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Disneyland Resort Celebrates Summer Nightastic! With New Shows, Surprises in the Night Sky and Valuable Offers

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Disneyland Resort glows like never before this summer with the exciting, after-dark entertainment of Summer Nightastic!: a new fireworks spectacular, “Magical,” starring Dumbo the flying elephant; Tinker Bell’s “pixie magic” in “Disney’s Electrical Parade”; sensational new characters and special effects in “Fantasmic!” – and more.

“This summer is all about new surprises at nighttime,” said Ed Grier, president of Disneyland Resort. “With the sparkling Summer Nightastic! entertainment and our valuable summer offers, Disneyland Resort will be the hottest spot in Southern California this summer for kids of all ages.”

To enjoy all the fun, guests will find special ticket offers and vacation packages at Disneyland.com, including the Summer Fun Pass for residents of Southern California and Northern Baja, and a “2 Nights Free” offer at Disneyland Resort hotels and Resort Good Neighbor hotels. The special hotel deal provides guests five days and nights of Disneyland fun, for the price of three.

Nighttime entertainment, always an exciting part of summer at Disneyland Resort, appears in a whole new light – bigger, bolder and brighter – during Summer Nightastic! Dumbo makes his debut in the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle in the “Magical” fireworks spectacular and Tinker Bell leads the way in “Disney’s Electrical Parade.” New creatures will thrill guests in this summer’s “Fantasmic!” show, rockin’ bands and DJs heat up a great new dance club in Tomorrowland and the fairies of Pixie Hollow play under the lights for the first time. Later this summer, a new, 40-foot-tall dragon will breathe fire across the Rivers of America in “Fantasmic!”

Summer Nightastic! continues nightly through Sunday, Aug. 23, at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks. “Magical” fireworks continue through Labor Day weekend.

A BOLDER “FANTASMIC!”: Guests will enjoy new thrills at the popular “Fantasmic!” spectacular on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. Special effects in this new version of “Fantasmic!” create a spine-tingling adventure with Mickey the Sorcerer and famous Disney villains. Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid” introduces her pet eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, who slither into the show with surprising speed. Favorite Disney characters practically leap off the giant mist screens, thanks to cutting-edge video projection technology. And later this summer, the evil Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” will transform into the fully animated, 40-foot-tall dragon.

AN EXPLODING CELEBRATION IN THE SKY: “Magical” is a new Disney fireworks spectacular created especially to celebrate Summer Nightastic! at Disneyland. The familiar image of Tinker Bell lights up the show, only this time she’s joined by a surprising Disney character, Dumbo the flying elephant, who dances across the night sky. Acclaimed puppeteer Michael Curry, whose credits include Olympic opening ceremonies and “The Lion King” on Broadway, has created a Dumbo with lifelike movements that are accentuated by the show’s marvelous melodies. Tink then waves her wand to awaken a fantastic array of Disney’s most magical characters: Pinocchio, Mary Poppins, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, and the Three Good Fairies from “Sleeping Beauty.”

NEW FLOATS BRING NEW MAGIC TO “DISNEY’S ELECTRICAL PARADE”: Everything about “Disney’s Electrical Parade” has a new glow as Tinker Bell leads the way, waving from the basket of a magical balloon aboard a new float that leads the parade. The parade’s beloved music and floats feature more electrifying audio, plus new lighting technologies that create a pixie-dust effect on all the floats. Snow White and Pinocchio return to the parade this summer, riding bright new versions of their classic floats.

AN EXCITING NEW DANCE CLUB ‘IGNITES THE NIGHT’ IN TOMORROWLAND: Tweens, teens and families will dance the night away at the TLT Dance Club, on Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland. Dazzling décor includes an illuminated DJ console where the TLT Dance Club DJ spins dance tunes guaranteed to keep Tomorrowland rockin’ all night. Live bands and DJs from the hottest Southern California radio stations will appear on selected nights throughout the summer. Plus, guests can text their favorite tunes to TLT Dance Club for the “Top 8@8” countdown.

PIXIE HOLLOW ENCHANTMENT: Tinker Bell and her friends have been welcoming guests into their Pixie Hollow home, tucked into the glen near the entrance to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, since fall of 2008. This summer, for the first time, Pixie Hollow and the nearby pond come to life at night in iridescent light shows. Pixie dust cascades across the landscape and radiates into the pond. Even the water becomes enchanted as playful fountains spring to life, pop jets perform with whimsical precision and sparkling strobes shine throughout Pixie Hollow.

“WHAT WILL YOU CELEBRATE?”: Guests continue to mark their special occasions in all sorts of fun ways at Disneyland Resort, including the daily “Celebrate! A Street Party” along Main Street, U.S.A. The exhilarating spectacle of music, dance and guest participation includes an energetic cast of dancers and Disney characters. … For those special occasions that call for food and entertainment, Celebration Roundup and Barbecue in Frontierland at Disneyland offers a hearty ranch-style barbecue meal, traditional western music and appearances by Sheriff Woody, Jessie the Yodelin’ Cowgirl and Bullseye from “Toy Story.” … Aspiring young princesses and knights are getting the full fairy tale makeover treatment at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, located in the Sleeping Beauty Castle Courtyard. Fairy Godmothers-in-Training take care of everything from hair and makeup to accessories fit for royalty. Reservations: 714/781-STYLE or www.Disneyland.com/style.

