The interactive art installation featuring reimagined worlds of iconic scary movies, I Like Scary Movies Experience, will open its doors September 20-November 17 in downtown LA for an encore engagement. Produced by Ultra Productions and inspired by some of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and New Line Cinema’s most iconic scary movies. The experience will feature a brand new exhibit inspired by Friday the 13th, among other fan-favorite installations, including the first Blockbuster IT chapter, The Shining, Beetlejuice, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. General Admission tickets are $39 and are available to purchase online here.
I Like Scary Movies is a groundbreaking interactive art installation that is a true celebration of some of the most beloved horror films. Attendees can expect to experience the iconic horror films that they love in a completely new way with unique art creations by Maximillian and incredible photo opportunities. Guests will “visit” Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th; check out The Shining’s Overlook Hotel to meet the creepy twins, and wander through Beetlejuice’s graveyard on the way to the Netherworld Waiting Room. Fans are also welcome to enter Freddy’s boiler room from A Nightmare on Elm Street on their way to Pennywise’s lair from IT.
The I Like Scary Movies experience is brought to life by Maximillian, the experiential artist behind many Hollywood studio activations. As a life-long Halloween lover, he couldn’t resist re-opening for the Halloween season. “I grew up loving the Halloween season,” said Maximillian. “Every year, my grandmother would let me destroy her house with decorations, and each year I would go bigger and bigger. Her support really helped shape my love for scary movies and ultimately put me on the path to become an experiential artist.”
Not designed as a jump scare traditional haunt, the I Like Scary Movies exhibit is a perfect way to re-live movies that inspired the horror genre. During the incredibly successful first installment of the exhibit last spring, thousands of fans from every state in the U.S. and various countries reveled in the one-of-a-kind experience inspired by some of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and New Line Cinema’s most iconic scary films, resulting in countless photos shared around the world. The exhibit also had its share of celebrity guests, who joined in to share their love of scary movies.
Location: HD Buttercup Building – 2118 East Seventh Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Beginning today, families and fans can once again add a little Disney magic into the bedtime routine with the Disney store “Disney Bedtime Hotline.” For the second year in a row, fans and families can call the toll-free number, 1-877-7-MICKEY, to hear six special goodnight messages from Mickey Mouse, Woody, Jasmine, Anna and Elsa, Yoda and Spider-Man to give kids something to look forward to at bedtime and give parents a break. The phone number will run until September 30 and is available throughout the United States. Callers can also opt-in for a one-time text.
Parents agree that putting kids to bed can be stressful, and a recent survey showed that 77 percent of parents are exhausted by the process of getting their children to bed.
In an effort to help improve the bedtime battle, shopDisney.com|Disney store is launching an updated Sleep Shop assortment of sleep items including plush bedtime buddies, fleece sleep throws, slippers, new pajama sets as well as the new subscription program, Disney Bedtime Adventure Box.
For as low as $27.99 per box, subscribers will receive everything they need to spark their child’s imagination and help establish a regular nighttime routine. Fun for kids and a dream for parents, each story-filled box includes easy-to-follow activity cards, authentic Disney store pajamas, an adventure-based book, a rewards chart, stickers, and a special offer. You can also choose a Bedtime Deluxe Box with two additional treasures that might include a pillow, blanket, towel, plush or bath toys — over $70 of value for as low as $54.99.
While the hotline will only run through the end of the month, the Disney Bedtime Adventure Box is available to order monthly or annually for shipment on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis, and is the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays or special days. The Disney Bedtime Adventure Box is the third monthly subscription box offered from shopDisney.com|Disney store after the Disney Princess Enchanted Collection and Disney Backstage Collection.
To locate your closest Disney store location, visit the locator map here.
For better or worse, it’s impossible to objectively view Disney’s live-action remakes without the prism of the original films. That nostalgia is baked into them from conception and creates a specter hanging over every frame of footage. Whether too slavish to the original or too far removed, these films can’t be viewed on their own terms. This is something that director Guy Ritchie, along with his co-screenwriter John August, must have been all too aware of when crafting Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin.
From the very beginning, it’s obvious that you are expected to be familiar with the original source material. Ritchie takes the viewer’s familiarity and flips it on its head, starting not in the middle of the desert, but on a boat, where Will Smith is introduced singing the classic introduction song to two young children. This moment sets a tone right from the start where you will almost always know exactly what is happening and where things are going, but everything’s just slightly off. The whole film is played this way, and it’s an impressive feat, if not slightly offputting.
As the film progresses, we are quickly introduced to the familiar iconography with barely a passing acknowledgment. Things are introduced out of necessity, and then we’re off to the next location. By the time we finally get to the Genie, we’re not really sure what to expect. Everyone knows Will Smith is playing the Genie, but how would his performance stand up to the incredible manic energy that Robin Williams brought to the animated role?
