Took the boys to see this one a couple of weekends ago, and I (and they) thought it lived up to its billing. As good as the first? Not quite. But pretty darned good, with a fun, interesting story to tell.
And yes, John Ratzenberger does his scene reprising his character of the Yeti, who is a mailroom guy. Funny, huh?
Pixar doesn't stumble too much on this prequel to MONSTERS INC.
The short film (the name escapes me) with the umbrella love story was very well done as well.
*****
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
The least I can do...
It's been a while since I've posted here. Not much happening for my family on the Disney front, at least until last month, when we spent a week at Aulani, the DVC resort on Oahu. I do plan on writing at least one post on that subject, but lately my internet presence has been focused on learning as much as I can about self- or indie-publishing, with the goal of taking that plunge myself as I begin to publish some of the many things I've written over the years.
Today, while reading the blogs I study with respect to self-publishing and writing, I came across this entry:
David Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants—Health Insurance for Writers
David Farland has written many novels and stories in the Star Wars universe. With the ties to Disney (re: Disney now owning the Star Wars properties), I thought that this tale might be of interest to anyone who might still be reading my blog. If you haven't looked at the article, it seems the Farland family has mounting medical bills due to no insurance and a terrible accident involving their son.
According to the article, Mr. Farland has been denied coverage because he is a well-controlled diabetic.
It seems that the moral of the story is to not seek medical care until it is too late for any manageable health conditions because if you are aware of an issue, you WILL be denied or dropped from your insurance.
I know of a situation where two partners were applying for life insurance. They were in similar situations, around the same age, and if anything, one was in better physical condition than the other. One had gone through one of those "heartcheck" tests and had been found to have some propensity to heart disease, so he had changed his diet, began an exercise program and was now in the best shape he had been in for years. The other had never been checked in that manner. When it came time to get this life insurance (a business thing; they both needed it), the partner who had never gone through the tests but who was a little overweight and more out of shape was offered the policy immediately. The partner who had been tested and who was taking lifestyle steps to make himself much healthier was not offered coverage immediately, and when he did get the coverage, it was a thousand dollars a year more expensive. Shortsighted of the insurance companies, perhaps, but it's the way they do business.
My own thoughts on the matter are that you should have a financial plan with savings started as early as possible, the minute you start bringing home a paycheck. "Pay yourself first" is a good principle, even if it's just 20 dollars every two weeks to start. It's a habit to get into. Also, if one person is "not insurable" for any reason, the others in the family should be insured anyway.
Read over Mr. Farland's article, and donate or buy one of his books if you'd like. And look at your own situation, and don't let it get the best of you.
*****
Today, while reading the blogs I study with respect to self-publishing and writing, I came across this entry:
David Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants—Health Insurance for Writers
David Farland has written many novels and stories in the Star Wars universe. With the ties to Disney (re: Disney now owning the Star Wars properties), I thought that this tale might be of interest to anyone who might still be reading my blog. If you haven't looked at the article, it seems the Farland family has mounting medical bills due to no insurance and a terrible accident involving their son.
According to the article, Mr. Farland has been denied coverage because he is a well-controlled diabetic.
It seems that the moral of the story is to not seek medical care until it is too late for any manageable health conditions because if you are aware of an issue, you WILL be denied or dropped from your insurance.
I know of a situation where two partners were applying for life insurance. They were in similar situations, around the same age, and if anything, one was in better physical condition than the other. One had gone through one of those "heartcheck" tests and had been found to have some propensity to heart disease, so he had changed his diet, began an exercise program and was now in the best shape he had been in for years. The other had never been checked in that manner. When it came time to get this life insurance (a business thing; they both needed it), the partner who had never gone through the tests but who was a little overweight and more out of shape was offered the policy immediately. The partner who had been tested and who was taking lifestyle steps to make himself much healthier was not offered coverage immediately, and when he did get the coverage, it was a thousand dollars a year more expensive. Shortsighted of the insurance companies, perhaps, but it's the way they do business.
