It’s the season for celebrations as Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, inviting family and friends to make magical memories together. This year, guests will have even more to celebrate as they discover the new Festival of Holidays, with music, dance, food and heartwarming holiday festivities inspired by cultural traditions from around the world.
Jolly old St. Nick arrives at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for Santa’s Holiday Visit. His joyful elves have transformed the trail into a magical playground of holiday fun and games, including opportunities for guests to join the ranks of Santa’s elves.
Recently we had the pleasure of speaking with Santa at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and he has a special message for us:
New this year at Disney California Adventure Park, Festival of Holidays will entertain guests with heartwarming holiday festivities inspired by cultural traditions from around the world.
Inspired by and expanding on the warmth and fun of the popular ¡Viva Navidad! celebration, the all-new Festival of Holidays will immerse guests in the diverse celebrations of several holiday seasons. Guests will discover something around every corner, from festive food and beverages in 14 marketplace locations to fun craft-making and the universal languages of music and dance.
The daily lineup of entertainment includes nearly 50 performances of nine unique shows, with more than 100 artists rejoicing in the holiday season. They include special Disney characters, cavalcades and performing ensembles that range from a Klezmer band with a global sound to traditional Indian dancers. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is part of the fun and Princess Elena, the first Disney Princess inspired by Latin American cultures, makes her Disneyland Resort debut as part of the Festival. Princess Elena stars in the new Disney Channel series “Elena of Avalor.”
An all-new holiday spectacular, “World of Color – Season of Light,” brightens the night on Paradise Bay during Festival of Holidays.
Learn How to cook the sweet spiced noodle kugel with Chef Amy:
Holidays celebrated throughout the Festival:
Diwali, the Eastern festival of lights
Hanukkah
Christmas/Navidad
Kwanzaa
Three Kings Day/Dia de los Reyes
Festive Foods Marketplace: From chile pozole to adobo pork bao and mini turkey pot pies, the food and drink at 14 marketplace locations will tempt guests along the Disney California Adventure walkway, from Carthay Circle to Paradise Garden. Menu items include:
Heritage Cottage – braised beef short ribs, sausages and sauerkraut, vanilla rice pudding
Making Spirits Bright – wines by the glass and tasting flights, warm holiday spiced wines, sparkling juice
Treats for Santa – cookie decorating, harvest puff pastry, cookies, panettenes, peppermint bark, fudge, warm bourbon cider, white hot chocolate, holiday fruit punch
In addition, Paradise Garden Grill will offer some seasonal specials for Disney ¡Viva Navidad! including torta al pastor, street style tacos and chicken mole.
The biggest Lunar New Year Celebration yet at Disney California Adventure® Park is coming soon to the Disneyland® Resort! Expanding to 17 days this year – Friday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 – the festivities will feature delicious food, colorful live performances, fun-filled activities, beautiful decor, special limited-time merchandise, Disney characters in their Lunar New Year best and more.
Each night, before “World of Color,” the Lunar New Year Celebration will culminate in a new six-minute pre-show called “Hurry Home,” presented in water, animation and special effects on Paradise Bay. This charming story of a Little Lantern on its journey home to join its Lantern family in celebrating Lunar New Year features animated appearances by Mulan and Mushu in “dream sequences” inspired by traditional Chinese paper cut-out style animation and a score highlighted by an original arrangement of the music created for the Grand Opening of Shanghai Disney Resort by Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”).
Lunar New Year, traditionally celebrated within Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, commemorates the moment when both the sun and the moon begin their journey for another year. Highlights of the celebration at Disney California Adventure Park include:
– Three new Asian marketplaces offering foods inspired by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures.
– Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Mulan and Mushu, dressed in their best to celebrate Lunar New Year.
– Incredible entertainment throughout the Paradise Garden area, including a troupe of Chinese acrobats and a variety of authentic musicians and performers.
You can celebrate the tradition, sights, sounds and tastes of Lunar New Year with a touch of Disney magic, only at Disney California Adventure park from Jan. 20 through Feb. 5, 2017!