There’s no way not to compare the two performances, and while William’s is far funnier, and honestly, more entertaining, I have to give credit to Smith for not just mimicking William’s approach to the character. Smith plays the Genie far more laid-back, with actual conversation throughout the film rather than a constant barrage of jokes. Unfortunately, the jokes the Genie does have seldom land, and the special effects to bring those jokes to life are very hit-and-miss. Gone are the pop-culture references and celebrity impressions, replaced with generic wordplay and sight gags. In fact, the only truly laugh-out-loud moments int he films come from Mena Massoud’s Aladdin, perfectly encapsulating the awkward transition from “Street Rat” Aladdin, to “Prince” Ali of Ababwa.
One element of the film I was definitely NOT expecting was that of a love interest for the Genie, played in a scene-stealing performance by SNL’s Nasim Pedrad. There seems to be a conscious attempt to humanize the Genie, even so far as the Genie’s request not just for freedom, but to be human as well. It’s an interesting decision on the parts of the film-maker and keeps things far more interesting than they could have otherwise.
Unfortunately, the big problem with the film is a strong sense of being over-produced. Everything is very glossy and stylized in a rather distracting way. Ritchie’s filmography has a relatively distinct, decidedly non-family friendly style, and it’s an odd pairing of director and source material. All of the songs we know and love are here, but they’re remixed in such a way to accommodate his visual look, complete with sped-up and slowed-down footage. The soundtrack still holds up, but it’s just not the same as the theatricality of the originals.
However, there is one completely new song, Speechless, expertly performed by Princess Jasmine’s Naomi Scott. It’s a fantastic song, and one I’m sure we’ll be hearing for a long time. I just wish the other songs had the same level of care put into them.
Not just in that song, but throughout the film, Scott completely nails her role as Jasmine. She brings the strong-willed nature of the character to the surface, feeling completely true to her animated counter-part while making the role her own. With the exception of Marwan Kenzari’s completely non-intimidating portrayal of Jafar, the casing is pretty stellar across the board. Everyone captures the essence of their characters while making them unique to themselves.
Overall, I was impressed with the duality of the film, making it seem like its own thing, but staying true to the original. I just wish the end results were more entertaining. It was a strong effort, but not one I can fully recommend. There isn’t too much to recommend as far as the extras in the newly released Blu-Ray either. There’s some interesting footage of the behind-the-scenes of Prince Ali and Whole New World music numbers, deleted scenes, bloopers, and not much more. This is one of those releases where every bonus feature just serves to pat the filmmakers on the back, without providing any real insight into the production of the film.
Still, the movie is fun, and I watched it with my 3, 5, and 7-year-old daughters who all loved it (while finding parts a little too scary). It’s a great film to watch together as a family, but preferably only if everyone’s seen the original first.
Bonus features include:
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE BONUS:
“SPEECHLESS”: CREATING A NEW SONG FOR JASMINE – Follow the story of Jasmine’s inspirational song “Speechless,” written by Alan Menken, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul especially for this version of “Aladdin.”
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL BONUS:
ALADDIN’S VIDEO JOURNAL: A NEW FANTASTIC POINT OF VIEW – Watch behind-the-scenes moments captured by Mena Massoud (Aladdin) in this fun, fast-paced look at his personal journey.
DELETED SONG – “DESERT MOON” – Experience a moving duet performed by Jasmine and Aladdin, fully shot and edited, with an introduction by Alan Menken.
GUY RITCHIE: A CINEMATIC GENIE – Discover why director Guy Ritchie was the perfect filmmaker to tackle this exhilarating reimagining of a beloved classic.
A FRIEND LIKE GENIE – Discover how Will Smith brings talent, experience and his own personal magic to the iconic role of Genie.
DELETED SCENES
Falling Petals Into OJ
Jafar’s Magic Orrery
Anders’ Gift
Wrong Wishes
Silly Old Fool
Post Yam Jam Debrief
BLOOPERS– Laugh along with the cast and crew in this lighthearted collection of outtakes from the set.
MUSIC VIDEOS
“Speechless”– Music video performed by Naomi Scott
“A Whole New World”– Music video performed by ZAYN and Zhavia Ward
“ A Whole New World” (“Un Mundo Ideal”) – Music video performed by ZAYN and Becky G.
Halloween Horror Nights returns for the 2019 season at Universal Studios Hollywood. This year’s scare mazes and merchandise has been heavily influenced and inspired by 1980s horror while the scare zones tap into the origins and surrounding traditional celebrations that revolve around the fall season. A welcome nostalgic tie-in to a uniform theme for the evening. Our maze review is ranked from most favorite to our least favorite.
Ghostbusters
This may not be the scariest maze, but it’s definitely the most fun. During the evening, this and Stranger Things commanded the highest wait times. The firehouse facade is set appropriately amongst the metropolitan sets of the backlot. Louis Tully amusingly wonders the queue looking for the gatekeeper. The maze begins with Jean answering phone calls and exclaiming “we got one!”. We felt like one of the team members ready to answer the call. But all is not well as the containment unit breaches releasing all sorts of specters into the city. Long-time fans will recognize many of the sets and characters. It was a joy to walk through with a smile reached across our faces. With that in mind, there are a few nitpicks to point out. Dana Barrett does not appear in her Zuul costume. And Gozer is a jump scare in a black hallway. This ancient deity deserves its own room to taunt guests. Nevertheless, this is a spiritual crowd-pleaser.
