SIGNS REVIEW
Wednesday night, I was lucky enough to see this incredible movie at a sneak preview. Don't worry, I'm not going to give anything away here. So this is a spoiler free article about it. But I do want to say some things about it. First of all, WOW! What a film. I really liked it. I know people will ask, how does it compare to "The Sixth Sense" or "Unbreakable" (director/writer M. Night Shyamalan's previous two blockbusters)? Well, that's easy to answer. You can't compare them. So don't try. I will give this film a 4 out of 5 (possibly a 4 1/2 out of 5 but I can't decide). This is a suspense movie 100%. I wouldn't call it horror even though the commercials kind of lead you in that direction. I will warn you though. Even though it is a PG-13 rating, it is an intense PG-13. I might even call it a mild R.
If you are wanting to know what it is like, I can give you this comparison. Think of "Signs" as a mix between the original "Alien" film and "Alien Encounter" at WDW. People have asked me if it would loose much if they waited until video or DVD. I would say that this is one of the few movies that should be seen in the theatre for the audio. While the picture won't loose much on video or DVD, the sound will disappoint you at home, unless you have a nice surround sound. Like "Alien Encounter", this movie plays with your mind thru the use of sound. Especially in the corn field. Here is Mel Gibson standing in the middle of a corn field that is 8 feet tall. You can't see 3 feet ahead of you. And you hear things all around you. You hear things pivot around you. It's truly creepy.
This mesmerizing movie should be seen in theatres. So go see it soon and expect the theatre to be crowded.
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Lebo M in Fantasia 2006
Rumor has it that the song One by One by Lebo M (The Lion King, Rhythm of the Pride Lands, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King Broadway) will be the first in the next Fantasia. It features many children singing and flying kites. Most of the little kids are based on people at Disney or who worked on the segment. For example there is a character named Lebo with big round glasses this is taken from Lebo M, the man who wrote the music. Also Pixote Hunt and Bruse Smith are in there too if you can find them. If you want to know what they look like watch The Proud Family on Disney Channel, because Bruse Smith designed the characters on that show and they will give you an idea of what the style he does. And one last thing if you want to hear the song One by One it is on The Lion King Broadway soundtrack as well as the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD. It isn't exactly the same because they changed it a bit for Fantasia 3."
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Direct to Video Sequels - Ho Hum, Can't Wait
Young Tarzan perched at dawn
Young Terk and Tantor search for Tarzan
Kerchack and Tarzan
Computer animated army of Fire Ants
According to the The Internet Movie Database, The Lion King 1 1/2: Hakuna Matata will be released in 2003 and directed by Bradley Raymond (Pocahontas II, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II). Those aren't the best D2V sequels, but then they mention the plot: "Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog retell the story of The Lion King from their own unique perspective." Voice actor Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa) had reported last month that the prequel, being released Christmas 2003, would tell the story of how Timon and Pumbaa met, which makes more sense. Possibly the closing scene will introduce Simba, hence the misunderstanding? Time will tell. It sounds a little like the book, "The True Story of The Three Little Pigs" told by the wolf. It's the same story, but because it from another point of view, everything is skewed. Expect this movie around the same time that The Lion King is released on DVD.
Next on Disney's proverbial plate is the TRUE sequel to 1999's Tarzan. Don't let the commercials fool you. Tarzan & Jane that was just released is NOT the sequel to Tarzan. Tarzan & Jane is a compilation of 3 episodes from the television series strung together to seem like one movie. The true sequel is slated for release next year. Currently it is simply being called Tarzan II. One thing you'll notice by the pictures to the left is that it looks like Disney is doing another prequel. (Has George Lucas brainwashed everyone into making prequels now?) Tarzan is a child again, and Terk and Tantor are their younger selves too. I had heard different rumors about what the story is about. As soon as I hear one, I hear another one that says the previous story has been scrapped. But all of them involve Tarzan as a child again. I guess Disney likes having Kerchak as a domineering father. Another thing you might notice, is the 3D modeling of the jungle again. This technique was awesome in the original film, but was missing in the television series and the Tarzan & Jane video for obvious cost reasons. Well, I've heard that one scene involves a complete army of fire ants that are all computer animated. Check out the last picture to see this scene.
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On Sunday, August 4, Beauty and the Beast will become Broadway's eighth longest-running show, according to Playbill. When the Disney musical plays performance number 3,389, it will surpass the original production of Grease to become the eighth longest running show in Broadway history. More than three million people have seen the New York production of Beauty, which is currently playing the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Meanwhile, The Lion King celebrated its 2,000th performance at New York's New Amsterdam Theatre on July 30, and will blow its fifth candle this fall. Thanks to the Laughing Place for the alert!
