Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[crispy]

The wife and I got to see DM2 today. Thought it was slightly better than MU. But really the thing that stuck with me the most is that Illumination has surpassed DreamWorks when it comes to quality. All of their films have been funny but with heart and not crass with great animation and good stories with great characters.
The trailer for Turbo played before the movie and I can't believe DW is still doing this crass and lame attempt to be hip type of movies.

I agree that DM2 was slightly better than MU although both were really good. I think MU suffered by comparison because it just wasn't as Monster's Inc., while DM2 was as good or possible better than the original Despicable Me.

My girls were just glad to be able to see two movies in a month - that rarely ever happens but then again there are rarely two quality movies out at the same time to take them to. Case in point, most of the trailers for the upcoming animated movies look terrible especially Turbo, Free Bird, and the Lego Movie. I had to go read about the plot to Frozen because they trailer gave no indication of what the story was about and wasn't really that interesting. The only trailers that looked decent were for Airplanes (I know, I know) and Cloudy with a Chance for Meatballs 2 (What can I say? I loved the first one!).

 

[bubbles1812]

Yeah I don't get the angle they're going for. Cars meets Bug's Life? Trailer: "A snail can't compete in a race for cars!" Me: "Yeah, that's about right..."

I know a 5 year old boy (best friend's son) who is absolutely excited about Turbo (and thus his 2 year old sister is also excited because she mimics big brother in everything ). And according to him, the bugs look much cooler than say the wimpy ants in Bug's Life. He's a total "bug person" so I assume that's the angle they were going for. Boys love bugs... and Cars. Yay! But I'd have to agree, from the trailers, I just get a big feeling of "meh."

Will be seeing LR and DM2 this week, and possibly MU so will be interesting to compare what I think with everyone else. I know literally no one who saw LR this weekend, but it's been all positive reviews for DM2.

Also, agree with everyone that the US trailer for Frozen is stupid. That they are choosing to make the TALKING SNOWMAN the crux of their marketing campaign doesn't give me great faith in the movie.... Or the fact that they felt they had to include a talking snowman in the first place. Sigh. But I suppose the kids will love it. Double sigh.

 

[WDW1974]

Yep. That's really a huge question. Why does everything that Disney touch seem to have inexplicably bloated budgets?

That is a systemic problem throughout many of Disney's divisions.It isn't that they don't spend, but rather how they spend whether it's NGE or film budgets.

 

[PhotoDave219]

After nine straight days in the parks, I really don't like guests.

Please go away. Please stop coming. Please don't stop in doorways, aisles or any other traffic area. Please learn to drive. Please learn something about this resort. Please realize that every holiday everyone comes here. Please realize no one cares about your sports team, college or whatever crass saying you have written on the butt of your clothes. Please realize this is Florida, it rains & it's hot - you won't melt, you're not that sweet. Please shut your screaming baby up.


And please realize that they only shoot the mirror show from one island And two seven seas lagoon points. They do not go from every island / resort.

 

[WDW1974]

DM2 had $142M domestic total including the extra days. $293M including international (opened early in some markets)
$85M is just the weekend (7/5 - 7/7)

Monsters U is at $216M total domestic and $400M including international.

they are both doing phenomenally well considering the crowded marketplace and some less than stellar reviews.

 

[WDW1974]

After nine straight days in the parks, I really don't like guests.

Please go away. Please stop coming. Please don't stop in doorways, aisles or any other traffic area. Please learn to drive. Please learn something about this resort. Please realize that every holiday everyone comes here. Please realize no one cares about your sports team, college or whatever crass saying you have written on the butt of your clothes. Please realize this is Florida, it rains & it's hot - you won't melt, you're not that sweet. Please shut your screaming baby up.


And please realize that they only shoot the mirror show from one island And two seven seas lagoon points. They do not go from every island / resort.

you, my friend, are a ray of sunshine ... Like the Orange Bird himself sent you from The Florida Sunshine Tree ... You are so perky ... Like a fanboi when an Imagineer walks by.