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There’s snow place like SeaWorld® San Diego to embrace the festive spirit of the holiday season! SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration®, San Diego’s premier holiday experience, will leave guests merry and bright. Surrounded by the enchanting glow of more than one million Christmas lights throughout the park, this can’t-miss, yuletide celebration kicks off Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 1, 2017.
New this year is a very special guest from the North Pole: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, the most famous reindeer of all! SeaWorld San Diego is the only theme park on the West Coast where people can meet this lovable reindeer and his friends at the all-new Rudolph’s Christmastown.
Seasonal favorites that have made SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration a family holiday tradition will be back. Shamu Christmas Miracles and Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special will keep the young and young at heart in the Christmastide spirit. Plus, starting Dec. 17 younger kids can slide down sled lanes at Snow Hill. Here’s a look at all the fun and festivities of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.
Rudolph’s Christmastown
Rudolph’s Christmastown is a must-see holiday experience at SeaWorld, making it the best time of the year to visit the park! Relive fond days of yore and create priceless new memories with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the character that has charmed generations for more than 50 years. Rudolph’s Christmastown has something for everyone:
– Stroll through the vibrantly decorated plaza featuring nostalgic vignettes from the story of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, including the Island of Misfit Toys and Bumble’s Cave.
– Take one-of-a-kind photos inside Sam the Snowman’s Snowy Wonderland snow globe, or say hello to and snap pictures with Rudolph and his friends Clarice, Bumble and Yukon Cornelius. (It’ll be easy to spot Rudolph with his nose so bright!)
– Enjoy the nightly tree-lighting ceremony of the 40-foot Happiest Christmas Tree, accompanied by The Elf Band.
– Hands-on games like Bumble Catch Ring Toss, Yukon Cornelius’ Strike it Rich Disc Drop and Sam the Snowman’s Snowball Toss offer a fun challenge.
Santa’s Christmas Village sponsored by Coca-Cola
Cozy up with friends and family at Santa’s Christmas Village sponsored by Coca-Cola, where treetops glisten with twinkling lights and children listen to Mrs. Claus during story time. Kids will get a chance to share their wish list and take pictures with Santa at Santa’s Cottage. Parents can also check in for a pager that will hold their spot in line to meet Santa so that the family can explore what the rest of Santa’s Christmas Village has to offer, including educational encounters with real reindeer from Santa’s workshop, “Merry Moments” with Santa’s friendly elves and delectable culinary creations.
Around the Park
SeaWorld Christmas favorites return for another merry season! More than one million energy-efficient holiday lights will illuminate the park, creating a heartwarming atmosphere perfect for photo opportunities. The lights of SeaWorld’s 320-foot Skytower Tree of Lights, the largest Christmas tree in Southern California, will dance in sync with classic holiday songs. Animal exhibits such as Shark Encounter® and Penguin Encounter® get a splash of the festive spirit with specialty-themed décor inside. Outside Pets’ Playhouse, guests will find the Cat’s Christmas Parlor, where the feline stars of Pets Rule! hang out in their own holiday-themed house. New this year is Snow Hill, a wintery themed area packed with real snow and sled lanes geared for smaller children (Dec. 17–Jan. 1 only).
The park’s specially-themed shows will warm hearts and chase the frosty air away:
– Shamu Christmas Miracles: Thrilling seasonal music rings out as amazing killer whales, gifted trainers and a talented female vocalist share a story of reflection and understanding, of peace and friendship and of the everyday miracles that surround us all year long. Park visitors will experience the power and beauty of Shamu’s family in this touching holiday favorite.
– Dolphin Island Christmas: This daytime dolphin show celebrates the holidays with a tropical twist. Dolphins and pilot whales perform amazing athletic feats.
– Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special: SeaWorld’s prank-loving pinnipeds Clyde and Seamore have a hilarious holiday time in this Christmas-themed sea lion and otter show.
– The Pets Rule! Christmas: A specially-themed show featuring the shelter-adopted stars of the park’s Pets Rule! show. As the winter season begins, the pets partake in holiday hijinks.
