Visit the park from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily and discover a variety of exciting events that commemorate fresh beginnings as the Year of the Monkey arrives. It’s the perfect opportunity to focus on family, welcome spring and offer warm wishes for an auspicious future!
Experiences may include:
Live performances
Photo opportunities with select Disney Characters
Stunning scenic displays
Special event merchandise
Limited-time food and beverages items
Complimentary face painting
Sensational Sights
Monkeys and dumplings and fans… oh my! Over the course of this fun, 4-day event, Paradise Gardens at Paradise Pier will be decked out in festive décor replete with a vibrant array of symbols and colors.
Stroll along walkways festooned with ornamental lanterns and banners that set the mood for good fortune and fun! Signs flying high in the sky wish Guests good health, happiness and prosperity for the coming year in English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
Entertainment for Kids of All Ages
We’ve put together an impressive lineup of authentic performers just for the occasion—and don’t miss some of your favorite Disney Characters as they come to the party dressed in their 4714 best!
Specialty Food and Beverage Options
Throughout select areas of the park, treat your taste buds to many of the holiday’s unique food and beverage choices, including:
Pork Bao – Steamed bao filled with pork and served with sweet chili sauce
Year of the Monkey – Shaped sourdough bread
Almond Cookies
Ginger Milk Tea
Tsing Tao Beer
Please note: events, experiences and offerings are subject to change without notice.
That lyric from “The LEGO® Movie™” signature song perfectly sums up the collaborative approach it took to bring Emmet and his friends back in a brand-new, theatrical attraction appearing exclusively at LEGOLAND® theme parks and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers in 2016.
The challenge was how to follow a blockbuster film that charmed fans all over the globe with a critically acclaimed mix of humor, heart, action and adventure.
For Rob Schrab, who directed and co-wrote the attraction and is set to make his feature film directorial debut on “The LEGO® Movie™ Sequel” for Warner Bros., the attraction represented an opportunity to explore the movie’s sprawling LEGO® universe in a new yet familiar way.
“This is the story of our gang letting off some steam between films,” he said. “The humor and tone is very similar to ‘The LEGO® Movie™.’ ”
To create the attraction’s visuals, nearly 200 artists and technicians at Los Angeles-based Pure Imagination Studios supplied their expertise in crafting cutting-edge 3D computer animation while maintaining the movie’s carefully rendered “built with LEGO®” look. Consulting on every step of the process were Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the writer-directors who brought “The LEGO® Movie™” to the big screen, along with producer Dan Lin.
“[Phil, Chris and Dan] were involved from the beginning,” Pure Imagination’s Joshua Wexler explained, “from the story process to the look. We received assets from the animation studio that did the first movie, so we got the actual models used for Emmet and Wyldstyle. We had to re-create that look ourselves but we had an amazing body of work to study.”
It all started with the iconic LEGO brick and a virtual building program LEGO offers online for free.
“Everything [in the attraction] is actually built out of brick,” he added. “Every element is a real element used in actual LEGO toy making. We usually build everything in LEGO Digital Designer and then export that into our 3D software.”
Actor-writer Nick Offerman, who returned to voice MetalBeard, the towering pirate made of more than 200 LEGO pieces, said his affinity for the role has its roots in childhood.
“I sincerely love voicing MetalBeard for the LEGO projects,” he said, “as it reminds me of the animated characters of my youth, like Popeye and Grape Ape and ‘The Flintstones.’ ”
Schrab said the experience of making the attraction was a great opportunity to work not only with old friends but new collaborators.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Nick Offerman on ‘Parks and Recreation,’ and Allison Brie on ‘Community,’ so it was like hanging out with my buds. Those two are way fun,” he said. “Elizabeth [Banks] and Charlie [Day] are solid talents, and brought the goods. I make it a point to trust actors with their characters and not restrict them. They were up for anything – I can’t wait to work with everyone again on ‘The LEGO® Movie™ Sequel.’ ”
In creating the attraction’s new villain, Risky Business, brother of President Business in “The LEGO® Movie™,” the filmmakers needed someone who presented a real but comical threat to Emmet and friends.
