Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[Animaniac93-98]

So ... still haven't seen Iron Man 3 ... but I think I'll catch Man of Steel this weekend!

Since you brought up Man of Steel I should warn you it's currently sitting at a 69% approval rating on RT, 54% for "Top Critics". I'm thinking this may not be the big creative hit that Superman fans have wanted (Imagine, 2 within ten years of each other).

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_man_of_steel/

 

[WDW1974]

Disney gets an upgrade from Macquarie analysts based on improving U.S. consumer spending should help boost attendance at Disney parks. And new technology that Disney plans to roll out later this year should help optimize how visitors can plan their time spent in parks. That, in turn, could help increase how much visitors spend during their visits. Disney has also expanded its Hong Kong park and has a park slated to open in Shanghai in 2015.

The analysts also pointed to Disney's recent acquisitions of Marvel and LucasFilm as a means to beef up its potential for creating blockbuster films for its studio division. They also said that ESPN remains at the top of its game, providing Disney with stable, visible and high-growth revenue and earnings.

The analysts also raised their target price from $70 to $75.

http://news.yahoo.com/disney-gets-upgrade-macquarie-analysts-181426583.html

And this can change overnight ... if say Monsters U or Lone Ranger disappoint ... or if the NBA Finals ratings plummet (and after tonight's 'game', I could see that happening!) ... or if they have to delay ... nah ... let's just say that's the typical report of an analyst who wants to crow about a company they follow. We'll see how things play out.

BTW, anyone want to bet they stop MK maingate blockouts well before they intended to?

 

[TalkingHead]

Haven't had a chance to see the new season of AD. I have heard very mixed things, including from lovers of the series who also are industry people. ... (Long Ranger trailer on now!) but to be fair, I have emptied my bladder near other luminaries. I recall seeing Seth Green and thinking how small he was (NO, NOT A PART OF HIM ... ALL OF HIM!!! Damn fanbois with dirty minds!) when he was next to me (and I am not a tall Spirit).

But what were we talking about?

Oh, that I LOVED The Larry Sanders show!

If anyone needs proof why a Spirited Fan Club exists, look no further.

The dude has countless stories of the famous people he's wee-wee'd next to.

You know how some old folks have stories about seeing Walt walking around DL? I bet Spirit's grandfather stood next to Walt at a urinal in Frontierland. He's just that OG.

Without the influence of Larry Sanders, we probably wouldn't have AD, so there's that, too.

 

[Rodan75]

Since you brought up Man of Steel I should warn you it's currently sitting at a 69% approval rating on RT, 54% for "Top Critics". I'm thinking this may not be the big creative hit that Superman fans have wanted (Imagine, 2 within ten years of each other).

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_man_of_steel/

I know folks who ave seen it and praised it...but the reviews are coming in much worse than expected.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

That info was leaked because it fit someone in the company's agenda to leak it. It also wasn't as big a deal as the person it leaked to claimed it was. It is, after all, just the rethinking of a mall.

I would guess that things may well come out leading up to D23. I just hope that the crazies don't spend the next two months speculating. What's going to happen is going to happen at this point. There won't be a last-minute huge announcement.

Or putting their site watermarks all over anything that leaks…

 

[stevehousse]

I can't wait to take my kid to see Man of Steel! My boy is too excited to see a superman movie! He's been very weird about watching live action movies, he's about 5. He just started watching Indiana jones and the pirates movies and loves them, and he actually wants to see superman! Has anyone heard any reviews of the 3-D version being good or a waste?

 

[WDW1974]

If folks want to start arguing again about 'journalism' and Disney...there is always this:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/...rried_at_the_magic_kingdom_was_practical.html

Nah, that's not worthy ... but I am somewhat surprised no one mentioned the piece by Brook Barnes in the NY Times this week that sorta, kinda, maybe took shots at UNI-Hollywood for offering VIP experiences and sorta mentioned Disney as a company that didn't do that.

