The term "Skeleton Crew" basically means the minimum number of personnel needed to maintain something, like a ship or a business. Skeleton crews are often used in emergencies to maintain the most vital and important operations. In the Star Wars universe, that term is going to take on a whole new meaning.
Created by regular collaborators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, Skeleton Crew is set around the same timeframe as The Mandalorian. A coming-of-age story, it tells the tale of a group of youths who make a discovery that takes them around the Star Wars universe, and they need to find their way home. The series stars Jude Law, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Nick Frost. The show was filmed from September 2022 to January 2023. Let's look at the trailer!
Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)"! I love that song!
Speed can kill, kids. Be warned.
Being a kid can be rough, but if your dad is the principal, that makes it a LOT worse.
I get the feeling that girl has beaten some dudes with that shovel.
Awww, small Max Rebo.
Yeah, they're totally going to touch something.
AAAAAND THERE GOES THE HYPERDRIVE!
It's okay! Jude Law is here! He'll get those kids home!
I like the surly robot.
Well, this looks like a very cute little show for kids. I would not be surprised if some kid becomes a Star Wars fan from this show. I think I may watch this with my nieces. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!
In 2016, Walt Disney Pictures released a film named Moana, the 56th film in the Disney Animated Canon. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker from a screenplay by Jared Bush, it told the tale of the titular character: Moana of Motonui, voiced by Hawaiian actress Auli'i Cravalho in her film debut. In the film, Moana must search for the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) and reunite a magical artifact with the goddess Te Fiti. Much of the main voice cast, in a first for a Disney animated production, was of Polynesian heritage, and it was Musker and Clements' first fully computer-animated film.
The film would gross $687.2 million on a $150-175 million budget. It would also get much critical acclaim. From there, it would make sense that a sequel would be in the works. Originally, it was intended for Moana to be followed up with a limited series for Disney+. However, in February 2024, it would be reworked into a film with much of the original cast returning. This sequel of this David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, making their directorial debuts, from a screenplay by Miller and a returning Jared Bush. Let's look at the trailer!
This was not what Moana meant when she said she wanted to get more cardio!
"Why did you listen to me?! I'm a PIG! A SMALL pig!"
Moana ended up unknowingly going viral with her conch horn rendition of "Baker Street".
Oh great, Thor fell into the multiverse again.
The ancestors must be furious. What did Maui do now?!
That guy must be new.
They may be angry little coconuts, but they are clever angry little coconuts.
Well, this movie looks rather enjoyable. Got me wanting to watch the first one on Disney+. I think I'll go do that. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! See you next time!
The love story is a well-trod bit of fiction. They can be tragic, they can be hilarious. They can fit in a wide variety of genres, from fantasy to science fiction. And they're still told because...people still do fall in love. And one subtrope of the love story is the two people from "different worlds" falling in love. It can apply to different classes, different races...or in the case of Pixar's latest film, a man of water, and a woman of fire. Let's look at the trailer for Pixar's 27th film (27?! Good God!): Elemental!
Welcome to Element City, home of the hot football team making their way to the Super Bowl, the Elemental Classicals!
Yeah, I know. Gimme a break. I'm not a comedian.
Air having their head in the clouds. And people say I'm a bad comedian.
I would make a "blown away" joke, but I don't think it would work here.
With the Earth folks, you'll never have any problem finding food. I actually want to try one of those apples. Mmm, apples...
Those fire folks really know how to party. No bigger party animals in the Pixar Universe.
"We just want you to finish graduating business school first, Ember. You need to have some idea what you're doing when it comes to running a business."
WATER SLIDE!
There is a reason why elements don't mix. To paraphrase Thorton Melon, "I was an earth sign, she was a water sign. Together we made mud!"
"You know, this water kid's alright!"
I admit, that part with Ember's old man and Wade was pretty funny.
This looks like a fun movie! I do enjoy Pixar's movies, and this looks like it will be another winner. Sure, the story may seem a bit cliche, but I have no issue with that. As long as it's told well. And this looks like it will be one of those. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
It is said that family is stronger when it is together. That when a family stands together can handle about anything. The Clade family seem to be proof of that. The Clades are a family of explorers and adventurers. The family could tell stories about the things they discovered and the adventures they said. However, Searcher Clade never had that desire to chart the unknown. He just wanted to farm. But it looks like he may have to take up the family business when the family takes on a mission to the land of Avalonia.