All of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration festivities (except for arcade-style games and reserved experiences such as Breakfast With Shamu and Santa) are included with park admission. Guests can pay less than a day and visit the rest of 2016 and all next year with the purchase of a 2017 Fun Card. SeaWorld is open year-round and has a variety of admission ticket offers that provide tremendous value perfect for both Southern California residents and tourists. Visit www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com or call (800) 257-4268 for information.
Excitement and anticipation runs through the crowd as the lights dim in preparation for the show to start. The orchestra begins playing Tableau I softly at first, building to a strong finish as it sets the tone for a magical evening. A familiar tingle, a smile, and suddenly a rush of happy memories return. The Nutcracker is a time-honored holiday tradition for many, including myself, and Alexei Ratmansky’s production featuring some of American Ballet Theatre’s very talented performers is not one to be missed.
For those unfamiliar, The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman. The current version of the ballet with which most are familiar is Alexander Dumas’ adaptation of the story set to music by Tchaikovsky, originally choreographed by Marius Pepita and premiered a week before Christmas in 1892.
The story centers around a young girl named Clara (Annabelle Eubanks) on Christmas eve where she is presented with a Nutcracker (Lorenzo Dunto) from her godfather, Drosselmeyer (Roman Zhurbin), who is a skilled toy maker. The Nutcracker comes to life as the clock strikes midnight and a fierce battle ensues between the Mouse King (Thomas Forster) and the Nutcracker. As the Nutcracker and his army are overwhelmed by the Mouse King and his mice army, Clara makes a daring charge and throws her slipper at the Mouse King dealing a fatal blow. Victorious, Clara and the Nutcracker boy are transported to the Land of Snow where they are greeted by dancing snowflakes. They then find themselves in the Land of Sweets where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy (Zhong-Jing Fang) who rewards them with a celebration of dances from around the world upon hearing of the defeat of the Mouse King. Clara then awakens Christmas morning to find it was all a dream. The story’s theme is composed around one’s awakening to a wider world outside of home and family and, of course, romantic love.
The set design in itself is fairly simple but brilliant in its clever use of space, forced perspective, and lighting. It allows for the audience to fully immerse themselves in Tchaikovsky’s classically familiar music and the intricate movements of the dancers on stage instead of being distracted by elaborate side details. The simplistic backdrop used for the Land of Snow combined with the blue and white lighting made the falling snow look almost magical and the snowflake dancers appear as if they were shimmering as they danced around young Clara and the Nutcracker boy.
This basic design principle was also incredibly effective during the performances by Clara, the princess (Gillian Murphy), and the Nutcracker prince (James Whiteside). The focus was solely on Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score and the noteworthy choreography. The two principal dancers were mesmerizing as they moved across the stage with the gracefulness and strength that can only be found in the beauty that is the ballet.
Tchaikovsky’s compositions are familiar to most and music from the Nutcracker can be heard throughout the holiday season. The live orchestra conducted by David LaMarche was beautifully played and expertly carried the emotion from scene to scene. Without this strong performance, the entire show would have been lacking. Long after the bright lights and colorful costumes fade from memory, the beautifully played music will continue to lead us into our dreams with sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads.
Tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker start at $29 are now available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The show runs until December 18, 2016 in Segerstrom Hall. Get your tickets now before they sell out.
Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game-and the rest of the crew has been exonerated-the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Oscar® winner Charlize Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.
From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.
For The Fate of the Furious, Vin Diesel is joined by a returning all-star cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky and Kurt Russell. In addition to Theron, the series welcomes newcomers Scott Eastwood and Oscar® winner Helen Mirren. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) and produced by returning producers Neal H. Moritz, Michael Fottrell and Diesel. www.fastandfurious.com
Kids have taken over the city of Buena Park in Orange County for the second year in a row! And this year they have demanded even more deals for two months – January 1, 2017 – February 28, 2017. For a limited time, parents will enjoy savings on comfortable kid-friendly hotel accommodations and kids can enjoy their favorite Orange County attractions. Take advantage of the lowest rates of the year and start the New Year making great family memories by going to VisitBuenaPark.com/KidsTakeover
Restaurants
Taking over Orange County is a lot of work but kids can fuel up on delicious hamburgers at Fuddruckers with $0.99 kid’s meals. Voted the “Best Family Restaurant” by Nickelodeon, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour has joined the movement with free kid’s meals on select days. The free food doesn’t stop there, El Torito, Denny’s and Marie Callender’s are also offering free kid’s meals on select days.