My own thoughts on the matter are that you should have a financial plan with savings started as early as possible, the minute you start bringing home a paycheck. "Pay yourself first" is a good principle, even if it's just 20 dollars every two weeks to start. It's a habit to get into. Also, if one person is "not insurable" for any reason, the others in the family should be insured anyway.
Read over Mr. Farland's article, and donate or buy one of his books if you'd like. And look at your own situation, and don't let it get the best of you.
*****
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thunder Mountain and Walt Disney
We recently returned from a vacation in Sedona, Arizona. While there, we took a backcountry jeep tour which brought us into gulches and to Native American (Sinagua) ruins nestled in the cliffs behind Sedona.
On our way out, our guide pointed out several of the red rock bluffs by name, including one called Thunder Mountain. He then proceeded to mention that Walt Disney actually had a house in Sedona at one time for a few years, and could see Thunder Mountain from his kitchen/dining area. He said that Sedona's Thunder Mountain didn't really look like the rockwork done on Big Thunder Mountain, but that perhaps it inspired the ride.
I wasn't sure of the timeline, and didn't want to call him out on that. First, I've never read anywhere that Walt Disney spent significant time in Sedona, though it wouldn't surprise me if he did, considering how beautiful it is there. Second, I believe Marc Davis did most of the concept art for that ride (I suppose it's possible that Davis spent time in Sedona). Third, I am thinking that Big Thunder Mountain wasn't conceptualized until well after Walt's death.
Anyone who has any comments or information on this tour guide info, please leave a comment. Did Walt ever live in Sedona? Did he have anything to do with the planning of Big Thunder Mountain? Does Sedona, or any part of Arizona, have anything to do with Walt's inspiration for anything in Disneyland?
*****
On our way out, our guide pointed out several of the red rock bluffs by name, including one called Thunder Mountain. He then proceeded to mention that Walt Disney actually had a house in Sedona at one time for a few years, and could see Thunder Mountain from his kitchen/dining area. He said that Sedona's Thunder Mountain didn't really look like the rockwork done on Big Thunder Mountain, but that perhaps it inspired the ride.
I wasn't sure of the timeline, and didn't want to call him out on that. First, I've never read anywhere that Walt Disney spent significant time in Sedona, though it wouldn't surprise me if he did, considering how beautiful it is there. Second, I believe Marc Davis did most of the concept art for that ride (I suppose it's possible that Davis spent time in Sedona). Third, I am thinking that Big Thunder Mountain wasn't conceptualized until well after Walt's death.
Anyone who has any comments or information on this tour guide info, please leave a comment. Did Walt ever live in Sedona? Did he have anything to do with the planning of Big Thunder Mountain? Does Sedona, or any part of Arizona, have anything to do with Walt's inspiration for anything in Disneyland?
*****
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
New Blog: Theme Park University
I was surfing through my Disney blogs today (I wish some of them updated more regularly) and, on Leonard Kinsey's Dark Side of Disney blog, I noted a link to a new blog from Ron Schneider (Dreamfinder) and Josh Young, titled Theme Park University.
It appears to be an interesting look at the creative development behind theme parks in a general, and sometimes specific, sense.
Of note is a three article (so far) series by Josh Young about the development of the Hard Rock Theme Park in the Myrtle Beach area.
It actually got me excited about my own ideas about theme park development, some of which I wrote about in a series of blog articles back in December of 2009 and January of 2010. (You can find them by clicking on the archives over there to the left, selecting those two months and picking and choosing the articles, if you're so inclined.)
Take a look at the new blog if you find this sort of stuff interesting. I know I certainly do!
*****
It appears to be an interesting look at the creative development behind theme parks in a general, and sometimes specific, sense.
Of note is a three article (so far) series by Josh Young about the development of the Hard Rock Theme Park in the Myrtle Beach area.
It actually got me excited about my own ideas about theme park development, some of which I wrote about in a series of blog articles back in December of 2009 and January of 2010. (You can find them by clicking on the archives over there to the left, selecting those two months and picking and choosing the articles, if you're so inclined.)
Take a look at the new blog if you find this sort of stuff interesting. I know I certainly do!
