Robert Downey, Jr. Returns to Drama in 'The Judge' Trailer

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June 19, 2014

Robert Downey, Jr. has tweeted the first trailer for his new film, The Judge, which he he produced and stars in, alongside Robert Duvall. It’s the first time in a long while we’ve seen Downey, Jr. in a role outside of his larger than life, super egotistical, and superheroic characters he’s been playing since his return to stardom in 2008’s Iron Man, which put him back in the spotlight. So to see him returning to his roots, in a film closer in tone to Chaplin, has me absolutely giddy with anticipation. He’s done great work as Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes, but it’ll be great to see Downey, Jr. really sinking his teeth into a new film that gives him a chance to flex his dramatic muscles again.

The film follows Downey, Jr.’s character, Hank Palmer, as he returns home, to find his father, Joseph Palmer (Duvall), who is the town’s judge, is being accused of murder.

The Judge, directed by David Dobkin, opens October 10, 2014.

Check out WB’s full press release below:

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes “The Judge,” starring Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder,” the “Sherlock Holmes” films, the “Iron Man” franchise), Oscar® winner Robert Duvall (“Tender Mercies,” “Crazy Heart”) and Oscar® nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring”). The film is directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”).

In “The Judge,” Downey stars as big city lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town’s judge (Duvall), is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

Starring alongside Downey, Duvall and Farmiga are Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”), Jeremy Strong (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Lincoln”), Dax Shephard (TV’s “Parenthood”), and Oscar® winner Billy Bob Thornton (“Sling Blade,” “Friday Night Lights”). The film also stars Oscar® winner Melissa Leo (“The Fighter,” “Prisoners”), Leighton Meester (TV’s “Gossip Girl”), Ken Howard (“J. Edgar,” “Michael Clayton”), Emma Tremblay (“Elysium”), Balthazar Getty (TV’s “Brothers & Sisters”), David Krumholtz (“This Is the End”), Sarah Lancaster (TV’s “Chuck”), Grace Zabriskie (TV’s “Big Love”) and Denis O’Hare (TV’s “True Blood”).

“The Judge” is being produced by Susan Downey (the “Sherlock Holmes” films), David Dobkin, and David Gambino (“The Brave One”), with Herbert W. Gains, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Kleeman and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Nick Schenk (“Gran Torino”) and Bill Dubuque, story by Dobkin & Schenk.

Dobkin’s behind the scenes creative team includes Oscar®-winning director of photography Janusz Kaminski (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Lincoln”), production designer Mark Ricker (“The Way Way Back,” “The Help”), editor Mark Livolsi (“The Blind Side”) and costume designer Marlene Stewart (“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” “Tropic Thunder”). The music is by 12-time Oscar® nominee Thomas Newman (“Saving Mr. Banks”).

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Big Kid Pictures/Team Downey production, a film by David Dobkin, “The Judge” is scheduled for release on October 10, 2014, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Fight to Survive With the Final 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Trailer

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 18, 2014

20th Century Fox has unveiled the final trailer for their Rise of the Planet of the Apes sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. As with every new bit of marketing the studio has released, the film looks bigger, badder, and more intense than its predecessor, and Matt Reeves seems to have really gone all out for this installment.

Picking up ten years after the Rise, Dawn sees the world ravaged by the spread of the virus outbreak that begins at the close of the last film. The apes and humans are living in separate colonies, with Caesar (Serkis) leading the apes, trying to live out their lives in peace. But as the tension between the two factions grows, the very existence of their respective species hangs in the balance, as war looms on the horizon, and Caesar finds himself caught in the middle.

The new trailer really drives that point home, and the action, the scope, and the tension seems even better than before, and this really looks like the Planet of the Apes film I’ve been waiting to see for some time. If this ends up being even nearly as good as Rise was, this film could be a triumph. Check out the new trailer below.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Matt Reeves, stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirk Acevedo, Enrique Murciano, and Judy Greer will be released in 2D and 3D on July 11, 2014.

A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

Zoinks! WB Looking to Reboot Scooby-Doo

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 17, 2014

Zoinks! It looks Warner Bros. is looking at reviving the Mystery Inc. gang once again in live action. Deadline has broken the news that the studio is looking to reboot the series once again for the big screen, and they’ve hired Randall Green to write the script. The question then becomes, who is Randall Green, and what will be in store for the Mystery Inc. gang this time around? Green seems to be a relatively fresh face to the industry, who doesn’t have any prior credits to his name.

