Disneyland Paris 20th Ann Update

Disneyland Paris 20th will start April 1st and here is some news about it. First, DLP released the new 20th visual that you can see above as well as a new ad that i've embedded below which includes some new shots of Peter pan standing in front of Big Ben and then swashbuckling with Captain Hook over DLP castle. I remind you that Peter Pan will be a key character in the Disney Dreams fountains and lasers show that Steven Davison is currently finalizing each night at DLP.






The same Peter Pan is on the front cover of the beautiful press release that DLP has began to sent as you will see on the pictures below shot by Gldsun and that i've slightly enhanced.





DLP 20th will also introduce a new parade - well, actually it will include a mix of floats from the previous parade as well as brand new floats - and this new Disney Magic on Parade will have a new song called "Magic Everywhere" that you can hear on the video below, also showing some renderings for this new parade.




But the major event of DLP 20th anniversary will definitely be the highly awaited Disney Dreams! fountain show and the first images begin to appear on forums. They're not perfectly sharp mainly because they were shot far from the castle but as you will see they're interesting. The first one shot by Jeremy from Disney Central Plaza forum shows how high will go the fountains - click on the picture to enlarge it - and as you can see they are almost as high as the castle which is pretty remarkable considering that they're using only water from the castle moats...



The next one coming from Disney worldglobe is also interesting as it shows what will happen almost at the very start of the show when Sleeping Beauty castle will be transformed in a starry night, at the exception of "the second star to the right", an effect using one of the stained glass window at the top of the castle.



Looking at how high will go the fountains means one thing: the best place to watch the Disney Dreams show will probably be not too close to the castle but, let's say, more in the center of Central Plaza. Just remember this if you come at DLP this year when you'll watch the show!

I'll see you soon for a new DLP 20th update but in the meantime don't miss the pictures of the printing of the DLP book HERE. The printing is excellent and french or english collector copies are still available for pre-order, the price of 115 euros including shipping is still valid until March 16th, after what it will be the final price which will be a bit higher, so order your copy now, you can pay by Paypal or bank transfer and just send me your order at: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr and i will send you all details to proceed to the payment.

Pictures and videos: copyright Disney, Jeremy, Disney worldglobe, Gldsun

John Carter Review

I saw John Carter today, and here is my review and what i think about it. First, is John Carter a bad movie? Certainly not, but: is it a very good movie? Certainly not, too, and this is where the problem is. There is plenty of great scenes in John Carter, but there is also scenes which are more "B" movie. I wouldn't say that i disliked the film because it was entertaining but some scenes simply doesn't work.

I have to say that i've never read the original novel but from what i've been told by a friend who did the script is quite faithful to it. The only problem is that we're now in the 21th century and not early 20th when the book was written. So, Andrew Stanton, brilliant Pixar director, did a few changes like the martian flying ships which looks more technologically advanced than in the book where they were closer to wooden flying pirate flying ships. And this not a problem. What is a problem is that the people which are in these modern-technologically-advance flying ships are dressed like if they were coming out of a set of a Roman Empire movie. Sort of.

The question of the credibility is also sometime a problem. After all we're on Mars, some of the inhabitants are four arms green martians and others just look like humans (which apparently is also faithful to the original book). I can understand that the green martians would have a different organism than ours, helping them to breathe normally on Mars, but it's a bit more difficult to swallow for the "others" martians, looking like us Same for the hero, John Carter who is teleported from Earth in less time than it takes me to write it. The giant leaps that he is able to do are okay but it's more hard to believe that he can do all these leaps without any ankle sprain during the whole movie! Okay, it's a fantasy movie, but still...

That said some sequences are truly spectacular, and no, it doesn't look too much "Star Wars" - except may be the battle with the white apes in the arena - and not too much "Avatar" either. The western part at the beginning is okay, and i liked also the "Twilight Zone" twist at the end. Actors are good and of course as expected the Mars princess as charming as she can be is not insanely sexy as she looks in the legendary Frank Frazetta paintings. But considering that Disney is the producer, it's a no surprise. That said there is a scene in the second part of the movie which looks very "Frazetta" when John Carter is fighting alone against hundred of "bad" green martians.

