Guardians of the Tower of Terror

So five years after buying Marvel and making piles of money in the process, Disney still doesn't have a high profile Marvel presence in the Disneyland / Disney California Adventure theme parks.  Or sure, there have been a slew of meet and greets along with various movies prop displays, but nothing with a WOW factor.  So the rumor is now out there from various blogs and Disney gossip websites that rather than spending gobs of money on a Marvel attraction (especially while large sums of cash are being plowed down on Star Wars efforts), why not just take an existing attraction that doesn't quite fit the Disney profile anyway and re-theme it to a Marvel movie tie-in.

And so we get the highly probable rumor from various inside sources that Disney will take the existing Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction in Disney California Adventure and re-theme to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (a second Guardians movie is due out next year).  Sounds like a pretty workable idea to me.  I wouldn't mind getting frightened out of my wits on a a scary ride with a fresh look.

Captain America Civil War Trailer 2

So it's an election year and everyone is picking sides. Over on the political side, it may end up being Donald vs. Hillary. Coming up with DC Comics you have Batman vs. Superman.  And now with Disney's Marvel Comics, a new trailer for Captain America Civil War we are now put in between the Captain's side and Iron Man's side. Not sure sure where that 3rd guy fits into all this? Can't we all just get along?

Captain America Calling

The first Captain America film (Captain America: The First Avenger) was one of my favorites of the Marvel superhero series. That film was long on story and character development and perfectly mixed with action sequences. The other night we finally got around to seeing the second Captain America film (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) on Blu-Ray here in the comforts of the Disneyland Traveler living room. Well, it was rousing couple of hours of some pretty cool action sequences but .......

The plot was confusing and hard to follow and story was secondary to the action that was presented on the screen. Not that the film wasn't good, it just was missing some of the elements which made the first movie so good. The acting was good of enough, there were a few moments of humor and insight, and some of the action sequences were spectacular but still Captain America The Winter Soldier came up a little bit on the empty side. Maybe I need to see it again.

At Least It's Not Captain EO

Over in Disneyland's Tomorrowland, the Magic Eye Theater (host for many years to Captain EO and Honey I Shrunk The Audience and most recently the preview of Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy) went under refurbishment once again and there was speculation that the badly outdated Captain EO 3D film would make its way back into Disneyland playing to mostly empty houses in the large state of the art theater.

A few days ago Disney put that rumor on hold and announced in Disney Parks Blog that the theater will, beginning September 26, host a special preview for it's latest animated film effort - Big Hero 6 which premieres in theaters November 7. At least it's not Captain EO showing when we arrive for our trip in November (though admittedly outside of seeing one preview - I know nothing about Big Hero 6).

And what of Captain EO? Maybe we have seen the last of the old film. 2015 brings a new episode of the massively successful Marvel's The Avengers as well as the latest installment of Star Wars. Disney could spend a year or more just showing previews of their 2015 sure fire blockbusters in the Magic Eye theater and it might not be a bad idea so long as the extended previews that are shown are high in quality and designed to be crowd pleasers for Disneyland guests. It beats seeing the tired old Captain EO.

Disney And The Business Of Spiderman

Amazing Spiderman Movie Poster - Sony Pictures

So the amazing Spiderman 2 came out on video this week. Since I didn't make it to the theaters to see the movie, the good folks at Wal-Mart were only too happy to provide me with a copy at nominal price. So now I get to rehash just what Spiderman has to do with Disney since Spiderman is made by Sony Pictures even though the web slinger is a Marvel character and probably Marvel's single most valuable property. Sounds complicated. It is and it isn't.