Directed by Don Hall and written by Qui Ngyuen, Strange World will be the 61st film in the Disney Animated Canon. It'll also feature the voices of Lucy Liu, Gabrielle Union, Dennis Quaid, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Let's look at the trailer!
"Ah, a nice day on the farm. Perfectly normal, no crazy stuff happening. I love this."
Have you ever wondered...how Mick Foley is not dead? I've thought about that a lot.
That's a nice-looking compass. I want it.
An airship? Ah, this must be Cid's doing.
"I just want to grow my vegetables, lady!"
This reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I would not be surprised if that movie was an inspiration for this.
That dude needs a punch.
From what I understand, the character of Ethan Clade (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White) will be the first LGBTQ+ character in the Disney Animated Canon. Awesome.
That dude's got the right idea.
Man, what did the Clades do to make Avalonia that mad?
And of course, you have to have your cute mascot character. A Disney tradition.
Well, this looks like a fun little film. I get the feeling this film will use an epic adventure to explore the theme of generational trauma. Which I can imagine would happen to a child of a legendary adventurer. The film's cast looks solid, and I think this will be a great watch.
Thanks for reading this blog entry. If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
In 1993, Walt Disney Pictures released the film Hocus Pocus. It starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as (respectively), Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson. The Sanderson sisters were a trio of evil witches who sought revenge on the town of Salem for hanging them after they drained a child's life force to regain their youth. The film was a flop at the box office, and it received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
In the years since, the film would become a cult classic. Mainly thanks to broadcasts on television during the month of October. In 2019, a sequel was announced for the streaming service Disney+, with Midler, Parker, and Najimy reprising their roles as the Sandersons. Let's look at the trailer!
You wouldn't believe this, but they actually got banished for stealing the town's waffles. They took their waffles very seriously.
"It also has a way of making you very drunk, so be careful. No spellcasting before driving."
It's true. Just ask Wanda Maximoff. At 16, she first discovered she was a witch when she accidentally turned Pietro into a mouse. Took a week for her to figure out how to change him back.
Yeah, nothing bad could possibly happen because of this ritual.
Say what you will about the Sanderson sisters, they got a knack for making an entrance.
Hey, they got hoverboards!
Wait until they discover smartphones. Those witches' minds will be blown.
"I said spread out, not do a split!"
Yeah, good zombies can talk. Evil zombies can't. Them's the rules.
I remember seeing the first Hocus Pocus when I was a kid. I remember enjoying it, but it was a very long time ago. I think I'll give this sequel a shot. Looks like it'll be a fun Halloween viewing.
Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
In 1989, a new animated series debuted on the Disney Channel: Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. It starred a new take on classic Disney characters Chip and Dale. This series reimagined them as a pair of detectives who fought crime alongside their allies: Cheese-addicted adventurer Monterey Jack, genius inventor/pilot mouse Gadget Hackwrench, and powerhouse housefly Zipper. This series was created as part of a programming block known as The Disney Afternoon.
Like its companion series DuckTales, Rescue Rangers would be fondly remembered by children of the era. It would be nominated for an Outstanding Animated Program Emmy at the 17th Daytime Emmy Awards in 1990. The characters would appear in toys, comics, and video games.
In 2014, it was announced that a film would be made. A blend of live-action and animation, this film would be a meta-referential take on the series, intended to be a love letter to not just the original show, but to animation in general. Let's look at the teaser!
Love the parody of the celebrity bio shows here.
Say what you will about the original show, it had an epic theme song.
Hey, MC Skat Kat!
And Roger Rabbit! I love that movie!
You know, that...actually makes a bit of bizarre sense for Dale.
Monterey Jack really needs help with his cheese problem.
"Nobody wants a reboot!" Well, nobody wanted the original either, but...there you go. I hope this film makes fun of that side of fandom.
I don't know why, but I think it would be so hilarious if it turned out Gadget isn't here because she actually has a quiet rather normal life now, and has the mentality of "Yeah, it was fun, but that's behind me now. Good luck, guys!" It'd be a nice inversion of the "embittered with fame" thing.
Heh heh, poking fun of the Uncanny Valley.
Wow, what a cast.
I have to admit, I'm willing to give this a shot. It looks like it might be a ton of fun. It seems like they're not going to skimp on the action and laughs here. I'm definitely firing up the Disney+ and watching it when it comes out!
Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get vaccinated/boosted! See you next time!
They say she's brilliant, they say she's bad, they say she's a little bit mad. I am talking about, of course, the mad Miss Cruella De Vil. Get it? De Vil? Anyway, the character actually first appeared in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmations. The villainess would gain a major following when the novel was adapted into the 17th film in the Disney Animated Canon: 1961's 101 Dalmations. The late Betty Lou Gerson provided her voice.