It’s been ten years since Scooby and the gang have been on the big screen, where they were last seen in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, which was written by Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, and directed by Raja Gosnell. The two films in the series starred Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Linda Cardellini as Velma, Freddy Prince, Jr. as Fred, and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne. While the first was a box office success, the second wasn’t, and plans for the third film were scrapped. It’s too bad, really, because the cast was good, and both of Gunn’s scripts were quirky and fun, very reminiscent to the show’s roots. The films led to a series of Cartoon Network prequel films instead, with a new cast, but the films weren’t quite the same.

It’s hard to make too much of this news right now, because without any other talent attached, it’s hard to get an idea of what the film will be going for. As the production moves along, and we get a director and a cast in place, we’ll be able to get of a feel for what WB wants. We can only hope the dark and gritty route won’t be followed here, because it would lose the core of what made the series so fun. One way to go though could be to follow the more recent TV series, Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorprated, which had a more central mystery at the core of the show, while still keeping the mystery of a week aspect in tact. It’ll be very interesting to see where the movie goes, and who they get involved with the production. For now though, we’ll just have to wait and see what comes of it, and I’ll leave you with the teaser from the 2002 film.

Fox Releases First Clip From 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 17, 2014

20th Century Fox has released the first clip for their upcoming sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, and Keri Russell. The new film sees the world ten years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, as Caesar (Serkis) leads the surviving apes in the aftermath of the deadly virus that spread across the world, eradicating much of the human race.

The new clip is tense and serious, as a group of humans, led by Jason Clarke, stumble into the territory that belongs to the apes. Caesar is non too happy with the human arrivals, and begins to assert his dominance on them. Check it out below.

The clip comes courtesy of MTV:

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Matt Reeves, and which also stars Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirk Acevedo, Enrique Murciano, and Judy Greer will be released in 2D and 3D on July 11, 2014.

A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

Marvel Releases Final Trailer for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 17, 2014

With just six more weeks left until the release Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, it seems we’re getting into the crunch time for the marketing campaign. So with that, Marvel Studios has released the final full length trailer for the film, which is much more serious trailer, focusing on the film’s story, and the bigger implications the film will have on the Marvel universe. Check it out below.

The film, directed by James Gunn, stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro, and will be released on August 1, 2014.

From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Movie Review

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 17, 2014

“C’mon, bud. There’s a whole other world of dragons out there.”

*Caution, there will be spoilers ahead. So please, if you want to go into the film spoiler free, don’t read ahead*

If Dreamworks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon was the studio’s Toy Story, then How to Train Your Dragon 2, the highly anticipated sequel, is easily the studio’s Toy Story 2. Much like the aforementioned Pixar films, the new Dreamworks film has raised the stakes considerably, both in the film’s action and adventure, but in its emotional core as well. The filmmaker’s behind the movie really wanted to take the characters and the story to the next level, and it shows.

As the film opens, we learn five years have passed since the first film, and a lot has changed in Burke in that time. Hiccup and Toothless have become adventurers, flying out into the unknown and charting the world as they come across new places, as Hiccup continues to run from his duties on Burke. As their explorations grow, they stumble upon a group of Dragon Trappers, men bent on capturing Dragons to turn them into mindless creatures in an army, led by a man named Drago. But that encounter sets off a chain reaction in Hiccup’s life that he could never imagine.

Director Dean DeBlois, who helped write the first has taken over sole directional duties this time around, and it seems he was more than up to the task. He also wrote the film, and you can tell he’s fully invested in the world and the characters, He’s really taken a foot forward to make sure the universe’s expansion and storytelling feels natural, and all the characters have grown well. The time gap never feels out of place and doesn’t hurt the film, and it jumps on in a place that just feels right. It honestly works to the film’s advantage, and it catches up so effortlessly you’re swept up in it and the exposition never feels like too much.

Really, the film works so well, not just because for DeBlois’ storytelling, but the film’s actors as well. Jay Baruchel completely and utterly embodies Hiccup. There’s no other actor who could play the character the way he does. He just gets how he ticks, and the character’s mannerisms even reflect Baruchel’s, and there’s a fun moment in the film that actually makes fun of that a little bit. He’s the heart and soul of this film, and it’s Baruchel and his relationship with the characters around him that makes the heart of the film work. Hiccup and Toothless continues to grow and evolve, and is just so well defined here. It’s impressive how far it goes, and how dark it twists at one point, but to let their friendship grow, and it works in favor of the story.

