Margaritaville Grand Opening at Universal CityWalk 13
On Thursday, March 30 Universal CityWalk toasted the arrival of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant to the destination—the first-ever in California—with an exclusive performance by singer, songwriter and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band.
Margaritaville is more than a restaurant, it’s a state of mind as the spirited new venue brings a seaside retreat to Universal CityWalk that continues to resonate as one of L.A.’s most influential lifestyle centers. Margaritaville is now open, serving lunch and dinner.
Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk Hollywood invites guests to escape the everyday as they dine in a casual environment amid palm trees, thatched enclaves, island music and surfboard tables and enjoy hand-crafted cocktails, live music and entertainment and signature dishes such as LandShark Lager Fish & Chips, Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya, Volcano Nachos or a Cheeseburger in Paradise.
The venue’s expansive 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar located at the center of the restaurant offers a selection of refreshing specialty drinks, including the Who’s to Blame® Margarita or the 5 O’Clock Somewhere boat drink.
For over 20 years, Universal CityWalk has boosted the city’s rhythm through a foundation built on providing memorable entertainment experiences. With a series of dramatic enhancements currently underway from new restaurants, shopping experiences and visually-aesthetic design features to its multi-million dollar Universal Cinema renovation, the spotlight shines brightly on CityWalk as it continues to invest in an ambitious revitalization and remain best in class.
Ahi Poke Nachos at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk
This significant undertaking coincides with Universal Studios Hollywood’s recent epic transformation in which 75 percent of the world-class theme park was completely reimagined.
Introduced in 1993, CityWalk was constructed in collaboration with visionary architect Jon Jerde as the prototypical one-stop leisure destination that redefined the mall of yesteryear as a vibrant multi-sensory outdoor complex. With grand neon signs and larger-than-life decorative sculptures complimenting the diverse offerings, this whimsical street was reflective of L.A.’s eclectic landscape and distinguishing characteristics.
Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk
Disney today has launched an all-new Club Penguin experience, Club Penguin Island, for mobile devices. The new app features an updated, modern take on Club Penguin, which has been a leading online kids entertainment destination for the past 11 years. Developed especially for mobile, Club Penguin Island brings together many of the best elements from the legacy Club Penguin product with new design and features.
“Club Penguin has been a favorite online destination for millions of kids for more than a decade, and Club Penguin Island was designed for the next generation of players who have grown up on mobile devices,” said Kyle Laughlin, SVP, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Apps and Games. “The new experience offers players the fun and social elements we know kids love, while maintaining the safety features parents have come to trust.”
Club Penguin Island is a subscription-based app that provides fans with engaging and immersive gameplay, and opportunities for self-expression, staying true to the core gameplay pillars found in Club Penguin. Players can join a thriving community, embark on island quests, earn special rewards, and take on daily challenges to level up their penguins.
In addition, Club Penguin Island maintains a strong commitment to providing a secure environment for kids, with a new safety moderation system that includes a chat filter. The updated chat function features unique emojis and 3D animations, and personal expression is easier than ever with a fashion-forward penguin customization system. Players will also have access to familiar reporting tools, which lets them self-moderate the community.
There will be no shortage of things to do on the island – be it hitting the stage, diving for gems or sharing stinky cheese with friends. Club Penguin Island is available now for free download, with an option to purchase a $4.99 monthly recurring membership subscription, starting today on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Users can try Club Penguin Island with a seven-day free trial.
Lancaster has always been one of those cities that I pass through on the way to some other destination. But last week was different. I finally took the time to explore the place and wow, was I surprised! I discovered a downtown full or charm, culture, cuisine and community spirit.
My recent getaway began when a friend and I drove about 60 miles north of Los Angeles toward the Mojave Desert and checked into the Towneplace Suites Lancaster, a business class hotel, with all the comfort and amenities needed for a relaxing stay. Conveniently located off the freeway, the hotel boasts rooms with fully equipped kitchens, plush beds, free Internet, and a free buffet breakfast in the lobby.
