Road To Paris...

A better park...




Wee, wee...
While I've always thought that Disneyland Paris is the most beautiful Magic Kingdom style park, its younger sister is the black lamb of Disney Parks...

Over at the Disney and More Blog, which you should check out quite often if don't btw, Alain has another post in his Toy Story Playland series. There are tons of great pics and videos to give you a sense as to what this new land looks and feels like at Walt Disney Studios Paris. If you've ever been to DCA, the new land in France is kind of like what A Bug's Land is here. It is nicely themed, but is lacking in terms of feeling "Disney." That should change with the addition of Midway Mania in the distant future. The time line for that attraction addition is ever changing and will depend on attendance at the park before it gets the green light.

That said, Alain's newest post gives you a sneak peak at something Disney hasn't announced yet: The Ratatouille attraction. Oh, it's not built yet, but the path leading from the Toy Story Playland goes directly toward where it will be in a couple years. Go over and take a look at some of the photos and dream of Remy.

Now, if only Iger would approve a makeover of the front entrance of this park like the one California Adventure is getting. The entrance to a Disney theme park should be a beautiful doorway, not an ugly cave.

Which is what the front of Walt Disney Studios is...

Should You Choose To Except This Assignment...

Brad Bird is a frickin' genius...

I have loved everything he has done. From "The Simpsons" to "Family Dog" to "The Iron Giant" to The Incredibles" to "Ratatouille." Everything he's done is great, well crafted and extremely entertaining. And I was looking forward to him directing his first live-action film, "1906" for 2011/12. But we broke (hear that Hollywood Reporter?) the news that the Suits over at Warner were nervous handing a guy that had never done live action such a large budget production and had gotten cold feet.

And then the news came last month about him being up for the fourth "Mission Impossible" film starring Jerry Maguire. Surprising but not unpleasant news, I must say. I was underwhelmed by the first two of the films, but actually loved J.J. Abrams take on the series. I would think that this third sequel would be my most anticipated were the director to be named Bird. And now that may happen. It's all a matter of money right now. And in Hollywood, that's the bottom line. He and the studio will have to reach an agreement soon because they want the sequel out Memorial Day, 2011. Ok Paramount operatives, hire the Bird and this difficult mission will commence immediately.

This post will self destruct in ten seconds...

Hat Tip to Vulture via /Film.

Rats Onboard Ship...

The Disney Dream pulls into port for cruises from Florida in January of next year...

And besides being about one and a half times as big as the Wonder and Magic, the ship also has other new features like an outdoor water slide that shoots over the side of the ship and several other cool features not seen on the Disney Cruise Line.

Today we find out what the new premiere restaurant will be named:

Remy.

Can you guess what kind of food they'll be serving?

USA Today has all the details here...

The Earthquake That Will Never Be...

In 1906 an earthquake hit the city of San Fransisco that absolutely devastated the area beyond all recognition...

And Brad Bird was nowhere to be seen. Remember Brad Bird? He's the amazingly gifted director that has produced genius works like "The Iron Giant," "The Incredibles," and "Ratatouille." Bird's current project, one that he's been actively working on for the last two years is "1906." It's the project he was working on after The Incredibles when John Lasseter asked him to direct a film about a cooking rat. Out of respect for John he set it aside and began trying to rework Jan Pinkava's original concept into something filmable. After it was all over he went back to his passion project and he's been there ever since.

Time has kept ticking and it seems no closer to being made than before. There is no official start date. There is no studio approval from Warner or its Disney-Pixar partnership. Yes, the Mouse is involved, but Warner is the active partner in this. The budget and length of the script are said to be problems for the Suits that weld power over Brad's fate. And there is doubt that they will give it approval. Bird has turned in at least two drafts and is awaiting a decision. Several Bothans that I talked to are starting to express doubt that it'll ever come to pass. Not that it isn't a great script that would make a great film, but the length and size of the budget make some at Warner very nervous. Think of it as a project of "Titanic" proportions and yes I meant the innuendo.