1 of 5
Killer Klownz From Outer Space
Certainly, the most colorful design of the maze line up belongs to this 1980s horror sci-fi film. The facade is themed as the spaceship disguised as a circus tent complete with the old man searching for his dog just outside. The corridors guide us further down the loony spacecraft and back in the small town of Crescent Cove. All the great moments from the film are lovingly captured in three dimensions here to be enjoyed. A very welcome addition to Horror Nights.
Holidayz in Hell
Designed after vintage postcards, this maze sends guests on a journey through the seasons throughout the year starting from New Years to Christmas. But of course, they all have their evil demented views of the holidays. Cupid uses his arrows to kill and pumpkins spring to life in Halloween. This somehow brings a somewhat classier vibe with the vintage look. It’s exciting to reminiensce with anticipation remembering which holiday would come to life in the next room.
1 of 6
Creepshow
Based on the 1982 cult classic from horror icons Georgge Romero and Stephen King, this anthology series comes to life besides its Shudder revival counterpart. Guests are invited to step inside the horror comic book series of “Creepshow” lead by our host, The Creep. Five stories unfold; three from the original movie and two from the new series. Those tales include “Father’s Day”, “The Crate”, “They’re Creeping Up on You”, “Gray Matter”, and “Bad Wolf Down”. Having based a maze on an anthology series before with “Trick ‘r’ Treat”, Creepshow borrows the same previous format of dividing each story with a comic book style cover. The Creep popping out from the comic book page is a surefire shocker. Each room squeezed as much of the available space with as much recognizable detail as they can for each scene. Even the comic book style backgrounds from the movie are cleverly mimicked in the blackout areas of the maze. A descent nostalgia-fueled stroll.
1 of 6
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman
Practically a follow-up to the Universal Monsters maze from last year, the focus now spotlights Frankenstein’s monster meeting the Wolfman. Seeing the two creatures scaring from on either side of you calls back to when Horror Nights had an Alien vs Predator maze. The outdoor facade sees guests enter a gypsy camp and encounter the transformation and hunt for the wolfman. After traversing the eerie woods, we find ourselves in the midst of Castle Frankenstein. Here, a disfigured laboratory assistant conducts experiments with the two foes strapped to a pair of slabs. The finale is a welcome end that borrows an effective scare element from the previous year.
Us
It may not seem like it at first, but those who have seen Jordan Peele’s film that features an underground labyrinth of mystery began in the 1980s, which continues to connect with the 1980s theme for the season. Beginning in the mirror funhouse on the Santa Cruz boardwalk, guests find themselves face to face with their doppelgängers and must survive the invasion. The settings were respectfully well selected and suited the needs of this maze. The film itself is very well done as well as the maze, but leaves fans split with its ending. Nevertheless, the music theme really sets the mood just right that even people who haven’t seen the movie will get chills.
The Curse of Pandora’s Box
“Pandora’s Cabinet of Curiosities” is an oddities storefront for the twisted Greek mythology contained inside. Opening the box brings out evil as they rain upon our souls. The majority of the maze is a backlit neon color fest. Universal could have easily had this be a 3D maze. We’re glad that’s not the case.
House of 1000 Corpses
A returning horror movie franchise returns after appearing in 2010 and 2011. Rob Zombie’s cult classic seems to be more fondly remembered for its past inception. For a maze with “corpse” in its title, this offering feels soul-less.
Stranger Things
If you were disappointed with last year’s Season 1 offering, then we’re sorry to say, folks, it didn’t get any better. Based mostly on Season 2, somehow the Hollywood creative team managed to make this the least appealing maze of the evening. The first half relied on wide-open spaces and projections to create some nifty effects. But it keeps going downhill from there. You get glimpses of scenes fans would remember from the show. But it somehow feels unfocused and relied on darkness a lot. There are not as many live actors as you’d hope as Hollywood seems to favor using mannequins wherever the can. And then to add insult to injury, Season 3 was tagged on as the finale to the experience. But you just walked through a messy cabin. With no question, hands down, Orlando did justice.
The Walking Dead
This is a year-round maze with supposedly more scare actors during Halloween Horror Nights. There’s not much of a difference from daytime park operations. And most fans seem to stay clear of this maze in favor of the other seasonal offerings. We would rather repeat a temporary maze than to return here.
Overall
2019 is, for the most part, a huge improvement over 2018. Last year was bombarded with endless black hallways in every maze. The black hallways are broken up enough that it’s not as noticeable. Strangers Things, unfortunately, did not improve. The absence of the Terror Tram from previous years does not seem to hinder anyone as we did get not one but two mazes from cleverly reusing the Studio Tram Tour queue as the queues for the two mazes, Us and The Curse of Pandora’s Box. House of 1000 Corpses is not the only element that returned from past Horror Nights. Many mazes including Stranger Things and Killer Klownz featured an abundance of water effects that pours the steaming liquid on guests. We’re here to be scared, not get soaked throughout the cold evening chill.