After unpacking, we drove to the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) (www.lancastermoah.org), for a sneak peek at its latest exhibit Movers & Shakers. This display was highlighted by the unique shoe designs of Chris Francis, whose creations look like they could be worn by rock stars, cavemen, people from space, and actresses.
MOAH showcases local artist from the Antelope Valley
The exhibit also features the intricate wood carvings of Sedi Pak, who studies the light, texture and patterns of nature and translates it into her large scale wooden sculptures. Another fascinating artist on display is Charles Hollis, whose “Fifty Chairs, Fifty Years” exhibit features mesmerizing chairs and furniture made from acrylic and metal.
From here, we strolled down Lancaster Boulevard, down the Aerospace Walk of Honor, to MOAH Ceder, a smaller satellite museum to experience the K. Wyatt Coleman photography show: Love, Peace, & Equality – A tribute to Martin Luther King and others who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. This exhibit is highlighted by beautiful and thought-provoking photographs of African Americans serving their community and family.
We then walked to Zelda’s bar (www.zeldas750west.com ) for a drink in a classic, old fashion-styled bar. From Zelda’s we walked across the street to Pour D’vino (www.pourdvino.com) for dinner.
Zelda’s is a classic watering hole along hip Lancaster Blvd
Offering intimate dining, Pour D’vino boasts more than 100 wines and beers to go along with an eclectic menu of steak, chicken, pork and seafood dishes. My meal was the delicious Nautica, with shrimp, clams, lobster and garden vegetables, tossed in linguine with a light mushroom garlic butter sauce. My friend had the gourmet grilled cheese, with aged cheddar, smoked gouda, Swiss cheese, tomato and crisped onions pressed with white wine Dijon glaze.
Pour D’vino serves an eclectic menu of steak, chicken, pork and seafood dishes
While dining we enjoyed California red wine, live music and the company of Pour D’vino owner Jody Cherbonneaux, and local artist Edwin R. Vasquez, a self-taught Guatemalan artist, photojournalist, and videographer who paints and creates art from recycled materials salvaged from the Mojave Desert.
After dinner, Vasquez led an instructive art class. Over wine and Pour D’vino desserts, he spoke about growing up in Guatemalan and moving to the Lancaster area – a California desert community, with open space, starlit nights, fresh air and the iconic raven bird. The raven has become such a symbol to Vasquez, that he helped us paint one on canvas with watercolors. This was much more fun than I expected.
Artist Edwin R. Vasquez is a local Lancaster treasure
The next morning we enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the Towneplace Suites Lancaster and then went for a walk in the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve. Nestled within an urban area, this scenic park, offers more than three miles of trails across 100 acres of native California desert landscape teaming with Joshua trees, tumble weeds, jack rabbits, bats, coyotes, scores of birds and other wildlife. Next to the preserve is the Elyze Clifford Interpretive Center, where kids and adults can learn about local desert wildlife and native plants.
Lancaster also boasts great nature hikes at Prime Desert Preserve
After the nature walk, it was back to downtown for a tour of the giant, beautiful murals painted on the sides of buildings by local artists. We then had lunch at Bex Bar & Grill (www.bexgrill.com). Located on the newly renovated Lancaster Blvd, Bex offers a full menu of slow roasted tri tip, rotisserie chicken, baby back ribs, as well as seafood, burgers and desserts. I had an incredible blacked salmon on top of a fresh garden salad. The place also features a lounge with live music, an underground bowling alley, pool tables, and big screen TV’s.
We concluded our visit at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center (www.lpac.org) where we watched a funny British play called “Run for You Wife.”
The Boss Baby is the most recent induction into Dreamworks’ sequel-heavy animated feature collection. The story is told from the point of view of the Boss Baby’s eventual older brother, Tim, and begins in an almost Toy Story-like style, in a boy’s room with toys strewn about. You will immediately notice a lovely score by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro. Tim, you soon discover, is happily an only-child with an insatiable imagination that makes it difficult to know what is real and what is not throughout the film. Soon after, you learn of the boss baby; who arrives at Tim’s house in a taxi, brandishing a tailored suit and wielding a briefcase.