And so Brad Bird waits. The question is how long will he wait if the Suits continue to have cold feet? He's already been away for two years. Will he try and get the studio to release the project if they turn him down? Perhaps he'll go back to Pixar and start working on another film (Incredibles 2, Ray Gunn)? Or move on to another live-action project? We don't know for sure, but if this film isn't in pre-production by the end of 2010, it most likely won't happen. Or at least won't happen anytime soon. And then we'll have to wonder what else Bird has up his sleeve. Does he have something else brewing as a back up? Another passion that awaits to be filmed. Live-action or animation, it doesn't matter to me because Brad Bird is a genius and I await anything he does. I don't care if it's this film about an earthquake or something else.

Either way, it'll be an earthquake to me to hear Brad is working on something...

Quality Is In the Ingredients From New Chef...

My good friend Alain over at Disney and More has some important news for you...



It appears that during the 20th Anniversary of the Disneyland Paris Resort, Walt Disney Studios, Paris' Second Gate will receive a new attraction. Not just any attraction but an E-Ticket. What ride will it be? Well, being this is France and it's a theme park about films coming from the Mouse, what attraction would you think it would be about?



That's right, it's an attraction based on that lovable rodent in Brad Bird's "Ratatouille" from Pixar. And it's going to be a very detailed, layered in theming attraction. It's going to use that trackless system that we've seen in Tokyo on "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" and in the coming "Mystic Manor" in Hong Kong. I've heard bits and pieces about this attraction since it was in early blue sky over a year ago, but my Bothan connections regarding Disney's European adventures now works for someone else. Rats. Uh, oh, I didn't mean it like that. Wanna know more? Go over and check out Alain's great article.



Finally a Tokyo Disney Resort quality attraction coming for a park that really needs it to stand out. Now maybe they can redo that front entrance like their redoing DCA's...

Remy At One...

A year ago today, "Ratatouille" was released. This film, directed by Brad Bird(his third film, second for Pixar) was a different direction for the Lamp... it was more mature and less formulaic yet filled with the DNA that is Pixar. A tale of life and living your dreams no matter what others say you should conform to. And you thought it was just a rat that likes to cook?

Many of the negative nabobs were saying this was the one that would bring down Pixar, but they were sadly disappointed as each week it kept grossing more and more money. While not the monster that was "Finding Nemo", the film goes on to out perform "Cars" at the box office. The film goes on to get some of the best reviews of any Pixar film... until "Wall-E" was release last week.

The Mouse's Rodent Problem...

The Walt Disney Company's had a pest problem for a long time. Decades even. You'd think that they would have called an exterminator after they first noticed the problem.

Have you seen how many rodents there are there? First they had mice, then more mice and finally rats... It's getting downright crowded in Burbank. Heck, they've even found them in other parts of the company... Emeryville for example.

But the problem all started back in 1928 when Walt was just starting his studio. The first one to show up was this little rascal of a rodent named...

Mickey Mouse.



It didn't end there either. It turns out this Mickey had a mate...

Minnie Mouse.



And then there was the time Walt went to the circus for research for his movie "Dumbo". That brought in this other mouse named...

Timothy.



Oh, and when Walt had that castle built for that princess she brought along a bunch of mice. Even though there were supposed to be no pets...

Helper Mice.



Of course when Disney told the story of Robin Hood it was hard to keep them out as well. Those church mice...

Saxton and Wife.



And speaking of church mice, I seem to remember Walt finding that church mouse that helped out Ben Franklin. I think his name was...

Amos.



Then there was the ones the company found down in that swamp. Of course, I'm sure if they'd gotten rid of them it would have been bad publicity with them rescuing that girl and all...

Bernard & Miss Bianca.



Then there was those mice that found themselves involved in a mystery of some sort...

Basil & Dawson.



Of course, not all these mice work together. Some of them are downright enemies. That Basil just didn't get along with this one rat...

Ratigan.



And just when you think they've got it under control, the new branch up in Emeryville has an infestation. Luckily, at least one of them knew how to cook. Unfortunately the other one liked to eat...

Remy & Emile.



I'm sure there are more. It's hard to keep count after all...

The only conclusion I can come to is that they like them. Walt must have found something about this Mickey that he liked and everyone else sort of was won over as well.

I guess I'll call off the exterminator... they're starting to grow on me too.

Academy Awards All Around...

It was a very good night for the Mouse...