The character would go on to be one of Disney's most popular villainesses, being portrayed by Glenn Close in the 1996 live-action remake of 101 Dalmations and its sequel (she's also producing this movie), and would be portrayed in live-action again by Victoria Smurfit in Once Upon a Time. And now Emma Stone will be donning Cruella's black-and-white hair for this take on Cruella's origins! Let's look at the trailer!
Huh. I never figured Cruella to be a redhead. Looks good on her.
USE A ZEBRA CROSSING! THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE FOR!
I think this is supposed to be set in the 60s, I think? Would make a lot of sense.
Lady there looks kind of like Diana Rigg from On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Heh heh, Hell Hall. Get it? I think that's from the original novel.
Well, to be fair Cruella, you're famous for trying to make a bunch of puppies into a fur coat, so...understandable?
Hey, Dalmations! Figures we'd see some here.
Well, kudos to Cruella, she can make an entrance.
...she lost her keys again.
WELCOME TO CRUELLA DE VIL'S MAGICAL DRUG JOURNEY! They really ended up regretting slipping her that LSD.
Don't you just hate it when you try and crack a safe and it ends up unleashing a ton of insects all over the place? Could be worse. Could be these guys.
...you know, I just had a scary thought. If Cruella ever met the Maximals, she'd try and make suits of armor out of them!
Well, this looks...interesting. I can get why some have joked that this film seems to be Disney's take on Joker, but I think this trailer is trying to make this film look more...darkly humorous, or at least not trying to be as "serious" as Joker's trailer tried to show. I will admit, I never really thought much of Disney doing villain origin films. I just figured "Hey, people like the Disney villains, so of course they're going to do thing with them". I will admit, though, this has got me curious to see how Cruella became the villainess we know and love to hate.
Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, and wear a mask! See you next time!
Back in November of last year, I gave my thoughts on the teaser for Disney's upcoming film Raya and the Last Dragon. The 59th film in the long-running Disney Animated Canon, it tells the tale of Raya, a young warrior princess from the land of Kumandra. 500 years earlier, monsters known as the Druun attacked this land, and Kumandra's dragons seemingly all died out stopping them. However, there's actually one dragon left. With the Druun returning, Raya must go on a quest to find this last remaining dragon to save Kumandra.
Raya and the Last Dragon is the first film in the Disney Animated Canon to feature a primarily Asian-American voice cast, with Kelly Marie Tran voicing the titular character. Let's take a look at the trailer!
Awwww, look at the little baby. I mean, if you can't trust a baby, who can you trust?
...you can't even trust a baby around here?! Come on, man!
Never thought I'd say this, but that baby needs a whuppin'. Maybe it's a toyol.
Well, based on that scene, it's pretty clear that their problem is they can't agree on what color clothing to wear.
Okay, we got our party together, let's go questing!
What're the odds that the dragon was just hiding in the attic back home the whole time?
He's right, you're all screwed.
Raya got that sword from the Soul Calibur forge.
Montage of action shots.
Well, this movie looks like it'll be a ton of fun to watch. I have to admit, it's really cool seeing a Disney movie that looks like it'll have lots of martial-arts action. The cast looks great, too! I can't wait for this film!
Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, and wear a mask! See you next time!
In the late-80s and early-90s, Disney had video games made based on their various animated properties. One of them, DuckTales, was regarded as one of the best games for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. It, and games based on the animated series Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin, and Darkwing Duck, were later collected as part of The Disney Afternoon Collection for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
In the mid-90s, Disney had games made to promote two of their animated films: Aladdin and The Lion King. The two games were mainly released for Nintendo and Sega's 16-bit consoles: The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Genesis. Interestingly, the Genesis and SNES version of Aladdin are quite different. They were also ported to other consoles and handhelds like Windows, Game Boy, and Game Gear.
The two games were given plenty of praise, and now they're making a comeback. Yup, they're being brought together in a new collection pack coming to the Nintendo Switch: Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and the Lion King. Let's take a look!
Heh heh, I love the little CRT effect. That's how console games back then were played, kids.
I do remember playing Aladdin on the SNES back in the day. Rented it from a video store. Remember those? I miss video stores. There used to be one near where I work. I could rent a movie on the way home return it on the way to work.
I like that this collection includes multiple version of the games. I know the SNES and Genesis Aladdin games were different. I'm not sure about The Lion King. Might be true for those games, too.