All shows and immersive experiences are free with park admission. More information about Summer Nightastic! can be found at www.disneyland.com/summer.

Tinker Bell Brings New Magic to 'Disney's Electrical Parade' in Summer Nightastic!

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Everything about “Disney’s Electrical Parade” has a new glow this summer as Tinker Bell sprinkles her pixie dust to illuminate the classic parade, presented by Sylvania.  Even the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology, adding to the excitement of Summer Nightastic!
 
Tinker Bell leads the procession on an all-new float and her trail of pixie dust enchants all the parade floats with new beauty along the way.  The popular pixie waves from the basket of a balloon floating gracefully above a magical garden shimmering with fairy light.
 
In addition, enhanced versions of two classic favorites will return to the lineup after a 13-year hiatus – the shimmering diamond mine of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the Pleasure Island haunts of Pinocchio.
 
WHAT: The parade twinkles with approximately half a million lights.  Of those, nearly 10,000 are new “pixie dust” lights spread over the 17 floats.  The new LED lights use one-quarter of the power of incandescent lights.  The “Tinker Bell” float alone has more than 25,000 points of light and 75 percent are powered by an LED source.
 
WHEN: Nightly at 8:45 p.m., beginning Friday, June 12, and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 23, at Disney’s California Adventure.
 
LIGHTS ON DEMAND: A new control system makes it possible, for the first time, for each light to be programmed individually.  One example is the new Tinker Bell float, which has 160 dimmers, by far the most of any parade float, to control the lighting.  Programming for this parade took approximately two months.
 
AN EVEN BETTER HOEDOWN: The unforgettable musical theme of the “Electrical Parade,” which has inspired several generations of Disneyland Resort guests to clap along, was adapted from a synthesizer piece known as “Baroque Hoedown,” written in 1967 by Gershon Kingsley and Jean-Jaques Perrey.  Disney themes are superimposed over the original piece.  For Summer Nightastic!, the distinctive “electro-sytho-magnetic” “Baroque Hoedown” has new audio technology that gives it a richer, fuller sound.
 
FUN FACTS

  1. More than 80 performers appear in each presentation of “Disney’s Electrical Parade.”
  2. There are 11,000 lights on the dancers’ costumes alone.  Thanks to the energy-efficient LED lights, some of the dancers’ costumes now carry only one battery pack instead of two.
  3. All the floats are battery-powered.  More than 500 batteries supply power for lighting, propulsion, audio and special effects.
  4. Approximately five miles of wire is used throughout the floats.
  5. The tallest float in the parade is the Cinderella clock tower, at 18.5 feet tall.
  6. The “Fireworks Finale” float, the longest in the parade, has seven cars that span 118 feet.
HISTORY

  1. Summer Nightastic! 2009 will mark the 30th summer of the “Electrical Parade” performances at Disneyland Resort.
  2. The original “Main Street Electrical Parade” premiered at Disneyland on June 17, 1972.
  3. The parade has been performed more than 5,000 times at Disneyland Resort.
  4. It has been presented nearly every summer, with the following exceptions: a 1975-76 hiatus for the Bicentennial “America on Parade”; the 1983-84 break for “Flights of Fantasy” parade; and the “Electrical Parade” retirement from Disneyland following the summer of 1996.  Renamed “Disney’s Electrical Parade,” it premiered at Disney’s California Adventure in July 2001.
  5. The original “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats were “flatter” and less three-dimensional than the current floats.  New floats have been added through the years and some – “it’s a small world” float, “Briny Deep” float, and special anniversary floats for Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary (1980) and Mickey Mouse’s 60th Birthday (1988) – have been retired.
  6. One of the original floats, the “Title Drum Unit” near the beginning of the parade, was created using an actual bass drum, one of the world’s largest in 1972.  This drum had been used in Disneyland parades in the 1960s, when Mickey Mouse used to beat it using large drumsticks.
  7. Versions of the parade have been presented at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (premiering 1977), Tokyo Disneyland (premiering 1985) and Disneyland Paris (premiering 1992)

Explosive Celebration of Summer Nights in New Disneyland Fireworks Show, 'Magical'

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Tinker Bell is helping Disneyland guests celebrate the nights of summer with “Magical,” the new fireworks spectacular presented by Honda.  Tink’s sparkling touch will awaken favorite Disney moments and memories from movie classics such as “Pinocchio,” “Mary Poppins” and “Cinderella.”  And, in a very special debut, Dumbo proves that elephants can fly as he joins Tinker Bell in a “Magical” flight over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
 
WHAT: “Magical” is a dazzling new fireworks spectacular in which colorful, precisely choreographed pyrotechnics burst and soar to a soundtrack of celebratory Disney songs.  With a wave of her wand, an airborne Tinker Bell ignites the night with a myriad of light and sends guests on a journey of magical Disney celebrations.  As beautiful beams of light dance in the sky, Dumbo the flying elephant appears for the first time in a Disneyland fireworks show, flying over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
 
WHEN: Nightly, beginning Friday, June 12, and continuing through Monday, Sept. 7, at Disneyland.  “Magical” may be viewed from Main Street, U.S.A., the mall in front of “it’s a small world” and locations throughout the park.
 