As far as movies go, Spiderman made by Sony Pictures by license agreement with Marvel Entertainment which Disney owns. Disney gets a cut off profits off every Spiderman movie even though Sony takes home most of the money. The same is true of X-Men, Wolverine, and Fantastic Four which are produced by Fox through a licensing agreement with Marvel. These license agreements were in place before Disney bought Marvel and as the story goes, as long as Sony and Fox continue to turn out Marvel quality superhero movies on a regular basis, the licensing stays in place and Sony and Fox continue to make movies. One slip up and Disney lawyers will only be too happy to take the properties back. Either that or Disney shells out the big buck to buy back the licenses which they are not inclined to do since by Disney CEO's own admission "we have more than enough Marvel characters to work with already".

Still the hope is out there that a true Marvel/Disney Spiderman movie will be made some day. That would be a movie that would set box office records on fire.

Is Innoventions A Waste Of Time Again?

ASIMO - still Innoventions best attraction

A reader made the comment that on their recent trip to Disneyland the biggest disappointment was a visit to the Innoventions Building. I can understand. As we look forward our upcoming trip the question is out there - Innoventions - Yes or No? I think this trip we are going to take a pass on visiting the venerable old building.

When the Iron Man suits moved in, I had hopes. Either the suits represented the first footprint of a Marvel based attraction in Disneyland (rumored) or the beginnings of Marvel based universe within the old and underutilized building. Neither have materialized and for most people, the place is a waste of time after an initial visit.

Yes, Captain America and Thor meet and greets have moved in but regular readers of this blog know my opinion of the now overuse of meet and greets. While popular with young kids, they represent a cheap windfall for Disney. Instead of developing real imaginative attractions, people wait for incredible lengths of time to meet a character in a costume. It's an easy way out to put something new in the park and attract throngs of people with little effort or imagination on Disney's part.

The Iron Man suits a great but only need one visit - been there done that.

My rule of thumb regarding Innoventions is that a visit every 5 years or so is good enough or place to get out of the rain. The single best attraction in the building remains ASIMO - Honda's amazing little robot. The rest of the place is just a corporate shill for Yamaha, HP, Microsoft, along with Disney's feeble efforts to show off its Marvel franchise. 

I do have a feeling that better days are coming for Innoventions, I just I don't think its coming any time soon which is too bad.

Thor movie props - more of these types of displays would be a nice touch.

I Could Be Wrong About Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

I posted last week on Facebook that I thought Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy looked "incredibly stupid". I'll stick to that comment because a wise guy raccoon and a walking tree as superheroes don't exactly give me comic book thrills. But Disney doesn't exactly care what I think and Guardians of the Galaxy opened to the tune of $95 million dollars on its premiere weekend - the biggest August opening ever and once again giving proof that Disney CEO Bob Iger really knew that he had a gold mine on his hands when he purchased Marvel for $4 billion dollars.

My own opinion of Guardians has shifted a bit too. I don't won't spend money to see the film at the theaters but at least now I plan to give it a shot on video.

Disney Released Films - 2014

If you look over to the right hand column you will see some new posters and theater release dates for three of the Disney (and Marvel) films in 2014.

 

First up is the Muppets Most Wanted as British comedian Ricky Gervais joins our life long pals for a European set adventure. Gervais can be a vile, profane, and contemptible character in real life. He can also be hysterically funny. Hopefully Kermit and the gang can keep Gervais tongue in check and the comic brings some much needed zing to the franchise. And hopefully Disney will do a better job of marketing the movie than the last lackluster effort back in 2011.

 

The first big release is Captain America: A Winter Soldier. I really look forward to this one as the first Marvel Captain America film is one of the best Marvel film releases. And even veteran war horse actor Robert Redford joins the cast in this one.

 

A big deal is made about Maleficent film with Angelina Jolie in the starring role as the evil whatever. I'm not much into classic Disney characters so the subject matter is kind of foreign to me. For the longest time I was thinking this was an animated film but no, this is live action with real actors performing. Refreshing. This movie is supposed to be a huge blockbuster. So was the Lone Ranger.

