Tag: disney

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Star Wars Weekends taking over Disney NOW

Photo is by Josh Hallett aka Hyku @ Flickr.Yes, it’s that time of year again, when people get crazy enough to actually go to Florida. Okay, I kid. (Seriously though, please don’t put C5 there.) Today marks the start of the first (of four) Star Wars events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. To celebrate, StarWars.com has tips on getting ready and, of course, a schedule.

  • Guests: Jay Laga’aia and Ashley Eckstein are hosting this weekend, with Ray Park, Warwick Davis and James Arnold Taylor making appearances. Later on Peter Mayhew, Matt Lanter and Dave Filoni will be showing up: The full list is here.
  • The Clone Wars: Naturally, the target demographic gets plenty of TCW.
  • Buy stuff: You know what to do.
  • You might not get to see these, but… Everyone loved the “backstage” posters.

(Photo is by Josh Hallett aka Hyku at Flickr.)

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Lucasfilm shooting new Star Tours footage

Star Tours at night by Loren Javier @ FlickrSo sayeth /Film, anyway. We’ve heard a rumor or two hinting at that in the past year or so, and it could certainly use the refresher. Some details:

Our source reveals that the revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish. Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett. C3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts, and Anthony Daniels will be recording his parts this week. Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they’re shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline.

..Yay? (Star Tours at night photo by Loren Javier @ Flickr.)

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Musical Journey, other event updates

So I was checking out the Google News Search yesterday, as one does, and what should appear but – lo! – A Musical Journey, which starts tonight! And so, the BBC has a tour of the companion exhibition.

As for other upcoming events of note, StarWars.com has the Star Wars Weekends 2009 guest list (Heavy on The Clone Wars; Jay Laga’aia and Ashley Eckstein share hosting duties.) and a video of Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter going up in Indianapolis for The Clone Wars exhibit.

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Drive-by movie news: Is it the end for Narnia? Thundercats ho! NPH’s Indy; Twilight

BBC's Dawn TreaderDisney gives Narnia the boot. Well, it’s official – Disney has decided not to adapt the third Narnia book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, for “budgetary and logistical reasons.” (Prince Caspian wasn’t exactly a flop, but it didn’t take in nearly as much as Lion.) That’s not to say all is lost – Walden Media is shopping around for a new partner.

Really do hope that Dawn Treader gets made – I can take or leave the rest of the series, but it’s my favorite. In the meantime, you can find the old BBC productions pretty cheap on DVD. The production values may not be as good, but I thought they were pretty neat as a kid!

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Drive-by movie news: Too much Twilight, Harrison Ford, Batman, WB’s Potter desperation

Not so shiny. Catherine Hardwicke is out of Twilight sequel. (Robert Pattinson’s envy must be at least twice the size of glitter budget.)

Of course, the real interest for many of us is the book’s numerous creepy undertones. And finally, for funny Twilight news, aka the actual reason to bother reporting any of it, check out the puppet version.

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Poll: Pick your winter genre movies

The notable lack of a big franchise fantasy film* for the season makes the coming months slim pickings for genre fans, unless one happens to be a preteen girl (Twilight) or their younger siblings (Bolt) or a [male] comics fan (Punisher: War Zone, The Spirit) or one of the two people who thought The Day the Earth Stood Still remake was a good idea. Okay, so maybe I’m wrong.

* Moment of silence for the delayed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

At least the rest of us can console ourselves with the fact that there now exists a sci-fi horror musical with Giles Anthony Stewart Head rendering violence upon Paris Hilton. Right? Or at the very least, Daniel Craig takes his shirt off. Vote for up to eight movies beneath the cut! Continue reading “Poll: Pick your winter genre movies”

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Rumor: Disney testing new Star Tours?

Star ToursThe Disney-watchers at Mice Age have gathered up some of the more recent rumors:

Anthony Daniels made unofficial mention in an interview of doing work for this attraction, to open in 2009, so it seems all but certain. Certain members of ILM have also mentioned their participation. Polarized glasses will be used for a 3-D effect, and some rumors call for three Audio-Animatronics figures. Apparently, the closed Body Wars attraction, where the simulators are identical, has been used for some time to create, test, and adjust the synchronized movement of the cabin to the movie.

(via)