A Spirited Perfect Ten

[lazyboy97o]

Well, considering Universal, Disney and SeaWorld and parks like Knott's ALL added Detectors on the SAME day, i'd assume it's being mandated by the government in some way.

So that's why. It doesn't help anything. If someone wants to do something, they will. It just stops the stupid people and maybe catch a few more people from bringing in alcohol to MK.

Being mandated by the government just makes it worse. What law was passed by Congress?

 

[Next Big Thing]

Funny the excuses people will use to "justify" things like this

I'm not justifying anything. I don't like it, but it didn't happen everywhere at once by coincidence.

I'm a white male (I specify this bc I know people think there's a racial component to this) and have been to the parks three times since they were installed. Every single time I've been told to go through the detector. While it certainly takes away from Walt's goal of escaping reality, it is t much of a hassle either.

 

[pax_65]

One of them told me, "If you've seen 'New Hope', you've seen 'The Force Awakens'" and NOBODY said they liked the new characters. So why bother?

I agree the plot is familiar. Maybe too familiar. But I disagree about the new characters. I like them a lot - in fact, I might like Rey more than Luke... at least I see the potential. I enjoyed the movie for what it is - essentially a re-boot of the franchise. And since I'm pretty much annoyed with everything Disney touches these days, I was very pleasantly surprised by the film.

 

[doctornick]

I agree the plot is familiar. Maybe too familiar. But I disagree about the new characters. I like them a lot - in fact, I might like Rey more than Luke... at least I see the potential.

I would agree with this. I thought the new characters were outstanding; if anything, I think that character development was one area where Ep VII was far better than the Ep IV. I thought Rey, Finn and Poe were all very good (Poe had limited screen time, but did well when he was on there IMHO). I'm not as sold on Kylo Ren, but would grade him more incomplete than anything -- definitely see the potential for a good arc for his character over the trilogy.

 

[Disney Analyst]

That was frelling brilliant, thank you. I have yet to see the film, and frankly don't plan to. Not just for the reasons stated here earlier (no spoilers, although...really? The thing's been out for weeks), but because friends of mine who have seen it were disappointed. One of them told me, "If you've seen 'New Hope', you've seen 'The Force Awakens'" and NOBODY said they liked the new characters. So why bother?

Also, this quote from the article: Sitting in the theater at "Avatar," I felt like I was being pounded into submission by a giant hedge fund.

One of the best sentences I have ever read.

The worst thing one can do is not form their own opinions about something. Listening to others and following like a sheep causes many a problem in our world.

I know it's just a movie, but so many times
People have told me something is awful, don't bother, you won't like it... And I say, no I'm
Going to give it a shot... And you know what? Most the time I love it!

I say give it a shot. It's a really fun movie, the new characters are awesome, and it really starts the franchise off on a pretty good start for the next two episodes.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm not justifying anything. I don't like it, but it didn't happen everywhere at once by coincidence.

I'm a white male (I specify this bc I know people think there's a racial component to this) and have been to the parks three times since they were installed. Every single time I've been told to go through the detector. While it certainly takes away from Walt's goal of escaping reality, it is t much of a hassle either.

The immediate "hassle" is not what makes the whole farce so egregious.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

That was frelling brilliant, thank you. I have yet to see the film, and frankly don't plan to. Not just for the reasons stated here earlier (no spoilers, although...really? The thing's been out for weeks), but because friends of mine who have seen it were disappointed. One of them told me, "If you've seen 'New Hope', you've seen 'The Force Awakens'" and NOBODY said they liked the new characters. So why bother?

Also, this quote from the article: Sitting in the theater at "Avatar," I felt like I was being pounded into submission by a giant hedge fund.

One of the best sentences I have ever read.

It's okay to be willfully ignorant.. just don't go and try to A) formulate opinions and then B)Shout them from the rooftops.... based off of said ignorance.

 

[Smiddimizer]

I think it's super sad that Star Wars isn't being given enough space for future expansion - we are talking about a franchise that could easily fill at least half a theme park... If not a full one.

I think their mentality is, they a highly valuable film/merchandise brand out there, why put all their eggs in one basket? If there's any incentive to expand a SW presence in the parks in the near future, they could spread it over multiple parks as they do with Pixar. I don't like it either, but 20 years from now, as far as let's say Animal Kingdom is concerned...well I wouldn't be surprised if Wookies are considered animals too. Avatar already sets a precedent for this sort of thing.

 

[Cesar R M]

Well, considering Universal, Disney and SeaWorld and parks like Knott's ALL added Detectors on the SAME day, i'd assume it's being mandated by the government in some way.