A PYROTECHNIC SYMPHONY IN FIVE MOVEMENTS: “Magical” is composed of five sequences, each celebrating a different magical experience. It begins with “The Magic of Childhood,” represented by the appearance of Tinker Bell waving her wand to launch the fireworks.  Next, Geppetto is heard wishing that Pinocchio could become a real boy; sparkles in the sky announce that the Blue Fairy is near to demonstrate “The Magic of a Wish.”  The voice of Mary Poppins teaches “The Magic of Imagination.”  Then “The Magic of a Mother’s Love” inspires little Dumbo to fly.  Music from the tales of Disney princesses leads into “The Magic of Love’s First Kiss.”  And the show concludes with a truly spectacular finale: “It’s Magical.”
 
THE “MAGICAL” VOICE: Broadway star Eden Espinosa is the soloist on the all-new soundtrack for “Magical.”  Prior to a Broadway career that has included the role of Elphaba, the “Wicked Witch of the West” in “Wicked,” both on Broadway and at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, Espinosa delighted Disneyland Resort guests in stage shows and special events at the parks.  She attended Canyon Hills High School in Anaheim and Fullerton College.  Eden’s performance on the “Magical” soundtrack features an original “Magical” theme along with versions of such beloved melodies as “Baby Mine” from “Dumbo,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from “Cinderella,” “The Second Star to the Right” from “Peter Pan” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from “Mary Poppins.”
 
“MAGICAL” – FIREWORKS BY THE NUMBERS
  1. The pyrotechnic devices are fully choreographed to “Magical’s” musical soundtrack, using 750 discreet digital control channels.
  2. Guests see the burst of fireworks before hearing it because light travels roughly a million times faster than sound.
  3. The Disney Air Launch system installed in 2004 creates less ground level smoke than the former system that used black powder.
  4. Disney is recognized as the world’s largest producer of fixed-base fireworks shows, at its parks in the United States, France, Japan and China.
 A SPARKLING HISTORY OF FIREWORKS AT DISNEYLAND
  1. Disneyland opened to the public in July 1955.  There was no fireworks show that year.
  2. In 1956, after seeing fireworks tests in the Disneyland parking lot when the park was closed, Walt Disney said, “Let’s give it a try.”
  3. Mickey Aronson, who worked in Disneyland Resort Entertainment for more than 50 years (originally as an outside fireworks consultant), began “shooting” Disneyland fireworks the summer of 1956.  In those days, Aronson fired the show by hand, touching off the fuses with a flare.
  4. Beginning in the late 1960s, Disneyland Entertainment developed a system for firing the shells electronically, synchronized to a musical soundtrack.
  5. During this period, the fireworks “choreography” was storyboarded like an animated cartoon.  At one time, the storyboard artist was Roy Williams, the “Big Mooseketeer” from “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
  6. The current system, with its multiple fireworks launch sites, special lighting and lasers, and high-tech marriage of music and choreographed pyrotechnics, was first installed for the 2000 Bicentennial/Disneyland 45th Anniversary show, “Believe…There’s Magic in the Stars.”
 
More information about “Magical” and other special Summer Nightastic! shows can be found at www.disneyland.com/summer.

Nobel Son on DVD

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Synopsis:
On the eve of Barkley Michaelson’s father receiving the Nobel Prize, Barkley is kidnapped and the requested ransom is the $2,000,000 in Nobel Prize money. When his father refuses to pay it starts a venomous tale of familial dysfunction, lust, betrayal and ultimately revenge. Featuring an ensemble cast starring Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Mary Steenburgen, Shawn Hatosy, Bill Pullman, Ted Danson, Danny Devito and Eliza Dushku.

A venomous tale of familial dysfunction, lust, betrayal and revenge, Nobel Son, a “flashy and eccentric thriller” (Los Angeles Times) arriving on DVD June 9th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Receiving critical acclaim during the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, Nobel Son follows Barkley Michaelson, a 20 something-year-old in a life rut struggling to finish his Ph.D thesis.  Always cast in the shadow of his highly accomplished father Eli Michaelson, the estranged relationship between father and son is complicated further when Barkley is kidnapped on the eve of Eli winning a Nobel Prize in chemistry for a ransom of $2,000,000 (the amount won as a recipient of the prize).  When his father refuses to pay, it starts a game of intrigue and deception.

“An outrageously entertaining ride” (Hollywood.com), Nobel Son features a stellar ensemble cast and crew directed by Randall Miller (Bottle Shock) including Golden Globe® winner* Alan Rickman (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Bryan Greenberg (Bride Wars), Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse”), Shawn Hatosy (“Southland”), Oscar®-winner** Mary Steenburgen (Four Christmases), Bill Pullman, Ted Danson and Danny Devito.  Featuring original music from composers Mark Adler (Bottle Shock) and Paul Oakenfold (The Matrix Reloaded), the film includes tracks from Spitfire, Chemical Brothers and Groove Armada. 

DVD Features and Extras:
The Nobel Son DVD is presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Surround sound and English and Spanish subtitles.  Special features include:

•  Commentary with director/producer Randall Miller, writer/producer Jody Savin, musician Paul Oakenfold, cinematographer Mike Ozier and actors Brian Greenberg and Eliza Dushku.
•  Deleted scenes with optional commentary from director/producer Randall Miller and writer/producer Jody Savin
    o    Barkley Stalks Thaddeus
    o    Barkley Freaks Out Thaddeus
    o    City Hall in the Asylum
•  Alternate ending sequence

The movie comes with a bare bones assortment of features including three deleted scenes, one of which is an alternate ending that doesn’t change much. The Making Of featurette is lackluster and self-congratulatory.

