The Wizarding World of Harry Potter VIP Premiere Highlights in Hollywood, CA

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April 6, 2016

On April 7, 2016, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” will open at Universal Studios Hollywood, marking the highly-anticipated West Coast arrival of this authentic entertainment experience, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films.

More than five years in the making, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is being masterfully recreated with impeccable detail as a real-world interpretation at Universal Studios Hollywood. The land will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle which will serve as its iconic focal point.

When this exciting immersive land opens in Hollywood for the first time, visitors from across the United States and around the globe will have the opportunity to experience “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” where magical spells and magical creatures meet dark villains and daring heroes and where guests of all ages can explore their inner-wizard.

During the VIP Premiere Event on April 5, John Williams Conducted the LA Philharmonic Orchestra to a spectacular fireworks show over Hogwarts Castle. (see video below).

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will transport guests of all ages to the very places they read about in the stories or watched on the silver screen.

Once inside the land, Hogsmeade will bustle to life with the same vitality of a quaint local village as the majestic sounds from the movies bring to life the magic of Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Express steam locomotive that travels from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at Kings Cross station to Hogsmeade is appropriately stationed at the entry where the Hogwarts Express conductor welcomes new arrivals to the land.

Just beyond the stationary Hogwarts Express, guests will encounter an engaging Hogwarts Express interactive photo opportunity where they can partake in memorable scenes from the Harry Potter films as part of a collectible keepsake. Unique to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” in the U.S., this photo opportunity will invite guests to step into the Hogwarts Express station and climb inside a cabin where they can choose from three scenic backdrops. Guests will be able to purchase their framed mementos. Each of the images will be equally intriguing and complement the immersive guest experience, whether they choose just one or opt to capture all three adventures, which include, braving the darkness to face the Dementor’s kiss, witnessing the flight of the Weasley’s Ford Anglia or glimpsing a spectacular view of the iconic Hogwarts castle. Each commemorative photo will be framed within a collectible folder emblazoned with the Hogwarts Express train and the classic Hogwarts Railways crest.

The Owlery, an open air, covered barn, where majestic Great Horned and tiny Scops owls perch high above the heads of visiting guests. With cleverly articulated movement, the lifelike owls hoot and click, turn their heads, ruffle and flutter their feathers as they rest lazily between postal deliveries. Below, guests can enjoy the scenery while seated at benches within the shaded enclave where they can gaze up at the owls resting in the timber rafters.

The iconic and picturesque Hogwarts castle sits at the heart of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” with the entrance guarded by two towering winged boars, providing access to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the land’s signature 3D-HD ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.”

The imposing structure is also an attraction unto itself, housing narrow stone passageways, classrooms, dormitories and a treasure trove of props and décor both original to the film and recreated to adorn its impressive rooms and halls.

Also check-out some of the photos from the VIP Premiere Event and keep checking on Socalthrills.com for updates!

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NEW! Disney's The BFG – Official Trailer

By

Robbie Bulus

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April 5, 2016

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic “The BFG” to life. Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. “I think it was kind of genius of Roald Dahl to be able to empower the children. It was very, very brave of him to introduce that combination of darkness and light which was so much Disney’s original signature in a lot of their earlier works like in ‘Dumbo,’ ‘Fantasia,’ ‘Snow White’ and ‘Cinderella,’ and being able to do scary, but also be redemptive at the same time and teach a lesson, an enduring lesson, to everyone, it was a wonderful thing for Dahl to have done, and it was one of the things that attracted me to want to direct this Dahl book,” says Spielberg.

The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams.

Roald Dahl’s “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) was first published in 1982 and has been enchanting readers of all ages ever since. To date, the book has been published in 41 languages. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Matilda,” have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. Originally created as a bedtime story, “The BFG” was Dahl’s own favorite of all his stories. “It was very important for us to be loyal to the language,” says Spielberg, “and the great writer Melissa Mathison, who also wrote ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,’ wrote ‘The BFG.’”

“The BFG” opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.