Hotel Accommodations
After all the excitement sleep well in one of Buena Park’s comfortable hotels like the Holiday Inn Hotel, where families get discounted rates and vouchers for free food at the hotel and Chick-Fil-A. Just steps away from the theme park, the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel is also offering exclusive rates and kids eat free for lunch or dinner. At the Radisson Suites, enjoy the best rates of the year and the comfort of an all-suite hotel. The news has spread fast and other hotels have given in, including 15% off at the Buena Park Hotel & Suits and the best deals of the year at the Courtyard by Marriott and the Fairfield Inn & Suites.
Recently we had the pleasure of going down the rabbit hole and visited Queen Mary’s CHILL Alice In Winterland. It was a surreal journey diving into the wold of Lewis Carrol’s beloved tale in a gigantic form come to life by using a unique blend of the classic tale and weaving in a winter theme.
When you step thru the entrance Chill, you will be taking a few pictures in front of a green screen that you may purchase that will have you and your group inside of a snow globe, under the giant caterpillar or with the March Hare. As you make your way into the old Spruce Goose building, the giant white dome where the exhibit is, you will walk passed a small little village with plenty of photo opportunities and some awesome activities for an additional cost, such as decorating your own stocking, building a gingerbread house, family or village, helping the elves paint toys at the workshop by using paint balls, story time with Mrs. Clause and the elves, a photo with the main man himself Santa Clause, a giant rocking horse ride, a swing ride from Neverland Ranch and ice skating and tubing racing down a snowy hillside with some friends.
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Getting in line for Alice in Winterland you will be corralled into the queue and enter the Mad Hatter’s Haberdashery where you will have the chance to purchase a Mad Hatter hat or White Rabbit ears that light up. If you purchase the head wear they are interactive through out the walk thru, where ever you see a Cheshire Cat paw prints just follow the instructions and watch the magic come to life. Part of the fun when entering the story book was Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were bantering back and forth telling me which way to enter the story best. You can choose to step into the pages of the book or crawling into it. Both paths will lead you to another decision of either the rabbit hole or the hall of mirrors, we took both paths and they were both unique but my favorite was the rabbit hole but it is not for everyone. In the large room of doors they were all interactive and you do not need the special head wear, except for one door. While exploring the doors we ran into Alice herself being curious as well. As we ventured further into Winterland we came across the Door Mouse and Cheshire Cat being quite mischievous, They wouldn’t have it any other way.
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The attention to detail that the gigantic handmade Chinese style lanterns was incredible, it is a dying art form and we were glad to see it getting a whole new light. While following the path we ended up on the Queen of Hearts path and was asked for our assistance in taking down the Queen of Diamonds. Our response was that she was the only Queen, the King of Hearts loved our answer and said I could keep my head, this time. Luckily the Queen of Diamonds was waiting for our arrival and thanked us for visiting her kingdom.
Another cool experience is that you can visit the Queen Mary’s 4D experience (for an additional fee), the film shown was taken from the classic “The Polar Express” which is a holiday favorite for all ages.
CHILL pricing starts at $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for kids (ages 4-11). Tickets include entrance to Alice in Winterland, Ice Tubing, CHILL Village and access to the Queen Mary ship. Hotel and VIP packages are also available. CHILL is NOW open through Jan. 8. For more information, including hours or to purchase tickets online, visit http://queenmary.com/chill/
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Nestle up with Jolly St. Nick for storytime and sing-along with The Baker and Ginny Gingerbread while you decorate cookies and fill your bellies with your favorite breakfast treats! This event brings families together to celebrate the holiday season in a fun and welcoming environment. Participants enjoy a warm breakfast, the opportunity to meet and take pictures with Santa!