 

I didn't put up the posters for the Disney Nature film on Bears or another release due in the spring called Million Dollar Arm (which has a title that says flop written all over it - I could be wrong). Also coming up on August 1 is Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy as new characters are introduced to public for the first time including a well chiseled Chris Pratt who was last seen as a dufus in the TV series Parks and Recreation. Some of these "Guardians" are completely CGI animated and just use actors voices (Vin Diesel for one). It will be interesting to see if this Marvel effort catches fire like the rest.

 

Not sure about Disney releases next fall and winter yet so more movie information is coming. I do know Tomorrowland starring George Clooney and directed by Brad Bird is in production for a May 2015 release. The movie is not about the land in Disney Parks. Hopefully the movie has a little more cohesiveness than that piece of real estate.

Marvel Takes Over Innoventions Real Estate

Does this guy really look like the movie Thor?
A Disney Parks Blog photo

Last week Disney Parks Blog posted a couple of preliminary photos of the new Thor: Treasures of Asgard exhibit that will open in Tomrrowland's Innoventions building beginning November 1 ahead of the films general release on November 8 (link here). The exhibit shows off a few of the actual movie props then you cross over to an actual Thor meet and greet area. Now the Thor we see in the above picture doesn't look like Chris Hemsworth who plays Thor in the movie - but then again, who does? And while we are at it - can we get a Natalie Portman? But I digress....

The thought was that when Thor moved in, the current Iron Man exhibit would move out. Apparently this isn't the plan. Thor movies in, Iron Man stays, and I'm suspecting the when the new Captain America movie opens next year, a spot will be found in Innoventions for him as well. Exhibits are far cheaper than any kind of ride or attraction and what Disney has found is that the Marvel exhibits provide Innoventions something that the old building hasn't had in years - foot traffic. People are actually going inside.

I'm sure that Disney will get around to doing something with the building eventually but for now, showing off Marvel stuff seems to work out just fine.

Thor: The Dark World movie props
A Disney Parks Blog photo

Iron Man Flies East

Iron Man Experience - Disney Artwork

While Disneyland's Tomorrowland continues to flounder with good rides surrounded by theming that is all over the map and the massive Innoventions building is by far the largest waster of space in the park, Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs announced plans the plans for building the first Iron Man attraction in a Disney Park. The only problem is you have to go to Hong Kong so see it. Thanks Tom.....  Check out Tom's comments in Disney Parks Blog

The Mighty Thor Goes To Disneyland

With the barest of information in terms of what is involved - Disney Parks Blog posted this week that something Thor related would be coming to Disneyland this fall that will tie into the November release of Marvel Studios - Thor: The Dark World (link). Subsequent reporting has this as a Thor meet and greet area as opposed to what was done with Iron Man 3 and the display of Iron Man suits inside Innoventions. Kids can now line up to meet the god of thunder.

 

While I was good with the Iron Man suits - I thought they were way cool - having Thor as a meet and greet somehow just doesn't feel right to me. Thor is one of the more complex Marvel comics since they guy seems to work in a couple of different universes and is part of a world that seems to bend time and space. Hardly the thing a 6 year old would understand. Heck, I don't understand it. And anyone who does have a good grasp of the Thor world probably is a bit too old for the meet and greet demigraphic.

 

Now if some other displays go along with Thor meet and greet, maybe this will work but like I said, Thor in Disneyland, at least with the information at hand, just doesn't "feel" right. Admittedly, I could be very wrong about this and Thor on display in Disneyland could be hugely popular. We'll just have to see. 

Remembering The Comic Book Store

I haven't bought a comic book in over 40 years. I'm not even sure Disney (owner of Marvel Comics) and other comic book publishers even want to print comic books anymore preferring the easier (and much more profitable) digital media to push their characters and stories to PCs, smart phones, and assorted iPads and tablets via subscriptions  One of my favorite shows on TV is The Big Bang Theory where one of the enjoyable pastimes of the geeky gang of scientists is a regular weekly visit to The Comic Book Store. 