The new boss baby takes Tim’s parents’ attention away from him, and thus begins his quest to get rid of his new brother. In what appears to be a shallow request to get the film more attention, the focus switches from brotherly feuding to a grand war against puppies that will be loved by children, but may fall flat on adult audiences.
My primary issue with this film, which I do not recall being as prevalent in other Dreamworks animated films, is the gratuitous potty humor. Some of the best animated films have the occasional crass reference aimed at older children and youthful adults, but this film seemed to rely mainly on this for laughs throughout. The jokes that were not based on potty-humor often fell flat as well. Children should be entertained throughout, and admittedly I liked it more than I thought I would.
The film is well-paced, in that you will not get bored, and the story is pretty complete. The pacing admittedly is just fast enough where you do not have much time to identify with the characters. In the most poignant moments in the film, I wanted to feel more connected than I did.
As I mentioned before, the score and music stood out to me the most; it was great. The animation was very clean, and would switch animation styles periodically throughout the film. It was a cool and interesting way to break out of the “real world” of the rest of the film and present a child’s imagination to an audience. The star-studded cast is a delight, and I would say it would be overall enjoyable for adults and kids alike. Again, if you are not typically amused by potty humor, this will not be as entertaining for you. The Boss Baby is a straight-to-Netflix for me.
Oh, and if you do decide to go see it, stay until the end of the credits.
Billy Harrigan Tighe as JM Barrie and Tom Hewitt as Captain Hook in Finding Neverland Credit Jeremy Daniel IMG 1
In a fast-paced world that demands responsibility, Finding Neverland reminds us all of the importance of keeping your inner-child alive. Finally arriving in Orange County, the North American tour of this remarkable show does not disappoint. Fans of the show will almost immediately notice the differences between the tour and the original Broadway presentation. The differences are simple, but obvious. There are two new songs at the beginning of the first act that replace three from the original show. The new songs fit well into this show and will not stand out to anyone who is unfamiliar with Finding Neverland or its original Broadway recording.
It begins with a lively fairy who soars across the curtain, and Peter Pan dancing around the stage to the beautiful prologue. Enter, J.M. Barrie (Billy Harrigan Tighe), the Scottish author and playwright who brought Peter Pan out of Neverland and into the hearts of children all over the world. From here, you enter the story (inspired by true events) of how Peter Pan came to be. Barrie was already a successful playwright, but needed something fresh and new to bring to the theater due to pressure from his theatrical producer, Charles Frohman (Tom Hewitt). He finds inspiration in a family he meets near his home; four young boys named Peter (Ben Kreiger), George (Finn Faulconer), Jack (Mitchell Wray), and Michael (Jordan Cole), their mother Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Christine Dwyer), and their meddling grandmother Mrs. Du Maurier (Karen Murphy). From this point, their lives are changed forever as they remind each other and those around them the importance of being a child at-heart and having an imagination regardless of your physical age.
Though Tighe swapped J.M. Barrie’s Scottish accent for a British one, his singing was clear, crisp, and a treat to the ears. His performance was bright, bringing a refreshing youthfulness and optimism to the character. Tom Hewitt provided an amazing performance as Charles, exuding a presence similar to Oliver Warbucks from Annie, and his comedic timing was spot-on. The obvious stand out in any show featuring children is always the children themselves, and the boys in this show held their own, dazzling the audience with singing and musical prowess. I am impressed by any child who can play their own instrument and sing in front of an audience, let alone simultaneously pull on the heartstrings of over 1,800 audience-members. Ben Kreiger did an amazing job as Peter, the brother who needed the most influence to reach his inner-child. Kreiger’s vocal duets with Billy Harrigan Tighe were beautiful and pure. Karen Murphy’s soprano vocals were sorely missed during the first act, but enchanted us periodically throughout the second act. Lastly, but most definitely not least, Christine Dwyer enchanted with her performance of Sylvia, a voice clear as a bell, and a warmness that made you feel for her character as if you knew her personally.
The music of Finding Neverland is uplifting and whimsical, the ensemble cast truly brought each number to life. From the farcical hilarity of “We Own the Night” to the artful choreography of “Circus of Your Mind” to the clever opening of the second act, “The World is Upsidedown”, each cast member brought a believable and fun character to the stage.