The festive holiday breakfast will take place every Saturday from 9AM – 12PM in a Historic Salon aboard the Queen Mary. Admission to CHILL sold separately. CLICK HERE for the menu.
Breakfast With Santa Takes place on Saturday, Nov. 26th, Dec. 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th
Cost: $19 Kids Under 12, $39 Adults 12+
2 The Company of the MAMMA MIA Farewell Tour MAMMA MIA Farewell Tour Kevin Thomas Garcia 2016
ABBA fans of Orange County are dancing in their seats as Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ ‘Mamma Mia!’ makes its way to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a stop on its farewell tour. From its very first run opening back in 1999, and a true-to-story film adaptation hitting the big screen in 2008, this energetic and heartfelt story has become a staple in the musical theatre world.
Despite having over 50 different productions world-wide in its lifetime, this tour tops it all. With 23 vibrant and colorful ABBA songs to help the story along, ‘Mamma Mia!’ is the jukebox musical that will have you singing long after the show has ended. Hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Voulez-Vous,” “The Winner Takes All,” “SOS,” and “Does Your Mother Know” rock the audience with an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and excitement. This passionate and lively story holds family near and dear, and hits home the idea that friends are just as valued and cherished as family.
Located on the serene island of Kalokairi in Greece, this show has only one setting and yet still manages to emanate a sense of excitement, movement, and liveliness. The set itself is both simple and effective, and gives way for the audience to place themselves on that island and make it a home of their own. With shades of blue to highlight and break apart the vast white and cream buildings Greece is known for, the audience may be able to feel fully submersed without needing anything grand or intricate to get there. The audience will also experience some of the most vibrant and flashy costumes to date, and in the best way possible. Trust me when I say, these costume designs alone could tell the story in a kaleidoscopic and engaging way.
Our show opens on hopeful and ambitious Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be who has spent 20 years not knowing who her father is. Sophie, played by national tour first-timer Lizzie Markson, has managed to pin-point three men (with the help of her mother’s diary) who could potentially be her father. Unsatisfied with her mother’s silence and solitude on the subject matter, Sophie devises an innocent plan to take matters into her own hands and invites all three men to her wedding, in hopes of having her true father walk her down the aisle. Without cluing in her mother, the hard-working and spirited Donna Sheridan, or the unknowing gentlemen from Donna’s past, Sophie’s harmless intentions turn chaotic and hysterical. Donna, played by the talented and sensational Betsy Padamonsky, is just a day away from her daughter’s premature marriage and is placed in the awkward and hilarious position of facing the men she thought she’d forgotten for good.
Of course, no production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ could be successful without a strong and brilliant cast to portray the remaining leads and lively ensemble. Most notable, Cashelle Butler (Tanya) and Sarah Smith (Rosie) are veterans of ‘the island’ and do a marvelous job playing Donna’s closest and most cherished friends. The dynamic between these three will have the audience laughing so hard they turn nearly as blue as the stage! With the help of these two, the ladies band together to make this wedding and their time together as smooth and meaningful as possible, respectively. Between their friendship, the three father figures Sophie gains from the experience, and ever-improving mother and daughter relationship between Donna and Sophie, this show would not be what it is without tugging on a heartstring or two.
This cast truly makes the many great ABBA hits come alive in this story, and heightens this production greater than anything you could ever want in a farewell tour. Hitting the Costa Mesa stage for a very limited engagement, you most certainly do not want to miss this iconic and sensational musical theatre classic. “Take a chance” on ‘Mamma Mia!’ now through 11/27!
The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government have announced plans for a multi-year expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland. This proposed $1.4 billion expansion underscores the Company’s commitment to the long-term success of the resort and will continue to position Hong Kong Disneyland as a top international tourist destination. It will broaden the appeal of the resort as it attracts a diverse audience of all ages.
“We are more excited than ever about the future of Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This proposed expansion brings the best of The Walt Disney Company to this wonderful tourist destination, giving guests an experience only Disney can deliver and infusing some of Disney’s most beloved characters and stories into this unique destination.”