Disney’s ‘Pixar in Concert’, in which a live symphony orchestra performs selections from 14 Pixar film scores to a montage of scenes from each movie, comes to Musco Center for the Arts on Saturday, September 28 at 7:30 pm.
Pixar has forever changed filmmaking while giving us some of the most enduring characters in cinematic history. From Toy Story to The Incredibles and UP, Pixar films are as magnificent to hear, as they are to see. To celebrate the timeless music of Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Thomas Newman, and Michael Giacchino, Disney created a concert version of songs and soundtracks that helped bring the films’ characters to life while earning 10 Grammy® Awards, three Academy Awards®, and 10 Oscar® nominations.
The symphony orchestra, comprised of more than 70 professional musicians and Chapman University music students, will perform selections from Cars, WALL•E, Ratatouille, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Brave and the others in a visually stunning, high-definition, multi-media family show. Broadway World called it “pure magic” and Huffington Post wrote, “It’s a moment in life you’ll remember forever.”
The student participation is part of the Musco Master Class program, in collaboration with Chapman’s College of Performing Arts. This Musco program creates opportunities for students to learn from and work with exemplary artists and scholars from around the world who perform and present what Chapman University teaches.
“This concert gives Chapman students real-world work experience,” said Richard T. Bryant, Musco Center Executive Director. “They rehearse with seasoned professional musicians over two days and then perform for the Musco Center audience. It’s indicative of our approach to the integration of our work with the life of the University. And our students can learn more about being a professional musician in those 48 hours that could be taught in a classroom.”
“Disney’s ‘Pixar in Concert’ marks the first of many collaborations between our students and professional musicians this season,” said Dr. Giulio Ongaro, Dean of Chapman University’s College of the Performing Arts. “A program like this is extremely valuable for the professional development of our students. Given the importance of orchestral music in the film industry, this is a unique opportunity for Chapman students to gain hands-on experience in the professional musical landscape.”
The September 28, 2019 performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets, beginning at $30, are available at www.muscocenter.org or through the Musco box office by calling 844-OC-MUSCO (844-626-8726). All print-at-home tickets include a no-cost parking pass. Musco Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Chapman University at 415 North Glassell, Orange, Calif.
This holiday season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will be bringing Friends fans closer to the entertainment they love by celebrating “Friendsgiving” at the Studio. This exclusive holiday-themed event, Friendsgiving will create a one-of-a-kind Friends experience in the place where it all began, Warner Bros. Studios. Guests can gather with friends and family and visit the very locations where Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courteney Cox), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer) formed their unforgettable friendships both on and off-screen, creating lasting memories for millions of fans around the world.
The Friendsgiving event includes an exclusive Friends-focused 90-minute tour through the Studio backlots highlighting iconic filming locations where the show took place. Guests will get a glimpse outside Stage 24, forever known as “The Friends Stage,” and visit the real “Central Park” location where Phoebe and Rachel took up jogging while testing their knowledge onboard the Tour Cart with Friends trivia. (Hint: “Transponster” is not even a word!) In addition, Friends fans can walk onto the authentic Central Perk set where they can sit on the iconic orange couch, get an up-close look at original costumes worn by the cast, and even join in on a sing-along of “Smelly Cat” and other fan favorites in the very spot where Phoebe performed. At the conclusion of the Friendsgiving Tour, fans will have a chance to check out our exclusive Friends 25th Anniversary merchandise at the WB Studio Store.
To commemorate the hit series’ 25th Anniversary, the iconic fountain seen in the opening credits is being moved from its current location at the Warner Bros. Ranch facility to the main lot to preserve this piece of legendary television history. Friendsgiving guests will be among the first to grab a colorful umbrella and recreate the show’s opening credits while singing and dancing with their friends in front of the original, never-before-displayed fountain.
At the conclusion of the Friendsgiving Tour, guests will “pivot” once again to arrive at the Studio’s Commissary Fine Dining room where the cast often dined while the show was filming. Our Executive Chef will prepare a holiday-themed meal including turkey and ham along with vegan/gluten-free options and all the fixings. Whether Ross’s “Moist Maker” sandwich is on the menu is still being decided. At the same time, our mixologists will be serving up themed drinks along with beer and wine for purchase.
“Friends made its home here at the Studio for a decade, and 25 years later, it’s still one of the most popular shows on our tours,” said Gary Soloff, WBSTH Director of Marketing. “With such a massive global following, we’re excited to bring fans together in the very place the show was filmed to enjoy and create new memories of the classic comedy this holiday season.”
Friendsgiving is offered on select dates this November. Tickets for this special holiday event are on sale now at wbstudiotour.com for $139 per person. Price includes a holiday meal, Friends-themed tour, photo-ops at various location on the backlot, trivia, and so much more.
For nearly five decades, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects.
The Walt Disney Archives will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, and to kick off the festivities, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif., will host Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, offering a rare look at some of the treasures from the Archives. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit opens to the public on March 7, 2020.