Now that I have finally stopped crying, I can tell you that Finding Neverland is certainly a hit, and a show you will not soon forget. The storytelling is beautiful, the costumes are wonderful, the sets and scene changes are phenomenal, and you will fall in love with the characters. The moment the curtain call began, so did the standing ovation. Bring your inner-child, or your real ones, and see Finding Neverland at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, now through April 2, 2017.
Apple® announced iPhone® 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition in a vibrant red aluminum finish, in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and (RED). This gives customers an unprecedented way to contribute to the Global Fund and bring the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation. The special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning Friday, March 24.
“Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can’t wait to get it into customers’ hands.”
“Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to the Global Fund, contributing more than $130 million as part of its partnership with (RED),” said Deborah Dugan, (RED)’s CEO. “Combining the global reach of the world’s most loved smartphone with our efforts to provide access to life-saving ARV medication in sub-Saharan Africa, customers now have a remarkable opportunity to make a difference and contribute to the Global Fund through the purchase of this new beautiful (PRODUCT)RED iPhone.”
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are the best, most advanced iPhones ever, packed with unique innovations that improve all the ways iPhone is used every day. Both phones feature the most popular camera in the world with advanced camera systems that shoot incredible photos and videos day or night, more power and performance with the best battery life ever in an iPhone, immersive stereo speakers and a wide color system from camera to display, all in a water and dust resistant design. iPhone comes with iOS 10, which brings more expressive and animated ways to communicate in Messages, new ways to use Siri® with your favorite apps, beautifully redesigned Maps, Photos, Apple Music® and News, and the Home app, which lets you simply and securely set up, manage and control your home all in one place.
(RED)’s critical work provides access to life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to more than two thirds of the world’s HIV-positive population. One hundred percent of all money raised by (RED) goes directly to Global Fund HIV/AIDS grants that provide testing, counseling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from moms to their babies. Since it was founded in 2006, (RED) has generated more than $465 million for the Global Fund, with more than $130 million from Apple alone.
After Craig Johnson’s 2014 The Skeleton Twins, he quickly became a director to watch. His dramedy, which starred Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, featured the two long time Saturday Night Live alumni in a film that pushed them to their dramatic limits in a great way. The film was a nice surprise, and the question became what’s next for Craig Johnson? Unsurprisingly, it’s another human dramedy, this time based on a graphic novel. His new film, Wilson, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Daniel Clowes, who also wrote the film, and stars Woody Harrelson in the titular role of Wilson.
The film follows the misanthropic, and generally down on his luck Wilson, who who’s a condescending and unpleasant individual with few friends, and even fewer acquaintances. When his father passes away, Wilson is left with nothing, and he’s not really sure where to go. But when Wilson discovers his ex-flame, Pippi (Laura Dern), is back in town, he quickly decides to reconnect with her, and hopes to recreate their love. What Wilson finds though is more than he could have ever imagined: He’s a father of a teenage girl. The only problem is, she’s an adoptee and has a family. In the middle of a midlife crisis, Wilson forgoes all that, and decides to create his family and make it whole again, no matter the cost, and no matter who it’ll hurt.
While the premise is short, simple, and a fairly fun and human sounding story, the unfortunate truth is the film never truly comes together. Much of the film feels cold and bitter, much like Wilson himself, but not in a fun way. Instead, it often alienates the audience as it meanders back and forth, with little to no purpose, other than to watch Wilson in awkward situations in life. The real frustration lies in the fact that even though Woody Harrelson is so great in the role as Wilson, the film just doesn’t give him enough to work with. It feels like a series of vignettes that often meander along, just seeing life through the eyes of Wilson, but it never really comes together in any meaningful way. This is much like the comic, so maybe it’s done on purpose. But as a film, it’s not a fun experience, and it often pushes the audience out, leaving them nothing to latch on to.
