Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[PhotoDave219]

Using it to make turtle soup doesn't count.

Depends. Is this Tyrion Lannister's Turtle Soup?

(Its a Season 1 reference)

 

[Taylor]

As ESPN had more layoffs today, Disney Stock dropped to a mere $62.99 to close....

Man they really need high ratings for the finals don't they.

 

[PhotoDave219]

That was me complaining ... but I agree with the above. I have chosen to wait until the end to watch the show since I didn't start with it. I have to deal with spoilers.

So, just like saying the Sopranos ended with a fade to black in which you have no idea what really happened or Lost ending with Jack being the hero and all of the characters finding each other in some nebulous after-life or Seinfeld ending with ... I almost forgot because that one was so bad ... the major characters all in jail, I realize that people are gonna talk. I just didn't know it was going to be on this thread!

I really thought the ending was genius. You built up this ridiculous tension, build up to this climax, its the final episode of the show and its clearly the end and......





...... Black.


It just ends. Its not a hollywood ending, its not a happy ending, its not a sad ending, its not wrapped up in a tiny little bow - instead it just ends.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Man they really need high ratings for the finals don't they.

It has to do with profit margins. Wall Street raised its expectation/target to $72 even though the high hasnt hit that in the past 52 weeks.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't know. Brave merchandise moved, but it certainly wasn't huge.

Marvel supposedly does great on the merchandise end ... but I am curious as to why in say 2010 or 2011 you could find Marvel products in the parks (at least MK and Studios and even HKDL!) and I haven't seen them anywhere in the parks in Florida (except IOA) on my last 3-4 visits not counting DD.

Anyone know why this is? Must have a merchandise CM here somewhere ...

They are in DHS. In the back, at the store next to where Darth Vader met.

 

[WDW1974]

As great as Avengers was, Captain America has been my favorite marvel movie so far! The story, time period, and graphics and chaarcters were all so top notch, I couldn't have asked for more!

I agree. It felt like a real WWII action film and a hero film (sorta Indy-like in some ways) and was true to its source material. I enjoyed the Avengers, but that film was all 'splosions and popcorn and little substance.

I still haven't seen one complete Iron Man film yet ... but I have seen the last hour of the first one and it seemed OK.

 

[WDW1974]

As ESPN had more layoffs today, Disney Stock dropped to a mere $62.99 to close....

I really don't know how Iger and Rasulo afford to eat. They must be brown-bagging PB&J or bologna sandwiches. Poor fellas.

 

[PhotoDave219]

When his first Marvel bomb (should I use that word with the NSA watching?) happens, which will likely before Pixar's first (although I have friends out west still telling me that Brave didn't make back its cost/marketing).

You can't expect an audience for Thor 4, Captain America 6 and UnknownCharacter X 2 ... there is a point when folks won't want more beyond quality like Dark Knight (and the last one had MANY flaws) and the problem is EVERY one of these films are extremely pricey to make.

I agree that they are milking the marvel cinematic universe quite a bit....

As for Brave? Im still disapointed, I get what they were trying to do but It seems like 1/2 a movie. Wheres the other part of the film? Because this is Pixar.... Why she didnt have to unite the clans to defeat the [whatever] is beyond me. Thats an act 3 that would have made it better.

 

[WDW1974]

They are in DHS. In the back, at the store next to where Darth Vader met.

OK, Dave so nail me with your light saber, but I have no idea where that is since I wasn't at SWW!

 

[PhotoDave219]

OK, Dave so nail me with your light saber, but I have no idea where that is since I wasn't at SWW!

Across from the Bar next to the exit for Backlot.

 

[WDW1974]

I agree that they are milking the marvel cinematic universe quite a bit....

As for Brave? Im still disapointed, I get what they were trying to do but It seems like 1/2 a movie. Wheres the other part of the film? Because this is Pixar.... Why she didnt have to unite the clans to defeat the [whatever] is beyond me. Thats an act 3 that would have made it better.

That has more to do with the behind the scenes politics that played out and resulted in the film being different from what it was going to be.

On another film point, as I sit here and watch a trailer for World War Z, I realize that one issue with all of these mega-summer-flicks is timing. There aren't enough screens for all these films and when they battle it out in May, June and July, there will be casualties that wouldn't have been had the films been released in January or April or October. Studios are greedy and want the choice dates when school is out and that's fine if you start fast ... but if you don't ... you drop quickly and soon find no way to gain an audience. Even with massive 24-screen theaters, there's only so much time for Hangover 3 and AfterEarth and Oblivion.

Put another way, do you thing if Disney had released Oz this week that it would have been nearly as successful as it was debuting in March.

 

[Taylor]

I really don't know how Iger and Rasulo afford to eat. They must be brown-bagging PB&J or bologna sandwiches. Poor fellas.

In Oklahoma we have a saying for Bologna sandwich lunches its not very PC though

 

[WDW1974]

Across from the Bar next to the exit for Backlot.

Ah, the AFI showcase shop (not sure what it is called) ... that place was closed everytime I was near there (all at night or on EMHs).