According to Box Office Mojo John Carter should make $30M in its opening weekend, certainly less than expected by Disney but as the movie was released worldwide this week the opening week might be not bad. Not sure, though, that John Carter will make more than $250M - the production cost - and i'll also be surprised if there is any sequel - I wouldn't count on it and don't expect too a ride inspired by the movie. If you've planned to watch it, go ahead, there is plenty of good things in John Carter, beginning by Michael Giacchino score, just don't expect the movie of the year because it won't be. But for his first movie Andrew Stanton did a good job. Now, is there any one in the audience who have seen John Carter this week-end? Let us know what you think about it in the comments!

Andrew Stanton also talked recently about story telling in one of the always great TED conferences, and you can watch him in the video below.



Picture: copyright Disney

New Imagineering Video: Cars Land Neon Signs

New Cars Land Imagineering video, this time talking about the great neon signs that will illuminate Cars Land at night!



Picture and video: copyright Disney

Disneyland Paris From sketch to Reality Book Printing Special Report !

After one long week of printing i'm pleased to announce you that the Disneyland Paris book "From sketch to Reality" is now finished, each page and cover, etc... has been printed! Thanks to all of you who pre-ordered the book this legendary book is coming back and as promised i have pictures of the printing to show you. I am extremely happy with the printing quality and to tell you the truth this new printing of the collector's edition is even better than the first printing ten years ago. Actually, the pictures are even more sharp!

What you'll see below is pictures of the printed sheets just after they went out of the printing machine. 320 pages takes quite a long time to print and now, the binding process will begin, the pages will be folded, cut, etc... Please also note that because these pictures were shot at the printer on some of them - because of the ceiling lights - there is some reflections, so these pics are posted to confirm you that the printing is now done and you won't be able to judge through these pictures of the quality of the printing which, again, is very good. Once the binding will be done they still have to put manually on each book their number, include the five lithographs of thee Walt Disney Studios artworks, pack everything and ship the books that, as it is scheduled are supposed to arrive at our facility at the end of April.

Something important now: The book is always available in its english or french edition but, as i've said before, the pre-order special price will soon be over and the book price will not be anymore at 100 euros but at its final price of 120 euros, plus shipping. This final price will start March19 which mean that you have one more week to place a pre-order and have a 20% discount. The price was supposed to change on February 15th but i've decided to keep it one more month. But on March 19 the final price will start so i you haven't done it yet please place you pre-order now! As usual you can pay with Paypal and Paypal payment must be sent at: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr
You can also pay with bank wire transfer or, if you live in France with bank check. Please email me at neverlandeditions@gmail.com if you wish to pay in another way than with Paypal. And don't forget to let me know your shipping address!

Here we go with the pictures. Below, a pic of the front and back "end pages".



Below a picture of the cover and the dust jacket. You have another pic of the dust jacket without reflection at the top.





And now, some pictures of the inside pages. You won't see all of them as there was a lot of printed sheets but you'll get the picture.











Some additional pictures showing you more of the printed pages. The white strip on the top of each stack is of course not part of the printing.











As usual you can't see more and read a full description of the DLP book in my presentation article HERE and also on the video below showing the whole book. Again, place your pre-order NOW and get the 20% discount which will end on March 19!



Pictures: Copyright Disney - Neverland Editions

The Lone Ranger First Picture !

Disney released the very first picture from The Lone Ranger movie, and it's the one you can see above with johnny Depp playing Tonto. As it is said in Disney press release “The Lone Ranger is a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice — taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption".

Rumors say that the original script ha supernatural creatures from native american myths and i wish that this is true as they can do great things (and scenes) with this. Also, according to sources who have read recent drafts, three massive action set pieces involving trains remain, including one described as the biggest train sequence in film history. To be honest, first, i was not very interested by this Lone Ranger movie, but the more i know about it the more i have a good feeling. And of course, as usual, it's the character play by Johnny - and how he will play it - who is getting the most of my attention.