To supply Risky’s unique mix of arrogance and frustration, Schrab turned to actor, comedian, author and film buff Patton Oswalt.
“Patton is a friend,” Schrab said, “and so talented, and we’re very lucky to have him.”
To develop the attraction, LEGOLAND parent company Merlin Entertainments Group worked closely with LEGO and Warner Bros. Consumer Products to ensure that this “new adventure” met the high standards of its motion picture predecessor while delivering an exciting, multisensory experience for LEGOLAND guests.
“No matter where you go, kids adore Emmet and the other characters so it was critically important that we stay faithful to the tone and style of ‘The LEGO® Movie™,’ ” said Paul Harvey, global marketing director for LEGOLAND Parks. “By working hand in hand with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, LEGO and Pure Imagination, we’ve created a fun experience that puts the Master Builders in a new predicament but with the same humor and action that made the movie such a hit.”
Now open at LEGOLAND California Resort, “The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” had its world premiere Jan. 28 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven, FL, and will be seen soon at all other LEGOLAND theme parks and LEGOLAND Discovery Centers worldwide in 2016.
In addition to “The LEGO Movie Sequel,” which opens May 18, 2018, two more LEGO feature films are on the way from Warner Bros.: the as-yet-untitled LEGO Batman™ movie opens Feb. 10, 2017 and “NINJAGO” is set to debut Sept. 22, 2017.
Some of the greatest, most entertaining, spectacular, comical, shocking magicians you’ll ever see have appeared direct from Broadway at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. From the likes of incredibly intricate close-up magic to the stunning grand illusions of the largest acts in the business down to the funniest of comedic acts up to the most death-defying escape artists comes THE ILLUSIONISTS LIVE FROM BROADWAY. Their act will disappear Sunday February 2nd, so there is no time to spare.
THE ILLUSIONISTS is exactly what one should expect from a large magic show production. I’ll save trying to pretend this is merely more than just that. It’s a giant magic show with acts from around the world all offering something unique from each other. The show is filled with one creative act after another with a bit of comedic relief from the flamboyant sequence wearing tear-jerking-funny Jeff Hobson, known as The Trickster.
Creative Producer Simon Painter and MagicSpace Entertainment has brought the biggest talent from across the world into one stage show for this very different Broadway show. THE ILLUSIONISTS combines all types of magic acts to really cater toward any audience member. Within this show there seems to be a focus on the more charming and smaller acts than the giant stage magic that one would anticipate from a show such as this. You will find an assortment of some of the most fascinating close-up performances where the large screen on stage becomes useful even for closest of seats. These acts are counteracted with several larger illusions sprinkled throughout.
Most performers have several illusions or acts that are spread sporadically through the show with a basis of ‘inbetweeners’ performed by Jeff Hobson. He is an absolute delight and welcomed in each return to the stage as he delivers some of the absolute funniest improvisational bits I have ever seen in my life. I could easily find myself enjoying an entire show featuring just him, but I digress. Every performer is a character in their own right. Including Hobson, the show features seven acts: The Escapologist, Andrew Basso; The Weapon Master, Ben Vlaque; The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Hin; The Inventor, Kevin James; The Deceptionist, James More; and The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry.
While I was actually quite obsessed with magic tricks when I was younger, I have lost touch with that side of my life over the years. It’s perhaps something I wish I did’t give up during my adolescents. In fact, most magic tricks and illusionists became stale to me, but THE ILLUSIONISTS brings a refreshing show that’s never cheesy. This is something hard to come-by within “magic” shows. The show contains some thankfully fresh and edgy acts with new twists and new takes on some very classic illusions.
There are truly a fair amount of new tricks I have never seen the likes of, but there are still some typical disappearing reappearing in boxes tricks yet ends with some finishes that never get old. How many times can you see a the person hold up a box covered in a shimmering sheet only to succumb to the illusionists flipping the sheet into the air revealing the box/cage/person/take your pick has disappeared. Some of the less flashy of tricks do contain some changes and differences from what you may have seen in the past helping this show stand out from other magic shows.