Pixar Unveils Ultimate Easter Egg

By

Robbie Bulus

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April 3, 2016

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” filmmakers have revealed that Hank, the film’s cantankerous octopus with camouflaging capabilities, has appeared in every one of their feature films since 1995’s “Toy Story.” “Finding Dory,” featuring the voice of Ed O’Neill as Hank, opens in theaters nationwide on June 17, 2016.

“Every Pixar fan knows that we love Easter Eggs,” said director Andrew Stanton, who also directed the 2003 Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo.” “And until now, Hank has been our most closely guarded secret. There are even people internally at Pixar who don’t know about this.”

Pixar is known for the hidden gems that appear in its feature films, including the Luxo Ball, the Pizza Planet Truck and A113, which is a nod to the animation classroom at CalArts, where several filmmakers attended. But the octopus—who’s actually a “septopus,” as he’s missing a tentacle—has remained a secret for two decades. “Hank started off as a bit of an inside joke between those of us who were here at Pixar in the very beginning,“ said Stanton. “But since then, finding a place for him in our films has become part of our culture, and I’m glad we finally get to introduce him properly to fans.”

The studio has released a short video (see below) featuring Stanton and O’Neill, showcasing several of Hank’s cameos throughout the years and even providing a new glimpse of the character in action in “Finding Dory.”

Disney•Pixar’s 'FINDING DORY' Cast and Character Announcement

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 30, 2016

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reveals its full roster of characters, as well as the voice talent tapped to help bring each character to life. Directed by Andrew Stanton, who helmed the Oscar®-winning films “Finding Nemo” and “WALL•E,” “Finding Dory” revisits everyone’s favorite blue tang Dory as she embarks on a life-changing adventure to find her family.

“It really is a whole new chapter this time,” said Stanton. “We’re introducing new characters—each with his or her own unique voice. Everyone has something special to offer, which makes it fun and elevates the whole story. ‘Finding Nemo’ was a great calling card when it came to casting this movie. I don’t take that for granted.”

“Finding Dory,” which opens in theaters nationwide on June 17, 2016, features the following lineup.

· Ellen DeGeneres returns to the sea as Dory, the bright blue tang with a sunny personality. She suffers from short-term memory loss, which normally doesn’t upset her upbeat attitude—until she realizes she’s forgotten something big: her family. Dory’s found a new family in Marlin and Nemo, but she’s haunted by the belief that someone out there is looking for her. She may have trouble recalling exactly what—or who—she’s searching for, but she won’t give up until she uncovers her past and discovers something else along the way: self-acceptance.

· Albert Brooks dives in again to help bring Marlin to life. He may have traveled across the ocean once, but that doesn’t mean Marlin wants to do it again. So he doesn’t exactly jump at the opportunity to accompany Dory on a mission to the California coast to track down her family. Marlin, of course, knows how it feels to lose family, and it was Dory who helped him find Nemo not so long ago. The clownfish may not be funny, but he’s loyal—he realizes he has no choice but to pack up his nervous energy and skepticism and embark on yet another adventure, this time to help his friend.

· Hayden Rolence was called on to voice Nemo. One year after his big overseas adventure,Nemo is back to being a normal kid: going to school and living on the coral reef with his dad and their blue tang neighbor, Dory. His harrowing adventure abroad doesn’t seem to have sapped his spirit. In fact, when Dory remembers pieces of her past and longs to take off on an ambitious ocean trek to find her family, Nemo is the first to offer his help. He may be a young clownfish with a lucky fin, but Nemo wholeheartedly believes in Dory. After all, he understands what it’s like to be different.

· Ed O’Neill lends his iconic voice to Hank, whois an octopus. Actually, he’s a “septopus”: he lost a tentacle—along with his sense of humor—somewhere along the way. But Hank is just as competent as his eight-armed peers. An accomplished escape artist with camouflaging capabilities to boot, Hank is the first to greet Dory when she finds herself in the Marine Life Institute. But make no mistake: he’s not looking for a friend. Hank is after one thing—a ticket on a transport truck to a cozy Cleveland facility where he’ll be able to enjoy a peaceful life of solitude.