The Walt Disney Company's Miramax Film division's "No Country for Old Men" took home the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Can't really disagree with them... I loved the film. It and "American Gangster" are tied as my favorite of the year. Joel and Ethan Coen are very talented writers and directors. Javier Bardem was amazing as a ruthless killer that felt no empathy and spread death in his wake.

Pixar keeps racking up awards as well with "Ratatouille" taking home the Oscar for Best Animated Film... I was a little surprised at this since there had been a build up about "Persepolis" over the past few months as being the David which would defeat the Remy-Goliath. Once the awards season happened and Brad Bird's film kept winning awards that began to dissipate until it culminated last night. Bird gave an exceptional acceptance speech for an exceptional film.

Congratulations go out to all Mickey's employees and everyone else that took home Oscar gold...

Bird On A Wire...

"He'd say, 'If movies didn't exist, what would you do?' And I'd say, 'I'd have to invent them.' " - Brad Bird to his junior high guidance counselor

There's a great interview with Brad Bird over at the LA Times Online today. The Oscar winning writer and director talks about film and how it is dealing with live-action versus animation. It's a interesting dissection of how Bird came on board Pixar's "Ratatouille" and turned it around to become the best reviewed film of 2007. Oh, and it made a bunch of money too...

Give it a looksie.

Win, Lose Or Tie...

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has come out with its winners and in the Animation Award, Ratatouille" and "Persepolis" have tied for the win. I guess sharing is better than losing, eh?

On another note, the Boston Society of Film Critics have given out their awards and Brad Bird has won for Best Screenplay with "Ratatouille". That's not bad, considering it beat out the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men", which took home Best Picture, but not screenplay. It appears that unlike the Academy, the BSFC consider animation to be of equal value when it comes to awards. How nice.

This all adds to the awards roster that Remy and his friends have been receiving lately. Brad Bird's film got the National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Feature the other night and the awards season is just getting started. I have a feeling that the Director will have to make a lot of room on his trophy shelf early next year.

My congratulations to Brad Bird, John Lasseter and the entire crew at Pixar.

Best Picture Or Best Animated Picture?

The New York Times has an article about the problem the Mouse has regarding "Ratatouille":

"As the awards season heats up, the Walt Disney Company and its Pixar Animation Studios unit have been wrestling with a conundrum posed by their warmly received, computer-animated fable about a rat who aspires to become a Parisian chef: Any move to promote it as the year’s best picture might lead to ballot-splitting that would diminish its chances of getting the less prestigious but more easily won Oscar for best animated film."

This is another case of the Academy diminishing the art of animated films and how they shouldn't be considered for best picture since they are, after all... animated. Thus, they need to be subcategorized in an inferior award. This all came about years ago because "Beauty and the Beast" got nominated for a Best Picture and some in the AMPAS didn't feel a cartoon film deserved it, so they created the special category of "Best Animated Film"...

I've heard Brad Bird talk about this, it's a real shame when Oscar thinks that animation is a second class citizen in the world of film. Just as comedy never really makes it onto the Best Picture nomination list, animation gets to sit in the back of the bus because of a bunch of high-brow Hollywood types that think they know how to define what culture and class is.

This isn't something new, Walt Disney was never really treated like an equal when he was doing his shorts. He was laughed at when he decided to create the first feature length animated film, "Snow White" and many were skeptical about his entry into live-action because he "made cartoons". While times have changed, there is still enough resistance to the idea that the medium doesn't define art... the art is defined by the results. It shouldn't matter if it's live-action, animated, comedy or drama... tell that to an out of touch Hollywood. Tell that to the producers and moguls that run these companies. Tell that to a public that seems to be at odds with a entertainment industry that doesn't seem to know where its bread is buttered.

Another interesting paragraph:

"The studios’ reluctance to advance their animated wares as candidates for best picture is enforced by a perception that actors, the academy’s largest branch, with about 20 percent of the membership, are reluctant to honor movies without live performances. Additionally, the academy has a definite allergy to family fare, like the G-rated “Ratatouille”: 28 R-rated films have been nominated for best picture in the last 10 years, while only two PG-rated movies — “Finding Neverland” and “Good Night, and Good Luck” — have. And none with a G rating have made the cut."