Though I was hoping for an even bigger production value with the most elaborate of sets and a larger back-up performer ensemble, THE ILLUSIONISTS is still one the biggest show of its kind I have ever seen and should be the new standard for Vegas. It has a smaller feel than a Lance Burton or David Copperfield show. It’s lack of unforgiving showiness that can be expected from a Vegas-style show should be commended. This is a show that wants to still focus on that sense of wonder we felt as a child with a hope that we can all escape from our everyday lives for this brief time.
THE ILLUSIONISTS is playing at Segerstrom Center For The Arts in Costa Mesa until February 7th.
Nintendo’s first app made exclusively for smart devices, Miitomo, will launch in North America in March for both iOS and Android phones and tablets. Nintendo has outlined the steps that fans can take to be among the first to get in on the social fun.
Starting Feb. 17, people will be able to pre-register for Miitomo by signing up for the new Nintendo Account service using their existing email, social media accounts or current Nintendo Network IDs. People who pre-register will be among the first to be notified about the availability of Miitomo when it launches in March. Nintendo will offer a special Miitomo bonus to anyone who signs up for a Nintendo Account between Feb. 17 and launch. Miitomo is a social experience that uses Nintendo’s Mii characters, which first debuted on the Wii console, to engage friends in a lighthearted and welcoming environment. Users can spark fun conversations and learn more about each other by answering questions such as “What song has been stuck in your head lately?”, “Do you believe in aliens?”, or even “If you saw a nose hair sticking out of your friend’s nose, what would you do?” Users can also easily take and share photos featuring their Mii with the Miifoto feature. Nintendo’s new My Nintendo rewards program will launch alongside Miitomo in March, and will be able to connect with the app.
“Miitomo is a uniquely entertaining mobile experience that only Nintendo can deliver,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Featuring Mii characters, users will be able to interact with their friends in an entirely new way that transforms communication into a form of play.”
Launching alongside Miitomo in March, My Nintendo aims to become much more than a traditional rewards program. It is a more comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users with a Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience.
Including Miitomo, Nintendo plans to release approximately five smart device applications by the end of March 2017. More information about Miitomo, Nintendo Account and My Nintendo will be available on http://www.nintendo.com in the coming weeks.
Forever enchanting and inspiring, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs embodies The Walt Disney Signature Collection’s legacy of animation. In this epic story of love and friendship, the kind and beautiful princess Snow White wins the hearts of the Seven Dwarfs and triumphs over the evil plans of a wicked Queen. Share the movie called “The Greatest Animated Film Of All Time,” (American Film Institute) in High Definition Blu-ray and for the first time ever on Digital HD, with special features for the entire family!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs hasn’t stood every test of time, but it has withstood every test that matters. As an early cinematic marvel, it readily reveals its creators’ commitment and skill, trotting out a slew of innovative firsts that have inspired every animated film since.
Snow White Bonus – “The First”
The new Blu-ray edition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a near-definitive release of the animated film that started it all. Its gorgeous restoration is simply the beginning. What follows is a glorious video transfer, a fit and faithful DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, and a mammoth collection of special features. I can’t imagine anyone — aside from the dark-hearted stepmothers among you — will be disappointed or underwhelmed by this fantastic, top-notch release.
Snow White Bonus – “Designing Disney’s First Princess”
The historic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs comes with a spectacular assortment of all new bonus features, including:
In Walt’s Words: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – For the first time ever, hear Walt himself talk about Snow White.
Iconography – Explore how this film influences pop culture, art, and fashion.
@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess – Modern day Disney artists discuss the design of Snow White and how it influenced the look of some of your favorite Disney characters.
The Fairest Facts of Them All: 7 Facts You May Now Know About Snow White – Disney Channel star Sofia Carson reveals seven intriguing facts about Snow White.
Snow White in Seventy Seconds – Rap along with this hip reimagining of the story.
Alternate Sequence: The Prince Meets Snow White – A never–before-seen story board sequence where the Prince meets Snow White.
And much more!
*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer
Snow White Bonus – “Alternate Scene”
Presented with flawless newly restored picture and 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs promises to set a new standard in home entertainment. The most immersive and highest level viewing experience ever available, it includes unparalleled features, exclusive and updatable high definition content, superior picture and sound, and much more.
Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse presents Pop Star Minnie on DVD. In this delightful episode, Minnie Mouse has been invited to sing onstage. This is a dream come true! When her backup band loses their instruments, will her dream be put on hold?
This DVD is packed with three more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes and also includes a bonus episode. Mickey’s Clubhouse Rocks, Minnie and Daisy’s Flower Shower, Minnie’s Mouseke-Calendar, and Mickey’s Big Bad Concert provide over an hour of fun for your little one. You’ll soon find yourself singing along to the catchy songs and solving clues using Mouseketools.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Pop Star Minnie is now DVD! It includes the Pop Star Minnie episode plus 4 additional music themed episodes for over 2 hours of fun and comes with a FREE Inflatable Guitar so your kids can rock along with the Disney crew!
Overall, I rate this DVD 5 Mickey Hands.
Episodes:
Pop Star Minnie
Mickey’s Clubhouse Rocks
Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower
Minnie’s Mouseke-Calendar
Mickey’s Big Band Concert
Bonus:
Minnie’s Bow Toons
-Rooftop Repair
-Alarm Clocked Out
Joining its sister locations, which have featured long-running, hugely successful wine & sake lover’s nights, Sushi Roku Newport Beach will add to its contemporary sushi experience by offering half off all sake and wine by the bottle every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to close.
To complement Sushi Roku’s unparalleled sushi experience, Executive General Manager and Sake Sommelier for the restaurant, Eiji Mori, curates an extremely selective sake menu that embodies the complex flavors and aromas that define craft sake. Sushi Roku has been recognized for its vast selection of sakes in all styles and price ranges, and its Sake Program offers a greater variety of 300ml bottles. Guests have the opportunity to discover and explore a wide variety of sake, from traditional Junmai, Ginjo, and Daiginjo, to more playful options, including flavored sakes and Nigori, and sparkling varieties.
The restaurant’s wine list specializes in labels from around the world that pair well with Japanese cuisine: crisp whites, including bottles of premium French Champagnes, and full-bodied reds. In addition, Sushi Roku offers a happy hour menu featuring $3 to $6 bites, including edamame with truffle butter, seared Albacore sashimi with crispy onions, and pork kakuni sliders, all of which can be paired with sake and wines.
Guests may experience half off all sake and wine by the bottle every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to close (does not include by-the-glass options). Sushi Roku Fashion Island is located at 327 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach (adjacent to Macy’s, across from True Food Kitchen). For more information about Sushi Roku’s menu and other locations, visit www.sushiroku.com.
Southern California never ceases to amaze. No matter how many Sunday drives I take around the region, I am still finding new and exciting getaways. Such was the case last week when a couple friends and I headed to Wrightwood and took a few memorable turns along the way.
The adventure began when we pulled off the northbound I-15 Freeway near the Cajon Pass and Devore and ended up on Old Route 66. This lost portion of the historic highway parallels the freeway for a spell while it twists and turns its way through the rocky San Gabriel Mountains.
After a few minutes we spotted a white monument on the side of the road and pulled over to investigate. It turns out we were driving through a split that divides the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges. This ancient route was traversed by Native Americans, early settlers, horse thieves and railroads, before Route 66 and the freeway came along. The pass was also called the Salt Lake Trail, as it was used extensively by the Mormons, who founded San Bernardino in 1851.
While reading a roadside plaque, we heard thunder coming in the form of a mile-long Southern Pacific train. Looking up, we saw the iron horse directly in front of us, just across a deep gully with a flowing stream at the bottom.
Continuing our trek up to Wrightwood, we turned off Route 66 onto Lone Pine Canyon Rd and discovered an old, abandoned outpost known as Clyde Ranch. Built in the 1870’s by the Clyde family, the cabin and surrounding 160-acre settlement was said to be a retreat for Wyatt Earp and his brother Virgil, who grew up in the nearby city of Colton. Story has it that the legendary Earp brothers would ride their horses from Colton, through the Cajon Pass to visit the Clydes and hunt deer.
From the ranch we continued up Lone Pine Canyon Rd and began to see snow along the side of the road and clinging to the mountainsides. We then found ourselves driving through a residential area of cabins and lodge homes, before popping out into the tiny town of Wrightwood.