· Kaitlin Olson provides the voice of a whale shark named Destiny, who is a clumsy swimmer with a big heart. Destiny has a big everything, actually—whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. Destiny resides in the Marine Life Institute, where one day an oddly familiar blue tang named Dory falls into her pool. Destiny is admittedly embarrassed by her obvious lack of grace, a product of poor eyesight, but Dory thinks she swims beautifully. And Dory is delighted to learn that her supersized friend speaks whale, too.

· Ty Burrell was tapped to give voice to Bailey, the Marine Life Institute’s resident beluga whale, who is convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz. The good news—or bad news, depending on who you ask—is that doctors at the MLI can’t seem to find anything wrong with him. Bailey’s flair for the dramatic never ceases to push his neighbor’s buttons: whale shark Destiny can’t seem to get through to him, no matter how hard she tries. Maybe he’ll listen to new friend Dory, who seems to be full of crazy ideas.

· Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy were recruited to voice Dory’s parents. Jenny and Charlie would do anything for their only child. They celebrate and protect Dory, striving to arm her with the skills she’ll need to navigate the world with a faulty memory. Jenny may appear cheerful and a little flighty—but she’s a protective mother and a smart role model. Charlie likes to joke around, but nothing is more important to him than teaching his memory-challenged daughter how to survive.

· Idris Elba and Dominic West team up as the voices of Fluke and Rudder, a pair of lazy sea lions who were rehabilitated at the Marine Life Institute. Marlin and Nemo find them snoozing on a warm—and highly coveted—rock just outside the center. These sea lions really enjoy their down time and would rather not be bothered mid nap—but their bark is far worse than their bite.

· Bob Peterson is back as the memorable voice of Mr. Ray, the tune-loving teacher from the reef, who takes Nemo’s education—and that of his fellow undersea students—very seriously. Nobody enjoys Mr. Ray’s class more than Dory, who serves as his cheerful, albeit unnecessary, teacher’s assistant during their illuminating field trips.

· Torbin Bullock voices Becky, an offbeat, kooky loon who takes a liking to Marlin. Although she inspires little confidence—especially from a certain, skeptical clownfish—Becky might be smarter than she looks.

· Andrew Stanton and Bennett Dammann lend their voices to the ocean’s coolest turtles Crush and his son Squirt. They’re always happy to lend a flipper to a fish in need. Cruising the ocean for more than a hundred years definitely has its advantages.

· Bill Hader and Kate McKinnon make a cameo appearance as a fish couple that Dory briefly encounters along the way.

LEGO Minifigures Collection Features 18 Iconic Disney Characters

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 30, 2016

The LEGO Group has announced its 18th collection of LEGO^®Minifigures starring some of The Walt Disney Company’s most beloved characters inspired by stories from across the entire Disney universe. Eighteen new minifigures bring to life in LEGO form for the first time the playful personalities of some of the most iconic characters from Disney classics such as Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland to Disney•Pixar favorites like The Incredibles and Toy Story.

“For more than 16 years, fans have been recreating their most beloved Disney stories through LEGO play,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president of licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “This year, we’re excited to give them a diverse collection of Disney characters from classic storylines, to never-before-seen LEGO likenesses of Disney icons in order to further the creative play possibilities for Disney and LEGO fans alike.”

This collectible series of LEGO Minifigures will be widely available for purchase in all major toy retailers, as well as at shop.LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores nationwide in May, with a suggested retail price of $3.99 (USD) each.

Disney Animated Classics Characters
From Disney’s collection of timeless animated characters, the LEGO Group introduces minifigure versions of the beloved Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse characters, their temperamental friend Donald Duck, and his leading lady, Daisy Duck. Enthusiasts of 1950s Disney stories will appreciate the inclusion of Alice and the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Captain Hook from Peter Pan, and the evil witch Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Disney fans will also love minifigure versions of Ariel and Ursula from The Little Mermaid and the belovedGenie and Aladdin from the fictional city of Agrabah featured in Aladdin, plus the ultimate alien friend, Stitch, from Lilo & Stitch.