All in all, Nobel Son is very twisted and very funny.  Fans of 21 and The Perfect Score should definitely give it a chance.

Get your copy now:
Nobel Son

 

 

Movie Review: "The Taking Of Pelham 123"

By
Joel Covey
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When the movie started with a remix of Jay-Z ‘s “99 Problems” I must say I was a little worried.  Instantly I could see the direction the filmmakers were going with the film, but fortunately it quickly calmed down.

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” stars Denzel Washington as Walter Garber, a New York subway dispatcher who has recently been demoted due to a pending suspension. The action begins as Ryder, John Travolta, hijacks a subway train and its passengers.  Garber immediately finds himself stuck in the middle of the heist when he ends up dispatching the area Ryder has taken control.

Both of these characters are very three dimensional while having a lot in common. The two relate simply by the fact they have been ‘screwed’ by the system and are trying to overcome their mishaps.  They quickly begin to toy and pick with one another in order to make the other break while on the radio. With no surprise, Denzel’s character plays the negotiator in this film but with some differences from characters past.

Garber is just your ordinary city guy trying to support his wife and kids, but has seemingly got himself into trouble recently. He is a bit shyer than Denzel’s past protagonist roles and yet he is still a powerful man with a good head on his shoulders just trying to make good. His character is trying to make amends with his past by saving the passengers on board and taking care of the situation. There is much emotion as Garber is sent home when the real negotiator arrives even after wanting to stay, but is quickly returned to his desk when Ryder asks to talk to him and only him.

Travolta is brilliant as Ryder. He really brought another dimension to his character. This is apparent by his great showcase of odd choices of emotions when he dealt with death or fear. It’s not like this that different to some of Travolta’s past roles. For instance, his character in FACE OFF has many similarities, but this one is not nearly as sick and twisted.  His motives are different and justified by a great screenplay by Briand Helgeland.

One of the main storylines is the reaction a normal city guy like Garber would have when he comes faced with an insane killer. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” also asks how far a typical guy will go to make amends. Garber is not necessarily dealing with amends with his job, but with himself as well. He isn’t supposed to have dealt with matters like this before, however it is a little unbelievable due to how smooth he deals with the situation. Let’s face it, Denzel is the negotiator and it feels like it too. It when the movie gets about half way through that things start to get a lot better.

After the half way mark, you start to understand Denzel’s character a little more. In fact, it takes until half way through the film to feel any difference in the movie from any other conventional heist movie. I was looking for what would stand out from this movie, or why it was even made. It appeared that it was just like any other one of these types of films. The relationship formed between the protagonist and the antagonist are what really set the movie apart.

I noticed myself starting to care much more about the characters and leaning towards the edge of my seat once the action started to pick up. The pace quickly picked up to make this really what the film set out to be; a suspenseful drama. It delivered, and it delivered with some force!

Sure it was Tony Scott’s kinetic, shaky camera style that helped add to the action.  At points it felt that it was a little too much, but it soon becomes unnoticeable as the audience becomes more involved with the plot rather the execution.  His style was to help the film to appear more contemporary and fresh. Ironically this is not a fresh take on action movies and has become a major negative selling point to recent movies.  Besides the cinematography, the action is still well done at appropriate areas to keep the film moving along while keep it interesting as well.

This cast really supplied some additional help. Ryder’s posse includes Luis Guzman (“Waiting”), who adds some comedic light to some suspenseful scenes and plays the brains to the subway system.  James Gandolfini plays the self-centered, unpopular mayor of New York. Michael Rispoli plays the head of NYC Trasit’s Rail Control Center. Finally, John Turturro does a magnificent job as the hostage negotiator that comes in to help.

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” is basically your average story of a crazy killer that takes hostages for money.  It is the depth of the characters and relationships between them that sets this apart from others. It has plenty of suspense and great action that we expect along with some excellent performances. I believe the audience will actually take away something from this film as the moral of the story is strong. If you are in the mood for a quality, fun action/suspense drama then I suggest seeing this film.

The Jetsons: Season 2, Volume 1

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Prepare to blast off for out-of-this-world laughs with the first family of the future as The Jetsons: Season 2, Volume 1 arrives on DVD June 6, 2009 from Warner Home Video.  The popular animated series and pop-culture phenomenon explores the world of tomorrow with space age gadgets that made life ultra-convenient for everyone’s favorite futuristic family, The Jetsons. The three-disc collector’s set includes 21 fantastic episodes of the cult-classic cartoon series from the 1980s.

 “Meet George Jetson…Jane, his wife…daughter Judy…his boy Elroy…”
The catchy tune of The Jetsons ideally captures the lighthearted essence of the show, a futuristic counterpoint to The Flintstones that reflected the space-age optimism of the times. The Jetsons were the very first family, animated or not, to have a big-screen home entertainment system decades before it became a reality. They lived in a world of flying cars, floating cities and androids, all commonplace elements in today’s most popular sci-fi movies and television series.

