Disney and more team with Theme Park HD for a series of great videos of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge! Here is the first video and it's truly the "ultimate" video of the Millenium Falcon Smuggler's Run ride as it is a 360° video allowing you not only to see the ride movie but everything that is happening in the Falcon cockpit with the six passengers, each one having a different role as you know ( pilots in the front, gunners in the center, engineers in the back ).
Here is how to watch it, especially if you have not watched the others videos showing also the full ride posted here yesterday. First, the 360° videos don't work on Safari, so if you have a Mac watch it either on Chrome or Firefox. Two, watch the video in full screen mode and if you've never watched the ride, watch it a first time by looking only at the ride movie in the front, then watch it a second time by turning the image with your mouse to see what each passenger is doing all along the ride. And now, fasten seatbelts and here we go!
I've been in theater two days ago to watch Aladdin and i have to say that i quite liked it a lot. I almost hated the last Avengers but i liked very much this one. Of course a totally different story and kind of movie but i liked it mainly because the two characters ( Aladdin and Jasmine ) are perfectly chosen, they’re fully “in” the role they are playing, so they're believable, and in addition they’re also very sympathetic, humanly speaking, no ego here.
Like many, i had some doubts on Will Smith as the Genie and finally i think he’s okay and even a good choice, mostly because he plays a character who is a kind of clown and that’s what Will Smith does the best ( generally, the scenes where he is often bad - or let's say not credible - it’s in the emotional scenes ). But here he’s okay, it's a perfect character for him, so even if he's not Robin Williams, i think he do the job.
I still think that the actor playing Jafar is too young but he’s playing well and may be it was not possible to have in real life a character as stylized as Jafar was in the animated film. The funny thing, however, is that almost none of the characters look really Arabs. Not physically speaking, as the actors playing Aladdin and Jasmine physically look quite Arabs, but from the "inside" they have absolutely nothing Arab. Same for most of the others actors or extras, even if their costume have an Arab style ( rather in the 1001 nights fairy tale style ). Thanks God, they didn't asked them to behave in a caricatural Arab way, at the exception of a scene at the beginning with a market merchant, a scene by the way which starts the chase of Aladdin by the guards. Sometime Aladdin reminded me old classics like Michael Powell's legendary Thief of Bagdad ( but The Thief of Bagdad is superior, a wonder that you must see if you never did ) where everything was filmed in studios at Hollywood with all actors and extras dressed like Arabs but obviously no one was really Arab. So let's say it's the vision of an Arabian world revisited by Hollywood.
Actually the movie looks more in direction of Bollywood, whether by the colors or some of the scenes ( and anyone not convinced must stay till the end of Aladdin and watch the credits scene which is totally a Bollywood ballet ). It’s quite obvious that Disney try to also seduce the Indian spectators, probably even more than the ones from Middle-East countries, and i’m curious to see what will be the box office of Aladdin in India, if it is released there.
And of course there is all the great Aladdin songs that we all love which help to enjoy the movie. Another of my favourite in Disney's animated film were the colors, and here they succeeded to recreate them, for the most, and especially in the Cave of Wonders sequence. Of course all CGI effects ( Abu, Iago, Rajah the tiger, parade elephants, AND the flying carpet ) are perfectly executed so you never think that the animals are not really real.
If i had to find something that i didn't liked, i would say the photography of some scenes. As a good friend of mine - one of the best film editor in the world - once told me "the problem with the Americans is that they light everything". And some scenes of Aladdin would have been better with a lighting a bit more subtle, but for the most it's okay. Let's say they just won't get the "Best Photography" Academy Award for Aladdin even if i enjoyed the photography of the Cave of Wonders sequence, as said above.
The outdoor scenes of the first half of Aladdin were filmed in Jordan Wadi Rum, a gorgeous place that i know well as i've been there and where David Lean had filmed some of the scenes of Lawrence of Arabia. But they've been smart enough to don't use in Aladdin the same - and very known - Wadi Rum locations that David Lean had used for "Lawrence". One of the film quality is also to don't try to take itself too seriously. It's both a tale, a fantasy, and a musical, everyone knows it, starting by the crew and director Guy Ritchie, and for this reason Aladdin is a very enjoyable movie to watch. Go out and watch it, you should like it!