Guests are invited to step into the Walt Disney Archives as they walk through a dazzling display of more than 400 objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the Archives, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. Artifacts include never-before-displayed production art from Fantasia, Walt Disney’s office set from Saving Mr. Banks, the original pitch portfolio used to secure investors for Disneyland, maquettes from animated films such as Peter Pan and Frozen, and much more.
Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be invited to enjoy an exclusive look at the exhibit before it opens to the general public during a special preview night where they can chat with Disney archivists while exploring the exhibit, which runs through August 30, 2020, before heading to other locations around the country (to be revealed in 2020). D23 Gold Members will also receive a discount on tickets to the exhibit, as well as a discount on merchandise in the museum store. Bowers Museum is one of Southern California’s finest museums, showcasing exquisite examples of art and culture from around the world since 1936.
In addition to the exhibit, Disney fans will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Archives throughout 2020:
The Archives will partner with the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for special El Cap Throwback screenings during the year.
A special exhibit, 50 Years of the Walt Disney Archives, will debut at D23’s Destination D event at Walt Disney World Resort in fall of 2020. The exhibit will include 50 iconic treasures, each representing a year that the Archives has been in existence.
D23’s Behind the Scenes Experience: A Day at the Studio Lot events in 2020, held exclusively for Gold Members of D23, will offer a rare glimpse into how the Archives preserves the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
All Official Walt Disney Studios Tours in 2020, presented by D23, will include a special gift for guests themed to the 50th anniversary.
Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
20th Century Fox has released a special preview of the intense, action-filled “Moon Rover” sequence from AD ASTRA, coming to theaters on September 20, 2019.
Starring Brad Pitt, AD ASTRA is a paranoid thriller in space that follows Roy McBride (Pitt) on a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
Director James Gray (THE LOST CITY OF Z, THE IMMIGRANT) and director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema (INTERSTELLAR, DUNKIRK) researched actual images of the Moon from the Apollo lunar missions to ensure an authentic look that will surely be breathtaking on the big screen. AD ASTRA stars Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland.
AD ASTRA arrives in theaters everywhere on September 20, 2019, from The Walt Disney Studios. Pre-order tickets now atadastramovie.com.
Amazon Prime Video announced that the second season of the fan-favorite, action-thriller Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, starring John Krasinski, will premiere globally on Friday, November 1, 2019. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: amazon.com/prime.
In the second season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, after tracking a potentially suspicious shipment of illegal arms in the Venezuelan jungle, CIA Officer Jack Ryan, portrayed by Krasinski, heads down to South America to investigate. As Jack’s investigation threatens to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy, the President of Venezuela launches a counter-attack that hits home for Jack, leading him and his fellow operatives on a global mission spanning the United States, UK, Russia, and Venezuela to unravel the President’s nefarious plot and bring stability to a country on the brink of chaos.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is co-produced by Amazon Studios, Paramount Television, and Skydance Television and will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. In addition to Krasinski, the second season of the dramatic series also stars Wendell Pierce as James Greer, Noomi Rapace as Harriet ‘Harry’ Baumann and Michael Kelly as Mike November.
The official Season Two trailer was also shown during the NFL Season Opener on NBC, marking the first time Prime Video ran a full-length trailer on broadcast television. Additionally, travelers flying into LAX Airport this month will be greeted to “Jack is Back,” a 50,000 square foot rooftop billboard marking the largest rooftop advertising placement of all time. The rooftop billboard will be illuminated, allowing travelers to view the signage any hour of the day or night.
In addition to access to movies and TV shows included with Prime, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: amazon.com/prime.
JAMES McAVOY as Bill Denbrough in New Line Cinema’s horror thriller "IT CHAPTER TWO,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer
Does this movie float or sink? We’re going with: float. Despite its nearly three hour running time, this followup satisfies and delivers a spine-tingling good time. You’ll need to have watched the first movie to completely understand Chapter Two. Overall, the first movie is more enjoyable and repeatable. But mostly because Chapter Two works more like a continuation of the story and characters rather than a traditional sequel. Pennywise himself seems to have received less screen time compared to the first. It’s usually the other way around, but it works in favor of the story structure and the movie constructs itself.
A murder has occurred in the small town of Derry, and so the Losers Club is called upon to fulfill a blood oath taken from their childhood after their climactic battle with IT. The first act of the movie will be nostalgic to those who have grown up with the 1990 TV miniseries. But this is briskly wrapped up in order to get to the meat of the movie. The characters undergo their own path to finding their token to be used for a ritual to defeat It. The flashbacks serve a story and character-driven purpose. It’s not just here for the scares and to see the child actors back on screen. The kids go through scary moments with the clown that morphs into the adult versions struggling with their own obstacles. The flashbacks share an unavoidable fate the TV miniseries also encountered. Although the flashbacks can be scary, they are not as threatening because you know the child will have to survive in order to become adults.