Watch Mode, huh? If you ever got stuck on any part of these games, you can just get past it. I'm sure some old-school gamers would get a laugh out of this.
I like the rewind feature. Makes practicing easier and less frustrating.
Ooh, behind-the-scenes stuff, too? Awesome! I love behind the scenes stuff! It's always fascinating to me seeing the work that goes into making these games. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a game-maker myself.
A trade show demo? Awesome! And I love that it's playable! It would be fun to see how it differed from the final version.
I also like the ability to listen to the game music. I'm sure it will bring back memories for some players. And the ability to adjust your display settings is great for those who want to make it look like it's being played on a CRT TV. I know there are some retrogamers who prefer it like that, because that's the way they played games as a kid. Me, I don't mind the HD upgrades.
Well, I am surprised that these games are being released. They're licensed games, so the IP issues can be a bit of a pain to deal with in cases of getting these games re-released. I'm glad that Disney is able to introduce these games to a new generation of gamers. I think I'll add this to my Switch library.
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In 1955, Disney Parks debuted Jungle Cruise. The ride is located in the Adventureland area of many of the Disney Parks, like Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The attraction is a simulation of a 1930s riverboat ride through various rivers in Asia, Africa, and South America. One of the inspirations behind the ride was the 1951 Humphrey Bogart film The African Queen.
The ride is still active today, having undergone many refurbishments over the years. And like Pirates of the Caribbean, it's getting a feature film adaptation. Yup. Helmed by Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt. The upcoming film Jungle Cruise tells the tale of a riverboat captain taking a scientist and her brother on a journey through the jungle to find a magical tree. Let's take a look at the trailer!
Ah, even in the 1930s, London was a busy city.
Emily Blunt has a nice hat.
I wonder if this Amazon tree is a cousin of Yggdrasil?
I've heard of parkour, but this is ridiculous.
This was how superhero landings were done in the 30s.
Heh heh, the play on the noir cliché line is great. That steamer does look cheap as heck, I'll give him that.
WHEEEEEE!
I bet epic entrances were in The Rock's contract for this movie. And the Rock also has a nice hat.
Heh heh, he's paying them off.
Backside of Water. HA!
Cockatoo! Or is that a parakeet?
Money. It makes the world go 'round.
Can't have a film like this without an explosion or two. Hope we get a Raiders of the Lost Ark homage. I want to see Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt outrun a giant round boulder.
To be fair, he does have a point. Corpses aren't exactly easy to transport through hot, sweaty, steamy jungles.
Gotta respect a good Mighty Punch. Even if you're on the receiving end.
I take it we just got a glimpse of the bad guy.
This film looks like it will be a ton of fun. I got a good chuckle from the trailer. I like that they're clearly paying homage to The African Queen like the ride originally did. I also hope we get some nice nods to some other classic adventure stories. It seems like one of those films that you can just sit back and enjoy. I can't wait!
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In 1998, Disney released the 36th film in its Animated Canon: Mulan. It was based on the Chinese folktale of Hua Mulan, a female soldier who replaced her father in the Imperial Army by disguising herself as a man. Mulan herself was voiced by Macanese-American actress Ming-Na Wen, whom you may know from the TV series ER, or the film Street Fighter: The Movie. More recently, she's known for portraying Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Mulan would go on to be a box-office and critical success, grossing over $300 million at the box office. It was the second-highest grossing family-oriented film of 1998, only behind A Bug's Life. It would win several Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature. The film's score got nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. The film did get criticism in China for being considered too different from the original folktale. It would get a direct-to-video sequel in 2004.
Well, considering that Disney has been on a kick of remaking some of their classic animated films in live action, it makes sense that Mulan would get that same treatment. Chinese actress Liu Yifei is picking up the sword for this film, which also will feature Donnie Yen, Gong Li, and Jet Li. A teaser was released during the broadcast of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final. Let's take a look!
Wheee, we're going horseback riding!
Aww, poor Mulan. She just wants to swing a sword around and fight Huns.
The film looks incredibly lush. It's amazing.
I can imagine that the battle scenes in this film will be epic. I can't wait to see them.
Hey, people wanted Mulan to have some discipline? Where better to learn that than the army? Besides, turns out she's got a knack for beating up Huns, and China could use some good Hun-beaters right now.
I have to admit, Yifei Liu looks awesome as Mulan.
FALCON ATTACK!
I hope that for the battles, they keep wuxia films in mind. Seems like that influence is kind of there.