The original series (Season 1), comprised of 24 episodes, was produced between 1962 and 1963 and was re-run on Saturday morning for decades. Its continued popularity led to further episodes being produced for syndication between 1985 and 1987. The Jetsons: Season 2, Volume 1 includes the 21 episodes broadcast between 1984 and 1985.  The release will also include a documentary featurette called, “The Jetsons Return to the Future,” which looks at the various ways that the second season was updated for a new audience, as well as how it distinguished itself from its predecessor.  Interviews include animation historians, cast, crew and others.

“The Jetsons is one of television’s most influential and timeless cartoon series that multiple generations have grown up with,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing. “It is truly classic TV and a must-own DVD release for every fan.”

The Jetson: Season 2, Volume 1 brings back the futuristic family without too many changes. Most of the scripts have George as a center of attention and not merely the dad figure to two kids, a dog and that Orbitty thing. The best part is hearing all the classic voices behind the animated characters. This truly is a second season and not an update to completely jazz up the series for modern viewers.

Episodes

Disc 1:
Elroy Meets Orbitty
Rosie Come Home
Solar Snoops
Judy’s Birthday Surprise
SuperGeorge
Family Fallout
S.M.A.S.H.

Disc 2:
The Mirrormorph
Mother’s Day for Rosie
Jetson’s Millions
Fugitive Fleas
Rip-Off Rosie
Far-Out Father
Astro’s Big Moment

Disc 3:
The Cosmic Courtship of George & Jane
Fantasy Planet
S’no Relative
Instant Replay
Haunted Halloween
Future Tense
The Wrong Stuff

Get your copy now:
The Jetsons: Season Two, Vol. 1

D23 EXPO, THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EXPERIENCE, COMES TO THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER SEPT. 10-13

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Disney fans will be given unprecedented access to never-before-seen movies, TV shows, park experiences, collectibles and more from Sept. 10 to Sept. 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center when Disney and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans present the first-ever D23 EXPO.
 
Tickets to the D23 EXPO are available beginning today at http://www.D23Expo.com.  Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 EXPO and can be purchased for single days or for the full four days of festivities. Admission is discounted for members of D23.
 
“We hope this will be the ultimate event for the multitude of fans who have been so instrumental in Disney’s success,” said Disney President and CEO Bob Iger. “The D23 Expo represents the finest in Disney entertainment from across our great company and will offer a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experience for people of all ages to enjoy.” 
 
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle added, “The upcoming D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center will serve as an exciting opportunity to present Anaheim to the millions of Disney enthusiasts around the world. For the thousands of inaugural-year D23 Expo attendees who will visit our city in September, this will be a special and a memorable time in the birthplace of Walt Disney’s original theme park.  It is a great honor for Anaheim and the Anaheim Convention Center to host this event.”
 
Among the centerpiece events of the D23 EXPO will be an extraordinary, exclusive opportunity to get early glimpses of several all-new Disney feature films.  Only at the D23 EXPO will guests preview a wide range of upcoming movie events, including The Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON, Toy Story 3, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.  Walt Disney Pictures will present these special sneak peeks in a state-of-the-art cinema built especially for the D23 EXPO.
 
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will take D23 EXPO guests behind the scenes to explore the rich legacy and exciting future of Disney’s theme parks and vacation destinations worldwide.  Highlights will include a special look at what’s being imagineered for the future of Disney’s California Adventure, a peek behind closed doors at the amazing new technologies defining today’s and tomorrow’s Disney theme park experience, and the opportunity to meet and hear from the Imagineers, Cast Members and key Disney Parks and Resorts executives who create lasting memories for millions every year.
 
In many different ways, the D23 EXPO will explore the history and heritage of Walt Disney and the company he founded more than 80 years ago.  The D23 EXPO will be home to the 2009 Disney Legends Awards – a 22-year tradition that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment.  This year’s recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held off Disney property.
 
In an extraordinary exhibition designed especially for the D23 EXPO, an incredible collection of classic and contemporary Disney props, artifacts and costumes will be accessible to the public for the first time ever. “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” brings together such amazing pieces as the fully restored, 11-foot model of the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; the stunning, jewel-encrusted book used in the opening moments of Sleeping Beauty; and other rare surprises from throughout Disney’s history. Ranging from the original Mickey Mouse Club and the musical classic Mary Poppins to recent hits like Pirates of the Caribbean and High School Musical, the “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” is a never-before-experienced exhibition that’s a D23 EXPO exclusive.
 
The D23 EXPO spotlight will also shine on Disney Channel’s brightest stars in a can’t miss-special event.  There will also be an ESPN Sports Lounge, live broadcasts from Radio Disney, and a preview of ABC’s new fall primetime shows, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks at www.D23Expo.com.
 
For Disney fans who want to take home part of the magic, Disney Consumer Products will offer myriad opportunities to do just that.  Only at the D23 EXPO will guests be able to walk through the eight-room “Disney Dream Home,” celebrate the holidays Disney-style, see fine art created before their eyes, learn about Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, experience Disney couture fashion shows, meet and hear from the authors of a dazzling array of Disney books, prepare for trick-or-treating with the latest Disney Store Halloween costumes, and more … all under one roof.
 