Located at 6,000 feet in the east end of the San Gabriel Mountains, Wrightwood is best known for its popular ski resort Mountain High. But the place is also a charming little town with quaint shops and restaurants and a host of outdoor activities at hand. And no traffic lights!
When we got to town, it was 56 degrees, the sun was shining, and a brisk breeze was blowing through. There was ice on the ground and snow on rooftops. There was smoke coming from the chimney of a local restaurant named Evergreen Café. We took this as signal to pop in for lunch. We did and were treated to a hearty meal of hot chili and chicken-fried steak.
After lunch we drove up Angeles Crest Highway, which cuts through town. We took this until we found a spot on the side of the road where people were playing in the snow. This looked too fun to pass up, so we parked and followed a trail to an area packed with families sliding around on inner tubes and makeshift sleds.
Continuing up Angeles Crest Highway, we stopped at Mountain High Ski Resort (www.mthigh.com) and watched snowboarders and skiers glide down the mountain. Billed as Southern California’s closest winter resort, Mountain High consists of three separate mountains: Mountain High East, West, and North. Back on Angeles Crest, we winded our way to picturesque Jackson Lake. Covering about seven surface acres, the tiny lake was frozen when we arrived and was being used by ice skating ducks.
On the way home from Wrightwood, we turned off Lone Pine Canyon Rd and took my Jeep down a tiny trail called Swarthout Canyon Rd. This exciting desolate road is as fun as it is bumpy and unforgiving.
On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern Seaboard and wreaking havoc on anything caught in its destructive path, including two 500-foot oil tankers. The SS Pendleton and SS Fort Mercer, bound for Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine, respectively, were both ripped in half by the storm, stranding their crews at sea. The senior officer aboard the stern of the Pendleton, chief engineer Raymond Sybert (Casey Affleck), soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and keep the ship afloat as long as possible.
The Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts was busy helping local fishermen protect their boats from the storm when they received word that the Fort Mercer was in trouble. Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana), the recently appointed station chief, immediately dispatches his best men to aid in the larger rescue effort already in progress. When Cluff learns that a second ship, the Pendleton, was also damaged and is now adrift in nearby waters, he orders coxswain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) to quickly assemble a crew and take out the CG36500 lifeboat to look for survivors.
Webber and three men board the 36-foot motorized, wooden boat and set off on the perilous mission with bleak prospects, at best, and before they even clear the Chatham Harbor, the boat’s windshield and compass are destroyed. Yet the men persevere, and despite hurricane- force winds, 60-foot waves, frigid temperatures and zero visibility, miraculously locate the Pendleton and rescue 32 of its 33 men in the midst of the turbulent storm, returning a total of 36 men home on their battered 12-seat lifeboat.
During a recent press junket, we had the opportunity to hear from Chris Pine and Ben Foster about what made this movie so special and unique.
Q: You mentioned that this role was unlike anyone you’ve ever played before. What was different about Bernie to you and was that what made the role appealing?
Chris Pine: Yeah, when I first met Craig, he kept on mentioning Rocky as kind of the touchstone for the character. I thought that was a very adept, adroit perceptive way in. Especially how Scott wrote the script. He’s a kind of, he’s not the sharpest or swiftest guy in many ways, but he’s also very adept at his job. He knows that boat. He knows those waters and as much as he’s racked by fear and doubt, he does really know how to use his hands. His body. He’s a soft guy. There’s no complexity above and beyond what you see with Bernie.
Q: How difficult was it for you to capture that accent, the Boston accent?
Pine: I had this little audio recording that was kind of my touchstone and that was my version of Bernie. So the moment that I would ever ask like, so what do you think? I would have about seven people in my face going well now that vowel, no, you can’t do that.
Ben Foster: He called it. It was really hard and particularly shooting there. What he did it’s bold.
Q: Was there anything in your personal life that helped motivate you or feel your portrayal of the character for both of you guys?
Foster: What we do is a job and it’s not that exceptional. It’s a great privileged job, no question. But you do a thing. And being around these men and women who do this for a living the Coast Guard, the real Coast Guard the real military, people that are in the service industry, journalist who actually ask questions because they care. Wherever care is involved, it’s so humbling.