So it's been more than 40 years and I still remember my visits to the store where I bought my comic books conveniently situated on the way home from school at the corner of 21st and Mission, San Francisco. I'm sure they sold other stuff in the little convenience store - candy and soda come to mind - but I remember the comics, and being surrounded by 3 small display walls of some of my favorite characters growing up. You know... that little store even had a special smell, probably from all the news and magazine print ink. I still remember it.

The comic books I bought were all Marvel - Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spiderman, the Fantastic Four - those I are the comic book superheroes I remember buying regularly at a price of about 15 cents I believe (I could be wrong but I know it wasn't much). It's funny how life comes full circle sometimes. My comic book buying days lasted maybe two years or so. Last week, I stepped in a movie theater to see Iron Man 3 while about 6 or 7 other Marvel movies rest in my DVD collection. It's almost as if Disney bought Marvel for people like me (along with a new generation of 10 year old boys), grown men who look fondly look back on reading the comic books of childhood.

With the massive success of Iron Man 3 at the box office, I owe Disney a 'thank you' once again for bringing back some of the great memories of being a kid. Then again, Disney probably knew all along there were plenty of people like me who are more than willing to part with some of their hard earned money to recapture their youth.

The first publicity still for Disney / Marvel Studios Captain America The Winter Soldier
Scheduled Release Date: April 4, 2014

Some Thoughts About Iron Man 3

So where does Iron Man 3, Marvel's latest super-hero movie, fit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Well, IM3 is not as good as last years blockbuster romp - The Avengers. It isn't even as good as the original Iron Man. But Iron Man is a solid, entertaining film in this genre - but a entertaining film with flaws albeit, some of the flaws may be more my personal taste. I did like IM3 better than Iron Man 2 where seeing your super-heroes falling down drunk is not my idea of a good time. I guess in the Marvel movie world, Iron Man 3 comes in middle of the pack - Not as good as the best (Captain America The First Avenger is even better) but better than the worst (Iron Man 2 and Thor are at the bottom of my list).

There is some talk as to whether an aging Robert Downey Jr. (now in his early 50's) should continue on as Tony Stark / Iron Man. Some think he may price himself out of the role given Marvel's reputation as a rather frugal company (I'm sure Disney loves that). Marvel has made comments that they could just go the "James Bond" route and replace actors in franchise movies if circumstances or actors demands dictate a change is needed. My issue with Downey is that as the appearances as Stark / Iron Man mount (now in movie #4) he seems to be increasingly overacting the part, adding complexities to the character that aren't needed or wanted. It's almost as if he adds things to the Stark character to keep himself from being bored by the role. On the other hand, the Gwyneth Paltrow / Pepper Potts role expands in each movie in a very pleasing and graceful way. 

A couple of other quibbles with Iron Man 3. Did I really want to see 42 Iron Men in the sky at one time? Perhaps the true jewel of the first Iron Man is seeing this isolated solitary man of metal kick butt and take names of some very bad men - a super-hero every kid growing up wants to be. With 42 flying Iron Men (mostly remote controlled).... the figure loses some implact. He also seems a little too comfortable sitting on the couch. Some have complained about the Mandarin villian. I read Iron Man comics as a kid and can't recall the Mandarin but apparently he really is a villian and adversary for Iron Man. In the movie, the Mandarin is an actor, a front man for some very sinister and violent acts of terrorism perpetrated by others. This didn't bother me so much and I very much liked the comic aspects of Ben Kingsley performance as the Mandarin.

But issues aside, I enjoyed my 2 hours of Iron Man 3 (seen in IMAX and 3D). I was entertained and caught up in the story. Will I buy it when it comes to home video and Blu-Ray? You bet I will. In about 2 weeks, IM 3 has made close to a billion dollars in world wide box office receipts - a pretty good cash haul for Disney and Marvel.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the Return of Phil

An ABC/Disney/Marvel Publicity Shot for Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

It will probably be the most eagerly awaited, anticipated new TV series in years. Disney owned ABC has officially announced for the 2013 - 2014 television a new action / adventure series called Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. developed under the watchful eye of Joss Whedon last seen as the writer / director of mega-hit The Avengers. Will we see any of the usual Marvel super-heroes? Don't know but the series will see the return of scene stealer Clark Gregg reprising his role as Agent Phil Coulson.