Some may have concerns about the flashback sequences not appearing or mentioned from the first movie. Things like an underground clubhouse never appeared before. Well, the adults said themselves, upon returning to Derry, their memories seem to be restoring. So the audience follows the perspective of the characters rediscovering lost memories and experiences.
The transitions between the back and forth timeframes were handled visually and intriguingly well. Keeps everyone on their toes and pay attention. This may get old for those trying to figure out when in time the characters are.
The entire cast performed wonderfully. Particularly, Bill Hader steals the movie with his cracker-jack portrayal of funny guy Richie. He and James Ransone as worrisome Eddie had strong chemistry throwing hilariously insults at one another. And they equally nailed their performances of their child counterparts.
Some may say this movie is not scary. The “true form” of IT may split audiences. On the hand, Pennywise mirrored the Scorpion King from The Mummy Returns (2001) and the villain in Wreck-It Ralph (2012), but it was still an enjoyable watch. Plus you get more Bill Skarsgard screen time. A personal favorite moment was the blending of decapitated head with a homage to John Carpenter’s “The Thing” (1982). It gave me a huge grin and received some excited exclamations from the audience. The two movies complement each other satisfactorily. Both feel like one cohesive story that can be immediately viewed back-to-back.
Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer luxurious sailing around the world (photo courtesy of Oceania Cruises)
When considering a big, exciting trip such as a cruise, it’s good to get an early start on planning. So when I recently received brochures from a couple of cruise lines I’ve been wanting to experience, I knew it was time to start researching.
The cruise lines that I am looking at for a possible trip in late 2019 or early 2020 are Oceania Cruises (www.oceaniacruises.com) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com). Both companies specialize in boutique luxury, with relatively small ships, intimate port experiences, and premium amenities and customer service.
Formed in 2002, Oceania Cruises says it is the world’s largest upper premium cruise line. “The finest cuisine at sea, destination specialists and intimate & luxurious ships are the pillars that define Oceania Cruises’ five-star product, positioning the line as the cruise company of choice for travelers seeking a truly refined and casually elegant travel experience,” reads the company’s website.
Featuring a fleet of six luxurious ships, Oceania offers a vacation experience renowned for gourmet culinary programs inspired by Master Chef Jacques Pépin, and an array of destination-rich itineraries spanning the globe. Seasoned world travelers are drawn to Oceania Cruises’ diverse voyages, which call on more than 400 ports across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and the Americas. Spacious and elegant accommodations aboard the 684-guest Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena and the 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera invite guests to explore the world in unparalleled comfort and style.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises says it is the “world’s most inclusive luxury experience” with a five-ship fleet that visits more than 450 destinations around the world. The final phase of Regent Seven Seas Cruises $125 million fleet-wide refurbishments was recently completed, elevating the elegance of its fleet to the standard set by the all-balcony, all-suite Seven Seas Explorer, which entered service on July 20, 2016.
Seven Seas Explorer is joined by all-balcony, all-suite sister-ships Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner, and all-suite, 90 percent-balcony Seven Seas Navigator. In early 2020, Regent will perfect luxury with the launch of Seven Seas Splendor.
One of the most exciting cruises I am looking at is a 7-day Los Angeles to Los Angeles voyage aboard the ship Sirena. Departing on December 7, this journey leaves LA and heads for Catalina Island, where it will spend the day 2. Guests will have the opportunity to snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat, hike, bike or zip line. From here, the boat will sail the west coast of Baja California to Ensenada, Mexico, a sportsman’s paradise with popular pursuits including surfing, sport fishing, sea kayaking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
After cruising the Pacific Ocean on day 4, the ship will anchor in San Francisco on day 5. On day 6, the ship arrives in Monterey, California for nine hours. The last stop on the cruise will be Santa Barbara, California.
The 684-passenger Sirena, which was completely refurbished in 2016, is Oceania Cruises’ newest fleet addition. Across its 11 decks, the ship boasts luxury suites and staterooms with decorated in soothing palettes with traditional hardwoods, rich fabrics, fine furnishings, and original art. Rooms feature goose-down pillows with all-new, Ultra Tranquility Beds; plush couches; flat-screen TVs; and private teak verandas – a feature of the vast majority of accommodations.
Another voyage that I am looking at is a 10-day Miami to Miami cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Entitled Exotic Islands & Luxe Seascapes, this journey departs Miami on January 8, 2020. Sailing aboard the Seven Seas Explorer, this cruise cruises the Bahamian waters and the Atlantic Ocean for two days before arriving in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, the smallest piece of land shared by two sovereign states, St. Maarten.
The next port of call is Roseau, Dominica, a small town with plenty of colonial charm. Here passengers can visit the colorful open-air market and sip refreshing coconut drinks, and explore the island’s unspoiled natural landscape of dense rain forests, lush foliage, natural springs and rivers, and tall, smoldering peaks.
Castries, St. Lucia is the next stop. This is the capital, commercial center and main cruise port of St Lucia, which was founded by the French in 1768. From here it’s on to the beautiful beaches colorful coral reefs of St. John’s. The last port is St. Kitts, a stunning tropical island of unforgettable beaches, lush rainforest and a smoldering volcano.