So that's why. It doesn't help anything. If someone wants to do something, they will. It just stops the stupid people and maybe catch a few more people from bringing in alcohol to MK.

or perhaps they all got together to do so?
Because if there is a credible attack threat.. if you put a deterrent in one park.. the attackers might change their targets to the one who doesn't.

I would agree with this. I thought the new characters were outstanding; if anything, I think that character development was one area where Ep VII was far better than the Ep IV. I thought Rey, Finn and Poe were all very good (Poe had limited screen time, but did well when he was on there IMHO). I'm not as sold on Kylo Ren, but would grade him more incomplete than anything -- definitely see the potential for a good arc for his character over the trilogy.

I honestly do not see the appeal of Kylo Ren.
He's pretty much a whinnier more spoiled version of Young Anakin.
A very "try hard" metal-goth-emo guy who prances for the dark side.

In the other hand, I really liked BB8 and Rey.
I'm neutral on Finn (as the actor sometimes over-acted in some scenes).
the biggest disappointing was still the tall female new order boss.

 

[Cesar R M]

Being mandated by the government just makes it worse. What law was passed by Congress?

you mean how they passed a SOPA/ACTA derivative right when everyone was distracted by The Force Awakens?
Reminds me on how the government of my country uses the same kind of distraction (national soccer matches, aka bread and circus) to pass heavily unpopular and clearly corrupted laws.

 

[Mike S]

I'll say that I also really enjoyed The Force Awakens. Yes, it follows A New Hope pretty closely but there was still cool new things there too and it was a great return for the series. Now if the same thing happens with Episode VIII being eerily similar to Empire that's when I'll raise my eyebrows but for now I can see the story going in plenty of new directions and I can't wait to see it all.

 

[bhg469]

or perhaps they all got together to do so?
Because if there is a credible attack threat.. if you put a deterrent in one park.. the attackers might change their targets to the one who doesn't.


I honestly do not see the appeal of Kylo Ren.
He's pretty much a whinnier more spoiled version of Young Anakin.
A very "try hard" metal-goth-emo guy who prances for the dark side.

In the other hand, I really liked BB8 and Rey.
I'm neutral on Finn (as the actor sometimes over-acted in some scenes).
the biggest disappointing was still the tall female new order boss.

My two gripes without spoiling the movie are the lack of screen time of Captain Phasma and Finn.. Not his entire role but one line in the movie and that was "Droid please"... That line got me really fired up. Modern slang should not appear long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

 

[FrankLapidus]

I would agree with this. I thought the new characters were outstanding; if anything, I think that character development was one area where Ep VII was far better than the Ep IV. I thought Rey, Finn and Poe were all very good (Poe had limited screen time, but did well when he was on there IMHO). I'm not as sold on Kylo Ren, but would grade him more incomplete than anything -- definitely see the potential for a good arc for his character over the trilogy.

The new characters are all excellent, I'd agree completely there, but I actually thought Kylo Ren was the best of them. I actually found him to be a really interesting character, in large part due to Adam Driver who for me was brilliant in the film, but I thought the way he was written offered a nice juxtaposition to what we've been told about the Force so far in the series. I don't get the "bratty teenager" criticism I've seen of the character here and elsewhere, I actually think he's a pretty complex one; incomplete sums him up well in TFA, the theories I had about the character going into the film were not far off what we saw but I thought that there was a lot more depth to him than I had expected.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Did you guys see these tweets from Andy Richter?
Look, I liked TFA, but this seems like bullying:
Disneyland to close some attractions to build 'Star Wars' land http://fw.to/mdpz0HC
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681866798296268801

Of course, a Star Wars land is going to be a huge success, which means they're right & I'm wrong, but it's sad to me & my family...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681867935539826690

...that a movie that's already made a billion dollars has to consume a romantic, historic family experience...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681868659162136577

...Yesterday we went to the park & rode what is now Hyperspace Mountain. The changes made my 10yo daughter cry after. Really cry...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681868659162136577

...Now of course, what I'm saying is soaked in privilege; we live nearby, can afford season passes, but still, she CRIED...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681869037966495744

...There's a little petting zoo both my kids have been going to since they were babies. It's gone. Now instead of playing w goats & sheep...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681869542142808064

...they'll get to see the Millenium Falcon. I don't know if that's what toddlers would choose, but the choice has been made for them...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870038219919360

...There's no merchandising for sheep and goats, I guess...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870457113452544

... I know Disneyland is a business, and businesses are there to make money, but it's in the business of making kid's happy...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870882411708416

... And seeing my daughter made so sad didn't really put me in mind of profitability. She feels a loss. @Disneyland
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681871546692980736

 

[Captain Neo]

One comment on the plethora of SW The Force Awakens related posts today, one that I have said before but will repeat before retreating for my evening constitutional and that is Bob Iger has set things up where this film literally has to be the biggest of all time (or in Avatar/Titanic territory) or Disney's stock will take a hit. The SW bump has already been built into today's DIS value. So, if it only does $400-500 million domestically? Like I said ... Bob has stupidly overplayed his hand instead of simply talking up the film, and now this literally has to be a Top 3-4 of all time deal.

