(Disney Animated Movie Review #13 ) Finding Dory 2016 9 out of 10

Finding Dory 2016  9 out of 10

It took 13 years for a sequel for Finding Nemo to get made.    Finding Dory hit the box office waters at just the right time.  In about a month at the US box office it has already made over 445  Million dollars at the box office and is already the number 1 Animated Movie of All time at the Domestic box office.   It is the biggest US release of the year passing Captain America: Civil War.   The sequel's story is derivative of the original film in that it involves a search for family.  This time around however Dory the blue fish with short term memory loss actually starts to remember her family which kick starts an adventure to find them.   It is covering familiar ground –but the addition of new characters and a new setting keeps things fresh.  

The Setting

The setting of the original was the Great Barrier Reef.   This time around we get to visit the Californian coastline (I know these little fish taking the EAC with the Sea Turtles all the way across the ocean is ridiculous just go with it) and the Monterey Marine Park.   The setting is terrific.  The Marine Park gives the film a bunch of great environments to play around in.  The scene where the Ocean Seas exhibit is revealed is a stunning piece of animation.  The film looks gorgeous.

The Story

Dory with the help of an Octopus named Hank tries to remember where exactly she is from in search of her parents.    Meanwhile Marlin and Nemo are trying to find her after she is taken to the aquarium by some humans.   The story –just like in Finding Nemo is about family and the willingness to do anything for family.   Dory faces challenges in order to find her long lost folks.  Marlin and Nemo risk their lives to make sure Dory is okay –because they consider her family.  Finding Dory is an action packed fun adventure that has funny moments and sentimental moments that the entire family will enjoy.  

The Characters

The returning characters are great of course.  I was a big fan of the original film Finding Nemo.  It is one of my favorite Pixar films.  The chemistry between Albert Brooks as Marlin and Ellen as Dory was excellent in the original film.   This movie is all about Dory and her character is once again great.  Baby Dory has to be one of the cutest characters ever.    Crush one of my favorite characters had a small scene –but was excellent again as well (check out Turtle Talk with Crush at the Disney parks for more of Crush).    The introduction of Hank the Octopus (voiced by Ed O’Neill) was also terrific.  Some other new characters that add a new flare to the adventure include a couple of Seal Lions and a Whale Shark and Beluga Whale. 

The Visuals

The visuals were absolutely incredible.  Pixar somehow always finds a new way to step up its game and again they absolutely knocked it out of the park again.  

In Summary:   If you liked Finding Nemo then you will like Finding Dory.   It is more of the same and it has been long enough, just that like the Force Awakens where although it touched on similar themes.

It is a great family film.

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Ultimate Epcot: If money was no object --What would you add to Epcot: Part 7 Wonders of Life (Inside Out)

The Wonders of Life Pavilion has just been sitting there for quite awhile now. I'm not sure of what remains inside the Pavilion as I believe it has only been used in recent years for things like Food and Wine and stuff like that.  

 This Pavilion used to house Body Wars -A Star Wars style ride that took you into the human body--and made people want to upchuck their lunch. It also included Cranium Command--which was clearly an inspiration for the recent Pixar movie Inside Out.  

(BELLS GO OFF IN HEAD)
Immediately the thought came to me as well as thousands of others that recall the attraction was that a clear opportunity to make use of the old ride has presented itself.

 In Ultimate Epcot we have been talking about what you would add to each section of World Showcase “If money was no object”.   So let's turn our attention to the Wonders of Life Pavilion
( seen below in this old Picture from Pinterest.)

    (Photo from Pinterest)

    The realistic thing would be for Disney to just retool the old Cranium Command attraction which basically took you inside a youth's brain and had celebrity voices portraying the different parts of the body as the youth made his way through a day at school.    Ultimate Epcot: We look at the big picture:  "If money was no object" The celebrity voices wouldbe replaced of course by the characters from the movie Inside Out.  This would be a great little attraction.   The same concept --Just updated with this cool new characters.

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But of course thinking bigger  "If Money was no Object"  they could do so much more with the Inside Out concept.  Think of an entire Inside Out pavilion with interactive exhibits about the entire human body.  An Innoventions style building with stuff like a kids roller coaster like the transporation vehicle in the film.   How fun would little kids have with giant memory walls where the lights change colors when they touch them,

I know ball pits have gone the way of the Dodo --but a Memory Ball pool or interactive game where the kids have to retrieve memory balls would be fun.