He really get a chance to bring a lot of emotion to the role this time around, more than the first time around, which really works in the film’s favor. A lot of that plays into the fact that the relationship between not just his father, who is played so well by Gerard Butler, but with his mother, who he discovers isn’t dead, is huge as well. Cate Blanchett plays Valka, and she’s great in the role. She and Baruchel play off each other so well, and the relationship between them is so sweet. But it’s actually the scenes between Stoick and Valka that really tug on the heart strings.

It really makes it all the more tragic that he is killed so soon after they’re reunited while saving Hiccup, and it’s even worse that Toothless is the one who kills him. Toothless falling into being a pawn for the villain, as he’s brainwashed by his instincts, is a truly heartbreaking and moving moment in the film, and a direction you wouldn’t expect the film to go. But it’s good to see Dreamworks taking risks like this, because it’s making their film’s much more mature and much more emotionally investing. This is Pixar quality storytelling, and it absolutely sticks the landing. Of course, the way it all concludes puts us in a much happier and better place, but for a good portion of the third act, the film really takes an Empire Strikes Back approach, and it really works well.

The animation is also absolutely breathtaking, and leaves you feeling completely immersed in this world. It’s amazing how far the technology has advanced in the short time since the first film. Characters and dragons alike just look incredible, and the designs are so well done. It’s hard not to just look slack jawed at the whole thing as it plays out in front of you. The 3D is some of the most immersive, as well as beautiful, to be seen on film in some time.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a perfect follow up to the original. Dreamworks is really flexing their storytelling and dramatic muscles in a way that they have never done before, and they seem to be maturing as a studio. There’s very little to complain about with the film. It’s smart, funny, dramatic, and a film that just fires on all cylinders. This is Dreamworks going to Pixar’s level, and it’s good to see them stepping up their game. This is certainly turning out to be the year of sequels, and once again, this film not only capitalizes on what came before, but finds a way to build off it and become better. This is filmmaking at its finest, and it’s even better its a family film that doesn’t talk down to the audience. What a rare, and special, film this is.

[review]

Time to Reload in the new 'Expendables 3' Trailer

By

Patrick Campbell

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June 17, 2014

The new trailer for Lionsgate Films’s The Expendables 3 has just been released. Up until now, we’d only had two teasers that showed off the cast in the film, but now, we have a story trailer, and it’s looking very good. The film follows Barney Ross (Stallone) as he’s faced with his past coming back to haunt him, in the vein of Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), the man who helped form the Expendables team, and is now a maniacal arms dealer. The trailer features a lot of great action, some good humor, and a very impressive cast. Check it out below.

The trailer hits all the right beats, and it sure seems like this could be the strongest film in the series. It seems to have found the balance that the first two films, as fun as they are, couldn’t seem to strike. They just don’t make action movies like this anymore, so I certainly can’t wait to see this one.

The film features an all star cast of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Kellen Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, Glen Powell, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer, and Wesley Snipes. Directed by Patrick Hughes, the film will be released August 15, 2014.

In THE EXPENDABLES 3, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.

Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Character Posters Now Available!

By

Robbie Bulus

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June 16, 2014

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” finds space adventurer Peter Quill the object of a bounty hunt after stealing an orb coveted by a treacherous villain, but when Quill discovers the power it holds, he must find a way to rally the quartet of ragtag rivals hot on his trail to save the universe.

For our Marvel Fans out there, Check-out these new Characters posters (click each one to enlarge).

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which first appeared in comic books in Marvel Super-Heroes, Issue #18 (Jan. 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime and Benicio Del Toro as The Collector.

James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige, p.g.a., producing. Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Nik Korda and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” is written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman and releases in U.S. theaters on August 1, 2014.

Request an Uber ride with Optimus Prime in LA this Saturday 6/21!

By

Robbie Bulus

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June 16, 2014

If you’re in Los Angeles This Saturday June 21 from 1 pm – 7pm you can use your Uber App to request a ride with the one and only Optimus Prime the original Transformer Autobot.

Here is how it works:

1. Open your Uber app and select the AUTOBOTS option
2. Tap “SET PICKUP LOCATION”
3. Tap “ROLL OUT”

Now since there is only one Optimus Prime and he will be quite busy driving all over LA, be patient, if you’re lucky enough to make contact, he will roll out to your location for a 15-minute experience that surely you won’t forget!

Keep in mind this might take many tries to get the attention of the world famous Autobot, but keep trying. If you do score a ride with Optimus, send us your photos and we will feature them here on our site.