Starting September 19th and running through November 2nd for 26 frightful nights, Knott’s Scary Farm returns for its 47th frightful year with a completely transformed park that brings terrifying nightmares to life at Southern California’s largest immersive Halloween experience. There’s nowhere to hide as every inch of the park is eerily transformed with an abundance of blood-curdling beasts, spine-chilling scares, and unearthly surprises waiting around every corner. This year, guests will face their deepest fears with the park’s 14 haunted attractions, including 4 spine-tingling scare zones, 9 menacing mazes and a seasonal overlay to the Timber Mountain Log Ride.
Check out the full 2019 Announcement Event that was held on Thursday, Aug 29:
Innovative and immersive scares await guests around every corner with the debut of two new terror-filled mazes. These new attractions will bring the mind’s most twisted delusions to life as guests are forced to confront frightening new life-like nightmares designed by Knott’s Scary Farm’s evil masterminds.
Wax Works (New for 2019) – Mysterious lights and strange noises have begun to emanate from the eerie abandoned wax museum. The once prominent plastic surgeon, Dr. Augustus Scratch, has been seen tinkering at night and is now ready to show off his beautiful yet terrifying life-like masterpieces of hot molten wax and bloody flesh. It’s rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard echoing through the halls of Wax Works as victims are horrifyingly submerged into a scorching hot cauldron of bubbling wax. Take a closer look at his gruesome works of art and try to escape his deadly grip or become the newest masterpiece in his collection.
Origins: The Curse of Calico (New for 2019) – Pierce the veil of time to discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott’s Scary Farm’s Ghost Town streets in the new maze Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft. All will be unveiled when the Green Witch rises up and curses the townsfolk, transforming all who have accused her into a wicked horde of malicious creatures with an eternal quench for the living.
New Show for 2019
Performing exclusively nightly at Knott’s Scary Farm for the 2019 season, Puppet Up! Uncensored is an outrageous, off-the-cuff live show featuring a combination of improvisational comedy and the magic of puppetry performed by a cast of world-class comedian puppeteers from The Jim Henson Company. Created by legendary puppeteer and award-winning director Brian Henson and directed by Patrick Bristow (Ellen, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Puppet Up! – Uncensored is no ordinary puppet show. In true uncensored form, the content is driven by audience suggestions and participation, topped with the zany antics and bawdy shenanigans of the colorful and brazen puppet cast. Puppet Up! – Uncensored will be performed three times each night at Knott’s Scary Farm and is intended for mature audiences.
Returning Favorites
Special Ops: Infected – Enlist to fight the zombie apocalypse in an all-out war against the undead in the interactive experience, Special Ops: Infected. Armed with specially designed laser guns, brave groups of guests embark on a mission of navigating through the city in a quest to find the infection cure. Take your last shot at saving mankind as this heart-stopping attraction is going out with a bang of new surprises, including two brand-new show scenes and characters for its final year at Knott’s Scary Farm.
Shadow Lands – A fulfilling life ensures a souls safe passage into eternity but what happens to the souls of soldiers slain in battle? Enter the hair-raising Shadow Lands maze for its final year at Knott’s Scary Farm and fight off demon samurais whose souls are cursed to rot within the depths of purgatory. Guests will embark on a quest through a sacred shrine, an ancient Japanese temple and into the midst of the shadow lands.
PARANORMAL, INC. – The Haunting of Hayden Hill: Paranormal Inc. maze once again reopens its doors to those brave enough to uncover an eerie and supernatural adventure. Guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.
Pumpkin Eater – Survive the wrath of the murderous 7-foot tall creature that haunts the old woods surrounding The Hollow in the Pumpkin Eater maze. The notorious creature is on the prowl hidden within the dark confines of the haunted town he once terrorized. To escape the sinister Pumpkin Eater’s wrath, all who enter must go on a quest through the silent town of victims, face a cave of crawling insects and solve the labyrinth of thorns that blocks the way out.
Dark Ride – Journey through an abandoned carnival ride where cruel carnie folk still linger in the shadows in Dark Ride: Castle of Chaos. The carnival has become a refuge for freaks and carnies. Now those shunned performers have created a dark world of terror which they plan to unleash on those who enter. Dark Ride will lead brave visitors through a treacherous path and into the bowels of a long-neglected attraction, as sinister shadows and horrifying scenes cast the gloom over the once pleasant ride. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare, being helplessly trapped inside an abandoned carnival ride without a way out. New for 2019, Dark Ride will be debuting a brand-new ending show scene where guests can walk through the rides attached Gift Shop and come face to face with Smiley Sam and Baby Fool.
The Depths – A heavy fog drapes over an abandoned port village where ancient creatures lurk inside the pitch-black underground caves hidden below the seaside shores. The Nightwatch Mining Crew has mysteriously disappeared and village rumors point to the eerie tunnels the town sits upon. Myths of the terrifying horrors that lurk within the cave have often been whispered but never confirmed. Did the crew meet their demise at the hand of vicious creatures that live within the cave? Journey into the ominous caverns to discover if the superstitions revolving around the cave is true or not. But be warned all who have entered have never resurfaced.