Character Meet and Greets or alittle show featuring Bing Bong.   There are so many possibilities with the world of Inside Out.   I can't wait to check out the new Inside Out short film Riley's first date...which will come out with the DVD.

Pixar really knocked it out of the park concept wise with this film and it lends itself to a Wonders of Life Pavilion Reboot.

What would you like to see "If Money was no object"?

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The Good Dinosaur: A Sneak Peek at the Disneyland Resort

The latest Disney Parks Movie Sneak Peek is The Good Dinosaur currently in the Bug’s Life Theater.

I’m a huge fan of these movie sneak peeks that use the 4-D in theater effects to enhance the movie experience.   The Good Dinosaur sneak wasn’t presented in 3-D –but did effectively include the theater effects such as in theater lighting,  water effects and an incredible scene which included the seat effects.

Here is a cool picture of some of the characters outside the theater.

This movie wasn’t really on my radar to see in the theaters—but as usual they may have changed after seeing this cool sneak peek.  
I was surprised at the cool visuals in the film,  since I hadn’t seen anything that cool from the film’s first trailer.  It looks great and the 2 main characters are adorable and the sneak peek into the movies story makes it look like a lot of fun.  The story is basically a what if the asteroid hadn't killed all the Dinosaurs and follows a boy named Spot and a Dinosaur named Arlo.

Could this be Pixar’s First Flop?

Despite how good the sneak peek was this film had issues during production and was reworked by Pixar that didn’t feel it was good enough at first…..I think Pixar has solved whatever initial issues the film had because it looks like another great Pixar film now.   Pixar basically has the best movie batting average ever… They don’t seem to make bad movies---so I’m sure it will be great.   My only concern is for the box office future of the flick –between the Ice Age films and Land Before Time and Disney’s own Dinosaur.  It just seems like this ground has been stomped on too many times before.  The one thing this film lacks that the other Pixar films has is an original story.   As a result this particular film may get lost in the shuffle.    (Of course I've been wrong before)

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Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #61 Lava 2014 9 out of 10

Lava 2014   9 out of 10

This computer animated cartoon short by Pixar accompanied Inside Out in the theaters.  It was a simple and sweet cartoon.  It is basically a love poem/song about a lonely volcano/island searching for someone to love.  As life goes along around him he dreams of and sings about having a love of his own as he slowly sinks into the ocean.  It is an emotional film.  Pixar is able to capture the emotions of this volcano as he slowly sinks.  He sings his song one last time (still hopeful- but with saddness in his heart).  Finally a new volcano rises just as he sinks below the surface.  The problem is this island is facing away from him when it surfaces and can't see him. The new volcano all alone starting singing his song back to him as he fades away.

The song in this short is excellent.  It is so simple and so sweet and when you get to the end I dare you not to feel some emotion.  This short was a perfect companion piece for Inside Out and sets the mood for the emotional ride that is Inside Out.

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Disney's Hollywood Studios: Picture of the Week : Pixar Studios

I absolutely loved the look of the Pixar area at Disney's Hollywood Studios.    This is the home of the really popular Toy Story Mania ride and and a Woody and Buzz Meet and greet.   We didn't go on the ride because we have that ride at DCA and the line was long, but I this area looked cool.

Loved the special touch with the Barrel of Monkeys hanging across the street

And I can't Wait for Pixar's next movie which looks great from the trailers ... Inside Out as seen on this poster in the area.

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Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #3 BURN-E 8 out of 10 2008 7+ out of 10

BURN-E   8 out of 10    2008

BURN-E  is a cute little Pixar Animated Short that features the story of a little repair robot whose only goal is to repair a beacon on the side of the Space Ship from the movie  WALL-E.    He keeps getting distracted by events from the story of WALL-E that are cut into the short and isn't able to accomplish his goal do to a series of distractions.    Just like WALL-E the animators are able to show emotion in a robot without words. You really feel for the little robot as he tries so hard to complete his task.  It is a cute little companion piece to the film.

You can find BURN-E on the Pixar Shorts  Volume 2 DVD

It's a Bug's life for Me!

CANDY CORN!

Names is Francis and I'm not a girl

I said I'm not a girl ....Yes I'm a lady bug ---just I ain't no Lady

The kids were not convinced

Let me point out a few plants to you..  There is one ---There is another one