I have heard people complain about the lack of musical numbers and the lack of Mushu...despite reports saying Mushu will be in the movie. That doesn't bother me so much. I think this version is attempting to be more authentic to the original tale of Hua Mulan. And I think that's a good thing. It allows it to be different from the original animated version. And besides, the original animated version still exists, you can still watch that one. I'll give this a look. I've seen the original and I enjoyed it, so I want to see what they do this time around.
Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! And if you want to give this blog some additional support...I'll have to look into other funding options. Maybe a PayPal or something like that. But I hope you enjoyed reading this anyway! See you next time!
In 1959, Walt Disney released their adaptation of Sleeping Beauty. It was the 16th film in the Disney Animated Canon. It initially received mixed to positive reviews upon its original release, but it has gone on to be regarded as one of the best films Disney has ever made. The film would be released in theaters a few times over the years. The film was Disney's last attempt to adapt a fairy tale until 1989's The Little Mermaid.
This film would introduce the world to Maleficent, a dark fairy and self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil". In the original film, she was voiced by the late Eleanor Audley. She became one of the more iconic Disney Villains, appearing in various other media: novels, live shows, cartoons, and even on the ABC show Once Upon A Time.
Maleficent would get a live-action film in 2014, with Angelina Jolie playing the character. In this film, Maleficent was recast as a more tragic character. This film got mixed reviews from critics, but the visuals, costumes, and score was praised. Also, Jolie's performance as Maleficent would get positive reception as well, and this film was the highest-grossing movie she ever starred in, making nearly $760 million at the box office. It was the 4th-highest grossing film of 2014.
In So, with all that out of the way, let's take a look at the trailer for the upcoming sequel: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil!
Like the take on the Walt Disney castle logo there. It's fun seeing how they alter it for various movies.
Hey, it's the three pixies!
Bald dude is so dead.
Maleficent is pondering whether she should go out for a nice flight today. She should, why not? It's not like you have pressing appointments or anything.
I would admit, if I saw the leaves of a tree exploded into fairies, I'd freak out a bit.
Ah, that old cliché. "This is not a fairytale."
"Do you mind? I'm playing with my magnifying glass right now. Hee hee, it makes small things look big."
Those can't be Angelina Jolie's real cheekbones.
Hey, Michelle Pfeiffer!
Well, she is known as the Mistress of Evil, Aurora. Being evil is kind of her thing.
That's a lot of birds. Probably heading south for the winter.
Man, Aurora's kingdom flies some weird kites.
I think that's what Maleficent wears when she goes to the beach.
Coming out in October, huh? Just in time for Halloween!
I have to admit, I have never seen the previous film, nor even the original Sleeping Beauty. They never really got caught in my radar. I have to say, I am curious as to how Maleficent became the Mistress of All Evil, so I may give it a shot. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you enjoyed it, spread it around! And if you want to give this blog some additional support, please drop a tip in my Digital Tip Jar! It would be greatly appreciated! See you next time!
In 1982, Universal Pictures released a film called The Dark Crystal, a high fantasy adventure film that used puppets for all its characters. Produced by the Jim Henson Company and ITC Entertainment, it told the tale of Jen, a member of an elf-like race of beings called Gelflings.
Jen must go on a quest to repair a broken crystal that will restore his world of Thra to its former glory. However, a group of vulture-like beings known as the Skeksis are pretty fond of things the way they are, and as such, they try to stop our elf-esque hero.
The film became the 16th-highest grossing film of 1982, making over $40 million on a $25 million budget. It received mixed to positive reviews on official release. It was praised for its story and visual splendor, but it did get criticism for its darker tone being a deviation from Henson's previous Muppet works. Over the years, the film would become a cult classic, and a franchise. The film got a tie-in novelization at the time of release, and the world of Thra was further expanded in comics, novels, and manga.
There have been attempts over the years to do a sequel film to The Dark Crystal, but it never really was able to get off the ground. A screenplay for a potential sequel film would get reworked into a 12-issue miniseries from Archaia Comics and BOOM! Comics called The Power of the Dark Crystal.
The Jim Henson Company and Netflix have come together to tell a new story in the world of Thra: What happened when the Dark Crystal originally cracked? When the Skeksis originally started their conquest of the world? Well, that's what this ten-episode prequel series, Age of Resistance, is going to show. Let's take a look at the teaser trailer!
Considering Thra has three suns, I can imagine that it gets real hot there.