 

[englanddg]

I can't wait to take my kid to see Man of Steel! My boy is too excited to see a superman movie! He's been very weird about watching live action movies, he's about 5. He just started watching Indiana jones and the pirates movies and loves them, and he actually wants to see superman! Has anyone heard any reviews of the 3-D version being good or a waste?

I'm actually...pleasantly excited to see it as well.

I really did not like the last one...at all. Deadbeat Dad creepy Superman...ugh...

 

[stevehousse]

The last one was absolutely terribly bad, Batman and Robin bad!

 

[WDW1974]

Best binge-watching I've ever had was with Breaking Bad. Watched the 5.5 seasons in an embarrassingly-short amount of time this summer.

By the end of season 1 I was hooked, almost like the show itself is Walt's 99%-pure blue meth.

I'm surprised there are some people here who said they couldn't get into the show. I got a little tired of the over-reliance on handheld camerawork in Season 1. But that becomes less common in the following seasons. Pretty much everything after Season 1 is an A+ for me. I think the "Crystal Blue Persuasion" montage in Season 5 is one of the best things I've ever seen on a television show.

I didn't realize how good the show was until they were about to start season 3. I've since decided to not watch until it's over and then watch it all from start to finish over a few weeks or a month.

Unfortunately, I did walk in on a key moment from this past season involving a child and ... well, I wasn't happy seeing 3-4 minutes that happened to be key moments. But that's what you get for delayed viewing.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I know folks who ave seen it and praised it...but the reviews are coming in much worse than expected.

A film's Tomatometer rating takes some time to settle down. However, one wonders why they've kept the embargo on Man of Steel this close to the release while Pixar lifted MU's embargo this past weekend.

 

[WDW1974]

Spoiler Alert!

Yes. That would have been nice ... but I tried to not read @luv 's post. I did see some of it!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Hmmmmmm A Floridian with a Bawlmer accent. Not sure how I feel about that. You must have spent some time here. If you say.....going down the OHHHcean Hun......I will know you truly are a Baltimoron at least at heart....lol you will quickly become my favorite forum poster.

Grew up in Nova. Dad lived in Maryland until a year and a half ago. I know the area and I'm a big fan of David Simon's work

 

[WDW1974]

Totally. I'd be super ed if I'd read that before catching up.

Ya think?

I'll live ... but we all know that Walter won't.

 

[PhotoDave219]

As a Walking Dead lover, I must agree with that. About one in every four episodes is what I'd call competent writing ... one in six might actually qualify as quality or good. I blame Kirkman who is ruling that roost with an iron fist and chasing showrunners away left and right. He also is basically a moody fanboi prick (is that acceptable here?) who feels he is much more talented than he actually is.

My friend, you need to read the graphic novels....

 

[TalkingHead]

I didn't realize how good the show was until they were about to start season 3. I've since decided to not watch until it's over and then watch it all from start to finish over a few weeks or a month.

Unfortunately, I did walk in on a key moment from this past season involving a child and ... well, I wasn't happy seeing 3-4 minutes that happened to be key moments. But that's what you get for delayed viewing.

Oh, that child. Yeah, that was a gut punch. Even more so when you've seen how that issue plays out over the course of the show.

A large part of BB's power is in seeing how the characters change over time. So while there are a number of surprises along the way, it's more about how the story unfolds that makes it so absorbing.

 

[PhotoDave219]

BTW, anyone want to bet they stop MK maingate blockouts well before they intended to?

I thought maingate blackouts have already started?

 

[WDW1974]

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a lot of refurbs scheduled for this summer/spring. None seem to be major or particularly long but there seems to be a lot of them. Did somebody finally loosen the purse strings and step up maintenance or are all these rides getting NextGen upgrades? Does anyone in the know, know what's up?

No vast budget increases or changes based on a new Prez. ... Just regular work mixed with needing to Next Gen everything.

 

[alissafalco]

Spirit, do you have any Epcot info? Are they doing anything besides new eateries?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Spoiler Alert!

Nope. If its more than 24 hours after its original airing, spoilers alerts need not apply.

If you dont want it ruined, then you need to find a way to see it after its aired.