And don’t forget that ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ is out in theaters June 27th.

To download the Uber App for your iPhone Click here.

Calico Mine Ride @Knott's reopens with a fresh new look, new effects and animations

By

Richard Lau - Contributing Writer

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June 15, 2014

Howdy partners, it is time for what many guests and myself have all been anxious to see when word went out that the Calico Mine Ride was going to be closing to get a well deserved update just like its neighbor Timber Mountain Log Ride. With that in mind Knott’s enlisted the help once more of Garner Holt Productions Inc. (GHP) They did such an amazing job with the animatronics for the Log Ride and who better to help once more with the tedious job of making the miners of Calico Mine come back to life but GHP. Inside the mine ride they have over 45 different animatronics working seamlessly mining away hoping to strike gold.

At the grand re-opening ceremony we had Garner L. Holt, President of Garner Holt Productions Inc., Bill Butler Director of Creative Design at GHP and Darrel Anderson (the grandson of Walter and Cordelia Knott) spoke briefly. Then one of the Calico Mine trains pulled up with a Miner in one of the boxcars to welcome us all to his mine. Once he made his way down and invited us all to check out his mine and to share with him any winnings you may find inside the mine, he detonated the box of TNT setting off a chain reaction of 4 small pyrotechnics and one major kaboom. Like a start of the sound of a pistol fired at the beginning of a race we were on our way up thru the ramp queue and amongst the first guests to see this ride before opening to the public.

I have been looking forward to this re-opening for quite some time now, I felt so honored to be able to experience this ride that I recall from my childhood. Once in our open box cars and one final safety check were off into the mine.

Inside was the beautiful cavern with bubbling steam geysers. Then later you get to see the well known “Glory Hole” where you will see a lot of prospectors mining away working tediously. My favorite parts are the stalagmites and stalactites that seem to come alive and sing. The music has been re-recorded and it sounds amazing! I wish that the tour could have dropped me off so I can just stay and listen for a few hours. After the sweet serenade we take a slow advance through a rickety bridge where we can see the back side of a water fall and then you notice two animatronic vultures perched on boxes on the mountain. What could this mean? Oh no we are now entering the blasting zone. Will our train make it out alive? The special effects and lighting at the end were a great surprise that I was not anticipating and I look forward to seeing it time and time again. In fact I’m ready to go again, anyone want to join me? Well then come on down, the prospectors and I will be waiting for you at Knott’s Berry Farm in Ghost Town at the Calico Mine Ride.

Calico Mine Ride Facts!

Original Opening Date: November 22, 1960
Designer: Bud Hurlbut
Original Cost: Over 1 million dollars
Length of Train Track: 1,080 feet
Height of the Mountain: 7 stories
Number of Levels: 3
Length of Ride: 8 minutes
Number of Trains:(6) 19th century-themed steam locomotives
Number of Cars per Train: 5
Number of guests per train: 50
Capacity: 1,500 passengers an hour
Height of Tallest Ascent: 160 Feet at a 25% slope
Number of Bodies of Water: 2; 2 interior bodies of water, 5 waterfalls
Gallons of Water Circulating the Mountain: 20,000 gallons
Original Number of Human Figures: 40
New Number of Human Figures and Animals: 46 humans, plus dozens of historically accurate animals; bats, a dog, a mule, vultures, fish.
Approximate Number of Stalactites and Stalagmites: Over 8,000
Size of the Glory Hole: 65 ft. deep x 90 ft. wide

Celebrating Knott's Camp Snoopy’s 30th Anniversary with New Attractions and land restoration!

By

Richard Lau - Contributing Writer

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June 14, 2014

It’s summer time and the weather is great, come visit Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang at the newly renovated Camp Snoopy which is celebrating 30 years of entertaining children and children at heart. On Thursday June 12, 2014 a select group of media were invited to be amongst the few to see the completion of Camp Snoopy. There are three brand new rides for the little ones; Linus Launcher is a hang gliding type ride where you lay down flat on your stomach and then you’re off flying thru the high sierras. Another addition is Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer is very similar to Fiesta Village Waveswinger but for children. This ride is themed well, as the ride starts and spins it depicts how Charlie Brown’s kite is eaten by this hungry tree. Last but not least is Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies, here your little campers can climb on board a little off road vehicles and bounce around in the “mud” no mud is actually utilized. These vehicles are very small, they can accommodate up to 4 small children or 1 to 2 children and 1 adult in the back of one vehicle or just 1 adult per vehicle.