It seems if a movie makes money, is made for the entire family and also happens to be animated, well... that's three strikes for that film. Very sad.

Ratatouille Rolling In Dough...

The Mouse released the Rat last week on Blu-Ray and DVD and boy did it find the cheese.

Pixar Animation Studios eighth film, "Ratatouille", entered the charts last week at number three. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment made a great deal of money... 40 percent more than last week's top pic, "Spider-Man 3".

Remy made $7.6 million for Mickey. A figure large enough to surprise many a critic that thought the film was just a kid's picture. While "Ratatouille" was number three on the DVD charts, it was at No. 1 on the Blu-ray Disc chart. Thus, another shining example of the poor performance of Pixar films since the Walt Disney Company purchased the small Emeryville company.

I wonder if Iger is regretting the purchase?

The Mousetro's power grows... good things lie ahead.

What Is That Approaching Us? A 600 Million Dollar Rat?

By the end of this weekend, Remy may not have crossed this figure, but he's sure gonna be damn close...

$600,000,000.00

What a disappointment, eh?

I know I've been keeping track of "Ratatouille's" box office possibly a bit too much, but I feel that sometimes a point needs to be drummed in. Especially when we had so many negative nabobs chanting about how it was a disappointment. Brad Bird's picture is going to go down as one of the most successful Pixar(and now Disney) films in its history. It passed the "Incredibles" total last week and is still moving on strong...

When listenting for those critics, what do I hear?

Crickets...

Coming Soon: The $500 Million Dollar Rat...

While the box office of "Ratatouille" fell short of what Pixar's last film "Cars" made, the film has more than made it up overseas... The film was around the $280 million area last week and is just opening in several territories like Italy. Before it's all over the Brad Bird film will easily cross the $500 million mark... that's half a billion dollars, my fellow Disney Geeks/Fans. Remy happens to be a huge hit in Europe right now, despite all the negativity from various people around the Net. And even though the Little Chef hasn't stirred up as much green here in the states, racking up over $200 million in domestic sales is far from a disappointment. This Rat's a star... don't believe the haters.

Uncle John, or as I'm starting to call him "The Old Mousetro" has a great deal of credibility with Iger and crew and this will only help when it comes to new films(animated and live-action btw) and new attractions around the Disney World. Starting November, the dawn of the Third Golden Age could begin and from what I'm hearing from a few animators... next fall's "Bolt" will add bite to Lasseter's stature within Burbank and Glendale.

The Bomb That Wasn't...

Oh, it's going to make less than the last film...

Oh, it shows that there is a downward spiral for the last few Pixar films...

The domestic box office for it is going to be way below what it was for "Cars"...

This is clearly Pixar's first flop...

These are all variations on statements made about "Ratatouille".

What we are talking about here is a movie that has grossed over 400 million dollars. And it still has quite a few territories to open up in. When it's finished the grosses should match or exceed that of "Cars"...

The domestic take will come in under what "Cars" had, but the international take will come in over that. Remy was a hit in America, but it's a much bigger one overseas.

There was a term coined decades ago by a Senator from New York named Daniel Patrick Monahan... he wrote a book that used the term: "Defining deviancy down". What it basically meant was that we were taking crimes and decriminalizing them so as to make that behavior less of a stigma and while doing so making it appear the reduction of crime was taking place. It was a way of dealing with problems by avoidance... if you legalize it, you don't have to address it's societal impact. To me, this way of dealing with Pixar films of late is a form of this.

When you have to change the definition of film being a disappointment or even in some cases a bomb/flop to be a film that makes upwards of close to half a billion... well, you're pretty much defining success downward.

Where does it say that every film has to make more than the last? They're all different and appeal to varying groups of people. It simply is ridiculous to think every one will make more than the last. It's expecting disaster even when it doesn't appear. It's being excessively negative about something for the simple sake of it. I realize that the last couple films the Lamp has made have made less than the previous ones. My response...

So???

When they have a real stinker come out. One that doesn't generate hundreds of millions of dollars, one that sucks more cash than it takes in, one that is overwhelmingly abandoned by the critics... well, then give me a call. Otherwise, you're simply participating in a form of incestual "Pixar Bashing"...