Despite the film’s story issues, Harrelson really is fantastic as Wilson, and he really gets to shine in the role. In a lot of ways, the movie reminds me of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but as a film, with Wilson feeling much like Larry David, the social awkward, occasionally thick headed, and always awkward star of the show. That feeling almost rings too true when Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines actually shows up in the film as Pippi’s sister, and suddenly you’re reminded of the much superior show. That aside, Harrelson really knocks the role out of the park, giving yet another terrific performance in a long line of scene stealing roles over the last several years. As much of a jerk as Wilson may be, he’s got a bit of a boyish charm underneath, and he feels very human, thanks to Harrelson’s performance. Along with Laura Dern, they manage to make a plodding, and many times un-engaging film, feel like it’s got a life underneath.
It’s too bad that the script, which is written by the comic’s creator Daniel Clowes, just never really works. The script always feels a bit jumbled, just kinda meandering too and from, without any real impact. It never gives us enough reason to really care about Wilson, outside of Harrelson’s fantastic performance. On top of that, it tries to make us care about Wilson reconnecting with his ex, finding love, finally having a family, but they’re all so terrible to him throughout the movie, you start to wonder why even bother. Maybe that’s the key to this whole thing, is that the desperation for love creates new relationships and love you didn’t know was there, which ultimately becomes the film’s story, but the problem is that it never feels earned. Even in the end, it still leaves you feeling frustrated because it doesn’t seem to earn its ending.
The film is also too tonally uneven at times to really make any sort of impact. Where The Skeleton Twins managed to hang the balance of comedy and drama seamlessly, Wilson can’t seem to walk too far one way or the other, often times making the film feel uneven in what it wants to accomplish. It’s too bad, because every time the film seems like it might finally be finding its feet, it manages to swing too far the other way, and the film will feel off again. Many of the jokes land, but just as many don’t, and too many of the dramatic moments feel forced. Worse is that a pivotal moment in Wilson’s life in the third act is told to us in dialogue instead of shown, making it feel like an afterthought. The film’s last act is really the biggest overall problem, and it’s what really derails the overall film, making it for a frustrating experience. As wonky as the first two acts are, the film is at least many times fun, and starts to show its heart, but the third act really undoes most of the goodwill it presents. The film’s finale ultimately feels disingenuous, and almost tacked on after the rest of the events of the film.
It’s really too bad that Wilson ends up being a frustrating experience. All the right pieces are there to make a great film, but it just doesn’t seem like any of it comes together in the end. Thankfully, even with as messy as it gets, Woody Harrelson shines in the titular role, which is truly a marvel when Wilson really isn’t that great of a guy. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road for Craig Johnson, and not a sign of what’s to come, as he’s a talented director who has a very bright future ahead. Unfortunately, Wilson doesn’t quite live up to the talent he’s shown, and ends up feeling like a muddled mess.
Nearly 400 million guests have embarked on this swashbuckling adventure at Disneyland Park. It has inspired a highly popular film franchise, and the lyrics to its theme song–“Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”– are recognized around the world. It’s Pirates of the Caribbean, of course, an attraction that celebrates its 50th anniversary on March 18, 2017.
To celebrate this special occasion, guests are invited to enjoy pirate-themed entertainment, merchandise exclusives and special food and beverage offerings beginning March 16. Disneyland is sure to be filled with pirate-talking mates for this limited-time, rollicking fun.
Beginning Thursday, March 16: Guests may feast upon special, pirate-themed food at French Market Restaurant, Mint Julep Bar, Harbour Galley, Royal Street Veranda, Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou Restaurant. Blue Bayou also celebrates its 50th anniversary on March 18. Food items vary by location and will include:
Buccaneer Pulled Pork Sandwich: Jerk-spiced Pork, Sweet and Tangy Barbecue
Sauce, Pineapple Caribbean-style Slaw and Fried Yucca
Lost Treasure Beignets: Lemon-flavored Beignets with gold shimmer dust
Jolly Roger Punch: Spiced Tropical Juices with hints of Pineapple, Orange and Mango
Calypso’s Caribbean Chicken Stew: Caribbean-seasoned Chicken stewed with Onions, Carrots, Celery, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Yucca
Golden Churro: Gold-dusted Churro
On Friday, March 17: Pirate-themed entertainment comes alive throughout New Orleans Square, including performances by the Bootstrappers and Lucky the Pirate.