In addition to the new color scheme check out all the wonderful greenery that provides shade and some of the planters have now been lowered so any age campers can turn them into a bench to sit and relax on. One favorite ride in Camp Snoopy would have to be Grand Sierra Railroad, I rode it as a kid and I still have fond memories of that, and to now see that the Peanuts gang is added it is a great addition, you get to relax and go camping with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.

As the 180-passenger train departs from Camp Snoopy Depot, Linus Van Pelt will narrate the eight minute journey, pointing out the rustic sights and hilarious Peanuts’ camping adventures along the way. Passengers will catch a glimpse of Charlie attempting to fish in a local stream, Snoopy and Woodstock enjoying a camp fire, and many more vignettes all featuring classic Peanuts’ action and humor.

During the grand re-opening ceremony we had many esteemed guests like the mayor of Buena Park Steve Berry, Darrel Anderson who is the grandson of Walter and Cordelia Knott and Craig Schultz son of Charles M. Schultz. They all spoke briefly about how much they have seen Camp Snoopy grow and change for the better over the years. Then Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy van Pelt came in and did a little song and dance and then realized that they were missing the Camp Snoopy flag, thankfully Snoopy saves the day and brought the flag that Lucy forgot to pack for camping.

First Disneyland Mountain: The Matterhorn

By

Robbie Bulus

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June 14, 2014

Since June 1959, the Matterhorn has been a highly visible landmark for Disneyland Park, a sign to travelers that they are nearing The Happiest Place on Earth. Now part of the Disneyland “Mountain Range of Thrill Rides” – including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain – Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first Disneyland roller coaster.

The Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction is unique to Disneyland park and does not appear at any other theme park

The Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction premiered June 14, 1959, as part of the first major expansion of Disneyland Park. Other attractions celebrating their 55^th anniversary this summer are the Disneyland Monorail and the Submarine Voyage.

The introduction of these big new attractions in 1959 coincided with the introduction of what soon became another Disneyland cultural icon – the “E Ticket.”

Since 1959, the Matterhorn has been the highest point in Disneyland Park, at 147 feet. It is the second-highest point in the Disneyland Resort, behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which stands 183 feet tall in Disney California Adventure Park.

Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first roller coaster in the world to employ a tubular steel track and an electronic dispatch system, which enables more than one car at a time to be on the track.

The most recent update to Matterhorn Bobsleds, completed in June 2012, added glistening new paint and “snow caps” on the outside, along with new lighting on the menacing Abominable Snowman inside. New, three-person bobsleds now allow guests to be seated individually.

The attraction was inspired by the 1959 live-action Disney adventure film, “Third Man on the Mountain,” which starred James MacArthur and Michael Rennie as mountaineers. The movie was filmed in Zermatt, Switzerland, on and around the real Matterhorn.

The mountain was built to 1/100^th scale of the original Matterhorn, or 147 feet versus the 14,700 feet of the original.

Scale and color were key components in the landscaping of the Matterhorn, with designers recreating the mountain meadow feel near the base of the mountain and the stark absence of growth above the timberline. Careful pruning and replacement of overgrown trees is done to maintain the proper scale.

From 1959 to 1994, the Skyway (which opened in 1956) carried guests between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, passing through an opening in the mountain.

Guests who look quickly while whizzing through the Matterhorn caverns may spot mountaineering supplies and other evidence of the “Wells Expedition.” These scenic details are a tribute to the late Frank Wells, who was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Walt Disney Company from 1984 until his death in 1994. Wells was an experienced mountain climber and skier.

The first major modifications to the attraction occurred in 1978, when the first tandem bobsleds appeared and the Abominable Snowman began to haunt the mountain caverns.

Socalthrills.com

Robert Downey, Jr. Returns to Drama in 'The Judge' Trailer

Fight to Survive With the Final 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Trailer

Zoinks! WB Looking to Reboot Scooby-Doo

Fox Releases First Clip From 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

Marvel Releases Final Trailer for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Movie Review

Time to Reload in the new 'Expendables 3' Trailer

Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Character Posters Now Available!

Request an Uber ride with Optimus Prime in LA this Saturday 6/21!

Calico Mine Ride @Knott's reopens with a fresh new look, new effects and animations

Celebrating Knott's Camp Snoopy’s 30th Anniversary with New Attractions and land restoration!

First Disneyland Mountain: The Matterhorn

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