 

But didn't Phil die in The Avengers? Yes.... or did he?

 

Anyway, looks like Tuesday night at 8 pm will be must see TV for Marvel fans.

Iron Man 3 Soars

Robert Downey Jr. and his Iron Man showed up at the New York Stock Exchange last Tuesday to ceremoniously ring the opening bell. Today, as the opening weekend of Iron Man 3 domestic box office receipts get tallied, you can see why Iron Man, Marvel, Disney, and the New York Stock Exchange all neatly fit together. Marvel is BIG BUSINESS for Disney. Iron Man 3 is slated for the second largest U.S. box office opening of all time, only last year's The Avengers (also starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man) had a bigger opening. In it's first 3 days of business, Iron Man 3 has made Disney about $175 million dollars.

Things I Thought I Would Never See In Disneyland

Before we get to our friend and hero Iron Man now prominently displayed in Tomorrowland, my first real Disneyland surprise occurred when I first walked through the turnstiles last Sunday morning. The nice young man who scanned my annual pass wore a neatly cropped beard. That's right, he had a beard as did several other cast members I encountered throughout my week's stay. Beards were forbidden by Walt Disney from the get-go. I had heard there was a change in grooming policy but this was the first chance I had to see young men with beards and goatees working in the park. To me, it was quite noticeable but I also have no problem with it. It's just a different look from your male cast members.

Ever since Disney bought Marvel a few years ago, some of the larger gift shops have carried a few Marvel toys and consumer products, but barely enough to be noticeable as the first presence of Marvel in Disneyland. The display of Iron Man Suits currently in Innoventions is something of a game changer. While the display of suits is not large, and if you spend more than 10 or 15 minutes looking at the display, you probably need to work on your life.  The Iron Man display is Disney's first chance to gauge the acceptance of a Marvel presence in Walt's park. While I have no issue with anything related to Marvel from displays right up to a Marvel based E-Ticket attraction, in Disneyland I do understand the position of those who think Marvel superheros in Disneyland is a bit of a stretch from the original park concept.

To me, the Iron Man display is kind of irrelevant. What is important is that for the first time in years, there was a reason for Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and me to walk into the Innoventions building other than to get out of the rain. The building is huge and cavernous and used to show off things that people have little interest in seeing inside of a major (and expensive) theme park. The Innoventions building now represents a giant waste of a space in a park that is space challenged. (Not to mention the place is badly in need of a coat or two of paint). But with the display of Iron Man suits, even as minor as it is, people line up once again to get into Innoventions, something that hasn't been done for years. An Iron Man attraction? An Avengers attraction? A TRON attraction? Bring any of them on - just put the space to a use that will absorb some of the crowds rather than sit there rotting away. (Granted: Since Innoventions is primarily corporate sponsored by Yamaha, HP, MicroSoft, Honda, etc., the place makes Disney money even if no one goes in).

As for Marvel in Disneyland, in a few years someone is going to have to do battle with that Harry Potter kid up the road at Universal Studios Hollywood. Why not Iron Man?



Marvel In Disneyland - It Was Never 'If' But 'When'

Marvel's Iron Man Display

So Disney Parks Blog has now put all the rumors and speculation to rest. In a post today (link), the land of Mickey, and Dumbo, and the Princesses, now gives way to Marvel's Iron Man. Beginning April 13, a display of Iron Man suits (versions I-VII) takes center stage inside Innoventions presented by Stark Industries. Also included is a virtual Iron Man suit where guests can simuate suiting up in the Iron Man get up. Trust me. The highly under utilized Innoventions will have lines out the wazoo to check this out.