Q: How do you feel shooting the storm scenes because we’re hearing that a lot of water was thrown at you? How did you focus? Was it challenging?
Pine: I guess it’s a pain in the ass in the beginning. But then it’s in many ways, kind of makes the job a lot easier because you don’t have to act all that much and you just focus on getting the job done.
“The Finest Hours” is a heroic action-thriller based on the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard. Presented in Digital 3DTM, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, the film transports audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, “The Finest Hours” stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, Kyle Gallner, John Magaro and Eric Bana and is produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a., and Dorothy Aufiero, p.g.a., with Doug Merrifield serving as executive producer. The film is written by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson, based on the acclaimed non-fiction book of the same name by Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias.
Ubisoft released Sandstorm Pirate Wars™, an expansive action RPG, now available to download on smartphones and tablets. Developed by Ubisoft Barcelona, the game challenges players to use competitive tactical skills to take on pirates in a post-apocalyptic world where only the fiercest and smartest will survive.
Sandstorm Pirate Wars sets players in the midst of a catastrophe-stricken Earth. Equipped with a sand cruiser and customized weapons, players will interact with hundreds of exotic and eccentric characters and take on ruthless pirates. In this desolate setting, players must find out who will help them, who will mislead them and who is a threat.
Players choose from four vessels, each with their own set of unique weapons, to deploy cannons, lasers, machine guns and battle drones, all while immersed in a stunning 3D world presented with high-quality HD graphics and special effects. Additionally, players can earn in-game currency to upgrade vessels, customize weapons and strengthen battle skills. Create an unbeatable battle strategy to defeat lurking pirates or compete with friends to put your skills to the test and be the top player in your league.
“When we started working on the project, we wanted to make a game that we would like to play ourselves, something new and different, with mechanics never before seen on mobile,” said Carlos Peris, producer. “An absorbing storyline was required, but also a strong, real-time PvP mode to please the most competitive players.”
Sandstorm Pirate Wars is NOW available on the App Store® and on Google Play™.
Sometimes all the pieces fit. Sometimes form follows function in an artist expression. Such is the case with the new Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which reopened last month after a $100 million renovation.
Built to house some of the world’s rarest and coolest cars and motorcycles, the structure is not only a giant warehouse, but it also a massive, sweeping architectural statement unto itself. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) Associates, the building’s new façade was inspired by the form of a car, creating a new “body” around the chassis of the existing museum that evokes images of race car speed and the curves of an automobile.
Reopened to the public on December 6, the Petersen features a constantly rotating exhibit of priceless and historic vehicles. To keep the things “fresh,” museum owners decided not to display their entire collection at once. Instead, about half of the 300-plus cars and motorcycles are on display at any one time in the roughly 100,000 sq-ft facility. The other half of the collection sits in on-site storage, awaiting a chance to go on exhibition.
One of the highlights of my recent getaway to the Petersen was the exhibit entitled “Rolling Sculpture,” which showcases autos from the 20s and 30s, when “manufacturers began to use the styling of a car as a means by which to distinguish it in the marketplace.” In this area I discovered a humongous, shiny and new-looking, 1933 Duesenberg SJ that was built to “outclass” any other car on the road. Boasting a supercharged 320-horsepower straight-eight engine, this beast was made for the wealthy and came with a staggering $20,000 price tag.
Another current exhibit is “Two-Wheeled Transportation,” which displays gorgeous motorcycles from the present back to the turn of the 20th Century, when they were little more than modified bicycles with primitive single-cylinder engines. One of the coolest motorcycles I examined was a 1927 Big Indian Chief, once owned by actor Steve McQueen. Equipped with a 24-horsepower engine, the bike could reach 90 mph and cost $350 new.
And speaking of Steve McQueen, the actor’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS is also being exhibited at the Petersen. Dubbed the “Green Rat” by McQueen, the rare Jaguar is one of only 16 such models built.
Of all the flashy, space-age, historic and experimental autos that I viewed at the Petersen Automotive Museum, one of my favorites was the 1961 International Scout 80, which was designed as a farm truck. Built with a half cab and a fold down windshield, this boxy, unassuming off-roader, is the perfect combination of simplicity and ruggedness.