Saturday, March 18: Even more entertainment will be added on the attraction’s official anniversary, including appearances by the legendary pirate himself, Captain Jack Sparrow. Guests may purchase limited-edition, anniversary merchandise in New Orleans Square, while supplies last. Pirate Speak! collectible cards will be available for guests who wish to talk like a pirate.
Guests may discover additional special surprises on March 18.
The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction set the bar for future theme park attractions with masterful storytelling and technology that introduced approximately 120 Audio-Animatronics characters. The popular attraction has inspired five films and the fifth, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” is set to open in theaters May 26, 2017.
Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced TheDisney Afternoon Collection, a compilation of six games that feature beloved Disney TV characters from the 80s and 90s in fun-filled adventures. The beautifully restored classic games feature crisp 1080p HD support and include all-new modes that can be enjoyed by first-time players and long-time fans. TheDisney Afternoon Collection will be available as a digital download across North America and Europe for $19.99 / £15.99/ €19.99 starting on April 18, 2017 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Players will be able to relive their childhood afternoons with Disney and explore these pieces of gaming history with classics including:
Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers – This classic lets players team up with a friend in co-op play as they assume the roles of the mischievous Chip and Dale as they take on memorable villain Fat Cat and attempt to solve the mystery of a missing kitten.
Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers 2 – Fat Cat has escaped and his plans are even more dastardly this time. The titular heroes and supporting cast Monterey Jack, Gadget, and Zipper must stop Fat Cat from his evil dream of world domination!
Darkwing Duck – Play as the original caped crusader and fight a city full of criminals from the infamous F.O.W.L. organization in this action-packed platforming epic.
DuckTales – In this iconic platforming adventure, players help Scrooge McDuck fill his feathery pockets with vast riches from across the world.
DuckTales 2 – The sequel to the original game comes jam-packed with more action and an even bigger caper set in new locations like the Bermuda Triangle and Niagara Falls!
TaleSpin – Take to the skies as Baloo the bear navigates his plane through exotic and dangerous locations in this side-scrolling shoot-em-up.
All six games are new and improved HD versions of the originals and feature a number of filtering options that replicate a classic retro look and feel. This collection also offers new ways to play with Boss Rush and Time Attack modes for each game. In Boss Rush mode, players battle through challenging boss encounters consecutively, while Time Attack mode encourages time-based gameplay and provides online leaderboards that track the fastest times for each game. A new “Rewind” feature makes these challenging titles more accessible for newcomers, with the option to rewind time and enjoy a swift recovery from blunders. Additionally, the in-game Disney Museum will provide history buffs with a wealth of content to celebrate the era of the original releases, such as concept art, advertisements, character art, and music – all preserved in their original glory.
With this week’s release of the highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney is releasing new Beauty and the Beast themed-update across its digital offerings. These updates, inspired by the tale as old as time, come in some of Disney’s most popular apps, including:
Disney Crossy Road – March 9: Beauty and the Beast figurines and worlds inspired by the highly-anticipated live-action film launch in the game.
Disney Story Central – March 9: Beauty and the Beast enchants the largest collection of Disney stories with new tales, including The Enchantment, World of Reading: Beauty and the Beast, and more.
Disney Emoji Blitz – March 17 – 24: New Beauty and the Beast Item Cards will be added, featuring Belle’s Cottage, The Beast’s Magic Mirror, Belle’s Fountain, and more. Beauty and the Beast emojis inspired by the animated classic will also be added, including Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts.
Disney Jigsaw – March 17: A new Beauty and the Beast puzzle pack is now available.
Color by Disney – February 19: New Beauty and the Beast coloring pages invite artists to bring the enchanted tale to life.
Also a Disney Stickers: Beauty and the Beast pack will also be available on March 9 on the App Store for iMessage. Featuring a new art style and popular phrases, including “Beast Mode,” and “It’s Lit,” iMessage users will never struggle with conversation again with stickers from the tale as old as time. The sticker pack is now available for download on the App Store for iMessage for $1.99.