Disney•Pixar-Inspired Heroes and Villains
Two Disney•Pixar characters never-before-seen in the LEGO world become minifigures – Mr. Incredible and archenemy Syndrome from Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles. Additionally, fans can collect minifigure versions of two icons from the beloved Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story – Buzz Lightyear and the squeak-toy Alien from Pizza Planet.

Cayucos: A California Beach Town Lost in Time

By

Greg Aragon, Writer Greg's Getaway

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March 29, 2016

California’s Central Coast is littered with lost beaches, craggy rock formations, forgotten coves and rolling hills. Hidden amongst these natural wonders is the small town of Cayucos, where time has slowed and a classic 1960s beach village vibe permeates the air like fog through an historic pier.

A friend and I discovered Cayucos last week when we booked a stay at the Shoreline Inn (www.cayucosshorelineinn.com), a charming, family-owned motel that sits on the sand, mere steps from the beach. Here we checked into a ocean-front room, with incredible views of the town’s historic pier to the north and the giant, iconic Morro Bay rock about four nautical miles to the south.

The Shoreline Inn sits on the sand, mere steps from the beach

After unpacking we opened the glass door to our patio and found a sitting area overlooking a large green lawn and an uncrowded beach about 30 feet away. This was an invite we couldn’t resist, so we quickly took off our shoes and hit the sand. The first thing we noticed -besides the obvious natural beauty surrounding us – was an abundance of playful dogs and their owners, along with treasure seekers scanning the beach for sea glass.

Because of unique geography, many beaches along California’s Central Coast are rewarded with sea glass. These colorful gems come from fragments of glass bottles that make their way into the ocean, where they are tumbled through sand and waves for years until turned into smooth pieces of ocean-made jewelry and showcased on the beach by Mother Nature. Cayucos sea glass is so notable that the city hosts an annual festival each March honoring it with hand-made jewelry, music, food and more.

Cayucos Beach is known for beautiful sea glass and dog-lovers

After hunting for sea glass, we walked along the sand toward the historic Cayucos Pier, which was originally built in 1872 and was restored last year. Along the way, we were lured by the aroma of fresh smoked fish to Ruddell’s Smokehouse (www.smokerjim.com). Located in a tiny shack, Ruddell’s has been serving locals and out-of-towners since 1980. For our lunch, we devoured a couple smoked albacore and shrimp tacos on flour tortillas, with a subtle gourmet sauce, tomatoes, and a mix of red leaf lettuce, apples, celery, carrots, and green onion. The food was so good, I bought a package of smoked salmon for the road.

Ruddell’s is a great place for fresh smoked fish in Cayucos

After lunch we continued our walk and followed Ocean Ave, the town’s main street, to the end of town, until the road winded between a black, rocky coastline and lush green hills dotted with goats, cattle and yellow and orange wildflowers. It was here we found Estero Bluffs State Park and hiked through a majestic preserve, dedicated to protecting the diverse local area of the Pacific Coast, with its wetlands, low bluffs and coastal terraces punctuated by a number of perennial and intermittent streams.

Cayucos is has a laid back, classic California beach town feel

For dinner we found Duckies Chowder House (www.duckieschowder.com), located next to the pier and the town’s signature dolphin statue. Our meal included a delicious bowl of clam chowder and a tasty plate of fried fish, shrimp, oysters, calamari and clam strips with French fries and a cold beer.

Back at Shoreline Inn, we sat on our patio and watched the sun set behind the pier, as playful pooches chased seagulls into the surf. In the morning, we enjoyed the inn’s complimentary continental breakfast, with cereals, toast, eggs, fresh pastries, juice, coffee, and that gorgeous, ever-present view of the ocean and pier.