Besides classic cars, the museum also features a gift shop, a soon-to-arrive dining facility, and an interactive Xbox game room, where visitors can get behind the wheel and experience the intense thrill of racing a car in one of 10 racing simulators that simulate famous tracks around the world.
After touring the three levels of exhibits, I walked outside and down the street to get a good look at the museum’s iconic architecture. The design is highlighted by a corrugated aluminum rain screen that wraps around the building, while “ribbons” of angel hair stainless steel and red painted aluminium flow around the structure.
“Sitting atop the existing structural system like the body of a car mounted to its frame, the steel ‘ribbons’ evoke a sense of speed and movement and are brushed to avoid creation of glare,” says the architect’s website. “The design offers a contemporary interpretation of the mid-century, space age “Googie” architectural style that characterizes Los Angeles. The result is one of the most significant and unforgettable structures in Los Angeles.”
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors; $7 for children; free for under 3 yrs. For more information, visit: www.petersen.org
When Dreamworks Animation released the first Kung Fu Panda back in 2008, I really had no expectations. There just didn’t seem to be a lot of potential in the idea of a panda bear who learned kung fu. Thanks to some perfect voice casting, an incredibly clever script, and creative directing techniques, they took a logline sounding like a rejected SNL skit and turned it into one of the best films in their catalog. After the second film failed to live up to the high standards set by the first one, I was a little apprehensive going into this third film in the franchise. There was no need for worry, as they somehow made a film that is at least as good, if not better, than the original.
These films work in large part thanks to the expanding mythology of the universe that the filmmakers have created. The mysticism behind the Kung Fu in this world creates a supernatural backdrop that elevates the film beyond a “Karate Kid” of the animal world. Opening in the spirit world, we are quickly introduced to the idea that this story is going to reach far beyond the Earthly confines one would expect. There, a supernatural battle breaks out that is far greater in scope than anything these films have presented before. Because this is in another realm, the rules of physics don’t apply, and it’s sequences such as these that make animation such a breathtaking medium.
It isn’t just the scope of the world that makes these films so strong. The scope of the characters is equally important. Po, the Dragon Warrior Panda (expertly voiced by Jack Black), is a perfect example of this. Having begun the series as a bumbling, perpetually hungry, buffoonish stereotype, they have expertly pushed his character forward so that he has retained the simplistic trademarks of the character, while evolving him towards his ultimate destiny as a Kung-Fu leader. With the assistance of a series of other kung fu masters, he is able to embrace his true calling and, as required in any children’s film such as this, save the world.
Po (voiced by Jack Black) frolicking in the panda village’s hot spring in DreamWorks Animation’s KUNG FU PANDA 3.
Having been raised by a stork, Po has naively believed that this was his birth father. With seemingly no other pandas in the world, Po has had no way of knowing that he wasn’t simply one of a kind. With the arrival of another panda claiming to be Po’s biological father, we are introduced to an entirely new corner of this world; a secret Panda village. This is where the film is elevated beyond the others. While there is an epic supernatural battle brewing, there is also this very personal, character-driven piece of mythology that changes the context of everything we have come to know before. As it is revealed that these two plot threads are destined to converge together, the stakes become elevated in a way not usually seen in children’s films such as this.
Considering the scale of the film, it’s all presented in a very lighthearted way, with constant humor, both visually and verbally. The audience I saw the film with was completely on-board, laughing and cheering throughout. My 3-year old daughter was engrossed, occasionally scared, and always entertained. This is big entertainment, both exciting and funny. With beautiful animation that cleverly blends multiple styles and techniques, along with truly innovative directing, Dreamworks Animation continues to push themselves in exciting ways.
Some of the greatest, most entertaining, spectacular, comical, shocking magicians you’ll ever see have appeared direct from Broadway at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. From the likes of incredibly intricate close-up magic to the stunning grand illusions of the largest acts in the business down to the funniest of comedic acts up to the most death-defying escape artists comes THE ILLUSIONISTS LIVE FROM BROADWAY. Their act will disappear Sunday February 2nd, so there is no time to spare.