*****
Monday, March 25, 2013
Disney Film - JOHN CARTER
A long time ago (it seems) I wrote a couple posts (edit: it was only one post, located here) on the theatrical release of John Carter, the big budget Disney SF fantasy adapted from the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel A Princess of Mars. In the first, if I recall correctly, I commented that it wasn't a movie I had much interest in seeing, nor did my boys. Our initial reaction was due to the television advertising for the movie. It just didn't look that good. It didn't make me want to see it.
In another post (actually, in edits to that first and only post) I suggested that maybe that initial impression was mistaken, since I had read numerous commentaries on blogs stating that it was in fact quite good. And those reviews were enough to inspire me to buy the Blu-Ray/DVD release when it came out.
But then we never watched it. Until last Friday night.
We had a rare "boy's night" with me and my sons having the evening to ourselves, and I decided that *I* was going to pick out a movie to watch. Going through the stack of unviewed movies, I came across John Carter and thought, What better time to watch this one? It is not one my wife would want to see AT ALL, so it was a perfect time to pop it in and watch.
So the verdict is in. We all liked it quite a bit! Was it great? No, maybe not great. But it was very good and told a good story (albeit a story that's been covered before) and had very good effects and settings and the acting was decent. (I noted that the director was Andrew Stanton, I believe...) I wouldn't mind seeing it again sometime, and I would be interested in seeing a sequel.
I know, because it didn't do well at the box office, that a sequel is very unlikely. Too bad Disney flubbed the marketing of this movie. Because they had something pretty good and didn't get the promotion right.
*****
In another post (actually, in edits to that first and only post) I suggested that maybe that initial impression was mistaken, since I had read numerous commentaries on blogs stating that it was in fact quite good. And those reviews were enough to inspire me to buy the Blu-Ray/DVD release when it came out.
But then we never watched it. Until last Friday night.
We had a rare "boy's night" with me and my sons having the evening to ourselves, and I decided that *I* was going to pick out a movie to watch. Going through the stack of unviewed movies, I came across John Carter and thought, What better time to watch this one? It is not one my wife would want to see AT ALL, so it was a perfect time to pop it in and watch.
So the verdict is in. We all liked it quite a bit! Was it great? No, maybe not great. But it was very good and told a good story (albeit a story that's been covered before) and had very good effects and settings and the acting was decent. (I noted that the director was Andrew Stanton, I believe...) I wouldn't mind seeing it again sometime, and I would be interested in seeing a sequel.
I know, because it didn't do well at the box office, that a sequel is very unlikely. Too bad Disney flubbed the marketing of this movie. Because they had something pretty good and didn't get the promotion right.
*****
Thursday, February 14, 2013
OZ THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE
Who's looking forward to the release of this movie? It looks good to me, from what I've seen in previews and commercials. I'm planning on seeing it sometime next month.
As for THE LONE RANGER, I'm not as excited about that one. The previews and commercials just aren't dragging me in. Can you say "John Carter" as far as the marketing goes so far with that one? Maybe it's going to be a great movie, but so far I'm not seeing it.
*****
As for THE LONE RANGER, I'm not as excited about that one. The previews and commercials just aren't dragging me in. Can you say "John Carter" as far as the marketing goes so far with that one? Maybe it's going to be a great movie, but so far I'm not seeing it.
*****
Monday, January 14, 2013
Golden Globes for Animated Feature!
So Disney had three nominations, out of five possible, for Best Animated Feature last night:
And lo and behold, they did take hope the Globe trophy - for Brave, which deserved it, far as I could see. Wreck-it Ralph seemed pretty good, but didn't quite hit the heights that Pixar regularly hits. I can't speak to the other nominees; these were the only two I saw. But the others LOOKED like cartoons, while Brave was something a bit more ambitious...in my opinion!
*****
- Brave
- Frankenweenie
- Wreck-it Ralph
And lo and behold, they did take hope the Globe trophy - for Brave, which deserved it, far as I could see. Wreck-it Ralph seemed pretty good, but didn't quite hit the heights that Pixar regularly hits. I can't speak to the other nominees; these were the only two I saw. But the others LOOKED like cartoons, while Brave was something a bit more ambitious...in my opinion!
*****
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