Friday, February 24, 2012

Thought Different...

Stay hungry...




Today would have been the Walt Disney Company's Largest shareholder's birthday...

Steve Jobs would have been 57 today.

Who knows what else he'd have been working on that might have changed the world...

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Fate Changes In June...

Fate is not determined...








The new poster for Pixar Animation Studios' "Brave" is out...

The Lamp's first princess film will be interesting to see how they handle it differently than the Hat does.

Holding court this summer...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Perfect Night...

It was a vampire, I saw it...







Now this is very interesting...

Most of you know I love Indiana Jones, but if you're a faithful reader, you know I love the old 70's "The Night Stalker" television series starring Darren McGavin. We would have no "X-Files" were it not for this show. But I was cautiously optimistic when I heard Johnny Depp was planning on producing this as a feature film for Walt Disney Pictures. And now with the announcement of a director for the project, I'm looking forward to this with great interest.

Edgar Wright will help the theatrical tale of newspaper reporter, Carl Kolchak. Now this is inspired hiring if I've ever heard of it. I wasn't even thinking of him when I was trying to think who would be good to do this adaptation. But it's inspired. This series was dark, but filled with a thin layer of humor throughout the stories. I think Wright would be spot on to capture that tone. Of course, the deal is only to direct, but he and his writing partner Simon Pegg would be inspired/desired hiring for the scripting gig.

There are other aspects to this story as well. Wright has been planning on making a "Ant-Man" film and this could be a test run to see if he's up to a big film like that. Being as Disney owns Marvel, this would be a chance for the Suits to see how he performs moving up to the major leagues. Nothing is known as to the tone of the film, but I'd love to see it set in the Seventies like the original film/series. This could be a very interesting take on this story. Only a film version of this by Guillermo del Toro would make me any giddier.

And I'm wanting him focused on that "Haunted Mansion" reboot he's attached to...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Failing Forward...

Disney marketing, lost in this world, still not able to find another...








Once again, the Mouse's marketing department stumbles and trips...

If you've been following the docile and inept advertising campaign then you know what I'm talking about. The tracking for "John Carter" is surprisingly soft according to sources I know, but it shouldn't and wouldn't be if the Suits in the marketing department would have gotten their heads around this film earlier. It's not like it just popped up. They've had over two years to develop the strategy that they're now working though. Think anyone will be fired?

They deserve to be.

Take for example, the trailers that have came out. They show nothing for the most part that would interest you in the film. What they do show makes it appear to be a rip off of "Avatar" and "Star Wars," but they don't attempt to explain to the viewer that this came first. This was those and many other films inspiration. And if you want to see how the trailer should have been, then look at this trailer made by a fan. A fan. A FAN made this.

Bob Iger should fire whoever came up with this marketing misfire and hire the guy/girl that produced this trailer. It makes me far more excited to see the film, because the person that did it, "gets" it. I'm surprised that Andrew Stanton hasn't gone ballistic over what they're doing. I mean, the word from those that have seen it is very good. Stanton has made a great science fiction adventure that is faithful enough to the source material, but expands on it for modern audiences and is quite entertaining. But you wouldn't know that from the marketing campaign.

Look at the posters, stills and banners. Weak, static images that inspire nothing. Bland and uninteresting poses. Really? With all that happens in this film the best they could come up with was a shot of John Carter standing there or riding on an alien creature? He looks bored. The only hope I have for a poster is the one you see above. It's a limited edition being given out on the midnight showings to those that attend. It's by JC Richard(I believe) from Mondo and is the only poster I've seen that has captured anything remotely good about the film. Perhaps Mondo should be doing the banners and one-sheets as well?

It's very fascinating that Walt Disney Pictures would pony up 200+ million for this film and then not figure a way to sell it to the public...

Friday, February 17, 2012

Blue Sky In Eleven (Part Two)...

Blue Sky D, more to come...







As Blue Sky Disney moved into the middle of the year, the perspective we provided was an interesting mix of what will, and what could happen and what should happen...

We dealt with the coming Tron animated series: "Tron: Uprising" that will be debuting later this year on Disney XD.

Blue Sky was the first to break the news about Glen Keane possibly moving over to Jeffrey's house.

It's always interesting to hear what Bob Iger has to say on the Mouse.

Guillermo del Toro is without a doubt the busiest man in film, hopefully he'll still have time for that "Haunted Mansion" reboot.

More on the direction of Glen Keane's future career.

Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks, you have competition.

The Oriental Land Company has a big affect on the bottom line of Disney, both in terms of quality and perception as well as the balance sheets for investors.

Where will the next Disney gate open up?

Not everything will be finished at DCA when the park rebrands itself this summer. What and when can we look forward to more plussing?

My favorite Fruit Company was founded on this day.

It's hard to believe that it's been an entire decade, and still most of the world doesn't know about the secret that is Tokyo DisneySEA.

And speaking of that marvelous park, have you seen their version of Fantasmic!

Shanghai Disneyland slowly began to reveal itself to the world.

And although not all shows are Disney, many could be and a few should have been.

The posters that were introduced for California Adventure were wonderful to look at.

Here was a wonderful short that gave you a look at what a Pixar "Rocketeer" would have looked like.

And while we're talking about that film, how about a sequel?

Blue Sky dealt with what was upcoming on WDAS's calender.

I haven't heard anything about this project since last summer, hopefully it's still moving forward. Perhaps Tim Burton can direct Johnny in this as well?

Disney has always been the heart of animation for me. It's good to see that it's heading in the right direction for a change.

And think, it's now just what happened up to Fall of last year...

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Hidden Treasures...

If fan art posters had a name...








Check out these amazingly cool posters...

I love Indiana Jones. And these poster from Geek Tyrant are so creative I want them on my wall framed please.

Now, how about that animated series so that they can do one for it as well...

Hat Tip to /Film.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Blue Hearts...

From Blue Sky to you...


Today is Valentine's Day...

To all the lovers out there, be it Disney Lovers or lovers in general, go out and enjoy this special day. Live life for what great opportunities it has to offer you. Take that better-half out to a nice evening and celebrate being with and in love with them.

Love is precious, hold on to it...

Monday, February 6, 2012

Raiding Childhood...




If adventure had a documentary...

If you love Indiana Jones as much as I do, then this is for you. Jamie Benning and the geeks responsible for "Star Wars Begins" have now made a documentary, or "Filmumentary" as they call it, of "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

"Raiding the Lost Ark"

If you love the Man with the Hat, Raiders and its sequels, or serials in general, this is a small piece of love. Grab something to drink and eat and sit down and watch this.

Now where did I leave my whip...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Another Year, Another Milestone...

Iger, party of one, your table is waiting...







As work progresses on DCA, a lot of people are wondering what will be happening in the top of the Carthay Circle Theater...

Most of you know that the building will not actually be a theater, but have a high end restaurant on the top floor and more modest accommodations down below. But everyone is wondering what the new joint will likely be know as.

"1901"

That's right. That is the name of the new, premium restaurant in the park that the Suits are looking to use. Named as most of you know, for the year Walter Elias Disney was born.

The final approval hasn't been given, but it's the name that everyone seems to like. The menu is still being worked on, but you can expect a high caliber place along the lines of the Blue Bayou, but not quite the exclusive Club 33 type that the Suits and WDI was aiming for. Until the park starts to develop a mystique of its own, regular guests will be able to attend for dinner. The 33 Members will have to stay content with a private lounge.

A decade from now, we'll see...