The D23 EXPO also will be home to the “Disney Dream Store,” where guests will find exclusive D23 EXPO merchandise and collectibles; the Disney pin-trading headquarters; and much more, including the chance to build your own Mouse ears.
 
Showcasing Disney’s appeal to fans of every generation, the D23 EXPO has created a multi-layered experience: Avid Disney enthusiasts can attend dozens of specially created panels and celebrity-speaker events, details of which will be announced over the next several weeks.  Younger Disney fans, meanwhile, will be able to experience special interactive play areas, meet their favorite Radio Disney DJs broadcasting live, watch “Princess makeover” demos from the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique, and have fun in the Baby Einstein play area. Together, families can enjoy the Disney Crafts Center and learn about scrapbooking, Disney-style.
 
The D23 Collectors’ Forum will present a wide range of options for collectors to show and sell their Disney memorabilia, and those interested in exhibiting can visit www.D23Expo.com for more information.
 
Fans also will be able to view and even take part in the first-ever Disney Fan Art Gallery, which will include the finalists in the Donald Duck 75th Anniversary Portrait Contest, as well as a one-of-a-kind fan art show.  Full details and contest rules can be found at www.D23Expo.com or www.disney.com/D23.
 
All activities at the D23 EXPO are included in single- and four-day admissions, including the “50 and Fabulous Film Festival,” which honors three classic Disney movies that are celebrating their golden anniversaries this year.  Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog and Darby O’Gill and the Little People, all originally released in 1959, will be presented on the big screen, one movie each evening, for Disney fans of all ages to enjoy together.  Also featured at the D23 EXPO will be a special screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming Tinker Bell: Lost Treasure, along with an in-depth exploration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition, which will be released this fall by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
 
Tickets to the D23 EXPO, which go on sale today, are $37 for a one-day adult admission and $27 for children 3-12.  To experience every bit of entertainment and excitement at the D23 EXPO, four-day passes are also available at $111 for adults and $81 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on up to four same-day admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 EXPO for themselves and their guests.
 
Special vacation packages are available at t
he D23 EXPO website, from both the Walt Disney Travel Company (including Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations, D23 EXPO tickets and theme park admission), and the Anaheim Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, which is offering a limited number of area hotel rooms at special rates to those attending the D23 EXPO.
 
Many more details about the entertainment, events and special guests that will be part of the first-ever D23 EXPO will be announced in the coming weeks.  Fans can keep up with all of the announcements by visiting www.D23EXPO.com, as well as by following “Disney D23” at Twitter and on Facebook.
 
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood.  D23 is the first official community for fans in Disney’s 85-year history.  D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.disney.com/D23; a new collectibles line, The Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 members throughout the year, highlighted by the D23 EXPO in Anaheim, California, September 10-13, 2009.

Fans can join D23 at www.Disney.com/D23, all Disney Store locations within the United States, select shops at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, and www.DisneyShopping.com/D23.

‘U Rock 2’ on Disney.com Invites Fans to Channel Their Inner Music Video Rock Star

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Disney.com announced today the launch of U Rock 2, a stand-out promotion that gives fans the opportunity to create their own music videos set to songs from popular Disney artists and post their original videos on the U Rock site (www.Disney.com/URock).  The most popular U Rock video finalists, voted on by fans, will win the ultimate rock star experience including a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “take over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.
 
This is the second annual U Rock event on Disney.com. In 2008 thousands of fan videos were uploaded and millions of fans rated and commented on their favorite videos. New this year, fans will be able to watch and vote for their favorite videos via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639).*
 
Song selections that can be downloaded from the U Rock 2  site include:
· “One And The Same” by Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez  from the Disney Channel Playlist CD, with exclusive music video available on the Princess Protection Program DVD
· “Paranoid“ by Jonas Brothers from their upcoming album “Lies, Vines and Trying Times”
· “Hey”  by Mitchel Musso from his self-titled album “Mitchel Musso”
· “Ready to Rock” by Steve Rushton featured in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures’ film“G-Force”

Fans can upload videos on Disney.com now through July 12, 2009.  Finalists in each of the U Rock 2 categories will be announced on July 17, 2009 and fans can then vote for their top video picks through July 31, 2009.  Voting categories include “Rock of Fame” which will be awarded to the best overall video for each song, “Tricked Out” recognizing the video with the best graphics, editing and special effects, ”Sweet Groove All Star” recognizing the fan with the best dance moves, “Mega Pipes” which honors best singing and “Aww…some!” which highlights the cutest rockers.
 
“U Rock was a huge success for us last year so we’re bringing it back bigger and better this year, with an all new selection of top songs from Disney artists,” said Paul Yanover, executive vice president and managing director, Disney Online. “Once again, we’re inviting fans to become a part of the entertainment we offer on Disney.com.”
 
U Rock 2 on Disney.com is presented in partnership with Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records, Radio Disney, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
 
*Standard carrier fees apply. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

DEFIANCE on DVD and Blu-ray!

By
SoCalThrills Staff
-

Based on the extraordinary true story, the action-packed, epic tale DEFIANCE arrives on DVD and Blu-ray June 2, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  Directed by Academy Award® winner Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond), DEFIANCE stars Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace), Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Jamie Bell (Flags Of Our Fathers) as brothers, simple farmers—outnumbered and outgunned—who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters.  The inspirational story of family, bravery and survival has been hailed as “gripping” (Larry King), “a must see” (Steve Oldfield, FOX TV) and “complex, engrossing and worth celebrating” (Richard Corliss, Time) and the film received Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominations for Best Original Score.