After breakfast we strolled through town to the Cayucos Visitor’s Center and History Museum, where we met Laila Kollmann, owner of the Shoreline Inn and one of the town’s friendliest and most knowledgeable ambassadors. While at the museum, Kollmann walked us through some of the current exhibits and told us about the town’s rich history.

Cayucos gets its name from the Chumash plank canoe, called “tomolor cayuco”

Originally inhabited by the Chumash Indians, the town gets its name from the Chumash plank canoe, called tomolor cayuco. Cayucos were small fishing boats similar to those used by the Aleuts during sea otter hunts along. The town of Cayucos was founded by Captain James Cass, who built the town’s original pier in 1872, along with its first store and warehouse, which provided commerce throughout the coastal communities. A current exhibit at the museum is dedicated to Cass.

Cayucos is located six miles north of Morro Bay on Highway 1. For more information on the town, visit:www.highway1discoveryroute.com; for more information on the Shoreline Inn, visit: www.cayucosshorelineinn.com.

‘The Big Cheese’ Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition Returns to Orange County for 3rd Annual Event

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 29, 2016

In celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month in April, Provisions Market and OC Baking Company will once again join forces to host The Big Cheese, Orange County’s grilled cheese festival and competition. Event Co-Founder Chef Greg Daniels and his fellow OC Chefs will compete for the title of “The Big Cheese” in this 3rd annual event to be held on Tuesday, April 19th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Provisions Market (143 N. Glassell Street, Orange, CA 92866).

OC Baking Company Master Baker Dean Kim will supply locally produced freshly baked bread to the competing chefs, while the farmer-owned dairy cooperative Tillamook will offer a selection of its award-winning cheeses and butter for use at the festival. Participating chefs will present their own spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich that festival attendees will sample and then vote.

This year’s event will feature one ProAm competitor who will be selected by event organizers in an Instagram contest to join the professional chefs at The Big Cheese 2016. To enter, the public must create and present an original grilled cheese creation on Instagram and use the hashtag #thebigcheese2016 by Thursday, April 14th. The winning entry will be announced Friday, April 15th and the ProAm contender for “The Big Cheese” will participate in the festival on Tuesday, April 19th.

“Now in our third year, this event has served to unite our local chefs and engage them in a lighthearted competition,” commented Chef Greg Daniels, who oversees the kitchens at Provisions Market and Haven Gastropub. “This year, we are taking something as simple as Grilled Cheese and using it to raise funds for our local culinary community through the Golden Rule Charity, which supports those in need within the industry.”

Tickets for the event must be purchased for $60 in advance (will include limited tasters of select craft beer) through Universe at http://www.universe.com/bigcheese2016. This event will be limited to 100 guests (tickets will be sold at the door, if capacity permits).

New Disney Tsum Tsum Video Short: Ninja Castle Released

By

Robert Rivera

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March 29, 2016

The newest Disney Tsum Tsum Video Short has just been released.

The video short features Mickey, Donald and Tigger Tsum Tsums as they sneak into a booby-trapped castle, dressed as ninjas.

Miitomo Launches in the U.S. on March 31

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 29, 2016

Don’t miss out on being a part of a Nintendo first! On March 31, Miitomo, the company’s first-ever smart device application, is launching in the United States and several other countries. Miitomo is a free-to-start social experience that lets users spark one-of-a-kind conversations with friends in a whole new way using Mii characters. The app recently launched in Japan and was downloaded more than 1 million times in its first three days of availability, while achieving the #1 most downloaded free app status in both the App Store and Google Play storefronts.

“With Miitomo, Nintendo takes its first step into the world of smart devices,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Miitomo brings the special Nintendo charm and polish that people around the world love to an entirely new format and audience.”

Getting started with Miitomo and being a part of this Nintendo milestone is easy: After downloading the application for free on the App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, along with Android devices, users create a Mii character and customize facial features like eyes and hair, as well as voice and personality. Users can also use the camera on their smart devices to snap a photo of themselves, which can be used to create a Mii, or they can simply import their Mii from their Wii U or Nintendo 3DS systems using a QR Code.

