Ralph." It's much further along in development and therefore closer to actually getting animated. Secondly, it appears that Progress City wasn't the only one reporting on this, as Bleeding Cool has gotten info of its own.

Now, as for the story of Terry Pratchett's book, here are some bullet points. Those that don't want to know spoilers can stop here.

- The writing style of Pratchett is said to be a combination of the humor of Douglas Adams and the fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien.

- Mort is the fourth book in a 38 book series set in a world/realm called Discworld.

- The Discworld is a fantasy realm that is flat and sits atop four elephants that stand atop a giant turtle (very metaphysical, eh?).

- The lead character is a young man named Mort who thinks too much and his father takes him to a form of job fair to find someone to apprentice with. No one takes him until right before midnight when a figure in a dark robe shows up on a white horse looking for an assistant.

- This is Death, whom will figure in many Discworld novels. He takes Mort and has him usher souls from this world to the next.

- This story has a princess, her name is Keli and Mort falls for her, thus creating the story's dilemma. He saves her from death and alters the reality of Discworld.

- He ultimately battles Death for Keli and loses. But Death spares her and turns the altered reality that Mort caused into a pearl which Mort has the responsibility to guard.

And if you want to know anything else, here are plenty of Wiki links that you can indulge yourself with...