 

Disneyland traditionalists have been dreading this day but it was always bound to happen. Disney invested over 4 billion dollars in purchasing Marvel and its an investment already paying huge dividends with last years "The Avengers". If they can get a few more people through the turnstiles by featuring Marvel displays (and an eventual Marvel E-Ticket attraction) they are going to run with it.

 

By contractual arrangement, a Marvel presence is not permitted in WDW (since Universal holds the Marvel character license for Islands of Adventure). Yep, a Marvel presence in a Disney Park in the U.S. is restricted to the west coast. Get ready Disneyland fans, there's an Iron Man in you midst. Everyone needs to just get along and share.

Robert Redford Jumps On The Marvel Bandwaggon

Grizzled Hollywood veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones made a fine contribution to the great Marvel movie effort Captain America - The First Avenger. Now, according to TheWrap.com, another one time pretty boy but now grizzled Hollywood veteran, Robert Redford, is in serious negotiations to appear in Captain America's next installment The Winter Soldier. Redford's character is reported to be a senior member in S.H.I.E.L.D's leadership.

Now this does an old heart like mine good. Enjoyment of the Marvel Universe along with the characters and movies keep me looking at the young side of things. Having an actor like Robert Redford that I have admired for many years enter that world allows me to age gracefully. 

Redford starred in some of my favorite movies ever - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Three Days of the Condor, and The Natural among them. Having him come on board for the next Captain America is most welcomed and eagerly anticipated - at least by me.

Disney Movie Releases for 2013

I seemed to have spent a lot of time writing in this blog about why I am not standing in line today to to see Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful. I have no interest in seeing it. When it comes to home video - maybe, and that's only a maybe. But there are Disney (or Disney owned) movies I am looking forward to seeing in 2013.

Must See Disney (or Pixar, or Marvel) Movies:

Iron Man 3 (May)

Monsters University (June)

Thor: The Dark World (November)

Saving Mr. Banks (December)

Disney Movies I Have Little or No Interest in Seeing:

Oz The Great and Powerful (March) - I'm just not an Oz fan

The Lone Ranger (July) - The trailers seem very unappealing 

Planes (August) - This was supposed to go direct to video but someone saw $$$

Undecided:

Frozen (November) - Once known as The Snow Queen

Hmmm.....Interesting...... Of the 4 movies I really want to see only 1 (Saving Mr. Banks) is made by Disney Studios; 2 are made by Disney owned Marvel Studios and 1 is from Pixar Animation Studios.

Of the the 4 movies I have no interest in seeing (or in the case of Frozen, I just don't know yet), all are made by Disney. Which kind of leads to the thought that the movies that are most highly anticipated (by me anyway) are mostly made by film studios Disney has purchases rather their own productions. That looks like  trend that needs to change.

Iron Man 3 (And Thor Too)

Yeah, I know, summer has barely left us and fall/winter is just on the fringe of going full force but it's never too late to start thinking about next year (well, maybe it's a bit premature but who am I?). Anyway, Disney / Marvel is promising us not one, but two superhero movie spectacles next year. Each one hopefully destined to make the company about a bazillion dollars.

First on tap is the return of Tony Stark and his suit in Iron Man 3 hitting the theaters May 3, 2013. Hope it's a good movie if Disneyland plans on building a big time ride in based on Iron Man. It wouldn't be the best of circumstances to put up am expensive E-Ticket attraction based on a character whose best movie installment was about 6 or 7 years ago in the original Iron Man movie. Below is the first official Iron Man 3 movie trailer. Early - but seems a little dark.

Lest we forget, Thor will also return for his second go around on the big screen with Thor The Dark World set to hit theaters on November 8, 2013. The original Thor film wasn't one of my favorites leading up to The Avengers (but it wasn't quite as bad as Iron Man 2). The jumping of universes is kind of hard on my feeble brain. Thor worked best when it stayed on earth with Natalie Portman as the Norseman's object of affection. Portman returns in Thor The Dark World which is a good thing. Let's hope the universe jumping is kept at a minimum this time.