Some of the new world-class attractions and experiences that are designed to appeal to guests of Hong Kong Disneyland include:
– A transformed Castle and Hub area to showcase new daytime and nighttime spectaculars and entertainment experiences
– An all-new Frozen-themed land where guests can experience the characters and stories from the beloved films in ways never before at a Disney park
– Dedicated Marvel themed area featuring exciting new Marvel attractions and entertainment from one of the most popular Super Hero franchises in history
– A new entertainment venue, Moana’s Village Festival in Adventureland, which will feature a lively stage show
This proposed investment follows a period of historic growth at Hong Kong Disneyland. The resort recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary with brand-new popular experiences. Between 2011 and 2013, it launched three themed areas — Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point. In addition, Iron Man Experience, Disney Parks’ first Marvel-themed ride, is set to open on January 11, 2017 and the resort’s third hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge, will open with 750 rooms later in the first half of the year.
Plans call for the expansion to be funded through cash equity injections from Hong Kong Disneyland’s shareholders – subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government – based on current ownership stakes, which are 47% and 53%, respectively. This means the share of the project cost to be funded by the Company and the Government will be approximately $650 million and $750 million, respectively. The two shareholders have agreed on the development plans, subject to funding approval by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for their respective share of investment.
Paramount Pictures new film “Allied” brings to the screen, the love story of British Special Operative, Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) and French Resistance fighter, Marion Beausejour (Marion Cotillard). Assigned to fight Nazi enemies in Europe, they are reunited in London, where the love that began during their risky mission grows. The couple start a family, only to have their lives torn apart by deception and betrayal.
The press event brought together, Graham King (Executive Producer), Steve Starkey (Producer), Marion Cotillard (Actress), Robert Zemeckis, Director and Steven Knight (Screenwriter) who talked about the film and the screenplay.
Steven Knight started the session by sharing how this story had been floating around for 30 years. Knowing only the basics about the tale of someone who fell in love and had to deal with the consequences of the relationship gone bad, Mr. Knight built on the storyline using the basic concept “Can you discover that you have been betrayed and still be in love? “
Graham King talked about the film being an original story. Mr. King was impressed with the storyline and spent months discussing and embellishing on the essential story. The infidelity and trust or lack thereof were key points and led to the incredible thriller full of war drama and romance.
Robert Zemeckis discussed growing up during post WWII, where he watched countless films and always wanting to be involved in a World War II film. Although he did not go looking for a war film, it was exciting to finally run across Knight’s screenplay.
Marion Cotillard who played Marianne Beausejour thought it was a beautiful yet deep and powerful story that was also entertaining. Reading the script four years earlier, she was very happy to finally be part of the project. Marion elaborated on how there was an issue with scenes where there was gun use and how she “freaked out” when it was discovered she was not good with the guns and did not really care for them. Having to pretend to “like guns” was stressful even when the bullets are blanks and props. Mr. Zemeckis also expressed concerns about the guns in general as they were vintage and made quickly and cheaply and not the safest.
Working with Joanna Johnson was another positive part for Marion as she usually doesn’t get to enjoy a beautiful wardrobe. Discovering, Ms. Johnson would be making most of the clothes for Marion, was an exciting experience that included lengthy conversations about how clothing added depth and character to the storyline.
Discussing Brad Pitt’s performance, Mr. King commented that Brad plays emotions so well and that was what they focused on. Crafting Pitt’s character was easy with the help of a great screen play and the fact that there have been glimpses of Brad Pitt’s performance in other films which were then enhanced in Allied.
Mr. Zemeckis’ first collaboration with Brad Pitt was great in that he is a leading man, great actor and fit the part perfectly, but Zemeckis favorite part was where Brad Pitt was able to portray the pain and anguish the character was feeling.
Working with Mr. Zemeckis is a pleasure but also challenging, difficult and terrifying as there is usually something being done that has not been done previously per Steve Starkey, but also very rewarding. Bob (Zemeckis) is very organized and therefore everyone knows exactly what needs to be accomplished.