As Johnny said in an interview to entertainment weekly: “I remember watching it as a kid, with Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore, and going: ‘Why is the f—ing Lone Ranger telling Tonto what to do?’” Depp told EW last year, recalling the 1949-1957 TV show, which was seen for many more decades in reruns. “I liked Tonto, even at that tender age, and knew Tonto was getting the unpleasant end of the stick here. That’s stuck with me.”When the idea came up to do a new movie, Depp saw a way to right what he considered a pop culture wrong. “I started thinking about Tonto and what could be done in my own small way to… ” he hesitated. “Eliminate’ isn’t possible — but reinvent the relationship, to attempt to take some of the ugliness thrown on the Native Americans, not only in The Lone Ranger, but the way Indians were treated throughout history of cinema, and turn it on its head.”

I, personally, wonder if one of the reasons that Johnny was interested in playing Tonto is his native americans origin? Although the Depp family in the United States began with a French Huguenot immigrant, Pierre Deppe or Dieppe who settled in Virginia around 1700 part of a refugee colony situated above the falls on the James River Johnny has also surmised that he is part Native American, saying in 2011, "I guess I have some Native American [in me] somewhere down the line. My great-grandmother was quite a bit of Native American, she grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek." Interesting, isn't it? The movie is scheduled to be released on May 31, 2013, and no doubt that new pictures will be released until then.

Picture: copyright Disney

New Imagineering Videos about Disney California Adventure expansion and WDW Fantasyland "Be Our Guest" Restaurant

Disney Parks just released two new Imagineering videos, and they will show you more about DCA expansion as well as the "Be Our Guest" restaurant inside the new Fantasyland at WDW. Let's begin by DCA which had the visit of Bob Iger and Tom Staggs who've tested all the new rides at Cars Land. Bob Iger also confirmed that the opening day of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre will be June 15th - as revealed by Al Lutz some weeks ago - and that DCA will be entirely closed on June 14th for the media preview and to make the final preparations for the grand opening.



Let's take a look back at all the additions to Disney California Adventure with this first Imagineering video.




Next video is all about the "Be Our Guest" restaurant which will be located under Beast Castle at WDW New Fantasyland. "WDI Senior Concept Designer Ted Robledo presents the finishing touches on one of the restaurant major elements, i.e a massive mural that will serve as the restaurant’s backdrop. In the video Ted shows how WDI combined digital technology with traditional artistry to create a sweeping landscape that gives guests the feeling that they really are walking into a part of the film."




Pictures and video: copyright Disney

Legendary Song Writer Robert B Sherman Dies at 86

A true Disney legend, Robert Sherman, died yesterday at 86. With his brother Richard they wrote almost all the memorable songs that we've loved in Disney movies as well as in Disney theme parks. In the first video below you'll see Robert and Richard with Walt Disney introducing the Carousel of Progess song "It's a big, great, beautiful tomorrow".



In this next video - edited by Thatfellowcoat - takes a look at Richard and Robert Sherman's most famous collaborations with Disney and their other musical accomplishments.



In 2010 the Sherman Brothers received a dedicated window on Main Street. Robert Sherman didn't attend the dedication ceremony as he had to stay in London but i repost below the article that i did at that time.



Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, composers of so many memorable songs in Disney theme parks and motion pictures have now their own window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. As we know the tradition of honoring individuals with a personalized decorative window was started on Main Street, U.S.A. by Walt Disney and has continued at Disney parks worldwide. A Disneyland window is considered the ultimate honor anyone can receive from “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

Considering that the Shermans’ composed more than 150 Disney songs including such familiar Disneyland compositions like “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room”, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” and “It’s a Small World” - one of the most translated and performed songs on Earth - the least we can say is that they fully deserved their Main Street window! Among the Sherman brothers’ honors are three Grammy Awards, 24 gold and platinum albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They have also been named Disney Legends in 1990.



The Main Street window ceremony was held mid-morning last thursday and Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis, Thomas Schumacher, Marty Sklar and Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts did each a great tribute to the Sherman Brothers. Robert Sherman who now resides in England was unable to attend the ceremony in person but his brother Richard was there with his family.



The ceremony was not only moving but also funny as you will see in this great video filmed by the always excellent Inside the Magic. I remind you that Inside the Magic have each week great videos and podcasts and suggest you to have a look on their site regularly HERE.

The video show the whole ceremony and i recommand you to watch it entirely to don't miss the fun parts. Enjoy!




Pictures: copyright Disney

Video: copyright Inside the Magic