Disneyland Picture of the Day: Matterhorn from Pixie Hollow

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #37 The Third Wheel 9 out of 10

The Third Wheel   9 out of 10

Goofy shines in the latest Valentine's Day themed Mickey Mouse cartoon.  Mickey tries to take Minnie out for a romantic evening--- but Goofy---well Goofy goofs it up.  He doesn't get the hint that it isn't a group thing.   When he finally does get it he tries to over compensate and ends up messing things up even more.  I still don't like Goofy's look in this series of cartoons - but his character is really hitting its stride and like in "Potatoland" really is the star once again in this short.  Goofy's antic spell Valentine's Day disaster.

The cartoon can currently be found airing on the Disney Channel and Disney Online

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #36 Tapped Out 2014 8 out of 10

Tapped Out 2014   8 out of 10

The gang are at a Wrestling match watching a fearsome champion wrestler beat up on his opponent.  Mickey declares to Goofy that he would show that guy "what for" and when the wrestler challenges the audience Goofy (taking Mickey seriously)  decides to volunteer Mickey.  Donal Duck meanwhile is more concerned with his nachos.  It was a fun Mickey Mouse cartoon that pits Mickey in a David vs Goliath sort of battle. Somehow throughout this comic wrestling match Mickey comes out on top after some random help from Donald. I really liked this cartoon, but it was derivative of a classic Spongebob cartoon featuring wrestling which was better.

The cartoon can currently be found airing on the Disney Channel and Disney Online

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #35 Flipperboobootosis 2014 6 out of 10

Flipperboobootosis 2014   6 out of 10

The first of the new Mickey Mouse cartoons to hit the air in 2014 is Flipperboobootosis.  The cartoon centers on Donald Duck having a red throbbing sore on his foot and not wanting to go to the doctor about to get it treated.  Mickey and Goofy try to help out to the increased pain of Donald.  It was a short and very average cartoon compared to some of the better cartoons in the series. There are a few good sight gags, but nothing really new, funny or great about this particular cartoon and the ending just finished with a thud.  Definitely not one of the better of the new Mickey cartoons.  

The cartoon can currently be found airing on the Disney Channel and Disney Online

Disneyland Picture of the Day: Vistas of Carsland

Disney/Pixar Animated Short Reviews: #34 How to Play Baseball 1942 9 out of 10

How to Play Baseball 1942   9 out of 10

This entry in the "Goofy How to Series" is a classic.  It starts out by explaining the sport of baseball and shows a variety of different types pitches in a funny way.  The cartoon then goes into the ultimate baseball game scenario in which it is the ninth inning of the world series. Through a series of entertaining moments the  bases get and the game (and the cartoon)  comes to an exciting conclusion as it all boils down to a close call at the plate.

The sports direction was a perfect way to go with Goofy as his tall lanky and often clumsy form lent itself perfectly for this parodies of modern sport.  The baseball cartoon was a blueprint for the many great Goofy cartoons that followed.

This cartoon can be found on the Walt Disney Treasures  The Complete Goofy DVD Set.

Many more cartoons to come

Disney Animated Movie Review: #6 Tangled 2010 9 out of 10

Tangled  2010  9 out of 10

The movie was magical. I didn't catch it in the theaters , but I have now seen it several times at home and each time I like it a little bit more. (Oh and by the way kids don't think the character's name is Rapunzel they want to go and meet Tangled so I will refer to her as "Tangled" for the rest of this review). The film is beautifully animated. The first glimpse of Tangled's tower is inspiring.  I've always looked on animated movies as a work of art greater than some of the world's most famous painting. The film paints a colorful picture. The characters are great. Flynn Rider is dashing (I joked with my wife one night asking if I was dashing, her response "Your no Flynn Rider"). The horse is awesome and has a wonderful action scene with Flynn that made me think of a great scene from Emperor's New Groove. 

The movie has a little bit of everything. Humor is the "I have a dream" song. Action in Tangled and Flynn's daring escape from those trying to capture Flynn via a Star Wars Luke and Leia escape using Tangled's hair. And romance in a truly beautiful scene right up their with "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid where they set afire the lanterns setting them aloft into the air to light up the sky in a magical dance. I think with time this film will go down as a Disney classic. The music was good but not great like the early 1990's Disney films.