I have to admit, I am very impressed with how it looks already. I only recently saw The Dark Crystal on Netflix, and it looks pretty true to the original movie to me so far.
"By the Gods, that castle is an eyesore."
How do those spinning fairy things not get dizzy?
Wow...
Deet. Heh heh. Deet deet deet. Deet here is going to be one of our main characters. She's voiced by English actress Nathalie Emmanuel. She's also a rapper. So, does that mean we're going to hear some of that legendary Gelfling hustle and flow?
Normally, if a flower goes near you like that, you should take a flamethrower to it. Can't be too careful.
Okay, that was a little creepy!
Hey, Aughra's orrery! That thing is awesome.
Shame they couldn't get back Billie Whitelaw to voice Aughra again. Although to be fair, there really was no way since she died in 2014.
It's really amazing what over thirty years in the development of practical effects tech can allow nowadays. I don't think some of this stuff could have even been possible in 1982.
I am pretty excited for this. I enjoyed the original Dark Crystal, and the idea of a prequel fascinates me. I love seeing the Gelflings standing up and trying to fight back...despite fate saying they will not succeed...well, not directly. I can't wait for this to premiere! I think I'm going to fire up Netflix and watch The Dark Crystal again...
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The Toy Story franchise is arguably one of Disney-Pixar's most successful, with it covering everything from movies to video games, to cartoons, and even shorts. The original film trilogy is regarded as the most highly-acclaimed trilogies of all time...according to Rotten Tomatoes. Back in November of last year, I looked at the teaser for the upcoming fourth Toy Story movie.
Well, now a full trailer is out, so let's take a look!
Hey, it's the origin of Forky! You remember Forky, right? The spork that freaked out in the teaser? That was funny.
Forky needs to switch to decaf. And to take some Prozac.
The losing his eyes is going to be a running gag, isn't it?
To be fair, a imaginative little kid can make just about anything into a toy.
Yeah, that's going to be Forky's arc in this movie. Accepting that he's a toy now, not a food delivery system.
Poor Woody. I bet he's getting flashbacks of having to show Buzz Lightyear he was a toy in the first movie.
Those dolls are totally not creepy. Totally not creepy at all...*shudders*
Hey, Bo Peep is back! Where's she been?
Whoa...what is that? A hidden room? Another dimension? Whatever it is, it's impressive. It's like an idyllic Wild West town meeting a county fair. All the cotton candy and hot dogs you can eat!
Is Woody...having a mid-life crisis in this movie?
There's something rather...heartwarming and hilarious about the crazy Forky telling Woody everything will be alright.
Well, this sounds like it will be a fun movie. I have seen the first two Toy Story movies, heard the third was really good, so I got to catch up on that. I can't wait to see what new adventures Woody and the gang have! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! And if you want to give this blog some extra support, please drop a tip in my Digital Tip Jar! See you next time!
Back in February, I gave my thoughts on the teaser for the live-action remake of Aladdin. I will admit, since then, I have a good chuckle out of some of the jokes regarding Will Smith as the Genie, mainly the CGI for him. However, a new trailer has come out, so let's take a look!
Well, this is starting off with a bang!
And there's our hero, devil-may-care thief extraordinaire himself.
I think we can credit Aladdin for inventing parkour.
I have to admit, I love the look of the film. It's very bright and colorful.
Ooh, imagine if those men ended up landing on something hard. It would not have ended well for them.
Love at first sight.
Yeah, Jafar wants to get you killed, Al. I have heard some people complain that he comes off as too "friendly" here, but...I think that's the point. Jafar is a schemer, a manipulator. He can act like the nicest guy in the world if he needs to. It's all about getting into people's heads. I think it works.
WHO DISTURBS MY SLUMBER?!
Hey, "Friend Like Me!" They're keeping the songs!
Oh, I think I'm going to enjoy Will Smith as the genie. He's probably having a ton of fun doing this.
Genie actually makes sense. If you word wish wrong, it could blow up in your face.
Heh heh heh, you're not in charge here, Al.
Genie's got a point, Aladdin. It ain't the exterior that matters.
Hmm, looks like it'll basically follow the animated original, but I do hope they expand on some things to help differentiate it from the animated version. I'll give this film a shot. It's not going to hurt the original animated version. It's still out there, and it still is enjoyable. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! And if you want to give this blog some additional support, please drop a tip in my Digital Tip Jar! See you next time!
In 2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios released the film Frozen. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale "The Snow Queen", it was the 53rd film in the Disney Animated Canon. It told the tale of a princess who's troubles controlling her cryokinetic powers caused het to trap her kingdom in eternal winter.