Dark Entities – Teleport beyond earth into a realm where the darkness is absolute. In the depths of space, a lone station faces terror beyond all imagination. An extraterrestrial mutation has invaded the station, and it’s on the prowl for new hosts. The unearthly inhabitants’ force increases as it feeds on its unwilling victims. Escape the dark entities before its deathly force eliminates all living form aboard the station. There’s nowhere to escape when time is running out!
Halloween Hootenanny – The residents of the Timber Mountain Log Ride celebrate the Halloween Hootenanny which adds a seasonal twist to a park favorite. Mysterious creatures of Timber Mountain that live out in the woods and caverns join the citizens as they honor the season at the Halloween Hootenanny. The ride’s interior features unexpected surprises as guests venture past the Calico Coffin Creeper band, the town’s green witch and splash down Skull Mountain through a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns.
The Hanging – It’s Knott’s Scary Farm’s annual live stage show that looks back at the year’s pop culture with some killer comedy. Notorious for its special effects and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no holds barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year. A must-see parody!
CONJURERS– Magic and Mirth in the Birdcage Theatre – The Bird Cage Theatre will once again become the home of comedy and magic. Join award-winning magicians and CW’s Masters of Illusion regulars as they take the stage to amaze and amuse. Witness magician Chipper Lowell and Dana Daniels front and center as they perform on select nights.
AWAKEN THE DEAD – A non-stop DJ dance party has taken over Fiesta Village, where guests can jam with candy skull go-go dancers and dance to music so popular it’s sure to Awaken the Dead.
Scare Zones
Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions. Every night monsters spill out onto the streets and turn theme park midways into murderous scare zones. From the world-famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm. Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all. Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, and beware the notoriously startling sliders, who lunge from fog-filled corners of the land. On the Boardwalk, deviant clowns crave your undying attention in the CARNEVIL scare zone. The Hollow scare zone will terrorize guests as the Witches of the Hollow along with their armies of creatures have risen once again to battle with the Witch Hunter. The Lake underneath Silver Bullet recedes to reveal the Forsaken Lake scare zone, where gothic creatures ravaged by the dark and murky waters wander from their crypts preying on unsuspecting visitors, looking for victims to drag back to their watery graves.
Knott’s Scary Farm Pass & Admission
The Knott’s Scary Farm Pass returns for the 2019 season and offers unlimited visits to all 26 event nights. Current 2019 Knott’s Berry Farm Season Passholders can purchase the pass at the limited time price of $90 and non-passholders can purchase the Scary Farm Pass for just $100. Prices are valid through Sept. 15 or while supplies last. Plus applicable taxes and fees.
Single night tickets – Buy tickets at KnottsScaryFarm.com and save up to $41 off the regular main gate price of $84. Knott’s Season Passholders receive a discount on single night tickets. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders.
Fright & Fast Lane – Ride and scream all night long with unlimited priority access to all mazes plus priority boarding on all Fast Lane rides. Fright & Fast Lane starts at $90 and varies by night. Separate Scary Farm park admission required, and not included.
Combo Tickets offering admission plus Fright & Fast Lane are an especially great value starting as low as $125 plus applicable taxes and fees. This combo is only available online. Save up to $49 with this admission plus Fright & Fast Lane Combo and Knott’s Season Passholders save up to an additional $5.
Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-Fet – Offered at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Spurs Chophouse, munch with monsters before Knott’s Scary Farm opens each night. Meals include a 2019 souvenir bottle, which gives unlimited complimentary refills on the event night and $1.00 refills for the rest of the 2019 season. After dinner, enjoy early entry into select areas of Knott’s Scary Farm a few minutes before it opens to other mortals. Boo-fet early entry will be to Paranormal Inc., Dark Entities, The Depths, and the brand-new maze Wax Works as well as allow for exclusive photo opportunities with the monsters. The Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-fet dinner is $34.99 + applicable taxes and fees when purchased online. Separate theme park admission required, and not included.
Knott’s Scary Farm General parking is $22 per vehicle and can be purchased online or at the parking booth upon arrival. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders. All Season Long Parking is valid for Knott’s Scary Farm nights.
Knott’s Scary Farm has welcomed millions of visitors over the past 46 years and has become an institution in the Southern California theme park landscape. This year, the event returns September 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, October 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, November 1, and 2. Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 1:00 am on select Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:00 pm – 2:00 am Fridays and Saturdays. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. This year’s Knott’s Scary Farm experience is Where Nightmares Never End!
For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, park hours and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smartphone.
The symphony orchestra, comprised of more than 70 professional musicians and Chapman University music students, will perform selections from Cars, WALL•E, Ratatouille, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Brave and the others in a visually stunning, high-definition, multi-media family show. Broadway World called it “pure magic” and Huffington Post wrote, “It’s a moment in life you’ll remember forever.”
The September 28, 2019 performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets, beginning at $30, are available at 