Lastly, a standalone Beauty and the Beast mobile game is in development and expected to launch this summer.
Disney has released the third episode in its viral “Easter Eggs” series, which reveals the connective thread between Disney films as seen in hidden moments and character cameos. For instance, did you know that Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast was featured as a drum set in Tarzan? Or that Sebastian from The Little Mermaid was in Aladdin?
“Disney Easter Eggs” dives into these connections that many moviegoers might miss if they blink. The episode connects Walt Disney Animation Studios’ favorite films – from Frozen, Zootopia and Tangled to Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and more.
Disney has taken a tale as old as time and re-imagined it into a refreshing live-action adventure that will delight both fans of the 1991 animated feature and new audiences alike. Amidst the barrage of live-action re-tellings of Disney’s most beloved classics, Beauty and the Beast stands out as the likely fan-favorite, with its star-studded cast, infamous musical numbers, widely familiar characters, and most importantly, its imagery. Bill Conden’s Beauty and the Beast will likely be a box office smash, with excitement among Disney fans and Generation Y’ers.
In any live-action remake, there is a fine line between being identical to the animated film, and straying so far that die-hard fans lose interest. Beauty and the Beast expertly marches this line musically by utilizing all songs from the 1991 release, additional music written for the film, and even songs from the Broadway musical. Much of the un-sung dialogue is identical to the 1991 film as well.
The film’s prologue begins much differently than its 1991 predecessor, telling a somewhat darker and more detailed backstory of a selfish Prince and the Enchantress who curses him to be a beast forever. Though the prologue has a few unexpected changes, it is followed by the beautifully executed large-scale musical number of “Belle” that is true to the original, and helps introduce the remainder of the main characters not featured in the prologue. The songs in the film blend the animated film and musical/unreleased which will keep Beauty and the Beast fans excited and interested.
Overall, the acting performances were better than I had imagined. Emma Watson breathed a youthful and strong-willed determination into her performance of Belle, mirroring the actresses well-known personal passion for women’s rights. Luke Evans and Josh Gad provide a dynamic of juxtaposition as Evans’ Gaston is overly confident, and possibly more obsessed with Belle than his animated counterpart, and Gad’s LeFou struggles with his morals and his relationship with Gaston. As a huge fan of Josh Gad, I found this casting and character development to be delightful, though with the success of Frozen it’s also easy to sometimes picture Olaf singing. Kevin Klein as Maurice is warm and more involved with his daughter than in the animated film, proving to be a bit less “crazy” than before.
SPOILER ALERT – Though hopefully you have seen or heard this story in some way, shape, or form in the last 26 years, I was delighted to see the voice actors for the also-cursed castle staff of Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth (Sir Ian McKellen), Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), Garderobe (Audra McDonald), and Cadenza (Stanley Tucci) emerge as themselves again at the end of the film. It serves as both a joyful happy-ending, as well as a curtain call of sorts.
The titular song and ballroom scene were the most lacking of the film’s musical numbers. Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts delivers a lackluster and awkwardly cadenced performance, inappropriate for the waltz being danced. In contrast, the ballroom scene in the 1991 film was revered as a technical and stunning feat in its grandeur. Both the ballroom itself and the famous yellow/gold ballgown Belle dawns for this defining moment are underwhelming in comparison to the rest of the scenery and costuming throughout the film.
The differences in this re-telling, based on the characters’ family background and the nature of the Beast’s curse, appear to have stemmed from an effort to complete the story and fill in plot holes. However they left me a bit confused and wishing they had been more developed.
Overall, the CGI was stunning; the acting and singing were all you could hope for and more, with amazing execution. As someone who is a Disney fan, I was wowed by this re-telling. Though Beauty and the Beast was not my favorite Disney Animated feature, I felt this live-action edition was impressive, emotional, grown-up in taste, and will surely be a film remembered as a Disney classic.
The trailer for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” from Oscar®-winning filmmaker James Cameron is here! The third film in the phenomenally successful “Avatar” franchise opens exclusively...