 

[culturenthrills]

Not sure why Dreamworks thought Turbo would be a good idea. I knew it would be awful when they got Ken Jeong to play as an old lady

Funny thing he is in DM2 too but in a part that you wouldn't know it was him if you didn't see the credits.

 

[Tim_4]

Funny thing he is in DM2 too but in a part that you wouldn't know it was him if you didn't see the credits.

Yep the wig guy.

 

[WDW1974]

Looking at this comp of recent Disney live action blockbusters it's pretty telling:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/showdowns/chart/?id=disneyfranchise.htm

There was a lot more support behind Tron in hopes to make that movie successful. The one saving grace is that Curse of the Black Pearl had a weak(ish) opening weekend as well ($46 mil).

Ah, but the expectations were not high for PoC internally at all. The had no idea they had a franchise on their hands. That $46 million was actually huge at the time ... I remember seeing it largely for Depp and to see how they would ruin one of my favorite park attractions on the big screen. I was overjoyed when I left the cinema that night.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I didn't read all 7 pages, but you'd have to be pretty stupid to pay $18 for 4 days worth of soda for yourself.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Perhaps, they wanted a flop?

Or perhaps they just have poor marketing people?

Still cleaning up from MT Carney?

 

[ScoutN]

Ah, but the expectations were not high for PoC internally at all. The had no idea they had a franchise on their hands. That $46 million was actually huge at the time ... I remember seeing it largely for Depp and to see how they would ruin one of my favorite park attractions on the big screen. I was overjoyed when I left the cinema that night.

Agreed. I was iffy on going to see it. I almost did not see it but only did because family was in town. Hands down the happiest I have ever been to see a movie that I was not going to originally.

 

[ScoutN]

I didn't read all 7 pages, but you'd have to be pretty stupid to pay $18 for 4 days worth of soda for yourself.

What is one soda, $2.99 or so? If I get one at morning and night for four+ days then it pays for itself plus I get a cup. That seems fine to me if I am too lazy to drive to WallyLand.

 

[PhotoDave219]

you, my friend, are a ray of sunshine ... Like the Orange Bird himself sent you from The Florida Sunshine Tree ... You are so perky ... Like a fanboi when an Imagineer walks by.

It's been a long nine days

 

[Taylor]

What is one soda, $2.99 or so? If I get one at morning and night for four+ days then it pays for itself plus I get a cup. That seems fine to me if I am too lazy to drive to WallyLand.

I just see it as buying an $18 mug. And also a way to sell more Dining Plans

 

[PhotoDave219]

A blanket statement that says nothing. Booking for when? At what price points?

I'm talking about current resort load levels. They aren't exactly what one would expect for time of year.

Last night was empty at 1030 at night. Saturday night in July. Middle of peak season.

Empty.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What is one soda, $2.99 or so? If I get one at morning and night for four+ days then it pays for itself plus I get a cup. That seems fine to me if I am too lazy to drive to WallyLand.

Can't really support either laziness or drinking two sodas a day for several days at a time, but I guess everyone is allowed to make their own choices.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I thought Monsters was much smarter than Despicable Me. I enjoy the minion jokes, but the "fart gun" cheapened the whole movie for me.

I recalled the first one had one too many, one is too much, hit in the nuts.

Funny how Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, and others didn't need cheap gags like that to make audiences laugh.

 

[ScoutN]

Can't really support either laziness or drinking two sodas a day for several days at a time, but I guess everyone is allowed to make their own choices.

Vacation=lazy.

My health is in a very good position. And on vacation that gets thrown out of the window. WDW is not know for the healthiest options with dining under the sun either. Kinda blows that one outta the water.

 

[WDW1974]

Yep that's what I mean. Resort room nights. Currently.

That's not what I've heard at WDW at all, especially the deluxe level properties. Unless you are talking going forward.