The DEFIANCE DVD and Blu-ray presentations include commentary by director Edward Zwick, an in-depth look at the making of the film called “Defiance: Return to the Forest”, interviews with the real-life descendants of the Bielski family and photographs taken by the director during the production.  Additionally, the Blu-ray includes “Scoring Defiance”, a discussion with composer James Newton Howard and violinist Joshua Bell about the much-lauded score.

The DEFIANCE DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The Blu-ray disc is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.  The discs include the following special features in high definition as noted:

  1. Commentary by director Edward Zwick
  2. Defiance: Return to the Forest (HD)—Explores all aspects of production from the early stages of pre-production to shooting on location in Lithuania.  Edward Zwick and his creative team discuss some of the challenges and also the rewards of adapting this well-documented historical event into a feature film.
  3. Bielski Partisan Survivors (HD)—Photo gallery of images taken by Edward Zwick including behind-the-scenes images and surviving members from the Bielski Otriad.
  4. Children of the Otriad: The Families Speak (HD)—Descendents of the Bielski family tour the film’s set and relate the story of the real-life partisans along with efforts to preserve the brothers’ legacy.
  5. Scoring Defiance (HD) —Blu-ray only —Academy Award® nominated composer James Newton Howard and violinist Joshua Bell discuss the incredible film score for Defiance. 
  6. Theatrical trailers (HD)

The overall feel and look of the film is excellent. Everything appears authentic, and the special effects are not overdone as they are in a lot of films. It has a gritty earthiness and is worth seeing because of its historical significance and the simple fact that the Bielskis manage to save 1,200 people. While this might make for a good television program on the History Channel, it just doesn’t quite have enough energy to make for a successful motion picture.

 

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD on DVD and Blu-ray!

By
SoCalThrills Staff
-

“Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are brilliant” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) in the mesmerizing epic REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, arriving on DVD and Blu-ray June 2, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  Nominated for three Academy Awards® and four Golden Globes®, the emotionally gripping film has been called “amazing” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), “flawless” (Rex Reed, New York Observer) and a “masterpiece” (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle).  Directed by Oscar® winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and adapted from the groundbreaking novel by Richard Yates, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD won Kate Winslet her first Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.  Reuniting DiCaprio and Winslet for the first time on screen since Titanic, the incisive portrait of a 1950s American marriage unfolds as an enthralling drama that is moving, thought-provoking and “a revelation” (Clay Smith, “The Insider”).

The REVOLUTIONARY ROAD DVD and Blu-ray presentations include commentary by director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe, Lives of Quiet Desperation: The Making of REVOLUTIONARY ROAD and deleted scenes.  The Blu-ray also includes Richard Yates: The Wages of Truth.

The REVOLUTIONARY ROAD DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The Blu-ray disc is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The discs include the following special features in high definition as noted:

  1. Commentary by director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe
  2. Lives of Quite Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road (HD)
  3. Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe (HD)
  4. Richard Yates: The Wages of Truth (HD)—Blu-ray only

All of the special features are presented in high def, which is a nice touch that doesn’t happen as often as it should. Close to 30 minutes of deleted scenes are included, with optional commentary by Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe. Two fairly standard featurettes on the making of the film and Yates’ novel, both clocking it at close to 30 minutes, are also present. The theatrical trailer and a full-length commentary track with Mendes and Haythe round out the extras.

Revolutionary Road probably won’t leave you with a bundle of good feelings, but it’s a spectacularly written, acted, and directed piece of work that’s certain to result in plenty of post-viewing conversation.

RAISING THE BAR: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON on DVD

By
SoCalThrills Staff
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Sparks fly and fireworks ignite both inside and outside the courtroom in Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season, the compelling new legal drama from multiple Emmy-winner Steven Bochco. Passionate and idealistic public defender Jerry Kellerman (Mark Paul Gosselaar) learns to navigate the halls of justice and the personal politics of the courthouse as he struggles to get a fair hearing for his clients. Jerry and his associates Rosalind Whitman (Gloria Reuben), Richard Patrick Woolsley (Teddy Sears), and  Bobbi Gilardi (Natalia Cigliuti) square off against Michelle Ernhardt (Melissa Sagemiller), a prosecutor trying to balance the desire to get real justice with assistant DA Nick Balco’s (Currie Graham) need to win cases. As they play out their professional rivalry in front of imperious and ambitious Judge Trudy Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek), issues of life, love, and the law are seen from opposite sides of the system.

A group of young defense attorneys and prosecutors learn it’s easier to balance the scales of justice than a lawyer’s personal and private lives in Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season, coming to DVD on June 2 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The latest sensational courtroom drama from 10-time Emmy Award® winning executive producer Steven Bochco (“NYPD Blue,” “L.A. Law,” “Hill Street Blues”), Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season follows a dedicated group of public defenders and district attorneys as they do battle for justice, while trying to maintain their personal relationships. Featuring all 10 Season One episodes, this three-disc set also includes exclusive-to-DVD bonus features that give fans a special look inside and outside of the courtroom. Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season debuts in time for fans to catch up and enjoy before the critically acclaimed television series begins its second season. 
 
Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season features one of television’s most talented ensemble casts, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“NYPD Blue”), Golden Globe® and Emmy®  nominee Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”), Gloria Reuben (“ER” ), Currie Graham (“Desperate Housewives”), Melissa Sagemiller (“Sleeper Cell”), Teddy Sears (“Ugly Betty”), Currie Graham (“Boston Legal”), Natalia Cigliuti (“All My Children”), and J. August Richards (“Conviction”). 
 
The Season One premiere of Raising the Bar boasted the highest rated cable debut in history. Critics lavished praise on the series, with Multichannel News giving it “Three & a half stars,” and calling it “a very fast-paced and entertaining show.” “Tightly written,” raves Bloomberg News, praising the series’ “vibrant characters,” and declaring, “this show has addiction potential!” 

Raising the Bar is a likeable show that demonstrates promise during its 10 episode season one. The writers get into some quality, if familiar stories and are on their way to figuring out the characters in their show. The concept of exploring lawyers who prosecute and defend clients, then find time to let off some steam together in a bar hangout could have derailed the value of courtroom proceedings, but the show succeeds so far in finding the right balance. The show is still finding its legs, but there is enough promise here to be worth checking out.
 
Bonus Features
• Behind the Bar: An After-Hours Roundtable with the Cast
• Sworn Testimony: True Stories of a Public Defender
• Mistrials: Bloopers from Season One
• Audio Commentaries with the cast and crew

Movie Review: "The Hangover"

By
Joel Covey
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Warner Bros. Pictures “The Hangover” is directed by Todd Phillips, “Old School”, which got me a little excited to seeing this movie, but unfortunately Phillips failed to hit his mark. This was no classic by any means and fell flat when I noticed this had all been done before.

I was worried the first time I saw the trailer as there are many movies that follow this formula, and in fact, there was a direct-to-video movie in 2006, “Bachelor Party Vegas”, that dealt with a group of friends celebrating a bachelor party while getting into trouble along the way.  Hmm… okay well the plot was the same making me figure the moral of the story will most likely follow.  Fortunately “The Hangover” does not end the same.

The idea of the movie is simple.  Four buddies drive to Las Vegas for friend Doug (Justin Bartha) bachelors’ party.  What was meant to be a one fun night in Vegas turns into a full blown out adventure when none of them remember what happened the night before.  After waking up in their suite, which was a mess, they realized they have lost Doug who is supposed to be getting married the next day.

After what seemed like a long portion of the movie, the audience finally finds out that the three buddies left, will be spending the rest of the movie looking for Doug. At that moment is when it is apparent that this movie is nothing new. There is nothing original about it, but three crazy friends added with a crazy surrounding like Las Vegas made it easy to create wild and hilarious escapades.

The gang of friends is not the greatest cast of actors. There is of course the outspoken, loud, and free spirited friend played by Bradley Cooper (He’s Just Not That Into You”, “Nip / Tuck”). His other good friend is played by Ed Helmes most known for his role on “The Office”. Helmes character bares no difference to his dorky and awkward role on the NBC sitcom. The third buddy is Doug’s future brother-in-law played by comedian Zach Galifianakis (“What Happens in Vegas”).

This cast of characters did a fine job with what they were given, however I am sure there was plenty of improvisation that played a key role that wasn’t delivered like it was in many past films in the same category.  It’s quite obvious that the filmmakers were trying to capture some of the success that films like “Old School”, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”, “Superbad”, “Blades of Glory”, “Pineapple Express”, and other similar films have had.

“The Hangover” is just another one of these ridiculous, outlandish, raunchy comedies. This is not necessarily a bad thing.  I actually love these types of movies if done right.  This film never quite got where I was hoping it would go though. I could go on for days with movies that have done this in the past, but all you need to do is take one actor from one of these films and follow their film credits.  Most share at least one film together that feels just like the other. This one is no different.  For example, the hilarious Ken Jeong plays a role in “The Hangover” and is known for having roles in many of the same type of the films with the same actors.

I definitely cracked up at some parts and was grossed out by many. With that alone, the movie was successful. Although, I found myself thinking that I just wanted them to find their friend already and get the movie over with.  It just wasn’t anything new and exciting. I am positive there will be plenty of people in the right demographic that will absolutely love this film. In my head I can just imagine a bunch of guys sitting around the tv watching “The Hangover” while drinking some beers and laughing hysterically. This film will do fine in the right setting.

There is plenty of mindless physical comedy with exciting action accompanying it that keeps this one entertaining. I never seemed to mind if Doug got home in time to get married, but I stayed entertained. Some of the comedic timing seemed off and maybe a little awkward toward the beginning. Luckily it started to flow a little better after the friends began their adventure. I don’t know why there is so much frontal nudity these days, but I guess it keeps the audience laughing.  I however, am over it. Let’s try to find a new approach to make us laugh.

At first I thought this was terrible timing for this movie to come out with Will Ferrell’s “Land of the Lost” and Jack Black’s “Year One” coming out soon, but I failed to notice the PG-13 ratings on those. I predict “The Hangover” to do well, but not be as memorable. These other movies have a chance to make a lot more in the box office as they have a broader audience and more can see it.  The R rating at least has a chance to pull another crowd in even though it leaves it more restricted. Time will tell.

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