The film received much critical praise and box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2013, and the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It also won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards (Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song), a Golden Globe for Best Animated Film, BAFTAs, and even Grammy Awards.
Naturally, a film like this would warrant itself a sequel. It did get a sequel short in the form of Frozen Fever in 2015, but now it'll get a full-length animated sequel. Let's take a look at the teaser for Frozen 2, coming in November!
Huh. This setting is very Westeros.
Elsa hates the ocean. Don't ask, she just hates the ocean.
Anna and Kristoff keep telling her that's not how surfing works, but Elsa never listens.
I keep expecting a SHIELD submarine to pop up, Nick Fury on it, and telling Elsa he's putting together a new Avengers team. Because it's going to happen after Avengers: Endgame. Mark my words. We will see a new Avengers team after that movie.
Careful, Anna. One of those crystals could be the Crystalline Entity. Yeah, I'm a Trekkie.
Kristoff's taken up reindeer raising, I see. Good for him.
Hey, new character!
I just had a bit of a theory. Based on this footage, we can assume they're going to a world that is in endless fall, like Arendelle was trapped in winter. What if Elsa's ice powers come from her being the embodiment of a season? Arendelle was the winter world, now we're going to the fall world. What if this new character is for autumn what Elsa is for winter?
Anna's been getting some sword lessons.
Well, this seems interesting. I like the idea of doing some worldbuilding and enhancing the lore of Frozen's world. I think this movie will be fun! I really got to go watch the first onesometime.
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As I have said in the past, Disney has been on a bit of a kick for remaking some of their animated films as live-action flicks. I have talked about the Lion King and Dumbo remake trailers, but now, another one is coming: Aladdin.
That's right, Aladdin. Released in 1992, it's the 31st film in the Disney Animated Canon. Based on the Arabic folktale, it was the first animated film to make half a billion dollars at the box office. It also was the highest-grossing film of 1992, and received much critical acclaim. It also won two Academy Awards (Best Original Score and Best Original Song), and was nominated for two more. It also is the only Disney film to ever get a Grammy for Song of the Year. The voice cast included Scott Weinger as the title character, Linda Larkin as Princess Jasmine, and most notably, the late Robin Williams as Genie.
Aladdin was a beloved film, getting a couple direct-to-DVD sequels, an animated series spin-off, and even a Broadway play. So, let's take a look at this little franchise's newest offering's trailer, helmed by Guy Ritchie!
That's a big ol' sand dune.
Arabian nighhhhhhhts, like Arabian dayyyyys...
Oh neat, Iago! I hope they got Gilbert Gottfried to reprise the role.
Whoa. The Cave of Wonders looks awesome.
Don't you just hate it when your giant sand lion decides to close its mouth while you're in it?
Careful, Aladdin. You might get quite the surprise. That's Mena Massoud as the title character right there. Cool fact: He was born in Egypt. I hope he does a good job.
Well, this teaser looked pretty neat. I know people tend to get rather...upset about these live-action remakes, but I look at it like this. If this film does turn out to be bad, it won't hurt the original. The original will still exist, and it will still be great. I do hope this film turns out to be good, though.
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Like I have said in my blog entry about my thoughts on the trailer for the upcoming remake of Dumbo, Disney has been on a bit of a kick of remaking their classic films from the Animated Canon. Well, another classic is getting that treatment. Which one? Well, The Lion King.
The 32nd film in the Disney Animated Canon, the original Lion King was released in 1994. Influenced by Shakespeare's tale Hamlet, it told the tale of the young lion cub Simba, who fled into exile after he was convinced that he was at fault for the death of his father Mufasa at the hands of his power-hungry uncle Scar. After spending years with the free-living meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa (they call him MR. PIG), he must return to the Pridelands and take back his rightful throne.
The film was a big hit with critics and the box office, becoming the highest-grossing release of 1994, the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, won two Academy Awards for its music, got a Golden Globe, and was even inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2016 because it was considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Yup. The Lion King has become a bit popular. Even spawned its own little franchise, like a Broadway show, TV shows, and even a couple of direct-to-video sequels.
Considering that unlike much of the films that Disney is remaking, The Lion King has no human characters, they have to take a new approach to remaking it. How? Well, CGI. Yup, this film is getting the CGI treatment. But enough of my yakking, let's look at this teaser!
Ahhh, another beautiful day in the Pridelands. The sun is shining, the temperature is comfortable, and nothing can ever go wrong.