Once their Mii is ready, users can add friends who already have the app in person, or by linking the app with their existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. After that step is complete, it’s time to answer some questions! Miitomo creates conversations and turns discussions into a form of play by prompting users to answer all kinds of fun questions. How would you define your fashion style? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? If you were given ten grand to spend in one day, what would you do? The answers get shared among friends, sparking interesting conversations – part of the fun is discovering unexpected facts about your friends. When users hear how their friends responded to questions, they can give answers a “heart” or a written or picture comment.

To preregister for Miitomo, users can sign up for a Nintendo Account at https://miitomo.com before March 31 to receive an email when the app is ready to download. People that create their Nintendo Account and preregister before March 31 will also receive Platinum Points for the new My Nintendo rewards program, which will simultaneously launch with Miitomo. Aiming to be much more than a standard rewards program, My Nintendo is a comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users who link the app to their Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience. Platinum Points can be earned by interacting with Nintendo apps and services, including Miitomo. Gold Points are earned when purchasing digital versions of games from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Both Platinum and Gold Points can be redeemed for rewards like games, download content, in-app items and eShop discount coupons.

In addition to Miitomo and the My Nintendo program, Nintendo is also launching an enhanced Wii U and Nintendo 3DS shop on Nintendo.com on March 31 for users with a Nintendo Account to purchase digital games. Featuring an expanded catalog of more than 2,000 games, this digital store can be accessed on personal computers or smart devices. The shop serves as an additional purchase option to Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, with all purchases being sent directly to users’ Nintendo 3DS or Wii U systems for download. Users can now easily find and purchase games that are new, popular and on sale, as well as use filters to search by genre. Purchases of games from this site, as well as Nintendo eShop, will earn My Nintendo Gold Points.

For more information about Miitomo and My Nintendo, visit https://miitomo.com.

D23 Expo 2017 Coming to Anaheim July 14–16! Tickets on sale Soon.

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 28, 2016

All the magic and excitement of the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again when D23: The Official Disney Fan Club presents D23 Expo 2017 at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of July 14–16. Each of Disney’s magical worlds will unite under one roof to celebrate what’s new and what’s on the horizon from theme parks, television, music, gaming, and films, including Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel.

Highlights planned for D23 Expo include the Disney Legends Ceremony, which honors the talented men and women who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy; an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives; D23 Expo’s costume contest, Mousequerade, showcasing the most creative designs by fans; the D23 Expo Emporium, where Disney fans can buy, sell, and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia, merchandise, and more; and the D23 Expo Design Challenge. (Details on the Design Challenge and Mousequerade will be forthcoming.)

The 2017 Expo will feature a massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities to see what’s next for Disney around the world—and guests may run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. StagePass, the popular ticket distribution system that allows attendees to obtain guaranteed seats for some of Expo’s most popular presentations, and StorePass, which allows priority entry to select shopping venues at the event, will once again enhance the guest experience. Hall D23, the popular presentation and performance venue featuring more than 7,000 seats, will return, as will Stage 23, Stage 28, and Center Stage.

The fifth event follows the success of D23 Expo 2015, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by such celebrities as Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Evans, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Dwayne Johnson and watched performances by Ne-Yo, Sabrina Carpenter, the cast of Teen Beach 2 and stars of Disney’s shows on Broadway. Guests previewed costumes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and were the first to hear about the new Star Wars-themed lands coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. They also enjoyed a look back at Disney’s rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations, and exhibits and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products coming from Disney.

Advance tickets for D23 Expo 2017 will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning July 14, 2016. D23 Members will receive special pricing on both one- and three-day tickets to the event, which is open to the general public. D23 Gold and Charter Members will also be entitled to special benefits at the 2017 Expo. Gold Members will also have an opportunity to purchase the Sorcerer Package, which provides a host of special benefits and amenities. Ticket prices will be announced this summer.