Strange that's where the stuff is because it used to be in much more high profile locales ... of course, my outlet store used to be brimming with Marvel stuff that didn't move either. And one day it was all gone and I don't think they had a run on it in my week between visits.

I'd love to know how well Marvel stuff is moving from P&R's locales, not from a CP standpoint.

 

[Taylor]

That has more to do with the behind the scenes politics that played out and resulted in the film being different from what it was going to be.

On another film point, as I sit here and watch a trailer for World War Z, I realize that one issue with all of these mega-summer-flicks is timing. There aren't enough screens for all these films and when they battle it out in May, June and July, there will be casualties that wouldn't have been had the films been released in January or April or October. Studios are greedy and want the choice dates when school is out and that's fine if you start fast ... but if you don't ... you drop quickly and soon find no way to gain an audience. Even with massive 24-screen theaters, there's only so much time for Hangover 3 and AfterEarth and Oblivion.

Put another way, do you thing if Disney had released Oz this week that it would have been nearly as successful as it was debuting in March.

That's why Disney needs to be worried about The Lone Ranger. I think it has flop written all over it

 

[PhotoDave219]

That has more to do with the behind the scenes politics that played out and resulted in the film being different from what it was going to be.

On another film point, as I sit here and watch a trailer for World War Z, I realize that one issue with all of these mega-summer-flicks is timing. There aren't enough screens for all these films and when they battle it out in May, June and July, there will be casualties that wouldn't have been had the films been released in January or April or October. Studios are greedy and want the choice dates when school is out and that's fine if you start fast ... but if you don't ... you drop quickly and soon find no way to gain an audience. Even with massive 24-screen theaters, there's only so much time for Hangover 3 and AfterEarth and Oblivion.

Put another way, do you thing if Disney had released Oz this week that it would have been nearly as successful as it was debuting in March.

Do yourself a favor. Ignore World War Z, the film version. Buy the book or get the audio book from Audible. The movie looks nothing like the book, which was amazing.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Ah, the AFI showcase shop (not sure what it is called) ... that place was closed everytime I was near there (all at night or on EMHs).

Strange that's where the stuff is because it used to be in much more high profile locales ... of course, my outlet store used to be brimming with Marvel stuff that didn't move either. And one day it was all gone and I don't think they had a run on it in my week between visits.

I'd love to know how well Marvel stuff is moving from P&R's locales, not from a CP standpoint.

Lemmie look it up....

Across from Studio Catering Company & High Octane Refreshments, near the Mike & Sully M&G.

 

[stevehousse]

I would agree that lone ranger seems iffy about pulling those figures it needs when it opens. As much as I love depp, modern westerns haven't been all too successful as of late, and I can see it not doing well. I am not even a fan of westerns,I think they are boring in general. I think it's a huge risk releasing it this summer! This is one title that should be released during the "slower" months so to speak. But I think more shoulders actually rest on Johnny depp after he pushed and pushed Disney into this project!

 

[stevehousse]

As for the Iron Man movies Spirit, definitely worth checking out! The first one was done really well, falls in number 3 category behind captain America and avengers. No other actor has been more perfect for a role in years than RDJ as Tony Stark!

The second was good, but could have been a lot better. They crammed a lot of stuff into that sequel, as it was really the first major attempt at connecting all these marvel movies together, it just was a very busy film.

I loved iron man 3, but didn't like the ending of the film (last 5 minutes).

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Do yourself a favor. Ignore World War Z, the film version. Buy the book or get the audio book from Audible. The movie looks nothing like the book, which was amazing.

In 5-10 years, I'm hoping for a proper adaption in the form of a premium cable miniseries.

 

[articos]

Unfortunately, there isn't anything going on ... I'd much rather discuss other things that would get ugly in a hurry here (likely).

All is quiet on the Disney front. I think that's why folks have gone from talking about those MAGICal Tangled toilets (nice, but not all that!) to escalators at the Land and cinnamon buns that Starbucks has taken away.

I 'may' and I use that term with caution have more (or more detailed, I should say) info on UNI's Florida plans and Disney's Asian plans in the next few days or I may not.

Oh, and on another front, as I type this Tony Baxter is being given a proper good-bye (sorry, fanbois he is done with Disney and he is too much of a fanboi himself to go work for UNI or someone else) at DL's Club 33.

Tony was in FL last week.

When his first Marvel bomb (should I use that word with the NSA watching?) happens, which will likely before Pixar's first (although I have friends out west still telling me that Brave didn't make back its cost/marketing).

You can't expect an audience for Thor 4, Captain America 6 and UnknownCharacter X 2 ... there is a point when folks won't want more beyond quality like Dark Knight (and the last one had MANY flaws) and the problem is EVERY one of these films are extremely pricey to make.

Brave did not make back its cost (although it earned out on worldwide merch), and there's a good bit of nervousness internally over Monsters too. Pixar's golden days seem to have hit a bit of a bump, although they are still worlds better than most of what gets made.