Heh. Only appropriate they got James Earl Jones back to voice Mufasa again.
Those wildebeests gotta hurry! The breakfast buffet closes in 30 minutes!
And there's the African chanting I know everyone had tried to imitate.
Aww, baby Simba looks so cute.
"What's going on? Who woke up from muh nap? Why's everyone looking at me?"
That's right, bow! Bow to the cuteness of the baby lion!
That's quite a cast there.
Well, its not much, but I have to admit, it looks rather interesting. I know some people get up in arms about remakes these days, but hey, the original still exists, you can still watch it. As for me, I'll give it a chance. Might be fun! Although based on what I saw of the reception so far, a lot of people are not ready to endure the trauma of Mufasa dying again...
In 1941, Walt Disney Productions and RKO Pictures released the animated film Dumbo. The fourth film in the Disney Animated Canon, it told the tale of a baby elephant named Jumbo Jr. It was based on the children's story written by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, and included illustrations by Helen Durney. Little Jumbo Jr. has large ears which make him the object of bullying, including being given the mocking nickname "Dumbo", as in dumb. He discovers that he can use his ears like wings to fly, which allows him to become the star of the circus.
At 64 minutes, it's one of Disney's shortest animated films. The film was made to recoup the losses from the previous film Fantasia. Dumbo would receive critical praise, and be one of Disney's most successful films during the 1940s. Keep in mind, World War II was going on at the time. The film won the 1941 Academy Award for Best Original Score, was nominated for Best Original Song (for the song "Baby Mine"), and in 2017, the film was selected to be preserved for the National Film Registry. There was supposed to be sequel in the works a few years ago, but it got cancelled.
In recent years, Disney has been on a bit of a kick for remaking their animated movies in live-action. Cinderella and The Jungle Book got such remakes, and there are ones for Mulan and Aladdin in the works. And naturally, being one of Disney's most iconic films, Dumbo would also get that same treatment, led by the mind of Tim Burton. So, let's take a look at the trailer for it!
That's a pretty neat transition there.
I'm guessing this film will be set in the 1940s. Would make sense as the original Dumbo was made and released in the 1940s.
Huh. Is Dumbo CGI there? If it is, it looks pretty good.
Love the nod to Timothy Q. Mouse.
Hey, the black feather. Dumbo's magic feather!
You know, if Dumbo keeps working on that trick with those ears, we may have something here. Nah, flying elephant. I'm being silly.
So, we got Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton in a movie directed by Tim Burton. That combination sounds...kind of familiar...
Well, the circus has a flying elephant, so no wonder that people would assume that there's something odd about it.
Oh dear...
We're going on a rescue mission!
Is that a nod to the "Pink Elephants on Parade" sequence from the original? God, I still remember that...
Well, this appears to be quote interesting. I enjoyed the original Dumbo as a kid, and I think I'll give this version a try. I haven't seen any of the other live-action remakes, so I've got no expectations for it. I hope this version is enjoyable.
In 1995, Disney-Pixar released the film Toy Story. This film would be two big firsts: Pixar's first feature-length film, and the first feature-length feature film to be entirely computer-animated. It would earn over $370 million dollars at the box office, and was also critically praised. It would be nominated for three Academy Awards, and spawn a franchise including two further films, TV specials, shorts, and an animated series. The third Toy Story movie would be the first animated feature to gross over $1 billion dollars at the box office.
It has become one of Disney-Pixar's most popular and beloved franchises. So, it makes sense that there would be more stuff coming from it. A teaser for the fourth Toy Story movie has come out, so let's take a look!
Well, this intro is rather bright and cheerful. ...It's going to get real dark momentarily, isn't it?
I wonder if they'll get a new voice for Mr. Potato Head considering Don Rickles had passed away last year. It was said he didn't record any lines for him for this movie before passing.
Wait...is that a spork?! Why is spork here?!
Well, at least the spork acknowledges that it doesn't belong here. And it really needs to switch to decaf.
IT'S FREAKING OUT! IT'S FREAKING OUT, MAN!
The crashing is hilarious. Nice work, Woody.
Yeah, you are not a toy, Mr. Spork. You are a bad LSD trip.
Well, this sounds fun. I have to admit, I was surprised that they are doing a fourth Toy Story, since it was a trilogy that ended very well. However, the idea of the other toys teaching a spork how to be a toy sounds too hilarious. I enjoyed the films (although admittedly, I have never seen the third one), so I want to see this one.