One of my favorite scenes in the film involved an intimate moment in the car during a desert storm. Although not easy to film per Marion, the scene involved a lot of choreography yet also the freedom to be authentic, resulting in very well played scene that gave the audience a true look into the feelings and emotions between the characters without the usual sex scenario.
Allied is in theaters, November 23, 2016 will leave the audience impacted as dramatic and emotional scene after scene leads to an over the top ending that left many of us – speechless!
The newest animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios is definitely making an island-sized splash and will surely be one of the biggest movies of the holidays. MOANA is masterfully crafted from truly stunning imagery, an incredibly culture-filled score, to a strong message for any young child to look up to. It should be highly successful while hopefully not becoming as overly saturated in our society as its Frozen counterpart. An all-star, near legendary, line-up of writers and directors have teamed to bring to fruition a memorable Disney animated epic that will no doubt live-on in families homes for generations to come!
For those that know me, know that it was going to take a lot to win me over with this newest Disney tale. I am an avid Polynesian tiki pop-culture enthusiasts, and while I am not hardcore in my fandom of all things Hawaiian, I sure couldn’t help but “fangirl” when I heard a future Disney film was going to be based on Hawaii gods and culture. This knowest to me created some concerns that Disney could miss the mark here, but fortunately I was proven wrong 100 times over.
MOANA embodies the spirit of Hawai’i and the culture of its people. There is no love story, no damsel in distress, no… instead we are casted sail with a strong young woman named Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) that must seek a demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in order to gain the help needed to save her village. This mythological, stouthearted journey not only packs an action-filled adventure through some wonderful new Disney music, but also seeks heart and ultimately the heroins identity.
Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”), and joined by the likes of Disney mainstays like Don Hall and Chris Williams, MOANA packs a strong crew yet still able to feature music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i.
Those fearing too much of a Hamilton influence from the now wildly successful Lin-Manuel Miranda, don’t be. While the musical numbers are unmistakably filled with Lin-Manuel’s brand of rhythmic lyrics and sound, there are only a couple of In The Heights/Hamilton branded raps, and they are most welcomed! Dwayne Johnson’s solo “You’re Welcome” starts cringeworthy but turns into a catchy tune with a solid Lin-Manuel-ified rap that I am sure we’ll be hearing for the rest of our lives.
Being thrown into the Disney animated musical genre, the movie is light on songs but heavy on a big Hawaiian influenced score. There’s still the out-of-place bizarro song, “Shiny”, and the abstract-styled happy-go-lucky song to stay true to successful formulaic 90s Disney film. However, the big takeaway song of movie that shares the aspirations of hero, “How Far I’ll Go” is truly breathtaking and could compete with the best of the ‘Disney Decade’ or even… “Let It Go”.
Apart from the music, the film is absolutely gorgeous from each and every scene. It seems to be another CGI feat, but then again, every animated film seems to keep topping itself. The intense wild seas adventure is second to none. They really outdid themselves here technologically. Some may not come to notice the “cinematography” and direction, but every shot and angle are well-orchestrated with a momentum soundtrack helping make this film larger than life.
Spending much of the movie solely with Moana and Maui, these two had to hold strong with long interactions along with a little help from a possibly overused sidekick chicken. Much of the humor is held a little dependent on this character, Heihei, but he definitely has his moments. Dwayne Johnson has several great oneliners, even though the writers insisted on a terrible Twitter joke that you may cringe, but I dare you to hold back a chuckle.
It’s all about Moana though, right? A little stubborn, a little afraid, but a whole lot of heart for her people, Moana is one of the strongest “Disney Princes”, ever. Her strong-willed personality and desire to continue to do what’s right all while not in search of some Prince creates a perfect role model for the millions of young girls, and boys, that will being see this moving for many years to come.
MOANA is solid, well-paced, and most importantly, attention-grabber for your little ones through its entirety. It’s exciting to see Disney continuing in the right direction. The success of their recent animated films and clear passion of their filmmakers should help create a new Disney Decade or perhaps, a dynasty. Be happy we are living in it! I hope you get to share this new classic with friends and family this holiday season. Keep our “island” in your mind.