And I honestly have major doubts as to whether that will happen.

LMAO. WDW1974 you usually have good insider information and you do bring up valid points about mismanagement at the Parks & Resorts. However your constant attempts to take pot shots at ol'Bobby Iger and the executive team is nothing short of hysterical and frankly absurd. How could you even doubt Star Wars was going to do well? Especially when Furious 7 broke records and Jurassic World with minimal hype became the 3rd highest grossing film of all time this summer? With Star Wars the floor started with 1.5 billion in Box Office Sales and just about every one even remotely familiar with the industry should have known that.

 

[Tigger1988]

Andy Richter's tweets are the epitome of first world problems.

What his kids won't like millions of others will.

 

[Cesar R M]

Did you guys see these tweets from Andy Richter?
Look, I liked TFA, but this seems like bullying:
Disneyland to close some attractions to build 'Star Wars' land http://fw.to/mdpz0HC
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681866798296268801

Of course, a Star Wars land is going to be a huge success, which means they're right & I'm wrong, but it's sad to me & my family...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681867935539826690

...that a movie that's already made a billion dollars has to consume a romantic, historic family experience...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681868659162136577

...Yesterday we went to the park & rode what is now Hyperspace Mountain. The changes made my 10yo daughter cry after. Really cry...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681868659162136577

...Now of course, what I'm saying is soaked in privilege; we live nearby, can afford season passes, but still, she CRIED...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681869037966495744

...There's a little petting zoo both my kids have been going to since they were babies. It's gone. Now instead of playing w goats & sheep...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681869542142808064

...they'll get to see the Millenium Falcon. I don't know if that's what toddlers would choose, but the choice has been made for them...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870038219919360

...There's no merchandising for sheep and goats, I guess...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870457113452544

... I know Disneyland is a business, and businesses are there to make money, but it's in the business of making kid's happy...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870882411708416

... And seeing my daughter made so sad didn't really put me in mind of profitability. She feels a loss. @Disneyland
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681871546692980736

Called it! lol

 

[flyerjab]

The new characters are all excellent, I'd agree completely there, but I actually thought Kylo Ren was the best of them. I actually found him to be a really interesting character, in large part due to Adam Driver who for me was brilliant in the film, but I thought the way he was written offered a nice juxtaposition to what we've been told about the Force so far in the series. I don't get the "bratty teenager" criticism I've seen of the character here and elsewhere, I actually think he's a pretty complex one; incomplete sums him up well in TFA, the theories I had about the character going into the film were not far off what we saw but I thought that there was a lot more depth to him than I had expected.

Could not agree more regarding Kylo Ren. I went in thinking he was going to be a carbon copy of Darth Vader...I was completely wrong. He might be the most complex of the new cast.

And by the way, people that judge the interest of the new cast through word of mouth instead of seeing it for themselves are short changing themselves. The new cast, and how they were directed, was the highlight of the movie for me.

 

[doctornick]

...There's a little petting zoo both my kids have been going to since they were babies. It's gone. Now instead of playing w goats & sheep...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681869542142808064

...they'll get to see the Millenium Falcon. I don't know if that's what toddlers would choose, but the choice has been made for them...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870038219919360

...There's no merchandising for sheep and goats, I guess...
https://twitter.com/AndyRichter/status/681870457113452544

I get the sentiment that Richter is supporting, but I think he could have found a much better example. I mean, his kids can be sad that there is no longer "sheeps and goats" at DL but there's surely plenty of opportunities for that sort of thing elsewhere in the greater LA area. I mean, Big Thunder Ranch was a cute place but it was hardly groundbreaking or unique.

How many opportunities are there to experience "visiting" the world of Star Wars?

There's valid complaints about how Star Wars will change the vibe of DL and whether it is a good fit, but the argument that losing the petting zoo makes your kids sad seems pretty silly to me.

 

[ford91exploder]

Fttt

They probably justified it in the same way you justified a massive rant against TWDC when it literally has nothing to do with them.

OLC is the company responsible for securing labor for their park. I'm generally irked with their thus-far sluggish handling of the expansion, but I wouldn't go that far.

Recall also that for a while OLC bought into the BRAVO-SIERRA from burbank that Theme Parks were a 'mature' no growth market (until UNI blew that up) so OLC is now coming out of hibernation WRT attractions and into the perfect storm of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic buildout