The Book of Mormon is at Your Door – Open It

By

Joel Covey

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March 24, 2016

Ding-Dong! Hello. Did you hear that the outrageously funny Tony Award winning musical THE BOOK OF MORMON is preaching onstage right now at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa? Well, if you are still deciding, it’s only in town until April 3rd and only has limited number of seats left. Time is of the essence! The musical from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone that has been the talk across the industry since its inception just 5 years ago has gone on to stun and delight audience-goers everywhere. The Book of Mormon will have you laughing hysterically and leave you with a new take on what a musical can deliver.

If you haven’t heard anything more about this musical other than it’s wildly popular, it’s best be known that this is just as vulgar and politicly incorrect as one could expect from a South Park episode, containing explicit language that warrants cuts from the likes of Quintin Tarantino. You may want to check your prudish sensibilities before attending as Parker and Stone have created a no holds bar look at the Church of Latter Day Saints that will surely find someone to offend.

This unparalleled, insane musical comedy follows a pair of mismatched missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, that are sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. The Elders are forced into a mission location that’s going to be far more challenging than what they could have ever imagined. That’s all I’ll get into here as the unexpected helps lead to more laughter in this musical.

The Book of Mormon has a brand of humor that is very reminiscent of South Park storytelling. In no way is this a knock, as Parker and Stone actually have something I like to call intelligent shock-value comedy in which many of the jokes deliver a “I can’t believe they just said that” reaction quickly followed by a realization that the joke actually makes a lot of sense on a deeper level. The subtext of the musical and plot in its entirety is far more powerful than any one joke. This can often be seen in much of the creators past works where the end result usually tells a very valid moral to the story.

All this South Park talk has me worried some may be a little turned-off from wanting to see an onstage off-Broadway musical with South Park’s reputation. Let me be the first to admit that I was entirely wrong on on my perception of this musical. I had listened to the music several times over the past couple of years and thought to myself that it sounded very similar to the musical numbers featured in South Park episodes. Well, there is definitely a resemblance, at times, but the cast recordings do zero justice.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts - The Book of Mormon Company - The Book of Mormon - Photo by Joan Marcus — Segerstrom Center for the Arts – The Book of Mormon Company – The Book of Mormon – Photo by Joan Marcus

Not only does the incredible ensemble of cast members add something special to each song by their hilarious performances, but the songs were also written by Robert Lopez. Who? The same guy who composed songs for AVENUE Q and on the entirely opposite end of the sprectrum, The Disney animated film Frozen. This is where you insert that emoji with the smiley face with his hands on the side of the face with a shocked expression.

Seriously, The Book of Mormon features some excellent talent and a fitting fast-paced lively song collection. Elder Price played by Billy Harlingen Tighe was a delight and vocally perfect for the role. The character of Elder Cunningham, a socially awkward outcast will always have the challenging task to live up to Josh Gad, Olaf in Frozen, but AJ Holmes has managed to make this character entirely his own. I was concerned at first by his take, but his performance was solid throughout and delivered a vocal performance far better than his persona would gave off.

This production has a phenomenal group of talent with every single cast member delivering an amazing performance that were all worthy of a mention. Their enthusiasm throughout the entire production along with Lopez’s snappy and energetic songs have created a well-paced non-stop entertaining epic show.

Production value also continued to add to the show with great sets and scenic design, lighting was noteworthy, and sound was well mixed. The Book of Mormon contained it all that left everyone around me with such praise for the show. I seriously saw a lady jump up and down in her skirt and high-heals asking her man if they could see it again! Actively listening for others comments while walking out left me only hearing rave reviews.

I seriously went into The Book of Mormon expecting just some funny/shocking one-liners. What I got instead was a well-rounded, smart show with simply perfect performances, a great cast, a large production, great vocals, and sore cheek from so much laughter. Why did I not see this sooner?

THE JUNGLE BOOK Cast Special Shoot Images

By

Robbie Bulus

-

March 21, 2016

Check-out these Brand new special shoot images featuring the cast of Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK. Featuring Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito, each image pairs the actor with their onscreen character.

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray).

Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela.

“The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016.