Thanks for the INFO
-JUSTIN
Wednesday night, I was lucky enough to see this incredible movie at a sneak preview. Don't worry, I'm not going to give anything away here. So this is a spoiler free article about it. But I do want to say some things about it. First of all, WOW! What a film. I really liked it. I know people will ask, how does it compare to "The Sixth Sense" or "Unbreakable" (director/writer M. Night Shyamalan's previous two blockbusters)? Well, that's easy to answer. You can't compare them. So don't try. I will give this film a 4 out of 5 (possibly a 4 1/2 out of 5 but I can't decide). This is a suspense movie 100%. I wouldn't call it horror even though the commercials kind of lead you in that direction. I will warn you though. Even though it is a PG-13 rating, it is an intense PG-13. I might even call it a mild R.
If you are wanting to know what it is like, I can give you this comparison. Think of "Signs" as a mix between the original "Alien" film and "Alien Encounter" at WDW. People have asked me if it would loose much if they waited until video or DVD. I would say that this is one of the few movies that should be seen in the theatre for the audio. While the picture won't loose much on video or DVD, the sound will disappoint you at home, unless you have a nice surround sound. Like "Alien Encounter", this movie plays with your mind thru the use of sound. Especially in the corn field. Here is Mel Gibson standing in the middle of a corn field that is 8 feet tall. You can't see 3 feet ahead of you. And you hear things all around you. You hear things pivot around you. It's truly creepy.
This mesmerizing movie should be seen in theatres. So go see it soon and expect the theatre to be crowded.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lebo M in Fantasia 2006
Rumor has it that the song One by One by Lebo M (The Lion King, Rhythm of the Pride Lands, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King Broadway) will be the first in the next Fantasia. It features many children singing and flying kites. Most of the little kids are based on people at Disney or who worked on the segment. For example there is a character named Lebo with big round glasses this is taken from Lebo M, the man who wrote the music. Also Pixote Hunt and Bruse Smith are in there too if you can find them. If you want to know what they look like watch The Proud Family on Disney Channel, because Bruse Smith designed the characters on that show and they will give you an idea of what the style he does. And one last thing if you want to hear the song One by One it is on The Lion King Broadway soundtrack as well as the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD. It isn't exactly the same because they changed it a bit for Fantasia 3."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct to Video Sequels - Ho Hum, Can't Wait
Young Tarzan perched at dawn
Young Terk and Tantor search for Tarzan
Kerchack and Tarzan
Computer animated army of Fire Ants
According to the The Internet Movie Database, The Lion King 1 1/2: Hakuna Matata will be released in 2003 and directed by Bradley Raymond (Pocahontas II, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II). Those aren't the best D2V sequels, but then they mention the plot: "Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog retell the story of The Lion King from their own unique perspective." Voice actor Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa) had reported last month that the prequel, being released Christmas 2003, would tell the story of how Timon and Pumbaa met, which makes more sense. Possibly the closing scene will introduce Simba, hence the misunderstanding? Time will tell. It sounds a little like the book, "The True Story of The Three Little Pigs" told by the wolf. It's the same story, but because it from another point of view, everything is skewed. Expect this movie around the same time that The Lion King is released on DVD.
Next on Disney's proverbial plate is the TRUE sequel to 1999's Tarzan. Don't let the commercials fool you. Tarzan & Jane that was just released is NOT the sequel to Tarzan. Tarzan & Jane is a compilation of 3 episodes from the television series strung together to seem like one movie. The true sequel is slated for release next year. Currently it is simply being called Tarzan II. One thing you'll notice by the pictures to the left is that it looks like Disney is doing another prequel. (Has George Lucas brainwashed everyone into making prequels now?) Tarzan is a child again, and Terk and Tantor are their younger selves too. I had heard different rumors about what the story is about. As soon as I hear one, I hear another one that says the previous story has been scrapped. But all of them involve Tarzan as a child again. I guess Disney likes having Kerchak as a domineering father. Another thing you might notice, is the 3D modeling of the jungle again. This technique was awesome in the original film, but was missing in the television series and the Tarzan & Jane video for obvious cost reasons. Well, I've heard that one scene involves a complete army of fire ants that are all computer animated. Check out the last picture to see this scene.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, August 4, Beauty and the Beast will become Broadway's eighth longest-running show, according to Playbill. When the Disney musical plays performance number 3,389, it will surpass the original production of Grease to become the eighth longest running show in Broadway history. More than three million people have seen the New York production of Beauty, which is currently playing the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Meanwhile, The Lion King celebrated its 2,000th performance at New York's New Amsterdam Theatre on July 30, and will blow its fifth candle this fall. Thanks to the Laughing Place for the alert!
Thanks for the INFO
-JUSTIN