You were not at Disnyeland Star Wars Galaxy's Edge for the opening day - for all guess with reservations? Me too, but this LIVE video posted by Spokesmayne will make you feel the incredible degree of excitement of the hundred of guests that were there! You'll also see the land like it will be from now, on a normal day of operations, with plenty of guests and go around everywhere ( and yes, you also have a second full ride video of the Millenium Falcon ride from around 26 min and make sure to put back the video at its start if it's not ).
Editing: Here is Disney Parks official video of the opening to the first guests and it starts by exactly the reverse angle of where the next video below is starting!
It's more than time to say it: the work of Imagineers on Galaxy's Edge is unbelievable, the level of details is phenomenal EVERYWHERE in the land! I can tell you that once the reservations system will end in one month Galaxy's Edge is literally going to suck all Disneyland guests and honestly i don't know how they'll do to manage the guests flow, but that's for another day. In the meantime sit and enjoy as you'll discover inside Galaxy's Edge just like if you were there!
We're not done yet, watch the FULL Millenium Falcon : Smuggler's Run ride ( yes, including the ride movie, everything! ) with this video filmed by Orange County Register! And with the beautiful lighting of the Falcon at night!
Disney released a first official teaser trailer and poster for Pixar new movie "Onward":
"Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.
Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new original feature film is directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae—the team behind “Monsters University.” “Onward” releases in theaters on March 6, 2020."
During Disneyland's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge dedication ceremony Disney released a short but great video showing the new land. I suggest we have a closer look at it as Galaxy's Edge will be immensely successful from day one with thousands of guests inside the land and thanks to this video you'll see the land like you will probably never see it again, with just a few guests inside.
I did for you some great screen captures, and added too some new official pictures, so let's have a walk inside the land, would we? Also note that the picture above is a great Wallpaper for desktop or mobile devices that you can download on the Disney Parks Blog HERE.
Two official footage below, both were filmed by a drone flying inside Galaxy's Edge, the second one is silent, it's normal.
A first look at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge filmed by the Los Angeles Times.
Let's now check the pictures!
Inside Galaxy's Edge Market Place.
Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities inside Galaxy's Edge.
Ronto Roasters Restaurant.
Inside Docking Bay 7 Restaurant.
Dianoga inside the water fountain at Galaxy's Edge.
Inside Galaxy's Edge Droid Depot where you can make your own droid.
Inside Savi's Handbuilt Lightsabers.
Great video which will show you the full Savi's Workshop Lightsabers experience at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a full walkthrough filmed by the Los Angeles Times. Note that you can enter before paying and your lightsaber will cost you between $150 and $200 so you better watch the video!
Inside Oga's Cantina and DJ-R3X - yes, the droid previously known as Captain Rex in Star Tours.
Watch the emotion of the first fans discovering Star Wars Galaxy's Edge!
Let's go back to the Millenium Falcon for the Smuggler's Run ride!
The awesome Hondo Ohnaka Audio-Animatronic in Millenium Falcon : Smuggler's Run pre-show:
Inside the Millenium Falcon and in the cockpit during the ride.
Disney released this official video showing the ride and queue decor...
...but if you want to watch the full queue decor and ride experience, don't miss this next video filmed by Theme Park Insider.
What it's like to pilot the Millennium Falcon filmed by the Los Angeles Times.
Millennium Falcon POV Highlights and Full Rider Cam filmed by Attractions Magazine.
Wait, there is more with these screen captures from the LIVE dedication ceremony video, showing the market and some of the merchandise items.
4K 360° VR Walkthrough and First Reactions to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge; That's the closest you will be tp walm inside Galaxy's Edge without moving from your home!
Note: 360° videos don't work on Safari, watch it with Chrome or Firefox.
There is more! Jump to the next page of D&M to see Galaxy's Edge dedication ceremony and the others great articles of this week! And make sure to come back this week-end as D&M will have for you plenty more videos of Galaxy's Edge for you!