I've said it before, but it always bares repeating. Life is difficult. Being negative is EASY. Being positive is hard... The more you work at being negative and miserable, the more it will reflect on you and your outlook of life. Don't be part of this. Don't fall victim to it. Live life. Enjoy it. And go see "Ratatouille" again just to see that even a rat knows how to live life better than most human beings. That was one of the messages I found in the film that was so positive... be yourself. Don't conform to what society wants you to be. Don't let others define you. And most of all...

Enjoy the world around you. It's actually fun to do so. Imagine that...

Ratatouille In Black & White...

The Animated-Views blog has an interesting interview with Enrico Casarosa, one of Pixar's talented storyboard artist. Enrico discusses his association with the Lamp, how he got into the biz and even what he's working on next(if you're too lazy to read it, he's working on Pete Docter's "Up"). Very entertaining... Give it a read.

The $400,000,000 Dollar Rat...

$400,000,000 Dollars...

Sometime early next week "Ratatouille" will pass this figure...

$400,000,000 DOLLARS!

Not that there hasn't been enough negative talk between critics on the net and Suits in the bowels of Burbank, but I'd have to say that marking such a milestone calls for a little respect, don't you? I mean, for all the negativity about how low Pixar's new film has performed... any film from any studio that makes this much money should be considered a hit.

Now it may not be the top film of the year, it may not be in the top five... but it is one of the most successful so can we just agree on that and stop trying to prove a point? Ok, I'll agree with you that it's not Pixar's best or highest grossing. How's that? Now let's congratulate Brad Bird and John Lasseter for making a good film that made hundreds of millions of dollars in three months.

How long did it take for "Sleeping Beauty" to break even? Decades? You bet... and I wonder if anyone thinks that it was a big mistake to make it cause it wasn't an immediate success? Let's take a look at the long run here friends. The present for this film is pretty bright and as time goes by the Mouse will probably see a good return for this film and its characters. That's the perspective we need to judge this from.

For now, just congratulate Remy for making the Mouse an unbelievably huge amount of Cheese...

Dirty Stinkin' Rich Rat...

Well, as we mentioned before the weekend...

Pixar's latest movie crossed the 200 million mark... "Ratatouille" made $200,726,000 to be exact. The International figures keep on rising as well. Brad Bird's film is on it's way to equalling "Cars" in terms of box office. Although it won't make as much domestically, it will likely make up the amount overseas where it's raking in cash as more and more territories open up. Now let's sume up what we've learned here...

Never bet against Lasseter. Never bet against Bird. Never bet against the Lamp.

Oh, and let's add a new one for the coming year...

Never bet against the Mouse.

I like that one. Got a certain ring to it, don't ya think?

Chef Makes Record Sum This Weekend...

Pixar's "Ratatouille" should hit the wonderous $200 million dollar mark by the end of this weekend. It's a little less than half a million away from it as of today and should pull off that record by Sunday night. As for its overseas take...

It's getting bigger and Bigger...

and BIGGER.

The internation total should overtake the domestic total sometime in mid-September... the Rat is proving a big hit around the world.

The final take should be at least what "Cars" took in, which was just under $462 million... Remy has taken in over $371 million so far and Brad Bird's great, little film still has over HALF it's foreign territories to still open up.

See? All those doomsayers predicting the end of Pixar Animation and writing articles about how Iger paid too much for the Lamp... Well, it's pretty silent from the naysayers right now. Come the end of the year they may be sitting around scratching their heads wondering how Lasseter and his crew were able to defeat the negativity and go 8 for 8.

Big In Japan...

Pixar's "Ratatouille" hit the 3 billion yen ($25.9 million) mark in Japan, the first Hollywood animated film to surpass that mark since "The Lion King" opened there.

Variety says "Disney predicts that "Ratatouille" will surpass "Toy Story 2" (final B.O.: $29.7 million) to finish fourth all-time among Pixar toons in the Japanese market, after "Finding Nemo" ($94.8 million) "Monsters, Inc." ($80.7 million) and "The Incredibles" ($45.3 million)"... not bad for little rat, don't you think?

It may not make as much as "Cars", but it certainly is a hit... a slightly smaller one, but one with very strong legs...

Not bad at all.